Love...

this boy.

Something New!

I have been wanting to start a recipe blog for quite some time. My New Year's Resolution for this year is to organize my recipes, and cook at home for my family more often.

The Whicker Basket Catering Co. blog is the way that I am going to do it! Plus, I still have another month off work, so this will help occupy my time while I wait to go back... Because you can only tidy and clean so much before you go bananas!

I am posting my all time favorite recipe gems, plus some favorites of others. So it is going to be a treasure trove of some awesome recipes! CI will also put up new recipes that we try and like, and ones we tried and think you should avoid, haha! Check it out, and let me know if you have a favorite recipe... I would love to try it out! Send me recipes to try at whickerbasketcatering@gmail.com

I am excited to get cooking again... Pregnancy took a toll on my desire. The smells and the nausea did not agree with my passion in the kitchen. So I am hoping to be in there quite a bit from now on, and I may need taste testers... Anyone interested?

The Little Man

Life has been a little crazy around the Whicker house the last few weeks... We have been adjusting to being Mom and Dad, and loving the heck out of our new little man! He is so handsome, yes I am biased, but I am sorry. This fella is handsome! It has been a learning experience, but luckily we were blessed with a patient son. He is teaching us more about him every day; and it boggles my mind how much he changes on a daily basis. He has his fussy moments, but when Mason cuddles up on my shoulder and falls asleep, my heart seriously melts in a single instant. He's adorable. We're keeping him. And yes, I am gushing, because dang it, I am one proud mama!

Here are some of the great pictures Nate's sister Camille took of the little heart breaker. She and Brand came over on Christmas Eve to take these. We are so grateful to have such talent in the family. She captured him perfectly. I am so glad we have these to show how small he really was.

That is just a small selection of the pictures she took. I will post more later. They are all so good!

Christmas was wonderful, I will have to post some pictures soon. For now I leave you with the promise that this blog will be so stuffed full of pictures it may make you crazy... But I cannot help but take endless pictures of my little boy. I apologize in advance :) Come back often for more!

Stubborn... The Whicker Way.

The little man definitely has some of his Daddy in him... Mason is showing me early on that he is the boss around here! (Which Nate thinks he is as well, it will be interesting to have two bossy boys around my house!) And yes, my bossy little man does have this onesie. It was a must have.

Yeah, Mason's not budging. We aren't "Fort Knox" anymore as my doctor told me, (Haha... So funny to hear a doctor be so sarcastic! I love it!) but we aren't getting anywhere quickly either. So as of right now, we will be heading to the hospital at 6:00pm on Sunday, December 20th to get started with all their baby enticing magic tricks. That's only eight days after his due date... Not too bad, right?! Haha. I am sure I'll be begging by then! So for now folks, that's where we stand! Here's to hoping the new little boss will want to come earlier just to prove he can!

6 days, and counting.

Let the countdown begin. Mason's "official" due date is in six days. Yes, six. I have to tell myself that multiple times a day as it gets closer... A baby will be here soon! It's crazy to think about, but man am I ready to be a more normal person again! Plus, Nate only asks me on a daily basis when I am going to let Mason come out and play, as if I am keeping him here for fun at this point!

Unfortunately, my son is stubborn. As of last week, he had no intentions of going anywhere. So, here I wait. My last day of work will be Tuesday. I am excited to spend some time at home catching up on all the things I am too tired to do after work at night. I am hoping that my appointment this week will come bearing excellent news so that I can have the option to be induced sometime next weekend. If no progress is still where we sit after that appointment, I am stuck until I am at least 41 weeks (which will be the 19th, or 20th), when Ma Kay Dee will "assist" me in coaxing Mason out with whatever magic they have in store. Dr. Boheen promised she wouldn't make me stay pregnant forever, and that he would definitely be here by Christmas. We'll just bring him home in the stocking Nate was brought home in 23 years before! (This isn't Nate, his stocking picture is taped up here on my computer... But it is this cute!)

In response to my son's already stubborn nature, I have decided to issue him this eviction notice. I had Nate read this and it cracked him up, so here we are. I have always been one to share!

"I am issuing 7 day notice for EVICTION. Tenant will have 7 days in which he can either gather his belongings and promptly vacate the premises, or wait until the final day. After which, he will be physically removed from the property. He's being evicted due to breech of contract and destruction of property. Expansions only to the FRONT of the house, within reasonable limits, were discussed. Not only have these limits been exceeded, but additions to the back of the house were also made! Remodeling and gutting of the home was never approved, nor was changing the initial layout and base structure. And due to property damage, there are now leaks in both the upper AND lower levels of the home. On top of which, the landlord has received numerous complaints about nightly disturbances. After 7 days from this day that he doesn’t comply with the notice will result in immediate and forceful removal at my discretion."

Hopefully everyone has a wonderful week... Don't worry readers, (because I know there are droves of you!) I won't keep you hanging. Especially since I will soon have some optimal blogging time on my hands waiting for the little man. Check back for updates :)

About a month left and counting...

It has been quite some time since I drug myself on to make a new post! Lots has been going on and happening around here... Mostly getting ready for Mason to make his grand appearance and get out of me! All I know is I feel like I double in size about every morning, and that if he doesn't cooperate and make a prompt exit when he's supposed to, I will be serving him an eviction noice! It will go a little something like this:

"I am issuing 30 day notice for EVICTION. Tenant will have 30 days in which he can either gather his belongings and promptly vacate the premises, or wait until the final day. After which, he will be physically removed from the property. He's being evicted due to breech of contract and destruction of property. Expansions only to the FRONT of the house, within reasonable limits, were discussed. Not only have these limits been exceeded, but additions to the back of the house were also made! After 30 days from this day that he doesn’t comply with the notice will result in immediate and forceful removal at my discretion.

Love, Mom "

Haha! I found that online and could not stop laughing. Okay, so he won't be removed at my discretion, but my fabulous doctor said she sees no reason why I would have to wait after my due date to have him, so he will be removed at hers! So we are expecting the little man to get here no later than the 12th, but any earlier would be "A okay" with me, and Nate too I'm sure! (Everyone say a little prayer that he will come even a day early! I want the poor kid to have his own birthday and not share one with his mama! Yes, that's right. My birthday is also December 12th. Talk about amazing timing?!)

His nursery is pretty much complete. We're just putting the finishing touches on everything, and getting as organized as possible. I will post some pictures of his nursery, and from my baby shower Saturday later this week! (Promise)

Is your house needing some TLC?

Allow me to introduce to you the House Cleaning Fairy. It comes and picks up all the little messes in your home speedy quick... When you need it the most.

After working a long day yesterday, (and Nate did too) I came home to a house that had been cleaned for me. Who was the House Cleaning Fairy yesterday? Nate was. He is too good to be true more often than not. Man do I love that guy.

Oh, the many adventures of living in a basement...

The most recent adventure? Nate and I acquired a new pet, unknown to us until Nate saw him hopping along the floor one evening. Needless to say he was not a welcomed visitor. Nate's parents had recently done some renovating down here in our basement, which had meant necessary open doors, and keeping the connecting garage open for long work days. We are thinking he invited himself right in, not knowing we aren't super keen on drop in guests. This is one of the poses he provided when I screamed at his presence in my home:

Okay, he wasn't as cute as Renny, so Nate promptly called Brand to come over for back up the night he saw the hopping bandit. Nate and Brand are definitely much braver than me! (This must be why they're the burly men bearing brooms as weapons, and I'm the screaming girl in the corner with my eyes closed.) Our "pet" was evicted in less than 30 minutes. I have never been so happy to have Brand come over in my entire life! This was one I snapped when Nate handed him his eviction notice and escorted him off the property:

I am just hoping he didn't invite too many friends over, because their fate is sealed to end just as quickly. So in the mean time all our food is housed in sealed plastic containers on my kitchen counter, because frankly I don't feel like sharing; and my kitchen has that familiar smell of the ultimate killing-of-everything cleaner: bleach. I'm sure you can smell it from outside; the neighbors are probably wondering if we bathe in it.

We are keeping our fingers crossed that we are back to only us Whickers inhabiting this space... because as I have had the strength to try and make this horribly scarring experience into something more like a funny adventure today, yesterday was a much different story. Yesterdays story included tears, tons of cleaning, wearing shoes inside my house, and lots of extra-intensified emotions due to my pregnant state. Oh, and I'm sure Nate is sick and tired of all my paranoia, so we're hoping this experience is behind us!

Shopping- It's not just for us girls!

Mason is seriously a pretty lucky kid. I mean honestly, the previous post shows some of the small piles of loot the little man already has waiting for him. And here I thought it would be the women of the family who would be shopping like crazy... Well. I sure wasn't thinking clearly. You see, Mason's grandpa, my Dad, runs an Old Navy. And apparently, grandpa just can't pass up a good deal. Or alot of good deals :)

My Dad has always been an embarrassing lover of Hawaiian button up shirts. His favorite from the stack? The Hawaiian shirt that he "wished came in big sizes". He is living vicariously through the little man and is jealous of the one Hawaiian shirt on the planet he doesn't own.

My favorite was a shirt that says something like "Mr. Fix It". Any son of ours will have to be a Mr. Fix It, or at least learn from the master. Nate can fix anything, I'm convinced. If he doesn't know how to fix it or do it off hand, he will research it to death until he has figured it out, and can tackle it like a pro. I'm sure he'll teach Mason all that he knows. I am really excited for Nate to have a little friend to teach and hang out with while he fixes things, (usually things that involve dirt, or grime, neither of which I am not a fan of!) because that means I don't have to! I can be clean, bring them drinks, and read a book!

And last but not least, the monkey outfit, as promised. Seriously. So cute I can hardly stand it. Check out the monkey feet... I love it.

Spoiled Rotten... Already.

Yes, I am making it known that my dear son is spoiled already. Mason is going to come into this world with a wardrobe handsome enough to get him in the pages of People. Nate's mom has found him some really cute clothes! She got him this bounty last weekend at a garage sale... Lots of clothes, and a really cute bouncer.

Here is my favorite from her find, I mean what boy wouldn't look cute in this outfit!

Nate was telling me the other day that Mason was going to need some basketball shorts so he could be "comfy" like Daddy. Well, Nate asked, and received!

Not to say he has enough clothes... Because this boy has a mom who loves clothes! (I may have already hit up Old Navy clearance sales and stocked him up on some essentials for his first years of life!) But, he sure does have a stockpile, and he isn't even here yet! My mom spoiles him too. She got him the cutest little outfit that I would love for him to wear home from the hospital. It is a little shirt with blue and brown stripes, and a pair of brown pants that have monkey feet! It is so cute! She wouldn't want me to forget the beanie hat that has a monkey on it too... It's an adorable ensemble. Where is the picture? I know that's what you're asking yourself... Well, my mom got him the "Newborn" size. I am not anticipating this boy to be a small baby. Why? At my last appointment, this little guy is already weighing in at 1lb 10oz. He consistently measures more, and more ahead each time I go in. So I think Mason will be more of a beefcake linebacker, and less of a speedy running back. Go figure :) So my mom is exchanging it for a bigger size, after which, I will post a picture. Because honestly, it's too cute not to!

Last but not least, we found another good deal. Nate found a used glider on Ksl.com for cheap! And it is nice, and comfy. It will be my pleasure to lounge and rock Mason in this little find!

Good Deals = Happy Mama!

It must be said that shopping for baby necessities is hard work! The most recent item Nate and I had been looking for was a travel system for Mason. (Or it could be said that I had been looking at them, and Nate had been dragged along...) We wanted a nice one, but one that wasn't outrageous price wise.... We had settled on an Eddie Bauer one that Target had just started selling. We liked the previous model Target had stocked before, but the new one had more blue (and Nate liked that!). So that was our plan... Until, while shopping during my lunch break, when I saw the older model on clearance! Funny how a good deal can make your entire day seem a little bit brighter! So, now I love the older model, and our little guy will be riding in style, and matching his cousin Capri since she rides around in the same one! (And it must be said that she's a pretty stylin' girl, so he's got some big shoes to fill!)

Growing Well, and Begininngs of a Nursery

Today was what my doctor called the "BIG Ultrasound". The one where they check for fingers, toes, four chambered heart, and all the other physical things parents want their babies to come with. Nate and I are happy to report Mason has all his pieces! I was really nervous for this ultrasound, since so much can be effected by it's outcome.... But all was well. He was still a little camera shy today. The ultrasound technician told us that she would have thought it was a girl at first too with how he was sitting, and with his legs crossed. But all that talk of calling him a girl got him to open right up, and he gave her a money shot. She says he's all boy! He still kept his hands right by his face, and covered his eyes alot. I don't think he likes having his picture taken- he gets that from his Mom. He also moved all the way from being in a breech position, to being head down by the end! He's a mover!

They recorded this ultrasound for us which is kind of neat. It's nice knowing I can turn on the DVD player and hear his heart beating whenever I want to. We also found out today that my doctor has moved my due date around on me a bit... She has moved it up a few days to December 12th- my birthday. It will all work out okay, I think. Rarely do the kids make their big appearance on their due date anyways. So he is 21 weeks and a few days today. Here is a new profile picture of him we got this morning. The machine printed a little dark, so it isn't as good as the last one we got... But man, is he going to be one handsome fella if you ask me! (I am definitely not biased!)

We have also gotten Mason's crib, and his bedding. Boy things in general are so hard! I have decided since being pregnant with a boy that the world is definitely sexist, and geared towards cute little girls! Boy sections in stores are 1/4 the size of the cute girly sections- what about boys?! They're cute too! Okay, rant over. I searched, and searched for his bedding and decided to get this cute little jungle set.

We aren't going for a whole jungle theme... I don't really want a theme. This one has animals, stripes, and polka dots- and the colors are bright, and beautiful! Lots to work with! So the nursery is a work in progress. Nate asked me how long he had to finish moving his computer out, and painting the room up nice. I told him he could have four months :) Slowly but surely, the boy will have his room!

Two Years Later....

On Sunday Nate and I were remembering what we were doing on that very day a mere two years before.... Getting married on a beautiful July day with all of our friends and family watching and rooting us on! It is crazy to me how fast two years can fly by, and how much can change in such a short amount of time... Like spending this special day next year with my two special guys. (It's only polite to let Mason join in the festivites next year too... Although he wouldn't have enjoyed Ruby River Steakhouse as much as we did.... I'll bring him some "yummy" carrots or something next year!)

I love my husband more today than I did on our wedding day, and cannot gush and love on him enough here to express all that I adore about my guy. He is selfless, so incredibly handy, endlessly loving (and sometimes cuddly!), and my very best friend- not to mention he is going to be the world's best and coolest Dad. I think this growing boy of ours is pretty dang lucky to get such a catch for a Dad! I don't think anyone else could have put up with me, let alone love me as much as he does! Here's to another year of our life together- I love you.

It's official... He's a boy!

How doctors can decipher these ultrasounds I have no idea... But my doctor told us today that our little 6 ounce bundle of joy is all boy! (She was glad she had us come back, he cooperated much better today!) Here he is:

If you are having problems identifying what makes him a boy- so are we! These pictures are not the best, but you could definitely tell on their little ultrasound screen. In the excitement of our upcoming boy, we bought him the first baby item we have gotten to date.

We are hoping this statement rings true... Here's to wishful thinking...

Long Time, No Post.... With an Announcement!

It has been ages since we have updated the blog.... Poor, neglected little thing! Lots has been going on under wraps here in the Whicker household. We have had a little announcement we have been keeping to ourselves and slowly leaking to family, and friends. Now, it's blogworld's turn! I would like to introduce to you... Baby Whicker!

Here he/she is today at 17 weeks! Today was supposed to be the big day that we would know whethere "it" was a boy like Daddy has thought since day one, or a girl like Mom likes to say just to drive Dad crazy!

But- "it" will now have to be referred to as "Naughty Baby" for it's behavior during the ultrsound today! My OB (who is so fabulous by the way, I love her!) tried to see what this cute little bug was right off the bat, and drug the little symbol that said "girl" down right away! I was like, "Haha! Nate! See, you've been calling the little girl a boy! Poor thing!" and that kind of teasing. Then- my doctor thought she saw something- but couldn't decide if it was some cord, or actually a little boy part! So she pushed around all over me (kind of hard too!), poked the little bug and tried to get "it" to move around so we could get a better shot. All this little baby would do was cover it's eyes with it's hands and sit Indian Style, cross legged so we could see absolutely nothing! It was throwing a little fit if you ask me, it must have gotten that from me already! It just would not budge! Haha! Silly little thing. This is why it shall hereby be nicknamed, "Naughty Baby".

I will have another appointment next Wednesday where hopefully the bug will cooperate- my doctor told me to drink some orange juice before I come to get the baby hyper and moving around alot so we can get a good look. The good news is, she says the baby is growing beautifully and looks perfect! Yay!

And Another...

So, Nate's cousin David is getting married soon, and his fiance Jill had a Bridal Shower yesterday. What did I bring you ask? Blocks, letter blocks like the ones Ranell and I made. What is their last name? Let me spell it out for you: S-T-R-A-U-S-B-U-R-G. That's right 10 letters! I had Nate sanding down blocks like a mad man till the wee-hours of the morning, while I filled our home with the lovely scent of wood stain and varnish. Here is the finished product, I hope it will match the happy couple's home (and that they will have a space large enough to hold it! It took up my entire window sill!) This is a picture of how L-O-N-G it was! But it doesn't let you see how cute the stain looked on it with the cute paper- so the picture below is the close up of how it looked!

Feelin' Crafty?

Yes? Then you have to meet my very crafty, and talented sister-in-law Ranell! She comes up with the best projects! This week I went over and visited Ranell and Capri, and we made blocks covered in scrapbook paper, with wooden letters we puchased at Roberts...

Oh, my gosh were these fun, and not too hard! It is always so much fun to go over to Brandon and Ranell's house to see what fun craft ideas she has come up with. Last week when I visited, (we will start oficially calling these days I visits "craft day" I think) we made picture frames. We bought a few unfished picture frames at Roberts (Yes, I am an official endorser of "Roberts" craft store, they have so much fun stuff for "craft day" that I could spend enough money to seriously get into trouble with Nate!) and covered them with scrapbook paper and some Modge Podge, and alakazam! Out come some beautiful frames!

Now, these little beauties have not been hung in my house yet. Not because I don't absolutely love them... But because the walls inside my house are fighting over them and calling dibs. It has been a ridiculously heated argument, but I think the frames will find their final resting place on the walls of our bedroom this weekend. These pictures seriously don't do these amazing crafts justice! You will all just have to come over and see them for yourself... Or maybe your in need of a "craft day" at Ranell's! Believe me, you're house will never be the same; her talents would knock your socks off! I feel like The Quilted Bear has nothing on these crafts! I was awfully lucky to marry into this family of Whicker's!

UPDATE!

First off I just wanted to give an update on Nate, and his tonsil surgery. We had thought this surgery was going to be a difficult one... But I am happy to report he is almost back to his normal self! Here he is in "his" rocking chair cuddled up in the blanket my Grandma Siercks made him for Christmas. He's adorable, I let him get away with murder!

Speaking of this blanket, it has a little story behind it. I bought this fabric to make a blanket for Nate the first Christmas he and I were together.... Well, I am not the best quilter, and it ended up sitting in my mom's hall closet in pieces for about two years. My Grandma and Grandpa Siercks came from Missouri to visit twice last year. When they came for the first time in June, my grandma took all the pieces home with her, and in October when they came back, she brought the finished quilt. What is funny, is I had no idea. In Novemeber, I had started to bug my mom, saying I wanted the quilt pieces so I could start working on it for a Valentines gift for Nate; she kept telling me she wasn't sure where the pieces were, and I kind of forgot all about it. Christmas morning, Nate had a gift that was from "A Very Special Christmas Elf"- he opened it, and I was shocked! It was absolutely beautiful, and I'll be honest, it made me cry! Grandma told my mom if I was going to quilt I needed to invest in some supplies, I guess the squares I cut were not so good! She had to pick out everything I had sewed together, and start from scratch. My grandma is so talented.... It is a great quilt, and Nate loves it! (When I let him use it!)

This picture was only taken about 10 minutes after the one of him in the rocking chair... He's adorable!

Are you ready to RUMBLE?!

This year's Super Bowl celebration will be held at Camille's house. (Which is usually is because her projector makes it seem like you're on the field!) But everyone was in charge of bringing a treat of somekind. So, Nate and I decided to make his favorite dinner dish, along with an oldie but goodie dessert recipe that is as easy as gets. It may be true that I don't really watch football, okay I don't watch it at all, but I am always up for a reason to cook some tasty food!

Crock Pot French Dips

From Family Friendly Recipes

2-3 Lbs. oven roast

2 cans beef broth (about 4 cups)

2 pkgs Lipton Onion Soup mix

White Italian Sub Rolls (We get our bread from Subway, they sell a 12" roll for .50!)

Provolone cheese slices

Put oven roast in a crock pot. Add beef broth and soup mix. Cook on LOW for 7-8 hours. Shred roast with a fork, then return the shredded beef to the crock pot for a few more minutes (to absorb more of that juicy goodness). Slice open the bread and place a good amount of beef on one side (scoop out some of the bread first if you don't like it really bread-y). Place a slice or two of Swiss cheese over the shredded beef and broil for a minute or so until cheese starts to bubble and brown a little. Remove from broiler and serve. Use a ladle to scoop out some of the juice from the crock pot and serve as au jus.

Cookie Crumble Cheescakes

12 Vanilla Wafers/12 Oreo Cookies, plus a few exras for crumbling

(Use whichever you'd prefer, or double all other ingredients to do both)

12 foil cupcake liners

2 packages cream cheese

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place one cookie in the bottom of each foil liner, place liners on cookie sheet; crush a few cookies to top cakes later. Mix cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla together in a mixer on medium speed untill well blended. Add eggs to batter one at a time, on low speed, just untill incorporated. Spoon batter evenly into liners. Sprinkle top of batter with cookie crumbles. Bake cakes 20-25 minutes, or untill centers are just starting to set up. Let cool in fridge for at least 3 hours, or overnight.

Bakerella's Cupcake Bites

So, Nate's cousin Candace is having a baby girl in March... I have been waiting for someone to have a baby shower, to celebrate their good news of course! (But also so I could have an excuse to make these adorably cute little morsels of goodness!) Candace's baby shower is on Saturday, so I thought I would get a head start, and try a few Cupcake Bites out early. I was taken aback by how much work they truely are, but I think they will be worth it! These are my first batch, I am hoping as I practice they will look better :) But for a first attempt, I think they turned out okay! For anyone who likes to bake, you must head over to Bakerella's Blog and browse her site! You can find her recipe for cupcake bites on this page. She is amazing.... I am totally inspired by her!