Lauren
Weight – 29.9lbs 85th percentile
Height – 36 7/8 inches off the chart that goes up to the 97th percentile

Evan
Weight – 13lbs 10 oz 90th percentile
Height – 24 1/8 inches 90th percentile
Head – 70th percentile (she didn't write down that measurement only the %)

Apparently as I scooped up all the clothes from Lauren's change table I scooped up one of her two pink Mary Jane Crocs and I didn't notice as I put it into the washing machine.  Then later Nathan went up to put the clothes in the dryer and found the one pink Croc and didn't think much of it and tossed it in with the rest of the clothes in the dryer.  Later he asked me if I meant to wash her Crocs and I said no, and he said he found one and tossed it in the dryer so it would be dry.  WHAT?!  No!!  It'll shrink I say.  Nathan asks why it would shrink.  Ummm, Crocs are made out of a plasticy type material and plastic shrinks when it gets hot?  So up to the laundry he goes finds the one pink Croc and compares it to her unwashed pink Crocs.  Its very clean…and small.  About two sizes smaller than the unwashed one.  DOH!!  What to do!?

The good news is they were starting to get a little small and we had another new pair in the next size up (but not pink), so in the morning as we were getting ready to go and Lauren is frantically looking and asking for "Me Shoe" I tell her I have a big surprise for her, a brand new pair of shoes!!  She was so excited.  They are a little big, but so far not too many tripping accidents.  Well at least not that can be attributed directly to her shoes, more to the fact she wasn't watching where she was going and tripped over something.  The bad news is that she spotted her pink shoes and wanted to put them on.  Daddy had to explain that one was way too small now, she seemed to take it ok, as she was wearing her light green ones.  How happy is she going to be when I pull out the pink pair of Crocs Ballet Flats for her birthday!!

Yes we are a Crocs wearing family.  They are comfortable, and non restrictive, and grip well (maybe too well on the slides for Lauren), plus I have found some fantastic deals on the Crocs website.  I don't pay $40 for my own shoes and there is no way I am going to pay that much for a pair of children's shoes that may only last a few months.  $9.99 with 10-20% off and free shipping is much more reasonable!  Now the dilemma is…do we try and shrink the other one so they match?  Chances are Evan isn't going to be wearing them, I don't see him as a pink kind of guy, but what do you do with a pair of shoes in two different sizes?

This garden has already been a fantastic learning experience for the students, and they have already reaped the rewards in the form of salad and ownership.  Most of the students can tell you which plant they grew from a seed and then planted in the garden, what it is, and they are excited about it!  And it just isn't gardening they are learning, there have been reading lessons, math lessons, social studies (complete with a borscht and salsa garden) and it is all growing right outside the windows to the school from the tiny seed of an idea.

When we walk by the school during recess it is great to see that some of the kids actually spend their free time in the garden, walking the paths, checking for weeds, enjoying the space.  Community members and neighbors use it as a spot for picnics and to take care of it.  Food produced from the garden will go to families who need it and the Food Bank during the summer when kids are not in school.  It is truly amazing what has transpired from that tiny seed of an idea.

Just imagine what we could do as a community if we all put our little bit of effort into something.  A marshy portion of a field became a garden in a matter of a few months and a handful of work parties.  People who have no vested interest in either of the schools got involved.  We had adults and kids alike who were there for a baseball or soccer game during a work party pick up a shovel and pitch in, they wanted to be involved.  Amazing…simply amazing.

During this whole process a neighbor and photographer Steven Herppich came and took photos documenting the process and he was kind enough to put those photos into a very moving slide show.  It was shown at the garden dedication and it was very emotional for the adults but for the children as well.

And now you can see how far the garden has come, and the fabulous thing is, it is just going to continue to get better and amaze us all.

http://animoto.com/play/kR4NEGWY1jv4rSXEKG0N7g

In the last week Lauren's food intake has been up, and her naps have been long.  Today alone before nap Lauren had consumed, one cup of watered down apple juice, a serving of granola with yogurt that would have been enough for me for breakfast, a scone, a banana, some animal crackers (she was helping pick them up after momma dropped the container again), two mints from a guest room (that she hid to eat, but at least unwraps them now), half and apple, home made macaroni and cheese with bacon, a cup of water, and a slice of bread.  I don't think I could eat that much food before 1:30pm!  She laid down for a nap at 1:45pm and now we are approaching the three hour mark for nap!

People who haven't seen Lauren for a couple of weeks have commented that she has grown, so she probably has.  I think they have a tendency to do that, but sometimes it is amazing how fast they grow!

Yesterday she refused to leave the house unless she was carrying her black handbag and wearing my kayaking hat (which fits her head by the way).  Today she refused to wear two shoes.  She would only wear one sock and one shoe on one foot, the other foot had to remain bare.  She has her own views on the world and isn't afraid to assert herself and let you know what she thinks.  She has new words all the time. Sit, seat, hello, nice to meet you (while shaking hands), cheese.  She still uses signs for some things, but still gets frustrated and doesn't want to and just grunts and throws a fit when you don't know what she wants.  She is fascinated by birds, especially likes ducks and loves to stop and smell the flowers.  What a sweetheart she is.  I know she can't wait until she has a little counterpart to get into trouble with!

Ok.  After attending two showers this past weekend and taking inventory of our baby stuff, we decided that we don't need a shower. There isn't a lot that we need, there are a few items, like a new baby monitor, (our previous one has taken some tumbles and there is a now a missing switch), but through the generosity of our much loved family and friends our hearts and cupboards (closets, armoires, and dressers) are overflowing!

We aren't having a shower, and don't expect gifts, but we will be planning a meet and greet once July Baby makes his/her appearance and before Nathan's parents leave for home, perhaps mid-July.   But why the "Visit My Registry" button?  Well we know full well that we have some very generous people in our lives that feel compelled to get "a little something" for the new little one just waiting to dance into our lives, so we put together a registry based off of Lauren's registry with some items that we know would be loved and used.  There are lots of music and books on the list, in my mind you can never go wrong with a good book!

For those of you reading this post via Facebook instead of my blog, you probably don't see the button.  The link to our registry is: http://myregistry.com/public/Casey-Nathan-Allan

Casey's Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

Yields: 4 dozen cookies

Ingredients:
2 cups (4 sticks) butter, two sticks melted and browned in a skillet
1 cup granulated sugar
2 cups brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons salt (only if you use unsalted butter, if you use salted butter omit the added salt)
6 cups flour
3 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375.  Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.

Heat two sticks of butter (1 cup) in a large skillet over medium-high heat until melted, about 2 minutes.  Continue cooking until butter is a golden to dark brown, an additional 1 – 3 minutes.  Remove from heat and add the additional two sticks of butter (1 cup) into the hot butter until completely melted.  Let cool slightly.

Add granulated and brown sugar to mixing bowl and add melted butter.  Mix or whisk until incorporated, sugar is melted and becomes a gloss dark brown color.  Add vanilla and eggs and mix or whisk again for approximately 1 – 3 minutes until completely incorporated.  The mixture should be the consistency of pancake batter. Add baking soda and salt and mix for about 1 minute.  Then add the flour, one cup at a time, mixing each cup into the batter for approximately 1 – 2 minutes or until each cup of flour is incorporated.  Make sure you scrape down the sides of the bowl after each cup of flour.  After the last cup of flour is added, scrape the sides of the bowl one more time and add the chocolate chips.  Again mix for 1 – 2 minutes to ensure the chocolate chips are disbursed through the batter.

Using a #24 or 2" cookie scoop place the cookie balls on the prepared cookie sheets about 2" apart, as they will spread.  These aren't small cookies, they are a good size.  The dough will not be as thick as one might expect.  The pans I use hold 11 cookies, three rows, the outside rows are 4 the middle is three off-set to the outside rows, I think if I tried to do three rows of four they would all run into each other.

Bake the cookies one sheet at a time for 10 – 15 minutes.  When done the edges should be golden brown but the centers still soft.  I use a gas oven and bake mine for 14 – 15 minutes, but I find I have to cook all my baked goods for slightly longer than an electric oven.  Remove from pan to wire rack to cool.

I don't use nuts in mine as we also have these cookies out for guests to eat and too many people have nut allergies. Just to be safe and so I don't have to put a sign out as you can tell from looking at them they are chocolate chip cookies.  If you prefer yours with nuts, add 1 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans (toasted is even better) when you add the chocolate chips.  The browned butter and increased brown sugar give them a nuttier, richer taste and help keep them soft.  Store in an airtight container.

As for the chocolate chips.  Use the brand you like the best.  America's test kitchen (which gave me the idea for browning the butter as I have always melted it) says Ghirardelli's Bittersweet 60% Cacao chips taste the best, but their recipe still called for semisweet chips.  I buy the huge commercial bags of semisweet chips from Costco and I find they work really well for me.  They melt well  but not too much, have a good flavor, aren't too sweet and aren't chalky.

I hope if you try my recipe you let me know how your cookies turn out!

So back to work I went…and I called VW USA.  I was on a mission.  I talked to several people, had several people call me, I talked to some pretty high up people and complained about Auburn VW, and at one point contemplated calling the police.  They had in a way stolen my car!  MY CAR.  THE ONE I PAID FOR.  Well on Sunday (4/5) I got a phone call again from the General Manager saying that my car would be ready to be picked up on Monday morning, so sorry for the inconvenience, blah, blah, blah.  I couldn't pick it up on Sunday because they were going to make sure it got detailed, etc.

One thing most people know about me.  I go after what I want and I don't stop until I get it, and if I feel I have been wronged you will know about it.  I was not going to let them screw me over, I would get my car, and I did.  My new bug, the one that I told my dad long long ago that I would have, and when he said they didn't make them anymore my response was, "They will for me."  Yes even as a child I knew what I wanted.

Monday (4/6) came and on my lunch break I waltzed in and drove out in my first brand new car.  The GM again came and apologized profusely and said that he hoped it wouldn't keep me from bringing it to them for services, blah, blah, blah.  The smell of the smoke he was trying to blow was strong in that office.  Later the VP of VW USA called me (I still have a folder with notes in it with all the people I talked to and their names) to make sure I got my car and there were no further issues with the dealership.

I brought my car back to work and it was like a flood of people exiting the building to see it.  It was the 13th one in the state, and it looked sharp.  A daisy in the bud vase and the radio playing, the sun was shining and the reflection of the blue sky on the hood of the car.

Now I don't know what happened to the GM, but he is no longer at that dealership.  I was really pushing for them to lose the VW selling rights, but they didn't.   So for service I took my car with his personal plates DRM BUG to the one dealership that everyone I talked to said to take it to, Campbell Nelson VW in Edmonds.  FANTASTIC people there.  I called and told the receptionist, whose name I think was Jane, what happened when I purchased my car and she had Bob Campbell call me and they extended me the same deal they extended to customers who purchased cars from them, complimentary oil changes for life.  So even though I had to drive to Edmonds to do it, I did, until we moved to Olympia.  Then it just became a bit too far to justify.

I have driven that car everywhere, it has never let me down, I put 137,000 miles on it since that day in April 1998 when I picked it up from the dealership.  I've hauled beds, kayaks, people, animals, plywood, 2×4s, and even moved from my condo into the Inn using it .  Where does that bring us…2008.  Ten years later.  Lauren is born and her infant seat fits, but barely.  We decide to stick with the bug until Lauren outgrows her infant seat, which we were hoping was near her 1st birthday so we can put her in her next seat forward facing.  But then…a glitch, the recommendation changed from 1 year to AT LEAST two years rear facing.  So we had to abandon the bug for the Eurovan as the larger seat just didn't fit in the bug.  I still drove him occasionally but not nearly as much as I used to.  Then in 2009 cash for clunkers happened and we sold the Eurovan (instead of having her crushed) and bough Sandy our Prius, which the car seat fits in, and is an amazing car.  So for about a year there sat the car with its insurance suspended.

A few weeks ago I started our online garage sale selling off our unused items that needed a good home.  One of the first items was three working toilets (as of this date we still have one), that were from our guest rooms, we replaced them with dual flush toilets to conserve more water.  We had one guy that said he was interested in one and came out to look and ended up buying two.  Nathan, jokingly said, "Anything else I can sell you?  We have two cars here we are looking to sell."  And as luck would have it, he was looking for a car for his daughter, a Junior in HS.  Just a little car to get her to and from school and to soccer practice and hopefully a job this summer.  The bug was perfect.  He came back with his daughter and wife and looked over the car, we looked at the service records, and with no dickering on the price he emailed last week and said he wanted it.  So…Twelve years from the date that I picked up my car, April 6th, I will be driving it, and dropping it off at his new home.  Although the daughter might have to fight mom for him!  She made a comment to her husband that they could give their old Honda to the daughter and she could drive the Bug, it reminds her of the one she used to have in '76.

Serves 4 (or two really big portions with a portion for a little one too)

2 cups chicken broth
1 cup water
1 small onion, finely chopped (I have used white, yellow and red before, all are great)
1 cup white wine
1 1/2 cups Arborio Rice
3 tbsp butter
1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese

In a saucepan, bring chicken broth, white wine, and water to simmer and keep on low heat.  In a 3-qt heavy saucepan melt 2 tbsp of the butter and saute onion until soft.  Add the rice, stirring until thoroughly coated.  Add 1 cup simmering broth and stir until liquid is absorbed.  Continue cooking on low heat, adding 1/2 cup broth mixture at a time, until rice is creamy but al dente (about 18 – 20 minutes).  Add parmesan cheese, remaining 1 tbsp butter, salt and pepper to taste.

Variations
Chicken, mushroom & asparagus
I chop up a chicken breast and toss it in with the onion while it is sauteing and then add quartered mushrooms and asparagus once I have added the first cup of liquid.

Shrimp / Fish / Seafood
I add fresh shrimp about halfway through the cooking process.  If using fish use a firm fish or salmon for added color

Sweet Potato
Peel and dice a sweet potato and saute with the onion, add a handful of chopped sage leaves.  Also good with kale, spinach, or swiss chard added about halfway through cooking.

Be creative.  I did one with bacon, butternut squash, swiss chard and gorgonzola cheese too, it was interesting, not bad, just a different taste.  I also usually drizzle a little cream in at the end for some added creaminess

So now that it is behind us, I am really starting to get excited about July Baby!  Here are a few things we have been not really working on, but stuff I have discovered in the last few days.

Expect.net
It is an online Baby Pool.  Guess the sex, birth date, weight, length and if you are feeling really lucky you can try and guess the name and put it in the relationship/who am I section.  We we will give a prize to the winner, but not sure what the prize is going to be as of yet.  My mom apparently thinks July Baby is going to be trouble, a big rule breaker not following the rules of birthdays in our family!  If you don't know what those rules are…well, sorry, not going to give any clues.

We don't expect to have a shower this time around, although an early summer party sounds like fun, so we will see.  BBQ, kiddy pool set up, our mega bubble blower going, good friends and family here, sounds good.  We don't need much in the way of anything, there are a couple of things, but nothing huge, and we don't expect anyone to get them for us.  We still have the registry that we started with the boys and then converted for Lauren.  If any one out there feels compelled that they MUST get something, our registry can be found at myregistry.com.  I went through it yesterday and I think I removed all the things we don't need.

The next midwife appointment isn't for a few weeks yet and I will be a week shy of entering the 3rd trimester!  Crazy!  It is my glucose test appointment so I am not really looking forward to it, at least it is only the one hour one, we'll see what happens this time around.  I'll be going from once a month appointments to every two weeks with that appointment, and then in June I start the once a week appointments.  July baby will be here before we know it.

Lauren is starting to maybe understand what is happening, she will give my belly kisses, and we have been reading lots of books about babies lately.  If you ask her what is in momma's belly she still says "Dada" but she saw a little baby a couple of weeks ago and said "dada" so…who knows.  The biggest thing with her is that she is working on her last two teeth, the bottom incisors (eye teeth) and hopefully they come through soon.  The other is the the fact that she very much enjoys taking EVERYTHING out of the dresser and putting it in a large pile.  It wasn't too bad a month ago, she didn't have that much stuff in the dresser, but after being given a huge amount of hand me downs there are a lot more things to take out, and then refold, resort and put back in.  I might have to figure out a way to keep her out.  Anyone with suggestions feel free.  I don't really want to drill anything into or permanently adhere anything to the dresser though.

I started prenatal yoga again and I am very much enjoying it, and re-reading and brushing up with the HypnoBirthing.  It served me very well with Lauren's birth and we plan on having a birth very similar with July.  We also talked to our Pediatrician and Midwives about not sticking around the hospital.  We were given the all clear that if there were no complications with the birth and everyone was in good health we were free to go whenever we wanted, which is good, because the hospital is no place to relax that is for sure, we will be happiest at home.  So there is a lengthy update for you. I keep meaning to write more frequently but sometimes it just doesn't happen.