Congratulations to Captain McCoy

It is official. Today I am married to a Fire Captain. 

Eric has always been an honest and hard working man. What most people don't know is that he is not just another man moving through ranks and committing time to his work. He is much more. Eric is so driven from a truly selfless place. He cares about this city and this amazing fire department, he (long ago) committed himself to the HBFD and to continually keeping it superior, to focus on bettering any area he can, to learn from those who walked before him, to keep focus on its standards, to train, and to train more, to have fun, to find balance between dramatic change and complacency, and to always encourage and respect each individual.  

I pray you can continue to have such great passion for your work and the fire department and that God guides you and keeps you and your crew safe. 

We love you!

Enjoy your first day as Captain McCoy.

33 Weeks!

This is our sweet baby last week. We saw him/her sucking, (almost looked like chewing on the umbilical cord), kicking, playing with its fingers and stretching those long legs.  

 Everything looked great at the ultrasound. Baby was about 4 lbs 3oz, beautiful and stubborn....because not only is this baby breech, but it is bottom down. That means the feet are way up by it's head in the pike position. This baby has access to sucking on those tiny fingers and tiny toes any time it wants. Ha ha!

Needless to say, I have been trying some silly things to get this baby to flip. This happens to be my view in the mornings. Laying with my hips up and head down.

I'll keep you posted.

NOVEMBER: A Month To Be THANKFUL

I am THANKFUL today for:

1. MY AMAZING HUSBAND who works so hard for us with passion, focus and determination to do what he does well. He is more than I ever could have imagined God would provide in my life. 

2. NATURE, the beautiful flowers in my garden. I mean it, some days this house is in such constant motion (you know: two toddler boys, busy Fire Captain husband, working mom, commitments to MOPS and CBS, Life Group and...) that the only thing that reminds me I have two feet on the ground is noticing the still and beautiful flowers God created. They help me to focus on the now, the reality that I always need to find quiet and peace, that my family needs some peace and calmness daily, even if it is only for two minutes and interruption comes as a full running tackle by my 4 year old. Yep, I am so thankful God, for the beautiful flowers you have provided for my sanity!

3. BOOKS. I hated reading growing up, it was only by force or bribery, that my parents ever got me to read. Over the years I finally realized how much knowledge and understanding comes from reading. I think so much of my mental and emotional growth has been as an adult through reading a book every month. I have learned to love reading and crave it.

4. MY PARENTS, MY IN LAWS AND MY FAMILY. I am blessed in the greatest way to have amazing parents who are wise, loving, kind, giving, silly and caring. I have in-laws who love in a beautiful gentle way and who give even when they have no more to give, they keep finding ways bless us and our boys. My sister, my very best friend, my brother and his sweet wife who bring new beautiful perspectives. I couldn't imagine doing my life without my family. Daily, we interact, daily we support each other, sometimes hourly, they make life more fun and much easier living only a mile apart from each other!

5. FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE AND SERVED OUR COUNTRY, keeping it "the land of the free". For all those who have and currently do fight for my safety and freedom. What sacrifice! I hope to find better ways to honor you.

6. THE INTERNET. I love having all the worlds information at my fingertips. Anything I want to research, don't understand or want to learn is available to me. I know there are negative aspects to having access to this "world", but more good has come of it in my life than bad. Currently, the internet is offering me great information on how to be a healthier person and helping my family members live healthy lives.

7. OUR COMMUNITY. We live is such a beautiful city full of so many wonderful people. It is easy to get stuck on the negative things that happen, but truthfully this community is so packed full on loving, caring, generous, selfless and smart individuals that truly make it something unique. We celebrate together and we help each other when in need. We are strong together, I LOVE HB!

8. FOR GOD. Thank God that  he gave us Jesus, our savior. I am so appreciative that I can serve the Lord and that my leader is more powerful and so much bigger than any power on this earth. You know, God might be there even if you don't believe in him. He hasn't been called the "Great Interferer" for nothing.

9. BEING A MOM. I m not talking about birthing a baby, though that was a special blessing I experienced. But that God gave us his children, the most challenging and most rewarding gift ever!

10. CHANGING OF THE SEASONS. Yes, I know...we barely get a change here in Southern California, but the little change we get, I LOVE! I enjoy the bathing suits, shorts and sundresses in the perfect 80 degree weather running around between the pool and the beach all summer.  Just as I welcome the change in fall/winter to wear comfy jeans, boots and sweaters while enjoying a warm coffee, crackling fire, and smells of the harvest and holiday. Ahhhh. Maybe it is a little reminder that we change too, we go through our ups and downs, our struggles and our successes. But just as the seasons change, so do we move through the season we are in. Into the future God planned for me.

11. THE OVER ABUNDANCE WE HAVE. God has blessed us, and truthfully most of us who live in the United States and even more so, us that live in Orange County. I often think of all the things I "need" but am lacking, that I need more money, help, space...etc. But truthfully I am so blessed with what I have. The many times I want to scream and become anxious while staring at the closet or desk that is over flowing...I am trying to turn that very moment into gratitude and joy. We are blessed so that we can turn and bless others. Here is to a successful trip to Goodwill this afternoon!

20 weeks!

 20 weeks marks that we are half way there! I can't believe it. I actually feel like this pregnancy is moving along and there will eventually be an end at some point. Its been extremely rough being pregnant a third time. My body sure knows what is going on but it doesn't mean I don't feel it. 

Noah helped me with the pictures. I have to say, not bad for an almost 4 year old!

This pregnancy started out just like the last two. I was vomiting every day, all day starting at just 4 weeks pregnant and it seemed like I would continue the torture through to the end...just like the last two. To my (everyone's) surprise, I started to feel a little better at 16 weeks. I now get sick first think in the morning, I try to beat it with a zofran and then feel quite normal through the rest of the day. 

Here is our little angel. He or She was calm and peaceful during the ultrasound. Lets hope He or She stays that way for...well...the rest of life! I was happy to see that everything looked great. I have been having quite a bit of Braxton Hicks contractions already and it makes me nervous. I am being told to take it easy and really listen to my body. The last thing I want is to push myself now only to be on bed rest later! Please be praying for an uneventful second half of this pregnancy!

10 Weeks

 Testing... testing... "otogfur" Noah is using the camera. Testing...testing...1...2...3

Ten weeks, my belly feels more like 16 weeks.

This was taken late morning. You should see the belly by night time. Watch out! Ugh!

Yay! Noah did it! He can officially take a picture with my Canon SLR

Our Growing Family

 These boys are so special. There is nothing that can perfectly describe what they mean to Eric and I. They are both extremely loving, kind, caring, thoughtful, funny and just too cute. I love their eyes, their tiny little bodies, their still chubby hands, their amazingly strong hugs and the way they make eachother laugh. Life is so great with these two.  Noah is 3 years 7 months, Dean is 19 months. They are at such a fun age. Every day I thank God for the joy they bring us.

In fact, its so great we thought...lets have another!

 Big Brother Dean and Bigger Brother Noah

 Silly Noah thinks this means he is just bigger. Bigger. That's all. Ha ha ha!

 Grandpa and Big brother Dean when we announced the good news

Nummy and her Noah. They love each other.

Coming December 19th 2012

Baby McCoy #3

Gender unknown

Please keep us in your prayers. This baby has a lot of growing to do, I guess so do I! 

We Play Hard

 We play at the park often. When I say play, I mean, we really play. 

When Noah was Dean's age (1 1/2yrs old) he was very timid. He didn't climb, run, jump or like to get dirty. He was calm and slow and very uncoordinated. 

 

Dean, thought, he is quick, he is daring, he loves to jump, climb, fall, roll, trip, scream, bounce, go down the up and up the down and anything that involves dirt and sweat.

Not Noah. Though he is much more comfortable with climbing, jumping and keeping his feet under him, he still is the cautious one.

 

NOTE THE HANDS

We play hard at the park these days. And no matter how long we play...it never seems to be long enough for these boys.

Curry Egg Salad

This one is a favorite in our house. This is easy, inexpensive, filling, lasts a long time in the fridge, good for any meal of the day, and so tasty!

The recipe I originally found (I think online somewhere) was very basic with about three ingredients. I added more but like all my meals, they can be simplified to accommodate what you have on hand, or offer freedom to get creative and add new vegetables or exchange one for another. For example: the nuts, use any kind you have!

Recipe:

Chop the following,
6 hard boiled eggs
1/2 red type apple
1/4 white onion
hand full of cilantro
hand full of pecans
few scallions
1/2 bell pepper
few leaves spinach

Mix the first ingredients with,
2 teaspoons Curry powder
Salt and Pepper to taste
3-4 Tablespoons Mayonnaise (we either use a home made Paleo Mayo or grape seed Mayo. Grape Seed Oil products are healthy, in my opinion, so long as they aren't heated. When heated the oil goes rancid)

We love this in lettuce cups from our garden. It is great with chips, crackers, as a sandwich, or just with a spoon or fork. We often double the recipe because it ends up being a quick go-to snack and disappears so darn fast. Also, we use curry often and have many kinds, so I use 1 teaspoon hot curry and the second teaspoon regular curry powder. Adding a dash of red pepper might be nice too.

Jesus Loves Me

 Jesus loves me, this I know

  for the Bible tells me so

little ones to Him belong 

I am weak but He is strong!

 Yes, Jesus loves me!

 Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me...The bible tells me so!

Just Like Daddy

Eric's Engine company went to Noah's preschool on Friday. It is Community Helper Month. Noah ran up to Eric screaming with excitement. He imediately shouted to his class that this was his daddy, he is a Firefighter! Noah instructed everyone to come outside with him and his daddy to see the Fire Engine. Noah was SO PROUD!

This picture shows Noah looking up at his daddy while he was talking to the class about the Engine. Noah looks just as proud as he sounded that day. He looks like his father. This is a look I hope we can see from him every day.  Noah sure loves his dad. Little does he know, he is already more like daddy then he thinks.

Notice his hand in the picture?

That hand is in a position I get angry at Eric for making in EVERY DARN PHOTO! I hate the way he makes that clasp with his thumb and pointer finger. For years it bothered me...but now,

...I kinda love it!

 Here is Noah and the 9 other students in his class with the firemen.

 The kids loved when Cane dressed in his turnouts and put his BA on

Cane is "like a giant" according to one student

 Ava loved her badge

 

All the children (yes, all) wanted hugs when it was time to go back to the classroom. Joice was so cute with her little tights on and BIG Cane giving her a hug goodbye.

 There they go...the little young toddlers watched with wide eyes and smiles as the Engine drove away with lights and siren blaring loud.

 

***I am so embarrased by my pictures. I just bought a new lens and clearly had my settings way off. Don't judge. =)

My Boys. My Life

These are my boys. 

They are the joy and the loves in my life.

I am truly blessed!