New Baby

Hey girls wish I wasn't so blog illiterate and knew how to double post. We had our little guy Monday morning. We are all so happy to have this new addition in our home. Zachary Douglas Bingham 7# 12 oz and 19.75 in. long. He's healthy and beautiful. there are a few more details on my blog, I'll post more on this one later.
Congratulations Ann and Brit, I hope you both recover quickly, I think your forced to when older kids are at home. Hope your hubbies get time off to help you rest. Wish we were all together so we could commiserate about nursing and such.

Happy Belated Birthday

Pics of us at wedding in Utah and then some at seaworld in texas. Busy fall. This is only one I can find as 28 year old.

Sorry, I guess this birthday post comes a bit late. I forgot that I had to do it and I am not quite sure what to put exactly but here goes. I had a fabulous time celebrating my 28th birthday...ha ha. My boys contracted the rotavirus...so I spent lots of time that week cleaning up diarrhea and poop. Lucked out with Amelia because she got the new rotavirus vaccine so didn't get it. At least they held it in on my birthday and started again early the next morning. I was in Vale, OR with my in-laws as Trent is in San Antonio for training. His parents actually work in the temple on Wednesdays so it was just me and the kids at home. We just hung out with our puke buckets. Then when they got back, they took me out to eat at the Starlite Cafe, the only restaurant in Vale. And, that's about all. Trent wanted to buy me an ipod but I told him to wait til we got home so we could do the research and figure out exactly what I want. He sent me a cute card though.

As for turning 28...hmmmm. Not much different. Right now I am selfishly in my own world only concerned with me and my family. I am not involved with any clubs or organizations as I have been all over the country and not really settled in anywhere. We've been stationed in Minot for 3 1/2 months but I've only physically been present there for about 5 weeks total. I am getting ready to head back after being gone for 6 weeks. Projects I've been working on are just food storage and parenting strategies. I have been visiting valuesparenting.com in order to be a little better at mothering and am making plans for when I get home. I've develped more of a love for motherhood over the past few months and my three little ones are my prized possessions. We have lots of fun and they are good kids. Amelia is the apple of my eye. Right now I am actually in Texas with her visiting Trent just for the weekend. The boys are still in Oregon. We do way too much traveling, but family is everything.

My mother-in-law has been teaching me to can while I've been here so we have done peaches, pears, applesauce, jam, tomatoes, salsa, and tomato juice. I have been dehydrating tons of fruit that I've bought from the local orchards and farms. It's been great. I am trying to continue implementing raw foods (traveling makes it a little harder) and if I get my workout in, I feel pretty good about life. Things I would like to do more of include reading, triathlons, and playing more piano.

Sorry this is so random. I'm not all that exciting but hopefully doing what's important in life. Happy to hear everyone is doing well and all those little ones are arriving safely.

Belly Shots

These were taken a week and a half ago, I have been meaning to post them. The kids had fun taking these baby belly pictures. I sure have missed seeing you guys and those of you who have also had growing bellies.
We are all so excited for a new baby to be joining us very soon. ten days to go until my due date, so any time now.

Apple Pickin'

Yesterday we went to an apple orchard with the Grosse Pointe Mom's Club. The festivities started with a hay ride out to the apple orchard.


Hallie went right to work picking her apples.


The kids also got to pick out one pumpkin. Here's Zeke in search of the "perfect pumpkin."


He found it! I never knew five apples and a pumpkin could make a boy so happy.
After all the hard work we had some delicious donuts and apple cider.
Then the kids got to play. They had some cute farm animals. Zeke's asking, "Is your Mama a Llama?" No, but she might be a goat!




Hallie of course LOVED the ponies.

I thought these giant tractors made out of hay bales were so fun.
We also did a small corn maze which Zeke was determined to stay lost in. Somehow we made it out.
It was a gorgeous day and we had so much fun. I loved being outside all day. It's so fun to have seasons and fall in Michigan is wonderful!

The newest addition...

Alisa Simone Healey
September 12
6 lbs 12 oz
18 1/2"

So sweet and snuggly! Already has daddy wrapped! Her sisters new favorite toy!

Hi everyone! She is here!!! Alisa (pronounced A-lisa not Allyssa) was born on friday and is doing fantastic. She is such a sweet little baby and we all have spent the last week adoring her. Labor and delivery was cinchy and I am feeling fabulous! I started contracting on sept 11th and since labor happens rapidly for me my doctor was tracking me pretty closely (it helps that we have an inside connection and she is also one of austin's attendings.) She checked me on the 11th and I had dialated from the day before so she had austin check me every two hours until I reached a 4 or my water broke. (They cant start any induction or admit to the hospital here unless you are 39 weeks or in active labor. So since I was 37 and 5 we had to work the system.) Once I reached a 4 we all went up to the hospital and they checked me and then had me walk around the hospital for an hour to dialate me enough that they could say that I was in active labor and then break my water and let it go from there. So I was determined to make that hour count so Austin and I ran stairs for the hour and I came back at a 6 so they were able to break my water and let me go. It still took 5 hours once they broke my water which for me was really weird. I was so bored!!! Once I completed she was out in one push. I felt great!!! The next day however my calves hurt like crazy from running stairs but other than that I felt better than I had for months! The girls love her to pieces and are so gentle with her. Even Hope has been so soft with her and is sure to inform me immediately if Ali starts crying. It has been a fun week. She is sleeping pretty well and will go for 3-4 hour stretches (so I am still getting far more sleep than I was when I was up all night with heartburn!) So anyway, Sorry for not updating sooner, our primary program is tomorrow and so I have been busy this week preparing for that and for family to come into town. I'll post more picts when I have updated ones. Good luck now to all of you who are about to have your babies. I know all of you are pretty close!

Everyone wants my recipes!!

Okay so no one is actually beating on my door for recipes but I keep getting these recipe email chains. For some unknown reason I am incapable of keeping these things going. But I do want recipes and I don't mind giving out mine. So here is my new favorite recipe. Actually I am getting tired of it and I need something new so everyone please post your favorite recipe of the moment, any type of recipe. Can't wait to see what you like cooking.

Super Good Egg Salad

7 hard-boiled eggs, peeled
1/3 cup light mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
¾ cup chopped celery
¼ cup chopped sweet pickles (such as sweet gherkins)
Sprinkle of basil
If you like onions add 3 tablespoons of a sweet onion or ½ cup green onions or both
Preparation
Cut eggs into 1/2-inch pieces. (or omit two yolks to be healthier)
Whisk mayonnaise and mustard in medium bowl to blend. Add chopped eggs, celery, sweet pickles, and basil. Stir gently to blend. Season egg salad to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Serve on any type of bread or just eat as is.

I love to eat this with kettle-cooked potato chips. Makes about 6 servings.

Where my girls at?

I know, I know, its back to school time and everyone's lives are crazy getting kids back in the school year routine! I'm down and out sick with a nasty cold and decided to take a minute and post a shout out to you all :)

I'm really starting to feel the "Soccer mom" title everyone seems to give me now! With Dillon and Charlie in school, gymnastics and Karate and a renewed YMCA membership, my day begins way early- I spend way too much of it in the car and the day ends at least an hour earlier than it used to!!

I'm loving it, though. A routine helps me make better use of my time and energy. This cold hit me like a brick wall and the routine is on hold until I can breathe again! ;0)

I must say, that after the first month of 2nd year, things REALLY improved! James only has between 4 and 5 call days per rotation! Sometimes he'll go like 10 days without a call shift! He doesn't have to go to work at 5:30 hardly ever anymore!!! Thank goodness for that. Next month he has an away rotation, so that won't be fun, but I can handle it after what we went through last year!

What are you guys up to? I've read your blogs, but there's absolutely NO NEWS from Joni- anyone? Has she had her baby? Who's next- Jill or Katie? Ann maybe? I saw that Shelly is expecting so that makes five babes on the way with NO UPDATES in months!! I know Kami and Brett are in Florida and house hunting is going well.. They met some friends of ours there and are hooking up with them for dinner next Sunday!

Also, SHELLY, You're in big trouble, girl.... you have yet to post your birthday post and your birthday was nearly a whole month ago!!!! Big big trouble! ;)

Just thinking of you ladies and hope you're all still hanging in there ;)