BAM!

Look at this!

And here I thought my belly wasn't getting very big.... haha

I realize I need to start taking more consistent poses.... That way it's easier to compare, but I'm sure you get the idea with this!

20 Weeks!

How far along? 20 weeks

 

Total weight gain: 6 lbs so far. 

Maternity clothes?:  Same as last week

Sleep: Pretty good, but I'm still waking up a couple times a night to pee.

Cravings:  Probably just salty foods, o and I had to have a Brownie batter blizzard yesterday :-)

Best moment this week: Thinking I felt the little one move, but still not quite sure if it's it.

Movement: Maybe a little, still hard to tell.

Gender: August 2nd! We'll know then.  Don't forget to vote on the right hand side of my blog!

Labor Signs: No and stay away until December!

Belly Button in or out? In and I hope it stays in

What I miss: Margarita's :-)

Weekly Wisdom: None this week.

Milestones: 1/2 way there this week!! Thank goodness :-)

Favorite Moments: Not sure this week.

Things seem to be going pretty good.  I'm super excited for our appointment on Monday! We cannot wait!  I'll let you all know after we let family and friends know. We probably won't share the name, if we pick one before the monkey's born.  I cannot believe we're half way, it's crazy.  I've noticed some people starting to look at my belly when they first seem me or meet me (and don't know I'm pregnant) it's quite funny actually, but I haven't had anyone ask me if I am pregnant (again, if they don't already know).  It's funny to see them first look at my belly if I'm wearing a tighter shirt and then at my face, as if I'm not suppose to notice it.  Anyway, I think I've had a fairly easy pregnancy, sorry to all of you out there who had or are having a really crappy one... I realize that's probably no fun.  I am glad that things seem to be going well and I hope that the ultrasound on Monday says that I am correct in thinking that. :-)

Have a great weekend and I'll post again Monday afternoon with the big news!

Around here

This is what you will find on a typical day

Life is so tough isn't it?  These guys (Top to bottom:  Bear, Pretty & Allie) sleep ALL day long!

I swear the kitties are up maybe 2 hours during a full 24 hour period.

Bear sleeps most of the day too, but gets more energy than the kitties.

They've got quite the life, I swear!

Help!

I need your help!  What are your suggestions on all things babies? 

I'm talking:

carseat
stroller
jogger
cloth dipers
bottles
baby wearing slings

Everything!

I'm new at all of this and I'd love to hear your favorites and not so favorites.

Chicken Breasts with Mozzerella Cheese

Earlier this week I decided to try a new chicken dish.  I found this recipe from WeLoveChicken.com

I choose one of their many recipe's and decided on their Chicken Breasts with mozzarella Cheese.  It was simple and actually quite delicious.  I served it on top of rice with a side of steamed broccoli.   Hubby gave it an A- and that means a lot coming from the man who doesn't normally like anything other than his main dishes.

Ingredients:
6 pieces boneless breast of chicken
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 clove garlic
2 eggs
1 bouillon cube
1 can chicken broth
6 slices of Mozzarella cheese
Bread crumbs
Directions:

1. Dip boneless, skinless chicken breast in bread crumbs and eggs.
2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil, butter, garlic and melt bouillon cube. Make sure to put heat on low so oil doesn’t burn.
3. When oil is hot, brown chicken on both sides in oil, increase heat so chicken gets nice and brown on both sides, lower heat and add chicken broth. Simmer until hot.
4. Add Mozzarella cheese to top chicken.

19 Weeks

How far along? 19 weeks

 

Total weight gain: 5 lbs so far.  I need to quit eating those Oreo's! :-)

Maternity clothes?:  Finally purchased some maternity clothes and they are SO COMFORTABLE!  still wearing my dresses and comfy clothes, but now I have the clothes if I need to wear them.  I don't think I can fit into my jeans anymore, unless i use the Bella Band.

Sleep: Sleeping fine, just getting sick (already) of sleeping on my left & right sides.  Is it really that bad this early on to sleep on your back?

Cravings:  Just food in general.  Hence the 1/2 lb gain in a week!

Best moment this week: Hubby telling me he's really excited!

Movement: Maybe a little, still hard to tell.

Gender: You're guess is as good as ours! August 2nd cannot come soon enough! Don't forget to vote in the poll!

Labor Signs: No and stay away until December!

Belly Button in or out? In and I hope it stays in

What I miss: Having more energy, but still get kind of tired pretty early around 8:30-9:00

Weekly Wisdom: Take pictures, it's so fun to see the changes from week to week!

Milestones: None this week really, but 20 weeks will be pretty neat because we're 1/2 way there!

Favorite Moments: Belly getting a little bigger and starting to look like a baby bump!

Maternity Clothes and some tidbits

I just bought some maternity clothes and now, I'm not sure if I'll ever go back to wearing regular clothes.  Holy comfortable!  Just saying :-)

Happy Wednesday!!!

Last weekend we headed to Noah's Ark in Wisconsin Dells.  If you've never been there, you're totally missing out!  It's America's Largest Waterpark and is O SO FUN! 

Hubby is building his own telescope.  You've seen his handwork before on speakers, now he's moved to a whole new level.  Here's a picture of his latest speakers that he built and designed, for my Brother & SIL's Wedding gift.

I think they turned out great!

I'm enjoying my time home during the month of July, but I've noticed that it's soooooo easy to get lazy while being home all day long! 

I'll be 19 weeks tomorrow!!!

I start my internship on August 4th and need to get 400 hours in, hopefully before baby comes.

Do any of you own a Flip Video camera?  I'm thinking of purchasing one because I need to do 3 video tapes for my professor of counseling sessions and I think it'd be neat to have around once Baby Crane arrives.

I cannot believe it's almost August.  Where has the summer gone???  

I get to see my bestie Pam next week while she's riding through our town on Ragbri!  Yippy!!!

That's all for now.  Enjoy the beautiful day!!

The one with the cheating comment

Ok, so first off I need to clarify.  I do not nor have I ever condoned cheating, neither does hubby.  This was merely a joke made by hubby not to offend anyone or give anyone any weird ideas.

Hubby:  So, I was doing some calculations and when do you think you're due?
Me:  December 23rd because I have 5 week cycles instead of the typical 4, but the doc says Dec. 16th because of my cycle dates.
Hubby:  Ok, because if you're actually due on Dec. 16th, I was in Arizona (no where near our home state) and it's not possible unless you cheated on me.
Me:  You never know (joking of course)
Hubby:  If that baby comes out anything but white, I'm so leaving you.
Me:  I can't believe you just said that!  As if that would ever happen.
Hubby:  O, I know, I'm just saying.
Me:  Only you would say something like that.

Oh, the things he says.  He knows I would never do that and we have a very trusting relationship, he just says goofy things form time to time.  He never fails to surprise me. 

Out of the mouth's of Husbands :-)

Boy or Girl??

August 2nd is the big day my friends!  My 20 week ultrasound!!!  We've decided to find out if little Monkey is a girl or a boy.  We're secretly hoping (not so secretly anymore) that it's a boy, BUT could really careless at this point.  We're really hoping for a healthy, normal baby, boy OR girl. 

August 2nd at 10:00 cannot come soon enough! I don't know how some of you wait the whole 9 months, more power to you!  I'm way to anal for that stuff. 

We have decided that if all goes well with this first pregnancy and baby, we will have one more baby.  And with that one, we will wait the entire 9 months to find out.  I just figure the first one is a surprise in itself and the second one is a bit different because you've been through it before. 

So what are your thoughts on the subject? Did you, would you, will you find out what you're having?  Why or why not?  I think it's each persons preference and that's ok.  I actually admire those of you who have the willpower not to find out! :-)

P.S.  I'm going to try to put up a poll on the right hand side of my blog (if I can figure it out) so vote!

My Big Brothers Wedding!

This past weekend, my older brother got married, finally!! haha  Just kidding, he's only 28, that's not too bad.  Anyway, he's my only sibling and I didn't even get a sister when I got married, so now I officially have a Sister-in-Law!  Here are a few pics, enjoy!  Hubby and I were both in the wedding and we had a blast!

Congrats Brandon & Natalie!!

Aren't they gorgeous??

Hubby and I with the Bride and Groom

My beautiful Mother and I!

Wedding party..... I didn't have a better pic than this

My wonderful parents

Hubby and I dancing the night away!

Jesse and his BIL

The Newlyweds dancing.  Isn't my brother handsome??

Jesse's parents came to the wedding! It was nice to see him!

Taking a quick break from dancing!

It was a very fun night and everything was beautiful!   Thanks for letting us be apart of your special day you two!  I hope you are enjoying the start of your honeymoon!!

Maternity Clothes

Alright all of you Mama's or Mama's to be, maternity clothes.... what, when, from where?

I'm in that stage where my pants are getting a bit tight.  I  bought a bellaband (sp?), but have just been sticking to dresses and comfy clothes for now.  I recently went on Gap.com and found about 5 maternity shirts that I ordered because they were all on sale.

Other than that, I am clueless.  When did you start buying, what size, how did you know what you would need and where did you buy it from?

I don't want to spend a fortune, but I'm going to be doing an internship, so I'll need nice clothes.  Any help you can give would be great!

Product Review

Thanks to the wonderful people at CSN, I was able to do a product review for you guys!  They contacted me back in May and it has taken me this long to get organized to post about it.  Let me tell you, it's been one heck of a summer, already!

Anyway, onto the product review.... In choosing a product, I wanted something that was useful and something I would enjoy.  I decided on the Cuisinart Round Classic Waffle Maker in Brushed Stainless

Let me tell you, these waffle's were delicious!!!

All in all, I was very impressed with the taste.  I'm not huge on presentation, so even though this doesn't look perfect, it tasted perfect!

Thanks CSN!

New Deck

If I haven't mentioned it yet (and you know I have)  we've been VERY busy this summer!  To kick summer off, we decided a new deck was needed.  Hubby and a friend tore down the old gross rotting accident waiting to happen of a  deck.  I think they did an excellent job.  My husband had 2 friends help and his father come for a weekend to finish it off.  Thanks to all who chipped in!!

This is the deck when we first moved in.  It has gotten pretty crap over the 3 years we've been here, as they did not treat it correctly.  

Everything's ready... O and they killed all 5 of my bushes in the process of building this deck!

It's a start!

We're getting there!

Hard at work. This is my FIL and our friend Kaleb

Just standing around I guess.... haha just kidding!

The railing is going up!

Almost finished!

Finished product!  Isn't it beautiful?!?!  I just love it!

Thanks for everyone's hard work that helped us out!

18 Weeks- tomorrow

Holy cow, hard to believe we're at 18 weeks!

How far along? 18 weeks (tomorrow anyway)

 

Total weight gain: 4.5 lbs so far.... Is that a lot? It feels like a lot!

Maternity clothes?:  Regular clothes are starting to get snug and I've just been wearing skirts and dresses, so those are pretty comfortable.

Sleep: I'm sleeping great at night, just waking up a few times to pee.  Other than that, it's going great.

Cravings:  Salty foods

Best moment this week: Feeling some movements that could be baby kicks... not quite sure! :-)

Movement: Maybe a little, it's hard to tell.

Gender: You're guess is as good as ours!

Labor Signs: No and stay away until December!

Belly Button in or out? In and I hope it stays in

What I miss: Having more energy

Weekly Wisdom: Enjoy the little things!

Milestones: Well into the 2nd trimester and hear the baby's heartbeat again at our 16 week appointment!

Favorite Moments: Feeling baby kicks (maybe) and my belly getting a bit bigger.  still feeling just chubby, but it's starting to resemble a belly!

In just a little over 2 weeks we'll be able to find out the sex of the baby!!! We cannot wait!  August 2nd, hurry on up!  I think this is the first time EVER that I have wanted summer to fly by! :-) Have a great rest of the week!

Rain Rain go away!

It was my complete intent on writing a post this morning catching you all up on pregnancy related news, but alas something else came up.  I'll be 17 weeks tomorrow, I can hardly believe it! We had an appointment last week and all went well.  We're scheduled to find out if it's a boy or girl on August 2nd! CAN.NOT.WAIT! We are super excited and these three weeks cannot go by soon enough!

Anyway,  this morning, I woke up to head to a dentist appointment and looked out the back door as I was letting Bear out.  Turns out, we had a creak running through the backyard.  We've had so much rain in the past couple days, it isn't even funny.  We've had about 7 inches of rain int he past two days and are suppose to get another 1-3 this evening  Talk about not fun.  Anyway, we have one corner in our basement that gets a little bit of water in it when it rains very hard.  Well, because of the amount of rain and the quickness in which it came, we got a LOT of water in our basement.  I mean, we probably had an inch in the "unfinished"* portion of our basement but it went further and was much more than we have ever had before.  The drain in our basement wasn't draining because the water table was full and that is also why our backyard had such a large amount standing water in it.  I had to leave to go to my dentist appointment, so I did what I could and hubby had to come home from work for a few hours to clean most of it up (bless his heart!).  I got back home after my appointment and helped clean up, then we cleaned the gutters (yes, in the rain) and finished cleaning the basement as best we could.  What a pain I tell ya! 

So, the basement is drying up, slowly but shirley, however; we are still suppose to get more rain tonight, so I have a feeling we'll be doing some clean up again tomorrow.  :-(

*I say "unfinished"* because it has those sticky tiles in it and now because of the water, they are all coming up and it doesn't really look very good. 

It's been yet another week, so I'm going to have to postpone the belly updates until week 18! so sorry!  Hope you all have a great rest of the week!

Happy Birthday!

Happy 28th Birthday to my wonderful Husband!  

I am so lucky to be able to spend birthdays and other holidays with this man!

He is hardworking, kind, generous and we have so much fun together!

Here's to celebrating many more years together!!  

I cannot wait to see the amazing father you will be in December!  I'm sure I will fall even more in love with you then!

Happy Birthday from Mommy & Baby! :-)

Blogging day of Silence for Cohen

Sending Love and Prayers to Cohen 's family