Friday, June 29, 2012

Baby oh Baby

It seems that a lot of my friends, friends, and family are also pregnant too! So along with all that is a ton of baby showers to go to and buy gifts for everyone. Cheap way to do that is just to make something, or go cheap and easy. I have a couple ideas, one is even something that I got from my baby shower when I was pregnant with Princess.


The first one being a laundry basket of gifts.
Honestly, this was amazing! I actually think I'm going to do this for someone I'm really close to mainly because it's expensive and we need the money for Fairy.

It's been a few years and I don't really remember what was in it (sorry Mom!) so I will post a list of what I would put in it.

  • Blankets {Fuzzy, Receiving, Quilts, ect.}
  • Baby clothes {All sizes baby's grow fast.}
  • Small bottle of laundry soap
  • Diapers and wipes
  • Burp rags
  • Bibs
  • Towels and wash rags
  • Pacifiers
  • Toys
  • Baby bathroom items {Wash, Lotion, Oil, Baby ear cleaners, ect}


 The second, a bag of post partum care items.  I actually saw this idea somewhere on youtube a while ago. I don't remember who it was but I will link to them as soon I find out who.




  • Body Wash
  • Shampoo and Conditioner
  • Loofah
  • Hand Sanitizing Wipes
  • Mouth Wash
  • Tooth Paste
  • Deodorant
  • Chapstick
  • Lotion
  • Petroleum Jelly
  • Tissues
  • Q tips





Week 26





sleep: Not very well, if I take a nap durning the day even if I do pass out during Princess's nap time without meaning to I don't sleep at night no matter how tired I am.
gender: Girl still as far as I know
belly button: out and Fairy now likes to try to push through it sometimes
clothes: I found a few clothes that may fit that were in a box I had packed away I just need to wash them first before trying them on
wedding rings: I'm actually starting to swell in my hands and I think I'm going to be losing the ability to wear them soon.
happy or moody: An even mixture of both 
movement: she still just love to toss and turn but now she also loves to flip around too.  Also, she's been loving to stick her foot into my belly button.
looking forward to: Ultrasound in 2 weeks!!
symptoms: constantly having to pee, painful back and hips, really sore breasts, colostrum, breaking out, mood swings, insomnia, exhaustion, braxton hicks
cravings: mashed potatoes with brown gravy, sprite, texas rice, cookie dough, cream puffs, and Dove chocolate



Monday, June 25, 2012

It's Been Hard but Completely Worth it

I'm sorry that I've been pretty much not doing anything about homemaking; kind of.  I've been spending more time with Princess and Hubs lately. Trying to get as much time in before we have the baby.  I've even been neglecting our home which I am sorry for but I think it's been fun for Princess to play with me more than normal.  Also to play outside more with our neighbors while Hubs and I have been getting to spend with the adults while the kids play.


Cleaning house has been hard pregnant.  I've tried looking up different ways to do it while pregnant and having a toddler running around like a tornado destroying everything I clean up.  Sadly, I never was able to find much in the topic.  For those of you who need it I will give you what works for me.


I wake up in the morning around 7:30a if I have the energy to get up I go take a shower and get dressed. If I don't have the energy I pull out a book and read until 8a when Princess gets up.  It's a great time to work on a pregnancy journal, read books on pregnancy and/or baby care, or just read a book that you have been wanting to read.


After I get up I get Princess and I breakfast.  After breakfast I pull out my binder to see what I had planned for the day.  Sometimes I even pull it out during breakfast if I really wanted to know what's going on.  I check my emails on my phone while I read out my daily page, and cross out respond to emails while I look.  If I have appointments that morning or if my mom comes over that morning, I try to get all my dailies done by the time that the appointment comes around.


The past few days I've actually started redesigning my daily pages for my binder to fit me and my needs.  I hate having to write it all down and everything but it's going to be worth it.  I think I actually got it down finally.  I'll post my design once i get it finished and created.


What it looks like when I'm trying to plan out my days lol:


My dailies are things I do that are never changing.  My Daily Pages are like my day planner that I have everything for that day {meals for that day, To Do list for that day, ect.}.


My dailies {now called Daily Home Blessings} are:

  • Vacuum
  • Swish and Swipe {taken from FlyLady swish the toilet(s) and swipe the counters}
  • Sweep and Swiffer
  • 15 min. pick up
  • respond to emails
  • Write out tomorrows goals
  • Prep Blog or Blog
  • Write out tomorrows goals
  • Get and sort the mail
  • Dust
  • Toy pick up
  • Unload dishwasher
  • One load of laundry
Those are the things I make myself do on a daily basis.  Even if I don't I will have Hubs help do it now that he's out of school.  I do most of the cleaning while Princess is sleeping so she's out of the way.  I do the toy pick up just before Princess goes to bed so she will start doing it on her own {hopefully}. Also, the load of laundry I do after I get her asleep for the night. 

Next, I have the reminder to drink my water.  Ten bubbles {I actually fail at this a lot lol} are my goal for the day.  Remember that a water bottle is two bubbles also because they are two servings per bottle.

Followed by my reminder for my vitamins.

Next is my To Do section.  This one scares me quite often. I usually use it as a this is what NEEDS to be done or also a more detailed list of my Daily Home Blessings i need done.  Like, laundry I put write down if I need to do bedding or towels if they need to be done.

Today I just have:
  • Laundry {blankets: baby and master}
  • Organize Master Bedroom
Nothing too big; I did a ton of the end of the month cleaning yesterday. 

However, I do also have a goals list if I get the To Do's finished to start in on but they don't need to be finished and are usually added to the next days To Do's if there isn't much to do that day {Ex. organize master bedroom on the To Do list.}  Most of the time I will also give them to Hubs if he saids that he's bored and I haven't yet made him an I'm Bored Jar yet.

The goals list is:
  • Wipe down kitchen table and chairs
  • Wipe down cabinets
  • Declutter
  • Fold and put away newborn clothes
Dinner section is just what we are going to have for dinner and what we need to get out.

Lastly, I have an Idea and Inspiration part.  If I read something that I think will inspire me for that day I will right it down or if I think of something that I think is interesting or come across something I will write it here.

Honestly, it's very very overwhelming to get it all done and I always ask for help.  I'm not afraid of using my friends if they ask to help.  I pull out the page and give people a chore.  Thankfully, Hubs already claimed the kitchen as his "domain" or else that will never get down at all {it also saves me a headache because if I do it I tend to do something wrong and he complains about it.. a lot.}  He also has to do the trash too.

I'm not perfect at all! I set high expectations for myself and I never meet them if I do I'm honestly shocked. It also means I got help that day lol.  Sometimes, I go a few days without doing anything.  Saturday I had a giant list, spring cleaning size list.  Did I do it? Nope.  Not at all. We spent the morning being lazy went to the part that afternoon and after the park went out for dinner, I passed out on the couch when we got home while Hubs played video games and Princess played with her toys.  I even look at my binder that day, but sometimes taking a break like that is needed.  I know I enjoyed the break and Princess loved getting out of the house. 

Don't be afraid of asking for help! Don't be afraid or ashamed of accepting help offered also!  It took me forever to get over my pride to do just that.

Also, this helps me a ton!  

I love music and it helps me to feel in the mood to do the housework.

Which looking at the picture of my iPod on my Inspiration Binder brings me to the motto of the week!!





"There will be so many times you feel like you've failed but in the eyes, heart, and mind of your child you are super mom." ~Stephanie Precourt

I print out the picture of the motto of the week and put the weeks in the front of my Inspiration Binder. So when I go for my Homemaking Binder I have to pick up and move the inspiration binder off of it and I read it. So far, these have been helping me a lot.  I know that I haven't been doing them for very long but it still helps me and I can only hope it helps you too.



Classic Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup all-purpose
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 salt
1 1/2 tsp baking soda

Cream butter, peanut butter, and sugar. Beat in eggs. Add flour, baking soda, salt, and baking powder.  Refrigerate for an hour.  Roll into balls and flatten with a fork in a criss-cross pattern.  Bake at 375 F for 10 mins. or when beginning to brown.


Friday, June 22, 2012

25 or is it 27?

So yesterday I had a doctors appointment.  It started out like every other normal appointment. Blood pressure, weight, fill out this paper work because we changed the computer systems, ect.


When our doctor came in he looked over the chart and asked "So you're 26 weeks?"


That stopped Hubs and I in our tracks. We stared at each other for a moment. I told the doctor with a laugh,


"No I'm 24 weeks going to be 25 tomorrow. But I can be 26 if you want so I can see her sooner." 


The doctor looked at us then the chart and complained about the new system and how it's been messing up the charts as it went from only one page of graph and chart to a lot of pages of just words, no graphs or charts to be found. 


So he measured the belly and I measured at what Hubs and I said, but the doctor wanted us to go for an ultrasound in three weeks because he just wanted to make sure that she's on track and to get the due date into the system. Plus I get to see her and hopefully get a 4D done. Little Fairy hasn't been very cooperative with ultrasounds.


I can't wait to see her. I've been going through this need to hold her already. See her with Princess. Watch Hubs cuddle and talk to her.


Also I did the belly shot fist thing after I got up ignore the mess I am lol. 



~Week 25 (27?)~


Weight: 130 (a total gain of 8 lbs this pregnancy)
Sleep: Bad still, however last night I slept like the dead I think my exhaustion caught up to me finally.
Gender: Girl!
Belly Button: Out
Clothes: I still need to go shopping...
Wedding Rings: Still on for now but last night my hands swelled a little bit, so I don't know how much longer I can wear them.
Happy or Moody: Both it's been a really good mix of both.
Movement: She likes to move the most when I fist wake up in the mornings. She doesn't kick though oddly enough, she just moves around like she's trying to get comfortable or just stretches. I think the only time when she kicks is when Princess is leaning on the belly or poking it to get Fairy to move around.
Looking forward to: The next ultrasound in three weeks!
Symptoms: Breaking out, Sore breasts, a little leakage of colostrum, mood swings, exhaustion, pain in my lower back and hips, insomnia, constipation (TMI), cravings, bigger belly, and braxton hicks
Cravings: sour gummy worms, dove chocolate, skittles, hamburgers, pepsi, gyros



Monday, June 18, 2012

Recovery Week


I hope everyone had a really good Father's Day! 

After this past week of getting ready for family and friends to be here for my Hub's graduation (I'm so proud of you my love!!) and after party, I am just so tired and worn down. Even my binder is suffering for it.  So, after last weeks post about "today I will choose joy" I've decided that I should have a motto of the week to help me to get through that week and hopefully yours as well. This week's motto is:
"My home is filled with toys, has fingerprints on everything, and is never quiet. My hair is usually a mess and I'm always tired, but there is always love and laughter here. In twenty years my children won't remember the house or my hair but they will remember the time we spent together and the love they felt. Your children only get one childhood. Make it a good one."



Recipe for today comes from Chocolate Covered Katie

(No sugar!) Cookie Dough Dip

It’s gluten-free, too.
  • 1 1/2 cups chickpeas or white beans (1 can, drained) (250g after draining)
  • heaping 1/8 tsp salt
  • tiny bit over 1/8 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tbsp plus 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup nut butter of choice (You can get away with using only 3 tbsp. If you use peanut butter, some people say it has a slight “pb cookie dough” taste, so you can sub oil if you don’t want that.)
  • 1 and 1/4 cups pitted dates (I used SunMaid, from a regular grocery store)
  • 1/3 cup chocolate chips (see link below, for sugar-free option)
  • 2 tbsp oats (You can omit if desired.)
  • milk of choice as needed (depending on the consistency you want. I used a few tbsp.)
In a bowl, cover the dates with 1/2 cup water. Let this sit for at least 8 hours. Then add all ingredients (including the dates’ soaking liquid), except chocolate chips, to a food processor (for best results, not a blender) and blend until very smooth.

Friday, June 15, 2012

Busy Busy Week



Man this past week has been so busy and today isn't much better!! But hey! My home has never been cleaner!  Deep cleaned, scrubbed, organized, tossed, and repeated.  The first couple days were awful emotionally and mentally but after this weeks new motto "today I will choose joy" it has gotten so much better (and soda has helped too!LOL)


~24 weeks~

Sleep: What is this sleep you speak of?
Gender: GIRL!!!!
Belly Button: It's officially out
Clothes: some are still not fitting right and getting gone through to get put away
Wedding Rings: On still!! Yay!!! (shocking really)
Happy or Moody: moody
Movement: Little Fairy is moving a lot more now and getting stronger and she like 'fighting' with big sister Princess
Looking Forward to: Hub's graduation tonight! Also the party tonight!
Symptoms:  Breaking out worse than it's ever been. My breasts have been really sore and tender, mood swings galore, belly is getting bigger (yay!), colostrum, tired all day but can't sleep at night
Cravings: pepsi, salami sandwiches, gyros, Dove chocolate, corn dogs, mountain dew, and brownie batter



Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Today I Will Choose Joy


These past two days have been horrible.  Full of tears of sadness and anger.  Feelings of hurt, uselessness, loneliness, and desperation. So therefore, my motto of the day will be "Today I will choose joy."  I am determined that today will be better than Monday and Tuesday by far and I will find joy in everything I do.  I will apply what I do if I don't like someone.  If I don't like someone or if I say something bad about someone I will say one good thing about that person.  I will apply that into my day to help me to see that there is something worth in it no matter how small or insignificant it may seem.  Every penny adds up.


Here's to a joyful day!



Friday, June 8, 2012

Needed a Really Good Pregnancy Laugh

Hey guys! This post isn't going to be much today I am exhausted and grumpy so I needed a good laugh.

I love Bill Cosby!


I would so do this!







~23 weeks~


Sleep: still really uncomfortable and really hot at night
Gender: GIRL!!!!
Belly Button: weird lol It's halfway out halfway in

Wedding Rings: On still!!
Happy or Moody: moody
Movement: Little Fairy is moving a lot more now and getting stronger and she still refuses to move for Hubs
Looking Forward to: Hub's graduation!! and getting the nursery done!
Symptoms:  Breaking out has still been bad. My breasts have been really sore and tender, mood swings galore, belly is getting bigger, a bit more leakage, tired all day but can't sleep at night
Cravings: pepperoni pizza with bacon pieces, pepsi, egg rolls, salami sandwiches, gyros, sprite, Cold Stone ice cream, cookie dough, and brownie batter
Clothes: I can't fit into some of my maternity shirts anymore :-/ not sure how I feel about that right now and I also don't fit into some of my long tank tops they're not so long anymore