I'm back, just a little slow!

I am back from vacation and trying to get back to reality!  I will admit that I am moving very slow, with a very "foggy" brain.  I am going Monday to have blood drawn and my thyroid levels checked.  I am pretty confident in my self diagnosis...my levels are going to be low.  I'm just not sure what the doctor is going to do about it.  Please pray for me and my doctor, that God will give us wisdom and guidance to make the right decision for my care.

Lindsay returned to school on Thursday and had such a wonderful time with her friends and Mrs. Ashley.  I found out that a few of the kids in her class have been ill or are currently ill.  We are all aware of all the sickness that is "going around" right now and our little ones are especially susceptible.  In addition to making sure they wash their hands and sneeze into the bend of their arm, it is just as important that they get adequate rest and a healthy diet to keep their bodies fueled to fight off infection!  Reality is that our kids are going to get sick at some point, but I have a strong conviction of doing my part to help Lindsay's body fight off sickness on it's own!

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Starting School & What's for Breakfast?

My baby girl is starting school tomorrow!!  I am so excited and so is Lindsay!! 

I know that breakfast tomorrow will be especially vital in getting her day off to a good start (she'll be playing hard at school and need lots of energy), so I am going to try a new recipe...Crockpot Oatmeal (yes, I am obsessed w/ my crockpot)!  

Lindsay asked me for some "oatmilk" this morning, so I hope that she'll enjoy the surprise I will have waiting for her when she gets up.  The beauty of the recipe is that it will be cooking away all night, so all we'll have to do is just get up and eat it in the morning!!

Now, what to pack her for lunch...hmmm

Crockpot Oatmeal

2 c. steel cut oats (not instant or rolled oats)

6-8 c. water

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 c. brown sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

2 apples, peeled and diced

1 c. raisins

1 c. bananas

1/2 c. chopped walnuts

Spray crockpot with non-stick cooking spray.  If you are planning to cook the oatmeal 8 hours or longer, use 8 c. of water.  If you want to cook it less than 8 hours, use 6 c. of water.  Put first seven ingredients in crockpot and cook on low.  Just before serving, stir in bananas and walnuts.

Edited to add:  The oatmeal turned out pretty good...next time I will add more vanilla & cinnamon than the recipe calls for...it needed just a touch more flavor.  Thankfully, Lindsay was very excited about her "oatmilk" and gobbled up a bowl full before we left for school!

Starting "School"

Lindsay will be starting "school" in September with the First Baptist Church's Parents Day Out Program.  Right now, I'm very excited about the opportunity that she will have to learn and grow with kids her own age.  However, once the day arrives for her to go, I may not be so excited about the fact that my baby is growing up!  *sniff, sniff*  So, as anxious as I may have been when she was a newborn to get past whatever the current "stage" was, now I find myself wanting to slam on the brakes and slow things down just a teeny weeny bit.  I mean, after all, she is already two years old! 

I did find her the cutest little pillow to take with her for nap time (I can really see her sleeping with a room full of other two year olds).  The pillowcase has her name embroidered on it with different color fabrics.  She seems to be super excited about having a pillow with her name on it, so maybe we will start practicing taking naps with our little pillow and Kinder Mat!!  Click here to see the cute pillowcase.  To my surprise, when I went to get the link, the actual one she made for Lindsay is featured on her website!

Then there is this thing called potty training...  To be honest, I have not really started officially potty training.  We've been doing pull-ups since she started showing interest in using the potty.  They are so much easier to pull-up and down (huh, I imagine that is where the name came from!) than a diaper.  So, I guess it's about time that I take the plunge and get this girl using the potty and wearing big girl panties!  I really think that she'll train fairly easily (I'll have to let you know if I still think that once we get started).

And, once again, I am reminded that It Won't Be Like This For Long.