The Moments We Live For.

This kid.

There was a time when we didn't get along. I didn't know how to be a Mother; in fact, I'm still learning every day. I would get up early, make him a breakfast that he wouldn't eat. I would play with him and it wasn't enough. He would throw fits at naptime. He wouldn't eat lunch, wouldn't eat dinner and wouldn't go to bed at night. It was hard to feel like being a Mother was "worth it" during those times. But this child is the sweetest, smartest, most loving kid I have ever met in my lifetime.

Derek and I woke up freezing the other night at around 4:15 AM. I went into the hall to flick on the heater and had a feeling to go in and cover up Titan. I found him cold, in a ball on his bed with his face buried in his pillow. He was awake, just waiting for someone to tuck him under his covers since he can't really do it himself. I covered him with his wubby, then with his comforter. He looked up at me and said, "I Love You". It melted my heart! I whispered, "I Love You, too" back to him. He looked up at me a second time and said, "I Love You" and I smiled. I told him, "I Love You, too" once again then walked out of his room. He didn't make a peep after that and he slept until almost 7 AM.

Those are the moments we live for as parents. I love you, little Titan!

Merry Christmas to All!

I have been such a blog slacker. Seems my life has been filled with rather uninteresting events that aren't worthy of blogging about. But when I think about it, it's not true! Let's see:

*Derek found an amazing job that he loves.
*My parents came to visit us for the weekend and have an early Christmas with us. That was a BLAST!
*I've started to venture out on my own and navigate my way through the Phoenix Valley a little bit...(Has anyone truly ever realized how BIG this place is?!)
*I have one month left until our little girl arrives.
*Titan is quickly approaching his 2nd birthday (where on EARTH does the time go???)

Anyway, life is so good here at the Hargrove home. I can never complain. Sometimes I get nervous when I'm about to gush about how great my life is and how blessed I am, because I'm afraid that one day it will all be taken from me. Isn't that morbid? I have just heard so many stories in my lifetime about these people who fall in love then get in car accidents. People who are 39 weeks pregnant and their baby passes away. People who lose their children to weird things like cancers, SIDS, tumors, etc. I guess I get scared because I feel like I have a fragile heart and don't want it to be tested. This year has brought so much heartache, yet so much joy!

I often feel sad that we are no longer an Army family. I miss the days where Titan and I lived in Georgia. I miss missing Derek (does that even make sense?!). I feel sad when I see his friends graduate from each new phase of training and I know it pierces Derek just the same. I often find myself wondering what our lives would have been like had we continued on that path. But I know this is where our family is meant to be. Together. No deployments. No time away due to training. No danger. No governmental drama like he dealt with in his field. I could not be happier to have my sweet husband living at home with us. Where once I was wondering how January would play out, (Titan and I alone on his birthday with no friends or family, me giving birth alone 1500 miles from anyone in our immediate family, New Year's and Christmas alone...) now all of that will be different. We will spend the holidays with TONS of family. We will have my mom here to welcome in Baby Claire and squeeze on Titan. Derek should be able to attend the birth. It's WONDERFUL!


This is our self-timer-taken Christmas card picture (haha). Surprisingly, it didn't take too long to get a decent shot. My face definitely looks like a 35 week pregnant person face...


Here is little Claire, hanging out all cozy in the womb. She is very sweet and mild. I can tell this about her already. She hardly ever moves and when she does, she's pretty gentle about it. She gets the hiccups a lot, and I get heartburn more frequently as of late. I also urinate up to 12 or so times a night which is so much fun. I've gained about 27 pounds and it's all belly, bum and boobs. A lady at Victoria's Secret measured me the other day (I was in a sports bra no less) and I'm a 32 C. Wow. So I can bank on having some rather large honkers after my milk comes in. To say I went from a small A to a small D is quite the jump for someone like myself! Ha!

Anyway, life is good here and I hope you all have the Merriest Christmas of all time and remember what Christmas really is about.

Love,

The Hargroves

Yes, please!

I have secretly become obsessive over Pinterest. For the longest time, I had no idea what it was and had no desire to find out. But alas, I got a wild hair one day and decided to check it out. My eyes grew wide with all the amazing things they were being exposed to! I found so many amazing recipes, quotes, craft ideas and much more...along with this little dilly whopper you see above. It's called Bacon Ranch Pull Apart Bread. Does that not sound like the best thing ever?!

I have yet to make it, but I'm thinking it will make a great appetizer for Christmas Eve while at my in-laws house. If anyone else wants to try it out, tell me how it tastes! Here are the directions:

1 loaf of unsliced sourdough bread (preferably round)
8-12 oz cheddar cheese, thinly sliced
3 oz bag of Oscar Meyer real bacon bits
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 tablespoon ranch dressing mix

Use a sharp knife and cut the bread horizontally and vertically, but be sure not to cut all the way through. Place slices of cheese and bacon through the cuts. Mix the butter and ranch, then pour over the loaf of bread. Wrap the entire loaf in foil and place on a baking sheet. Cook at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Remove foil from bread and place back in oven for an additional 10 minutes, or just until the cheese has completely melted.

I think my mouth is salivating just typing this up. Someone make it and tell me how it turns out! (Or...if you live in the Phoenix valley, I'd be happy to stop by and taste test it...)