Thanksgiving 2011

Thanksgiving 2011

We drove to Ohio on Wednesday morning to begin our holiday weekend with Mathew's family.

Needless to say this was our last trip until we are a family of 4.. I was waaaay uncomfortable in the car for about a 4 hour ride.. no stops!

Samantha was sooo good. Fell asleep 20 minutes into the ride and woke up in Ohio when we had about 1/2 hour left on the trip.. excellent!

Turkey Day was fun, we helped Baka and Teta Nina were preparing stuffing, and a yummy Carrot Cake Cheesecake for dessert. Samantha took a nice long nap, and then we got ready to go to my sis and brother in law's for dinner.

I was sooo happy this shirt fit her. I had her wearing it last year as a dress, and this year she wore it as a shirt!

My little Turkey...
The girls got to sit at their own table and eat like big kids.
The meal was soooo good.. Turkey, Tatoes, Stuffing, Salad, Noodles, ahhh

We tried to get a pic of the three cousins...
The grandkids with Baka and Papa..



This is the last picture as just 3...

After dinner the girls had fun playing, running.. climbing in buckets..

Julia (below)

Gracie

And a couple dozen games of hide and seek...{hiding with Papa}

Friday and Saturday we did some shopping and cookie making...
Of course Samantha was LOVING making all the cookies.

or should I say eating all the dough...

The girls came over Saturday and they had so much fun playing and another round of "hide and seek" in the backyard with Papa...

Follow the leader..

Sunday we made a trip to Trader Joe's and then it was back home...
I cant beleive how big SJ is... I had to look up last year's pics to get a good sense of JUST how big she is now!

Last year's post HERE

30 Weeks Pregnant!

30 Weeks – 10 weeks to go.
Size of baby: About 3lbs, Size of Cabbage
Gender: IT IS A BOY!!

Weight Gain: Gained another 7lbs. Im around a total of 26lbs I think. The Doctor said she was glad I was gaining more weigh, then on the other hand they have to throw in, "although you do have 2 more months to go.. blah blah.. "whatever.. I eat when Im hungry and Im not going to stress about my weight gain.. I know it all goes away with breastfeeding, which is in my plans just like it was for SJ.
How am I feeling: Extreme bouts of exhaustion are setting in now. I’ve noticed I cannot stay awake anymore past a certain point. Sitting on the couches for work or after dinner, basically anytime, makes me want to cover up with a blanket and go to sleep.
Appointments/Events:

{dr's office appt. 11.30.11}
Next Appt – Was Wed. Everything looks good. Im measuring right on time for the due date, and baby’s heartbeat was around 140. I asked the Dr. what position he was in, and she said she couldn’t tell, that she thought he was just curled up in a ball, and that he still has a lot of time to move around and position himself over the next 9-10 weeks.
Craving: This week its *unfortunately* been sweets.. candy.. yep.. and I know its gonna get worse. Oh, and Grape Nuts Flakes Cereal.. dont ask me why.. I've been obsessed with cereal, cold milk, and ice cubes..cant get enough.. Oh and sharp cheddar cheese and crackers!
Baby Moving: Moving all the time, with a few swift rib jabs that will catch me off guard and really kind of sting!
Funny Things: Im stumped this week!

Special Buys/Finds This Week: We got this adorable outfit from my sister in law when we were in Ohio last weekend, its so c

ute. A little golf outfit I think! And we got some MUCH NEEDED teeny newborn onesies from my other sister in law, and a cute Puma Tracksuit.. I thought it wouldn’t be as fun to dress a little boy, but there are sooo many adorable outfits out there, Im having fun!

Till Next week!

29 Weeks - Gobble Gobble.. I'm Starting to Feel Like One!

29 Weeks – 11 weeks to go.
Size of baby: A Butternut Squash!

Weight Gain: Will find out at next appt 11/30/11
How am I feeling: Little bursts of energy here and there and LOTS of NESTING going on…. I’ve been hard at work at his nursery, making the crib skirt, burp cloths, organizing clothes, buying diapers, etc..
Appointments/Events:
Next Appt – November 30th – routine. Marks the start of my every 2 week visits..

Craving: Air Popped Popcorn is my weakness this week.. I’ve been making white popcorn the old fashioned way on the stove, with oil, and a little salt. I must have at an ENTIRE large bowl last week by myself..and I made 2 batches this weekend..

Baby Moving: He is very active! Jabbing me left and right, and if he’s rotating his little body in there, I can see him doing it and feel it, its so cool. My Mom felt him on the outside this past weekend when her was kicking my left side at dinner.
Funny Things: She says to my belly…”come on Brother!” “come out!”
Special Buys/Finds This Week: I bought a boppy changing pad cover this week in beige. I also bought more fabric and made some more burp cloths.
I have some frames I sprayed white for the wall where the crib is set up.
I also have an old farmhouse window that I was sanding that is a nice piece I think to hang over the changing table/dresser, along with a small shelf underneath to hold creams/powders/wipes.

Happy Turkey Day.. I'll have pics of my big belly next week.. 30 Weeks on Monday!

28 Weeks - {Hello 3rd Trimester!}

28 Weeks – 12 weeks to go.
Welcome THIRD Trimester!

Size of baby: A small cauliflower I beleive...
Gender: IT IS A BOY!! - We have decided on a first and middle name.
Weight Gain: 24 lbs to be exact as of last Dr’s Appt.
How am I feeling: Really tired again.. I notice I am ready for bed much earlier .. I took 2 naps this weekend, and was still in bed by 10… Ugh.. I have so much to do before he gets here and throw in two major holidays.. Im freaking! Im only going to get bigger and more sleepy….
Appointments/Events:
Next Appt – November 30th – routine. Marks the start of my every 2 week visits.. I CANNOT believe im to this point already.
Craving: Noticed this past weekend, I was drinking A LOT of apple juice/cider.. Im forcing myself to drink more water for fear of another pre-labor kidney stone.. It put me in the hospital for 5 days with SJ.. I really really don’t want that to happen again…
Baby Moving: I have to ask the doctor where he is.. im feeling jabbing movements which I assume are his feet at the top of my belly.. and more of a rotating little movements towards the bottom.. If I had to guess, I’d say he’s already in place???
Funny Things: Since we added some furniture and bookrack to little brother’s room, she’s been “sharing” all of her stuffed animals and books with brother. She loves her carpet.. and getting changed on his super thick and cozy rug. This weekend she layed on his rug in just her diaper for about 10 minutes straight.. haha!
Special Buys/Finds This Week:
BookRack is up!
Rocker and Ottoman all set!
Burp Cloths Made (4 more)
Crib Skirt (started)
I am looking now for a new diaper bag. I have an OiOi Giraffe one.. and Im a little tired of it.. I think I need something new for the little guy. I have a few saved on Pinterest.. and there is a Vera Bradley one I like too.. we’ll see ..

Randoms & Recipes

This weekend (past) we had no plans.. it was really relaxing and nice.

We didnt do much at all, but it still went by fast of course.

I took 2 naps BOTH days ... yeah.. I can tell Im slowing down again.. right as I entered the 3rd trimester..

It actually motivated me to do some nursery things .. Im only going to get bigger and more tired.. so I had some nesting motivation!

I made these cute burp cloths for Baby ... and I went to JoAnn's and got MORE adorable Boy fabric.. so I see no end in sight with these.. they're just too cute!

And we put up his book rack and Samantha graciously shared a bunch of her books with "brother"
I also made a yummy dish last week that I wanted to share...
Crispy Baked Chicken - just a simple Allrecipes find that I'd been using for a few years!
I served it with:
Roasted Cauliflower & Crescent Rolls
Simple and everyone liked it!

Project #2 - Baby's Crib Skirt
I had my eye on a linen crib skirt from a fancy boutique.. But no offense Baby #2.. Im not spending $230.00 for a crib skirt if I can make it myself.
So I took a spare crib skirt and used it as a template.. Cutting out the middle rectangle part first and hemming the edges all around.

I Hemmed it for a more crisp look, and also so it holds better with the actual part that will show. This seersucker part will be under the mattress... but I have spare fabric to decorate with.. as in the burp cloth above...I love seersucker!

I layed it in the crib after to make sure it fit.. and it looked pretty good.And I bought the skirt fabric (linen) this weekend, and started measuring and hemming..

Next step is to attach the front piece first.. then I'll work my way around with the shorter side pieces and back.

Dessert: Samantha and I made cookies this weekend .. I promised her after her nap on Sunday.. and dont think she for a minute forgot. As soon as I opened her door and walked in her room, she said.. "make cookies now Momma?"...

We made a super yummy Martha Stewart cookie!

Banana Walnut Chocolate Chunk Cookies!

Here's the recipe

Other than that.. Its the 3rd trimester and Im pooped..... 28 week update coming soon!

My Veteran

I never thought Veteran's Day would hold such a special place in my heart.

But today I guess I was moved to reflect on all my husband and I have been through in just 6 short years...

We met when he was already in the Marines. He was set to deploy to Iraq in 2007...My heart was nervous... getting involved with a military man who was going to be leaving for a whole year and traveling to what we thought was one of the most dangerous places at the time.. the middle east. But we got through...it wasnt easy...

{in Portland, Maine, on January 2, 2007, getting ready to board the long flight to Europe, and eventually ending in Iraq}

He was there for 13 months.. and it was so hard at times for us and our families.

I had moved home for 10 months, and then moved to NC before he came home

{2.3.2008 - homecoming on the airbase in NC}
Probably one of the best days of outr lives...

I can still remember being thr first wife to be able to greet my husband, a raffle I won before he came home..
We moved in together and started our lives together in North Carolina. FINALLY.. after dating for a year, 13 month deployment, we had waited long enough!

We were already married in 2006, but had a celebration with our families in September 2008.
Our wedding was so beautiful!

So many exciting milestones we have shared together..

A Wedding..

A daughter...

{samantha jane. 7.5.09}

And Coming Soon...

A Son...

Veterans Day has made me stop and thank God for everything we have today, and everything we've gone through to get here. During life we can certainly take for granted a lot, and I know Im guilty of it often!

So Happy Veteran's Day to my hubby and my best friend, and all those who serve and have served!

27 Weeks Pregnant

27 Weeks – 13 weeks to go.
Size of baby: Small Head of Cauliflower.. about 14.5 inches total length, and he’s already starting to be awake and sleep in small intervals according to babycenter.com
Gender: IT IS A BOY!!

Weight Gain: 24 lbs to be exact as of last Dr’s Appt.
How am I feeling: Felt a few Braxton Hicks this past weekend.. certainly forgot how those felt, Eek! Overall, just more winded and tired, and my tummy is getting really really big. All of my shirts aren’t long enough, except a few (*preggo fav’s that I wash multiple times per week) So I end up feeling a draft under my belly on almost everything I wear cause Im carrying so low. Posterior Pelvic Pain – I have been feeling this a lot. Its worse some days than others, but by the end of the day I sometimes cannot lift my legs, or even walk up the stairs without feeling a lot of pain. Leg Cramps- often in the middle of the night one or both of my calve muscles will tighten and be very painful for about 30 seconds.. Oh, and my milking area.. is getting soo big…none of my bras fit me anymore, I’ll just say that..
Appointments/Events:
Next Appt – November 30th – routine. Marks the start of my every 2 week visits.. I CANNOT believe im to this point already.

Craving: I’ve eased up on the carbs.. I used to be craving/eating a bagel and cream cheese EVERY morning. It was the only thing that would satisfy me, and make me feel better on days I felt nauseaous.
Missing: Nothing much this week. I surprisingly have been sleeping pretty well for as big as I feel Im getting.
Baby Moving: Moving all the time, sometimes he’ll jab me and it is starting to hurt a little! i feel him in my low low low belly, and on the top now.. so either he's getting into place, or he still needs to flip around.
Funny Things: Samantha is just funny I guess in general. Always asking me “what’s he doing in there?” And I recently told her he is coming after Santa comes, which she repeats now. She’ll touch my belly and say “gentle to brother” or “nice,” “he’s sleeping”

Special Buys/Finds This Week:
All the BIG things have been purchased I think!.. We got the Rocker on Friday, I ordered his magazine rack from PBK on Sunday, Rug is here, Dresser put together, Crib all ready (minus bedding)
I guess bedding decisions, which I have decided to TRY and make Baby Boy’s crib skirt.. and if that goes well, I’ll attempt the bumper.. Im thinking of a light blue crib sheet, and I have a navy/dot one from PBK that I bought, but need to think about it.. Bedding is so particular.. Esp cause the crib I have is an off-white color.. so anything with too much white looks silly.


{both images I "pinned" on Pinterest.. my latest addiction}

Next week Im in the 3rd trimester.. Holy Cow this pregnancy has FLOWN by, and I dont see any slowing down with the holidays approaching.. that always goes by too fast.. pregnant or not!

WILW - Crafts, Cuteness and Cooking!

WILW

This week i've been loving that SJ loves to "cook" with me now..

She pulls up her stool to the counter, I get her out a little bowl, measuring spoons and set up her little cooking workstation..

Here she is making a lovely egg noodle, soybean, and water soup..
Stirring it up.. and adding some rice...

Im also LOVING that I finished a few crafts I've been trying to get done.
My first pillow ever.. Its a plain burlap..but I think its a nice accent pillow for the nursery.

Next up is my homemade subway art!
I dedicated this to all the places, memories and important dates we shared while living in the south.. I found an old piece of wood in my mom's basement, painted it black and then started slowly....painting the letters in different fonts and sizes...

Im also loving that SJ is loving swim class a little more this week. I am so big and bulky.. but I am determined to have her keep loving swimming and water through the winter months and into next summer. This week she put her whole face in the water to do "bubbles" .. I was so proud! Next week we're dunking them under.. uhm, yea.. Im a little nervous about that one...

{apres swim class...ready for her fruit snacks}