Us

Us

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

This just in!

Not sure if you all know my love for Toms Shoes. They are amazing in every way!  Not only are they reasonably priced, extremely comfortable, but they give a child in need a pair of shoes for every one you buy.  I got my first pair 2 years ago (or so) and my second pair this past christmas.  Reegan has 2 pairs and Jason has one.  In a couple of weeks Toms is going to be selling ballet flats!  I think I may have to start saving my money because I may have to get a pair or two...

http://www.toms.com/ballet-flats

Lately...

We've been doing a little bit of everything lately.  So here's a quick recap of some of the highlights of the past week.  :)

Since moving to nights, my schedule has been difficult for me to adjust too.  Nights themselves are not that tough, its the preparing for going to work (taking a nap while Reegan naps even though thats my chore time) and the morning after I work I usually sleep from 8-1 so I can then go to sleep again that night and get on a normal schedule for a couple days.  However, those afternoons are useless.  It is a struggle to get out of bed and I usually just want to sit on the couch instead of being productive.  This means 4:00 (or 5:00) roll around and I have NO idea what we are going to eat for dinner.  I have made it my mission to be more organized in the cleaning and cooking category.  So, one night I found 6 recipes that looked good and have been making those the nights I am not working.  I was going to take a pic of each one when I made them, but forgot after the first night.  I found these recipes while searching blogs, so they may or may not be yours...
mexican shepard's pie


Black bean brownies

Not pictured are shrimp fried rice (not my favorite) and sloppy joes.  I have chicken taquitos, a tortellini dish, and pork loin for the rest of the week. 

One of Reegan's favorite things to do these days is pray.  As soon as we put food in front of her she is already asking to pray.  I love how she folds her hands!  She also wants to pray before most snacks and sometimes while we are at the grocery store buying food.  We will pray anytime she wants :)

Last week, Jason and I went out for date night during restaurant week.  We went to the American Restaurant, a place we could probably not afford any other time.  It was amazing!  I wish we could always go to restaurants like this, the food was good, service was good, and the view overlooking crown center was beautiful.  We forgot to take a pic of our appetizer we both got the 63 degree egg.  Not sure what all was in it, but it was great.  Jason got Salmon with spaghetti squash and I got braised pork with root vegetables.  For dessert, I was disappointed with the pineapple upside down cake, but Jason's peanut butter s'mores was amazing.

And for my first baby bump photo.  Here I am at 18 weeks.  I do feel like I popped out earlier this time, but I've only gained 4 pounds so I feel pretty good about it.  No stranger has commented yet, so I think thats good (I think with Reegan I was 19 weeks before strangers started noticing, or commenting at least).  When I wear a sweatshirt or t-shirt I think I hid it pretty well.  Oh well, who wants to hid it?  I like showing it off now that its a little more obvious. 

Reegan and I's matching shoes...yes I am that mom. 

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Love

I am in LOVE!  Yes, I'm in love with my hubby and I love my daughter, but today I love my OB doc.  I have my sonogram in 4 weeks, but today when I went in for my 17 week appointment I asked him if we could do a quick gender scan and he agreed! 

It didn't go quite as I hoped, we didn't get a great reading.  Doc told us what he thought it was but told us not to buy anything based on that.  I have NEVER seen a baby move so much.  It really looked like a frog jumping up and down.  I thought Reegan was a really active baby, but if todays look shows me what the next 4+ months are going to look like it may be painful for me.  Seriously, I am already feeling kicks, no just movement, but full on kicks. 

We haven't decided if we're going to tell people the questionable reading, but for now at least it's a secret!  However, I would love to hear from all of you and know your guess.  Email me, text me, or leave a comment here.  To help with your decision, I'll tell you how this pregnancy compares to the last one.

Morning sickness:  With Reegan it started right at 4 weeks and ended at 10 weeks.  It came on quick and ended just as quick.  I threw up many times each day until the doctor told me about Zofran (the most amazing medication ever :)  It also lasted all day long.  This time, my nausea didn't start until week 6 or 7 and is still going on... to a lesser level now that I'm in the second trimester, but its still there.  I only throw up a couple times a week, but thats also because I take zofran as soon as I feel it coming on.  It also lasts all day long. 

Exhaustion:  I think the same or maybe a little more this time, but thats probably just because I work nights now and don't sleep well in the AM or PM. 

Hormones:  Probably stronger this time, but again, I think thats probably more because of the lack of sleep.

Cravings:  Beef, not the ground turkey I always cook with, but big juicy hamburgers.  Also clemintines and poptarts.  I think because the clemintines are sweet and the poptarts are easy on my stomach.  Same cravings this time as last time. 

We're so excited!  17 weeks down, 23 (hopefully less) to go! 

Saturday, January 21, 2012

The Little Baker

I told you all I was I going to try to be more intentional with the time I spend with Reegan.  We play a lot, we read, sing songs, vaccuum together (she loves it :)...but I have been wanting to do more.  Those times are fun, but I want to have things to get excited about!  So here it is, project 1:

Decorating cookies.  I know many people have done this with their kids, but I was a little nervous about it.  While she ate lunch, I set up the table for us.  I pre-made the cookies, I'm not brave enough to have her help with this yet...   


Success!  She loved it.  Before I could get the first cookie iced, she was already eating the sprinkles...I kept the toppings to a minimum, 2 types of sprinkles and chocolate chips.  The sprinkles were a hit, the chocolate was not.  I think this was the only cookie she used them on. 

***sidenote:  Reegan thinks she doesn't like chocolate.  She refused to try anything if it is on there.  Crazy girl, she doesn't know what she's missing.  I'm not pressing too hard for her to realize she likes it, I'll let this crazy thinking last as long as she wants***

Quantity over quality was her motto.

This is tough work, she had to concentrate.

We rewarded our hard work with a few bites of the cookie.  Reegan only ate 2 bites, then was done...So, Jason and I will have to enjoy the fruits of her labor :)

Monday, January 16, 2012

Big Girl, Big Bed, Big...

This weekend we decided that it was time to make Reegan's crib a big girl bed.  Well kinda.  We have this railing that we'll use for now to deter her from getting up.  Then maybe we'll upgrade to a smaller railing.  For now we'll see how it works.  Last night she slept just fine so I don't think we'll have to re-evaluate just yet.   

I think she like's her big girl bed! 





Did you catch her shirt? 



I'll show you again! 





Thats right!  We're making the crib a big girl bed because Reegan is going to be a big sister!  There are a lot of changes going on this spring!  I bought this shirt a long time ago because I knew the time would come eventually.  I bought it long before we ever started talking about having a second so I would be prepared!  I just hope it fits until the baby gets here!  

I am 16 weeks and due June 30.  No idea yet if its a boy or girl, we wont find out for another 5 weeks!     

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

New Year, New Ideas

I know its a common theme this time of year, but even with all the success and blessings of 2011, I'm looking ahead to 2012 and how I can grow and make this year even more amazing.  Why is it that a whole year passes, 365 days, before I reflect seriously on my life and think about those decisions I make on a daily basis and the consequences they have on my marriage, my daughter, my relationships, and every other facit of my life.    

I don't like the term resolution,but I can't think of anything better.  New Year's goals, changes, desires?  I always make a list of things that I want to improve on: eat healthy, read more, pick up a new hobby, date night once a month, special family event once a month, .  This year is no different, I still want to do all those things.  But, all of those things are nothing if I am not intential.  So, that my friends is my New Years Resolution (goal, change, desire).  I want to be intentional with my time, my attitude, and my actions.

So, I have no idea what exactly this looks like, but I'm working on it.  Its easy to lounge on the couch and watch TV, do nothing, think about nothing, but then what do I have to show for myself, my day?  Nothing, I am inspired by the little things and I want, I can do more.  I have no doubt that my family knows I love them, but could I do a better job of showing it?  You bet, I could be more patient, more kind, more thoughtful.  I could watch a couple more football games with Jason or I could watch one Royal's game with him (baseball is fun in person, not fun on tv...).  And then there is Reegan.  That sweet, precious, amazing little girl.  I wonder every day how I got so lucky to be her mom.  I also question if I am raising her the way God hoped.  I love my time with her and I feel guilty when I leave for work in the evenings (even though it is only 3 days a week).  I just keep reminding myself that it is so good for Reegan to have this quality time with Jason and she loves going to daycare 2 days a week, so really it is a win-win.  With the time that I do spend with her, I could be more intentional.  I could plan more educational activities, I could take her to do more fun activities even though I'm exhausted from working the night before...or better yet, I could be more intentional in being the role model I am called to be every day, all day.  I can take an extra breath when she is throwing her water accross the room or be more patient while she tries to put her socks on by herself even though we're going to be late and I know that this is not a skill she has yet.  I will give her more choices and praise her more often for being the brillant, beautiful girl she is!

Look at this face!  I think she's seen her dad and I lounge one too many times because this is her new favorite way to sit in her chair.  Does she look comfy or what?  I love how she has her ankles crossed.  From the time she was born she crosses her ankles while she sleeps, in her car seat, stroller, etc.  Such a little lady. 

Monday, January 2, 2012

Seeing the Lights

To continue our holiday celebration, my parents told us to meet them on the plaza Tuesday night for dinner and a suprise!  We had an awesome dinner at Bucco Di Beppo.  It was amazing, I think "family style" throws us because we always order way more than we need.  Then we headed to the other side of the plaza for the suprise. 

It was a limo ride around town seeing the Christmas lights!  So much fun and such a special way to ride around. 


I was kinda suprised, but Reegan didn't have to be in a carseat.  We decided that there would be enough of us to pass her around that it would be a special treat.  I didn't know she would love being "free" in a car this much! 

She took turns sitting/standing on our laps and looking out the window.  We would point out the lights and she would say pretty and giggle.  (this was taken with our phone thats why its so blurry, sorry).


There were many stops along the tour, all of them inside except for this stop!  I think they called it Santa's Workshop.  The owner of the house has been setting this huge displace up for almost 50 years.  It draws quite a scene.  The funny thing is that my great friend Jamie and her family live about 5 houses down from this "tourist attraction", so I don't think they enjoy the display as much as we did :)


Thanks mom and dad for a fun trip!  We loved it!