Babies!

Tonight my small group girls + my sister went to eat yummy food at Gastros and then to see Babies at the Moxie. I was SOOOO excited to see this movie and it totally met my expectations. However, I'm not sure everyone would be able to appreciate it like I did. Here is what the movie is about...

Babies simultaneously follows four babies around the world – from birth to first steps. The children are, respectively, in order of on-screen introduction: Ponijao, who lives with her family near Opuwo, Namibia; Bayarjargal, who resides with his family in Mongolia, near Bayanchandmani; Mari, who lives with her family in Tokyo, Japan; and Hattie, who resides with her family in the United States, in San Francisco.

Re-defining the nonfiction art form, Babies joyfully captures on film the earliest stages of the journey of humanity that are at once unique and universal to us all.

I thought the movie was wonderful but it did stress me out a bit...okay maybe more than a bit. I'm not even a germ freak and it almost put me over the edge. So for all you American mommas out there that stress out when your baby drops something, picks it up and eats it...don't go see this movie. On the other hand, if you're one who can appreciate other cultures and respect other parenting ways, it's a beautiful raw film about life and the sweet joys of the first year.

Watch the trailer here.

Coconuts!!!!!!

Let me just tell you a little story...It involves the reason why earlier I said Jarrod's brother Shaun told me I was brainwashed.
Background: I LOVE Shaun...he's one of a kind and I am very thankful to call him my brother-in-law. He brings color to conversations and a smile to my face. He and his super cute little hippy girlfriend Karly who works at mama jeans are a perfect match. They even bought me a mothers day card which was very sweet. They are fresh, earthy and funny to watch. They are very into natural healing and coconuts. Karly said at dinner once, "Coconut is a cure all"
Disclaimer: I have nothing against coconuts and I don't think they are bad for you and I also do believe there are some extremely beneficial factors in coconuts. I also have nothing against organic foods or natural healing.
The story: On mother's day Jarrod's cousin Brittany who is on a diet and has lost over 60 pounds (Why to go Brit!) declined when Shaun offered her a piece of coconut. She said she couldn't have it. He made a big stink and said, "She says she can't have coconut" and proceeds to say that coconut doesn't have any fat in it. I usually keep my mouth shut because it's not worth it and Jarrod doesn't want me to make a scene. However, I wanted to stick up for Brit. I said, Umm yes, coconut has a LOT of fat...saturated fat at that. Opps...I started it. He tells me I'm brainwashed. I'M brain washed? Ha. Let me tell you, before the coconut conversation Shaun was telling his mother that microwaves are killing us and poisoning our food and that he eats ants for protein because ants are full of protein. How big is an ant? Anyways, back to the story, he said that coconuts are helping his diabetes which I'm not saying it isn't. I just think if your going to toot the coconut's horn you need to know the basic facts of a coconut. Yes, Shaun it has fat. All I was saying yesterday is that coconut has fat (Jarrod is so going to kill me for this post). For all of you out there, here is some basic information about a coconut Click here. Let me highlight on some of the information:
About 90% of the fat found in coconut meat is saturated, a proportion exceeding that of foods such as lard, butter, and tallow.
Click here for information and saturated fat. Again: Let me highlight on some information:
Examples of foods containing a high proportion of saturated fat include dairy products (especially cream and cheese but also butter and ghee); animal fats such as suet, tallow, lard and fatty meat; coconut oil, cottonseed oil, palm kernel oil, chocolate, and some prepared foods.[1]
Serum saturated fatty acid is generally higher in smokers, alcohol drinkers and obese people.[2]

Here is some info from calorie count:

What is Saturated Fat?
Saturated fat is a solid fat mainly found in animal foods. Saturated fat raises blood cholesterol.

Saturated Fat requirements
There is no RDA for saturated fat, nor is there a Tolerable Upper Intake Level. The Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academies of Science recommends keeping saturated fat as low as possible while consuming a nutritionally adequate diet. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that not more than 10 percent of total calories should be from saturated fat.

What happens when Saturated Fat intake is too high?
A high intake of saturated fat has been shown to raise blood cholesterol, which is associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Excess saturated increases LDL (bad) cholesterol in the blood. It also may contribute to weight gain by providing excess calories.

What happens when Saturated Fat intake is too low?
A diet low in saturated fat is desirable.

Which foods are high in Saturated Fat?
Saturated fat is found in full-fat dairy products, like cheese, whole milk, cream, butter, and ice cream, fatty cuts of meat and fish, the skin and fat of chicken and turkey, lard, palm oil, and coconut oil.

From CalorieKing.com
the Nutrition Facts of a coconut
serving size: 1 cup of shredded coconut
Calories 283 (1184 kJ)
% Daily Value 1
Total Fat 26.8g 41%
Sat. Fat 23.8g 119%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 16mg 1%
Total Carbs. 12.2g 4%
Dietary Fiber 7.2g 29%
Sugars 5g
Protein 2.7g
Calcium 11.2mg
Potassium 284.8mg

Listen, I'm not saying that I know everything about coconuts or about saturated fat. However, I do know that coconuts have saturated fat and that movie theater popcorn is made with coconut oil. :) I love Shaun. Jarrod please don't be mad. :)

Crazy Weekend!

This weekend was something else...it was busy, very busy but wonderful! Two of my best friends were in town and I got to spent quality time with both. I just love my girls.

Let me give you a run down of the events. Starting with Thursday...

Work all day-booooo. Met Bonnie and my sister and headed downtown to take her belly shots. I was there to watch Jey when he wasn't in the pictures. Then Jarrod and I had a late dinner together...so sweet.

Friday: Breakfast with Bonnie, Sam and the babies. It was good to see Sam-I hadn't seen her in months! Bonnie and I then headed to Nixa for the city-wide garage sale. We got a few good buys but more importantly had lots of fun. We ate a late lunch at Lola's, stopped at the Lot where my next house will be, a few more sales then back to my house. I rushed to get ready because my MEGAN was also in town and we were having dinner at Gastros with Cheri, Lyndsey and Owen. It was nice...it's like she never left. We had so much fun and really good food. After dinner we went back to Megan's to get things ready for her soon to be sister in law's bridal shower. I didn't get home till almost midnight...I finished up some wrapping and then off to bed I went.

Saturday: Jarrod had to be at his golf tournament by 7 so I took Zeda to Mimi and Papa's house and got to Megan's by 9. We got right to work (Megan had already been working) and we made that place look so fun and girly, click here for pictures The shower went from 11-1. I met my sister and Jey downtown at Askinosie to make mothers day cupcakes until 3. Jarrod and I went to visit a "green house" to get ideas for our house plans until 4:30. Zeda feel asleep in the car so we went straight to HuHot for dinner. I fed her in the car while Jarrod put our names on the list. Sarah, Matt and Jey met us there because Sarah and I both wanted to go there for our mothers day dinner so we all went together. Jarrod and I had a little shopping to do at the mall after dinner and then we just had to get ice cream on the way home:). Finally we made it home, put Z to bed, watched a LOST (we are almost caught up) and went to bed ourselves.

Sunday: Jarrod made breakfast, then mowed the lawn while I finished up mothers day gifts, we went to Nixa to put flags on the lot. Stopped by Megan's house to say goodbye (man I miss that girl!) then went to Jarrod's parents by 2. We left around 5, shortly after Jarrod's brother told me I was brain washed (more on that later) and went to my parents house for more festivities. We came home, put Z right to sleep and watched our final LOST (we are now caught up).

Needless to say, Zeda slept in till 9 this morning...what a trooper. It was so nice to be at home today...until I remembered I had a dentist appointment. Ugh the dentist. He takes all my money!

Happy Mothers Day to ME!!!!!!!!

Photo taken by Bonnie

Mothers day was such a good feeling. I love my family and my new (she's still new to me) baby girl. My wonderful husband got Z up and ready to go that morning and then made me breakfast while I fed her. He was so helpful that day but then again...he's helpful everyday so it didn't feel much different. It was a busy day...we went to see our lot in Nixa, stopped by Megan's to pick up stuff and say goodbye (more on Megan later) then to his parents house for the afternoon, my parents house for the evening then our home to go to bed. Highlight of the day: Zeda falling asleep on me at Jarrod's parents house. We had a sweet moment. She was super tired and overwhelmed so we snuck off to the playroom in the basement. With the roaring going on above I sang my sweet girl a song and she went right to sleep on my chest...priceless.

Sooooo much to blog about....

I think I will post a few tonight...I'm feeling the mood to share. I just hope I don't share too much. ha. On Thursday my friend Bonnie who I just blogged about here took some belly pictures of my sister with her family. They are really good, click here to see the rest. My sister is one of those super cute pregnant ladies who gains nothing and looks totally normal after she has the baby. Ugh! Why can't I do that...wait I know...I ate way too many McD fries.

Look how cute Jey Bug is...I just love this boy.

Photog friends

I know I brag on my friends and their amazing photography abilities but I can't help it. I love them and their pictures!!!! My college roommate Bonnie took some pictures of baby Z when I went to visit her a few weeks back. Above is my favorite.

Today, Bonnie is here for a visit and we are going to garage sales. Wish us luck-neither one of us are pro garage sale shoppers but Nixa is having a city-wide sale so surely we'll see something!

Welcome Presley Ann!

Our good friends Todd and Kendall had their beautiful baby girl this week. We went to see them last night and they are doing great. Kendall of course was all dolled up walking around in her cute clothes, full make-up and big hair. I love that girl! Their beautiful daughter was so sweet and just slept in my arms for about an hour while we got to visit with her mommy and daddy. For more photos head to Kendall and Todd's blog here.