I'm in Love with Chick-fil-A

This guy is so funny, I just had to share! Plus, I AM in love with Chick-fil-A, so it's very fitting. Look for him at www.timhawkins.net

What's Cookin'

I admit that I have been a dead-beat blogger lately. Hopefully, any of you that actually read this blog have had enough excitement of your own to not miss reading about my world! Anyway, all that baking this winter has gotten me my own actual bun in the oven. Yes, we're expecting another Merkle! Praise Be! Merkles seem to never cease at our house! Since we're already in "boy mode" around here, we're all betting on another brother; but we're not going to find out what this one is. So you'll have to keep checking the blog to discover what kind of bun we're baking up this time. Due August 17th, it'll be a long, hot, and fat summer, but oh, so worth it. I'll keep you posted on the progress; it really is a thrill, even the third time around. Here is a poem I wrote about being pregnant when I was carrying our second child (and a photo from that time). Hope you enjoy.

Making Some Bread!

My new creative outlet for these winter months has become making artisan bread. My dad, a potter, has cultivated a love for bread making and has gotten me hooked on an easy artisan bread recipe. It's also scrumptious and fills our home with smells of yummy goodness. It's taken me awhile to get the technique down, but I got confident enough to take a picture of a rather well-shaped and nicely browned loaf. We've been trying eliminate processed foods from our pantry as much as possible and incorporate more whole foods into our daily family intake, so this homemade whole wheat bread has been a great step in the right direction. I plan to take my creativity further and begin to put my Sculpture degree to use by making loaves like the photo below. I'll see how it goes...

 

Made with Love

My friend's two year old little girl, Haley, is on my mind constantly - my heart broken that she's having to go through Chemo treatments so very young and fragile. So I made her this doll about a month or two ago. It's a Chemo Friend for her to drag w/ her to Chemo. I made her out of fleece so she'd be cuddly;  and I made her a cute dress as well as a hospital gown to wear. She also has medical accessories to carry w/ her in her tote bag: a stethoscope, bottle of asprin, heartrate thing, and a shot. The doll's hair snaps on and off, and she has a couple of hats to wear; but fortunately, little Haley's hair has not come out at all! I thought I was actually having an original idea on this one, but in my online research I found this great site w/ great Chemo dolls, too:

www.kimmiecares.com

Anyway, thought I'd post some photos of  my little project.

Cancer Awareness

I have recently cut off my hair to donate to Locks of Love in honor of two special friends dealing with cancer right now. One friend is a the mom of a two- year-old little girl who was diagnosed with a Wilm's Tumor in August. Little Haley is doing great and is set for her last Chemo treatment on December 24th...merry Christmas! The other friend is also the mom of a two year old little girl who was diagnosed with breast cancer when her daughter was only 4 months old. Kita is one of the most optimistic, joyful people I've ever met, even though she has continued to fight cancer for the past two years. Hats off, and HAIRs OFF to these extraordinary friends who fight for their lives everyday and yet continue to smile and thank God for His goodness. I love you girls!!

My New Book

My mom & I have created a book together that is now available in print! It is titled Love Spot and is available at: www.authorhouse.com/BookStore. We joined efforts to explain the process of In Vitro Fertilization through this story after a new member of our family was conceived through the IVF method. It is a beautiful, yet simple explanation of the of IVF conception process that is sure to touch your heart! This book is a must have for anyone who has ever experienced the miracle of IVF! Check it out!

Bibs That'll Make You Drool

Ooo-EE, I am so excited about this new product in the making at Amy's Own! The magic of Iron-On Transfers has gotten me fired up! My designs are working great on these little bibs. They're not on the website yet, but write and let me know what you think of them. I'm trying out some other products that I can iron-on, like tote bags, onesies, and kid tee shirts. So fun!

Oh, by the way- Yes, Jacqueline, this is for Baby Jack; and yes, Kerry, the lamb is for Baby Caroline!