The New Pruitt Homestead in Progress

Here are a few pics of the progress on the new homestead. It's done on the outside except for painting, guttering and shutters (I think), and it's all sheet-rocked on the inside and they're working on flooring and wood stuff.

Ok Jules, your bedrooms are right behind those front windows!

Looking towards the entry from the living room

Some tile in the kitchen
The beginnings of the vanity in the guest bath

And just for kicks... my cute froggie after a bath. Baby robes are totally impractical but so darn cute, don't you think?

It's hard to believe we'll be in the house in just a matter of weeks... probably around 6 or 7. Ya'll are all going to come visit when it's finished, right?

Never the Same Again

A good friend of mine, Nancy Rowland, just got through the long process of having her first book published! She has written several devotional books that are all amazing, but her latest one was picked up by Tate publishing. It was quite a process, but I believe it will bless many people. It is now available on Amazon.com (check it out here), or I think it will be in Mardel stores soon.

Nancy is an incredible woman of God who has taught me so much through our friendship, and I was extremely honored to write the forward for this devotional book. I really am blessed to know her. I think you'd be blessed to read her devotional thoughts as well. Be sure to check it out!

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

While I was at a friends house yesterday having a playdate with some great girls and their kiddos, Sam discovered the 'My Size Barbie'. He stood beside her, entranced, for what seemed like forever. I'm not sure if he was love-struck, confused, or concerned that she seemed unable to move (he did place his hand gingerly on her shoulder for awhile as if to make sure she was ok). My guess is that he was majorly crushing. Personally, I think he could do better.

Just a Sappy Sam Post

I'm his Mom, I can't help it. I just have to gush a little bit sometimes.

Did you see that? He's pulling up all on his own, up to his feet, and just enjoying the view from waaaay up there. He's even pulled up whilst holding on for dear life to the edge of the coffee table and taken a few steps around it. I do believe we're on the verge of 'cruising'! And walking, too... but I can't talk about that yet.

For those of you that haven't been around Sam for any length of time, he is, how shall I say... a tad loud. The boy is just enthusiastic, but his enthusiasm can be a little ear-piercing at times. I was in Wal-Mart the other day and Sam was sitting in the cart, happily swinging his cute chunky legs and looking around at everyone, babbling to them. He noticed he wasn't getting anyone's attention, so he started 'talking' at the TOP OF HIS LUNGS. I was the Mom trying to keep her head down and finish up at lightning speed. You've never seen someone push a cart so fast. Sam was still belting it out, and I was still embarassed, when I stopped to grab something and all of a sudden Sam leaned forward, wrapped his arms around my waist, and gave me the tightest hug in the world. I looked down at him, and he was just looking up at me with a smile on his face. Instinctively I leaned down, and he immediately grabbed my neck and continued with the best hug ever. Pardon me while my heart melts. He held on forever and all of a sudden I wasn't worried anymore who was looking at us. This is my boy, I couldn't love him more - loud or not, and I want to cherish every moment.

Thanks for letting me gush.

Italian Goulash

1 large stalk celery, thinly chopped
3 large stalks green onion, thinly chopped
1 small onion, chopped
2 large garlic cloves, minced
4-5 tablespoons olive oil
1 lb. ground turkey
1/2 large can spaghetti sauce (I use the garlic and onion flavored)
1 14 oz. can italian diced tomatoes, drained
Salt and pepper to taste
Brown rice

Heat olive oil over medium heat. Add celery, green onion, onion, and garlic and saute until tender, around 5 minutes. Add turkey meat and brown. Once turkey is completely cooked through, stir in spaghetti sauce and diced tomatoes. Simmer for 5-10 minutes, or until completely warmed through. Serve over cooked brown rice.

This recipe is based on a goulash recipe my Mom gave me. I changed and added just a couple of things, and we really like it! It's really healthy, and it's definitely a complete meal all in one. It's also pretty inexpensive. The leftover are great re-heated too, and I'm usually not very good about eating leftovers. Oh, and I also added a dash of garlic salt and a dash of Italian seasoning, but I don't know that it made much difference. Enjoy!

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety Jig

I've been out of town for about a week now, visiting family. It was just wonderful. It's also great to be home now, but I'm so glad I got to see everyone.

My Dad's side of the family has an annual reunion on Petit Jean mountain in Arkansas. It might sound scary, but it's awesome. I truly have wonderful family. We hike, swim, visit, play games, have talent shows, and eat and eat and eat. It's a great time. Here are some fun pictures from this year's reunion.

Cousins! My precious niece Madelyn holding Sam. My precious nephew Greyson looking a little scared of the situation.

Mike and I found our carving we did a few years ago on the hike to the Falls. Yeah I know, we're terrible vandals. But we thought it was cool.

On the hike to the Rock Cave. Mike said Sam was cutting off his circulation by the time we were coming back.

The Falls this year at Petit Jean. Pretty, huh?

We took Sam to the pool and he LOVED it. It was one of the cutest things I've ever seen.

This is priceless. After awhile, he just reclined back in his floatie and had a good ol' time.

My Mom and Madelyn... so cute!

There were some storms while we were there with some REALLY strong winds! I snapped a pic of this tree, but we saw one just outside the back of our cabin get ripped up and then hurtled down the mountain.

The family patriarch and matriarch - my sweet Rhodes Grandparents with Madelyn and Greyson.

All my siblings, nieces and nephews. Notice Isaac, my nephew on the way!

All of my immediate family outside of our cabin. How cute are we in our matching shirts? (Thanks, Mom!)

Right after Petit Jean, Sam and I loaded up and went to my home town to spend a little more quality time with my immediate family - my brother and his family were in town to visit, and they live in Minnesota so we don't get to see them very often. I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to spend a little more time with them.

I was a little worried that Mike would decide he liked it better around the house without us, but thankfully he seemed happy to have us home. Sam was instantly in a good mood when we got here. He crawled around with a big grin on his face, cheerily greeting his familiar toys and stuffed animals. It was super cute.

I do love family, and I love home, and after the past few days, I also heart my cruise control. It's been a great week!

Sold!

Cue the 'Hallelujah' chorus - our house is sold! We are praising and thanking the Lord so much. He worked it all out perfectly, as He always does.

We sold it just last night to a sweet young girl who is in nursing school and getting ready to get married. We'd had a few offers already, but they were too low that we just couldn't accept, but she "made us an offer we couldn't refuse" (in the voice of the Godfather). But the real beauty of this is timing... the later she can move in the better which, of course, is awesome for us. We can stay in this house until our house is finished - even if it takes a month or two longer than expected. No fussing with apartments, pet deposits, a huge storage facility, or any of that. And I get to enjoy this house that much longer.

As excited as I am about the new place, I'm sure going to miss this house. It is our first house - one that we have loved and cared for, and fixed up. We have a lot of memories here - I mean, we brought Sam home from the hospital here! It makes me sad to think he won't remember this house, but we will be taking lots of pictures before we leave so that we can show him one day.


Thank you, Lord, for your provision in a buyer, a new home, and perfection in all the small things. You give more than we deserve.

I'm Officially a Mom

It's been official for awhile, but if you make it to the end of my post, you'll know what I mean.

This morning started off pretty well. We had an incident with carrots that sent them flying across our table and a good part of the floor, but they cleaned up pretty easily. As I was cleaning those up, I looked over to see Sam emptying the bottom shelf of the pantry, and chewing on the cardboard part of a coke carton.

We got to the afternoon and I knew Sam wasn't feeling too well because he wouldn't nap unless he was being held. When I felt something wet trickling onto my belly, I stood up to go take care of our pee-soaked selves, and he started throwing up - all over himself, and all down my back. He's thrown up on me before, but this was the uh... motherload. How his stomach even contained that amount of liquid amazes me. I stood there for a few seconds, both of us dripping, and trying to decide my course of action. This was one of those times I really wished for some of those "servant girls" they mention in Proverbs 31.

We dripped our way to the bathroom. I decided it would probably be best for us both to just hose off. I sat Sam down momentarily to start the bathwater and get everything ready, and I look over to find him chewing on a piece of the footboard that apparently wasn't nailed to the wall. Much screaming ensued as I took away his prize. We get in the water, I get him all washed and then - he throws up in the bathtub. Drain the water, start the process again. I get us both washed up - not squeeky clean, but de-puked (I promise we'll both get squeeky clean during out bedtime baths), and as I'm drying him off - he throws up again all over himself and his towel. Cue the bath water one more time. And a clean towel. Third time's a charm!

As I'm quickly trying to lotion him up, Sam does one of his signature leg moves and karate kicks the bottle of lotion on the floor, sending Johnsons squirting all over the carpet. I pick him up and grab a burp cloth to start on an initial clean up when I realized he's not yet diapered and feel something... else... getting on my arm. Lots of sink time and wipes followed.

Since then? Well, lets just say there's been some cleaning going on. There have been a couple more minor puke moments, but nothing a couple more outfits and some wipes couldn't fix. And as a sidenote: Sam does has a doctor's appointment tomorrow, in case you're wondering.

Today, I am praising the Lord for my carpet steam cleaner, my cleaning products (namely the disinfectant sort), and the fact that anything can be cleaned right up. I'm also thankful for a husband and help-mate who will be home this evening. And for Advil. And oh yes, I am so thankful for my Sam who, no matter what kind of messes he might make, brings me more joy in a day than I could have ever imagined.

Sam, finally all cleaned up this afternoon.

Yeah, I'd still say it was a pretty good day. How could you not when you have a precious face like that staring back at you? Motherhood is something.