23 Week Update

How far along? 23 weeks

Total weight gain: 20 pounds :'( haha

Maternity clothes? Always wearing maternity pants, not always shirts

Stretch marks? Nope

Best moment this week: My early baby shower on Saturday, my mom drove all the way from California to come, got lots of cute tiny baby clothes!

Miss anything? Laying on my stomach and working out.

Movement: all the time!

Food cravings: Been eating lots of grilled cheese sandwiches lately!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Still getting nauseous everyday, and standing for long periods of time makes me sick.

Gender: Still a boy!

Labor signs: None

Symptoms: Nausea,vomiting, tiredness.

Belly button in or out? Still half in and out

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy but i've been so bored! I hate not working! Just waiting for next week when we move!

Looking forward to: Christmas with the family and then moving to San Antonio after the first of the year! Lots of changes!

20 Weeks

How far along? 20 weeks!

Total weight gain: aprrox.12 pounds

Maternity clothes? Yup!

Stretch marks? Nope

Best moment this week: Playing the piano for my little boy and feeling him kick a lot while I'm playing.

Miss anything? This week I've been in Bakersfield all week visiting my parents so, not pregnancy related but I'm REALLY missing my hubby! But also just miss feeling normal, not sick while out shopping with my mom and Reagan. Sick of being sick.

Movement: Feeling more and more kicks everyday like they're getting stronger. He's a growing boy! I don't think I'll ever get tired of feeling him kicking in there.

Food cravings: The past few days I've been craving fruity candy like skittles and jelly bellies and tootsie pops!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Starting to think bread is making me sick. But basically every time I eat, about 20 minutes later I start to feel like I'm gonna throw up. It's lame.

Gender: Little boy, Jaxson Pierce

Labor signs: none

Symptoms: nausea. Nausea. Throwing up. I get motion sickness and car sick now. And I've been tired lately!

Belly button in or out? Halfway out! It's weird! haha

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy :)

Looking forward to: Seeing Preston on Tuesday night!

19 Weeks

How far along? 19 weeks!

Total weight gain: still not wanting to get on the scale! But probably 10-12 pounds

Maternity clothes? Yup! I'm wearing either sweats or maternity pants all the time now

Stretch marks? Nope

Best moment this week: Shopping for our first little baby outfit :) its so cute! I love baby boy clothes!

Miss anything? I miss being able to sleep through the night!! I'm so uncomfortable I toss and turn all night. I also miss not having to think about whether or not foods will make me sick before I eat them, and I miss not getting nauseous every night.

Movement: Yup! He's still moving in there quite a bit! I love when I'm just sitting there and all the sudden I’ll feel this pressure start building and then out of no where part of my stomach is ROCK hard because he's pushed his whole body against one side of my belly! Haha I love it! I'll rub my belly for a minute and then soon enough he'll “sink” back down and my tummy will feel normal again. I love feeling him move around in there, its the most incredible feeling!

Food cravings: Not really, mostly just still aversions. Although I have been eating a lot of Cheez-its lately! The duoz Cheddar Jack and Parmesan flavor, they are so good! I have to stop myself or I’ll eat the whole box in one sitting instead of just half the box! Haha also I've been eating lots of apples lately.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Trying to figure out what to eat for every meal. And when I haven't eaten for more than 2-3 hours and just about every night still I feel nauseous/throw up.

Gender: Our wish came true! We have a little baby boy growing in there! My little Jaxson Pierce!

Labor signs: Nope

Symptoms: mostly just nausea at night and peeing All. The. Time.

Belly button in or out? Almost out! It's so weird to see it half in half out!

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy :) I'm SO excited for the Holidays!!!!

Looking forward to: Going to mom and dads on Sunday for the week, then Thanksgiving and Christmas!!! :) I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!

IT'S A BOY!!!!!!!

Ever since I was 11 years old and my first little nephew was born, I knew I wanted my first baby to be a sweet little boy. Marrying my wonderful sports obsessed husband only increased that want. As we talked about kids, he expressed wanting a little boy first so that he could play and teach him all sorts of sports and manly things. Also, I just can't help wanting a little mini Preston, with beautiful blue eyes and adorable face! I can already picture him smiling up at me every time I look at my sweet husband.

So yesterday, after waiting for what seemed like forever! we finally had our ultrasound appointment! I wen't in super excited I couldn't wait to find out what we were having! As the Dr. started the ultrasound he took his sweet time! Starting with the head and working his way down slowly. As wonderful as it was to know everything was healthy and perfect with our little one, I just couldn't help being impatient to know the gender already!!! Finally he got down there and pointed to what all seemed like blobs and said, "do you see that little penis sticking up?" My heart literally skipped a beat! "Its a boy?!" I said. "No that's just the umbilical cord, I was just kidding with you.." Oh man what a punk! He continued looking and finally said that the umbilical cord was in between the baby's legs so he couldn't get a clear picture, but if he had to guess he would say girl just because he couldn't see a little penis. But he left the gender spot blank at told us we'd have to try again...in a MONTH! Well no way was I waiting that long! I wen't home and scheduled an appointment with an ultrasound technician. We'd be paying, I just had to know!

So today! I prayed and prayed that we would be able to tell this time, we wen't in and the equipment was definitely higher quality, even I felt like I could tell right away when the lady found the spot in between our baby's legs with no delay, "It's a boy!" I immediately started crying and couldn't stop! Preston just laughed at me but I could tell he was excited too :)

 I cannot wait to meet our little guy! I couldn't be happier! Now this pregnancy feels a little more real, when I feel little kicking and wiggling in there i'll know its my little baby boy!

Now for the overload of pictures that my wonderful talented little sister Jenna took for us!

Preston has some hops! Crazy boy! haha

18 Weeks Pregnant!

How far along? 18 weeks!

Total weight gain: about 10 pounds

Maternity clothes? On those rare days that I actually leave my house! Haha mostly I just wear my pregnancy pants cause their cute though, I can still (barely) fit into my other pants.

Stretch marks? Nope

Best moment this week: During our ultrasound, just getting the reassurance that everything is okay with our baby and growing properly!

Miss anything? Working! Or at least leaving the house on a regular basis. I just miss having things to do. Since I had to quit my job since I was so sick now I just stay home everyday all day! I also miss doing my Yoga everyday and working out regularly! Hoping to get back to the gym for at least some light workouts soon!

Movement: Still feeling little nudges and prods a few times everyday! It's really the best feeling, I just love knowing my little one is actually in there! Can't wait till Preston can feel them, he usually isn't around when he's kicking a lot and they're not that strong yet anyway.

Food cravings: Not really

Anything making you queasy or sick: Just when I get full I start to feel a little nauseous

Gender: After waiting and waiting, (I wanted to pay and get an ultrasound done at 16 weeks) we finally went and had our ultrasound today, I was SO excited and we have our gender reveal plan all ready and in place....and the Dr. couldn't tell if our little one was a boy or girl because the umbilical cord was in between the legs! :( i'm so so sad! I really want to know! So hopefully we'll be going to another place to pay to have it done sometime this week. I just can't wait any longer! My little baby is already in trouble with me for not opening his/her legs! It moved all during our ride to our appointment but wouldn't move at all when we were in there!

Labor signs: Nope

Symptoms: Still getting nauseous but have only thrown up a few times. Mostly it is just at night, but nothing compared to what it was! Also feeling some pains in my stomach (stretching and pinching pains) from the uterus getting bigger I assume! And trouble sleeping through the night :( I HATE sleeping on my side! I can never get comfortable and it takes forever to fall asleep.

Belly button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy! But bored! Can't wait to visit my parents in Bakersfield next weekend!

Looking forward to: Going somewhere to get another Ultrasound! There's no way I'm waiting until December 4^th to find out what we're having!

17 Weeks

So I found this girls blog on Pinterest and got the idea of doing a weekly Pregnancy update along with my pics I do every other week! So here's week 17! Every other week up till now you can just assume that every answer said "sick, sick, sick, throwing up, sick, hating life, sicky sick sick!"

So it's probably good I'm starting now anyway cause I'm feeling better (thank the Lord!!) and will have more to say! :)

How far along? 17 weeks!

Total weight gain: approx. 8-10 pounds? I'm kind of avoiding the scale.

Maternity clothes? Nope, just lots of sweats and yoga pants!

Stretch marks? Not yet!

Best moment this week: Feeling my little one move for the first time Monday morning! Laying in bed I felt tons of little flutters and nudges right under my belly button where I could see for also about the first time, a little hard bump poking out! It's like it appeared overnight!

Miss anything? Feeling normal walking around, not like I need to sit down every few minutes! Regular bathroom trips, and getting my regular Diet Cokes everyday!

Movement: Felt the baby move for the first time on 10/28!! Such a crazy feeling!

Food cravings: not really, if anything just still having food aversions

Anything making you queasy or sick: The smell of dirty dishes or Preston after he's eaten McDonald's  And when I eat too much of anything I start to feel nauseous. 

Gender: Appointment to find out next Wednesday!!! Hoping baby is in the right position to tell!

Labor signs: nope! 

Symptoms: Finally starting to feel less nauseous!!!! Thank goodness!!! Taking Zofran again so that helps. Headaches, backaches, constipation, trouble sleeping through the night, tired.

Belly button in or out? In!!

Wedding rings on or off? On!

Happy or moody most of the time: I honestly don't feel like I've been that moody at all during this pregnancy! But then again you'd have to ask Preston I guess. Haha

Looking forward to: Finding out if its a boy or girl next week!!!! and feeling the baby kick more so Preston can feel it :)

Weekly Pregnancy Pics so far!

 I never really truly appreciated my body till I started getting my pregnancy chub! And lost my waist...completely. Haha but hopefully I'll be able to reign in my sweet teeth and eating habits and stay relatively in shape this pregnancy! And i'm counting on yoga, running, and the gym to help me get my body back afterwards! For now i'll just be happy knowing my little baby is growing and is healthy inside of me!

 

Here come the blog posts explosion! I'm gonna be a Mommy!!!!!!

So I haven't been writing in this blog at all this year! Mostly because I'm O.C.D and suck at being a blogger. But I want to keep this at least a little updated! And I found some great inspiration to do a weekly pregnancy update, but first I have to announce, I'm PREGNANT!!!! :) We found out, or got our BFP (big fat positive, in blogger lingo) on July 28th! I started feeling deathly ill on my birthday a few weeks later August 9th (when I was six weeks along) and have been SO nauseous and throwing up so much that I had to quit my job! So basically for the past three months I've been living on my couch! But! This week I'm finally feeling a little normal again! I'm still taking Zofran but I haven't been as nauseous at all this week and I haven't thrown up once!!!! Wooooooo!!!! I thought it would last forever!!! And lets be honest, three months of throwing up all day everyday? Needless to say I was sure this would be an only child. Yeah don't think I'll be getting pregnant again for awhile! But it will all be worth it April 5th, 2014 when we get to meet our little baby! So i'll write more about my pregnancy and symptoms and all that great stuff in later posts, now I want to show off our announcement pics!

Oh! So when I took the pregnancy test, I came out of the bathroom to tell Preston and he was sitting on the couch:

Me: Babe!!! I'm Pregnant!!!!!

Preston: (Looks up suspiciously) Wow...really...? That's cool babe....are those things ever wrong?

Me: *kisses him* aren't you excited!? I'm PREGNANT!!!! we're gonna have a baby!!!! *runs into my room to call my family and Reagan and Linda* (who all celebrate with me a lot more enthusiastically then my husband did btw!) 

Haha in Preston's defense he was just really worried about health care and money and everything. He was excited, and after I got off the phone he hugged me, and he's been wonderful and supportive and appropriately excited ever since. That's just how he is, my silly man. 

Anyway so there's my little big update! Look out for many many many pregnancy related posts to come! 

Maybe i'll become a blogger now with all my free time!! ;) 

Creamy Italian Chicken (in DCB or Crockpot)

This is one of my favorite recipes! I used to make it in the crock pot and now with the deep covered baker it cooks in the microwave in 20 minutes! Love it! I adapted this recipe from the crock pot recipe I put below. Hope you love it as much as I do! 

Deep Covered Baker Creamy Italian Chicken

Serves 6

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts 
1 packet Good Seasons Italian dressing mix
2 (10 ounce) cans cream of chicken soup
1 (8 ounce) block of cream cheese, cut into cubes
Egg Noodles or Rice, to serve with

Directions: Spray Deep Covered Baker with non-stick spray. Place chicken breasts in DCB and cover with Italian seasoning. Cook covered in Microwave for 12 minutes. Chop chicken into bite sized pieces.  Pour the cream of chicken soups over chicken, and then spread the cubes of cream cheese evenly over all. Cook covered in microwave for 8 minutes. Remove and stir mixture together.

Serve over noodles or rice! 

Crock Pot Creamy Italian Chicken
Serves 6

4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 packet Good Seasons Italian dressing mix
2 (10 ounce) cans cream of chicken soup
1 (8 ounce) block of cream cheese, cut into cubes
Egg Noodles or Rice, to serve with

Directions: Spray crock pot with non-stick spray. Place the chicken breasts in crock pot, and sprinkle the Italian dressing mix over the tops. Pour the cream of chicken soups over chicken, and then spread the cubes of cream cheese evenly over all. 

Cover and cook on low for 6 hours. Remove lid and stir mixture together. Cut chicken into bite-size pieces. (If the sauce seems too thick, you can thin it out with a little milk)

Serve chicken and sauce over cooked egg noodles or rice. Enjoy!

Original Recipe found here

.xoxo.

Cheesy Chicken Monterey in the Deep Covered Baker

Deep Covered Baker Recipe #2!

Cheesy Chicken Monterey

1 package Knorr Rice Side - Chicken flavor

1 can (11 oz.) corn, drained

1 can (11 oz.) black beans, rinsed and drained

1 can Rotel, undrained

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese, plus more for garnish

2 cups water

Cut chicken into bite size pieces. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Cook, covered, in microwave for 8 minutes.

Add contents of rice pouch and water to the chicken. Stir and cover. Microwave for 10-12 minutes, or until most of the water is evaporated and rice is cooked through.

Add corn, black beans, Rotel, and 1 cup of cheese to the baker. Microwave covered, for 2 minutes. Remove and stir.

Garnish with extra cheese and sour cream, if desired. Enjoy!

If you don't have a deep covered baker the original recipe this is adapted from can be found here!

Great Value tomatoes and chilies: .63

Great Value Corn: .88

Great Value Black Beans: .88

Chicken three pieces: approx 3.43  (5lb. bag of Frozen Boneless Skinless Chicken: 11.48) 

One Cup shredded cheese: approx .80

Knorr Rice Sides: 1.00

Feeds 4-5 People

Total Meal Cost: Approx 7.50

Bon Appétit!

.xoxo.

Spicy Chicken Mac in the Deep Covered Baker

Last month I went to a Pampered Chef party and couldn't believe how amazing the Deep Covered Baker dish was! I went to the party with my Hubby thinking no way am I gonna get sucked into buying anything. Their stuff is amazing but lets be honest, I'm a big time cheap-o! (my husband and I are both super frugal to the point where its kind of ridiculous sometimes haha) and their products can be pretty pricey, so I really didn't think I would get anything. But after seeing the host make a full pasta and chicken meal, completely in the DCB and all in the microwave, (cooking time was only 20 minutes!!!!) I was sold. Cooking frozen chicken in the microwave in just 12 minutes!? Yeah that had to happen.

I had been looking for easy quick dinner recipes to make lately in the crock pot, and the DCB just looked too good to pass up. (especially when the bundle price included the Salad Choppers (or as I now call them, my amazing super easy chicken choppers!) and the cookbook.

When it arrived I was kind of intimidated but Preston wanted to put it to immediate use (make sure we got our money's worth of course) so I looked up recipes online and found TONS! We picked out a few and went and got the ingredients. So this is the first one I tried and I was insanely happy with how FREAKING easy and quick it was!!! This recipe was also delicious, husband and I heartily approved, its going on my list of meals I will now make on a regular basis.

*For anyone interested in more recipes I am going to try and make a post for all the recipes I make in the DCB on here, it will be a new goal of mine so hopefully I can stick with it if I think people will be interested in the recipe posts! (please note most recipes can be modified to be cooked in a crock pot as well)

*And for my frugal friends out there, I will also post the price of the ingredients and the total meal cost at the end of each post. 

Spicy Chicken Mac

1 (10 ounce) can tomatoes and green chilies, diced (Rotel)

1 1/3 cup water

2 large chicken breasts

Southwest seasoning of your choice

1 (12 ounce) package Velveeta shells and cheese

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded (opt.)

salsa (opt.)

Sprinkle seasoning liberally over chicken. Place in Deep Covered Baker, cover, and microwave for 8-10 minutes, until cooked through. Remove and chop chicken into bite sized pieces.

To the chicken already in the baker, add macaroni, tomatoes, and water. Mix well.

Cover and microwave 10 to 12 minutes or until macaroni is tender.

Remove and stir in cheese sauce from Velveeta box and sour cream until well blended. Top with shredded cheese, additional sour cream and salsa, if desired.

*note: I used frozen chicken and it was completely cooked after 12 minutes 

(My super amazing easy chicken choppers!!! Ahhh!!! So in love with them. Chopping that chicken took like 90 seconds. No more shredding chicken with two forks for me!)

 Before cooking

Added extra cheese and salsa and sour cream to Preston's but mine was good for me just the way it was :)

And there it is! After adding the sour cream and Velveeta Cheese packet it did look pretty watery, next time I make it I will probably cut the water down to a single cup. 

(However when I heated up leftovers it was not watery at all)

Such a great, easy meal!

Total Meal Cost: Approx $5.01 

Feeds: 4-5 people

Great Value tomatoes and chilies: .63

Great Value Shells and Cheese: 1.68

Chicken two pieces: approx 2.29  (5lb. bag of Frozen Boneless Skinless Chicken: 11.48) 

1/2 cup Sour Cream: .37  (16oz Sour Cream: 1.48)

1 tbsp McCormick Southwest Seasoning: approx .04 (Bottle of seasoning: 1.62 )

Hope you enjoy! 

.xoxo.

I Have A Dream...

Hello!! So today at work I watched Mamma Mia! for a much needed reminder of how much I LOVE this movie! and ABBA, and all of the songs! Its So. Dang. Good!!! But Preston hates musicals so I had to wait and watch it by myself! But it was worth it because the songs are amazing and remind me of my mom and growing up! Plus I just love the way they did this movie!

 

 

And I love Amanda Seyfried! She's so freaking cute, is a great actress and has an amazing voice!

 

 

Not to mention that it's set in Greece and I want to go to Greece so freaking bad!!

 

 

*Sigh* ...but anyway the main reason I'm making this post is because even though I love all the songs, today the song "I have A Dream" really stood out to me for some reason and I really wanted to make a picture for the lyrics that I could set as my background :) So I did....

 

 

And I couldn't decide on just one pretty picture....so I did two!

 

 

Which one is best? I just love these lyrics and looking at this everyday on my background I think will help inspire me to chase after my dreams, which right now all revolve around traveling this beautiful world! Wish me luck! And to my (not so many) followers (if any! haha) good luck achieving your dreams :)