Thursday Tidbits

My little widget says the baby is using his hands which is funny because I swore last night he was clawing his way out.  Husband was asking if there was some kicking movement, but I said nope, more like a scraping.  That was typical for Little Miss, but this is a first of the baby. 


Since Monday, Little Miss has been perfect though.  Tuesday was pleasant and then she was allowed to pick out Mother-in-Law's birthday gift.  She was very focused and knew exactly what she wanted to get so we did that yesterday.  She's been eating very well all week in part due to the fact that she has a new love affair with ham (I don't blame her).  She's also back to eating cheese after a break. 


The apartment, for the first time in awhile, isn't a total pit.  There is still too much in it, but we have to organize our storage unit eventually anyway so the boxes from Christmas can sit in a corner for now.  It's physically clean at least.  Plus, if we're not putting the Christmas stuff away, Little Miss gets a little extra time with her Christmas tree.  It takes no time to dismantle it so she can have it until we make the trip to storage.  At this rate, it could be until March. 


I have snowman plates that I usually use in the winter.  This winter, they are not coming out.  I'd take them out now, but I know they won't be put away in March so why bother.  I'll just take a year off. 


Oscar nominees are out today.  I have to figure out if I can see at least one or two movies before the awards.  I saw very few of the big movies.  Of all the movies nominated, I saw Captain Phillips and Frozen (Best Picture and Best Animated Film).  I'd see a couple of others if given the opportunity.  We'll see.  It'll depend on timing and what is still in a conveniently-located theater.

Good Golly, Make It Stop

I don't see how the teen years can be worse.  I pick up Little Miss at 6PM from Extended Day.  She is the happiest kid on the planet.  We talk all the way home.  Then, in the elevator, I thought her say a bad word.  So, I ask her what she said, and she refuses to answer.  I told her she isn't in trouble, but she needs to own up to it.  She never did, but she broke down in tears at the thought of being in trouble.  This is at 6:30.  I make her dinner, and we write a couple of more Thank You notes from Christmas, and she's ok.  Then, at 7, she won't eat and starts crying again.  She's been crying and sobbing her heart out for the last hour.  We finally brushed her teeth (while she cried) and put her to bed where she is currently crying.  Good golly.  I'm exhausted.

It sounds like Husband is having better luck and more patience than I.  That said, I took over homework last night due to a breakdown on both their parts so   I guess it all evens out.  She's still crying, but I have doubts that she'll throw up over it at least.  Night is young though.  She could go either way.

Weekend Update - Girls' Weekend

Last Thursday night, Husband flew to Vegas for his annual Boys' Trip.  Little Miss was looking forward to our weekend together.  On Friday, she was such a good helper getting herself all ready for school.  Friday night, we mostly just hung out on the couch.  I let her sleep in our bed at night. 


Little Miss slept late on Saturday.  We had a nice breakfast and then went to skating lessons.  She did awesome again.  Afterwards, we had a little snack and then she stayed to do the public skate and went around the rink for 3 laps.  Because public skate is included in the lesson, I let her dictate how long she wanted to stay.  After, we went grocery shopping.  It took forever.  She had to go to the bathroom twice (twice!) while there, and it was crowded.  So, by the time we got home, I just heated her up leftover pasta despite buying her dinner at the store.  After, she helped me clean and put away laundry a little.  She at least did the things she is responsible for like her room and then she lost interest in my things halfway through.


On Sunday, she helped me dust and sort my socks which is a task unto itself.  Then, we had lunch and went to a playdate with a classmate from school.  The girls seemed to have a really fun time.  Then, Little Miss and I went home to get ready for a friend to come over to view the Golden Globes. 


Little Miss may not be an adventurous eater, but the girl does like to try free samples at the grocery store.  I wonder if I can get the grocery store to plan what it gives away when we go there to introduce new foods.  This week, we got some deli ham which isn't new, but she doesn't usually like lunch meat.  She's since eaten a half pound of ham since Sunday. 


Husband came home Monday afternoon in the nick of time.  I needed trash taken out, lightbulbs replaced and the toilet fixed.  Also, I finally took down Christmas so the tree needed to be removed.  The apartment is just about back to normal.  It should be closer after the long weekend when I have a block of time to reorganize a bit.


It was an exhausting weekend full of running around, but it was worth it.  I also made some homemade chicken nuggets last night for Little Miss (which I don't count as new food) and she declared them "the best".  So, some days I get things right.  Last night, during homework, Little Miss wrote three full sentences, spelled words correctly that I didn't even know she knew, and just wowed me with her knowledge.  Based on an article I read about preparing for First Grade, she's well on her way. 

Side Dishes of Note

I'm not even going to bother posting a recipe because I changed it or it's so very basic.  Last weekend, I bought a pre-seasoned pork tenderloin.  It wasn't my original plan, but it worked well.  As sides, I roasted broccoli and made mashed potatoes.


For the roasted broccoli, I made florets from a handful of heads of broccoli.  I sprayed a baking sheet, drizzled olive oil down and maybe salt and pepper.  I added 4-5 garlic cloves and stuck it in the oven at 425 degrees for 20 minutes or until it started to brown.  After it came out, I sprinkled some lemon juice and parmesan cheese.  The original recipe had some lemon zest and pine nuts, but I didn't want it too lemon-y and I was too cheap to buy pine nuts.


For the mashed potatoes, I boiled mashed potatoes and then added a heavy cream, butter and roasted garlic mixture.  Beforehand, I threw 2 heads of garlic in a 425 degree oven which nicely preheated it for the broccoli.  Then, I threw the liquid in with the drained potatoes and whipped.  I don't normally whip as I prefer mashed, but there was a mess and a minor kitchen disaster so I ended up whipping them.  They still tasted good.  I cut back on the amount of heavy cream and butter than the recipe called for so they weren't as moist as they probably could have been, but they were still good.  They could have used some salt, but I notoriously don't salt anything.  I salted the potato water, but I can see where some salt and pepper would add a lot to the dish.


I have never roasted broccoli before, but I think it was delicious and really flavorful.  Potatoes are potatoes for me.  We agree on roasted potatoes more, but mashed potatoes are a nice treat every so often and really hit the spot.

Weekend Update - Ice Skating

Last weekend went by in a blur.  On Friday, I worked from home because it was super icy in my neighborhood, and I didn't want to risk the walk to work.  Schools were closed.  However, Husband took Little Miss into work with him so I got to actually work in peace.  I partially tidied up the apartment after work hours.  Husband and Little Miss came home late, but we had some family time in the evening.


On Saturday, Little Miss had her first ice skating lesson.  It went well.  Only a few kids had ever been on skates before so Little Miss was a little ahead of them, but she enjoyed herself quite a bit.  We went home, had lunch and took a nap afterwards.  Then, I woke up and went to bookclub while Little Miss had a Daddy Night. 


At around 2:30AM, Little Miss woke up upset over something.  Husband was begging her to let him know what was wrong so he could fix it and, around 3AM, the fire alarm went off.  As it is better safe than sorry, we bundled Little Miss up (luckily, she fell asleep with her clothes on) and walked down 16 flights of stairs to the lobby.  By the time we got there, we were told it was a prank.  Luckily, we didn't have to go outside.  Little Miss loved walking down the stairs.  As a treat, I brought her something to drink and a snack as incentive.  I grabbed a few other things like my purse and phone which I did not grab the last time we evacuated, but I like to think I have the capability to learn.  We all went back up (by way of elevator) and went right back to sleep - and slept late on Sunday morning!


On Sunday, it was a very lazy day full of good intentions.  The only thing that really got done was some grocery shopping, and there wasn't much choice in that matter.  Next weekend should be fun though.  Husband is going to Vegas on his annual boys' trip, and Little Miss is looking forward to a girls' weekend.  We'll see what actually pans out, but it should be fun regardless. 

Week 23

Week 23!  That's just ridiculous.  The doctor appointment last week was uneventful.  I'm measuring exactly where I should be.  The doctor is pleased with size and shape and weight.  Baby still has a heartbeat.  We're in good shape at the just barely over halfway point.  According to this site, the baby is the size of a grapefruit (though according to other sources, the fruit can vary - staying with this site to be consistent) and should be around a pound or a pound and a quarter.  As with last time, no swelling of the ankles.


I'm still fitting in prepregnancy clothes more or less - no to the button-downs or some of the shorter shirts. With belly band help, I can still wear the slim cropped Gap pants I bought last week. My goal is to still fit into these pants afterwards. Otherwise, the sale wasn't helpful. I should be able to which would be great because I bought like 4 pairs. I was so excited they fit because it's so hard to find maternity pants, and it is too cold to wear a skirt or dress. This will become more challenging in the next month or so, I'm sure, but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.  My skin has been dry so I've been trying to be better about moisturizing. Other than that, no other symptoms other than ones that will never make the blog.


The baby is still active, much more active than Little Miss even at her most active. She stretched and rolled, but this one is a kicker - in the morning, middle of the afternoon and late at night. It's a lot like clockwork. She's been super cute with her baby brother. She talks to him and treats him like he's a person already - saying goodbye or goodnight, giving kisses. It's very cute. She's been very accepting of my limitations and has really become quite helpful around the house. She cleans her room more than I clean mine. She picks things up off the floor. I'm sure she'll not be as enthusiastic once he's here, but I have confidence she'll still be a pretty good helper.


We have a name, it's the boy name leftover from Little Miss. As with Little Miss, I won't use it regularly on the blog, but it's not a secret. I think I even have a nickname for him eventually for blog use, but I may keep with tradition and call him Baby for the first year as I did with Little Miss. Then, I'll transition to a nickname that fits him.

Weekend Update - Christmas!

Christmas week was a blur. Little Miss had off from school. She came to the office with me for a couple of hours, but she had a lot of Daddy time. On Tuesday, we went to Christmas Eve Mass at church after I worked a half day. Then, we hosted the In-Laws and Brother-in-Law, Sister-in-Law and Nephew for dinner. On Christmas, we opened a lot of presents and then went to Brother-in-Law, Sister-in-Law and Nephew's apartment for dinner. The kids played very well together and were very patient to open presents. Little Miss received the soundtrack to Frozen which has been playing non-stop since Christmas morning. She also received ice skates, books, clothes and other items. All were big hits.

The day after Christmas, we went to my parents' house and met up with them and Sister, her boyfriend and Nephew. We didn't do too much that first day, but the kids did open presents and played. On Friday, the crew went skiing and snowboarding while Husband and I took Little Miss ice skating. She loved it. We forgot her helmet at home, but she did great. She got right back up again every time she fell - and she had a couple of bad spills. We felt bad. She fell flat on her face which left a mark (or three) and then fell a final time that resulted in the end of skating.

On Saturday, Sister, her boyfriend, Nephew and Little Miss went tubing. It was a beautiful day, very mild so it wasn't bad sitting out and watching them. This baby has been inconvenient in my winter sports schedule. After 2 hours of tubing, Little Miss wanted to go ice skating and then skated for a couple of hours. I don't know how she did it. We went to the house for dinner and then took off for home.

On Sunday, Little Miss and I slept late and then went to The Kennedy Center to see the Mo Willems's Elephant & Piggy We Are In a Play! We had a blast. Little Miss loved the Metro and shuttle. She made instant friends with a little girl on the shuttle. I was a pushover and bought her a plush Knuffle Bunny which hasn't left her side since. It was a really great holiday, and I'm trying not to think about the zoo next year will be with a baby.

Week 22

Month 5?! How did that happen? Based on this link, the average fetus measures about 10.5 to 11.8 inches and weighs about 12.7 to 20.8 ounces. There has been a lot more activity in the last week or so, more consistent movement. There seems to be a little in the morning when my alarm goes off, some after meals, but the big party is usually between 10-12 at night. Some rolling but mostly strong kicks whereas Little Miss rolled a lot and stretched, but she wasn't a kicker.

The belly has expanded as expected, but I'm still mostly in non-maternity clothes (which doesn't mean that my 2 pairs of maternity pants aren't appreciated). I'm trying to squeeze in as many months as possible in non-maternity clothes with the aid of elastic bands and my belly band. It's so hard to find maternity clothes that aren't too big or way too long, and I refuse to spend the money to alter clothes for a couple of months. My winter coats should work through the thick of it. My mom bought me a trapeze coat which is adjustable, but it's not as warm as my other coats, and it's a walk to and from the Metro. I'm more active this time around with the walk to and from the Metro which helps, I think. I'm still awkward enough that it makes me question the importance of anything I drop on the floor. Fun time though. This is the time where you start to look pregnant but can still do things without being a total cow.

My next appointment is tomorrow actually. I'm thinking things should go well unless the doctor wants to discuss the ultrasound a couple of weeks ago.

Week 21

Week 21 information can be found here. In short, the average measurements are 10.5 inches and about 12.7 ounces, and he's big enough now that you've probably been feeling his movements. Based on last week's measurements, our weight is slightly more than that, but we're doing well on size so far.

I've been feeling a lot of activity though it was quiet yesterday. This morning, I felt movement higher up so there's movement all over the place. Before this morning, all the kicking has been very low. Little Miss finally got to feel the kicks. I think she was expecting something more exciting. She keeps asking Santa to get toys for her baby brother. We did get a stocking. Santa isn't bringing toys, but the little boy will be getting his first Jets onesies. Little Miss should be satisfied with that unless I find some little toy to put in the temporary stocking.

I've grown quite a bit in the last few weeks, and it may freak me out that we're only halfway through. Still, it is a comfort to know most of my maternity clothes are still too big. I can still wear a lot of non-pregnancy clothes - shirts, cardigans and jeans if I'm creative. I have been itchy with the growing, but it hasn't been unbearable if I remember to moisturize. I didn't get any stretch marks the first time, but this time, I can see some. The funny thing is that my stretch marks are clear so you can only see them if the light hits them just right, just around the belly button. I moisturized a lot the first time. Not that anybody sees my belly, but I'm glad they're not completely hideous. I mean, it's worth it for a beautiful baby blah blah blah.

Oh, we do have a name.  That part was easy.  We had a boy name and a girl name when Little Miss was born.  We just carried over the boy name.  Having a name and gender helps me a lot.  Otherwise, I'm not one of those mothers who just bonds with the being growing inside her.  I kind of ignore it most of the time except when I have to (not gracefully) get up from the couch.  Generally, it's not until we meet that I connect though.  I need a face because the 3D one doesn't do it for me.  Even then, I remember being like "wait, we did that" every time I looked at Little Miss as a newborn.  Bizarre.

New Foods Report

I was on my own for dinner the other day and wanted something quick and easy so I tried this. It wasn't bad. When I heated it up for a second little bowl, I did add some chicken stock I had leftover. It helped. It actually did get better for leftovers though with the chicken stock and some salt and pepper. I notoriously don't salt and pepper anything, but this one needs a little taste. I bet a little crushed red pepper flakes would be good, too.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces sweet Italian sausage
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 cup vertically sliced onion
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1 1/4 pounds tomatoes, chopped
• 6 tablespoons grated fresh pecorino Romano cheese, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 cup torn fresh basil leaves

Preparation

1. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat; drain.
2. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Remove casings from sausage. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add sausage and onion to pan; cook 4 minutes, stirring to crumble sausage. Add garlic; cook 2 minutes. Stir in tomatoes; cook 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in pasta, 2 tablespoons cheese, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cheese and basil.

On Sunday, I made a salad to go along with this dish my friend made.  I think they complimented each other nicely or could be combined if you're creative like that.  It was super easy even if it's weird to cook a salad.
 

• Roast cubed butternut squash for 45 minutes in 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 tablespoon maple syrup, salt and pepper.
• Prepare bed of fresh arugula (I used mixed greens.).
• Lay roasted squash over arugula.
• Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of toasted and slivered walnuts over squash and arugula (I used slivered almonds).
• Drizzle dressing over top and sprinkle fresh grated parmesan or pecorino romano over it.

Recipe for Dressing

• Good olive oil
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 3/4 cup apple cider or apple juice or orange juice
• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons minced shallots
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

Combine the apple cider/apple juice/orange juice, apple cider vinegar, and shallots in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, until the liquid is reduced to about 1/4 cup. Take off the heat, whisk in the mustard, 1/2 cup olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper. Serve while squash is warm: it will slightly wilt the arugula.

It was a little more mustardy than I care for so I made a quick little vinaigrette with the cider vinegar.  I think any slightly sweet dressing would compliment the squash, but I also think the salad stood on its own.  That said, I could have been happy with just the butternut squash for lunch so I suppose it depends on your preference.

Weekend Update - It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Last Friday, it's a pretty good bet that I went to bed early. I don't remember. Friday is usually the day I try to do as little as possible. On Saturday, Little Miss and I sort of met friends at the Botanical Gardens. We met up with friends, but Little Miss was collecting stamps so couldn't stop and chat and then they had to go. Afterwards, we met with Sister-in-Law and Nephew though. In the meantime, Little Miss and I took lots of pictures and enjoyed the unseasonably warm weather. The four of us went to lunch and then Little Miss and I went home. I napped, and she may or may not have. That night, Little Miss went to bed while I stayed up and watched Saturday Night Live while it actually aired on television. Weird!

On Sunday, I woke up with Little Miss for our morning routine of playing board games.  I lost as is tradition - and not because I fix the games so she wins.  Then, I had a Christmas lunch with my friends.  Yummy food, good friends followed by gifts and pedicures is the way to celebrate a holiday.  I'll post the recipe in a separate post in case you want to give it a go.  We've been on a good new food kick lately.  I've decided that Husband and I need to try a new food a week instead of Little Miss (or in addition to anyway).  We've fallen off the new food wagon.  When I got home Sunday, I tidied a little when I realized how little time I had to do so this week before we hosted Christmas Eve and played more board games with Little Miss.  She received Monopoly Junior for Christmas so far, and I've lost a couple of rounds of that game.  The rules are much easier with the junior version, but the kid will be a great Monopoly player.  She hates spending money and is very particular on what she purchases.  She's an evil landlord, too. 

Week 20

We're halfway there! Not scary at all. Really. You can find more information here, but we had the big 20 week ultrasound. The radiologist and tech estimated the baby weighs about 13 ounces but is measuring a couple of days behind where we are which is normal and doesn't mean too much. It's not an exact science and the due date is probably a little off. It was confirmed that it is a boy (again). He is still very active, mostly at night. All the ultrasound photos were blurry because he was constantly moving hands, legs and body. Everything seems to be progressing as it should, no cause for alarm.  Unfortunately, Husband had to work and couldn't make the ultrasound, but I brought my mom.  It was nice to have someone with me, and she had a lot of enthusiasm and would have asked the same questions Husband would have had.

Poor Little Miss is very eager to feel the baby move and hasn't had any luck so far.  Maybe this weekend, I'll have a bit of chocolate and see if she'll get lucky.  He seems to quiet down whenever she is near or talks to him.  Last night, she was quiet so he didn't know she was there and she just barely felt some movement. Next doctor's appointment is in two weeks.

Weekend Update - Christmas Preparations

I'm pretty sure we did nothing on Friday which is our favorite activity - though I think I tidied up a little. On Saturday, Little Miss was picked up at noon to do some holiday preparations with the In-Laws and to spend the night at their apartment. This gave Husband and I the oppportunity to make and freeze 211 potato and cheese pierogi. Husband made the filling the night before, but we have a nice system down to making them. I hooked up the iPad and watched a movie while he watched college football. We were a well-oiled machine. We were done in time to watch Saturday Night Live. 

We slept late on Sunday. I hit the grocery store in the afternoon and then Little Miss came home. The weekend seemed like it flew (because it did).

Week 19

The baby is the size of a mango which always makes me want to have a margarita because that's how I like my mangoes. He is 6" long and about 8 ounces. You can find more here.

Last weekend, there was definitely a party in my tummy (inside joke for those who have the Yo Gabba Gabba soundtrack). Even Husband got to feel a few kicks and said he expected the baby to break out of confinement at any moment. It's been pretty quiet since then though. I felt some flutters with Little Miss, but she wasn't a kicker. This is quite unmistakable.

The doctor appointment was pretty uneventful. I gained a little weight from 4 weeks ago, but I lost a little from 2 weeks ago, but overall they were happy. I'm much bigger despite my weight dipping ever so slightly. I fit into practically nothing except the same few pieces of clothing, but I don't quite fit into maternity clothes which is so very helpful. Hope work enjoys the few outfits I wear because they'll see them a lot. Maybe I'll buy some scarves or big earrings to throw them off.  This time, he found a heartbeat right away which was nice and less stressful.  We have our big 20-week ultrasound to check on the development and verify gender next Wednesday.  So, that'll be our next milestone and opportunity to exhale a little more.

 

Weekend Update - Breakfast with Santa (and Nephew)

On Friday, I met a friend for dinner (well, she had a snack and I had yummy Pad Thai) and a movie. It was really relaxing and fun. The local theater was redone early this year and now has full recliners so you get a nice roomy, comfortable seat. You do need to reserve your seat so you have to buy your parties' tickets together, but it's a small price to pay for the ultimate comfort.

A long time ago, we promised Nephew that he could have a sleepover. We had already rescheduled a couple of times, and it finally happened.

He arrived on Saturday, and he and Little Miss played really well together building with this fort kit we have (it's really giant tinker toys). Then, he brought a SpongeBob gingerbread set to decorate. The three of us did that for a few minutes before the kids got bored, and I had to finish it up. I'm blaming the kids though because it looked like a 6 and 8 year old decorated it. They probably could have done a better job.

They bickered a bit the rest of Saturday, and we thoroughly underestimated how long the bedtime routine would take, but they finally fell asleep. They have totally different sleep habits between lots of night lights and very few night lights, between silence and music. So, it took awhile for them to settle down.

On Sunday, they woke early and played. Husband and I lounged in bed for a little while, but then it started to snow and the kids were super excited and came in to tell us. At that point, we got up and got ready for Breakfast with Santa. The kids were great (though ours was admittedly cranky). We had French toast or pancakes, sausage and juice and then the kids met Santa. The pictures came out really cute. After Nephew headed home, Little Miss and I baked chocolate peanut butter cup brownies and then took a little nap. Then, it was dinner, eating the brownies and bedtime again.

The power went out Sunday night a couple of times so Little Miss was a little unsettled, and we all slept poorly, but Husband and Little Miss stayed home which probably helped. Little Miss had a snow day while Husband had a delay but worked from home. I was jealous, but I had a lot of work to do and got most of it done so it all worked out for the best.

Oh, I forgot!  Saturday morning, we finished decorating the tree so we're officially decorated for Christmas.  We have a handful of Nativity scenes, one of which is the Fisher Price one.  It is a massive set that spans most of our living room.  It was nice to see it get some play this year for the first time in the 3 years we've had it.  Now if only Little Miss wouldn't set off all of the sound features at the same time, we'd be good.

Make Room

We haven't really put much thought to where to put the baby.  To start, he'll go in our room so Little Miss can get some sleep because someone in the apartment should.  Little Miss asked where he would sleep when he came.  He said he could sleep in her room.  She would just need some room to get out of bed.  So, she gestured and said, "Here could be the crib" and then another gesture, "and here is some room" and then another gesture, "and here's my bed."  We thought it was very generous of her, and she may have to share her room, but he wouldn't start off there.  When we told her how often babies wake up in the night, she agreed.

When You Should Call for Your Mommy in the Middle of the Night

Last week, Little Miss went to bed late after our Hanukkah party.  I was frustrated because I hate to get up out of bed when I'm sleeping.  Also, I knew Monday morning was going to be challenging because she went to bed late.  Husband offered to get up, but she told him she needed me.  So, I was ready to sternly tell her to go back to sleep.  I went trudging to her bedroom and, when I got there, she was covered in her own blood (well, I like to assume it was her own).  I'll give the kid this one.  Good call on calling for Mommy. 

She stayed pretty calm though her eyes showed a bit of panic.  I got her tissues while I stripped the bed and, once she was done with the tissues, we washed her face and hands up and got new pajamas.  She went to bed pretty quickly after that, but I left her some extra tissues just in case.

The next day, Husband said he could have helped her, but she told him it was big so she needed Mommy.  It's flattering, but I also really love my sleep.

Weekend Update - Long Weekend

Thanksgiving went well.  The day after Thanksgiving, we traditionally get out tree.  Husband had to do some work, and then I wasn't feeling well so we did nothing. 

Saturday morning, we did get our tree - quickly in the next town over versus traveling an hour away to cut our own.  Last year, we had such a great tree.  From the way this current tree is drinking water, we may have great luck again.  After we got the tree, Little Miss and I met a friend for lunch and a movie.  Little Miss loves going out with the girls so it was fun.  Then, we went home for dinner and a quiet evening.

On Sunday, we did some tidying up and then went to a party at a friend's house to celebrate Hanukkah.  Little Miss has been obsessed with Hanukkah since last year.  She played games, received presents and got to light the menorah.  She asked for a menorah, but it was a little too late on the fifth night.  I told her she could have one next year if she wanted.  We got home after bedtime, but she was good about going right to bed.  We were pretty sure Monday was going to be a rude awakening after such a long weekend.

Books Read in November 2013

1. If Only by Cherise Sinclair  (NOTE:  This is part of the Masters of the Shadowlands series.  The order of which can be found here.)
2. Rumor Has It by Jill Shalvis  (NOTE:  This is part of the Animal Magnetism series.  The order of which can be found here.)
3. The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick  (NOTE:  This is part of the Mother-Daughter Book Club series.  The order of which can be found here.)
4. Dark Witch by Nora Roberts  (NOTE:  This is part of the Cousin O’Dwyer trilogy.  This is the first book in the trilogy. You can find the release order for the rest of the trilogy (and the rest of Nora Roberts’s book for the year) here.)

The month wasn’t bad. I read all of these in the beginning of the month before starting the book club book which took me about a month to finish. You’ll see that one in December. No big standouts, but I enjoyed each of them. The books in the series were compelling enough that I’m frustrated by the long wait for the next book though The Mother-Daughter Book Club series is complete so I do have the second book ready to go. I usually take a break because the series is for much (much) younger readers so I can only handle so much at once of 6th grade angst.

Movies Watched in November 2013

1. This is 40
2. Frozen

Very lackluster movie month (and I have a feeling December will be just as bad). This is 40 was what I expected but mostly because I heard a lot of reviews about it before viewing. I liked it, but it was more of a drama than a comedy. Frozen was adorable. Little Miss had trouble sitting through the entire movie, but she has picked favorite characters and loved the music. I bought her the soundtrack for Christmas, but it did sell out so I’m hoping it arrives before then. If not, I get the free mp3 version which should satisfy her until it arrives.  It amuses me that her favorite character is Elsa, the sister who spends the least amount of time on screen. 

Week 18

Week 18 is ridiculous! We're just shy of halfway through. The baby is the size of a sweet potato according to this. Typically, the baby could be yawning, hiccuping and the like. This makes sense because Little Miss hiccuped her way through her first ultrasound video. This little one is already active based on previous peeks in there. Lots of kicking (whereas Little Miss was more of a roller than a kicker). 

I can still fit into my pre-pregnancy tops and pants (with some cheats), but it's a close fit. I may be able to get some more wear out of anything with a little give, but I think I'm in a final countdown to when my button-down blouses get packed away. I'm lucky that I never got high blood pressure or any swollen feet or ankles. I'm hoping to be as lucky this time. I haven't gotten any epic bloody noses this time which is nice. Overall, no complaints. Oh, if only a woman could live in the second trimester forever. 

I go to the doctor on Friday for a check up.  I'd like one check up where things go smoothly.  I don't think that's too much to ask, but the little one disagrees.  We should get our 20-week ultrasound/sonogram appointment as well which is exciting as it's been a whole month since we got to peek in.

 

Weekend Update - Where Are My Forest Creatures?

So, the weekend before Thanksgiving, we just cleaned.  We found a home for everything and cleaned up almost everything.  A bug hit our home so Little Miss and Husband weren't feeling well, but we made do.  Little Miss went to the In-Laws' apartment for some cookie decorating and a sleepover.  She wasn't feeling well in the morning, but she perked up by the afternoon.  We spent the entire weekend cleaning - tidying mostly.

Also, there was a lot of sleep.  It would be much easier if woodland creatures did my cleaning.

We hosted my parents for Thanksgiving.  I had a half day of work on Wednesday and then Thursday and Friday off.  On Monday, I left work early so I was all set to go to Doctor Who airing in 3D IMAX.  I met a friend to see it, and it was worth it.  On Tuesday, I had the morning off to see Little Miss's Thanksgiving show.  The kids were super cute.  The weather was horrendous - cold and rainy.  On Wednesday, I head home after work in the cold and rain to do the last of the cleaning.

On Thursday, Little Miss and I woke up to play some games, and then she helped me make the veggies and cranberry sauce.  Then, we did the last of the cleaning.  Dinner was pretty good with the family and we've been gladly eating leftovers ever since.

Week 17

This week, Baby is the size of an onion and, according to this, gaining weight and getting bigger. I definitely feel the baby getting bigger. I officially hit the point where I didn't just eat a big dinner. I look pregnant (and I also ate a big dinner).

I think I've felt the baby, but I'm always horrible figuring that out. No growing pains this week though I occasionally have trouble catching my breath. It's been a pretty busy week so not much thought to the little guy. He'll get his attention later - or whenever I try to get up off a couch.

Weekend Update - Naps Are Our Friend

Last weekend, nothing much happened despite grand plans to clean the apartment.  On Saturday, Little Miss and I played every board game we own.  I lost almost every single one of them from Guess Who to Old Maid to Candyland to Chutes and Ladders to I Spy.  Then, Little Miss and I had lunch and took a nap.  In the late afternoon, I took a shower and pretty much did nothing until it was time to go to bed.  In my defense, I had a pretty bad headache. 

On Sunday, Little Miss and I met Sister-in-Law and Nephew at the mall for holiday pictures.  It went successfully.  Then, we had lunch and walked around the mall.  To my disappointment, we found nothing that was worth waiting in line for.  Little Miss wanted a pair of fingerless gloves (on sale) but not enough to stand in line.  So, we left.  She napped when we got home for a little while, and I relaxed a bit on the couch watching some tv.  I regretted not taking a nap later though.

That was the entire weekend.  It was pretty low-key though not as low key as this coming up weekend.  It'll sound like absolute excitement compared the coming up weekend. 

Week 16

So, according to this week, the baby is the size of an avocado which has made me want guacamole all week long. The baby is listening to my voice, thanks to tiny bones forming in the ears, growing hair, lashes and eyebrows. And the baby is forming taste buds. That's a pretty big week. Big like my waistline.

I had some growing pains this week which makes sense as the belly seemed to come out of nowhere this week. Also, I went to the doctor for my blood test (to check for genetic anonalies - the last test unless we need further testing) and discovered I gained all the weight I lost in the first trimester. During the last 2 weeks. So, that made the nurse happy. I knew I was up to the challenge. And I surpassed 100 pounds (just barely) which always freaks me out a little. It's just a number, and I'm not seriously freaked out, but it always seems so much bigger than anything slightly smaller.  I go back in 2 weeks and then we get the big 20 week ultrasound.  Exciting times. 

 

Week 15

You can find additional information here, but "the average fetus at 15 weeks weighs 2.5 ounces and measures 4 inches -- and his proportions are becoming even more normal, since his legs now outmeasure his arms."

My goals this week were to gain weight and hydrate. Last week, the doctor noted that the amniotic fluid looked low, but this could be because I'm the worst at hydration so this week, I got back on the bandwagon. So, if you can't find me, chances are I'm in the restroom. As for the weight, I've lost about 5 pounds since prepregnancy which is a lot for me. Too bad I couldn't do this while not pregnant, but I guess life doesn't work that way. I wasn't even that ill during the first trimester. I attribute this to being asked to go on the gestational diabetes diet early. I may have to take a break and carb up through the holiday. Truthfully, at this point, because the baby is measuring an average size, the weight loss isn't that much of a concern.

I do officially hate all my clothes yet even in my hatred, I understand that maternity clothes are a big waste of money. It's going to cause a problem when I want to wear pants during the winter months and only have 2 pairs though. I'll have to figure something out but I'm not there yet. Thanks to some MacGuyver like moves, my prepregnancy pants still work - they're just working extra hard. As for movement, the internet says around 16 weeks for first-time moms (though I was more like 30 weeks because I was the most unintuitive mom out there) or earlier. I thought I felt some movement this week though.

 

Weekend Update - Where Did It Go?

I suppose, in all honest, many are still on their weekend.  I am working this Veterans' Day though.

I had good intentions (ok, some intention) to clean this past weekend.  We watched a little tv on Friday instead.  Then, we just got busy and lazy.  I should amend that to say I got busy and lazy because Little Miss actually did a fantastic job cleaning her room. 

On Saturday, I met college friends and their children for brunch.  It was great catching up.  I don't think I've seen them in about 10 years.  After, I went home to take a quick nap to try to rid myself of a headache before going to a six-year-old's birthday party.  I think it was kind of pointless, but I can't imagine what the headache would have been like if I hadn't rested first.  So, when I got home, I rested some more to completely rid myself of it.

On Sunday, we got up to get Christmas portraits done with Nephew.  Before we left, Little Miss and I spent time together in the morning where she spent the time reading her school paperwork and asked for an impromtu lesson on the difference between commas and "capostrophes".  So, we had a little schooling.  She then went to finish all her school work she didn't have time to finish throughout the week because she wasn't assigned any weekend homework to do.  Seriously, who does this?

Getting dressed, I noticed that I bought Little Miss's dress a size too small by accident.  After calling the store, I was told that I would have to send it back to get a refund (minus shipping costs), but I decided to take it to the mall just in case.  I was going to be there anyway.  To skip ahead, Gap Kids did give me a refund with no question at all.  So, thumbs up Gap Kids.  Also, thumbs up for having a bathroom in your store.  It was a lifesaver.  Anyway, the portraits came out well, I thought.  After, we did lunch at The Cheesecake Factory which is never a bad idea.  Then, we said farewell to Sister and Nephew while we walked around. 

While at the mall, we saw that the Santa display was up.  I told Little Miss we could walk around, but we weren't doing Santa that day.  Even though she looks like a big girl, she really wanted to see Santa.  The display made it appear like it snowed inside, and she had a blast just walking around.  I promised her we'd see Santa closer to Christmas.

I also promised my free monthly chocolate from Godiva to Little Miss.  She talked me into a chocolate turkey for $6.95.  However, when we checked out, the woman said if I spent $10, I'd get $10 off.  So, we picked up a second chocolate turkey and our entire receipt was $3 and change.  So, I had to buy more to pay less.  Good day indeed.

Last night, Little Miss spent the night at the In-Laws' apartment so I took that opportunity to go to bed early. 

Halloween

It looks like I forgot Halloween.  Little Miss was a bumblebee.  Nephew was obviously Captain America.  We had our ultrasound so my dad picked up Little Miss from school, and we all met at my parents' house.  After dinner, the kids (and parents) went door-to-door for a little over an hour.  It was a lot of fun despite the little bit of drizzle.  Because of work, this is the first Halloween Husband has participated in since her first two. 

Weekend Update - You Say It's My Birthday

All of last week, I was battling a head cold.  On Friday, I cleaned a little, but it was a busy week, and I was just exhausted.  So, I went to bed.  Saturday was Little Miss's birthday party for which I woke up early.  I cleaned the house and started cooking, but as it always happens, we were running behind.  My parents came early to help and in the nick of time!  We were still maybe a few minutes late, but it wasn't that bad.  I don't think it affected the party at all.  It was chaos, but I think Little Miss had fun.

Father-in-Law made the cake and cupcakes which were the hit of the party.  Everyone had compliments.  Little Miss was showered with gifts.  Her favorites included glitter paint (from Mom), Cinderella Uno Cards (from Brother-in-Law) and some new board games.  She also received a lot of arts and crafts sets which she'll enjoy.  Some of the presents were very nostalgic like Connect Four and Lite Brite.  It makes me feel not as old to see her play with the same toys and games that I enjoyed.

On Saturday night, we had a quiet night.  Little Miss and I played some of her new games before bed.  Then, we all crashed fairly early after scavenging and eating leftovers from the party food.

On Sunday, Little Miss and I woke up early to go to a birthday party.  It was rushed, but she had a good time and had a good nap in the afternoon.  After the rest, we played another new game.  She's becoming quite the winner - and trash talker.  It's kind of hilarious even if I'm trying to make her a good sport at the same time.  We did dinner, bath and bed last night, but it was a rough night.  She was a little clingy and had trouble staying asleep which had to do with the nap and some itchy skin.  She's been a little clingier than usual, but as she put it so succinctly this morning, "I miss you except tomorrow (when she's with her cousin), and then I'll forget about you."  So, it's nice to know where I stand.  Good weekend, but I need a weekend to recover!

Week 14

This week's information can be found here, but baby is the size of a lemon or 3 1/2" inches long which is probably close to accurate. We were a little over 3" long last week during our ultrasound. Based on last week, the little one was busy kicking and moving around. In all the ultrasounds, he's been quite active which exhausts me just thinking about it.

We had our next doctor appointment Friday morning, but I expect hope all will go well. I can't imagine anything popping up since last Thursday's ultrasound. I'm not sure if they'll do the next set of blood tests tomorrow or the next appointment, but this month should be relatively uneventful before the big 20 week scan. Meanwhile, Little Miss really wishes she could hear the heartbeat. She'll be excited once she'll be able to feel him move, I bet. Knowing my intuition, she'll feel him before I do. I didn't recognize movement with Little Miss until practically birth. 

Update:  Blood test in 2 weeks so no needles on Friday.  That was good.  The little bugger was too busy moving to get a heartbeat, but we took a quick super low-res ultrasound of it and saw that everything was ok.  There were some other little items to watch, but all is good.  We go back in 4 weeks and then get our order for the big ultrasound to check progress and confirm gender again.

Books Read in October 2013

1. Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman
2. Drawn Together by Lauren Dane  (NOTE:  This is part of the Brown Family series. The order of which can be found here.
3. The Untamed Mackenzie by (NOTE: This is part of the Mackenzie/Highland Pleasures series - the order of which can be found here)
4. The Wicked Deeds of Daniel Mackenzie by (NOTE: This is part of the Mackenzie/Highland Pleasures series - the order of which can be found here)

Decent month – not too few or too many. Orange is the New Black was for book club, and I found it very interesting. The other three were romance which were fast and enjoyable reads. I do enjoy the Mackenzie series and, despite mixed reviews, I enjoyed it. It was a challenging character, but I love seeing characters redeemed, even the ones you think cannot be redeemed at all.

Movies Watched in October 2013

1. Captain Phillips

It was another pathetic movie month this month. I did at least make it to the theater for this one. It was a well done movie, and we got to see it in the theater that has recliners which is always a plus. I highly recommend this viewing pleasure. I like having my feet up only, but you can pretty much fully recline. It’s glorious. The movie was pretty good, too.

Random Tidbits

1. Little Miss threw a tantrum on Tuesday because I wouldn't let her finish all of her homework for the week.  I'm the meanest mom ever.  This was also due in part because she was unhappy with how the finished product kept coming out.  Our solution was that she do Tuesday's homework and the rest on Wednesday.  We worked through the challenge of drawing a perfect dog and drew a snake instead. 
2. Little Miss loves homework.  It's ridiculous.  She is aware that she's only in kindergarten which is why she enjoys it and that she probably won't in a couple of years.  Still, even on the weekend, she'll take quizzes on the little tablet she got for her birthday last year.  For fun.  Seriously, she takes quizzes for fun. 
3. I'm at the awkward stage where prepregnancy clothes are too tight (my shirt on Monday was working extra hard), but maternity clothes are too big.  However, I've somewhat passed the point where I just looked like I gained 5 pounds from a big lunch which is good.  I'm lucky in that this is when, belly aside, I'm my leanest.  All my weight goes to the belly and the rest kind of migrates there.  That said, it all shifts back after I stop breastfeeding (unless I do something drastic like exercise).
4. I had forgotten the growing pains of pregnancy.  I remembered the sickness and the congestion (though glad I never got the bloody noses this time around), but I forgot the growing belly pains.  Ouch. 
5. I feel bad that our Christmas tree farm is closed, but it used to take us the entire day to drive out there, pick a tree and drive back to set it up.  We found a place that is much closer and still a little privately-owned place.  It should take us maybe an hour to do.  I'm looking forward to relaxing the day after Thanksgiving now.  What we save in gas is used in buying a mini pointsettia for Little Miss though.  They're so cute (as is she), and it's hard to resist when she asks for something so little.  Some days I feel like we just say no to her all the time.  I mean, I packed her snack for school (Wheat Thins), and she thanked me like I'd given her a giant cupcake.  Gratitude is nice, but I don't feel like Wheat Thins are worth a hug and declaration that I'm the best mom ever.  It's nice she thinks so if only for the moment.

Car Conversations

Last night, Little Miss and I drove out to my parents' house during rush hour traffic.  We got to talking about a great number of things.  At one point, I asked Little Miss if she was going to help her brother with his homework.  Her response was outrage.

"Mommy, I'm not going to remember the things I did as a CHILD!"

And that was the end of that.

Presidents

My mom, and Husband to a certain extent, are history buffs.  Both know all the presidents.  My mom has challenged her grandchildren (this began with my cousins who did not take her up on the challenge) to learn the presidents.  For achieving this goal, there is a great sum of money earned.  Nephew did this last year at the age of 7.  We may be able to do that as well if not surpass that age. 

Little Miss has learned the first ten presidents, first and last names.  I told her she only needed to learn the last names, but she would have none of that.  I'm also hoping my mom doesn't take points away for mispronunciation because Martin Van Buren is a little tricky for her.  Her extra points for learning first and last names should carry her.

Regardless, her favorite (so far) is John Tyler. In the book that we have, John Tyler is surrounded by marbles. I ran across this today. I don't have the heart to tell her it's a myth. She'll have to find a new favorite president.  Maybe she'll like Teddy Roosevelt.  His page has a teddy bear.

I'm editing this to mention that many websites still say that John Tyler was playing marbles when notified he was now President.  I'll let Little Miss believe it for now, and she can make up her own mind.  It's not like there's a reliable source to confirm anymore.

How to Crush Dreams (In One Easy Step)

Two weeks ago, during our ultrasound, the doctor was alarmed because there seemed to be an anomaly in the development of the bladder.  So, he wanted to see us again in two weeks.  Yesterday, we went in for our third ultrasound in a very short time.  It's amazing how much the baby has grown and developed though. 

It looks like all the organs are where they are supposed to be, and the baby is measuring where a 13 week baby should.  We saw and measured the heartbeat and saw organs, blood flow, and spine along with both hands/arms and feet/legs.  Lots of kicking so I feel like I'm in trouble down the road. 

The technician asked if we wanted to see the gender.  We didn't think you could tell at 13 weeks, but you clearly could.  We're having a boy.  Our first thought went to Little Miss who had her heart set on a sister.  More in a minute.  So, the doctor said everything looked on schedule, but they still want to keep an eye on me, but I think we should be able to hold off until the halfway ultrasound unless something pops up between then.  Regrets, we never asked for pictures of the sonogram, but we were there so you'll have to trust us.  The 3-D ultrasounds creep me out and, at this stage, skew the images anyway.  Still, it was unique to see.

My dad picked up Little Miss from school so she could get ready for trick or treating, and we met them out at my parents' place after the doctor.  We took her aside by herself and broke the news.  There was a mini temper trantrum before she left the room without speaking to us.  We then told my parents who kind of figured it out after Little Miss's reaction.  Nephew was very excited though.  Husband called his parents and brother. 

By the end of the evening, Little Miss had accepted the situation.  By this morning, I'd say she is pleased but maybe not excited.  She is holding all her hope on getting a girl cousin, but I think she'll later appreciate being the only girl in the immediate family.  She did approve the name so that helped smooth things over.  Nephew has requested we name the baby Robert Griffin III after the Redskins quarterback.  We are not.

If you're going to deliver unexpected news to a child, you should always do it a half hour before she goes door-to-door begging for candy.  It helps ease the pain.

Week 13

You can read more, here, but it says the baby is about the size of a peach (though another website said peapod), just shy of 3" long. My stomach has a tiny bump. I'm in the in between clothes where I'm good if it's elastic, but nothing fits properly. I just hate everything, and everything hates me. Fatigue is going away though it's hard to tell with me. I'm always tired. 

We've only just entered the second trimester depending on what measurement you're using, but it's going to go by like a blur as this time of year always does.  By the time the dust settles, we'll be close to the third trimester in February which is kind of terrifying. I know everything will fall into place, but it just seems like we're all like "we've done this before" and "we have plenty of stuff saved from the first time", but the things we're not thinking of will get us, I'm sure. Still, those worries are for another time and place. Not today. *g*