Search Results for: round up

5 weeks to go…

April 28, 2009 by HappyGoStuckey 1 Comment

Well, tomorrow marks the 5 week mark. We are officially just over a month out from the due date! May I just take this post to say a very verbal THANK YOU to my sweet husband? Good.

He has been so incredibly great this entire pregnancy (well our entire marriage, really) as he has taken such good care of me through every crazy stage. From the morning sickness that lasted waaay to long (oh that fateful New Years’ Eve) to the current state of emotional surprises. “Hormonal Pregnant Rollercoaster– party of one and whomever happens to be standing nearby, please.”

Anyway,
He has been absolutely wonderful. Thank you, babe for all you have done and sometimes not done to make this easier on me.

Thank you for never minding my strange food cravings.
Thank you for never making fun of me for baking a cake at 9:00pm (well not too much fun anyway.)
Thank you for taking time you do not have out of a busy schedule to pitch in around the house and lighten the load.
Thank you for the foot massages, the head scratches and never ever minding when I fell asleep at 7pm on the couch.
Thank you for reminding me to take care of myself and rest.
Thank you for being excited to look at baby clothes every time we go somewhere.
Thank you for making me feel cherished and loved and beautiful– despite how I may think I look.
Thank you for helping me cook dinner and clean up when you have other things to do.
Thank you for singing cheesy Hall & Oates songs to me in the kitchen. (I really didn’t know you could jump that high. Really, hon- you’ve got some moves!)
Thank you for thinking of me far more than I deserve.
Thank you for loving me and this little baby girl and letting us both know it.

I love you so much Babe!

Have Basket, Will Travel

February 13, 2009 by HappyGoStuckey 3 Comments

Little Sheep for my Little Lamb

Is it still a “Moses Basket” if her name is Lucy?

As many of you know, the Stuckey’s find themselves in what seems to be a very nomadic time in their life as a family. We are currently still waiting to hear back from several institutions on acceptance into their respective PHD programs. The list contains Duke University, University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University. At this time, none of these schools have made decisions and so, we wait. Some days we even wait patiently.
Those of you who are close to us have shared in the sometimes agonizing experience of not knowing where we will be in the next 6 months. I, personally have struggled with this much more than I have license to. I spent many weeks and even months at the beginning of my pregnancy in a state of frozen panic and some days even denial. Even in all of these doubtful times, I have never claimed to know what is best for our family. That is just it. We don’t know at this point. We know very little. We know Lance is graduating. We know he has a calling and desire in a particular field. We know that this calling requires that we try to go in a specific direction. We know that this direction requires that we may very well be moving somewhere where family is not. We know that we are going to be doing this very shortly after, our life changes drastically. We know we are having a baby. We know she is a little girl. We know her name is Lucy. Now we know that she probably does not and will not mind that her parents had no idea what her physical address would be just months before her birth. We may not even know several months from now. But more importantly, we know WHO knows the answers to these questions. We know HE loves her more than we ever could and HE knows that she needs a place to sleep and live just as we do. One day, we will look back on these times of uncertainty and hopefully we will be able to tell her that we trusted HIM and not our own wisdom. Because our wisdom is so very limited. And HIS is inexhaustible. HE is faithful.

Recently, we found a wonderful treasure in a “Moses Basket” for little Lu. I saw it and fell in love with it because it’s perfect for our upstairs, downstairs-apartment-maybe-moving very soon after she arrives-life. We were able to find a white wooden rocking stand for the basket and it will fit perfectly in a little corner of our room. As a mother, my heart was strangely comforted by this find. Yes, I know it’s just a basket. But perhaps it is the fact that no matter where we are in a few months, she has spot when she arrives. A perfect little, soft, cuddly spot to sleep and lay regardless of the temporary state of the rest of our house. She may not have a “nursery” for several months after she is born until we are somewhere more permanently– but she has her spot. And as strange as it may seem, I feel calmer somehow. I feel that we have at least made the immediate provisions for her arrival which we possible can. And it won’t really matter if her basket is completely surrounded by moving boxes. She will never know. And if any of you decide to tell her, make sure you tell her that she was well loved and looked after during this crazy and wonderful time. Bottom line: we desire that she knows how her parents were learning to trust God. One step, one day, one deep breath at a time.

Lucy’s Best Seller List

February 12, 2009 by HappyGoStuckey 4 Comments

Several people have recommended a certain Bible Story Book that they have had for their children and we decided to invest in it for our little one. The Jesus Storybook Bible begins with the very beginning of the Bible and goes through the stories of the Old Testament, pointing to the Cross and the Gospel. We recently received it in the mail and decided to begin reading it to her at night. So far, we are impressed with the quality of the book. And, it appears that Little Lucy likes it as well. The first night Lance began reading to her, she immediately began kicking and moving around the second he spoke. We were excited that he was finally able to feel her moving!!!

We have discussed for some time how we desire for our children to be well-read.Lance and I, love books. Our tiny little apartment is overrun with them but we cannot bear to box any up for fear that we will want to read one and it will be out of reach. Books are wonderful treasures. I have enjoyed reading books my entire life! And honestly, even as an adult, I admit that I love to read children’s books. Lucy already has a little collection of books which we have accumulated for her. I admit I am a little selective when it comes to children’s books… I have been strangely disappointed by the quality of some of the literature which is intended for young minds. I tend towards the classics and those stories which have actual literary substance. Many children’s books of late seem to be crude and poorly constructed. I’m not opposed to new books at all, I honestly only rarely come across anything of real value published recently. I would like to list several rare treasures which have come about in the last few years.

1. The Olivia Books (Ian Falconer)
2. Angelina Ballerina Series (Katharine Holabird)
3. If you give a mouse a cookie (Laura Numeroff)
4. If you give pig a pancake (Laura Numeroff)
5. If you take a mouse to the movies (Laura Numeroff)
6. Click Clack Moo- Cows that Type

I also would like to mention some oldies but goodies:

Charlotte’s Web
Little House Books
Anne of Green Gables (Can I get an Amen on this one?)
Chronicles of Narnia
Sarah, Plain and Tall
Beatrix Potter

Some of these book series are sweet and some are silly and some are both.. but they are all delightful! What are some of you or your children’s favorite books?

Strawberry Shortcake

January 8, 2009 by HappyGoStuckey 3 Comments

I am considering starting a new tradition with this blog. I have decided I will try to share a new recipe, every week with all of you, my blogging family. Whether it be a trusted and well-seasoned sampling from my cooking arsenal.. or something new that I would like to try– I think it may be a good idea for several reasons. First, who of us cannot use new culinary inspiration from time to time? I know I can. Second, and most applicable to me, I believe it will keep me on task with this blog. I often feel the temptation to allow far too many days to occur between postings and perhaps this new aspect will keep me disciplined. (It’s a worth a try!)

For Today: I would like to share a Strawberry Shortcake Recipe (Courtesy of Paula Deen and the Food Network.) With Valentine’s Day just next month, this is an excellent alternative to the gooey, rich chocolatey desserts that so often reign around V-Day. Not that I’m down on Chocolate. No way. I love Chocolate. Chocolate is paramount and yummy. However, whenever you want a different romantic dessert– try this. (Hint: I made this for Lance last Valentine’s Day and since it was just the two of us, I made individual desserts in mini-trifle dishes. Either way, it’s a crowd/ husband/ fiancee/ boyfriend/ family pleaser!!) Enclosed is a photo from when I first made it. Let me know if you like it!!!

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/strawberry-shortcake-recipe/index.html

1 large angel food cake
For the custard:
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12-ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
For the glaze:
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons strawberry gelatin (recommended: Jell-O)
1 cup water
2 cups fresh strawberries, cut in 1/2 (if berries are extra large, they can be cut into quarters)
Whole fresh strawberries and mint leaves, for garnish

Slice cake, using a serrated knife, horizontally into 3 equal layers.
For the custard:
Mix together cream cheese, condensed milk, and whipped topping in a bowl; set aside.
For the glaze:
In a medium saucepan, stir together sugar, cornstarch, and gelatin; add water. Cook stirring over medium heat until thick. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely. Fold in strawberries.
For assembly:
Place 1 layer of cake in a large clear bowl. Top with a layer of glaze, followed by a layer of custard mixture. Repeat layering in this order for remaining cake, glaze and custard. Top cake with 3 whole fresh strawberries and fresh mint leaves.

Cindy’s Notes: When making a regular size Shortcake as in this recipe, a trifle dish is an excellent tool to have as the angel food cake when sliced horizontally, fits perfectly! This is also a great idea for Parties and Showers! Let me know if you like it!!! (Oh, and good strawberries are a must! If you cannot get any good ones, wait until you can!)

14 Weeks!!

December 6, 2008 by HappyGoStuckey 6 Comments

Well, The last few months have passed by (some days so much slower than others thanks to the nausea!) And we have all three (Lance, Baby and Myself) made it to the 2nd Trimester!!! I would like to formally thank my husband for getting me through this time of constant “sickiness” and doing it with patience and love and consideration. He has really been a blessing and an encouragement and I could NOT have done it without him. I know we will continue to face difficult days in this pregnancy, but the Lord has and will sustain us both– and I am so thankful for my husband. Without further ado… I think the worst of the “all-day sickness” is behind us! I have had a cold for over a week but even with that, I feel more like myself than I have in months– and that is a nice feeling to be sure!

I wanted to share a few things from these last few months that I know you will appreciate.
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A few things that I consistently craved or that gave me comfort from the nausea:

Bagged Ice. No kidding, we have had to have some of this in our freezer at all times this entire pregnancy. I do not think this will change. (see photo below.)
Sour Patch Kids. Anything sour basically. Sour jelly beans, etc.
Citrus Everything. Lemon, Lime, Grapefruit, wow.. good stuff.
Spicy Food. (I know, strange for someone who is sick to their stomach.)
Pickles. (As predictable as this one is, it’s so true. Somedays I would plan my lunch around where I could get pickles and lemonade.) But not ice cream. 🙂
In the beginning it was hamburgers. Not good, gourmet hamburgers.. but cheap, thin, hamburgers. Some days, this was all I could eat for lunch and since I knew I needed the protein, well… I did it. Regardless of the occasional nagging guilt in my head saying, “Do you want your precious child to be addicted to JUNK food? Do ya?!” Luckily this craving has just about passed except for the occasional surprise “gotta have a burger” spurt. Weird. I know!! And I am NOT a junk food eater. Anyone that knows me would tell you I am a bit of a food snob with somewhat of a “refined palate” as Lance calls it. Go figure. 🙂
I have not had a cup of coffee in three months.. and I do not miss it (for now.) I still can’t stand the thought of it. My mom was apparently the exact same way.

A few funny “Husbands say the darndest things…”

On our way to the first OB-Gyn appointment, I was (big surprise) feeling a little woozy and Lance out of no where says to me… “You know, I think ‘0b-gyn‘ sounds like a droid from Star Wars… I do.” I have to admit, he does have a point. Just the same, it’s pretty cute.
Lance asked me if the baby is a girl, can we name her “Pearl” so that he can refer to me as “Mother of Pearl.” I said no. Can you blame me?

Honestly, there have been so many other funny things that have come out of this little adventure, but once I sit down to write them… I cannot remember. Something with the PG hormones maybe?

Here’s Lance with that wonderful bagged ice…

I’m so sorry this is crooked. I cannot figure it out.

This is Him. Here’s my guy.. the one who has unbelievable patience. Love him.

I was so glad that the sickness subsided just in time for THANKSGIVING!!! It was wonderful!!!

P.S. we will find out whether boy or girl on January 2nd!!!!! Any thoughts????

Rest and Relaxation…SIGH

August 19, 2008 by HappyGoStuckey Leave a Comment

Here we are at the Red Onion Cafe– go if you have the chance!

We recently had the wonderful blessing to spend the weekend in the mountains of Boone, North Carolina. The weekend following the crazy and wonderful week that was VBS, Lance and I were blessed by Linda and Ernie Baker to be able to stay in their beautiful cabin in Boone. Neither Lance or I had ever been to Boone and it was amazing!! We were able to stay for two nights and three long days.

Lance made me breakfast in the spectacular, large kitchen!!!

YUMMY!

God’s Wonderful Handiwork!!!

Marriage– another one of His beautiful creations!!

We just LOVED our time here! Here we are at Blowing Rock.

Here is my man, the daredevil….

UHOH. Just Kidding, we were just clowning around…

More of the Clowning…

Birthday Festivities…

July 31, 2008 by HappyGoStuckey 1 Comment

A weekend full of birthday fun!!!

Joe and Leah had us over for an authentic New Orleans Seafood Boil! We had pounds and pounds of Crab Legs, Shrimp and Corn and Potatoes! Mike and Courtney came from Chapel Hill and we had a fabulous time! We ate and ate and ate!!! Then we played Bocce Ball and then we all sat around and drank coffee and ate Hummingbird Cake! YUM YUM! Thank you so much FRIENDS!!!!