Nursery planning beings

I'm finding it hard to believe we are already over 18 weeks through this remarkable journey to parenthood. I am reminded every time I look down that this is really happening as my growing belly is making itself even more evident than a week ago. Luke keeps reminding me how cute it is and I think that helps me cope a little bit with the fact that NONE of my old pants can be buttoned comfortably and attractively right now. I finally invested in a few new tops and a pair of jeans. I have never been so happy to slip on a pair of jeans with a big tummy panel. We have been talking a little bit more seriously about a nursery and have thrown around a few ideas. We have a beautiful white crib that was borrowed to us by my wonderful friend Shari, now we are looking for a dresser. I put an offer in on craigslist, lets hope it pans out. I love this DIY mobile that I found on one of my favorite blogs: younghouselove

These book shelves I found on pinterest that actually made up of $3.99 spice racks from Ikea

We will most likely take off the closet doors and convert it to something like this:

Equipped with a homemade draping that will match the home made drapes I hope to whip up.

As far as paint colors go, Obviously we want to do something a little more gender neutral, but we will add little hints of femininity or masculinity depending on what we find out December 2nd. (Countdown to gender determination has officially begun!)

We both love the idea of doing some sort of tree on the wall:

Or this:

Or this:

So, obviously we have a lot of work to do, because the nursery currently is all white and sparse with furniture, but I have no doubt that we are going to have a blast doing it all. We are also planning to get cracking on our guest bedroom as well. Wish us luck, everyone!

P.S. calling all crafty friends, your ideas and help is much appreciated :)

Baby bump, 17 weeks

17 weeks. . . this is going to be a long and large journey.

Chili con veggies

Wanted to post another delic recipe for ya'll. Since I'm trying to load up on veggies and pregnancy superfoods, I thought I'd share this one with everyone.

Chilli is an all time favorite of Luke and mine, especially at this time of year. I decided to throw together my own version of a veggie chili that is super hearty (and satisfies my constant craving for red/tomato based sauces).

Ingredients:
1 lb ground turkey (can use beef, sausage, or chicken depending on preference)
1 pint of diced tomatoes (I use tomatoes my lovely grandma canned fresh from her garden)
1 can Rotel with green chiles
1 can black beans (rinsed)
I can chili beans
1 can sweet yellow corn
1 bell pepper (diced)
1/2 package of baby carrots (diced
3 cups fresh spinach
2 T chili powder
1 T garlic salt
1 t salt
1 t pepper
1/2 C grandma Bartolo's salsa (see me for the most delicious salsa in the world)
1/2 C Ketchup
2 T hot sauce
1 t of cayenne pepper


Now the easy part:
1. Brown meat or cook accordingly (drain if necessary)
2. steam diced peppers, carrots, and spinach
3. Mix everything together!

I usually throw everything in the slow cooker in the morning, but didn't have the energy to do so this morning, so I heated to a boil on the stove, covered, and simmered for about 30 minutes (or until veggies are cooked through). Also, we like spicy in our house, so feel free to dumb down the spiciness by eliminating some of the hot stuff.

I also topped it off with a little dollop of low fat sour cream and some diced onion

Saturday cooking sesh

I finally have energy! Like- energy and motivation to do things! In the mornings, my hubby and I have been waking up before work to do some yoga, and I usually find some sort of work out to do in the afternoon, whether its a run, a walk, prenatal yoga, or weight lifting, I've been actually wanting to work out. On the completely other end of the spectrum, I woke up early on Saturday (and today) and was yearning to go grocery shopping. I can't remember the last time I have actually done my grocery routine: clipping coupons, making a list, planning menus. I've just been too tired to do these things. So I did my routine, planned menus and came home with an urge to cook for lunches this week. I made meat and spinach lasagna (YUM!), home made chicken and veggie fried rice, and not one, but two whole wheat chocolate chip banana breads. I just have to share this recipe for the lasagna because it was so delicious. I don't like ricotta cheese so you'll see I substitute a mixture of sour cream, cream cheese, and cottage cheese.

Ingredients:

9 lasagna noodles
2 Johnsonville Hot sausages (or mild if you aren't as risky as us)
1/2 lb of ground turkey
1 bag or can of spinach (fresh spinach can be used as well
32 oz pasta sauce
1 pkg cream cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 container of cottage cheese
1 pkg mozzarella cheese
1 T olive oil


Directions:

Boil lasagna noodles according to package. Remove sausage from casing and place in a pan with olive oil and ground turkey mixture. Fry until brown, drain, and return to clean frying pan. Add pasta sauce, and drained spinach to the pan, and heat on low, stirring continuously. This is usually when I add in spices to taste: garlic salt, crushed red pepper, cayanne pepper, italian seasoning, and basil (all are optional, depending on how flavored your chosen sauce is).

In a separate bowl, add in softened cream cheese, sour cream, and cottage cheese and set aside.

In the baking dish, coat the bottom of the dish with sauce, then layer noodles, sauce mixture, and cheese mixture, topping each cheese layer with mozzarella cheese. After the top layer of noodles is added, top with a thin layer of sauce mixture, mozzarella cheese, and italian seasoning.

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes, or until cheese is completely melted and slightly golden brown.

This makes a ton! We each had a big serving on Saturday and made 6 additional servings for lunches. Enjoy!

Flutters and fun

I bet if you ask any first time mother, she will remember the first time she felt the baby move. For a couple weeks now, people have been asking me, Have you felt any movement, kicks, flutters? I was really starting to worry that I wasn't feeling anything, because I remember at my 12 week ultrasound, the baby was doing flips and somersaults, and it just boggled my mind that I couldn't feel anything while that was going on inside of me. Well- for about the past week, I have been able to feel movement every now and then (usually when I'm laying in bed, absolutely still). People describe the feeling in a number of different ways, to me, it feels like little fingers fluttering back and forth, or little kernels of popcorn popping around. It is absolutely amazing to me. I just can't wait until the kicks can be felt externally, because I feel like my hand will always be on my belly.

This week was a big week for us. My lovely and amazing friend, brought over a TON of baby stuff for us that she used for her daughter (who is now 4). The items include: a crib, a changing table, a car seat, a high chair, and a bouncy thing. I'll admit, we were slightly overwhelmed, for a number of reasons. One, our nursery isn't even a nursery yet, and now doubles as a guest bed and furniture holding area, and Two, it all seems so real now. We are both so thankful and grateful to have friends like this who are willing to share their "baby stuff" with us. Once we find out the gender, we plan to get moving and grooving with the nursery. At least painting, and starting to buy little things here and there. Couldn't be more excited!

Update

I am feeling amazing- almost 16 weeks and going strong. It really is amazing because women say that in the 2nd trimester a switch goes off, and boy are they right. Well- maybe mine was more of a dimmer switched that flickered back and forth, but now my light is finally on (hope I didn’t go too far with that analogy). I currently have no nausea whatsoever, not really any food aversions, and have much more energy than I had the first couple months. I still have to peel myself out of bed in the morning, but I think that’s more of a personality trait than it is a side effect of pregnancy. I also have been a lot happier than I was the first three months. I think the count down and the worry and anxiety associated with all of the changes I was experiencing kind of dulled down my actual excitement. Now that baby is 4 ½ inches long, it seems real, and I’m feeling good, I have a lot more to be excied about.

I have been craving pasta lately. Mostly red sauce. I just can’t get enough of it. Spaghetti, with the thin noodles, any sort of meat and veggie, and a deliciously seasoned red sauce. Mmm- I wish I had some right now! Milk is something I’ve also begun craving for the first time. I find myself salivating over the thought of getting a tall, cold glass of milk when I get home from work. Not only does it satisfy my craving and refresh me, but its super good for my growing baby.

Luke and I are currently counting down the days to identifying the gender. We really had little to no discussion about whether or not we were going to find out, because- well. We both KNEW we wanted to- there was no question. I’m entirely too impatient and its much too exciting to have to wait for. Then we can buy all the cute little gender specific clothes (tutus for the girls, and little baseball gear for the boys). Ugh I can’t wait. I have an appointment scheduled for just around my 18 week mark, and I know they typically don’t do the gender ultrasound until 20 weeks, but I’m going to work my magic and hope that they’ll let us do it a little early, rather than have to wait an extra 4 weeks.

We still haven’t decided what we’re going to do for childcare during the workday. Luke and I will both work full time, my mom will watch the baby at least 1 day a week, and I’m hoping my little brother will be willing and interested in watching the baby a couple days a week too. It’s pretty convenient being that he works weekend nights. I’m trying my best not to stress about all these petty details since we’re not even ½ way through this pregnancy.

I’m also getting a huge urge to start decorating the nursery (or what will eventually be the nursery).

It's all in a name

Okay so, is it just us, or are their other couples who seem to be on completely different pages when it comes to choosing baby names. I've started to think it's never too early to start thinking about names, because, honestly, selecting a name is probably one of the only things my husband and I just can't seem to agree on. There are about 2 boy names I like, and 1 girl name I used to love, but am now so-so on. And Luke likes approximately 1 name, which also happens to be the name of this weirdy kid I had in my college English class. Eliminating names by association is probably the easiest way to remove names from your list, but what happens when youd don't have a list?

My mom was nice enough to get us a book of over 100,000 of the "best" baby names (Entitled The Complete Book of Baby Names), and boy does it have a lot of names in it! It will take me a year just to get through the thing! I will admit that in the time I have taken to look through the book, I have gotten some pretty cute ideas, though. I know, I know- you might be saying, It seems miniscule, but choosing a name is like choosing an identity for our child; he or she will have this for the rest of his/her life.

Here's a list of criteria we have so far

1. Easy to pronounce
2. Easy to read
2. Looks good on a resume (thinking far into the future)
3. Yields a good response from the people we tell
4. Doesn't remind us of some weirdy we've previously met

Easy enough, right? Wrong. Anyone have any tips as to how they chose a name?