A little of this a little of that.

I'm happy to say that our house is completely unpacked and has been for a while now. I still have some little touches here and there to get it how I want it. Once I have things like I want them then I'm going to do a video tour of it so everyone can see our new home for at least 2 years. For those of you who keep asking, Roland is not able to do a re-enlistment at this time because of all the new regulations and what not so he is going to get an extension on his contract through his 10 year mark. At that time if he is able to pick up SSgt then he will re-enlist for at least 2 years if he is not able to pick up then he will not be able to re-enlist and we will be moving back to Ohio near our families.

The girls and I have been back in Cali for about 3 months now. I thought it would be easier to be this far from my family and friends since we had already been here once and I knew a few people here this time around. Well I was wrong, I almost think living with my family and friends in Ohio for a year made leaving that much harder. I find that I'm even more homesick then before and even lonelier then I was the last time we were here. I'm trying really hard to get through this feeling and not let it over take me but I think being pregnant and so emotional is making it that much harder. I hate that we can't just go and visit Ohio whenever we want or my family come and visit us because it's so expensive.
Of course I'm sure it doesn't help that my husband is working so much and in the field all the time we hardly have time together. Since the girls and I have been here he has been working until 5 or later nightly and then he has gone to the field a bunch and has a whole month of field training coming up. I feel like I'm holding my breath daily just waiting for him to come home and tell me they are deploying again. I'm really trying to enjoy this time we have together for now and just not think about when he might deploy again but that is easier said then done.

20 weeks, The half way mark!

Happy to be at the half way point of this pregnancy without any major issues. This last week has been a little more up and down. I'll have a burst of energy and then out of no where I'll feel drained and exhausted. I'm not sure if it's just because I'm pregnant with a boy or if because I just had a baby but this pregnancy just seems to be kicking my butt.

 

Even though I have 2 kids already and I know that 3 this close together is going to be just plan crazy I still can not wait to have this baby. People keep asking if this is going to be our last since we got our boy now. Roland and I have agreed since before we got married that we would both like to have 4 to 6 kids. This little one is going to be the last for at least 2 years, but if Roland is not able to make SSgt and re-enlist then we probably won't be having another for more like 4 to 5 years. Since there will be such a large gap between these 3 and another one we're thinking probably 2 more and then we will be done. Ultimately Roland and I are leaving it up to God on how many blessings He thinks we should have, so who knows what the final number will be.

 

Today I had my 20 week anatomy scan done and was happy to have it confirmed again that we are indeed getting our boy. The ultrasound ladies were very nice and after they got everything they needed they let Roland and the girls come in and see the baby. Amelia seemed to enjoy it was saying, "Baby, baby brother," it was very cute. They gave us quite a few pics of the little guys goods and no really good ones of him, because he did not want to cooperate and give us a good profile view.



This is his foot



This is his butt and the goods



Another view of the good, his legs and butt



The little arrow pointing at the goods



This is his 2 feet



This is the only one for all of him
his head is on the left and body is the right

 

 

 

 

20 WEEKS TO GO

 

 

 

 

Total weight gain: -14lbs

 

Stretch marks: Nothing new thank goodness

 

Sleep: I'm having a hard time falling asleep, but once I'm asleep I sleep well

 

Food cravings: grilled cheese, beef and super cold ice water

 

Food aversions: Eggs, fish, and chicken

 

Labor signs: I have had a few nights of contractions but they seem to go away after a hour or so.

 

Mood Swings: I have felt like crying at the drop of a hat

 



Some serious yumminess

While on Pinterest one night I saw this recipe for Mini Chicken Pot Pies and thought it looked delicious and decided to pin it to try out sometime. Well Roland and I made them tonight for dinner and they are seriously yummy, definitely a recipe I will be making again and again I am sure. Although my inspiration came from pinterest it did not have a very detailed instructional for them so I decided after making it I would put up the recipe I used so if others wanted to make it they could also.

The yummy finished product.

This recipe will make about 24 mini pot pies, serving size of 3 each, makes 8 servings.

Mini Chicken Pot Pies

Filling
2lbs of chicken diced
4 med carrots sliced
3-4 ribs of celery sliced
1 med onion chopped
4 Tbsp unsalted butter
1/4 tsp salt
2 garlic cloves minced
1/2 tsp dried thyme
2 bay leaves
1/2 tsp rosemary
1Tbsp dried parsley (2 Tbsp fresh)
1 C frozen peas
1 C shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
2-3 packets of McCormick chicken gravy

Batter
1 C milk
1 C heart healthy Bisquick mix
4 eggs

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray 12 regular sized muffin cups with cooking spray.
2. In a large skillet or dutch oven melt butter over medium heat. Add carrots, celery, onions, bay leaves and salt cook until softened about 7-10 minutes.
3. Stir in garlic, thyme, rosemary and parsley and cook another minute. Then add chicken and cook until done about 10 minutes.
4. While chicken is cooking mix up all ingredients for the batter and add 1 Tbsp in each muffin cup.
5. Drain chicken and vegetable mixture and remove bay leaves, transfer to a bowl. Add peas and mix.
6. Add 1/4 C of filling and a pinch of cheese to each muffin cup and then put 1 Tbsp of batter over each one. Cook for 30 minutes.
7. When there is about 10 minutes left of cooking time mix up 2-3 packets of chicken gravy. (I just use the McCormick gravy packets because it's easy and quick. Of course you could always make your own gravy if you feel like it.)
8. Take out of the oven and let cool for 5 minutes and then using a thin knife go around the edges and loosen muffins and put on a cooling rack for another 5 minutes or so.
9. Then just put 3 on a plate and cover with gravy.
10. The best part now is to ENJOY!



The chicken and veggie mixture when it's all done.

Muffin cups with 1 Tbsp of batter in them

Muffin cups with filling and cheese.

Adding the last 1 Tbsp of batter on top.

Ready for the oven.

The yummy finished product.

The hubby is very excited about eating these.

Tomato Basil Soup, yummo!

Tomato Basil Soup

3 cloves of garlic, minced

2 tablespoons of olive oil

2 - 14 oz. cans of crushed tomatoes

1 - 14 oz. can of whole tomatoes

2 cups of stock (chicken or vegetable)

1 tsp of sea salt

1 tsp of sugar

1/2 tsp of fresh ground black pepper

1/4 cup of heavy cream

3 tablespoons of fresh basil, julienned

parmesan cheese

In a saucepan, saute garlic in olive oil on medium heat for 1 minute - being careful not to burn the garlic. Add the crushed tomatoes. Add the whole tomatoes one at a time, squeezing them into the pan to break them up. Add the juice from the whole tomatoes, as well. Add chicken stock, salt, pepper and sugar. Cook the soup on medium at a simmer for 10 minutes.

To finish, reduce the heat to low and stir in heavy cream and basil. Serve topped with parmesan cheese or a grilled cheese sandwich.

Original recipe found at http://jennysteffens.blogspot.com/2011/01/recipes-tomato-basil-soup-best-grilled.html

19 weeks

I'm feeling so much better finally, it is such a relief to not feel like I'm going to be sick every day. I am still having migraines but they are back to what is "normal" for me, which is actually a bit of a relief. I am so happy that God has blessed us with our little guy finally but I can not wait to not be pregnant for a longer then 8-10 months, lol.

Our little guy is moving around a lot more and I can feel it much more then before. It use to feel like little fluttering now it actually feels like a baby moving around. Roland is very impatient to feel him moving around as well, he's always asking me if he would be able to feel him yet. I can't wait for Roland to feel our little guy moving around, he wasn't able to with Charlotte and he loved feeling Amelia move around. I'm so happy that he is actually home with me to share in this experience, I just keep praying that nothing comes up to take him away from us before this little guy makes his debute.

Roland and I have been discussing baby names since we found out we were having a boy. I pretty much left it up to Roland what he would like to name this little one since he is our first boy. Finally after leaving me in suspense for a week or so he decided on an official name. But like we have said before, if I can manage it, we will not be sharing his name until he is here.

21 weeks to go



Your baby equals a large heirloom tomato in size and weighs about 8 1/2 ounces.
Length: 6 inches, head to bottom.



Total weight gain: -15lbs

Stretch marks: nothing new

Sleep: I have actually been sleeping good once I finally fall asleep

Food cravings: beef, chocolate chip mint ice cream, super ice cold water

Food aversions: Chicken, fish and eggs

Labor signs: nothing yet, just the braxton hicks contractions

Mood swings: I think I'm doing better with this, I don't feel like I'm all over the place quite as much as I had been.

18 Weeks

This last week as been kind of up and down, I've felt gross more then I've felt good. I've already started having Braxton Hicks contractions, which is not abnormal for me I always start to feel them really early. Other then that nothing to much else is going on with our little guy.

Your baby is as big as a bell pepper and weighs almost 7 ounces.
Length: 5 1/2 inches, head to bottom.

22 weeks to go

Total weight gain: -7lbs

Stretch Marks: no new ones

Sleep: pretty good

Food Craving: Ice cold water and red meat

Food Aversions: Fish, Chicken, and Bread

Labor Signs: nothing other then braxton hicks contractions

Mood Swings: It's starting to level out a bit more now

17 Weeks

I've been feeling pretty good this last week, I didn't have any migraines for the most part and not much morning sickness. Roland and I started a workout routine, we are going to the gym 3 days a week for 30 mins. I'm hoping that this not only keeps me from gaining any weight this pregnancy but it helps with my energy levels. My carpal tunnel has is slowly getting worse by the weeks, it's making my hands go numb throughout the day and waking me up from pain and numbness at night. I'm so super excited about getting to buy boy things and get rid of all our girl things as the girls no longer have a need for them. I've decided to try to get a few things every payday that we will be needing for him and of course just some things we want. That way it doesn't seem like we have to get it all at one time. Well not to much more is going on other then that.

Your baby weighs 5 ounces this week, about as much as a turnip.
 Length: 5 inches, head to bottom.

23 weeks to go

 Total weight gain: -7lbs

Stretch Marks: no new ones

Sleep: pretty good

Food Craving: Ice cold water and red meat

Food Aversions: Fish, Chicken, and Bread

Labor Signs: No

Mood Swings: Yes, but I'm trying very hard to controll them

16 weeks

We have movement! I can officially feel the baby moving around. It's not really strong yet and it's not a whole lot but at night when I'm laying down I can feel him wiggling around. I'm so excited to be able to feel this little guy moving around, I told Roland and now he can't wait until he can feel our little guy to. It's so strange to think that we are going to have a little boy, I'm not sure I'll believe it until I'm holding him in my arms.
 The migraines are finally starting to ease up a little bit and so it the morning sickness, which is such a relief. I'm also starting to slowly get a little more energry back as well, which the girls are loving because mommy actually feels like playing.



Your baby measures up to an avocado, now, and weighs 3 1/2 ounces.

Length: 4 1/2 inches, head to bottom.

Only 24 more weeks to go!

Total weight gain: -7lbs

Stretch Marks: no new ones

Sleep: so so, some nights are good and others are not so good

Food Craving: Ice cream, BBQ Ribs and ice cold water

Food Aversions: Fish, Chicken (depending on how it's cooked), Bread, and Pop

Labor Signs: Just slight back cramping after I nurse Charlotte.

Mood Swings: Yes yes yes! I'm kind of a nut case, I'm sure my hubby would agree, lol.

It's a.....

Today we went and had an ultrasound done to find out if we are having a girl or a boy. Now that we know what we are having we would like to share it with all of you as well.

That is right we are pleased to say we will be having a boy! Roland was nothing but smiles when she told us and I'm over the moon.

You can see the little guys goods!

As we said before we won't be sharing this little guys name until we have him.



15 Weeks

Today I'm 15 weeks pregnant and according to babycenter.com our baby is about the size of an apple. It's kind of funny to think of your baby as the size of an apple, lol. In the last week I have had a few days of no morning sickness and then it came back all at once. The migraines haven't really been getting any better so I hope that will ease up very soon.

I had a dr's appointment on Monday for baby and me. First she tried to find baby's heartbeat with the doppler and after a minute she wasn't able to, of course this put me a bit on edge. She decided to do a quick ultrasound, she then found baby moving all around and a nice strong and steady heartbeat. Roland was very happy that he was able to see the baby for the first time as well, he just had the biggest grin plastered to his face. We were hoping she might be able to tell us what we were having but that didn't happen. We are going on Saturday afternoon to a place in town to find out what we are having and get a few good pictures of our new little one. Everything else with baby and me is going well, I have lost about 7lbs since my first dr's appt. My goal is to try not to gain any weight this pregnancy so I don't have to add to the already huge amount that I need to lose after.