... and then there were three!

On Sunday I received the best Mother's Day present of all time... the news that come January we will be welcoming a new little Appleberry babe into our family!

Yep, you read that right... I am pregnant!

And although news like this always feels like a shock... this has been in the making for a long time.

You see, it was just shy of 1 year ago that Loren and I set out to make our third and final baby!

From the beginning there was this gut feeling that things might not happen as fast as they did with Tuck!

I mean with Tuck I was just coming off my pregnancy with Greta and so I think my body was at a pretty fertile state.... but those of you that know us well, you know that getting pregnant with Greta wasn't so easy!

My body just doesn't like to ovulate or flat out cooperate with plans, dates, cycles, etc.

But after a few months of working with a doctor we were pregnant with our Greta.

And it just so happens that this third baby is following suit!

After months and months of trying with no success, Loren and I agreed it might be a good idea to go back and see our fertility doctor.

Long story short...

After more months and months of trying, a couple disappointed and tear filled nights....

Oh... and lots of fertility drugs later... we are now pregnant and expecting our third little babe

mid January of 2013!

Not only are Loren and I super excited (ok, and a tad nervous!) but Greta and Tuck seem to be pretty pumped as well!

It has been all the rage and talk at our house lately!

Greta is already taking well to the role of big sister.

She is being very kind and nurturing.... making sure to be extra careful when I hold her or if she sits on my lap. She doesn't want to "crush the baby" as she says! lol

And Tuck... well any chance he gets he will remind you that he is no longer little or the baby around our house... he is a big brother now!

Last night he kissed my tummy and yelled loudly... "Goodnight Baby!!!" - in hopes that yelling would mean the baby would really hear him!

Loren and I know that this will be our last baby and so we have every intention of truly enjoying and really living every moment of this last pregnancy.

I have to keep reminding myself that this is really happening!

That although this is going to be scary, nerve racking, chaotic, and life changing... that this is what we wanted.

That you have to put in all the blood, sweat, and tears now... just so that later in life you can truly reap all the benefits.

So that one day you can proclaim "I survived raising a family... and lived to tell about it!"

So here's to Baby #3!

May the Lord continue to watch over our family and bless us with a healthy pregnancy and flawless delivery!

And don't be shy to send up some prayers for us!

We could use all the help and support we can get!

Chat later,

Soon to be Mommy of THREE! - yikes!

Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies!

(picture taken from foodgawker)

These are not your ordinary Chocolate Chip Cookies!

These are like cookies on crack... or maybe their addictive like crack?!... Regardless, these cookies are to die for!

I have been making these babies for quite awhile now and they are always a huge hit and a crowd favorite!

They have made appearances at Birthday Parties, Christmas Parties, Charity Events, and Bake Sales.

So if you are looking for a cookie that will wow! the socks of everybody... look no further!

----------------------------------------

First make a batch of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough... I usually follow the recipe on the bag, nothin' too fancy here.

Oh, and it doesn't hurt to have a couple helpers to lick the beaters and eat all the Oreos...

Using a cookie scoop (or a regular spoon) take one scoop of cookie dough and place on top of an Oreo Cookie.  Take another scoop of dough and place on bottom of Oreo cookie. 

Seal edges together by pressing and cupping in hand until Oreo cookie is enclosed with dough.

FYI: They make for very large cookies and I would only put about 6 to a sheet!

 

Place onto a baking sheet and bake cookies at 375 degrees for 11-14 minutes or until golden brown.

NOTE: Some bakers have had some trouble with their dough spreading too much during baking. If that becomes a problem... there are 2 solutions to this.

1. Throw the dough balls into the freezer for a quick chill before baking.

(usually I don't have the extra time for this)

Or...

2. Half way through the baking process pull your cookies out and with the back of your spatula, smush the cookie dough back towards the center - it should still be gooey and pliable - making your cookies smaller in size yet thicker, hiding the Oreo.

Like so...

Once they are out of the oven, let cool for 5 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.

This makes about 16 - 24 VERY BIG cookies, depending on how you do them.

Enjoy!

Jen

Things That Make Me Happy...

Last night while making dinner the babes were sitting together at the table "discussing" a whole bunch of topics.

As I stood at the stove frying meat and choppin' up veggies for tacos, the hum of their conversation was music to my ears!

They were getting along!

There was no fighting, yelling, hitting, or back talk. It was just 2 babes, brother and sister, enjoying their time and conversation!

The whole slew of topics was quite comical!

First there was talk of a possible thunderstorm... my babes hate thunderstorms!

They were sad that the birds and squirrels had to live outside because what if they too were afraid of thunderstorms?

Then there was talk of the bad dream Greta had the night before.

She was telling Tuck all about it when Tuck left the dinner table to get his gun!

He came back to the table all proud and said that if "Sissy" had another bad dream, he was gonna shoot the bad guy! - oh my.

And finally their conversations landed on Greta going over colors and numbers with her little brother (typical first born!)

She was trying to get him to count and work on his numbers... but like a typical boy... he was too distracted by his gun...

When she finally got him to count it went something like this...

5,4,3,2,1,- 6,7,8,9,10, 11teen, 12, 13...

Well, at least he's got just about all of them!

Now we'll just have to work on the order next! haha

It was just so wonderful to let them be.

If you're a Mom, you know that when your children run off and play or get along nicely it is like heaven!

To not have to jump in and mediate like a referee is the most refreshing thing.

It's as if them getting along and acting more like friends then brother and sister set the tone for a great night!

Oh my little munchkins....

... if only you could always get along so nicely! :)

What's making you happy on this Tuesday?!

Chat later,

Jen