Our Little Life

The Battle of Fredericksburg

2012-02-10T17:01:00.000-08:00

Ever since we found out we were moving here Mark has said that he wants to tour all of the battlefields from the Civil War. Luckily, we have several that are fairly close and we can see in a day. Today we saw our first one. I have to admit, I thought it would be pretty boring, but I was wrong.

We started at the visitors center where they showed a 22 minute video that told us all about the battle and helped explain what we were going to see. Thank goodness for that video or I would have just thought we were on a regular old road with some stones along the side. It puts a whole new perspective on it when you know that it is the bloodiest land in all of America where nearly 100,000 soldiers died. Pretty crazy!

Here is the beginning of the walking tour. Baby K is all bundled up and ready to learn some American History. Gotta start early in this family!

This was her favorite activity for the day....licking her hat?! Must have been cupcake flavored?? Seriously...she looked so adorable, but every time I tried to take a picture she was licking the hat!

Here I am reinacting what the Confederate soldiers did as the Union soldiers came towards them.

The stone wall that the Confederates were positioned behind.

More hat licking....

Am old house with bullet holes in the side!

Beautiful plantation home.

The sunken road.

Quite the studly soldier posing.

And yet again...with a big cannon.

Here is the cemetery where the men were buried. Most of the tombstones just had a number on them because they were unknown soldiers. :(

We had a really great day and K was surprisingly happy most of the time in her car seat. Bring on the next battlefield!

Happy 3 Months!

2012-02-10T16:44:00.000-08:00

3 Months Old

This month has been really fun! It was a pretty low key month. We stayed in Virginia and tried to keep warm. We didn’t have many outings, but we had a blast watching you change and grow every day. Mimi and Grandad came up from Texas and we took a trip to the Newseum, but other than that we stayed close to home. Your schedule is becoming more predictable. You wake one time at night to eat and you go right back to sleep. You take a short morning nap, a longer afternoon nap and a short early evening nap. You go to bed between 7 and 8 PM and you go right to sleep. You smile all the time and you are talking more and more. You also learned to blow bubbles this month and you drool a lot! Mommy stays home with you all day while Daddy goes to school. We alternate activities between your play mat, watching Baby Einstein, and swinging in your swing. You are starting to use your hands to grab the toys on your play mat and you squeal when we turn on Baby Einstein. You are such a happy baby and you are so easy going except when we put you in your car seat. You only cry when your tummy hurts or if you get startled. You smile when we come into your room and when we leave you follow us with your eyes. You rolled over from your tummy to your back while you were propped up on your whale pillow. You really don’t enjoy tummy time, so I think that is why you decided to go ahead and roll over. You are absolutely adorable and each day gets more and more fun!

IPhone picture dump

2012-02-07T07:25:00.000-08:00

I take pictures on my phone all the time and I finally uploaded them from the past year or so! Here are some of the good ones...

To scrap or not?!

2012-02-07T07:09:00.000-08:00

I love scrapbooking! However, through our multiple moves and lack of space issues I put everything away in boxes in the basement. I decided that I would just make yearly albums on Shutterfly and that would be that. It would be easy, quick and cheap and we would have a whole year done. So...I did that for 2010 and we have a nice, but plain little book that holds our memories from 2010. It is fine. It serves the purpose of documenting the year, but there is just something missing. There is nothing creative or special about it. I went ahead and made one for 2011, but I haven't printed it. I just didn't love it and I was honestly waiting for a coupon to order it. Since then...I went back and looked at the albums I did from 2006-2009 and they are just so cool. Each page is unique and it really tells the story of where we have been and all the things we have done. So, that leads me to where I am now....scrap or not?!

I think I have decided that I want to continue to print pictures and scrapbook the old fashioned way. I realize that life moves quickly and I doubt I will be able to stay on top of it, but that is my goal. I think I'm going to continue to do a "family" book for us, and also do books just for Kenleigh for her to take with her when she grows up....in a very very long time! If I even let her grow up! K's books will have special stuff just about her...milestones, school stuff, birthdays, etc. while our family books will document vacations, holiday and other misc. family events. I think this will be a good system and I won't be duplicating pages.

Now for the fun part...buying stuff! First I need to print off the bazillion pictures I have taken. Thank goodness for Shutterfly coupons! Also, I really think I want the new Silhouette Cameo machine. Not only for scrapbooking, but for so many other projects. I think I'm pretty set on paper and sticker for a little while, but it never hurts to have more.

And now I have a nap time project, that doesn't include baking something!

Sweet Baby Girl

2012-01-19T12:00:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that my little baby girl is already 2 months old. The time is just flying by. Hopefully I can post more often, but here are a few pictures of my sweet baby that I have taken recently.

Shoe-La-La

2012-01-19T11:56:00.000-08:00

These were made for sweet Ava's 2nd Birthday Party!

Red Velvet Blossoms

2012-01-19T11:54:00.000-08:00

I found the recipe for these rich, delicious morsels on Pinterest (of course!). They are absolutely amazing! I was a bit skeptical at first, because the dough doesn't look like any cookie dough I have ever made. And...they don't have butter! The cookie tastes pretty much like a chocolate cookie and if you eat it warm the hug in the middle is ooey and gooey! I only ate one, since they are about 5 WW points each! Yikes!

Is anybody out there?

2012-01-19T11:50:00.001-08:00

Wow....long time...no blog! I'm back! Hopefully, I can get back to blogging more frequently as I get this being a Mommy thing down.

Random Thoughts....

2011-12-06T10:48:00.000-08:00

-Slussy: This is when K is sleepy and fussy. In my 4 weeks of being her mother, I have yet to figure out a good and quick way to soothe her...My attempts have ended in an assortment of ways....I offer paci, her tiny baby mouth launches the paci out of mouth and across room...always landing on the floor. I put her on my chest to rock....she flings her head around...always landing on my chin or some other hard body part that induces more crying. Singing...this would make anyone cry. Walking/bouncing....sometimes works temporarily. :)

-My new normal includes always smelling like spit up, poop or breast milk and having it somewhere on my clothing at all times. Neato!

- I fall more in love with this precious girl every time I look at her....even if it is 2 AM! Party time!

- Be careful when changing a poopy diaper on your leg in the car...most likely you will end up with a large poop stain on the only jeans you can squeeze into.

- Baby bath time is my favorite!

-Life is good! I'm happy! That is all! :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-28T05:39:00.000-08:00

This Thanksgiving was the BEST Thanksgiving I have ever had for many reasons! The first of many is that we have our precious baby Kenleigh here to celebrate with us and also because my family came to VA to celebrate with us! I miss them each and every day and it made Thanksgiving so special and it was tons of fun!!!!!

Love!!!!!

Our Thanksgiving bird!

Kayse and Kenleigh!

The spread....we are still eating leftovers. It was so delicious, but we had way too much food.

Uncle Trey giving K some love!

The whole fam in front of the Washington Monument!

On Friday after Thanksgiving, we woke up early and headed off to do some sight seeing in DC. We started the day at the Holocaust museum, then the American History museum. We spent the afternoon at Arlington National Cemetery watching the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

And we finished the day with dinner and cupcakes in Georgetown! Such a fun day!!!!

Saturday morning we went to Mount Vernon for the Christmas at Mt. Vernon experience.

3 Generations!

"The Kids"

Love these 2 boys so much!!!!

"The Guys"

Alladin the Christmas Camel :)

Handmade Chocolate...it smelled amazing!

The Christmas Bird

The whole gang in front of the mansion!

Just the 3 of us!

I just love this picture and I know that Kenleigh will treasure it once she is older!

Solving the worlds problems??? Spitting???? Nope...just looking at a snail.

So adorable!!!!!

It was such an amazing weekend and I hated for everyone to go home! I can't wait for many more holidays and many more memories! Only 2 weeks until we head home for Christmas!

2 weeks old!

2011-11-28T05:15:00.000-08:00

Time is flying by! Our little peanut is growing right before our eyes. Every day she changes a little and becomes a little more alert. She eats like a champ and sleeps pretty good too. At her 2 week check up, she was back up to her birth weight and then some. She is in the 33%...so she is still a petite little thing.

Can't get enough of that precious little face!

Loving on her lovie from Nannie!

2 weeks old!!!!

This is her adorable/eclectic outfit from Nonni for Thanksgiving! So true....we are all so extremely thankful for this amazing blessing! Last year at this time we thought we would never have a baby...so much has changed in one short year.

K and her very own Barbie Christmas tree.

Getting some cuddles from Dixie. :)

First week!

2011-11-28T05:06:00.000-08:00

Our first week at home with little Miss K was wonderful! Thankfully, we had the help of Nonni to make the transition smooth! Not only is she a wonderful Nonni...she is also a fabulous cook, laundry lady and housekeeper! I wasn't able to do much for the first week and we WOULD NOT have made it without her! Here are some of K's first week activities...

First trip to the pediatrician. They wanted to check her weight and make sure the jaundice was gone. She checked out great! She was down to 6 lbs., 14 oz, but the Dr. said to feed her every 2-3 hours and she should be fine.

Her first sponge bath! She loved it! Look at that grin! Melts my heart!

Lots of sugars from Nonni!

1 week old!!!!!!

Lots of time on the play mat.

Our first walk!

Looking adorable in her pink hat!

We are adjusting well to being a family of 3 and we were looking forward to the rest of the K family to arrive for Thanksgiving!

40 Weeks and Kenleigh's Birthday Story

2011-11-14T16:45:00.000-08:00

Here I am on my due date...11-9-11!

Here is how it all went down....warning...this might get long. I woke up on Wednesday, November 9th and thought my water might possibly be leaking. We figured that it was a false alarm and just some other crazy pregnancy side effect, but decided to be cautious and call the Dr. The Dr. said to head to Labor and Delivery at the hospital to get checked. I just knew that we would get there...wait many hours...only to be sent home. We were big time wrong!!!!!

The nurse came in about 11:00 AM to let us know that it was indeed my water breaking and we would be having a baby that day! Well....we hoped we would have a baby that day. My plan was to have a completely natural birth...no drugs or epidural if I could help it. That plan went out the window real quick when the nurse said they would be starting my pitocin drip. There is a small window of time to deliver after your water breaks to avoid any infections. I was barely contracting on my own, so they had to speed up the process to stay in the window. Things started out nice and slowly and the pain was manageable...until they cranked up the piton (evil drug) and re-popped my water that had a bubble or something. And this is where it got real....

And by real...I mean real painful! The contractions went from manageable with breathing to.....I THINK I MIGHT DIE! Mark and my Mom said that now was the time to get the epidural so I wasn't miserable for the next how ever many hours. At this point it was 3 PM and they expected the baby to arrive around midnight. I decided I couldn't just lay there in bed and take contraction after contraction for the next 7 hours! If I had gotten my natural birth, I would have been able to move around...sit on the ball...change positions...etc. With my "helped along" labor I was stuck laying down in the bed for the long haul!

So...the anesthesiologist arrived promptly and gave me the epidural. It wasn't long and I was smiling again...Labor continued on pretty uneventfully until around midnight. The nurse checked me and said we were getting close to pushing. We did a few test pushes a couple of hours later, but she thought I was too tired to be effective. She gave me an hour to rest and said we would start pushing at 3:30 AM. We gave it a try, but the baby was sunny side up and it would have been quite a bit more painful to deliver her face up, so they put me in an awkward position and said we would try again at 4 AM. By this point, the epidural had been turned off and I was really feeling some serious pain. At 4:30 AM we gave it a try...and this is where everything got scary!

After I gave 1 push, the room became quickly filled with Dr.'s and nurses and the bed was turned practically upside down. Mark had huge eyes and I knew something was wrong. Kenleigh's heart rate had dropped to around 40 and that is not good! The Dr. said we would wait a few minutes for her to stabilize and then we would try again. If we weren't successful in keeping her out of distress, she would do a c-section. I really didn't want a c-section, but obviously the baby being healthy was the biggest concern. However, once we started pushing again there were not anymore drops in her heart rate, so we thought we were good to go...

2 hours later of pushing and contractions...with no epidural! The Dr. said Kenleigh just wasn't going to fit and we needed to get her out quickly! In walks the team of Dr.'s....more epidural...more nurses and off they wheeled me to the operating room.

About 30 minutes later, baby Kenleigh was born!!!!

Kenleigh Grace was born at 8:17 AM on November 10. She weighed 7 lbs., 7.3 oz. and was 19.25 inches long. We think she is perfect and beautiful and she has already brought us so much joy! Our hearts are overflowing with love!!!

Aunt KK meeting Kenleigh moments after delivery!

Beautiful girl with her cute pink bow!

Special moment with Nonni!

Our first family picture!

Mimi and Papa admiring sweet Kenleigh!

Finally going home!

As we rolled up to the car, I became flooded with emotions. I had dreamed about the day we took our sweet baby home and my dream was coming true. I was overwhelmed!

Sweet Dixie and her baby sister!

Belly Updates- 39 Weeks

2011-11-05T06:13:00.000-07:00

How Far Along: 39 Weeks, 3 Days...4 days from official Due Date!

Size of Baby: Big! Anywhere from 7-9 lbs. at this point. Let's hope closer to 7 for my sake!

Symptoms: This week the heartburn has taken on a life of its own and it is caused by the most random foods!

Movement: Some days she is really active and other days I get concerned because I haven't felt her.

Cravings: Nothing specific.

Milestones: We had another good Dr. appt. last week. I had made some progress! I was dilated to 3 cm. and almost fully effaced. Once again the Dr. said any day...and here we are...still waiting. I've walked and walked and eaten spicy food and....nothing! We have our 40 week appt. on Wednesday and if I haven't had her by then we will have an ultrasound to check on her size and then the Dr. will decide whether she wants to induce or wait another week. Come on Kenleigh Grace!!!! We are ready to see your precious little face!

Thanksgiving Prep

2011-11-03T12:23:00.000-07:00

I'm really trying to stay on the ball this year for Thanksgiving! We are hosting at our house for the family and I don't want to wait to the last minute to decide what we are having and what groceries we need. I like to have a plan that is easy to follow and will help the week of Thanksgiving flow smoothly and stress free! My mom and I have used a similar plan for the past 2 years and I think we have it down to a science, but this year I added a few new recipes and typed it up so I can reference it year after year. Here is our menu for this year! I can't wait!!!!!

Memory Lane

2011-11-03T12:12:00.000-07:00

It is crazy to look back at the pictures from the past nine months and see how much I have grown! Let's take a little trip down memory lane...

4 Weeks! The day we found out! Will I ever look like this again?!

12 Weeks! Celebrating getting through the 1st trimester....really thinking I was huge!

20 Weeks! The day we found out we are having a girl! Baby bump had a growth spurt for sure!

30 Weeks!

38 Weeks! Holy big belly!

Belly Updates- 38 Weeks

2011-10-27T07:57:00.000-07:00

How far Along: 38 weeks, 1 day

Size of Baby: Still a watermelon (Around 7.5 lbs.)

Symptoms: A little less heartburn this week! I'm getting really nervous about the birth as it gets closer!

Movement: She has slowed down a little this week. I'm assuming she is just getting too big to move around very much.

Cravings: I'm not all that hungry anymore except for breakfast. I could eat breakfast for every meal. Nothing really tastes great anymore.

Milestones: We are getting so close to D-Day! At our 38 week appointment, there was no progress from last week. A bit of a disappointment, but I know she will come on the perfect day and time! Our Dr. asked if we would like to be induced next week, but we opted to wait it out another week before we talk about induction. I'm really wanting to go into labor naturally and avoid a bunch of medical interventions.

Belly Updates- 37 Weeks

2011-10-21T17:36:00.000-07:00

How Far Along: 37 Weeks, 2 Days

Size of Baby: A full grown watermelon! (19-22 in., around 7 lbs.)

Symptoms: Heartburn at night, still some minor back pain and lots of Braxton Hicks! I haven't started feeling any real contractions yet, but I'm on the lookout for them.

Movement: Her movements are really strong now and sometimes catch me off guard when she gives me a good kick!

Cravings: Milk!!! I can't get enough!

Milestones: We are full term now! She can safely come anytime now...and we are ready! So, whenever she feels like making an appearance would be lovely! As of our last appointment, 4 days ago, I was 80% effaced and dilated to a 1. Baby girl is still head down and at a -2 station. The Dr. thought for sure within the next two weeks she would be here! My prediction is November 2.

Nurse Thank You Cookies

2011-10-17T16:49:00.000-07:00

I decided to make some cookies to thank the Dr.'s and Nurses at my OBGYN office. They see so many patients day in and day out, and I thought they might enjoy some cookies and knowing that they are appreciated!

KK visits DC!

2011-10-17T16:34:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we got a special treat! KK came to visit before the baby comes! We picked her up from the airport on Friday morning around 1AM! That is late for me these days...and then we stayed up until 3 AM chatting! Friday morning we got up pretty early and headed up to Arlington National Cemetery to start our tour of DC!

Unfortunately, it was pretty rainy all morning, but we made the most of it!

If you look close you can see the capitol building in the background. We were on our way to take a picture at the White House and then go eat at Old Ebbitt's Grill.

Most of the day while walking this is what I saw....the back of KK and Mark and occasionally they would turn around to check on preggo!

After lots of walking, my feet were done!

Back at Arlington National to watch changing of the guard and get a quick tour.

This is really awesome to watch!

Ever since my birthday, when we spotted Georgetown (DC) Cupcakes, I have been dying to go try it out. It was amazing!!!! The cupcakes were delicious and the icing was great too! The cupcakes aren't huge, but they are the perfect size for an after dinner snack!

Mark enjoyed a chocolate hazelnut cupcake with a cup of coffee.

KK and I both had Vanilla Squared...vanilla with vanilla!

Saturday, we let Mark do his Saturday thing....watch football!...while we went shopping and saw the new Footloose! I loved it!!!!! Definitely a must see! We left the theatre singing and dancing. Saturday night we had dinner at the house and watched the Rangers WIN!!!!

Unfortunately, Sunday morning came way too soon and we had to drop KK off at the airport at 6 AM. :( The trip was way too short, but was lots of fun! I can't wait for her to come back soon!!!!

Happy Fall Y'all!

2011-10-16T08:55:00.001-07:00

Belly Updates- 36 Weeks

2011-10-16T08:54:00.000-07:00

How Far Along: 36 Weeks, 5 days

Size of Baby: Watermelon! ( 19-22 In., 6.5 lbs.)

Symptoms: Lots of Braxton Hicks contractions, dull back ache at times, excitement and anxiety about the upcoming birthday!!!

Movement: She is pretty active in the morning and late at night. I'm pretty sure her little foot has been stuck in my ribs a few times.

Cravings: Nothing specific this week.

Milestones: At our 36 week check up, baby girl is still measuring 1 week ahead. So as of last week the Dr. said she could come any day now! As of last Tuesday, I was 70% effaced and dilated to .5! Progress is good, but it could still be a couple of weeks. The Dr. seems to think she might make her grand appearance a week early. If that is true we only have 2 more weeks of not being parents!

Rivalries in College Football

2011-10-09T09:50:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking/stewing about this post since the facebook posts started yesterday slamming my University and the students/alumni. I have so many thoughts about this that I don't even know how to write them in an organized manner....please bear with me as I get on my soapbox.

First of all...not all Red Raiders are "classless clowns" as we are referred to frequently by the Aggies. Anyone that is a "classless clown" is a punk and is not a true Red Raider! Both of my parents have graduated from Texas Tech, my dad was a letterman and started on the football team....pretty sure they aren't classless! Then they paid for my education at Texas Tech. I was a Cum Laude graduate, on the Pom squad and involved in many other activities around campus. Never did I shout profanities at other schools fans, nor did I ever vandalize property of another school or my own. However...when I was cheering for my school at the A&M/Tech game in 2002 at College Station....and it was 105 degrees standing on concrete....we were not allowed to bring water in, nor were we provided water by the stadium. Our coach had to buy the expensive water from the concession stand and we had to take turns leaving the field to take a drink of water. So, I'm not thinking the Aggies are the most hospitable to incoming teams...and we were there for a purpose...not to be punks! Furthermore....my brother now attends Texas Tech and he attends games to cheer on his team, not to be a "classless clown". So, you can see how I'm slightly offended by "my friends" making such accusations about my school or making generalizations about Tech fans.

I guess faking injuries to take a breather is OK. I don't know factually they were faking injuries, but when you are able to come back in after 1 or 2 plays...I'm pretty sure you weren't hurt that badly. Side note: There needs to be some type of rule that if you are injured you can't come back in the entire quarter or something to deter players from faking.

I guess pouring urine from the upper deck into the Texas Tech section is okay at Kyle Field.

I guess Stealing Texas Tech's mascot and throwing orange paint on it in 1975, which the paint had lead therefore causing the horse to die of Lead Posioning is okay.

I guess stealing Texas Tech band instruments, hats, and saddle tramp bells are okay?

These are all part of things that go on between rivals and are done by a very small number of people. This doesn't mean that every Aggie is "classless". I have many dear friends that are graduates of A&M and they are wonderful individuals.

The game was a great football game. It could have gone either way, but in the end the Red Raiders couldn't pull it out. I'm still proud to be a Red Raider. I think I went to a wonderful University. (Side note: I was accepted to A&M as well and I CHOSE to go to Tech! Not everyone goes to Tech because they can't get into A&M. I get really tired of hearing that as well!) I wish the Aggies the best of luck in the SEC. I'm sure that LSU fans are just sweet as pie when you come to their home field.

Philippians 1- Week 2 Bible Study

2011-10-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

^{So, I'm a day late posting this week! Somehow yesterday just got away from me, but here I am today with my recap and thought on Philippians 1. If you want to link up with the rest of the group, head on over to Abigail's Blog and she has a handy dandy tab at the top to see what everyone's thoughts are. So here goes...}

^{This was the first bit of verses that stood out to me when doing this weeks readings. The first part of verses 4-6 that stands out to me is verse 4. "...I always pray with joy". Hmmm...this got me thinking on how I pray. Do I pray with joy and thanksgiving? Or do I pray for stuff first (ex.: help me do this, Lord or give me that, Lord)? I think if I am being honest I pray first for the me stuff....give me, help me, save me...and then maybe I'll throw in a thank you. I want to be more like Paul and ALWAYS pray with joy! In The Message version this verse says "...I break out with exclamations of thanks...". So maybe I should start praying with exclamations on the end of my prayers.}

^{The second part of this group of verses that stands out to me is vs. 6. "...that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ." So...I'm not complete. The Lord doesn't expect me to be perfect. He isn't done with me. Sometimes I get down on myself if I disappoint others, or ultimately I disappoint God with my actions. This is a good reminder that He isn't finished with me! I am still a work in progress and some days I need a lot more work and refining than other days.}

⁴ In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy ⁵ because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶ being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

There are two words in vs. 20 that stand out to me...ashamed and courage. Another word for ashamed could be embarrassed. When I think about being fruitful and sharing my faith, my initial thoughts are "what will people think?", "will they think I'm weird?" So, I think posting these weekly Bible studies is a step in the right direction. I am stepping out with courage and posting what I believe for the blog world to read and maybe it will make an impression on someone.

²⁰ I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

Belly Updates- 35 Weeks

2011-10-05T11:55:00.000-07:00

How far Along: 35 Weeks

Size of Baby: Large Canteloupe (19-22 In., 5.5 lbs)

Symptoms: Irregular contractions and a little bit of back pain. I'm also super sleepy in the afternoons and sleeping at night is getting more difficult. I'm assuming this is good preparation for the nearing arrival of baby girl!

Movement: She is too big to really move a whole lot, but I still get the rolling and occasional foot pushing out.

Cravings: This week I was really wanting a red velvet cupcake...so, I gave in to my cravings and whipped up some from scratch. They turned out awesome!

Milestones: We had a Dr. appt. today and everything looks good...no progress yet. We go back again on Tuesday. It is getting really close!

Octoberfest Fun

2011-10-03T08:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we ventured out to check out Octoberfest at Fort Belvoir. Although it was pretty rainy and really cold, we still had a fun time eating, drinking (not me!), and listening to some German music! Mark started off the afternoon with a German beer in a lovely mug!

And then ate a huge brat! What is more Octoberfest-ish than a beer and a brat?!

I chose a Bavarian pretzel and then we split a funnel cake for dessert.

I don't think funnel cakes are German, but they sure are tasty!

How can you pass up yummy fair food and German music on a rainy, fall afternoon?! We sure had a fun time!

Belly Updates- 34 Weeks & a trip to L&D

2011-09-30T17:06:00.000-07:00

Yesterday started out as a normal day until about 6:30 PM. Mark's mom rode the train in from Philly last night and we were scheduled to pick her up at the train station. When we arrived, I got out to hug her...my flip flop caught the side of the curb and I fell directly on my stomach. Needless to say we were all extremely concerned and headed directly to the hospital. When we got there, they hooked me up to the monitors and baby girl's heartbeat was looking great. However, I was having contractions one minute apart which really concerned the Dr. and nurses. They started an IV and got me in for a sonogram. The sonogram showed that she is doing good, her head is down, she is measuring one week ahead and she weighs almost 5.5 lbs! From there, they took me back up to labor and delivery to keep monitoring my contractions. They continued for about another hour getting longer and stronger. They decided it would be best to administer Procardia to stop my contractions. After 3 doses in an hour....my body had enough. I had a severe reaction to the medication. My BP dropped...my pulse went through the roof and I was shaking uncontrollably while I was burning up. It was a scary for a little while. The medication didn't stop the contractions, so the Dr. wanted to keep my overnight for observation. After some tears, they moved us to a regular room for the night, but informed us that no visitors could spend the night. I cried for a good while and then tried to get some rest. I slept for maybe 1 hour while Mark slept in his car. He didn't want to leave me and I definitely did not want him to leave! This morning they hooked me back up to the monitors and thankfully my contractions had stopped and once the Dr. came to check on me we were free to go home. I don't have any restrictions except I'm not allowed to wear flip flops anymore! Now I am just completely exhausted, but so thankful that the baby is OK and that I am feeling better. Now onto the weekly update...

How far along: 34 weeks, 2 days

Size of Baby: 5.5 lbs! Approx. 19-20 inches long

Symptoms: Still occasional contractions...a little round ligament pain and lots of heartburn (the ultrasound showed that she has a lot of hair...perhaps that is the reason for all this heartburn!)

Movement: Lots of rolling and lots of hiccups

Cravings: Nothing really

Milestones: Making it through the last night and day have been the biggest milestone of this week. So thankful everything checked out OK.

Blog Friend Bible Study- Wk 1

2011-09-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

My friend, Abigail, who is also a fellow Army wife came up with the great idea to do a Bible study through the blog world. Since I currently have 1 friend in the entire state, no Church home yet and no real way to connect or fellowship with other believers I thought this would be a fun idea to join in on. If you want to join in too, you can go to Abligail's Blog and read the instructions and get started. Don't worry about it if you missed Week 1...you can catch up next week.

This week I read the entire book of Philippians (it is only 4 chapters) and basically just came up with an overview of the topics and details of the book. As the weeks go by we will be breaking down the book into chapters. So....here it goes...

Notes on Philippians:
Who wrote the book? Paul
When? He wrote the book from prison!!!
Audience? Church of Philippi, but it is also for all of us!

Main themes:
Ch.1
-Joy! This guy was full of joy...even from prison! I'm not thinking that would be my #1 emotion if I was locked up.
-Paul was in chains for the gospel. Basically, his suffering was being used for the greater good for the kingdom.
-Did this guy enjoy suffering? I think he actually did.
- I think I can learn a lot from Paul's character just from Chapter 1. More to come on Ch. 1 next week!
Ch.2
-Do nothing selfishly, but in humility for others! Doesn't this sound like it is quite the opposite of what sounds pleasant and normal in our society? Most things I do are probably more selfish than they are for others. Don't get me wrong...I love doing things for others, but that verse said do NOTHING selfishly. Hmmm...
-Do everything without complaining or arguing! I whine a lot....is that complaining? And...I like to be right...so often I might argue my point. Ok...so apparently I have a lot to learn from Ch. 2 as well.
Ch.3
-Rejoice! Again Paul is just so joyful from prison!
-Forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead. This is a good one for this week as I am trying to encourage loved ones as they go through tough times.
Ch. 4
-Rejoice! Again....
-My favorite verse ever!!! Phil. 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about ANYTHING, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
-Learning to be content in your situation....whether poor, rich, happy, sad....this is a big one for me living so far away from home without family. I really try to find the good in my situation, but I would be lying if I said I don't on the rare occasion feel a wee bit sorry for myself.
-Another favorite verse. Phil. 4:13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

So...those are my general thoughts, but as the weeks go on and I begin to really pick apart each chapter and verse apart I will go more in depth. Click Here to read what Abigail's thoughts are on Philippians.

Home Invaders- From Nature

2011-09-26T16:38:00.000-07:00

There are many reasons why I consider myself an "indoor" girl, but reason number 1 is that wildlife and I don't get along. I've had run-ins with chipmunks, peacocks, geckos...and that is just to name a few. I like being inside away from the danger of pesky critters that are supposed to live outside.

About a week ago, I started noticing these nasty bugs appearing on the outside of our windows...

The Stink Bug!

I didn't think much of it, because they were outside and I was happily inside. Everything changed today....In the past 6 hours I have killed 6 of these bugs!!!! Want to know how I killed them....? I smashed them with a shoe. Great idea, right?! NOT SO MUCH! I have spent the last hour researching how to best rid your home of these pests and the #1 No No is to smash them. When you smash the bug it lets off an odor that invites its friends to come! Seriously????? I am now on high alert to seek these things out before one lands on me! As of today...I have screamed multiple times (they fly at you when you swat them)...I have scared the dog....tripped over the dog and stubbed my toe on the couch! These bugs have ruined my day and I fully intend to end their lives! And...the good news is...they like to invade homes in the fall and hang around until spring....like thousands of these things in my house?! I think not!!!! Well, I'm off to search the room for more bugs...wish me luck!

Belly Updates- 33 Weeks

2011-09-23T10:06:00.000-07:00

How Far Along: 33 Weeks, 2 Days

Size of Baby: Pineapple (19 in., 4.9 lbs.)

Symptoms: The round ligament pain has definitely lessened from last week, but it is still there. Bathroom breaks in the night have increased and sleep is getting harder.

Movement: Her movements are slower and stronger. I feel a lot more rolling around and not very many kicks. She is still getting the hiccups multiple times per day.

Cravings: Nothing really. Some food don't sound good at all, but there is nothing that sounds extra great.

Milestones: Almost all baby prep is complete. We have just started thinking about what to pack for the hospital and the things we will need immediately after she is born. I still have some baby laundry to do and a few more to do's on my pre-baby list. Also, I'm trying to decide if I want to stock the freezer with meals or if I'm going to wing it.

Childbirth 101

2011-09-17T16:26:00.000-07:00

So, after much debate over whether it was necessary, we decided to sign up for a Lamaze class. Mark lovingly gave up an entire day of football to be there with me. Thank goodness for DVR! However, we had to put our phones away so we weren't tempted to check scores or see any facebook posts about any of the games. It turned out to be a worthwhile decision and we both came out of it very glad that we went!

We met some really great people, learned a lot, I got lots of massages and we shared a lot of laughs! Everyone in the class was a first time mom and the majority of the class was military. We also met a fellow Texan who is from Fort Worth and has a dog walking service.

The majority of the class we spent working on relaxation, breathing techniques, and different positions for labor. We also covered the stages of labor, did some role playing of different scenarios, and talked about different options for medical interventions (i.e. pain meds, an epidural or a c-section). We both went into the class with an open mind on childbirth and all of our options. I think we left class feeling very optimistic about natural childbirth, but of course we will be listening to our Dr.'s and following their guidance if there is any type of emergency. Overall, it was a really great experience and whether you are planning on a natural childbirth or not, I would recommend going to a class so you at least know how it all goes down!

Now we are settled in for a long night of college football!

Belly Updates- 32 Weeks

2011-09-17T16:15:00.000-07:00

How Far Along: 32 Weeks, 3 days

Size of Baby: Honeydew (19 in., 4.5 lbs.)

Symptoms: I'm still feeling pretty good, but I finally hit the point where I feel very pregnant. I also have the joy of experiencing round ligament pain. Every time I stand up to walk I get sharp pains in my lower right abdomen and it extends down my right leg. It is totally normal, but it could or could not go away.

Movement: All the time! I mostly feel kicks under my ribs, which makes me think her feet are up there and I feel hiccups several times a day down low, so I assume her head is down. It always makes me laugh when she has the hiccups.

Cravings: Nothing really. I'm actually getting less of an appetite. Nothing really sounds that great and when I do eat I can rarely finish my plate. I'm getting full really quickly.

Milestones: We had our 32 week check up this week and everything still looks good. Heartbeat was 150 bpm, measuring right on track and my health is also still looking good. I had a birthday this week and turned 29! And...we attended Lamaze class today so now we feel like we know a little bit about how this giving birth thing works.

It was a great day!

2011-09-15T15:42:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I celebrated my last birthday in my 20's and it was a great day! The morning started with surprise donuts and assorted goodies from my loving husband!

After we finished breakfast, Mark was off to work and I spent the day reading trash magazines to catch up on all the latest celeb gossip. Through the day I was blessed with goodies from my sweet family members and lots of phone calls from friends and family! After Mark got home, we went out for a special birthday dinner in Georgetown at Filomena Ristorante. Click Here to check out their story and see some pictures of this unique Italian restaurant. We thoroughly enjoyed our meals and even indulged on a piece of homemade cheesecake with strawberries on top! It was a wonderful day and I'm sure this will be the best year yet!

(I'm pretty sure this belly gets bigger by the hour!)

On our way I spotted Georgetown Cupcake from the TV show! I freaked out and insisted on taking a quick pic! We didn't have time to stop, but next time we will for sure!!!!

Thank you everyone who made my birthday extra special!

Fresh Bread!

2011-09-12T15:36:00.000-07:00

I find it somewhat fitting that I finally decided to try (again) to make home made bread on the day after my Granny's birthday. One of my favorite things about going to see Granny and Grandad was that she always had a warm loaf of bread fresh out of the bread maker waiting just for me! I have tried multiple times to make bread, both in the bread maker and in the oven. Each time I have failed! Usually it comes out like a hard brick. Today...I succeeded! The recipe I used made one large loaf and 2 smaller loaves that I will be freezing until we need them. That is at least 3 weeks I don't have to buy bread at the grocery store! Now we are waiting for dinner to come out of the oven and trying to resist eating all of the fresh bread!

Recipe Review #2

2011-09-12T07:58:00.000-07:00

Crispy Chicken with Bowtie Pasta from Jamie Cooks it Up

This was a delicious meal! Both of us give it an A! The downside was that it was a little time consuming to make the chicken and a few of my chicken pieces ended up a little burnt on the bottoms. Also, it made a huge mess! This dish isn't good for leftovers, unfortunately! The chicken was soggy and had a weird flavor the next day, but the pasta and sauce were still good. So...if you have a lot of time and want a delicious dish you should give this a try...because it really was yummy!

Crock Pot Jambalaya from PlainChicken

This satisfied my pregnancy craving for something spicy and tasty! This was easy and delicious! I served it with some home made corn bread and it was fantastic! Make this soon...you won't be disappointed! Makes great leftovers!

Cream Cheese Pound Cake from Elizabeth's Edible Experience

I really love having a little dessert after my dinner and I especially love a good strawberry shortcake. I usually buy the Sara Lee frozen pound cakes for this, but since I had all the ingredients on hand for this little jewel, I decided to give it a try. It was scrumptious! I topped it with strawberries and lite cool whip and it was a fresh and somewhat healthy dessert. It had fruit, so that makes it healthy, right?! I had to cook mine for over 2 hours even though the recipe says to cook for 1 hour and 40 minutes. The bottom got a weird sugary crust on it, so I just cut it off. It was too sweet and crunchy for my taste. I will make this again anytime I need a pound cake!

Chicken Corn Chowder from Buns in my Oven

I made this last week while it was rainy and a bit cooler. I had leftover chicken that I shredded up and I used can corn. It has a great flavor and resembled the chicken chowder from Duke's in Tacoma. I really liked it and I still have some leftovers to eat today for lunch. I whipped up some garlic biscuits to go with it. Yummy!

Sinful Sheet Cake from The Pioneer Woman

Why?!!! Why on earth did I make this? It is one of the best things I have EVER put to my lips!!!! My dear husband didn't want any, so there I was left with an entire sheet cake all to myself. It was oh so tempting....but I listened to my hips and my butt and I resisted! I ate one piece and maybe a few extra bites and the rest is in the trash! What a crying shame!!!! So....don't say I didn't warn you! Make this with caution and only if you are throwing a huge party and you plan to share the love and calories with your friends!

Happy Cooking and Baking!

A room for a Princess!

2011-09-09T17:31:00.000-07:00

The baby room is just about complete! We just love it! It is girly and wonderful and we can't wait for our little princess get here!

Belly Updates- 31 Weeks

2011-09-09T16:25:00.000-07:00

These weeks keep going faster and faster! It seems like I just did my 30 week update yesterday!

How far Along: 31 Weeks, 2 days

Size of Baby: According to What to Expect, she is the size of a head of lettuce. (19 in., 3.9 lbs.)

Symptoms: I know why they say "bun in the oven"! I am always burning up! We even had to leave church early last week because I was sweating profusely(attractive, right?!) and it felt like all the people were closing in on me. I need blowing air on me at all times! Other than that, I am felling great!

Movement: She is still moving around in there all the time. Lately she has had hiccups 1-2 times per day. It is a really funny feeling for sure!

Cravings: Last week I had the craving for gumbo, so tonight for dinner we had crock pot jambalaya. It was mighty tasty, but I bet I have serious heartburn tonight. And...I'm not really a chocolate girl, but I really wanted some sheet cake. So...I made one! However, I have nobody to help me eat it! I've managed to only eat 1 piece, but I really want more. I should probably throw it away.

Maternity Clothes: I'm getting to the point where my shirts are getting a little short. I'm going to try to stretch them for the next 8 weeks or so, because I hate to buy anything this late in the game. I have 3 fall tops and one pair of jeans. Hopefully I can make that work.

Milestones: The room is just about complete! There are just a couple of items that we still need, but it is so close! We just love it!

Fall Wreath

2011-09-09T16:16:00.000-07:00

Every year I really want to buy a fall wreath and I had decided that this year was going to be THE year for the wreath purchase. However, upon seeing wreaths at Hobby Lobby and then seeing the price tags, I decided we really didn't NEED a wreath! For pete's sake some of them were $200!!!! Even the cheap ones were around $80! So, I put my crafty skills to work and made my own. Wreath-$5, Leaves-$5, Extra fallish items to glue on-$5. Total wreath cost-$15!!!!

Do I have an accent?

2011-09-06T10:27:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I am posting this, but I am waiting for the rain storm to pass to go run my errands and I thought it would give y'all a free laugh for today!

The instructions are to say these words:

Aunt, Route, Wash, Oil, Theater, Iron, Salmon, Caramel, Fire, Water, Sure, Data, Ruin, Crayon, Toilet, New Orleans, Pecan, Both, Again, Probably, Spitting image, Alabama, Lawyer, Coupon, Mayonnaise, Syrup, Pajamas, Caught

And answer these questions:

What is it called when you throw toilet paper on a house?

What is the bug that when you touch it, it curls into a ball?

What is the bubbly carbonated drink called?

What do you call gym shoes?

What do you say to address a group of people?

What do you call the kind of spider that has an oval-shaped body and extremely long legs?

What do you call your grandparents?

What do you call the wheeled contraption in which you carry groceries at the supermarket?

What do you call it when rain falls while the sun is shining?

What is the thing you change the TV channel with?

So, what do you think? Do I have an accent to you?

Belly Updates- 30 Weeks

2011-09-02T14:57:00.000-07:00

How Far Along: 30 Weeks, 2 Days!

Size of Baby: Head of Lettuce (18 in., 3.2 lbs.)

Symptoms: Nothing really significant...occasional heartburn.

Movement: This girl has got some moves! She kicks a lot, but mostly rolls up into a ball and gets up by my ribs. I'm not sure if that is really what she is doing, but that is what it feels like. I still love to feel her move!

Cravings: Milk is still my favorite, and yesterday I was craving gumbo! Strange!

Milestones: 30 week appointment went smoothly. She is still right on track according to the Dr. The room is almost ready. I'm working on wall letters and waiting on the bedding. It is all getting real!

We've Moved!

2011-09-01T11:02:00.000-07:00

One of my friends asked me to make these cookies! She is mailing them out to all of her friends with her new address. I thought it was a great idea and I was happy to help and to use one of my cookie cutters that I had never used!

Updates

2011-08-31T17:02:00.000-07:00

This is why we did not have power!

This is what Dixie did during the power being out.

And...this is what I made once the power came on, but we still didn't have cable or internet. I made it out of Mark's ACU's from when he was deployed. It still needs a nose, but I couldn't find the right button.

I'm Back!

2011-08-31T09:20:00.000-07:00

After a long 4 days with no TV or internet, our service has finally been restored! However, I am oh so thankful that we only went without power for 24 hours. It was just long enough for all of our cold food to go bad and for everything in the freezer to thaw out. Lovely! Oh well....I think we fared pretty well in comparison to what others have suffered! For now...I'm off to bake cookies and then headed to my 30 week Dr. appt.!!!!

Mexican Wedding Cookies

2011-08-26T13:32:00.000-07:00

Most days when I think I want to bake something tasty, I scour all of my favorite blogs and look for something that not only looks delicious, but I have all of the ingredients for. Today, however, I remembered that I had a trusty recipe for wedding cookies in my recipe tin and I knew for sure I had all of the ingredients. One hour later....I present to you these beauties! I haven't eaten any yet, because they are too hot. I plan to give most of them away....(my back side will thank me later!) I better taste at least one before subjecting anyone to them...quality control, right?! And...I painted that cute little plate at a coffee with my old BN! This is the first time I have used it. :)

Happy Birthday to Trey!

2011-08-26T09:01:00.000-07:00

How does time go by so quickly? From this...

To this...

And now this?

CRAZY!!!!! Happy Birthday "little" brother! Hope you have a wonderful day! Welcome to your 20's!

Belly Updates- 29 Weeks

2011-08-26T08:54:00.000-07:00

How Far Along: 29 Weeks, 2 Days

Size of Baby: Butternut Squash (17 in., 3.1 lbs.)

Symptoms: Still feeling good!

Movement: I still get excited every time I feel her move, and I get nervous if she goes too long without kicking. Coolest feeling ever!

Milestones: I passed the 3 hr. glucose test! We survived a rare 5.8 earthquake this week and we just got home from getting water and supplies incase we lose power from Hurricane Irene. It has been a crazy week!

Recipe Review

2011-08-25T16:34:00.000-07:00

First of all, if you have not discovered Pinterest, you should go there now! It is basically a place to "pin" or bookmark all of the fantastic things on the internet. I enjoy repinning things that my peeps have already pinned. It seems complicated at first, but soon it will take over all of your free time. So...ever since I found this gem of a website I have been pinning recipes that I would like to try and if they make the cut add to the meal rotation. Most of them have been hits....Here is the rundown.

Baked Ziti from "The Girl Who Ate Everything"

I would probably give this a B- and Mark gives it a an A-. This recipe was really easy and came together quickly, but the author of the recipe suggested using italian sausage...but if I make it again, I will use lean ground beef. Also, I left the sour cream out of the recipe...it just seemed weird. I might give this one another try...

Crockpot Chicken Taco Bowls from Budget Bytes

I would give this one an A- and Mark gives it a strong A. I was able to throw everything in the crockpot in the morning and we had a quick easy meal at dinner time. All I had to do was whip up some rice. I don't think I changed anything from the original recipe, but I'm sure you could add or subtract to your liking. This one will make another appearance in a few weeks for sure!

King Ranch Chicken (non-fancy version) from The Homesick Texan

This one gets an A from both of us! DELISH! I actually split the recipe in half...I cooked one and froze the other one. It is actually all ready to go for one night this week! Recipe Note: I didn't use a fryer chicken. I just boiled 4 chicken breasts and shredded them up. Next time I might use 6 breasts, because I like a lot of chicken!

Lemon Garlic Spaghetti

I give this an A and Mark gives this a B. This was light and easy and I thoroughly enjoyed it with a nice salad on the side. I had all of the ingredients on hand so I just threw it together and it was on the table in about 20 minutes.

Cheesy Potatoes from Mels Kitchen Cafe

A+++ all around! I made chicken cutlets and green beans with these potatoes on the side. I could have eaten them all alone for my meal. They were perfectly cheesy and delicious! Definitely not a light dish for everyday consumption, but it sure was good!

Summer Corn Fettuccini from Mrs. Bettie Rocker

Both of us give this one a C. It wasn't horrible, but I probably won't make it again. It just didn't do anything for either of us.

Happy Cooking and Happy Pinning!

What's Shakin?

2011-08-24T15:30:00.000-07:00

The last thing I thought I would experience when moving to VA would be an EARTHQUAKE!!! Yesterday, started out as a regular Tuesday, except Mark was off work and we decided it would be a great day to go explore. We decided on the Spy Museum, near Chinatown, and then we planned on getting lunch in the area. Normally, we would take the Metro up, to not have to deal with traffic or parking. Since it was a Tuesday morning after rush hour, at the last minute we decided to take our car. We found a parking garage near the museum and paid a whopping $20 to park! We looked at each other and said, "Never again!, We should have ridden the Metro." We spent about 2 1/2 hours pretending to be spies and learning all about spies...until I was starving!!!! We walked across the street to get lunch at about 1:45. We sat down, received drinks, ordered food....and then....the floor started rumbling. I asked Mark if it was an earthquake and he said that he thought it was the Metro going underneath us. Then it got stronger and the rumble became a very strong shaking. At that point, we were unsure if it was an earthquake or some type of terrorist attack. Thankfully it was only an earthquake! Everyone was evacuated from all of the buildings and people were everywhere! We had to wait about an hour to get the all clear to go back in the parking garage and get our car. Now it is about 2:45....pregnant lady is now STARVING! Getting out of the city was a bit interesting, but at this point we thought that driving our car was the best decision ever and that $20 to park was the best money we spent all day! Apparently, the Metro was down for awhile for checks and then was running 13 mph. I'm sure the Metro stations were packed wall to wall. I've never seen so many people just standing outside. The traffic was insane and it took us over an hour to get home, but we were just happy to get out of DC. Our house was fine, but we had lots of things fall off the walls and most of the things hanging were very crooked. It was a pretty scary experience for sure and I would prefer to not feel the earth shake again any time soon! Now the word is we might be getting a hurricane this weekend!

Pi Phi Cookies

2011-08-22T14:29:00.000-07:00

So, I'm not a Pi Phi (however according to my Pi Phi friends, I am an honorary Angel...but really I'm a Theta!) Anyway...sweet Kayse has rush all week and I thought she might enjoy coming home to a sweet treat at the end of a long day!

Happy Birthday Cookies- Red Raider Style

2011-08-22T12:39:00.000-07:00

My baby brother is turning 20 in a few days, and I figured he needed some special Texas Tech cookies to celebrate! I really can't believe he is turning 20! How can that be when I am only 21?! :)

Room Confusion

2011-08-22T12:24:00.000-07:00

Since we have started setting up K's room, I think Dixie has become a little confused. I think she might think it is her room! She really likes to hang out in there...either chewing a bone on the rug or curled up in a blanket on the floor. Well, today I found her in a new place...

I watched her arrange the lovies in the chair just right before she settled in for her little nap! I think she is going to be a great furry big sister...if only she decides to share all the lovies, blankets and toys.

Happy Dance!

2011-08-22T11:43:00.000-07:00

I passed the 3 hour glucose test!!!! The test was unpleasant, but I was most concerned about finding out that I had gestational diabetes and could put my baby at risk for being unhealthy. I feel like I can go be productive now, since all I have done all day is wait for the Dr. to call. Thanks for all the prayers and concern!

Belly Updates- 28 Weeks

2011-08-19T11:03:00.000-07:00

How Far Along: 28 Weeks, 2 Days

Size of Baby: Small Cabbage (17 in., 2.9 lbs.) She is close to the length she will be at birth, but could at least double, possibly triple her weight!

Symptoms: I'm just really starting to feel pregnant. It is getting harder to wash dishes in the sink, bend over all the way and some other regular tasks.

Movement: She is still a busy little girl in there! I love feeling her move! It is definitely my favorite part of pregnancy!!!

Milestones: We are just trucking along in the 3rd trimester! I had my one hour glucose test last week and I failed, so I have to take a 3 hr. test in the morning. Pray that I pass and that I don't have gestational diabetes!

Thank You Cookies

2011-08-18T15:48:00.000-07:00

Last week our super sweet neighbors brought over a delicious dinner for us! They cooked their special rotisserie chicken, rice, salad and brought us some ice cream! It was all super yummy and we ate off of it for days! In return for their hospitality, I whipped up a plate of "thank you" cookies and we took them over tonight on our walk.

Belly Updates- 27 Weeks

2011-08-13T15:49:00.000-07:00

How far Along: 27 Weeks, 3 days

Size of Baby: A head of Cauliflower (16 inches, 2.5 lbs)

Symptoms: I'm starting to get tired again! Maybe baby girl is having a growth spurt or something! I go to bed early, but I wake up super early due to many bathroom breaks and a growling stomach!

Cravings: Still loving milk!

Movement: Some days she is really active all day and some days she only moves a few times a day. I'm trying not to let this worry me.

Milestones: The room is coming together now. We have the crib, dresser and glider, but we are waiting on the bedding and still need to purchase curtains, rug, cubbie for books and toys and a few other small items.

Preggo Friendly Snack

2011-08-10T14:28:00.000-07:00

After dinner tonight, I really wanted a little treat. So, I busted out the trusty kitchen aid and tried out a recipe I had been drooling over for weeks!

I've never been one to shy away from licking beaters or eating the majority of cookie dough instead of baking the cookies. However, it isn't really recommended for pregnant people to eat raw eggs...or any people really, but I figure I should be more responsible for the little bundle growing inside of me. So...here you have "Safe to Eat Sugar Cookie Dough". It is really tasty! Don't worry...I only had a spoonful and put the rest in the fridge. And then I washed it down with a big glass of milk!

I can't think of anything more delicious than raw cookie dough and milk!

If you too are a cookie dough addict, but don't love the idea of raw eggs here is the recipe: (I found the recipe on the internet, I did not create it. Recipe is by: Willow Bird Baking)

Yields: about 1 1/2-2 cups cookie dough

1 1/3 cups and 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup white sugar
1-2 tablespoons water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
In a medium bowl, cream together butter and sugar for 2-3 minutes until light, fluffy, and pale yellow. Mix in flour and vanilla. Add water one tablespoon at a time, mixing after each, until you reach cookie dough consistency.

Belly Updates- 26 Weeks

2011-08-05T18:38:00.000-07:00

How far Along: 26 Weeks, 2 Days

Size of Baby: 14 inches, 2.2 lbs

Symptoms: A lot of trips to the potty at night!

Cravings: Milk! I think Baby Girl is sucking my bones dry of calcium!

Movement: Lots of little wiggles all throughout the day, especially after I eat.

Milestones: We met our new Dr. this week who will be delivering Kenleigh. She is measuring right on schedule and everything looks good so far. I've graduated to having appointments every 2 weeks! Yikes! That makes it feel like we are getting close!

Taking a break from unpacking to Explore

2011-08-05T18:34:00.000-07:00

We decided to beat the heat in the house by going outside in the heat! Good plan, huh? Our first stop was George Washington's Estate at Mt. Vernon. It was so cool! We learned a lot of history and got to tour the mansion and gardens. We still missed the tombs and other parts, but we will have to go back in the fall. We hit up the shops at the end of our tour and there is some amazing stuff! This is a must see for any future visitors!

This is the "Texas Gate". :)

Right now the front of the house is under construction. :(

How old is this tree? I actually felt small next to it!

One of GW's carriages! It reminds me of Cinderella!

The Potomac!

Next Stop....DC!

And a quick stop off for a picture in front of the White House! We could even see secret service guys on the roof!

The New Casa

2011-08-05T18:21:00.000-07:00

We finally made it to our new home and with lots of help from Mama Lisa and lots of work by my dear husband, it is finally starting to feel like home. We arrived last week to 104 degree temps and a broken A/C. Thankfully, it only took 3 days to get it fixed and we were able to get a hotel until it was fixed. I pretty sure we all sweated more over those 3 days than we have this entire summer. Mom was a total trooper and we were able to sneak away to visit Mt. Vernon, The American History Museum and the White House. Here are a few before and after pictures of the new house!

Sunroom Before

And After...

Kitchen before...

Kitchen After...

Guest room before (At the time we thought maybe it would be the baby room)

Den Before

Master before

Den After

Guest room after

Guest room After

Master After

I think I forget from one move to the next what a pain it is to move. We are loving the character in our old house! We love the hard wood floors, the sunroom and the granite in the kitchen! We are also blessed with some really sweet neighbors who have already had us over for dinner! We still have to put the baby room together, but it was more important to get the rest of the house functioning. Now we need some visitors! There are so many cool things to do here...so y'all come on up!

On the Road

2011-08-04T11:03:00.000-07:00

After a glorious month of hanging out in Texas, it was time to hit the road and head to our new home in VA. Mom, Dixie and I loaded up in the Acadia and Mark was riding solo in his truck pulling the Uhaul. We got on the road bright and early at 5AM and headed East. Our goal for the day was to make it to Atlanta....and we were successful!

Good-bye Lone Star State...Hello Lousiana!

On to Mississippi...

Sweet Home Alabama

Finally...our destination state for the day! We found a cozy little hotel off the highway...slept for a few hours and then we were off at 6AM to head to Columbia, SC to visit Uncle Clay and Aunt Jean for the day!

Welcome to South Carolina!

After meeting up in Columbia, we jumped back in the car to go explore Charleston with Jean and Clay. It was a beautiful town with so much cool stuff to see, but we were on such a limited time schedule we only got to do a carriage tour and eat lunch. We have to go back soon to shop in the market and see the rest of the town.

Cool houses on our tour.

This is a 1/2 house. It probably use to be a slave house or a kitchen. Now it is an adorable little residence!

If I am remembering correctly, this is the most expensive house in Charleston. I wish I could remember what it was called and what the story behind it was. I think I have a google assignment for later.

This is a bed and breakfast that has stained glass windows designed by Mr. Tiffany...as in the jewelry store! One of the most romantic places to stay in Charleston.

This is the old jail...it is haunted now and you can go on a ghost tour! :)

Finishing up the carriage ride...photo disclaimer (Mom does not have a double chin in real life...just a bad angle, but it is such a special pic!)

Our horse and carriage...This was our 2nd horse. After waiting 45 minutes to board our carriage, we got about a block away and our horse lost his shoe. We had to turn around and go back to get a new horse. I was beginning to think we weren't meant to go on the ride, but it turned out to be really cool!

Back on the road after our quick but fun trip in SC. Mom was our trusty driver most of the trip. I think she has control issues...j/k! :)

Only one state to go...

We finally made it to Virginia to get the keys to our new house....more on the house and the rest of the move in the next post...stay tuned!

A Beautiful Day!

2011-08-04T05:56:00.000-07:00

I'm not even sure where to start with this post, but on the Sunday before we left Texas...my best friend, KK and her loving mom (GiGi) and sister hosted a perfect and beautiful baby shower! There wasn't one detail forgotten and they went above and beyond to make the day so special! One special touch was that each guest brought their favorite children's book instead of a card and also my precious friends, Steph and Miranda, made their famous chocolate covered pretzels!!! (After the shower, these kept us going on the road!) I am so lucky and blessed to have such special people in my life and I can't wait for baby Kenleigh to get to know them and love them just as much as I do! Here is a recap in pictures...

The beautiful cake and wall hanging for baby girl's door!

Special bow holder made by GiGi, which is already FULL of bows!

Even the fans were decorated!

5 layer banner made by a very special friend, Lesley!

GiGi had this picture of me as a little girl blown up and put on a canvas...such a sweet surprise!

Paper to write mommy advice on!

The delicious food!

Me and my sweet Mama!

Couldn't live without my BFF!!!!

My little "Sis"

Old, special friends!

Such a trooper! 38 weeks pregnant and ready to pop!

K's bag for traveling to TX!

Yes, my child has her first true religion jean skirt! I don't even own one of these!

Precious outfit!

This was another one of my favorites! It was from KK. She has always been the bee and I've always been the ladybug! Perfect outfit!

Moms and Girls!

Baby pics of me and Mark! Such a cute idea!

The spread of sweets!

This baby girl is so loved! I can't wait for her to meet all of these very special people that I love so much!

Belly Updates- 25 Weeks

2011-08-02T13:14:00.000-07:00

How far Along: 25 Weeks, 6 Days (The picture was at 25 W, 1 D)

Size of Baby: Around 2 lbs, 14 inches long

Symptoms: I've still been feeling really great, however the drive across the country caused my feet and ankles to swell. They are now back to normal!

Cravings: No cravings right now. :)

Movement: She is a little wiggle worm all throughout the day. The kicks still aren't very strong, but I definitely feel her move!

Milestones: We moved into our new house this past weekend...that is why this post is several days late!

Belly Updates- 24 Weeks

2011-07-22T13:59:00.000-07:00

Today we had the joy of getting a view inside the belly with a 3d ultrasound! It was really amazing! Kenleigh has a little bit of fuzz on top of her hair, she has chubby little thighs and cute little cheeks! She really wanted to keep her hands in front of her face the entire time, so we only got a few good pictures. She was a little yoga baby with her legs and arms up by her face! She also yawned several times and was holding on to the umbilical cord! Babies really are little miracles and it is absolutely amazing and a blessing each time we get to see her! We can't wait to meet her!!!!

How far along: 24 weeks, 2 days

Size of Baby: 13.5 inches, 1.7 lbs.

Symptoms: My feet have started swelling a little if I am walking around a lot, but I think the heat has a lot to do with this as well.

Cravings: Nothing really.

Movement: I feel her move at least a couple of times a day. She really likes to hang out on my right side and occasionally will jump on my bladder.

Milestones: 24 weeks is the week of viability. This means that if the baby were born now, she would have a chance of survival, but would be in intensive care for many months. Keep on cooking baby girl!

You might be a redneck if...

2011-07-22T13:47:00.000-07:00

You have a mustache that looks like this! :) Over leave, Mark has enjoyed growing out a full beard. This was part of the shaving of the beard into many different styles! Nice look!

Showered with Love!

2011-07-20T10:05:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, these precious girls hosted an absolutely beautiful baby shower for me and Baby Kenleigh! Everything was personalized and was so special....

The Decorations...

A sweet clothes line!

This wreath is to go on the front door when baby girl is born and then I can disassemble it and use all the goodies! I've never seen anything like this and it is so adorable!

These pink flowers were everywhere and inside that tub were cute little sugar cookies with pink icing for favors!

The food...

Simply perfect!

These cupcakes were not only cute, they were DELICIOUS! The strawberry ones actually had chunks of whole strawberries in them..Yummy!

This was only part of the spread! Everything tasted amazing!

The Games...

The first game was a questionnaire to see how well the guests knew me and my desires for baby Kenleigh. The first section had questions such as...Where would I want Kenleigh to go to college if she didn't go to Tech or Auburn? What I want Kenleigh to be when I grow up? What I love most about being pregnant? The second part was which features I want Kenleigh to get from Mark and which features from me. This game was quite entertaining, but not quite as hilarious or gross as the next game...

If you know me at all, you know that I am quite a picky eater! Well, Keri came up with this game where I had to sample baby foods and then guess what I was eating. It is no wonder babies make horrible faces when they eat this stuff. It is awful! I didn't even guess one correctly...but I was close on a few!

The best of the worst was the bananas and the worst was the turkey and rice! Everyone got a great laugh out of it! My mom got me a baby bullet to make baby food, so lucky for baby K she will never have to eat that stuff!

The Guests...

The shower was so much fun and baby K got lots of great stuff! Thank you to my sweet friends for hosting and thank you to my friends and family who took time to be a part of the day!

Test Drive

2011-07-17T17:39:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, my precious girlfriends hosted a shower for me and Baby Kenleigh! (Post coming soon) I couldn't wait to put the stroller together and push it around, but I needed some willing participants to help me! Dixie and Daisy loved it!!! They sat right next to each other while I pushed them all around the house! Maybe Kenleigh will share the stroller on walks with Dixie! :)

A real TX BBQ!

2011-07-17T17:31:00.000-07:00

These are some "hamburger" cupcakes i made for the occasion, but the real star of the show was my Daddy's ribs! It is probably one of my most favorite foods and he definitely makes the BEST ribs in the world.

Here is the rib master hard at work! This process started at about 4:30 AM yesterday and he was still cooking yesterday evening. The end result was amazing!!!! It was a really fun day visiting with some great people from my Dad's office and eating lots of amazing food!

Here is a handsome fella sampling the yumminess!

Doesn't this make your mouth water!!!!!

Sweet Tuffy Girl! She loves Daddy's ribs too! And she misses Trey!!!!

Belly Updates- 23 Weeks

2011-07-15T11:03:00.000-07:00

How far Along: 23 Weeks, 2 Days

Size of Baby: 12.5 Inches, 1.25 lbs., Approx. the size of corn? That would be one huge corn on the cob! I'm not sure that is an accurate description.

Symptoms: I'm recovering from a horrible stomach bug, that won't seem to go away! Not baby related...and definitely not fun!

Cravings: Nothing at all this week! I'm having to force myself to eat...but I would love a snow cone!

Movement: Finally!!!! She moves just about every morning now and it is so cool! Mark has actually seen my belly jump and he got to feel her move one time. It is still mostly on the sides of my stomach, but it is getting stronger and more often.

Milestones: Another week down! It seems crazy that little Kenleigh will be here in about 117 days!!!! Also, I'm starting to get really excited about decorating her room! Let the shopping begin!

Birthday Boy!

2011-07-14T06:17:00.000-07:00

Mark turned the big 3-2 this year!!!! We had a low key celebration at Nana & Gaggies with family last Sunday! Mark picked a cookies and cream ice cream cake from Marble Slab and it was so delicious!!!!!

Making a wish... Here's to the best year yet! Happy Birthday to the best husband in the world!

4th of July 2011

2011-07-14T06:06:00.000-07:00

This year we got to spend the 4th in Texas! We actually did most of our celebrating on the 3rd. We picked up fajitas, packed a cooler and some blankets to sit on and headed out to Concerts in the Gardens. It was a blast and the fireworks show was the best I have ever seen! On the actual day of the 4th, we hung out at the pool and enjoyed lots of delicious snacks...such as these...

RED, WHITE AND BLUE STRAWBERRIES!

They were super easy to make. All I did was dip strawberries in white chocolate and then dip them into blue sprinkles. Not only were they festive, they were delicious!

We also snacked on some spiced up saltines. These were also super tasty! It all starts with a plain box of saltine crackers...mixed with some canola oil and a special spice packet from Canton, TX. Then you put it in a baggie, shake it up and let it sit overnight. Yummy!

Belly Updates- 22 Weeks

2011-07-09T18:14:00.000-07:00

How Far Along: 22 weeks, 3 days

Size of Baby: 1.2 lbs., crown to rump 8 inches...about the size of a papaya

Symptoms: Nothing really to complain about. I'm just really hot always.

Cravings: Nothing specific.

Movement: Still just a tiny bit here and there...still waiting for the big kicks.

Milestones: Baby Kenleigh went to her first Ranger's game last Thursday! It was roasty toasty out there! I love that she has a name now. It is feeling more real and she is starting to have an identity and quite the wardrobe! She will be the best dressed baby around!

Belly Updates- 21 weeks and a Party!

2011-07-02T19:37:00.000-07:00

How far along: 21 weeks, 3 days

Size of Baby: A whopping 1 lb! 8 inches long from head to rump. About the size of a spaghetti squash.

Symptoms: Still feeling really good!

Movement: I'm starting to feel a little on the sides every few days.

Maternity Clothes: I don't have many options...

Gender: It is still a girl!

Milestones: Baby P has a name and it is...Kenleigh Grace!

Last night we were supposed to have our gender reveal party, however...we had already spilled the beans, but we still had a party! No party is complete without some pink cupcakes! We had a really great time and enjoyed spending time with special people! And Kenleigh got some really cute clothes and blankets! She is spoiled already!

3.5 Generations!

2 of my BFF's!!!

Sweet Kayse! We sure missed Trey...he was taking a final in Lubbock!

Shurack ladies! Love them!

Mark and his sweet Nana and Gaggie...who have been married 60 years!!!!

Mark and TCole!

Jen and Bill, Mark's parents sporting pink!

Change of Command

2011-06-27T13:47:00.000-07:00

Today was Mark's final morning as Apache 6! I could not be more proud and honored to be his wife! He has done an amazing job with Apache Company over the last 18 months and now he deserves a much needed time to rest. It humbles me to see the amount of love he has for each and every one of his soldiers. I know that he will miss being a Company Commander, but I'm pretty sure he is looking forward to getting some family time and taking a break for awhile!

Passing the guidon for the last time!

My girl friends that came to support us today! I'll miss you!

The Great Name Debate

2011-06-25T14:00:00.000-07:00

If Baby P was a boy, we had a solid name locked in. Now that we know we are having a girl, we are totally stumped. Our top 4 in no particular order are:

Hannah Gaile: We love the meaning of Hannah, favored/blessed by God and Gaile is the combination of both my Mom's middle name, Gayle, and Mark's Mom's middle name, Gail.

Savannah Gaile: We think Savannah is a beautiful name, but it doesn't really mean anything and we can't think of many nicknames for it. It does look pretty when embroidered.

Kenleigh Grace: Kenleigh is from my maiden name, "Ken"sing. We think it is a cute name and pretty uncommon. Grace means favor or blessed.

Kensley Grace: Kensley is from "Kens"ing, just another variation that we think is cute.

I added a poll to the side of the blog...so let us know which one is your favorite!

Belly Updates- 20 weeks

2011-06-24T21:25:00.000-07:00

Half way there!!!! And, we are happy to announce that we are having a healthy baby GIRL!

How Far Along: 20 weeks, 2 days! Over the half way point!

Size of Baby: According to our ultrasound today, she is measuring 2 days ahead of schedule and approximately 12 oz. According to my baby updates, she is as long as a banana. (10 in)

Cravings: Strawberry popsicles

Symptoms: Nothing new or different. I'm feeling really good!

Movement: She was all of the place during our ultrasound, but I have an anterior placenta and it will be another 4 weeks or so before I start feeling her move. :( This isn't anything bad, it just has to do with where the egg implanted...therefore the placenta is like a blanket between the baby and my skin.

Maternity Clothes: Love them!

Milestones: Huge milestones this week....Everything looked great on the anatomy scan. 10 fingers, 10 toes, brain looks good, heart looks good...pretty much a healthy little baby! And...past the half way point! In about 4 1/2 months we will get to meet our little sweet pea!

Gender: We were so wrong.....she is definitely a GIRL! She was not shy and showed us all of her stuff.

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-19T09:43:00.000-07:00

To my wonderful Daddy! It seems like just yesterday I was just a little girl and in a few months you will be a Grandad to a lucky little boy or girl! How exciting!

One of the best days of my life!

To my sweet Grandad! I wish that I got to spend more time with you!!!! We can't wait to come see you in a few weeks! Love you!

To my Grandpa! Awesome story that I just heard today...Posted by my mom...Happy Fathers Day to my daddy! My father died when I was 4 years old; so, at 12 years old, I picked my own daddy! He was the golf pro at Meadowbrook Rec and my mom ran the Rec Center. He and I became buddies....maybe because he bought me ice cream out of the machine, maybe because he let me run the old cash register! Whatever the reason, I hooked him up with my mom because I wanted him to be my dad! That was one of my "smarter" moves!!! He lives too far away now (Palm Springs); but, HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to my sweet daddy! I love you!

To Mark's Dad! This was also another one of the best days of my life...when Mark came home from Iraq for the second time!

To Gaggie! Such a loving and kind man! We are blessed to have you in our life!

And...to the best Daddy to be! He has had lots of practice with puppies...Daisy!

And Dixie!

I can't wait for November and to see you love our sweet baby!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Belly Updates- 19 Weeks

2011-06-17T16:26:00.000-07:00

How Far Along: 19 Weeks, 2 Days

Size of Baby: A small cantaloupe (10.5 oz/ 6.5 in.)

Cravings: Strawberries and nectarines

Symptoms: My belly is growing and mild heartburn

Movement: Waiting...about 3 times a day I lay down and wait very quietly and see if he/she moves, but still waiting...

Maternity Clothes: Still love them! My maternity dresses came in and I ended up liking 3 out of the 4 I ordered.

Milestones: Another week down!

Gender: Only 1 week to go....I still think boy and so does Mark.

Sweet Friends

2011-06-13T08:14:00.000-07:00

Over the past few days, I have been shown an overwhelming amount of love from some very dear friends! On Friday, I went to my last Bunco :(, and my bunco group surprised Kimmie and I with a baby shower. It was a Dr. Suess theme and was absolutely adorable! Baby P feels so loved already! I'm going to miss these girls so much!

Precious Bunco Group! You will be missed!

Adorable basket filled with lots of goodies!

Dr. Suess themed Bunco cards! Thanks to Mallory!

More adorable decorations!

Sweet diaper cake made by Julie!

Last night was my final dinner with my 1-23 ladies! What am I going to do without these amazing women! I sure hope they come visit me or our paths cross again very soon! They also surprised me with our pack and play! Such a thoughtful and amazing gift!

Beautiful and sweet Kelly! One of the amazing hostesses!

Darling friends!

The other side of the table! I love these ladies!!!

I can't even begin to thank everyone enough! The amount of love that I have received is so awesome! When we moved here I would have never imagined that I would make life long friends here! I have to admit...I'm pretty sad to say good bye! Well, not good bye, but see ya soon! :)

A Man in Uniform

2011-06-11T19:07:00.000-07:00

There is just something about seeing Mark in action! I don't think there is anything much hotter than a good looking man (mine!) marching past me! :) Yesterday, Mark did his last road march as the Company Commander of Apache Company. I'm pretty sure it was bittersweet. Sweet in the fact that hopefully he will never have these amazing blisters on his feet, but bitter because it is the end of a chapter. The families were invited out to greet the guys as they marched back to the company (after 12 miles)...and enjoy a picnic on a cool Washington summer (felt like winter) day!

So cute!

Belly Updates- 18 Weeks

2011-06-11T08:26:00.000-07:00

How far along: 18 weeks, 3 days

Size of Baby: Large Mango, (6 in./ 8 oz.)

Cravings: Nothing really. I'm just hungry a lot!

Symptoms: heartburn off and on, hungry all the time, back pain after standing for long periods of time

Movement: ? I still don't really know... I'm anxious to start feeling real kicks and rolls.

Maternity Clothes: I ordered some maternity dresses for my upcoming baby showers! Even my PJ bottoms aren't quite fitting over my belly!

Milestones: Just thankful for every day! So ready for our anatomy scan and praying that we have a HEALTHY boy or girl!

Hormones+Movers=Tears!

2011-06-10T09:37:00.000-07:00

Today is supposed to be our pre-move inspection. This is where the moving company comes out and checks out all your stuff and decides on how many boxes and how much equipment they need to send out for your move. I had a lengthy discussion with my moving agent the other day and she was so nice and I really had hope that this would be our best move yet! However....we are not starting out on a good foot! Our appointment was at 9. It is 9:35 and I am still waiting...I gave them a call at 9:15, because I actually need to be leaving here at 10 for another engagement. The response was..."he is on his way." And then when I asked how far away, she said "30 minutes!!!!!" I'm pretty sure the company is in Tacoma and I'm pretty sure it doesn't take 30 minutes to get here...so that leads me to believe that he had not even left their office! I would say people being late is my BIGGEST pet peeve! I think it is rude and inconsiderate to take advantage of others time...especially when you are being paid(by the Army) to do something! So...if he does get here at 9:45 is will be a rushed job, because I need to leave...which doesn't make me a happy lady! Let's hope next week is better with the packers...

Baby Boy Onesie Cookies

2011-06-07T09:11:00.000-07:00

One of my best friends is having a precious baby boy, Camden James very soon! This weekend is one of her baby showers and I made these little onesie cookies for gifts for the hostesses. Her theme for the baby room is owls, so she carried the theme over to her tags and thank you cards! So cute!

Cookout by the Beach

2011-06-05T07:22:00.000-07:00

I'm back from Texas and Mark is back from his last ever field exercise! We only have a small amount of days left here in WA!!! Yesterday, Mark's 1st SGT hosted a cookout for the company as a going away party for us. It was at an adorable little beach house out on Vashon Island. The WA weather decided to cooperate and delivered 80 degree temps and not a cloud in the sky all day! We took the ferry over to the island and spent the day talking, eating and enjoying the view! We had a great time!!! Here are a few pictures from the day...

Ferry ride over with a great view of Rainier in the background, however it never shows up well in pictures.

I've never seen shells so big that were still in one piece! These were everywhere!

An awesome starfish the guys found on the beach! Way cool!

I'm sure they were solving some type of world problem here...

Lovely beach view.

There were boats like this all along the beach and as the tide came in they were all eventually floating in the water.

Belly Updates- 17 Weeks

2011-06-03T15:33:00.001-07:00

How Far Along: 17 weeks, 2 days

Size of Baby: A sweet potato (5.5 in., 6 oz.)

Cravings: Nothing really, I'm just trying to eat healthier. No enchiladas from Chuy's for a few weeks!

Symptoms: Nothing really out of the ordinary. I'm feeling pretty great!

Movements: Still not anything that is for certain the baby. It is probably just gas! :)

Milestones: We had our monthly appointment today. Everything looks good. We heard the baby's heartbeat and it is still pumping away at 152 bpm.

I diagnosed Dixie with LDS!

2011-06-02T12:28:00.000-07:00

First of all....Is this not the cutest sight ever? I'd say they all have a rough life!

LDS= Little Dog Syndrome! I'm pretty sure if this syndrome existed in real life that Dixie would have a severe case! She tries to make up for being smaller than her friends by trying to show them that she is the boss.

For example....There are at least 50 dog toys and 85 bones in a bucket at my parents house. After pulling each and every one out and scattering them about, she waits for Tuffy and Daisy to pick their favorites. She then proceeds to get right in their face and bark at them until they get annoyed, drop the toy/bone and walk away. She happily snatches up whatever it was that they had and goes on her merry way...until they find another toy that she wants.

Example #2: She positions herself up high or in a hidden area and pounces on Daisy when she walks by.

All of this is quite entertaining, but I feel so bad for Old Tuff and Daisy Girl. They can't get a break...until she falls asleep.

I was a little afraid that my mom would be overcome with Dixie's cuteness factor, however I'm pretty sure for the sanity of her two sweet dogs she will gladly give her back to me.

I'm thinking that after hanging around my dad, the candy man...who gives out chicken snacks all day...she might not be so little and perhaps will outgrow her LDS!

Belly Updates- 16 Weeks

2011-05-28T07:00:00.001-07:00

How Far Along: 16 weeks, 4 days
Size of Baby: An onion or a turnip (5 in, 5-6 oz.)
Cravings: Nothing specific...I've had the weird urge to drink the enchilada sauce out of the can and also taste the marinade for meat.

Symptoms: Heartburn every once in awhile.

Movement: ???? Nothing I can for sure say is the baby. Hopefully soon!

Milestones: Getting closer to the half way point!

More Baseball Fun

2011-05-27T11:18:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my Mom and I made a last minute decision to drive to OKC to see the Red Raiders play OU. Sadly, we lost 3-1, but it was a fun, quick trip...and I always love seeing my "big" little brother!

My souvenir from the game was this lovely bruise on my shoulder. I've been going to baseball games for many years and I have never ever been hit by a foul ball. Let me tell you....it does not feel good. I'm just thankful it didn't hit my head, face or my baby belly.

On our way home we stopped in Norman for a little shopping at some really cute stores and had dinner at an awesome restaurant called Seven 47! If you are ever passing through the area, I highly recommend it!

The day was finished off by a beautiful Texas sunset!

Belly Updates- 15 Weeks

2011-05-22T14:25:00.000-07:00

15weeks, 2 days

Notice that I am not standing in front of our fire place this week. That is because....I'm in TEXAS!!!! It was a really long week of travel, but I had the best travel buddies! 1 friend and 2 precious doggies! We managed to make it in 3 days...even though we hit snow storms, hail, hard rain and had a blowout. We ate way too much fast food, listened to Mommywood by Tori Spelling and chatted a lot!

Is this not the cutest thing ever! Dixie is such a little snuggler and would try to cuddle Titus the whole way!

After a short one day stay in A-town, the family jumped in the car and drove 5 hours west to watch Texas Tech play their final home series against OSU! We saw the Saturday game and they won big and it was a great time!!! I think Baby P enjoyed his/her first baseball game. Trey said that the baby brought the team luck!

15 weeks, 3 days

And now for the belly updates:

How far along: As of today 15 weeks, 5 days

Size of baby: Avocado (4-5 inches)

Cravings: Anything and everything! Mostly mexican food now that I am in TX!

Symptoms: Heartburn...pretty sure I am going to give birth to a dragon!

Movement: I "think" I feel it move ever once in a while...maybe once a day. Could still be my imagination.

Gender prediction: Boy

Milestones: First roadtrip and first baseball game! Big week for Baby P!

Belly Updates- 14 Weeks

2011-05-14T18:07:00.000-07:00

(I need to start taking these pics in the morning when I am smaller...by evening time Baby P is very noticeable!)

How Far Along: 14 Weeks, 3 Days

Size Of Baby: Large Navel Orange (4-4.5 in, 2-3 oz.)

Maternity Clothes: The weather has been nicer the past few days, so I have utilized my maternity capris.

Cravings: Popsicles, frozen fruit, Cool Ranch Doritos (?)

Symptoms: Some heart burn...which I have never experienced, a lot of bathroom usage throughout the night, same daytime nausea.

Movement: I thought I felt a wiggle the other night while I was laying down, but it could have been my imagination.

Gender Prediction: I'm leaning towards it being a boy now. Don't forget to vote in the poll on the right side of my blog!

Milestones: Every day is a milestone! So thankful to have the miracle of Baby P growing inside me! :)

Random Thoughts

2011-05-11T13:59:00.000-07:00

-I currently have 10 books on being pregnant and/or parenting! They are all overwhelming and I have yet to make it beyond chapter 1 in any of them! Except...Jenny McCarthy's book, Belly Laughs, I read that cover to cover in one night!

-I'm dying to know whether we are having a girl or a boy! We still have 6 weeks to wait!!! Ultimately we just want a healthy baby, but if given a choice...I would pick and girl and Mark would pick a boy! We will be happy either way!

-I'm feeling chubbier by the day! Most of the weight is on my belly, but I already see my face getting rounder.

-The Name Game!!!! We totally thought we had picked our #1Boy and #1 Girl name. Now I'm starting to get lukewarm on both of them and looking for new names...

Belly Updates- 13 weeks

2011-05-06T18:15:00.000-07:00

How far along: 13 weeks, 2 days

Size of Baby: We are moving right along in the produce section! Baby is now a lemon. (approx. 3 1/2 in.)

Maternity clothes: Same as last week...still wearing normal shirts, but maternity pants.

Cravings: Strawberries are my new thing!

Symptoms: No changes really. I'm still taking daily naps!

Movement: I still can't feel it, but I'm sure it is wiggling around in there.

Gender Prediction: Last night I had another baby dream and it was a boy. That is 2 boy dreams and 1 girl. Chinese gender predictor says boy on one and girl on the other. I think it is a 50% chance it is a boy and 50% chance it is a girl! :)

Milestones: Made it to the 2nd Trimester!!!! And...we got to hear the heartbeat last week for the first time. We had seen it on ultrasounds, but that was our first time to hear it. It was 152 bpm.

Flower Birthday Cake

2011-05-03T10:27:00.000-07:00

I made this bright, simple cake for a friend's daughter last week. The inside was a white cake that was extra doctored up! It was the first time I had tried the recipe and I think it turned out delicious! I will be making this flavor in the future for sure!

Baby Updates- 12 weeks

2011-04-29T14:29:00.000-07:00

I got this idea from a friends blog. I'm not keeping a paper journal, so I figured I can journal on my blog and eventually I will have my blog printed in a book format.

How far along: 12 Weeks, 2 Days

Size of baby: Peach, 3 inches

Maternity clothes: My belly decided to make itself known quite quickly, so I am wearing maternity pants, but all of my shirts are fine as long as they are long enough.

Cravings: fruit, potatoes (any kind), milk, sour candy

Symptoms: slight nausea during the day, sleepiness

Movement: Baby P is wiggling all around in there, but I won't be able to feel it for several more weeks.

Gender Prediction: Somedays I think girl, and some days I think for sure boy. We will see on June 24 if the baby will cooperate!

Tulips!

2011-04-28T08:52:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we took a road trip up to the Skagit Valley to check out the tulips! It turned out to be a longer drive than we anticipated, but it was such a gorgeous day...it was totally worth it!

I named these the "fire tulips". The colors were so vivid and beautiful!

You would think it was warm by the way we are dressed. It was a piping hot 61 degrees and we were sweating! Not sure what we are going to do when we see a real summer in DC?!

Nature called after our long drive! This is an actual outhouse! As in...a hole in the ground! It was quite possibly the nastiest thing I have ever experienced and I figured you would want to see it too! :) How could they put something so nasty right next to gorgeous fields of tulips?

One of my favorite pictures! I love the delicate pink tulips!

Sha Sha! I will miss this girl so much!!!!! Luckily we are both TX girls and I plan to meet up with her at every opportunity!

More beauty...

These purple tulips were so rich and gorgeous! They looked like they were made of silk.

This is something I have wanted to see for 3 years! I'm so glad that we finally found a weekend to make it work. I'm not sure when in my life I will ever see fields of tulips as far as the eye can see!

See ya laters!

2011-04-28T08:41:00.000-07:00

Last week I attended my final coffee for 1-23 IN. I have met some wonderful ladies that I truly call friends. I look up to them for wisdom and advice...I laugh with them...and I've even shed a few tears with them. I will miss them dearly, but luckily it is a small Army and hopefully I will see them sooner rather than later! As my going away gift, I received this beautiful picture of Mt. Rainier. It will hang on my wall wherever we go and I will always think about these beautiful ladies! The best part of this picture is what is on the back...

I just love it! All of the ladies wrote sweet notes! Every time we move and I take it off the wall I can reread what they wrote and remember the great times we had! So...it isn't good-bye, it is see ya later!

A Bun in my Oven!!!!!

2011-04-27T05:58:00.000-07:00

We could not be more excited to be expecting little Baby P in early November!!!! This has been the hardest secret I have ever kept! We are so thankful for this little miracle that the good Lord has given to us and that we are finally getting the chance to become parents (to something other than a furry child). Please keep Baby P in your thoughts and prayers...that he/she will be happy and healthy!

I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. 1 Samuel 1:27

Coast to Coast

2011-04-22T09:38:00.000-07:00

Well, it looks like our time in the Pacific Northwest is coming to an end. The past three years have been a roller coaster! Mark has had tough jobs with really long hours...we have been through a deployment...and some really emotional and challenging times. I will be sad to leave all of my wonderful friends that I have made and my sweet dance girls, but I am really excited for what the future holds!

I feel like we have grown as a couple and we have both personally grown while we have been here. It has been a challenge being so far from family, but we have learned to thrive and how to enjoy life wherever we may be.

Our next Army adventure is taking us to the East Coast!!!! We are headed to Washington D.C.!!!!!! We are so excited for our new adventure!

So now comes the time for prepping for a PCS (Permanent Change of Duty Station)...so much to be done. The big task is to repaint the walls that I painted in our house. I was really hoping I could just pay the Army and leave them, but they said I must prime the walls with at least two coats! Then...finding a house, setting up the movers, deep cleaning this house and so much more!

Step 1 of the move begins in just a few weeks. A drive to Texas! You know this makes me happy for a multitude of reasons!

Onesie Cookies

2011-04-18T08:27:00.000-07:00

I bought a onesie cookie cutter several months ago in hopes that someone would order cookies for a baby shower...and finally they did! I thought they turned out super cute, and I hope the shower attendees enjoyed them!

Sick Computer :(

2011-04-15T08:57:00.000-07:00

For almost 2 weeks now I have been without my computer! At first I thought that perhaps it wasn't charged or some other simple fix. Well, after days of charging and still not working I made an appointment at my local Apple Genius Bar. The Apple Guy was super nice...checked out my computer and delivered the news that my laptop was one of the few computers to have the logic board go out! Apparantly, this is the part that makes the whole computer work and costs somewhere around $500!!!!!!! This was also the day that the Government was planning to shutdown and I had no idea if we would be getting a paycheck. Needless to say, that was not in the budget! Also, I had failed to back up my computer and I have so many great pictures and all of my music on there. They offered to back it up for me for $99, which I would have done if I had my external with me. So my first trip to Apple was a failure...

Then the good news came...we would get paid! And I could get my computer fixed! They offered me a different repair option where they would send it off and it would only be $300! Still a lot, but less than $500. Well, it must have been my lucky day, because when they rang me up.....it came out to $0! No idea how and neither did they. They just said the computer wouldn't let them override and it said no charge. Im supposed to pick up my computer either today or tomorrow and we will see if they have it figured out. I'm hoping not, but I'm prepared to pay if so.

So....I apologize for my lack of blogging. As soon as I get my computer back I have a few blogs to write, but I want to upload pics and they are on that computer.

Happy Weekend!

Congrats to Mark!

2011-03-30T09:40:00.000-07:00

It seems like just yesterday I met LT Husband (May 2006), and now he has been selected below the zone for Major! I'm so excited for him and so extremely proud! It could be a little while before he pins on, but it is an exciting time to look forward to! Congrats to CPT (promotable! :)) Husband!!!!