MMMmonday - Guest post & Recipe: Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

My name is Heather and my blog ( http://outtatheboxintothekitchen.blogspot.com/) is all about making more things from scratch and giving up processed foods. This takes a bit of extra time and planning, but so far it has worked out well for my family! I am always making or baking something and generally its something new and different! I love this recipe because it doesn't use any refined sugars.

This recipe is perfect for the fall season as it involves APPLES! Yes we went apple picking and ended up with 23 lbs of apples, I have been scurrying around trying to find different recipes to use them up. Its been almost a month and I still have half a bag! This recipe is perfect for breakfast or even used as a snack! This is also one of my very favorite ways of eating oatmeal now and I pour a little milk over it.

Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal-adapted from Finding Joy in my Kitchen(Link-http://joyinmykitchen.blogspot.com/2010/06/apple-cinnamon-baked-oatmeal.html)

3 cups old fashioned oatmeal

1/2 cup honey or pure maple syrup

1 tbsp cinnamon 

1/4 tsp nutmeg

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 cup milk

1 egg

1/2 cup applesauce

2 tsp vanilla

2 apples, peeled and chopped

Mix together dry ingredients. 

Combine wet ingredients and mix into the dry ones.  Fold in apples. Spread batter into 9x13 pan. *The original directions now say to cover and put into the refrigerator overnight, then put the cold dish into the oven and turn it on. So you can...but I missed this part and put it straight into the oven at 350 degrees for 30-40 mins. Until center is no longer runny and is golden brown.(Mine only took about 30 mins). Cool. Cut into bars

**I'm not the reason behind putting it in the fridge, but it did still work cooking it right away. This was delicious and tasty. My 1.5 yr old love it...but only with his almond milk over it! 

Please consider leaving a recipe to share:

My Halloween Pumpkin

Liam didn't end up going out Trick or Treating tonight - his schedule has been off this weekend, so he ended up falling asleep before supper, but I did get a few pics of my new little Halloween guy to share with you:

The ones the pro took:

www.bellababyphotography.com

password: nsxme74Pzw

The ones I took:

They're definitely brothers

Erik's First Picture

Liam's First Picture

5 Fabulous Giveaways Ending Tonight!!!

All of these great giveaways end tonight - get your entries in!!!

• Spooktacular Hop - $25 GC to Amazon ends 10/31
• Paperspring $50 gift certificate - ends 10/31
• BPC - Paranoid Parents book - ends 10/31
• BPC - $40 CSN Stores GC ends 10/31
• Easy Stroll - ends 10/31

Another Winner!!!

The winner of the Itzbeen timer is:

Laura· 2 days ago

tweet 
http://twitter.com/lauragmsu/status/29088776083 

lauragmsu at hotmail dot com

Congrats to Laura - you have 48 hours to reply to the email I sent you and complete the winners information  - if she fails to do that, I will draw a new winner!!

Erik's Birth Story

Well, those of you who have been following Baby E's story, you know that we were worried about him being big, and his head circumference... well we were right ;)

Erik Reid Alfred Smith was born by cesarean section at 7:46pm on Friday, October 29th, 2010 after his mommy laboured for twelve hours after being induced.... he weighed 9 lbs 14 oz, with

It started a few weeks ago, when at my 35 week appointment, the O/B who I was seeing was concerned about the size of the baby - he was still measuring significantly early and she was concerned about his size, so the following week, I had an U/S which determined that he was 7lbs 5 ounces at 36 weeks!!   In comparison, Liam was born at 37 weeks at 7lbs 13 ounces, so we knew that this baby would be bigger than his brother, but the question would be how much bigger?

Another U/S this past Monday indicated that Erik was now over 9 lbs and there was serious concern about his head size... so it was determined that baby E would arrive Friday, and we'd try induction first... so Mommy & Daddy arrived at the hospital bright and early yesterday morning and got checked in... and settled in for what was expected to be a fairly long day...

Erik progressed rapidly through the morning- effacing and starting to descend, and contracting well with the help of the Pitocin.  Mommy's water was broken at 9:30 am and again things progressed well... by 11am, she was 5 cm dilated and 90% effaced, by 2pm she was 6 cm dilated and 100% effaced and that's where labour stopped progressing - I was still 6 cm at 4pm and again at 7pm, so the decision was made - time for a C-Section...

After a few tears from Mommy, things progressed quickly from there - everyone mobilized and I was in the ER by 7:30pm, Wayne joined us at 7:35pm and at 7:46pm, Erik was born...

Just under an hour later, Mommy was in recovery and an hour after that we were settled in our room... Erik fed well twice and he and Mommy and Daddy bonded for a while, until Daddy headed home ...

Winners!!!!

Well, being biased, I think that I was the big winner yesterday,

(click here for details if you missed them)
but, there were also two fabulous giveaways that ended at 11:59pm EST last night!

So without further ado, the winner of the Undercover Mama is:

Comment #34

Ashley R· 18 hours ago

Daily Tweet! http://twitter.com/reynoldsmom/status/29109797714

And the winner of the $50 Bubbles and Bows Boutique GC is:

Comment # 38

Bethany C.· 1 week ago

like you on fb (Bethany Cardone) 
b(dot)cardone(at)

Both winners should look for an email from me!  You have 48 hours to respond and claim your prize, following the directions in the email!

Thanks to everyone who entered and don't forget that the Itzbeen timer giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST tonight!!

iNet VIdeo and Charity water

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of iNetVideo. All opinions are 100% mine.


While I was in labour with Erik, with the epidural in, I had lots of time to just sit and surf the web - and one of the cool new sites I found is Charity Water, sponsored by iNetVideo, which is a fantastic charitable cause that supports creating a healthy world for some of the most poverty stricken countries but supplying clean water, sanitation and education to the developing world.  


I was intrigued by being able to create a better world through such simple changes - installing a well so that water can be collected within 15 minutes of home instead of several hours - and I think it's important to consider the entire world picture that my kids are living in... 


And I was struck that more than 4500 people will die of waterborne illnesses today alone... and if my child had been born elsewhere, he could easily be susceptible to one of them... he was lucky to be born in an first class hospital in a world class city... but 


It hits you hardest when you bring another life into the world - you want him to live in the best world possible - and you spend time thinking not only about how you will improve his world, but how you can improve the world around him - and Charity Water seems like a straightforward way to do that.


Charity Water is "a clean water project nearby means more than safe drinking water to women and children in developing nations; it means time, freedom and incentive to change their communities."



This initiative is a straightforward way to do three things - prevent disease by providing clean water, sanitation and education and reducing the number of deaths and serious illnesses in some of the poorest countries in the world!


I was so impressed with the Charity Water website and all of the good work they are doing!


I am also incredibly inpressed that iNetVideo.com is one of the partners in raising funds for this project!


Check out their page here: http://www.inetvideo.com/charity%20water 
There are simple things that we can do too!  They also have a great video here: http://mycharitywater.org/iNetVideo-Charity-Water-2010


1) spread the word of the iNetVideo charity water campaign via email, facebook or twitter

2) Look for the water drop and buy selected item and iNetVideo will donate $1 to the water project

3) Donate directly to the project by visiting:

http://mycharitywater.org/iNetVideo-Charity-Water-2010

What do you think of the Charity Water site?   What impact do you think clean water could have on the lives of women and children in the developing world...

Meet Erik Reid Alfred Smith!

Erik was born at 7:46pm EST tonight by C- Section... my labour stalled mid afternoon and now I know why... Master Erik is a big boy!  9lbs 14 oz with a great size head, chubby cheeks and even bigger shoulders... he just wasn't going to come vaginally in a reasonable amount of time, so we made the best decision we could - the C-Section was necessary!   Big thanks to everyone on the team - more details tomorrow!

Labor update...

Well, we're still waiting... the last time I was checked I was dilated to 7 - 7.5.... but it's been a slow afternoon...

hoping that progress is progress, but a little worried that we'll end up in the o/r... after all this ...

descend, baby, descend!!!

And let your head and shoulders fit!!!

Giveaways ending today!!!

There are two fabulous giveaways ending tonight!!!

• Undercover Mama - ends 10/29
• $50 GC to Bubbles and Bows Boutique ends 10/29

If you haven't entered, what are you waiting for???

I'm biased, but I'd love to figure out how to win the $50 GC to Bubbles and Bows for myself ;)

Guest Post: Heather's Hubby ... letter to Baby E

Yesterday, everyone was asking me if I was nervous and/or excited about the pending arrival of baby ‘E’ and my answer was neither.  I think the better answer is/was pensive. What type of world is little ‘E’ coming into?  

1. Is it a tolerant place or one of bigotry?
2. Is he entering a world of freedom or persecution?
3. Is this a community of empathy or one of self interest and greed?
4. Is this planet represented by love or is it managed by hate?

 Then I considered his place in this new environment.

1. Will the machine grind him or will he be an operator?
2. Will he become a leader of man or be a follower of fools?
3. Will he give comfort or will he provide hardship?
4. What path will he choose?

 So young ‘E’ on this day of your potential arrival, I offer you many questions and sadly few answers.  He is entering a world of tremendous uncertainty.  The paths to which the future may follow are too numerous to calculate.  It scares me to no end.  I want a world that my child will be given a chance to live a lifetime in peace, harmony and empathy.  Can I guarantee it? Alas, no.  We live in the most interesting of times.

With those fears expressed, no matter what the world throws at you.  As your parent I will guarantee you that,

1. You will know love. 
2. You will see comfort.
3. You will experience empathy
4. You will live in an environment that encourages
5. You will be supported
6. You will have opportunities. 

 You will live in a household that plans for the future, lives in the moment and learns from its past.  You will be cared for by people who genuinely care for your well being.  You will be nurtured by people who will provide you guidance with the best intentions at heart.  You will be loved by those who want for you a life of happiness.  With these tools you will choose your path.  What path will you choose my son?

An update...

We arrived at the hospital at 6:30 today... admissions took a little while, because we're here in advance of my due date, so I wasn't in the computer system yet... even though my doc has sent her paperwork through to have me admitted this morning... oh well, the wheels of bureaucracy...

My nurse for the day, Jane, is fabulous - no pic of her yet, but I will get one... she got my IV in on the first shot... something of a miracle in my world...

so far so good, no pain with the contractions ... just a little pressure...

I've had a few people comment on the set-up - both Wayne and I have our laptops out... the cell phone is charged and ready...

we're all set :)

My theory is, he's not here yet, so why not blog :)  All we're doing is waiting - and I'm getting frozen butt...

More later - including a very sweet guest post from my hubby...

Winners!!!!

With 3 giveaways ending at 11:59pm, I wanted to get the winners announced before I head to the hospital!!!

So without further ado;
All winners were chosen by random.org and verified by me as having successfully completed that entry - each winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to supply the requested information to claim their prize.

The winner of the Blue Bells of Scotland Giveaway (71 total entries - 67 on main page and 4 on the review) is:

# 11

LAMusing· 1 week ago

I love historical fiction - its the closest I can come to actually travelling through time. 

I recently read a book set in WW2 - and much focus was on the fact that until the last few years of the war there was NO PENICILLIN! In WW1 half the soldiers that died, died from infections. And it wasn't just soldiers. Many people died from simple infections. Think of the times you've had antibiotics. No big deal - take 'em and get well. But until the mid 40's life was not that way. Scrape your knee, have an impacted tooth, catch pneumonia... any of these could be a death sentence. I then recalled my father (who served in WW2 in the South Pacific) saying he wasn't wounded in battle, but almost died when he got blood poisoning from coral. Did they treat him with the new miracle drug? It was just about the time it started to be used on troops. Unfortunately my father is no longer around to ask - but I wonder, if not for penicillin would I have ever been born?

The winner of the Bravado Designs Nursing Bra (from 67 entries) is:

#46

Tyler R.· 3 days ago

Follow you on Twitter. (always6139)

The winner of the Exergen Temporal Artery Thermometer (from 164 entries)

#8

Haven· 1 week ago

I follow you on twitter @HavensTwit

Congratulations to all the winners and a big thanks to the SPONSORS of these giveaways!

Friday Fragments - my last as a mom of 2

I'm headed for an induction in the morning... hopefully by the end of the day I will be a mommy of three wonderful children instead of two... I'm a little nervous about how it will go... so far this child is fairly resistant to the idea of meeting his parents... which means I could be in for a long day


Do you think it's strange that I plan to blog while I'm in the hospital?  From what I understand I won't be able to move around much once they start me on the IV drip, so I have to do something - right?  I figure I can get a few reviews out of the way and keep up with what everyone else is doing on their blogs... why else would the hospital provide free wi-fi in the maternity ward?

My daughter won't be here for the birth of her brother... she's the family representative at my sister's wedding this weekend in Toronto... she flew up there on Wednesday, solo... so proud of her...


I am having issues with my four year old.. he must sense that something big is happening tomorrow, because it's 10:21 pm and he won't settle down... and mommy and daddy have to be up at 5... oh well, guess that's the other thing I can do once I get to the hospital before contractions kick in forcefully - nap...

The Baby/Pregnacy celebration wrapped up the other day, but several great giveaways are still open - if you, including some cool gift certificates that really aren't just for babies... so check them out above!