26 weeks

26 weeks

 (Pink Bow)

Baby is now the size of: a scallion, around 14 inches long.

Total weight gain: 16 lbs

Maternity clothes: Only jeans.  I'm starting to stretch out my regular shirts so I went and bought the next size up in a bunch of shirts.

Sleep: I get about 8 hours a night, with a pee break somewhere in there :)

Favorite meal this week: This is 100% unhealthy but Solis and I had a dinner date at Friendly's and I had my favorite sandwich there-the chicken supermelt.  The last time I had that sandwich, I was pregnant with Solis.  Must be a pregnant thing.  And of course, I followed up that 1,000 calorie sandwich with a forbidden chocolate sundae.  Talk about rolling me out of there.

Cravings: A drink.  What I wouldn't do for a glass of wine.
Exercise: 4 days of running/elliptical at 40 minutes, 1 day of P90X legs.  It was a good week at the gym!

Sickness: Felt pretty good this week.

Worst moment this week: Realizing this baby might be breeched too.  I know it's early but I'm having rib pain in the exact same spot I had it with Solis.  It started around 28 weeks with her and she never flipped.  We pray daily for this baby to be head down.

Best moment this week: We are thoroughly enjoying our time with Solis before the baby comes.  We took her to a kids museum and the zoo this week.  This girl loves life and squeals with excitement everywhere we go.

Looking forward to: Solis's big girl mattress and bedding to be delivered.  Shaun painted her room and we're getting closer to her princess room!

Some pictures from my instagram.

Solis at Friendly's.  Loving her balloon.

At the zoo.  Freezing our butts off.  But not one complaint from Solis.

 Surprise flowers from my hubby.  Love.

Snowy Day Crafts

Snowy Day Crafts

Our weather in January has been bitterly cold and snowy.

We are all getting cabin fever and cannot wait for spring.

In the meantime, Solis and I are getting our craft on.

The first craft we made was snowmen feet.  She loves getting her feet or hands painted and I love a cute project hanging on the wall.  Win win for everyone.

 I painted her feet and then she made snow on her picture with fingerprints.

Next she painted snow at the bottom.

 I added the details on the snowmen.

I love seeing her little piggies!

Craft #2 was a heck of a mess....a shredded paper snowman plate.

I put glue on 2 paper plates and gave her shredded paper to dump on. 

When she first started, she only picked up one piece of paper and placed it on the plate.  At that rate, we would be doing this project till summer.

The next day, I let her put the snowman's buttons wherever she wanted.

I added the details of the face and now we have little bits of shredded paper flying all around her playroom.

Next week we are getting out of single digits and into the teens.  Heat wave, I know.  Guess we'll be starting our valentine's day crafts.  Tis the season for being stuck inside.

25 weeks

25 weeks

Baby is now the size of: Cauliflower.  He weighs over 1.5 lbs!

Total weight gain: 15lbs, wowzers, can't imagine how much I'd gain if I didn't workout.

Maternity clothes: Just maternity jeans still.

Sleep: I knew it was a matter of time....starting to wake up once a night to pee.

Favorite meal this week: Salmon BLT's!!  This summer, we got a recipe off the Food Network and it's been a favorite of ours since.

Cravings: I've been on a cookie dough kick lately, much to my husband's dismay b/c of the raw eggs.  
I know he's right....I just can't help myself.
Exercise: 4 days of running/elliptical at 40 minutes, 1 day of P90X legs.  
My round ligament pain doesn't bother me anymore so I am a happy runner again :)

Sickness: I'm starting to get nasty pregnancy headaches again.  
Not fun when all you can take is tylenol, which is the equivalent of baby medicine.

Worst moment this week: We attended a preschool fair for Solis and it was a terrible realization that baby girl is growing up and won't be my baby anymore :(

Best moment this week: Feeling baby boy move constantly pretty much makes my day, everyday.  
And Solis's daily hugs and kisses for baby brother are pretty sweet too.

Looking forward to: The 3rd trimester...getting so close!  I cannot wait to get this baby party started.

Snowman Treats

Snowman Treats

I got a little creative with Solis's snacks this week.

First up was some snowmen for breakfast.

So easy.  I cut up bananas, put some raisins on for eyes and buttons, and stuck some pretzel sticks in for arms.

Solis just loved this!  She told me everything she ate as she ate it.  We like to call her the informant b/c she always tells us the obvious.  I love this age!

The second treat I made was a donut snowman.

Even easier than the banana snowman.  Three donuts, mini m&m's, and a wooden stick.  You don't need the stick but my kid loves eating off sticks.  

Can't wait for summer shish kabobs!

 

 This was an overload of sugar that Solis rarely gets. 

She was in h-e-a-v-e-n.

 

Right when I snapped this picture, Solis asked, "More, please?"  

Ahh sorry sweet, Solis.

 

(heart dress)

I used to try to come up with creative snacks for my 2nd graders so to be able to do this for my daughter is so much fun.  I just live for this :)

Happy snacking!

Happy birthday, daddy!

Happy birthday, daddy!

 striped tee shirt

My husband's birthday was on Christmas (poor guy) and since Solis and I were both down for the count with the stomach bug, we had to postpone his celebration.  

Solis worked real hard on daddy's card.  The first step was a mommy job and I cut out letters from tape....tedious work.

Then I taped the paper to the table and she went to town coloring.  As Solis kept saying, "I go crazy, I go crazy!"  She loved this part.

When she was all done, I peeled off the tape and whoala!

The finished product:

 My cupcake loving daughter wanted to make cupcakes.  My husband doesn't really eat cake but he does love red velvet.  Win, win.  We took the lazy way out and baked them from a box but I made the icing from scratch.  

Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
(adapted from Kraft Foods)

Ingredients
1 pkg. (8 oz) cream cheese, softened 
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 pkg. (16 oz) powdered sugar
1 cup thawed Cool Whip

Directions
1. Beat cream cheese and butter in a large bowl with mixer.
2. Gradually beat in sugar.
3. Whisk in cool whip. 

I also made nut bars for my nut loving hubby.

He calls these dessert.

I call him nuts. 

Rustic Nut Bars

(adapted from Taste of Home)

Ingredients

1 TB plus 3/4 cup butter, divided

2 1/3 cups flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 egg, lightly beaten

Topping Ingredients

2/3 cup honey

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 tsp salt

6 TB butter, cubed

2 TB heavy whipping cream

1 cup cashews

1 cup pistachios

1 cup almonds

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375.  Line 13x9 pan with foil.  Grease the foil with 1 TB of butter AND spray with non stick cooking spray.  Like double time.  B/c mine still stuck.  Spray again just to be safe.

2. In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.  Cut in remaining butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Stir in egg until blended (mixture will be dry).  Press firmly onto bottom of pan.

3. Bake 15-18 minutes or until edges are golden brown.  Cool on a wire rack.

4. In a large saucepan, combine honey, brown sugar, and salt.  Bring to a boil, stirring frequently to dissolve sugar.  Then boil 2 minutes without stirring.

5. Stir in butter and cream.  Return to a boil.  Cook and stir 1 minute or until smooth.  Remove from heat; stir in nuts.  Spread evenly over crust.

6. Bake 15-20 minutes or until topping is bubbly.  Cool completely.  Cut into bars and hopefully you have better luck getting them off the foil than I did.

I ordered him some homemade cookies from a fellow mom at MOPS.  She makes the BEST cookies.  They are so rich and hearty and absolutely delicious.  I got him a sampler pack that included The Peanut Butter Surprise, Give Me S'more, and the Pistachio.  She ships her cookies anywhere and I highly recommend them!!

Deeliciouscookies.com

And to finish this birthday post, Solis tuned 2 1/2 on January 8th.  What a perfect excuse to head to the local bakery and pick out cupcakes!  To say she was excited was an understatement.  This chick LOVES to celebrate birthdays.

24 weeks

24 weeks

grey sparkle tunic | gold ballet flats (similar here) | gold dot leggings

Baby is now the size of: an ear of corn-about the size of a ruler!

Total weight gain: 13 pounds-exact same with my first pregnancy

Maternity clothes: Just my jeans. 

Sleep: Naps made a comeback this week.  Sleeping double time.

Favorite meal this week:  A super easy and healthy meal of salmon, yams, and green beans.  The college me would have never ate that.  But healthy food after a weekend of crap tastes so good!  (Recipes below)

Cravings: Warm weather.  After a week of single digit temps, I want nothing more than flip flop weather.
Exercise: 4 days running or elliptical at 35-40 minutes, 1 day of P90X legs.  I was going to run a 5th day but I went to the grocery store and bought ingredients to eat these cookies.  And I chose to eat them all afternoon instead.  Yikes.  Fat girl exposed.

Sickness: Felt pretty good this week!

Worst moment this week: Solis had her first true toddler meltdown.  We were taking someone home from church and she totally flipped when the girl sat in the back with her.  Solis wanted me to sit next to her instead and proceeded to not only cry but wail, kick her legs, and scream the whole time.  Uggg usually if she doesn't get her way, she will pout for a minute, tops.  She's really good about getting over something.  Well not this day.

Best moment this week: I came home from the gym one day and Solis ran to me and yelled, mommy's home!!! And threw her arms around me like I was gone for days.  It was the best feeling.  And the return of the Bachelor is a close second.

Looking forward to: We went to Ikea this weekend and got Solis a big girl bed and baby boy some furniture.  So excited to start doing their rooms!

 Here's a picture I posted on my instagram account.  Dr. Solis insisted on checking her baby brother.  So sweet.

 

Smoked Salmon

(adapted from Taste of Home)

Ingredients

1 pound salmon fillet

2 TB brown sugar

2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 TB liquid smoke flavoring

Directions

1. Remove skin from salmon.  Spray baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Place salmon in dish and sprinkle with brown sugar, salt, and pepper on both sides.  Drizzle with liquid smoke.  

3. Cover and refrigerate 4-8 hours or overnight.

4. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until fish flakes easily with fork.

Roasted Garlic Green Beans with Cashews

(adapted from Taste of Home)

Ingredients

1 lb. fresh green beans, trimmed and washed 

oil

2 minced garlic cloves

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1/2 cup lightly salted cashews

Directions

1. Place green beans in a 9x13 pan.  Drizzle with oil and add garlic, salt, and pepper.

2. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until soft.

3.  Add cashews and cook for 5 more minutes.

23 weeks

23 weeks

Baby is now the size of: A grapefruit, around 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound.

Total weight gain: 12-13 pounds

Maternity clothes: Busted out some maternity jeans this week, just about the same time I wore them in my first pregnancy.  I bought these from Old Navy.

Sleep: Sleeping great still and not waking up to pee or from pains!

Favorite meal this week: Shrimp and salmon veggie chowder.  Recipe below.  This tasted so good coming off the stomach bug and Solis ate it for lunch 3 days in a row!

Cravings: Chocolate.  But that's not any different from my pre-pregnancy days.
Exercise: After taking 9 days off from the stomach bug, I eased my way back into it.  Only did 4 days at 35 min (running/elliptical).

Sickness: Feeling better but now the round ligament pain is starting to set in.  Especially hurts when I run. 

Worst moment this week: No funny stories this week.  And no big complaints.  The round ligament pain hurts but this is the time when I got it with Solis so I was expecting it.

Best moment this week: I surprised my husband with a date night for his birthday.  We got to have to 2 nights out this week (nye as well) so this was a bonus week!!  And knowing that Solis LOVES spending time with her grandparents makes it sooo much easier to adios.

Looking forward to: My doctor's appt this week!  I recently switched practices to try a VBAC so this will be first appt. with them.

Shrimp & Salmon Veggie Chowder
(adapted from Taste of Home)
 
Ingredients
2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into small cubes
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup frozen corn
small onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 cups spinach, torn
3/4 pound atlantic salmon, cut into cubes
3/4 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 tsp. jalapeno slices, chopped
1 tbsp. cornstarch
1/2 cup milk
cilantro and pepper

Directions
1. Combine the first 5 ingredients in a large saucepan.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat, simmer, covered for 8-10 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
2. Stir in spinach, salmon, shrimp, and jalapeno.  Cook a few minutes until spinach is wilted.
3. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and milk until smooth; stir into soup.
4. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until soup is thickened.  Stir in cilantro and pepper.

Christmas Recap

Christmas Recap

The holidays have come and gone but not before a quick recap of our Christmas!

This year, I wrapped all our presents with kraft paper and decorated with baker's twine, ribbon, and glitter tape.  I threw in some red glitter wrapping paper-big mistake-glitter was everywhere and the tape wouldn't stick to it.  Lesson learned.

Solis was starting to feel better from the stomach bug, for which I was thanking God for.  The smile on her face and excitement to open another "present for Soly!" was all I needed.

 

After present time, she was dancing around so we knew she was feeling like herself!

 

 Solis made a hand print Christmas tree for her grandparents.  

I used a washable stamp pad for the lights.

I also made a mistletoe canvas with her little piggies.  So cute!

Here's a list of her favorite gifts:

one | two | three | four | five | six | seven

Solis can identify all her letters now so she loves anything ABC related.  The blocks were definitely a gift daddy Solis wanted.  She is the BIGGEST fan of Yo Gabba Gabba so this boom box was her absolute favorite gift this year.  Solis also loves to pretend play in her kitchen and she has been serving us pretend food all week.

For NYE, we went out with some friends and I got as crazy as a pregnant woman can.  I missed my glasses of wine but it was a relaxing and fun night and I'm so happy to have that time with my husband.

 New Years morning was more awesomeness b/c I got to SLEEP IN, go to the gym, and eat these pancakes without Solis begging me for more chocolate chips.  She spent the night at grandma's for which I am extremely grateful.

We were blessed beyond measure in 2013 and am so excited to see what God has in store for us in 2014! "Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day."