Mooooving on up...Welcome to my Farm

This weekend was monumental for us!  We have been waiting for this moment in our family since a few months after we were married.

WE STARTED OUR FARM! Yes, we have/had chickens, and dogs, and cats, and fish (not terribly farmy), but now

Introducing....

GINGER
   ** moooooooooooo**

Nathan's parents got us a cow for Christmas...or money for a cow I should say.  So this weekend, we went to the sale barn, Ruthie and my first time ever.  Have you ever been to a sale barn?!?!  Here... let me show you...

Ok, so see the door on the right...the guy opens it up and there are cows (not so patiently) waiting behind and then they walked out to the center mostly freaked out by the guy at the door, but they go where they are supposed to.  Then, the guy on the left and the guy on the right kind of poke them a little so that people can see them from every angle.  They are looking for how their weight is distributed, making sure all their legs are good (you dont want a bad leg on an animal that has to hold up about 1,200 lb of meat), and the color to determine their breed.  Then the auctioneers there in the center start the bidding.  The one on the right will say, "These lovely ladies have had two rounds of shots, and are primped and ready to go," or "These strapin' boys have both rounds, are de-wormed and cut.  They were grain raised on *fill in the name of the farm here.*"  If you don't know what cut means, think of the difference between a guy and a girl, and well...if you don't get it... ask Nathan.  :)

Then the other autioneer just start rambling like auctioneers do and then soon he yells sold and then the search begins on trying to figure out who bought them...it was usually this row of old guys down in front gossiping like giddy school girls oogling over the big ones and hurrying up the process over the small ones.  I thought this was crazy!  They would get like, 20 head of cattle in there and the cows would somehow move...not sure, but then the bidding would start and the Carharts would go crazy!  I really wanted to get one of the pretty ones...Nathan said they were herefords... the black and white ones...Ends up they are milk cows and take a long time to fatten and not what we want... but they were so much cuter.  Nathan's dad ended up bidding and getting these three here.  A red, a chocolate, and a black one.  And of course I'm gonna choose the red... :)

So here is timid Red Angus, Ginger.  She hasn't met me yet.  We will become good friends, I'm sure.   Don't worry, I am not scared to name and eat her.  I think it's so important to value and appreciate the food that God prepared for us!

Although we probably wont be eating Ginger.  Our goal is to sell her and then by two and then raise those and sell them, and then buy four...grow like that...

So come June, fire up the grill!  We've got a cow just for you!  She will be tasty and home-grown!  Remember, a happy cow is a TASTY cow!  mmmm prime rib....  are you hungry yet...

Happy BELATED Christmas...argh, I hate being late...

Wineinger Christmas Picture 2012

Yes..yes...it has been wayyy too long!  I agree.  I want to come up with something snappy, maybe a good excuse.  Yea...got nothin.'  This new baby, new house, new job routine is kicking my butt!  I really am a late hater, and I have been embarrassingly behind since August.  I hope the cycle breaks soon.

To redeem myself/create a blog post/update/avoid type overload, I'm gonna post my Christmas letter!    Yeah.  I'll come up with an exciting post soon.  I'm working on it really!  I am also going to create a break in the post in case you don't want to read my letter.  If you just want to look at my year end pictures, click "The Wineinger 2012" page above (or that link).

And I promise! I'll post again next week...maybe sooner...maybe...

Be Like Ree...

I have grown to understand that I have a slightly unhealthy obsession with Ree Drummond... aka the Pioneer Woman... blogger, writer, photographer, accidental country girl... i didn't come up with that.  That is what she clams on her cooking show every Saturday morning on the food network (9:30a EST 8:30a my time...i DVR it).  It's nothing we need to inform the police about, but I'm pretty sure we could be kin.  I almost said we could be the same person, but I can't photograph as well as her.  I tried and failed.

Here is a bulleted list of why I think we could be bestest friends ever...

• She likes making bulleted lists.
• She has cows... LOTS of cows.  I per say have cows...kinda.
• She has red hair. I have kinda red hair.
• She cooks ALOT and loves it!  I would cook more if I didnt have a job, but I cook more then most and LOVE it.  
• She has the garden I can only dream of.
• She lives on a ranch in Oklahoma with wild horses and cowboys.  I can't really compare...corn does not run and our boys wear john deere or DeKalb hats.
• We kind of look alike (see picture) except for the eyes, and her hairs a little darker, and, well maybe her nose a little... but for the most part.
• Her style is fabulous.  Clothing and house...It's country but contemporary.  Look at her daughters' room.  This was also featured in Country Living which i also subscribe to.  And the staircase! That was pretty awesome too.
•  From her blog and her show, I have concluded we have the SAME sense of humor.  And I secretly think that if she didnt have someone managing her websites, she would misspell just as much as me.
• She names her animals (even the cows) that get killed.  See it's not that odd.  
• We have amazing canine companions...Her basset hounds, Charlie & Walter, and my Thing 1, Moose, and Thing 2 Hummer.
• Her husband doesn't venture too far away from red meat, bread, and potatoes.  My husband consumes no green besides ice burg lettuce.  I believe Ladd aka Marlboro Man aka her hubby is way more adventurous..
• There are many, MANY more... scary really.

I will be like her when I have more grown children.  I'm sure of it.  When Tricia and I were driving to Dallas in July, I got so excited when we were driving through OK b/c I thought that we might be seeing Dummond cattle...just maybe.  And after looking at a map, i think that possibility is more like 60% because of their distance from I-44, but I got chills thinking she drove on the interstate we were on... do you see where I get unhealthy in this obsession...

I have her first cookbook and i have made all but one or two recipes out of it.  AND her website, Tasty Kitchen is one of my go-tos to see how other women sub stuff or cook stuff or find fast recipes   I aspire to blog like her, but I don't have nearly enough entertaining moments in my life or pictures to post...well...and i have a day job...that kinda hinders stuff.  Her day job IS her blog/writing/TV show/awesomeness.

So, Santa (aka anyone), here is what I want for Christmas... Lunch with Ree, Alex, and Paige (those are her daughters who are similarly awesome). And if you're elves can't do that, her second cook book would suffice.

On a slightly serious note though, it's pretty stinkin' awesome to see a woman who loves and is dedicated to her family who can still be quarky and do what she absolutely LOVES.  Did i mention she home-schools her kids, too?  I mean she's a rock star... a COUNTRY rock star!  Minus the vocals...man shoot..she's prob so good she can sing too.  Oh, and the men in her family BULL RIDE!  What?!?

Ree, if you ever read this... which truly may never happen, you dang well inspire me. Keep on keepin' on. I think you show other women that each one of us can each live our dreams on our own "homesteads."

I am Becoming a Royal Red Eaglebird...

Holy cow, do I feel like the world is flying by!  I have a 2 mo old AND a husband again (aka football is over on Monday). The Princes weren't so charming this year so I think Nathan's secretly glad to be done. But I guess I just gave his secret away... Ruthie's better than ever.  We're getting a few smiles out of her here and there.  Now over 6 lb, she looks like a normal baby...not a 2 mo old, but people aren't commenting on her size as much.  And for the record, she is a farting machine!  We have her on gas medicine to make it easier on her, but it makes her even more musical. She will appreciate me blogging about that later on in life. I just know it. (Picture was taken yesterday night...that's a 6 mo. onsie, but had to put it on for support and a picture:)


The house is just about the same. I could use a day or 2 to decorate and rearrange. I still have to finish the nursery...argh.  There's no excuse now though because she would have totally been here more than a week. I also have kids from a choir staying at the house next weekend, so hopefully that will motivate me to finish the guest room. WEEKEND PROJECT!  

In other news I got a new job!  It's bittersweet really.  I had no real desire to leave my current job, but I just couldn't pass up the offer.  I will be that admin assistant to the athletic director at Dunlap high school.  I applied because it was a little better pay and I got full benefits for the family.  But, when D. Joseph heard, they matched it...yet another reason making it hard to leave.  It was one of the hardest decisions of my life, but the main reasons I switched with because of the benefits and vacation days and holidays.  It will help us save tons of money in the long run by not having to pay for childcare in the summers.  And come on!  Who doesn't want a summer break. I mean really!  This will also make it possible for Nathan and I to go on family mission trip every year. And that's something that we both decided is going to be priority in our family.  

So I'm pretty excited but I have a lot of work in store for me.  The director hasn't had an assistant yet since he took the position a year ago July and the previous person had the position for over 20 years with a pretty extensive paper system. We've got to make that athletic department computerized!  Not to mention the massive amounts of sports Dunlap has...football, volleyball, girl's track, boy's track, girl's tennis, boy's tennis, softball, baseball, girl's soccer, boy's soccer, swimming, diving, and I'm sure I missing something...ohh cross country. I think that's it.  So, I guess this makes me a Royal Red Eaglebird.  i.e. I hold true to my Metamora Redbird roots, I married a Prince, and my daughter will be a Princeville Lady Prince (why not a Princess, no one knows...), and now I am an Eagle.  I'm picturing an all red eagle with a crown on it's head...it's in the same animal kingdom as Napolian Dynamite's liger...pretty much my favorite animal, ever!  

I am pretty excited to be working at Dunlap though.  For those of you not from Ptown, Dunlap is the closest city to Peoria that isn't apart of the Peoria school district, which is currently less than desirable   And most of the families that go there just happened to be loaded!  I'm not knocking them at all! I've had many friends from Dunlap. But it's encouraging to know that the district is doing well and will continue to do well.  There are lots of teachers on my mom's side of the family, and I decided that if I were to ever be a teacher I'd always want to be a high school teacher.  I feel like you could have way more fun with the kids.  And the passion of a teenager is just immeasurable. Even if they say they don't care.  They just have to focus their passion off of parties and booze and each other... yet another reason why I'm pretty pumped about working at the high school.  This is the long term now. I thought last time was a long term but it wasn't. Now that I have a kid, this job is perfect. Well, I'll let all ya'll know a week from now how things are going with a new job and a new niece.  It's crazy how much life changes soooo quickly...Blows my mind sometimes.  

Brittany is days away from baby #2.  Layla Anne Marie almost came today, but the doctor wanted to give her a little bit more time. I think she'll definitely be here by Wednesday. She's going to be a pretty large and in charge baby.  This is going to be interesting. Bella's 13.5 months and a very jealous little girl.  She does love Ruthie though. She reaches out and pets her head as if she were petting Jack the cat...soft and sweet and she whispers so she "doesn't wake the baby" Brittany says. She whispers gibberish, but still very quietly.  Andy was holding Ruthie once and not paying attention to Bella, and that wasn't to pretty.  Only time will tell really.  

Happy 0th Birthday, Ruthie!

So today is a special day...or should I say would have been a special day.  Today is Ruthie's due date...

It's CRAZY to think about!  She is almost 6 lb now.  I can't fathom just meeting her now!  I am so glad she came when she did!  I was getting anxious.  Brittany had her sonogram last week.  My sis's scheduled C-section with Layla (such a cute name...Layla Ann Marie) is Oct 29.  Layla is well over 6 lb now in the womb.  CRAZY...

Now, If you were around me at all the week before I had here, or even saw me in the hospital, can you imagine what I would be like right now?!  A BEACHED WHALE!  For sure!  I am going to go where most women NEVER go, but I just want to put it in perspective.  I started my pregnancy at about 155lb.  That's the biggest I've ever been and I had been working on getting that weight off running and weight lifting.  About 12 weeks into the pregnancy, because of morning sickness, I was down to about 140lb.  The day I went to the doc and he sent me to the hospital, Aug 8, I was 176lb! and the day I had her I was in the 180s!  BEACHED WHALE I tell you!  At the rate I was going 200 lb would not be out of the question.  BLAH!  (For the record, I'm not that big still...I'm back down in the 140s.  Just sayin')
 
My maternity leave would have started probably at the beginning of this week, and currently it's my second day back at work.  Very hard for me...I'm anxious.  So what if she sleeps all the time.  I still like to be there while she's sleeping.

The perks of being born ahead of schedule... she got to go to her daddy's football games and she got to go to Joy's wedding.  She will be 11 months younger than her cousin, Bella, and two months older than her cousin, Layla.  We have the option of sending her to school early or holding her a year.  She's strong!  She's as healthy as a mini ox!

So happy 0th Birthday, Sweet Ruthie!  I'm so glad you're already here!  My body and Nathan thank you!

Hello, Motherhood...My name is Lindsay

Let's talk about feelings...

I feel like a freshman in the school of motherhood.  You know that first week of school where you are learning the ropes.  Where you do everything almost to the T of what you have been taught and then as you get comfortable you break the rules more and more and then start giving a little sass to you teachers... i feel like that right now.  

Baby Ruthie really has been doing great.  She eats every three hours about 1.5 oz. and we are steadily increasing that as she allows (aka doesn't throw it back up:).  She is 4 lb 12oz. now and really is progressing as the doc wants.  She EXPLODES in her diaper and sleeps constantly...in fact she is doing those two simultaneously right now.

She is 17.5 in long...1.5 in longer then when she was born, but she still curls up when she sleeps.  She is sleeping on my chest and i am typing and she still cant reach the keyboard...to give you the idea.

Some truths that i believe and disregard that people have told me...

- My nesting didnt come until after she arrived.  Granted she arrived two months early AND i had no where to nest until the 1st of Sept.

- If you do pump drink LOTS and LOTS of fluids...pref water.  I was wondering why things weren't working...they i drank about 1/2 gal of water and there she flowed!

- I have become a very light sleeper.  Those first nights where you get out of bed to verify that the last sound you heard was not the demise of your child.  If fact it came from her butt and not even her mouth... yeah that happened.  

- I LOVE how breastfeeding/pumping allows you to shed your pounds fast...now from what i understand it's not the case for everyone, but I have lost almost 10lb past my pre preg weight.  Now the trick is keeping it off once im done.  

-  I put extra lotion on her forehead from where i kiss her too much.  It gets a little dry.  

-  I DO feel like im doing laundry continuously.  But Im ok with that.  

I can tell you that i still have so much to learn.  But she's making it very easy!  Im eager to watch her grow and to spend tons of time with her.  I have taken her out in public, but it's not one of my favorites...esp walmart.  People are normally one to say, "Oh cute." but for her, they say, "SHE'S SO SMALL!  How old is she!??  How much does she weigh?" and then they pull the blanket off her face to see... I just want to yell GET UP OFF OF THIS! But politely reply and then purell her forehead where they may have breathed when they are out of sight.  

I apologize if I post to many pictures.  I'm still in the obsessed phase.  I will post again soon...

The Wineinger Calendar Countdown CORRECTED...

It is TRULY amazing how God's timing and our timing are SOOOOOOO off the chain different.  So please allow me to correct my previous post of dates...holy cow how things have changed!!!!

• 47 days until Ruthie's due date (10/3)   Today Ruthie is 8 days old!  Yeah...  
• Pre-eclamsia caused me to get admitted to the hospital last wednesday, and she arrived Thurs. evening via C-section.  I am so grateful that she is out and doing AWESOME! And grateful i didnt have to experience the last two gruesome months of pregnancy OR contractions... :)
• She also shared a special day with her great Grandma Sue Yates who dies just 4 hours before her arrival.  We just know that Gma Sue gave her a kiss in Heaven before Ruthie came to us.  LOVE YOU GMA SUE!  
• 22 days until my sweet cousin, Kelsey's wedding (9/8)  STILL GOOD! 
• This will probably we Ruthie's first outing!  She will be a month old then!  WHAT??!?
• 20 days until Bella's 1st B-day!  (9/6) 
• again still good.  Her new trick this week...elephant sounds.  She's kind of a genius.
• 14 days until we move into our new house! (9/1)
• We closed on the house THIS MORNING!!!  Awesome!  I'm going over this weekend to take pictures and start the cleaning process!  And, now that im not preggers, I can actually help in the moving/painting process!  AWESOME!!!  
• Ruthie's new room is gonna be so stinkin' cute...just sayin'
• T-Minus a few hours until Nathan is lost in the obis of Pville football.  
• they have the Maroon & White scrimmage game tonight.  Yeah he's all in now.  But don't you dare think he sacrifices Ruthie time for that!  Shoot!  He'll make your heart melt when you see them together.

It's sometimes all the time hard lesson for me to learn to trust in God and his timing.  I can EASILY say this is one of those humbling moments for us, Nate and I.  And now that things have fallen as they may, it makes so much more sense for things coming up why God wanted it this way.  

We got a letter in the mail from someone wishing us the best and welcoming the baby, but also saying this is a lot for our family right now with births and deaths and houses, but God gave you all of it at once first, b/c that was his will, but also b/c he wanted us to re-rely on Him for strength, faith, perseverance, **fill in the blank...**   So good to hear and be reassured of.  

PS.  Our first picture together... well, outside of the C-section room...  :)

And Gma D took this picture to show the world her red hair.  Hard to see in pic but DEFINITELY red!