nothing too important

Ahhhhhh... (sigh of relief) I'm very glad this month has come to an end. Not because it was a bad month. March was actually fantastic; so many good things happened! {Recap. Troy turned 2. Got to see Mom, Dave and the boys. Was reunited with all of our things. Found out we are having a girl!} Again, so many great things came with March. Actually, I'm glad this is the last day of the month, because I get to start a new month with new blog posts. This is my 32nd post this month! 32 posts?! How is that seriously possible???!!! I may seem a little obsessed with blogging, probably because I kind of am. I like to chat and tell about my life and I finally have a place to do all of that and not wonder if those listening (reading) are getting bored. How awesome :)


I bought fabric today! Cute, girly fabric for our little girl. Have I mentioned we're having a girl and I'm so excited?! I still can't believe it! I have two little dresses in mind and some little caps. I can't wait to get started! I also came across a bunch of fabric (my long lost stash from our Colorado boxes) for my boppy cover, as well as maybe a tiny quilt or two! I'll post everything as I get it going!

Big Boy News: Troy had his first outdoors #1 today! Ah, yes.. He couldn't hold it any longer so we have christened the park trash can. It was a big day for Troy and I'm sure he feels 10x more manly now :)

Frustration

Today was busy, hectic, and frustrating.

I continue to slowly, gradually, lazily go through boxes and try to find places for each item. I'm tired from going through everything. Well, and I can't even say everything.. I'm tired after going through 1/10 of our belongings. I'm starting to finally make and see the progress of my work, but it's not quite coming fast enough, or fully satisfying me. Each day is so long. I can't wait for bed.

I have found, while unpacking, that:

• We own an awful lot of seran wrap, ziplock bags, and tin foil..

• I hate, with a passion, hanging shelves. After dead arms from holding this up and a whole string of curse words, it's up and NEVER coming down again..

• You shouldn't cook while trying to do a million other things, because the oven burns things..

What a day. As of right now, I feel myself bottled up with anger and frustration. Angry at the actions of some people and frustrated with how it's very difficult to feel satisfied at times (for me). I wanted all of our belongings here for so long (months and months) and now that they're here, I feel overwhelmed with all the work ahead of me. I never feel like the house is 100% clean and it seems that people, dropping by, always see our place at its worst. I promise we're clean, neat people! I have so many projects going at the moment and I'm trying to organize the house before pulling everything out to work on, so the pressure of getting it all done is taking its toll. I feel myself sinking into a small, itty bitty depression because my 5 year old will soon be 6 and starting Kindergarten. I love his preschool teachers so much and hate the thought of not seeing them 3 days a week. Troy is.... not doing so good today with potty training. We've had 3 poopy britches and countless soaked undies and pants. The day is dragging. 

I'm going to try really, really, REALLY hard to get a good night's rest and start anew tomorrow!

Our first buy!

Yesterday while out and about, Adam found this adorable little girl outfit! Our first official buy for our little girl!! I'm so excited :) I still tell Adam about 103 times a day, "I can't believe we're having a girl!" It's still so surreal for me!

Tanner is getting more and more excited too! As I was dropping him off at school today, he told Ms. Pam that he was going to have a little sister! He was so thrilled to tell someone our news.

I plan to make oodles and oodles of girl dresses, headbands, jewelry... all the good stuff that comes with being a little girl! Here are a few ideas that I have to give a try. I wish I would have saved the sites where I found these ideas, but I didn't...

I can't believe it!

It's A Girl!

The Doctor said she has big feet. Most likely the feet of her mother! I love it :)

Nana will appreciate this picture. Here, she's lying with her arms crossed across her chest... Nana, you know what I'm talking about.

She didn't want to open her hands for us to show us all 5 (or I suppose 10) fingers outstretched, but here's a shot of her left arm and left hand, in a fist.

You didn't think I would expose our precious, innocent little girl, did you??! Here, we were shown it is indeed a little girl!

Her beautiful, perfect spine :)

I love this picture! You really have to use your imagination.. She's facing us (at a slight tilt) and you can see her little nose and then her upper and lower lip.

She didn't want to cooperate for us much, so we didn't get a full side profile shot of her. This is about as close as we could get. Her face, straight on.

So, the morning of our appointment started off rocky. The night before Adam got called in last minute to work a graveyard shift, so I was hoping that he would make it home in time to take me to the doctor. My poor husband didn't get the chance to sleep and prepare for this late night shift, so naturally he was completely exhausted. I woke up that morning and just had a feeling that something was going to "go wrong". I was thinking the baby wouldn't cooperate and we'd have to push the gender appointment back another month or so. I thought it would be a good idea to call and confirm my appointment, and boy, I'm sure glad I did! They told me that my doctor was out of town and we needed to push the appointment back to Thursday! Wait another 3 days???!!!! Are you kidding?! She could tell I was disappointed and offered to set me up with a different doctor and push the appointment back until 3:00pm. This was perfect! We'd still learn the gender of our baby AND Adam would get the chance to sleep for a bit, before we needed to head in. I was told to have some urine in my bladder... It would help to see the baby better. I thought, "I'll load that bladder up like crazy so we'll be able to see everything for sure!" Well, we got to my appointment 10 minutes early than then didn't get called back to see the Doc until almost 40 minutes past our scheduled appointment time. I had to go so bad! Once the doctor set everything up and was "inspecting" the belly, he said, "Wow! Your bladder is really full! You're actually starting to have contractions you're so full! Lets hurry and take these pictures so you can go to the bathroom!!" I thought that was kind of funny :)


When we told Tanner he was like, "Eh. I knew it." It was funny. He kept telling me he wanted a sister and would call her "sissy". He's very excited! 


I still keep playing the whole moment over and over in my head. A girl. I really had no idea. I was SURE that we were going to have another boy. Adam, before we finally walked in to the ultrasound room, told me he thought it was going to be a girl. I didn't. I can't believe it. What are we going to do with a little girl?! I want her to be really girly, but how in the world will she be with her brothers?! They're so rambunctious! I also keep making lists and lists in my head of what she'll need!!! Pink, pink, pink, of course. Tights, head bands, dresses... oh, I am so excited! 

Dinner Tonight: Meatloaf

Ok, ok, I'll give it up. Only because it's the best meatloaf recipe you'll ever find. (Or at least the best I've ever come across.) It's amazing and so incredibly delicious!

Meat Loaf

• 2    eggs, beaten
• 3/4  cup  milk
• 2/3  cup  fine dry bread crumbs or 2 cups soft bread crumbs
• 1/4  cup  finely chopped onion
• 2  tablespoons  snipped fresh parsley
• 1  teaspoon  salt
• 1/2  teaspoon  dried leaf sage, basil, or oregano, crushed
• 1/8  teaspoon  black pepper
• 1-1/2  pounds  lean ground beef, lamb, or pork
• 1/4  cup  ketchup
• 2  tablespoons  packed brown sugar
• 1  teaspoon  dry mustard

1. In a medium bowl combine eggs and milk; stir in bread crumbs, onion, parsley, salt, sage, and pepper. Add ground meat; mix well. Lightly pat mixture into an 8x4x2-inch loaf pan.

2. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 1 to 1-1/4 hours or until internal temperature registers 160 degrees F. Spoon off fat. In a bowl combine ketchup, sugar, and mustard; spread over meat. Bake for 10 minutes more. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting into eight slices.

3. Makes 8 servings

Recipe found Here

Green Beans

Just plain old green beans, drained, and then add about 1/3 c Italian dressing. Delicious and a great way to jazz up green beans a bit.

Banana Oatmeal Bread

1 cup of flour

1/2 cup of whole wheat flour

1/3 cup of white sugar

1/3 cup of brown sugar

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

3/4 cups quick cooking oats

2 small, very ripe bananas, mashed

1/3 cup of low fat buttermilk

1/4 cup of canola oil

1 1/4 tsp vanilla

2 eggs, beaten

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat a loaf pan with cooking spray.

Combine all the dry ingredients together and mix well. Combine the banana, buttermilk, oil, vanilla, and eggs together until mixed thoroughly. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients until well combined. Pour the batter into the loaf pan.

Place into the oven and bake for 45-55 minutes or until a tester inserted in the middle of the loaf comes out clean. Let the bread cool for 10 minutes before removing from the pan and placing on a cooling rack for a few more minutes. Slice and slather with butter if desired. 

**I only baked the bread for about 30 minutes and it was definitely done, so be sure to check on it often. 

Recipe found Here

what a mess

My parents (and handsome brothers) were here Mon-Wed helping us unload the Budget truck with boxes and boxes and boxes of our belongings. And boxes. It took a lot longer and was a lot more hectic than I thought it would be, but it's done and after almost a year, we're reunited with our things once again.

I've been going through boxes, little by little, finding a place for things, throwing things, placing things aside to donate and I feel so overwhelmed. Our place is a mess. A disaster. Not to mention that because these boxes have been sitting in storage for a year, lots of different species of bugs have made the nooks and crannies of the insides their home. So, I've also taken up the hobby of pest control. What a mess.

I spent all day, and I mean ALL day, yesterday organizing the boys' room so they'd have an area all their own and to hopefully keep them occupied while I addressed the rest of the boxes and house. Their room is adorable. There's so much that hasn't been put up and probably won't see day light until we've moved into our own, bigger place. But for now, they have an area that's theirs.

I packed all the toys that they've been playing with for the past year and pulled out toys they had forgotten all about. I made their beds for the first time (they now have mattresses and sheets!! Woo hoo!) and what a pain in the rear it is to make them! Whoever thought that bunk beds were a brilliant idea, was pure crazy. (If I recall, I think it was Adam..) Troy just got the table (at the foot of their bed) from Papa and Nana for his birthday, so that's new, along with the doll house (that was mine when I was little).

As soon as I organize the kitchen and living room more I'll post some pictures. Hopefully, everything will be coming down and going back into boxes within the next few months. The thought of packing and unpacking all over again makes me want to cry, but I love seeing our things again and knowing they're ours. It's so nice.

I'm not sure what goes through this child's mind.. he's such a show off :)

Definitely like father, like son

I love their beds!

Still more organizing needs to be done in their room, but here it is as of now. Super cute and child friendly :)

5 Months and growing a lot!

We've made it! We're officially halfway through this pregnancy. I can't believe its gone by this fast. In part it makes me so sad to think we're almost done, but then, I've also been so uncomfortable that it's kind of a relief. Here's the belly at roughly 5 months. 

I do love that round belly :)

Adam and I can feel the baby kicking a bunch now! It's so exciting and so amazing that there is a little person forming and growing inside! Only 3 more days until we find out the sex!!! I can't believe we're so close to knowing! I think most people are thinking (or maybe hoping) it's a girl. I have no clue. Can't wait for Monday!

**p.s. Our two year old is potty trained! We've gone three nights without any accidents! He's awesome :)

Potty Training: Day 3 & 4

What an amazing little boy we have! He is doing a million times better with potty training than we honestly thought he would!

We had a bunch of running around to do today with Dad, so we put him in a diaper and you know what?? That little guy told us when he had to go potty, therefore using his first public potty today! The entire time we were out and about, not once did he go in his diaper! He is such a big boy! I'm using the remaining diapers (what he has left) for night time, but other than that, he's in undies from now on!!!

He also had his 2 year wellness check-up with his pediatrician today and boy, that little guy does not like to be fiddled with! He cried and screamed when the nurse wanted him to step on the scale... and when she wanted to check his height and head circumference... and when the doctor wanted to look in his ears and feel his belly. I think I could hear a sigh of relief from Troy when the doctor said he didn't need shots after all. At least not until he's ready to start kindergarten! It made me sad to hear Troy and kindergarten in the same sentence... I'm definitely not ready for that. I'm not even sure if I'm ready for Tan in kindergarten! I was so excited when the doctor asked, "Have you introduced him to potty training?" Have I introduced him??? Are you kidding??! This amazing, little guy has just about mastered it in just a few short days! I'm sure the doctor could tell how enthused and proud I was, but he acted like it was no big deal. 'A just-turned-two-year-old already potty trained? I've heard it a million times.' Is the "face" I got. Uugh. We're still very enthused and proud of our little, big boy!

Troy at 2 years:

• weight: 26 lbs. (25th percentile)
• height: 34.6 in. (average)
• head circumference: 75th percentile.. he's got a lot of brains in that little noggin! 
• absolutely perfect in every way :)

Dinner Tonight: Barbequed Chicken and Pineapple Skewers

OH MY, OH MY, OH MY!! It may just be that I thoroughly enjoy food these days or it could be that this meal just hit the spot tonight, but I think this was probably the most delicious dinner I've had in a long time!!! I highly recommend this meal to anyone and everyone! This is for sure a must try!!

1 cup of ketchup
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup of honey
1 tbsp yellow mustard
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 lemon juiced
1/2 fresh pineapple, chopped
4 boneless & skinless chicken breasts, chopped
Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste

Skewers, soaked in water

Drizzle of olive oil

Add the ketchup, soy sauce, honey, mustard, brown sugar, garlic, and lemon juice together in a small pan. Cook for 20 minutes over low heat, stirring often.

Thread the chicken and pineapple pieces onto the skewers, alternating the chicken and pineapple. Season with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste. Pour half of the sauce into a small bowl then brush the skewers with the sauce.

Heat a large grill pan over medium high heat and drizzle the pan with olive oil. Cook the skewers for 2 minutes on each side (4 sides) for a total of 8 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Remove the finished skewers from the pan and place on a serving tray. Serve the skewers with the remaining barbecue sauce. 

Soooooo delicious! The chicken cooked perfectly and it tasted amazing! Definitely give this one a try!

Recipe found at the best place EVER! (here)

Potty Training: Day 2

Ooooooh boy. Today has not gone near as smoothly as Day 1. I think yesterday Troy was showing me that he could go on the potty, and today he's showing me that he chooses not to. However, he's had a couple of drinks today, but has only had three accidents. I assume he's just holding it all in. He didn't actually go on the potty chair until about 3:30 today. 

Yeah. 

He's holding it.

He went his entire nap without any accidents and even started to go, but then came to me to sit him on the potty to finish! So, because of that, I think we're making great headway! I've kept his pants off all day so I can tell if/when he needs to go or has already gone. I have to admit, I can't get enough of his cute little butt in his big boy undies! He just looks too stinkin' cute for me to not pinch his little cheeks every second of the day!

AND at six o'clock this evening he did his second #2! We had to sit there for about 20 minutes before he finally gave in, but he did it, so he got a sucker for that! He's been getting one little pez candy for each #1 and then a starburst for #2 :)

Tomorrow will be laundry day (lots of undies to clean) and last minute cleaning, because my parents are arriving on Monday! We're all very excited :) 

disheveled

No, our dog has not been drinking.

This is how she looks after her bath. When her hair is too long, at least.

Still adorable.

Gooey Chocolate Cookies

I think with this particular recipe, the messier, the better! Sooo good!

1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened

1/2 c butter, softened

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 pkg. (18-1/4 oz.) chocolate cake mix

1 pkg. semi sweet chocolate chips

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Beat in Egg and vanilla. Add cake mix and mix well (dough will be VERY sticky). Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Roll rounded tablespoonfuls of dough into balls. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 9-11 minutes or until tops are cracked. Cool for 2 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Once cool, melt bowl of semi sweet chocolate chips (a little at a time for about 30 seconds at a time, not to burn them) and cover tops of cookies with spread.

**Ok, so the above is the original recipe (I added the semi sweet chocolate chips part). I made several batches of this and never had the tops of mine crack, so make sure you check on them so they don't burn. The recipe was ok, but Jan and I found that putting melted chocolate chips on top made them a whole heck of a lot better! Hope you enjoy :)

Potty Training: Day 1

YES! We have officially started the potty training process. Giving us enough time to prepare for baby!

Day 1 went great! Troy was awesome and Tanner was amazing at helping to remind Troy to sit on the potty chair. He also read to him while he tried to go. 

All day Troy only had a few accidents! He even went all of nap time without any mishaps!!! I can't believe how well he's doing! I'm so excited to think of having him out of diapers and in big boy pants!

I took the boys to the park, so we put a diaper on for that trip, but as soon as we got home he went straight to the potty and not only did he go #1 twice, but he also did his first #2!! I am seriously jumping with joy right now! It was so exciting for him, myself and Tanner. However, I had to get on Tanner because he kept complaining at how bad Troy smelled. And yes, we did take a picture of Troy next to his poo... it's a BIG DEAL! 

In his big boy undies!!

Showing off his poo :)

So, like I said, I took the boys to the park. Tanner made a friend and played with him the entire time. They ran to the top of the hill and next thing I know, I hear Tanner say, "Don't tell your mom, but I gotta go right now!" Uuugh. I look up and see Tanner peeing behind a tree. Mind you, he may look well hidden, but it was sooo obvious what he was doing. I told Adam that this is going under "Dad's Accomplishments" in the scrapbook. Obviously Mom did not teach him this..

His friend keeping watch. Tanner behind the tree

my beautiful family

Dad's not in green.

Obviously. 

He's a Rebel.

homework

Tanner is currently working with letters B, G, H, D, and N. He had to draw a picture that started with each letter. I love how little kids' minds work. Just check out his art work. I especially love the hands on his girl and how his house reminds me of a garden gnome (the object that looks like a nose on the house, is in fact the doorbell). 

Tanner loves to draw Gary, the snail (from SpongeBob). Once I showed him how easy it was to draw him, he doodles his portrait down on anything and everything! This time, it was on the back of his homework :) He's such an artist!

I'm so glad we decided to do all of our St. Patty's celebrating yesterday. Last night was rough. Really rough. The boys used most our blankets to build a fort (and then had to sleep in their fort), so Adam and I didn't have many blankets on our bed and it still gets dang cold at night. On top of having to go to the bathroom about 33 times a night, I was having such bad stomach cramping that it made it almost impossible to sleep. About 4am I woke to Troy crying and soon discovered that he had gotten sick and threw up on his bed. After cleaning the mess the boys wanted me to lay with them until they fell asleep. Not as easy as it sounds. Troy kept running his fingers through my hair and pulling through all the knots, and Tanner would rub my hand but then find a mole and start picking at it. After about 5 minutes of that I had had enough and it was time to leave them whining and climb back into my own, cold, cold bed. I woke just in time to get Adam out of bed, to get ready for work, and just as I was about to snuggle in his now empty, but extremely warm spot, Troy walked in and it all wafted in... diahrea. Uuuuuuuuuugh. After changing him, there was no chance the boys were going to let me lay in bed anymore so we had our breakfast and had just snuggled onto the couch, when Troy starts pulling on me and I realize that he's thrown up down the front of him. Into the bath. Out clean, once again. Now, I get to spend the entire day (and probably most of tomorrow) doing laundry and trying to get the sour smell (that's on everything) out for good. I was going to start some potty training with the mister today, but I think it might be a good idea to hold off for a day or two, until he's feeling better. And I'm more rested.

Tanner on the other hand has been breaking out in a rash, covering most of his body, now going on Day 3. It seems to only be flaring up come bed time, which is too late for any Dr. office. (Not quite bad enough for an ER visit) I'm hoping a flair up happens during the day so at least I can show the doctor what I'm talking about. I've searched the internet for similar hives/rashes, but can't quite find the same thing. Did I mention I'm so extremely tired today?! I hope nobody drops by... I don't plan to shower today.

Adam's back to work. His four days off were awesome. Other than the fact that now that they're over, they seem to have flown by, but soon his four, straight days of working a 12+ hour shift will be over and he'll have three days home with us!

My mom, Dave, and brothers will all be here on Monday with all of our things! I'm so excited!!!! I've been dying to take mom to a bunch of craft stores here! Can't wait!

Lastly, our baby update:

(from The Bump)

Baby's now the size of a sweet potato!
Baby's become amazingly mobile (compared to you, at least), passing the hours yawning, hiccupping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking, and swallowing. And baby is finally big enough that you'll soon be able to feel her movements.

We find out the 28th if it's a boy or girl!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

We're celebrating St. Patty's Day today since Tanner has his "Green, Green Everywhere" party at school today. Plus, since he doesn't have school tomorrow, nobody will see us in our green outfits, so today works best! (Dad is home too, however, he is not wearing green like he should be!)

This morning I jumped out of bed (I was so excited!!) and made us green, blueberry pancakes, green milk, and green yogurt. Everything was delicious and it was so fun to color everything! I need to start randomly coloring things more often because the kids and I love it! The boys also are wearing their green shirts and new sandals. They look pretty shnazzy today! Happy (early) St. Patrick's Day!

Troy loves food, no matter what color it is!

Doesn't our boy look so grown up?!!!!

New sandals!

They're slowly starting to disappear! Adam's going to have to take over the toenail painting before long!