Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Gratitude. Day 7 - final day

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. We want to thank each and every one of you for being part of our lives, and for caring for and encouraging Elaine and Keith and BabyGirl. Each one of you are precious to us and we thank the Lord for allowing us the share our lives with you.

We started our shower blog with pictures of the growing Baby Bump - so we will finish with the most recent picture - 35 weeks!!!!

 
At today's doctor visit Elaine and Keith got the word that everything is continuing to look great! Elaine feels good and we are all looking forward the welcoming BabyGirl into our lives! 


Thank you so very much for your words of encouragement, your shared wisdom, and your ongoing prayers. And Thank you for your generosity!
 
 
P.S.  - I will be leaving the blog up for the time being, so although there won't be any new posting, you can still log on and read the blog and comment if you wish. THANKS AGAIN!

Monday, December 9, 2013

Day 6!!

I understand that a few of you are having trouble commenting. In order to comment without being signed in to Google, make sure you click on the drop down arrow next to the words "Comment as" and highlight "Anonymous" (at the bottom of the list). If you are signed in on Google (you can sign in by clicking the words "sign in" at the very top right hand corner of the page) make sure you click on your user name in the "Comment As" drop-down box. If you are still having trouble - drop me an email - macchome@gmail.com. Thanks for joining the fun!

Elaine is now entering her 35th week of pregnancy. There are not a lot of changes going on with BabyGirl this week except for continuing to grow. In fact, her lungs are fully developed, her kidneys are fully developed, her liver is functioning, her digestive tract is beginning to get ready to digest food and even her toenails and fingernails are full length (get ready for that first nail trimming, mom!) Since she is getting so big, she doesn't have as much wiggle room in mom's belly anymore - so while she will continue to kick, punch, and elbow - she really can't do flip turns anymore. She should have her head down getting ready for birth - and as her head gets in position she drops a little - which makes it easier for Elaine to breath but puts a little more pressure on her bladder (don't get too far from a bathroom, Elaine - when she kicks your full bladder you will need to hurry!)

Thank you, Lord, that you have blessed us with this anticipation of new life, and that she is growing bigger and stronger each and everyday.

 



Party Favors! (Can be a Christmas Ornament, Too)

I intended to get a sample of these adorable owl ornaments made today - but I just didn't. Maybe tomorrow.
 

Washi Tape Owl Ornaments -- make these quick and easy owl Christmas ornaments with just a few supplies.
 
 HERE  is the link to the easy instructions.
 
 
Fun AND Healthy Food
 

Halloween snack that is nutritious and delicious!
 
This healthy real-food treat won my heart! What could be better than a fun treat made with strawberries, blueberries, apples, grapes, kiwi, AND mango! For those of us who are going gluten-free - substitute your favorite gluten-free bread or bagel.
 
 
Ingredients:
  • Bagel
  • Cream cheese
  • Apple
  • Cheese
  • Grapes
  • Strawberry
  • Blueberries
Directions:
  1. Cut a bagel in half and toast both sides. This is the body of the owl.
  2. Smear cream cheese over each half of the bagel. The cream cheese will resemble the feathers of an owl.
  3. Slice kiwi to form eye sockets for your hooting owl. Place a dab of cream cheese in the center of the kiwi slice. Now that you have the whites of the eyes in place all you need is the eyeballs. Set a blueberry in the cream cheese and the owl will be looking back at you.
  4. Take two thin apple slices and add to the top of the bagel to form two large feathers popping out of the top of the owl’s head.
  5. Cut a strawberry in half and keep the leaves and stem on. Place the cut side down on the cheese coated bagel to form the nose of this cute little creature.
  6. Slice some cheddar cheese to form wing feathers.
  7. Place two grapes at the bottom of the bagel to form the owl’s clawed feet.
  8. Enjoy!


Beverage
 
This holiday drink sure looks yummy. And since BabyGirl's birth is coming up, I thought a drink called "up and coming" was appropriate. ENJOY!
Up and Coming
recipe image
Rated: rating
Submitted By: lsneed62
Photo By: Linda (LMT)
Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Ready In: 5 Minutes
Servings: 12
"This is an authentic traditional 19th century English holiday drink. It's best if you use fresh nutmeg only. Make it and enjoy it while decorating the tree - it's incredibly delicious, rich and oh so addictive!"
Ingredients:
1 quart heavy cream
1 cup apple cider
1 cup milk
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon freshly grated nutmeg
Directions:
1.In a half gallon container, mix together the heavy cream, apple cider, milk, sugar, vanilla and nutmeg with a whisk. Serve immediately, or refrigerate overnight. Whisk again before serving.


Game
 
Today's game is a little like Scattegories. See if you can come up with a Baby-related word that begins with each letter of the word Congratulations.
 
 
C_____
O_____
N_____
G_____
R_____
A_____
T_____
U_____
L_____
A_____
T_____
I______
O______
N______
S_______

 
Thought for the Day

Share your words of wisdom for the Parents-to-be.


Answer to yesterday's poll question: Stuffed





 




Sunday, December 8, 2013

Baby Dreams! Shower Day 5!

Do Babies have dreams before they are born? Although we can't ask a baby if they had dreams in utero, ultrasound studies have shown that babies show definite cycles of REM and deep sleep as well as periods of quiet alertness in around the 32nd - 36th week of pregnancy. And although there is no way to monitor brain activity, doctors do believe that it is possible the baby could be dreaming! And in this 3rd trimester, babies are involved in other activities that are helping them get ready for life outside of the womb. They play with their hands, suck their thumb; they "walk" around by pushing on the uterine wall with their feet; they yank, pull and swind their umbilical cord, and they practice breathing! These activities help them develop the reflexes they will need once they are born. How exciting is that!

* This information is from the a Parents magazine article by Laura Flynn McCarthy and found at http://www.parenting.com/article/what-babies-learn-in-the-womb?page=0,3
   
 
 
Crafty Decorations
Today's decoration is a  folded paper craft that you could make too! Not that you have any particular reason to make a folded paper owl - but you could! You simply print it on your computer and follow the directions! There is a whole family of them available, but I just made these two:
 
 
 
Here's the link.
 
 
 
 


 For Today's Food - you gotta love these Deviled eggs!


 
 
Here's the link - complete with recipe and step by step directions!


And since BabyGirl is going to be an Alabama girl, she will most certainly learn to love Sweet Tea. So here's a recipe that gets rave reviews on Allrecipes

Smooth Sweet Tea
recipe image
Rated: rating
Submitted By: cookincode3
Photo By: Christina
Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Cook Time: 15 Minutes
Ready In: 3 Hours 20 Minutes
Servings: 8
"Southern sweet tea, perfect for hot summer days!"
Ingredients:
1 pinch baking soda
2 cups boiling water
6 tea bags
3/4 cup white sugar
6 cups cool water
Directions:
1.Sprinkle a pinch of baking soda into a 64-ounce, heat-proof, glass pitcher. Pour in boiling water, and add tea bags. Cover, and allow to steep for 15 minutes.
2.Remove tea bags, and discard; stir in sugar until dissolved. Pour in cool water, then refrigerate until cold.



Today's Activity
Today's activity and thought for the day are combined. Complete the following:
Dreams for BabyGirl
 
I hope that you _____________
I hope you aren't afraid ___________
I hope you love ________________
I hope you get______________
I hope you laugh______________
I hope you never forget_______________
I hope you ignore____________
I hope you become _____________
I hope you respect____________
I hope you grow___________
 
 
Please share your answers in the comments.


And the Answer to yesterdays poll: only 3-4% of babies are born on their due date!!




 

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Did you know? A little Baby Trivia for Day 4

Did you know that although a newborn baby does not have bony kneecaps (they are cartilage at the time of birth and don't begin to harden into bone until after 2 years of age!), she does have 300 bones in various stages of hardening. An Adult only has 206 bones. So what happens to all those extra bones? Many of a newborn's bones are in fragments that fuse together as she develops. Much of the skeleton of a newborn is still cartilage - this allows for the flexibility needed for the birth process and for rapid growth once she is born. Our Creator designed us so well!

We are going to focus on Dad a little today! So for our next piece of trivia, did you know that the average time it takes a man to change a diaper is faster than the average time it takes a woman? Men average 1 min 36 seconds to change a diaper while a woman takes 2 minutes 5 seconds. One suggestion was that men view diaper changing as a task to get done and women socialize with baby a little more in the process. Makes sense to me!

BabyGirl is due on January 14 which was also Keith's mom's birthday. So we are rooting for her to arrive on her due date. However - Do you know what percentage of babies arrive on their due date - register your guess on today's poll question!


Decorations/Favors
It has not been too hard to find Owl decorations - they are quite popular these days! And although most people would say crochet is not usually a guy activity - the Crochet Dude might beg to differ! Crochet Dude Link  Todays favor is a cute crocheted Owl - and I actually made one!

Here is a cute granny square owl and a link to the free pattern to create it: Free Owl Granny Square Pattern           
singleimage
 
And here is a photo of the one I made (unfortunately not from a free pattern).
 
 
 
Dad Friendly Food
 
 
Cheese and Bacon Potato Rounds
recipe image
Rated: rating
Submitted By: Michele O'Sullivan
Photo By: Tricia Jaeger
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 40 Minutes
Ready In: 1 Hour
Servings: 4
"Potatoes, cheese and bacon--a great combination! These make a terrific appetizer or side dish. Serve with sour cream, if desired."
Ingredients:
4 baking potatoes, cut into 1/2 inch slices
1/4 cup melted butter
8 slices bacon - cooked and crumbled
8 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup chopped green onions
Directions:
1.Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2.Brush both side of potato slices with butter; place them on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in the preheated 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until lightly browned on both sides, turning once.
3.When potatoes are ready, top with bacon, cheese, and green onion; continue baking until the cheese has melted
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2013 Allrecipes.com
 
 
And a Simple Party Punch
 
Party Punch III
recipe image
Rated: rating
Submitted By: Amy
Photo By: RNobgyn30
Prep Time: 2 Minutes
Ready In: 2 Minutes
Servings: 48
"This is punch is so extremely easy to make that a child could do it, yet it is so delicious. It is always served at our family gatherings, and my sisters, brother and I all had it served at our weddings."
Ingredients:
1 (2 liter) bottle fruit punch, chilled
1 (64 fluid ounce) bottle orange juice,
chilled
1 (2 liter) bottle ginger ale, chilled
Directions:
1.In a punch bowl, combine fruit punch and orange juice. Slowly pour ginger ale down the side of the bowl to retain carbonation.



 The Game
Pregnancy - How Sweet It is
Match the Pregnancy Word to the Candy
 
Click the link to a printable copy of the game:
 
Click here for the answers:
 
A Thought to Share
You've probably already guessed the thought for today.
 
Share your answers to the following in the comments section:
I hope you inherit ___________from your Dad.
Again - further explanation is your option!
 
 
 
Yesterday's poll answer: BabyGirl's estimated weight last week was 4lbs 10 oz.
 
Link to yesterdays game answers: You will need to scroll down to the second page of the PDF  Answers to Friday's game
 
 
Link to Thursday's Game Answers: Answers to Thursday Game


 
 
 
 

Friday, December 6, 2013

Baby Shower Day 3

We are so grateful that God has seen fit to bless Elaine and Keith with their first child. Thank you so much for joining our celebration as we anticipate her arrival. We hope you are having some fun with the virtual shower site - but mostly, we just so appreciate your advice, experience, thoughts and prayers and hope you will enjoy sharing your wisdom and good thoughts with Elaine and Keith.

 
And here are our first views of her Beautiful face.
 
 
 
We can't wait to meet her in person!
 
This week BabyGirl Davis is putting on some "Baby fat" and becoming a bit rounder in the process. This fat layer not only makes her cute and pudgy, it also plays a very important role in helping her to maintain her body temperature once she is born. That will be really important for her expected January birthday - especially if the cold weather moving across the country this week is any indication of what is ahead for Winter! We don't expect to see the thermometer get above 30 degrees until the middle of next week here in Kansas! And the night-time lows will make a couple of visits into the single digits in the next few days. BRRR!! Get ready you East Coasters - its heading your direction! Even Christie in Florida will see some night-time lows in the 40s. And the Texans are pretty cold the next few days as well! I hope Elaine has some nice sweaters to keep that baby bump insulated - she will be seeing some nights below freezing coming up too!
 

Today's Decorations/Party Favors

 
 
 
Our Owls will need to keep warm in the cold weather, too! These cute wraps fit around regular size Hershey bars and the link to the blogger that created them is here: Owl Wrapper, 
 
Food Fun
 
Todays recipe is not really a recipe, but a cute and fun cupcake decorating idea.(I decided on a more calorie laden idea today in honor of BabyGirls current baby fat building efforts - :) ) You can use your favorite cupcake recipe! Other than that you will need your icing, oreo or similar cookies, and M&Ms or smarties.
 
Oreo Owl Cupcakes
 

And a link to a You-tube video showing you how to do it: How to make Owl Cupcakes
 
 
A Nice Warm Beverage 

Cranberry-Orange Tea Sipper

Makes: 6 servings
Serving size: 3/4cup
Start to Finish 15 mins
Cranberry-Orange Tea Sipper
Ingredients
  • 3 cups light cranberry-raspberry drink
  • 1 cup water
  • 4 bags orange-spice-flavor tea
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 1/4 cup vodka or water
  • 6 cinnamon sticks (optional)
Directions
1. In a medium saucepan, combine cranberry-raspberry drink and the 1 cup water. Bring just to boiling. Add tea bags. Remove from heat; cover and let stand for 4 minutes.

2. Remove tea bags and discard. Stir in orange juice, heat through. Stir in vodka. Serve warm. If desired, garnish each serving with a cinnamon stick. Makes 6 (3/4-cup) servings.
 
 
Fun and Games
 
For today's game: Can you name what the baby animal is called for each of the following adult animals?
 


 Adult Animal Name:
  1. Bear 
  2. Cat 
  3. Chicken 
  4. Cow 
  5. Deer 
  6. Dog 
  7. Dolphin 
  8. Donkey 
  9. Elephant 
  10. Fox 
  11. Goat 
  12. Goose 
  13. Horse 
  14. Kangaroo 
  15. Lion 
  16. Monkey 
  17. Moose 
  18. Penguin 
  19. Racoon 
  20. Sheep 
  21. Skunk 
  22. Swan
  23. Tiger
  24. Whale
  25. Wolf

 Click here for the answers, and then share how many you got right in the comments. Baby animal game and answer key
 
A Warm Fuzzy Thought for the Day
 
In the comments section, write your response to:
I hope you inherit your mother's ________ . Feel free to give an explanation for your answer - or not, up to you!

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Baby Shower Day 2!!

Don't forget to participate by adding your comments! Add comments by clicking the colored words indicating the number of comments on the pink bar at the bottom of today's post.
And if you click on the title of today's post above, the comments will show at the bottom of the post.
 
 

Canteloupe vs. Butternut Squash

 
There seems to be a slight difference of opinion. As we learned yesterday, "The Bump" claims BabyGirl Davis is about the size of a large Butternut Squash. However, according to "Parents", "Countdown my Pregnancy", and "BabyCenter", BabyGirl Davis is the approximately the size of a Cantaloupe! I guess Cantaloupes and Butternut Squash can be similar in size. Either way, we know for certain that she is SWEET!!
 

"Week 34
Your baby is the size of a cantaloupe.
Baby's Length: 17.72 in.
Baby's Weight: 4.73 lbs"
 
 cantaloupe
 
 


 And She Can Hear Music

Also according to "The Bump", her hearing is pretty well developed and she might enjoy hearing music, including a lullaby or two. In fact, some say that baby will recognize songs mom sings while she’s in the womb, and may even be more easily soothed by them if she’s used to them once she’s on the “outside.” Well, we all know that BabyGirl Davis hears lots of music from the voices of both her mom and her dad - and she is certainly blessed to have such beautiful music to listen to! We even have some evidence that she has been responding to sounds and music for a few weeks now. According to "Parents"  - "she's turning her head, pirouetting, and moving her body from side to side." Sounds like dancing to me! Do you think that's what she is doing here? (click on the arrow to see the video - taken about 3 weeks ago!):
 
 
 
I think Paul was enjoying the show, too!
 
 
 
 The Decorations
Imagine this Owl Diaper "Cake" as a Centerpiece!
 
Owl Baby Shower Diaper Cake - Cute!
To see how this fun Diaper Cake was made - visit http://craftychicsblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/new-twist-on-diaper-cake.html and scroll down past the bicycle diaper cake.
 
 
And - as promised, we put together the Owl A Glow  decoration from  yesterday - and here it is:
 





the Food!!

 
Of course we need to give the Cantaloupe equal time - so, even though it is not really the season for Cantaloupe, it will be the feature in today's recipe from the "Fine Cooking" website (http://www.finecooking.com/recipes/prosciutto-melon-mint-white-balsamic-vinegar.aspx):
 

Prosciutto-Wrapped Melon with Mint & White Balsamic Vinegar

Prosciutto-Wrapped Melon with Mint & White Balsamic Vinegar Recipe
 
Serves eight as an appetizer.

  • by Jennifer Armentroutfrom Fine Cooking
    Issue 86
This riff on a classic Italian hors d’oeuvre is a great way to start a summer gathering.
  • 1 ripe cantaloupe
  • 2 Tbs. very thinly sliced fresh mint leaves
  • 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 to 3 tsp. white balsamic vinegar
  • 6 oz. very thinly sliced prosciutto, preferably imported
With a sharp knife, trim the peel from the melon. Cut it in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Slice one of the halves lengthwise into slender wedges, and then cut the wedges in half crosswise. (Wrap and save the other melon half for another use.)
Put the melon wedges in a medium bowl and toss them with the mint, pepper, and vinegar to taste—the sweeter the melon, the more vinegar you can use. Tear the prosciutto lengthwise into 1- to 2-inch-wide strips and wrap a strip or two around each piece of melon. Arrange the wrapped melon on a serving platter. If making ahead, cover with plastic and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Make Ahead Tips
You can assemble this dish up to two hours ahead, if you like, but the mint will darken a bit.
 


 
 the Beverage....
 
 
Our Party Punch today (From Taste of Home) will honor the idea that BabyGirl Davis can hear those sweet lullabies her parents sing:
 

Rock-A-Bye Baby Punch

 Rock-A-Bye Baby Punch
 
64 ServingsPrep/Total Time: 10 min.

Ingredients

  • 3 quarts raspberry sherbet, softened
  • 6 liters ginger ale, chilled

Directions

  • Just before serving, place sherbet in punch bowl. Add ginger ale;
  • stir until sherbet is almost melted. Yield: about 2 gallons (about
  • 64 half-cup servings).


 
 
 Time for a Game
 
 
See if you can name each of the nursery rhymes in the clues below. Put your answers in the comments - can anyone get them all without checking Goggle?


Nursery Rhyme Rhetoric Clues
1. Clumsy kids on an errand to the well.
2. Irreparable broken egg.
3. Small seated girl who is scared of insects.
4. Young forgetful shepherd girl.
5. Hungry singing boy.
6. Tired shepherd boy with trumpet.
7. Male trio who bathed together.
8. Small boy who eats his pies with his hands.
9. Triplet felines who can't keep track of their clothing.
10. Maternal game bird.
11. Elderly woman with hungry dog and empty cabinets.
12. Elderly woman with unique living quarters.
13. Cheap, freshly baked pastries.
14. Musical feline and dancing dishes.
15. Swift boy who leaps over flames.

Our Thought for the Day
 
Elaine and Keith have an active and full life, and moments of relaxation will only become more rare once their precious bundle of joy arrives. Lullabies and Nursery Rhymes may help BabyGirl Davis relax and go to sleep - what are some of your best ideas to help Elaine and Keith get some rest? (Share your thoughts in the comment
section)

The Poll
The answer to yesterdays poll question was "Emma" - as it was in most states.


**Don't forget to enter your vote on today's poll question! (see the poll on the sidebar to the right)
 

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Hip Hip Hooray!! The Baby Shower begins TODAY!!











Psalm 139:13-16
For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.[
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them

 

Thank you SO much for joining in the fun and celebrating with Elaine and Keith as they anticipate the arrival of their precious daughter.  

This is how the shower will work: Just log on sometime during the day each day of the shower. There will be a new posting each day which will include a recipe for a fun shower food or beverage, a game to participate in, an update and other fun surprises. You can participate several ways: each day the poll question on the right hand side bar will change -don't forget to register your vote or opinion there each day; also each day a game will be included - you can provide your answers for the game in the comments section; and each day there will be a prompt to share a thought, advice, prayer - etc., you can also respond to these prompts in the comment section.

In order to see comments and to enter your comment: click on the words indicating the number of comments in the bar at the very end of today's post (you will be taken to a comment box where you can write your comment)
 
 


So.... let the fun begin!



Here is the most recent picture of the Baby Bump - taken about 2 weeks ago!
 


This week Elaine is in her 34th week of her pregnancy!

Woo Hoo!! According to "The Bump", Baby Girl Davis is about the size of a LARGE butternut squash!  (I guess I have seen an occasional butternut squash that weighs this much!). She weighs somewhere around 4.2 and 5.8 lbs and she is probably between 17.2 and 18.7 inches long!
 



 
Every Party needs some decorations!
 
As you can tell from your invitations - I have chosen an Owl Theme for this event. Elaine loves owls, and when I saw the invitation I just couldn't resist. But now, we need some party decorations. I came across this idea and thought it would be perfect. I am going to try to put one together today and I'll take a picture to share with you.
 

Owl A Glow

 
Owl A Glow


This photo originally appeared in FamilyFun Magazine
 
Assembled from a paper globe lantern and scrapbooking paper, our wise owl friend will have visitors asking, "Whooo made him?"

What you'll need

  • Paper globe lantern (available at party stores)
  • Paper
  • Scrapbooking paper
  • Glue dots
  • Jute twine

How to make it

  1. For the ear tufts, fan-fold an 8-1/2 - by 6-inch piece of paper and insert it under the center bar of the lantern.
  2. Cut facial features and wings from scrapbooking paper, then secure them with glue dots.
  3. Cut talons from paper, and secure them to the lantern with jute twine tied to the center bar.
  4. Hang the lantern from an appropriate light fixture with a low-wattage bulb.

Courtesy of FamilyFun Magazine
 
 
And Every Party Needs Some Food!




Today's recipes:

Since BabyGirl Davis is the size of a Large Butternut Squash - I though it would be fun to start with a Butternut Squash recipe. This one sounded yummy! And for those of us who are going Gluten Free - simply use your favorite Gluten Free bread dough box or recipe. This recipe was copied from one of my favorite sites - Allrecipes.com.  http://allrecipes.com/Recipe-Tools/Print/Recipe.aspx?recipeID=41998&origin=detail&servings=4&metric=false




Butternut Squash Pizzas with Rosemary
recipe image
Rated: rating
Submitted By: dakota kelly
Photo By: Audrey B
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 30 Minutes
Ready In: 50 Minutes
Servings: 4
"Individual 'pizzettes' with roasted onions and butternut squash, seasoned with rosemary and finished with Parmesan or Asiago cheese."
Ingredients:
1 cup thinly sliced onion
1/2 butternut squash - peeled, seeded,
and thinly sliced
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
salt and black pepper to taste
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 (16 ounce) package refrigerated pizza
crust dough, divided
1 tablespoon cornmeal
2 tablespoons grated Asiago or
Parmesan cheese
Directions:
1.Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Place sliced onion and squash in a roasting pan. Sprinkle with rosemary, salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons of the olive oil; toss to coat.
2.Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until onions are lightly browned and squash is tender; set aside.
3.Increase oven temperature to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). On a floured surface, roll each ball of dough into an 8 inch round. Place the rounds on a baking sheet sprinkled with cornmeal (you may need 2 baking sheets depending on their size). Distribute squash mixture over the two rounds and continue baking for 10 minutes, checking occasionally, or until the crust is firm. Sprinkle with cheese and remaining tablespoon olive oil. Cut into quarters, and serve.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2013 Allrecipes.com

And for our beverage:

Spiced Apple Cider Recipe
Since there is a pretty wicked cold front making its way across the country this week, this Hot Cider beverage should warm you up a bit. And better yet, you can crank it up a notch with some rum if you would like, but it is simple and delicious either way!

The recipe was to difficult to "cut and paste" so here is the link: http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2011/10/spiced-apple-cider-recipe.html




And Of Course Some Games
 
Oh, come on - you know you really don't despise these games. Well, since we aren't all in a room together, at least we can't embarrass each other too much!

Here is the link to the PDF file. Just click on the link, and print out the page. Complete the word search and then report back how long it took you.
http://www.ebabyshowergames.com/wp-content/uploads/baby-word-search.pdf



And finally - Today's thought to share:
 
As you all know, Elaine loves books, and she is looking forward to sharing her love of literature with her Baby Girl. So, tell us what your favorite book was when you were a small child and why.

Don't forget to participate in the daily poll in the right hand side-bar!

And don't forget to record your game results and your favorite childhood story book in the comments section.

To enter your comment: click on the words indicating the number of comments below - you will be taken to a comment box where you can write your comment.

Thanks again for joining the fun!