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Friday, January 31, 2014

17 Weeks

How far along?: 17 weeks
Baby's size: BK is the size of an onion
Total weight gain/loss: Up 4 pounds total
Stretch marks?: Still none, going to start using cocoa butter regularly
Sleep?: Pretty normal sleep
Maternity clothes?: I wore some to my ultrasound at my Mother-In-Law's request, but other than that, none
Best moment this week: Finding out BK's gender!!!  Also, creating registries has been really fun!
Worst Moment: Having to see our family go back to Virginia after coming up for the appointment
Symptoms: Sore back, but that's all mostly, so I'll take it
Cravings?: Nothing much
Miss Anything?: Nothing in particular
Movement: Not very much
Anything making you queasy or sick?: My car sickness has been enhanced, I can't look down at all or I regret it big time.
Gender: B-O-Y!!!
What is baby up to?: From What to Expect When You're Expecting: "My how your baby has grown! He's about the size of your palm, weighs about five ounces, and is developing some body fat (join the club, baby!). His heart is now regulated by his brain (no more random beats) to beat 140 to 150 times per minute — about twice as fast as yours! What else is up? He’s practicing the survival skills he’ll need at birth — like sucking and swallowing. "

Monday, January 27, 2014

It's A....

I will share my experience at Womb With a View in a separate post, but since you all are harassing me, I'll just spill the beans.

So without further ado...

It's A....





 

Thanks to the most amazing photographer, Beth Smith for taking these pictures!!  If you're in the market for someone awesome, check out her site: www.bethsmithphotos.com

Friday, January 24, 2014

16 Weeks


How far along?: 16 weeks
Baby's size: BK is the size of an avacado
Total weight gain/loss: Up 2 pounds total
Stretch marks?: Still none
Sleep?: Great sleep this week with snow days and two hour delays, it was glorious!
Maternity clothes?: None this week
Best moment this week: Anticipation of the 17 week appointment!  Also, we freezer prepped 24 meals and you allowed me to stay standing the whole time!  I was DYING by the end, but I made it though!!!
Worst Moment: Knowing that every snow day we have gets tacked onto the end of the year when I'll be 8 months pregnant with you in a non-air conditioned classroom :-(
Symptoms: I've been pretty good this week, tiredness sometimes and a sore lower back, but nothing major
Cravings?: None really
Miss Anything?: Still soda
Movement: Felt a few flutters on 1/19 and 1/21 but none since then
Anything making you queasy or sick?: Nothing really this week
Gender: 1 day until January 25!!  Stay tuned!!!
What is baby up to?: From What to Expect When You're Expecting: "Your baby now weighs in at a whopping three to five ounces, and they're four to five inches in length. The bones that are now in place in their ears means they can probably hear your voice as you talk to your partner and pals and sing in the car. While they're getting used to your voice, the tiny muscles in their body, especially the ones in their back, are gaining strength, so they can straighten out a little more. And thanks to his developing facial muscles, your baby is capable of making a few expressive frowns and squints, even at this early stage. (Don’t worry, those frowns have nothing to do with the sound of your voice!) And their eyes are finally working, making small side-to-side movements and perceiving light (although the eyelids are still sealed). "

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Freezer to Crock Pot Meal Prep Session

I've seen a lot of my friends be very successful with this method, so I decided late last night that if we were going to get a snow day today, I was going to make a trip to Giant to get stuff to meal prep so I could keep busy.

It took a few hours, and Jason was very helpful with the meat part of the prep, as well as chopping some things, so I'd consider it a success.  Now granted we won't know how they taste until we start cooking them, but I found recipes that were popular and came recommended.

I prepped 4 bags of each recipe and made:
-Broccoli Cheese Chicken and Rice Casserole
(this is the only one that will not go into the crock pot)
-Salsa Chicken
-BBQ Chicken
-Orange Chicken
-Brown Sugar Chicken
-Sloppy Jay's
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Broccoli Cheese Chicken and Rice Casserole
*This recipe is already made for 4 servings, you don't have to multiply it by 4

-- 10 cups cooked rice (white or brown)
-- 4 cups cooked chicken, chopped
-- 4 cups chopped broccoli, lightly steamed
-- 2 cans cream of mushroom soup (I used cream of celery because I don't like mushrooms)
-- 2 cans cream of chicken soup
-- 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
-- salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.

To cook: Thaw overnight (or for 8 hours) in the refrigerator. Dump into a greased casserole dish (each bag will fill an 8×8-inch pan; two bags will fill a 9×13-inch pan). Sprinkle with additional shredded cheese, if desired.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until heated through and bubbly.

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Salsa Chicken

-- 6-9 chicken thighs, or equivalent body parts (I used chicken breasts)
-- 1 can rinsed black beans
-- 1 1/2 cup chunky salsa
-- 1 cup frozen white corn 

To Cook:
Cover and cook on low for 6-9 hours, or on high for 4-5. Cooking time will vary depending on whether or not your chicken is frozen, and how big the pieces are.

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BBQ Chicken

-- 2 cups sweet potatoes
-- 2 cups red and green bell pepper
-- 1 cup carrots
-- 2 cups onion
-- 3 cups zucchini
-- 2 tbsp flour
-- 1.5 pounds chicken breasts
-- 2 cloves garlic
-- 1 tsp salt

To Cook- Dump bag plus one bottle BBQ sauce into crock pot, cook on low for 6-8 hours.

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Orange Chicken

-- 2 cups carrots
-- 2 cups bell peppers
-- 1 pound cubed boneless skinless chicken breasts
-- 3 cloves garlic
-- 1 tsp salt
-- 1/2 tsp pepper
-- 8 oz. orange juice concentrate

To Cook- Cook on low in crock pot, 4 to 6 hours
 
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Brown Sugar Chicken
               **I have to add more chicken to this one, it was the last one we did, so we
               ran out.  I will add a picture once it ever stops snowing and I can get to the
               store to get more chicken.**
  
-- 4 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
-- 1 cup Brown Sugar
-- 1/4 cup Sprite (I will add this once I add everything to the crockpot)
-- 2/3 cup Vinegar
-- 3 cloves smashed and chopped garlic
-- 2 tablespoon Soy Sauce
-- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper

To Cook: Add all ingredients to Gallon Size Freezer Bag, except for the Sprite.  When you are ready to cook this, put all ingredients into a crockpot, add the sprite and let cook for 3-4 hours on high.

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Sloppy Jay's

-- 1 pound ground beef
-- Ketchup
-- Dry mustard
-- Minced onions

Unfortunately, this one doesn't have a recipe because Jason makes his from scratch, hence the name Sloppy Jay's.  I can list the ingredients, but there are no quantities because he "wings it"
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The grand total for all of the supplies for these 24 meals was $130.  We used all chicken breasts in our chicken recipes, so that was a big chunk of the cost, chicken and beef alone were $65 of the cost.  Next time, I'll make sure to buy that when it's on a better sale than it was, but since it was spur of the moment, I didn't have much choice this time.

I will keep you updates as we cook them!

Friday, January 17, 2014

15 Weeks


How far along?: 15 weeks
Baby's size: BK is the size of an orange
Total weight gain/loss: Up 1.5 pounds total
Stretch marks?: Still none, thankfully
Sleep?: Hasn't been too bad this week
Maternity clothes?: Still in my NY & Co dress pants, but one day this week I was EXTREMELY uncomfortable in Old Navy khakis, so I had to do the hairtie trick.  I think anyday I don't wear my NY & Co pants will have to be maternity pant days
Best moment this week: We had an appointment on Wednesday and got to hear the heartbeat- 158 this time
Worst Moment: I had a few pretty bad days this week, symptom wise
Symptoms: Still haven't fully kicked the nausea but I had a lot of pressure one day this week, and that wasn't too fun.
Cravings?: I still really like orange juice and also homemade seasoned pretzels.  They aren't as good as Deb Beshore's, but I'll take them
Miss Anything?: Nothing in particular
Movement: Still none yet
Anything making you queasy or sick?: Just constant nausea, nothing too bad this week
Gender: 8 days until January 25!!
What is baby up to?: From What to Expect When You're Expecting: "One way to deal with the havoc of pregnancy hormones: Focus on how much is happening with your baby. They are about the size of an orange this week, their ears have migrated to the sides of their head, and their eyes are moving to the front of their face. Plus, your little smarty-pants can now wiggle their fingers and toes and make breathing movements in preparation for life outside the womb. "

Friday, January 10, 2014

14 Weeks

 

How far along?: 14 weeks
Baby's size: BK is the size of a lemon
Total weight gain/loss: I fluctuate .5 of a pound on and off
Stretch marks?: Still none, thankfully
Sleep?: I got a cold this week, so my sleep issues were more from that than pregnancy.  Once I took the advice of my friend Ashlee and used a humidifier paired with my saline spray, my sleep was glorious!
Maternity clothes?: Still not in any yet other than the shirt for my weekly pictures.  My regular shirts are starting to get snug but my pants keep falling down
Best moment this week:
Worst Moment: Having a cold and not being able to take medicine (not that I really ever used to take medicine)
Symptoms: Tiredness and stuffiness but again, that could have been amplified by my cold.  I've had some brutal headaches though
Cravings?: I love orange juice, but I wouldn't say I crave it, I just enjoy drinking it.  Other than that, nothing.
Miss Anything?: Not having a headache everyday
Movement: None yet
Anything making you queasy or sick?: Just smelly junior high students sometimes
Gender: 15 days until January 25th!!
What is baby up to?: From What to Expect When You're Expecting: "Now the size of your clenched fist, your baby is more fluid-like in their movements, so they're no longer doing the jerk every time they repositions their arms and legs. Other developments this week include a roof of their own (inside their mouth, that is) as well as intestinal activity: Their intestines are producing meconium (which is the waste that will make up their first bowel movement after birth). They are also sporting a downy coating of hair (lanugo) that keeps them nice and warm. Not to worry — you won't give birth to a monkey; baby fat will accumulate over the next few months and take over the function of keeping your baby warm and toasty —allowing most of that hair to shed. "

Saturday, January 4, 2014

13 Weeks

I am going to do my best with these weekly updates, but sometimes we take the pictures towards the end of the week which means I'm actually into the next week before it's posted.  For example, I'm currently 14 weeks, 1 day but I'm posting 13 weeks.  Oh well, beggars can't be choosers, and we'll do our best to get them up on the blog the week they are taken :-)



How far along?: 13 weeks
Baby's size: Baby is the size of a peach
Total weight gain/loss: I was down a few pounds throughout the weeks, but now I'm back to pre-pregnancy weight
Stretch marks?: None yet, thankfully
Sleep?: I think my biggest complaint would be how stuffed up my nose gets.  I feel like I'm constantly tossing and turning to be able to breathe.  I've gotten completely used to getting up 3-5 times a night to go to the bathroom
Maternity clothes?: I got tons of them for Christmas, but I haven't needed any yet.
Best moment this week: Got to spend lots of time with our families over Christmas Break
Worst Moment: Being sick on Christmas Eve when we got home.  It changed the whole flow of the day for me
Symptoms: I still am a little nauseous and extremely tired some days, but the throwing up has subsided (knock on wood).  I haven't thrown up since Christmas Eve
Cravings?: Right now, food is not my friend.  I'm lucky if I can force food down, so no cravings yet
Miss Anything?: Soda!  Finding something caffeine free but not full of sugar is terribly hard.  I've settled on fizzy water for my "soda" fix
Movement: None, but I can't wait for that day!!
Anything making you queasy or sick?: Certain smells aren't very fun.  We had a breakfast with the KJF last weekend and I was in charge of making 120 eggs.  I had to turn away quite often because the smell was overtaking me
Gender: We won't know until January 25th at the elective gender scan where they may hopefully figure it out.  It's absolutely killing me!
What is baby up to?: From What to Expect When You're Expecting: "What's up with your baby? Well, besides being as large as a peach now, that big old noggin of theirs is now about half the size of their crown-to-rump length (that’s one reason why your little peach looks more like an alien from outer space at this point). By the time you give birth, their body will catch up, measuring three-quarters of their total size. What else is going on in there? Tiny bones are beginning to form in their arms and legs, the intestines are beginning to move from the umbilical cord to the abdomen, and the vocal cords are well under construction (the first step toward saying, "I love you, Mommy!"). And because they can move her arms and legs in a jerky fashion, they may be able to get her thumb into their mouth (a habit that may come in handy for self-soothing when they're a newborn)."

Friday, January 3, 2014

Telling "My Kids"

Every year I get a group of over 100 students who by the end of the school year have turned into "my kids."  Being a teacher, we can't help it, you spend so much time with them that you learn all about each one and love them as if they were your own.  Of course that would mean I would have four years of 120 students, so 480 "kids" at this point (I look good for 480 kids, right??).  Some confide in you and you form a bond that goes past the one year you have them in the classroom.  Our jobs are very, very rewarding.
 
I knew that I wanted to include my kids and tell them about Baby Kelly (BK as Jason likes to call my belly) in a special way just like we did with family.  Knowing that I couldn't buy 120 onesies to give each one, and knowing that as soon as I told some of them it would spread like wildfire, I conspired a plan with my team teachers.
 
We decided that first period, the Friday before Christmas break (we had school the Monday after but many students were taking off) I would put my Christmas card up on the projector for the students to figure out what it meant.  I brought along another student to record their reactions, and I must say that they still crack me up.  Some classes got it right away, some it took a little longer.
 
This was the card that we put up on the projector so you know what they're looking at:

I went from classroom to classroom, all in first period so that I was the one who got to tell them, and not other students.  I had to give the same speech 5 times, so sorry, you have to listen to the same speech 5 times too, but I am so glad we recorded their reactions since they are priceless!!


Does this bring anyone back to their 8th grade year?  Many of my friends say this made them remember how awkward junior high was after watching the videos.
 
Which class reaction did you like the best?

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Telling Our Parents and Siblings

We had big plans of waiting until 8 weeks to tell both of our sets of parents, but Jason's parents were coming up to visit before those 8 weeks and wouldn't be back before, so we decided to tell them earlier.  I was really against it at first, but then I realized that if God forbid, something did happen, we would need them as our close support system.
 
We searched and searched around Kohls trying to find something gender neutral that said Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt and Uncle, but again we really struck out.  I really think Carters needs to make some more gender neutral things for special moments like these, but we'll save that for another time, haha. 
 
We ended up with very girly Grandma and Grandpa outfits and an okay Aunt onesie to share with the future aunts.  We struck out in the Uncle department.


The onesies for Grandma and Grandpa and on the left.  The mint green says "I Love Grandpa" and the short sleeve white one says "Grandma Loves Me."  We didn't use the pants.

The onesie for the Aunts is on the right and we gave it as is.




 
We wrapped each present in its own bag and let them open them at their own pace.  Of course some opened faster than others which wasn't what I would have preferred, but hey, it's life!  The funniest thing about the opening experience is that my Dad pulled his out slightly, saw the scalloped edges and put it back in the bag.  He thought we had given him the wrong present.

Here is my side of the family opening their gifts:
 
And here is Jason's side of the family opening their gifts:
*Sorry for the darkness on this one, we couldn't turn on too many lights and make it obvious that we were recording
 
Eric and Ethan were not able to attend either of the present giving sessions, so we called them to share the news.