Thursday, December 27, 2012

Merry Christmas!

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! I know we did. It was quiet, low key, and exhausting! It's funny how not really doing much but laying around and stuffing your face can make you tired!

Here's some pictures from our day...

Loading up the plate with cookies for Santa
Santa's been here!
playing with her Leapster Explorer with daddy
Kitchen!!
Grandpa and Grandma got her a bike!
family pictures are always fun with a two year old!

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Pregnancy Survey and baby bump photo!

It's been about a month, I guess it's time for another one of these.

How far along? 17weeks and 5 days

What have you bought for your baby? Still nothing, not so patiently waiting to find out the sex so that we can go shopping!

Total weight gain/loss? Gained 2 pounds.

How are the maternity clothes? I'm in maternity pants full time now, I have some shirts but I am still able to fit into a lot of my pre-pregnancy shirts. Especially those from before I lost some of my weight.

Stretch marks? Oh I've got plenty of those from last time, I haven't noticed any new ones yet.

Hows the sleep? Okay. It's not great but I'm not complaining yet either.

Best moment this week? Not really much going on.

Movement? I've felt some. Nothing consistent yet, and nothing that S has been able to feel. Hopefully he or she will be bumping around in there soon!

Type of delivery your planning on? My delivery with Bug was natural so as long as all goes well, this one will be too.

Biggest change in your body besides belly? Acne! I feel like I'm 15 again!

Food cravings? Ughh! Pizza hut bread sticks and soft ice cream. Do you know how hard it is to get soft ice cream in December in Pennsylvania?! The only place I can get it is McDonalds!

Sex of baby? We should know before the new year!

Labor signs? None. Thank God! Baby better be staying put for awhile!

Belly button, in or out? In, for now.

What are you missing? Wine. I'm always missing my wine. I don't realize how much of a wino I really am until I'm pregnant/breastfeeding.

What are you looking forward to? Finding out what the sex of this baby is!

Other updates? Not really much going on. By the next time I post one of these there should be some fun stuff to share!

Here's our first belly shot! This was from 16 weeks!

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Ultrasound photos!

I just realized that I never posted our ultrasound pictures! I've been a HORRIBLE blogger lately, I'm sorry. I promise I'm going to make more of an effort, even with the Christmas season upon us!

This is from our dating and confirmation ultrasound on September 18th, I was almost 8 weeks.

These two are from an ultrasound I had done on October 30th, I was 12weeks and 4 days.
face picture, the umbilical cord is crossing in front of his/her face.
whole body picture, again the umbilical cord is crossing right in front.
We have our big mid-pregnancy anatomy scan coming up before the end of this month and we should know if this little Squirt is a boy or a girl! I am anxiously waiting and can't wait to show you all our big reveal!

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Pregnancy Survey

Just a little something for fun!

How far along? 13w 4d

What have you bought for your baby? Nothing yet, I guess.

Total weight gain/loss? I believe I'm down 2lbs as of last appointment

How are the maternity clothes? Have only had to wear them a few times. Other than that I'm still in my normal jeans.

Stretch marks? Oh I've got plenty of those from last time. I'm sure more will appear.

Hows the sleep? Ehh, okay.

Best moment this week? Pretty sure I've felt some movement.

Movement? see above.

Birthing Classes? Probably won't take any. We didn't with Bug either.

Type of delievery your planning on? My delivery with Bug was natural so as long as all goes well, this one will be too.

Biggest change in your body besides belly? Acne and dark hairs! So annoying!

Food cravings? The other night it was Quesedillas. Poor S, it hit me at 9 o'clock at night!

Sex of baby? Won't know for awhile yet.

Labor signs? None. Thank God!

Belly button, in or out? In.

What are you missing? Wine. It's been a long, stressful few weeks and I really wanted a glass of wine. Plus sleeping on my stomach. I miss that terribly.

What are you looking forward to? Finding out what the sex of this baby is!

Other updates? They changed my due date from 5/6 to 5/10. I'm pretty confident that I'm right with 5/6 because I know pretty much when I ovulated but they won't change it. The ultrasound even said 5/7 so I guess we'll see!


Monday, October 1, 2012

Pregnancy Survey

About Mommy
Name: A
Age: 26
First: Nope, second

About Daddy
Name: S
Age: 32
First: Nope, second!

Finding out
What day: August 30, 2012
Feelings: Excited and nervous at the same time.
Who was with you: S and Bug. I peed on the stick and then brought it to the kitchen with me and left it on the counter. I had S look at it after the time was up because I was too scared to!
Daddy reaction: I told him to look for two lines but he was nervous and unsure of what he was looking at and told me I better come look at it! I just hugged him.

About the pregnancy
Due date: May 6, 2013
How far along now: 9 weeks & 1 day.
Any ultrasounds yet: Yes, we had one on the 18th of September
Heard heartbeat yet: yes and I wish I could remember what the Beats Per Minute were!

Sex of baby
What do you want: I won't lie, I would really like to have a boy this time. I won't be disappointing with a girl though. I just want healthy!
Are you finding out? Yes we will be finding out this time. S and I both agreed that we can't wait the whole nine months again!

About the birth
Who's going to be with you: Not sure this time around. Definitely S, but not sure who else because someone is going to have to be with Bug.
Going to video tape it: NO!
Natural or medicated: I want to go natural again if at all possible. I am however nervous about back labor again, it was torture last time.
C-Section: Not unless it's medically necessary.
Scared about labor: Just about having back labor again.

Names
Do you have a name picked out: We have a big list, we'll narrow down more once we know the sex.
Named after anyone: Some of our choices are namesakes.
Did daddy help pick: Absolutely!

Other random Q's.
Conceived when: Jan 16th or 17th
Any movement felt: No, way too early for that.
First pregnancy symptom: I felt uncomfortable when I tried to sleep on my stomach.
Will you have God parents: We haven't really talked about this yet...
Are you ready to be a mommy: I am already a mommy, but I am nervous about having two. Especially in those first few weeks. I want to make sure Bug doesn't feel left out, or ignored. 

Friday, September 14, 2012

Big News!

I know that I've been MIA for awhile but I do have some good reasons. Other than just being plain busy, S and I found out some very exciting news a few weeks ago. Bug is going to be a

BIG SISTER! 

I'm about 6 weeks along now and just found out how much fun morning sickness is! Ugh! I didn't have that with Bug, so it's been a new experience for me. I had my first appointment on Tuesday and this coming Tuesday I'll go for an ultrasound and blood work. My due date as of now is May 6 but we'll know for sure after our ultrasound. We are over the moon excited and can't wait to meet our new little Squirt!

Monday, July 16, 2012

Baby Wipes

So what do you do when you arrive home from the grocery store only to discover that when you thought your darling was finding her sippy cup so you could leave she was actually emptying an entire container of wipes in front of the fan; where they promptly dried up? Well you can run to the nearest place that carries wipes, which would be a gas station 10 minutes away and would charge you an arm and a leg. Or you can run to Pinterest and find some inspiration to create your own. Guess which one I chose?

That's right, my best friend... Pinterest! After reading a few different tutorials on how to make your own baby wipes, I concocted my own version with what I had on hand. This is what I came up with....


Baby Wipes

To make 2 batches you will need:

1 roll of select-a-size paper towels (some of the pinners said you should use Bounty because they hold up better than bargain brands. I only had Sams Clubs brand so that is what I used).
4 Tablespoons of Olive Oil (or baby oil)
3 Tablespoons of your favorite baby wash. (I used J&J's because I have a TON of it still from my baby shower)
4 cups of water

Also a cutting board and a sharp knife!



  
Grab your roll of paper towels and your super sharp knife and get ready! It is NOT an easy task to cut through a roll of paper towels. So be prepared to get some seriously funny looks if your FIL walks into the room while your hacking away! I'm pretty sure he thought I had lost my mind!



 I chose to use a bread knife, and that may not have been my best idea. I ended up with paper towel shrapnel EVERYWHERE! Do what you think works best for you.

 After you hack cut up your paper towel roll. Grab your liquid ingredients and stir them all together.

Then divide the liquid mix equally into each of your containers. I chose to use old baby wipes containers I already had. Then put a paper towel roll into each (putting the cut side down). Don't fret if you have to squish your roll to fit into it, it's not going to hurt anything. 

{{Oops! Apparently I forgot the picture for this step. Sorry!}}

Turn your containers upside down and let them sit for at least 5-10 minutes so the liquid and absorb and disperse. I recommend if you use wipe containers like I did that you put them on something because some of your liquid will seep out. Not much, just a little bit.

 After 5 minutes flip them back over, and pull out the cardboard tube.

Your first wipe should pull out with the cardboard but if not you can just reach in to get it started.


There you go... your very own baby wipes! I promise to come back and update in a few days as to how these work for us! I will say that I'm not sure about the olive oil. I think I might have used too much, but time will tell!

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Laundry Detergent Update

Did you know I make my own laundry soap? I started doing it this past February and just noticed I'm almost out and it's time to make my second batch. That means my first batch lasted me for exactly 5 months. I think that's pretty good. For $19.16 I got 5 months of clean clothes. Worth it? Absolutely.

I am still so in love with this stuff. My clothes smell amazing, are always clean, and my whites are so much brighter! This time I decided to change it up a bit and instead of Downy Unstoppables I'm using Purex Crystals. They smelled so good when I was mixing it up, I can't wait to see how my clothes smell!

If you want to know more about how to make your own laundry detergent you can check out the original post by clicking here- DIY Laundry Detergent.

And as always, I love feedback! If you made it after the first post is yours still going strong? Do you like it? If you haven't tried it and aren't sure, ask questions. I will gladly answer all of them! If you want to try it, but don't want to make it and end up hating it, let me know and I will get you a sample to try. You will fall in love with it too!

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

What's For Dinner Wednesday

Stromboli

Ingredients to make 2 Stromboli:


2 loaves of frozen bread dough
1lb mozzarella cheese
1/2lb of thinly sliced pepperoni (sometimes I just use the stuff from the pizza aisle)
1pkg of hard salami (or 1/2lb if you get it from the deli)
1lb of ham
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 pepper, thinly sliced
Mushrooms, thinly sliced




This is my favorite kind of frozen dough to use. 

Directions:

  • Thaw bread according to package directions. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • Roll dough out into a long rectangle shape about 1/4 inch thick and move to a cookie sheet.


  • Layer with meats, cheese and veggies right down the center leaving some space at the top and bottom. (Cannot believe I forgot a picture for this step!)
  • Fold each end up and then each side to seal. 


  • Bake for 20-30 minutes. 
  • Remove from oven and allow to set for about 10 minutes before slicing. 
  • Serve with marinara sauce.

Enjoy!!

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Painting With Ice

I mentioned on FB the other day when it was 90+ degrees out, that Bug and I had been painting with ice.I've been getting lots of questions about it... so here ya go. Just in time for the next heat wave!

I filled up an ice tray with water, added 1-2 drops of food coloring to each, put in Popsicle sticks and then froze them.

Once they were all set up I took a white crib sheet and put it over a folding table on the porch and let Bug go to town with it.

 She decided eating the ice was more fun!
 It was nice and fun and a great activity to do a on a HOT HOT day!

Our pretty tie-dyed sheet.


Bugs clothes are also tie-dyed so I'm glad we remembered to put play clothes on! Or just let your child play in a diaper, they will be even cooler!

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Happy 4th!

Happy 4th of July! 
We had a great picnic today with my parents, grandma and my brother-in-law! We cooked burgers and hot dogs out on the grill with sweet corn and deviled eggs. My mom made an awesome strawberry and blueberry trifle. Bug had a great time playing out on the porch with everyone.

swinging on the porch waiting for the burgers

wheee!

someone gave Bug a chocolate chip cookie!


First time eating corn on the cob

Stealing Grandpas dessert

After lunch we went to Bugs very first parade. She loved the bands and the firetrucks! She was dancing and clapping and trying to give kisses to the doggy sitting in front of us. I think she really enjoyed herself!
watching all the parade floats

She was Grampies girl today!

Yay!!

Grandpa took her down front so she could get candy.





Saturday, June 30, 2012

I'm Losing It...

My mind, my patience, and everything else in between! I am at a loss with Bug lately. I fear the "terrible two's" monster has bitten my sweet, well behaved little princess early and turned her into a moody, screaming monster. I have always been so proud that whenever we have taken her out in public, to a restaurant or church we always got so many compliments on how well behaved she was. I felt proud, I guess you could say. It made me feel good that I had a child who knew how to compose herself.

Now.... now I find myself pulling my hair out in the middle of the grocery store and struggling internally with how to handle her. She has suddenly decided that if something is not going EXACTLY her way she wants it to, she screams. Top of her lungs, bloody murder screams. And the look in her eyes... well let's just say if looks could kill!

It started about two weeks ago when we were in the grocery store, Bugs favorite thing is to say hello to EVERY.SINGLE.PERSON we see, and not just once, but over and over again. Anyways, she said hi to this lady in the cereal isle and she didn't respond to Bug, so Bug tried again. "Helllllloooooo!" Still, no response. So, Bug decided to let out this horrible scream, I mean pure rage. Well of course, that got the lady's attention, and had me standing in the isle with my mouth hanging open and my cheeks turning bright red. I was horrified, she'd never acted like that before, I didn't even know how to respond for a second. And I think my momentary befuddlement as to how to react made her little brain see that her scream got mommys attention and the attention every one else who was around. I swear I saw those little gears turn in her head!

Now it's become a daily occurrence; I say no and she screams. Red faced, fists all balled up and pure anger in her eyes. I have tried telling her not to scream in my "stern mommy voice", I've tried time outs (I don't know if she even gets what that's all about yet... jury's out on that), I've physically picked her up and moved her to the couch and allowed her to get her anger out until she's ready to behave like a big girl. And NOTHING seems to be changing/helping/stopping it. (Maybe I need to be consistent with one punishment?? I don't know.) I'm lost. I feel like I spend all day, every day saying "no" to her.

It kills me, it is quite honestly... breaking me.

I hate feeling like all I say to her is "no, don't do that", "no, don't touch that", "no, don't feed that to the dog". I need help, I need advice. I need some other mommy's out there to tell me that I'm not alone and to offer up some suggestions. Isn't that what us mommy's are so famous for, offering up unsolicited advice about how to raise one anothers kids? I'm begging for it... give it up to me!!


ETA: FIY Bug is 20 months old, so she's not even two yet!

Monday, June 18, 2012

Readathon

Bug and I are participating in a Readathon sponsored by MeMeTales and PBSKids.

I am so excited for us to start today! I downloaded the free MeMeTales app on my Kindle Fire and we instantly received twenty free e-books to read together. Each week there's a newsletter and activities to go along with the books, and each week has a different theme.
  • Week 1 – Animal Fun
  • Week 2 – Friendship
  • Week 3 - Character Development
  • Week 4 – Imagination
  • Week 5 – The Green earth
  • Week 6 – Global Cultures 

Bug will earn stickers/points each week for the books that we read and at the end of 6 weeks she'll earn a certificate for being a part of the Readathon. She's a bit young to really understand the concept behind this all but she LOVES reading books on my Kindle and I know she'll have fun with all these different books at her fingertips.

Check back to see all the fun activities we're going to do with each week's theme!


Join Readathon 2012

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Happy Fathers Day!

Happy Fathers Day to all the daddy's out there! :)


And and extra special Happy Fathers Day to my daddy, my father in law and to my hubby! You are all such amazing men and have blessed our lives in so many ways!

Hubby and our little Bug when she was only a few weeks old.


My dad and Bug a few weeks ago.


My father-in-law with Bug, Easter 2011.

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Cloud Dough

Cloud Dough


It's so much fun to play with. It looks like clumpy flour but then when you squeeze it it's like play dough. It makes for a great sensory activity. We had so much fun, and I'm glad we did it outside because Bug flung it everywhere! I just took the hose to the porch when we were done and washed it all away. (Recipe at the end of the post.)




This stuff is so fun momma!

It's moldable! I tried to build a measuring cup castle, but Bug didn't seem to think that was fun!


Rolling it into balls was lots of fun though!

She even washed up the measuring spoons and cups for me when we were done!

My cutie hanging out in her jammies!

All done!


Here's the recipe. Are you ready for this... it's very complicated so read closely!

8 cups of flour
1 cup of baby oil

Dump each ingredient into a tub and mix with your hands.
Yep that's it!



I think I had as much fun as she did playing with this stuff, and my hands are all soft now from the baby oil! BONUS! ;)


Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Mothers Day!

I know, I know it was weeks ago but this is just how summertime goes in my life. Things get nuts!

For Mothers Day my parents came up and stayed the weekend. It was so much fun to have them here and getting to play with Kaylee. I was extra spoiled by my hubby and daughter this year. They bought me two beautiful hanging baskets and a Kindle Fire! I'm crazy in love with it already, and it's been invaluable for my school work! Sunday morning I had reservations for brunch and we had a great time! I guess I'll let the pictures do most of the talking!

She's getting so big!

No Photographs, please mom-a-razzi!

Squish the cat!


Going for a ride with Grandma and Grampie in the Ranger


Rockin mommy's shades!

K, Mom and I

Have some Goldfish Gramma!

Hop on Grandpop!

she was giggling like CRAZY!

They have a very special bond