IT's A....

Modest baby!

Who may or may not be a girl, but because "Shim" had Shim's legs crossed there is the possibility that it is a boy and the parts were hiding behind the legs, but technician was leaning toward girl, now have to wait another 2 weeks!!!

Let the count down begin, again!

(**It was actually kind of annoying! The sonogram lady had been double booked. I didn't get to see anything on the screen, she didn't tell us anything, she didn't get any good pictures of the munchkin and she was ripping up the exam table paper before my pants were fully pulled up!! She didn't seem to care that she couldn't find out, and really only checked once,- my friend was saying that you can sometimes sit on your side for 10 minutes and re-check. But, the lady wasn't personable and was totally abrupt and quite rude to be honest! Seriously, if you don't like people- don't go into health care! urgh! Especially something as exciting as seeing what your first baby might be, or second or third ! OR knowing that everything is looking normal and functioning properly, ya know- Give me a break!!)

Pregnant Cravings

I am so on a roll today! 2 blogs in one day! Yeah for me...

Anyway, what does every crazy pregnant woman crave?

Pickles?

Pickles and Ice Cream?

Well that is just not for me, what do I want?

A good steak!

(hence my lunch....I made that!)

I am talking Texas Roadhouse Top Sirloin, medium -OR- Hamilton's in Logan, Utah my heart goes out to you! I still miss you and your 2 for $25.00 (including two meals, 2 drinks and 2 deserts)... I am not so much into Fillet minon- it's just not my thing, give me a Top Sirloin any day. Maybe Texas is the right state for me after all.

But as for today, all I have been thinking about is steak!

Maybe I need more iron? But then what made it worse? I watched Top Chef, on Hulu. One of the guys made steak, and some other person made grits, and my heart was set on nothing else. I could accomplish nothing. I have no leftovers that I want to eat. I don't really care for homemade sandwiches, (very often)... So I caved. I made a 5 minute run to Wally-world here are the results.

(And the second best part? I have left overs, so When I am hungry in 2 hours I can eat it again!!)

The end!

This was a really easy to make meal and only took 10 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350

Start water boiling for grits, and begin heating skillet Med high. (make sure to use a skillet that can be transferred to the oven)

Add grits to boiling water and a pinch of salt. Set timer 5-6 minutes, you will occasionally be stirring this, but that is about it. Remove from heat when done.

When skillet is hot add 1 Tbls Butter, let brown slightly, add steak. Cook 3 minutes on one side While cooking slice mushrooms (to speed slicing I use an egg slicer), Add sliced mushrooms to skillet. Flip steak, another three minutes on other side. Stir mushrooms occasionally. (**if steak is especially thick make sure to beat it a little with a meat mallet before to tenderize it, mine wasn't that thick so I omitted this step!)

After both sides have cooked, insert a meat thermometer into center and place skillet with steak and mushrooms into your preheated oven. Watch till center is the right temp. (Rare 140, Medium 160, and well 170)

While meat is in oven, add a wedge or two of laughing cow cheese to prepared grits (I prepared 1 cup of grits and used one wedge), mound in center of plate, Remove steak from oven when it has reached desired done-ness and place on grits, add mushrooms and any juice from the pan onto the top of it all!

Enjoy!

Excitement and Questions...

I just wanted to let ya all know what we are up to. I am 18 weeks along and getting more and more excited. We get to find out what we are having on Friday- Yeah, I know ONLY two days. I hope the babe cooperates. I am ready to get past this not knowing, and I wonder how do people NOT find out?


I think I could only do that if I already had a boy and girl, but really I would still find out because I am a chronic planner. I can't even allow myself to think of names...


I just NEED to know first.


Meanwhile, I got 2 huge boxes of maternity clothes from all my wonderful sisters.


I tried on everything, and yes, if I wanted to see the full effect, I occasionally stuffed a pillow up my shirt. (But I'm telling ya, it just isn't the same as that cute round belly!)



For the last few weeks, I have been getting excited to start showing. I still haven't gained a single pound, I've lost a few. But surprisingly, when I decided I hated having the maternity clothes just laying on a chair in my room and that I needed to hang them up, and that I could do it without throwing up, I decided to, just hang them up.


Well this required some cleaning out, in order to fit them in. I decided to try on all my pants. Just to see if some where too tight, and could be folded on a shelf until, well -whenever I can get them back on.


Now mind you, I have been wearing 5 or 6 pairs of my favorite pants pretty much day in and out, and can still button them no problems. But the other 25 pairs of pants... (I know I have too many clothes) there was a good inch and a half of space between the button.


I didn't even really notice. But then the other day I took a shower and was really looking at my side profile in the mirror, and there is most definitely a roundish little belly beginning.



I am SO excited!!!



But what is funny is when I mention that I can't wait to start wearing my 2 boxes of maternity clothes, everyone is so negative to me. "Oh you'll hate those just give it time." Well I assure you I have some good selections to choose from, and I plan on getting a few more pieces that I love. And I plan on looking dang cute!


Whenever I say I can't wait to start showing, all I get is the "Oh you'll wish you weren't as soon as you do!" And so I ask,


What is up with all the negativity?


Why can't I be excited to look pregnant? And wear my maternity clothes without being put down.


Granted throwing up for 3 months 8 times a day was not fun, I did complain a bit, but I was still thankful and happy to be pregnant. And strangely every time I threw up- I was somewhat glad to know that everything was still going strong.

And now that I am not throwing up- I am happy to be able to clean my house and dream about wearing my maternity clothes and let my husband feel the baby kick.

I will even deal with the swollen ankles and cheeks.

But please just let me be happy- no negative comments, and I will try to keep it that way too. I've been waiting a long time to be kicked in the ribs, have horrible heartburn, deal with the swollen ankles and cheeks, and I AM HAPPY ABOUT IT!

P.S. I'll try to get some good swollen ankle pictures at some point! For now I found this one online! Bring it on.

Deep in the Heart

of TEXAS! (clap, clap)

Justin and I had the pleasure of hanging out with my sister Tiffany and her family in San Antonio this weekend. It was a much needed break! And it was so fun to chase after my baby nieces (and a little bit scary- in an "am I really ready for this?!?*@! kind of way) and hang with my very grown up nephews.

Here is our million photo journal/blog!

We saw four of the local historic missions. Of the four, we (almost) crashed 2 weddings, it was Valentines! The missions were very interesting and beautiful. Justin did quick 5-10 minute sketches of each too.

San Jose Mission,

San Antonio, Texas

Justin's first sketch

Hanging on for dear life, to my ever squirmy niece Alicia!

My GQ husband!

Smiley Sophia!

Did I mention how cute my nieces and nephews are?

Mission Espada

San Antonio, Texas

Albert, my brother in law, showing off a very fetching headdress!

Mission Conception

San Antonio, Texas

He is just so great!

4 months and starting to show, or just look fatter... Yea!

Leave it to the pregnant lady to bring snacks along.

This is such a good way to make friends with lovable chubby babies!

The boys just hangin' out Jarret, Chandler and Braxton!

The Alamo,

San Antonio, Texas

The River Walk

San Antonio, Texas
I would highly recommend the river walk to anyone who can make it to Texas! It was so beautiful. I could have been there all day and well into the night.

We also took one of the river tour, although we didn't do it til it was dark, which just made it all more romantic! Too bad, Justin wasn't feeling very well, he got food poisoning at the mall food court! It was a long sad night for my sweetheart! Cool glass sculpture.

A small series of stars, for all my friends,

You're a STAR!

Love from, Texas

Fredericksburg, Texas
We heard of a small German town, about an hour away in the hill country and headed over for the last day. It was such a fun street shopping experience. We had a great sausage, corned beef and sauerkraut lunch!

Did I mention that it was freezing? We checked the forecast and were told it would be in the 70's, well it was raining and only 50 degrees. Sophia had a crazy blowout! Tiff had to make a quick run to Walmart for replacements (it happened, twice.....) But you can't help but love those Baby Buddha Bellies!

The crazy hat isle was a hit!

Come visit us anytime!

Dedicated to the ones I love....

To my readers:

This is a big huge shout out to all my wonderful friends and family!

I am sorry that I haven't been blogging for a few weeks. I am starting to be a little resurrected from my sick bed! (just in time to catch the cold that has been going around, yea! lucky me)

But I just want to say thank you for all the wonderful advice and friendship you have given me! I love you all, if I think about it longer than 30 seconds I'll start crying and get even more stuffed up!! I have been trying some different approaches and I think that the Lord has taken pity on me and am feeling mostly better. (I say this with a little trepidation, as every time I make this statement the next day is usually NOT good but...I'm hopeful)

We got to see our darling baby last Friday. And both of us sat there and cried. I just love how darn cute our baby was. Kicking and stretching out it's legs and rubbing it's face. I'm not one to brag, but.... I have the smartest, cutest, BEST baby ever!

We get to find out what we're having on the 27th, fingers crossed the baby cooperates!

I'll try to get back up on the "bloggin' wagon", meaning, do something interesting, or "blog-worthy"!

But once again!

THANK you for your excitement,

for your love,

for you advice,

for your friendship

and for reading my sometimes lengthy blogs!

LOVE YOU!