So we have 2 weddings, might as well have 2 pregnancies!!! Oh wait.... we DO!!!! Here's an update on Lisa Martin's pregnancy.

This is me and Landon (21 months) this weekend. I am just about 30 weeks, everything is going well. I feel way bigger way sooner this time, but such is life. I spent some time this morning setting up her room, and I am excited for May 10th to be here. 

Seriously, does it get cuter than this? 

Bag Lady sighted at Sutter Memorial Hospital in Sacramento!

Is that an LBS bag we see on that cart? Could this bag lady be one of our own?

This is Emily's cart as she moved from her semi-private to her private room at the hospital. She said she feels like a bag lady walking the halls of the hospital.

Here is an awesome and super cute card that one of Marci's midwives sent out to her clients last year.  She is so creative and busy!

 

 ADORABLE, right?!

Cheri's Amazing Talent!!

I'll never tell who tattled to me that Cheri was so amazing!  Well, we all know she's amazing.  That goes without saying, but we didn't all know until after seeing Christine's Belly cake that Cheri had SUCH an amazing talent.  Well, here are just a few more pictures to show just how amazingly talented she truly is.....

(I hope you're ready and not hungry!)

Anyone else craving sweets yet???!

Happy Birthday Christine!

So, we decided it would be fun to follow Christine around all day and participate in her fun. Since we can't literally do that, we'll do it the best we can through our blog! (good thing we have one, huh?!)

Here’s Christine getting the flowers and balloons.  They’re nearly as tall as her!!


 

We should all take a “mental trip” to Aveda with Christine.

Ready…. Begin….

I think

we’re

getting

the “don’t

you wish

you were

here” look.

A head massage…. ahhhhhh

She even looks good with a towel on her head,

No fair!

Almost done…..

TA-DAH!!!!

Last but definitely not least, cake!

LET’S EAT!!!

It was a red velvet cake tummy with carrot cake boobs, all covered in my super-rich cream cheese frosting. Then covered in homemade marshmallow fondant with "princess" flavoring (and yes, that is the real name of the flavor- delicious). The flower were made from gum paste, so all was hand-made and all was edible. I think it was delicious, as we are still eating the cupcakes from the left over batter- yum!

This photo was taken of Suzanne’s adorable

Hannah just an hour after surgery. 

She is doing well, what a trooper!!

MANA Conference February 2012

 Amy Zenizo & Kim

 Marinah Farrell & Christine



 Stephanie Fritz and Kim

Britta, Billye Matthews, Kim

(Amy, Marinah, Stephanie and Billye are all LBS clients)

Suzanne Arms and Christine - Suzanne is not a client but is quite a renowned midwife. She's most famous for her book she wrote in 1975, Immaculate Deception. It was an honor to meet her! 

 Diane Gregg & Kim (Diane is a client)

 Kim, Christine, Britta

  Brynne Porter, Christine, Kim - Brynne is the founder of a beautiful EHR program for midwives that we are really excited about

 Geradine Simkins & Christine - she is the President of MANA, very cool to meet her!

Kim and Christine at the airport

Look at our adorable Christine and Kim at the conference in AZ!

Our banner looks awesome, it would definitely draw me in.

Food for thought.

Thanks Beth!

So I was a little mad at Bryce because I was expecting a ring for Valentine's Day since he told me that's what he was planning. Bryce (the stink head) started sending me mixed signals whether or not he actually had it a couple of weeks before the big day. He did so good that I was absolutely confused.  

I was making dinner last night and he said that the jewelry store didn't call, but that he had gotten me something else instead. He went to get "it" and called me into the other room. I totally thought he'd be in position to propose with a ring and everything. Nope. He bought me a Money Tree from Home Depot. Not bad since I wanted one. It's a cute little indoor tree :) Anyway... I got teary eyed because I had such high hopes. I tried not to look ungrateful and went back to the kitchen. I kept my back to him because I knew he was there and wanted to talk. I just kept making dinner, so he started talking to Miley.  

He asked if she thought we should become a family. Miley said yes.... of course. Here's the rest of their conversation:
Bryce: What do we need to do?
Miley: You have to get married. You have to wear your outfit with the bowtie and my mom has to dress like a princess. Then you kiss at your wedding party.
Bryce: What do I do before that?
Miley: You have to ask her to marry you.
Bryce: How?
Miley: You have to get on your knee...
Bryce: Like this? (He got down... in case you didn't catch on)
Miley: Yep. Then you have to give her a ring...
Bryce at this point ever so silently took a ring out of his pocket and opened the box. He says her eyes opened so wide when she saw it! She just nodded her head in approval!! I turned around just after that because all of a sudden they were quiet. There was Bryce... kneeling with the ring opened up.
Bryce: Heather will you marry me?
Me: Do I really have to say yes because you already know that I will!
Miley: Now you have to put the ring on her finger like this...

And that's that. Miley was totally stunned the entire night that he did exactly what she said! We were impressed she knew so much. He says he didn't know how to propose to me but when she started talking he decided he take advantage! Miley later told me that I did a good job holding my hand out so Bryce could put the ring on my finger. We were both way stoked that she was able to play such a huge role in beginning this next step for our family!

This is a pic of them newly engaged..... FER CUTE!!!!

Our Awesome Banner!

Emily helped design this banner for the upcoming conference

that Kim and Christine are going to in AZ next weekend.

We will have this banner at our booth, very cool!

And check out Emily!

Working from home has been a huge adjustment for me.  People who’ve been doing it for years laugh at me and say “told ya so.”  Anyway, I talked to Arden and asked what she does for dinners (other than starve her family) she said she does crockpot means a lot, so I found some crockpot meals that were freezable.  I made 8 at once and so far I’m happy with the results.  It took 2 hours to get it all prepped but saved me HOURS on a daily basis.  I had some people ask for the recipes so here they are…..

Teriyaki Chicken (2 Bags)

• Split a large bag of Baby Carrots between the 2 bags
• Cut Red Onion into Large Chunks and split between the 2 bags
• (1) 20oz can pineapple in each bag (undrained)
• (2) Garlic Cloves chopped per bag
• (2) Chicken Breasts in each bag
• 1/2 cup teriyaki sauce in each bag

*Add 1/4 cup teriyaki sauce to mixture. Cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 8 hours. Serve over Rice. 

Savory Vegetable Beef Soup (2 Bags)

• Chop (1) Onion and Chop (2) Cloves of Garlic- Brown in Pan with the Ground Beef- once cool divide mixture between bags
• (2) whole carrots chopped per bag
• (2) celery stalks chopped per bag
• (3) Red Potatoes chopped per bag
• (1) can v8 split between bags
• (1) 28oz can diced tomatoes SPLIT between bags
• (1) cup frozen green beans in each bag
• (1/2)TBSP Worcestershire per bag
• (1/2) cup Beef Broth per bag
• (1) TBSP Parsley per bag
• (1) tsp Basil per bag
• 1/2 tsp Thyme per bag
• (1/2) tsp salt per bag
• (1/2) tsp pepper per bag
• (1) TBSP Sugar per bag

*Place in Crockpot with 1.5 cups of water and 15 oz Beef Broth. Cook on LOW 8 Hours.

Healthy BBQ Chicken (2 Bags)

• (2) Green Peppers Cut into Slices split between 2 bags
• (1) Red Pepper Cut into Slices-split between bags
• (1) Zucchini Chopped and split between bags
• (3) Onions Chopped and split between bags
• (6) Red Potatoes Chopped and split between bags (you can also use Sweet Potatoes)
• (4) Garlic Cloves Chopped & Split Between bags
• (4) Chicken Breasts Split between bags (I cut each breast in half again)
• (1/2) TBSP Quick Cooking Tapioca per bag
• (1) 15 oz can of Tomato Sauce Split Between bags
• (1) TBSP of Brown Sugar per bag
• (1) TBSP Worcestershire per bag
• (1) TBSP Mustard per Bag
• (1/4) tsp Salt per bag

Cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 8 hours. Serve over Rice or Egg Noodles. 

Stephanie's Goulash/Beef Stew (2 Bags)

• (1) Green Pepper Chopped split between bags
• (1) Chopped Onion per bag
• (2) Carrots Chopped per bag
• (2) Chopped Garlic Cloves per bag
• (3) Ibs Beef Stew Meat Split Between Bags
• (1) 6oz can Tomato Paste per bag
• (2) tsp Paprika per bag
• (1/4) tsp Black Pepper per bag

*Cook for 4 hours on HIGH or 8 hours on LOW in a slow cooker. Add (1/2) Cup of Sour Cream about 10 minutes prior to serving. Serve over Egg Noodles.

Christine's ENGAGED!!!

I will be turning 40 soon, and I have spent the better part of 20 years longing for a happy marriage. This has eluded me over the years. I have been married 3 times. Although there were happy times along my journey, there was much heartache. I often wondered if I would ever experience what it would be like to be married to my best friend. I have never experienced that.

Scott Romney and I have been dating for 5 months. He is so good for me. We balance each other out really well. I have always been passionate and impetuous. He is analytical and logical, he takes his time to make decisions. We both need a little bit of what the other's personality has, and we admire each other's strengths. I believe our personalities really complement each other. We have so much fun together, he makes me laugh all the time, he has a very quirky sense of humor. I can honestly say that he is my very best friend. He calls me every day on his way to work and every day on his way home. We talk about everything. We connect on so many levels; our connection is beautiful. My kids absolutely adore him. My two teenagers, in particular, have been through a lot. Their real dad was killed a few years ago, and my second husband was really hard on them. They could have so many reasons not to trust Scott, yet they completely embrace him and have both told me that they absolutely know he's the One for me. It has meant so much to me to watch him bond with my children.

We are hoping to get married in Portland in the Mormon temple in the spring - my entire family lives there. When you have been married previously in the temple in the LDS church, there is an extensive process to get clearance to be married again in the temple; a civil divorce doesn't automatically cancel a temple marriage. So we are in the process of applying for that clearance. If it goes through in time, we'll go to Oregon by May. If not, we will get married civilly here in UT, probably on June 1. In that event, we would have a temple ceremony later. The reason for the temple ceremony is that it binds you together forever, not just til death do you part. So I am praying that we are able get married in the temple, it just depends on how long the paperwork takes. In any case, we are very excited. I have never felt so settled and at peace with any decision I have ever made. He is so very good to me! I am truly blessed!

This next part is in Scott's words.  It's possibly the cutest thing you'll ever read. 

(Warning: tears may spring freely from your eyes, use of tissues is recommended)

I wanted to ask her to marry me the place of our first date; Zuppa’s, but I wondered how I would get her there. I had talked to Eric , a boy in my church group that works there, about helping me with this by bringing a dessert with the ring stuck in it a little after we started eating.  

We had purchased rings, but Christine did not know that I had picked them up, I did that on Thursday February 2nd. I had talked to her father the night of February 4th, but she did not know that either. We even Skyped with her family on the 5th and nobody gave away the fact that I had talked to her dad.

On the morning of Feb 6th we were talking as I was driving to work and she asked about dinner I told her I was craving Zuppa’s and that is where I wanted to go that night, I wanted the soup/sandwich. I stopped by on the way home and explained to Eric what I would like to happen and he was all good. We get there and order and while paying I tell Christine to go and get a table and I slip the ring to Eric and he offered to pay for the rocky road dessert.

We sit down and are just talking about the day and what is going on and the exciting things happening with LBS and Eric walks over and puts the dessert down and says, This is for you. Christine glances at it and then up at him and I am just watching her to see her reaction. A few seconds later she looks closer at it and realizes that there is a shiny ring sticking up out of the chocolate goodness. She puts her hand to her mouth and starts tearing up, I was tearing up. I leaned forward after a few seconds and said “Will you marry me?” and she said YES! then she looked at me and said “Are you going to put it on my finger?” so I pick it up, lick off the chocolate and put it on her finger, and kiss her! Then she just stared at it and realized how beautiful the ring is and loved it on her finger.

We then talked at how I was able to pull it all together and surprise her. She thought I was being casual about the ring and was not sure I was as excited as her. I had talked to her father as I was driving home in my dad’s truck after the baptism and how they kept it cool during the Skype conversation. Then how I casually mentioned that I wanted to go to Zuppa’s for dinner as I was craving it. It all came together beautifully and it was during this experience that I realized just how strong my feelings for her are. We are amazing together.

Home births are making a comeback — notably in Oregon

By Shari Roan / Los Angeles Times

Published: January 27. 2012 4:00AM PST

Home birth is making a marked resurgence in the United States, according to data released Thursday by the federal government.

A century ago, most births took place at home. But the rate fell steadily and slipped to less than 1 percent of all births by 1969 and just over 0.5 percent in 2004.

Though still not common, home births have risen 29 percent from 2004 to 2009, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2009, the most recent year for which data are available, 0.72 percent of all births took place at home. The trend is particularly noteworthy among white women. Home births among that group rose 36 percent since 2004 and accounted for more than 1 percent of all births in 2009.

The northwestern part of the country has the strongest trend in home births — 2 percent in Oregon and 2.6 percent in Montana. The lack of transportation in rural areas may play a significant role in some areas, the authors of the report stated. Cost might be a factor too, because home births are about one-third the cost of hospital births.

Most of the home births in 2009 were attended by midwives (62 percent), the report said. Only 5 percent of home births were attended by doctors.

Home births tend to be lower-risk — not because birthing at home is safer but because typically only healthy, low-risk women opt to try a home birth. The rate of preterm home births in 2009 was 6 percent compared with a 12 percent rate in hospitals. Only 4 percent of home-birth babies were low birthweight.

The report was released from the National Center for Health Statistics.