My New Business

I'm spreading the word... I have just recently become a Pampered Chef consultant! I'm excited to start this up again since I absolutely LOVE their products and I enjoy cooking and telling people about the products at cooking shows.

If you or anyone you know would be interested in hosting a cooking or catalog show, or a fund raiser, let me know! It's very easy to do and a lot of fun. Plus, you get all kinds of free and discounted products.

In my first 30 days (which end Jan. 16th) anyone who hosts a show for me with receive an extra gift of either a Cranberry Hot Pad/Trivet or Sweet Cinnamon Sprinkle & Chipotle Rub. That would be on top of the other host benefits that you would usually get. I know it's late notice to do a show before January 16th, but I figured I'd mention it in case anyone's really excited to get one of those things free.

Here are some links to the Host and Guest Specials for the upcoming 2 months:

January Host Special - This is an especially great month for hosting!
January Guest Special

February Host Special
February Guest Special

In addition to the monthly specials, Hosts always get all of the following:

~ Free products of your choice.
~ Half-price & discounted products.
~ 10% discount for a year.
~ Free shipping on your order.

So, spread the word to anyone you know that might be interested in hosting a cooking show and getting all kinds of free stuff.

I don't intend to turn this blog into a constant advertisement for my Pampered Chef business; however, I may occasionally post if there is an extremely good deal going on :).

Browse the most recent catalog here.

A Heartbeat, A Christmas Tree & A New Title

Baby Update:
Morning sickness is still a symptom of pregnancy that I experience regularly. Sometimes it seems like maybe it's getting a little better, but then there's nights like last night and the night before where I feel as sick as ever again. Monday I was 9 weeks along so now I'm well into my 10th week. Time is thankfully going by pretty quick. My house is still far from neat and tidy but I have been able to keep up with it here and there so it's not so bad. Jon continues to be a huge help around the house - often making or helping with dinner and just being willing to hang out at home with me and take it easy most nights. Exaughstion is another symptom that's been following me around all the time. Most mornings I'm just crawling out of bed around 10am and I'm still tired and ready for bed by 10:30 or 11:00 at night. The last three days I've noticed a little bit of spotting again, so yesterday I went in to see my midwife - just to ease my mind. She was able to find the baby's heartbeat with her Doppler device and I was able to hear it as well! She also took a look and said everything else seems fine. All this was very comforting and it was so neat to hear the heartbeat for the first time. My next scheduled appointment is the day before Christmas Eve. Jon is planning to come with me to that one so he can hear the heartbeat as well. That should be fun!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Tuesday night Jon and I went out to get a Christmas tree, then came back and decorated it - I know, we're a little late this year. We decided to go with a somewhat smaller and skinnier one this year since last year's tree took up a bit too much of our living room. I think we found the perfect one.

I'm enjoying the lack of clutter on the tree for probably one of the last years for a while. With a little one on the way I'm sure it won't be long before our Christmas trees starts to fill up with lots of ornaments the kids make and want to display. :) I haven't done much more decorating since we put the tree up. Hopefully tonight Jon can help me with some of it. As soon as it stops raining Jon will be putting up the lights outside too. Can you believe Christmas is only 13 days away! Oh my, I shouldn't have counted... now I'm feeling a bit behind. I've still got about half my Christmas shopping to do and I've got to finish our Christmas letter and picture to send out, plus bake some cookies and other holiday treats and finish decorating the house!

Jon's new responsibilities at work:
As of last week Jon is now the photographer for his company - along with all that he was already doing. He is excited to be learning photography and is looking forward to shooting his first newly re-designed home today. The company has a very expensive camera and professional lenses, lighting, etc. for Jon to use. He said there is a LOT to learn but he will enjoy the break from office work whenever he's able to get out to take pictures. He's also glad to be getting more experience in photography because it's something he has wanted to learn more about for a while. Jon used his works camera to take the above picture of our Christmas tree. Here's my photographer at work:

****Baby Alert****

Yes, the wait is over: I'm pregnant!! The baby is due July 13th 2009 - I'm 8 weeks today :). After having the miscarriage last time we decided to wait a little longer this time before telling everyone - although we still told our parents and families early on.

After finding out that I wasn't pregnant the last time that I could have been, Jon and I decided to do a fast to pray that God would bless us and allow me to get pregnant. What a merciful and loving God we have - He answered our prayers! That next month is when I got pregnant. We're continually praising and thanking God for the little answer to prayer that's growing inside of me.

About two weeks after we found out I was pregnant (when I was a few days into my 7th week), I noticed some spotting. Since my last miscarriage started with spotting, I began to panic and it wasn't more than 20 minutes before I was almost positive I was having another miscarriage. I pleaded with God to keep the baby safe, but I didn't have much hope. I called Jon home from working on Christmas lights over at the Inn and he came right over. Thankfully He had more faith and hope than I did! We prayed together and he kept saying he wasn't sure this was a miscarriage. We called both our parents to let them know to be praying. Jon's parents came over to lay hands on me and pray for me. During their prayer Jon said he felt a strong calm and peace and he said he was almost sure the baby was ok. That was very comforting to me, even though I hadn't felt the same.

Sure enough, the next Day when I went in for an ultrasound, the baby was measuring to-the-day, exactly what it was supposed to be and the lady saw a heartbeat!! I got to see the heartbeat too - that was really neat. My midwife also said everything else looked great. The baby was too small to see anything but a dot and a sack, but here's the ultrasound picture:


The baby is to the left side of that blob in the middle :).

Starting near the end of my 7th week, my morning sickness really kicked in. This little baby has been keeping me on the couch or in bed most of the time for the past week and 2 days! Before that I would feel queasy every-once-in-a-while, but nothing consistent. Now I feel sick most of the day - especially at night when it's the worst. Food doesn't appeal to me at all, even though I'm so hungry all the time. I have to force myself to eat.

Thankfully I haven't been throwing up - although I'm not the throwing up type - I can't stand the thought of it even more than I don't like the sick feeling, so I do everything I can to keep myself from throwing up.

Those of you who know what my house looks like normally - and how I like to keep it fairly neat and orderly at all times - would be shocked to see the mess it has become! I would take pictures but I'm too embarrassed to even do that! Dishes are piled up on almost all open counter space; to walk into our room you have to step over piles of dirty laundry - you can barely see the floor; the bathroom hasn't had a good cleaning in at least 2 weeks, and the rest of my house has clutter everywhere! I cannot believe how much of a mess it has become. My wonderful husband has been so patient and understanding during this season! He's always telling me to take it easy and rest, and that he's fine with the house being messy and him having to make his own lunches in the morning. He's even done the dishes and made dinner a few nights! I'm so thankful for him. :) Thank you love!

Today I plan to use any energy I get to start attacking the messes. So far I've picked up all the laundry and sorted it, then put a few loads in. I was about to start the dishes when nausea hit me so I had to sit down - that's when I decided to start this post. Now I'm feeling a little better so I better get going to do what I can before it starts again.

Even though it's not too fun feeling like I do these days I wouldn't have it any other way. I know that as long as I'm feeling sick the baby is doing well, so I'll take the sickness thankfully for as long as it lasts - hopefully just till the end of my first trimester - 4 weeks from today :).

I'll do my best to regularly post baby updates as the weeks and months go by. Thank you to everyone who's been praying and will continue to pray!