Signs By Jen

Today is my student teachers last day. I'm sad to see her go. She's been great and such a wonderful addition to the classroom. The kids will definitely miss her!

I wanted to get her something as a thank you for all of her hard work over the past few months. She will not be going into a classroom next year because she has a great educational job already, so I didn't want to get her anything classroom related.

Since she is getting married in August, I thought the perfect gift would be something with her new last name on it. I wanted her and her new husband to be able to enjoy a gift and have something they could keep forever. I had to search Etsy first because they always have great products. I stumbled across these handmade signs and knew they would be perfect.

Signs by Jen allowed me to make a sign for the soon-to-be Mrs. O'Malley and her fiance. They could put this sign in their home and enjoy it together. The kids also wrote letters I will be binding in a book for her.

I wasn't sure what colors to go with but very pleased with how the sign turned out.

Jen has a lot of signs to pick from. I'd put any one in my home or classroom!

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I may have to order one of these when Hadley is born!

Not only are her signs amazing but she was so great to work with! She emailed me back very quickly and I had the sign in no time. If you're looking for a sign of any kind, definitely check out Signs by Jen on Etsy!

Furbaby love

Skipping out on Menu Monday this week. I actually cooked a lot but they were all recipes I had made before so I wouldn't be sharing anything new. I thought I'd instead give a little update about some important loves in my life.

Someone is not allowed on the counter. But in a box on the counter isn't really breaking the rules.

Can't even look at me!

Sweet Izzy (parent's dog) was very sick and the vet couldn't figure out why. FINALLY they tested for Addison's disease and she was positive. This is very rare and not usually tested for. If your dog is every sick (lethargic, not eating, etc), ask your vet to test. 

I picked her up from the vet one day and she got on my couch and fell asleep. I feel too bad to get her off because she was so sad and had to feel terrible. I didn't even get to put a blanket up! Oliver was with her the entire time. He was worried.

Such a ham!

Two of my piano students made this for Hadley. I stuck it in the laundry basket to take upstairs. First Wembley was in it. The next thing I knew Oliver was in it!! LOL! He never gets in baskets!

Such a sweet boy!

New favorite spot when not sunbathing. Very random...

I just what to cuddle with him! He's so soft and fluffy!

Bumpdate: 22 week

22 weeks (yesterday) already?! Crazy!!

How big is baby? The size of a papaya

She's almost as long as a ruler!!

Maternity Clothes: Maternity pants and regular tops. Dresses and leggings have been a blessing lately. I have 3 shorter dresses and 2 long dresses. I wear a dress once a week and just rotate. My poor coworkers see me in the same clothes  a lot but oh well! I don't have anyone to impress and I'm still feeling good in what I wear.
Stretch Marks: None

Sleep: Very sleepy. Hips still hurt unless I get the pillow just right.

Best moment of the week? Not baby related...finishing TWO of THREE state tests. WAHOO!!

Movement: I feel it daily! It's weird but pretty cool.

Food cravings: Nothing specific...still loving spicy!

Food aversions: Grilled chicken if I make it. I don't know why but it looks gross. If I get it from a restaurant it doesn't bother me.

Belly button in or out? In! 

What I miss: Not being in pain when I wake up. But I really can't complain because I've been so lucky.

What I'm looking forward to: Going to the Dr. May 1st just to check up

Milestones: No big milestones this week. Although I have a funny story...

When I first told my students I was pregnant one of my students asked if I had to stay in the hospital for 9 months. He was serious. He has 4 brothers/sisters. Well last week told me that my "belly was getting fat". I told him that the baby is growing. Another girl yelled at him and said that he shouldn't say things like that because I was pregnant. His response..."Oh, I thought you already had the baby". WHEN would  I have done that?! Oh he has a lot to learn!

Menu Monday

Spicy {turkey} Sausage Pasta

I've made this before and it's a favorite! You can find pictures on previous M.M. posts

Bang Bang Chicken

I took the Bonefish shrimp recipe and used it on chicken. I rarely eat shrimp (and it's usually 1 and I'm done) so I decided to go for chicken. OMG it was amazing!! I wasn't sure what to serve it with, seeing as it was our meal. I would have eaten it in a salad but J doesn't eat veggies. So I made rice noodles. It was really good. I could have just eaten the chicken by itself but that wouldn't have been the best option. {I had a side salad for my veggie}. I'm so mad at myself. I took great pictures, sent them to my email then deleted them from my phone.

Well, apparently I never ATTACHED the pictures to the email. So you get what is on the website. J has been begging me to make this again next week. Pretty sure that it tops the spicy sausage pasta.


Tuesday J had class so I ate leftovers.
Thursday I met coworksers for dinner and J ate left overs.
Friday J worked and I ate a frozen Amy's meal...yummy!
Friday we had Tommy's Pizza!

Bumpdate: 21 weeks

How big is baby? The size of a pomegranate

Maternity Clothes: Maternity pants and regular tops. I have not liked getting dressed. The bump is showing and is harder to hide. I know, embrace the bump...but I'm still getting used to it.

That is definitely supposed to say 21 weeks. I'll fix it later.

Stretch Marks: None 

Sleep: Better. I've been crashing hard.

Best moment of the week? Feeling her move more from the outside

Movement: I feel it daily! It's weird

Food cravings: Nothing specific...although I really wanted a cupcake yesterday.

Food aversions: Not much...

Belly button in or out? In! 

What I miss: I'm good and thankful how easy it has been so far. Definitely not taking this for granted and praying it continues.

What I'm looking forward to: How about what I'm NOT looking forward to. The glucose test. I'm scared to death and won't take it until mid-May. I think I'm more worried about that than giving birth!

Milestones: No big milestones this week. Feeling her daily!

Menu Monday

So pregnancy brain must have taken over because I can't remember what we had for dinner last week except for a few nights. I keep a list on my computer for dinners of the week but deleted the one from last week already. So you're only going to get the ones that I can remember!

BLT with kettle chips and cantaloupe

 

I forgot to take a picture until the end of my meal!

Turkey Brats, curly fries, and baked beans

By far my favorite meal! Go figure--the worst for you.

 I love turkey brats with just about anything on them but sour kraut is the best!

I'm not a big baked bean fan but made them for J.

I felt bad not eating any fruit so I had cantaloupe for dessert!

Turkey burgers and salad

I forgot to take a picture of this but remember eating them.

I made a bunch of homemade turkey burgers in December and froze them.

Love going in the freezer and finding dinner ready to go!

Don't forget to link up with Rachel!

Bumpdate: 20 weeks

We are half way there! My pregnancy update said to go out and celebrate the halfway mark. So that is what we plan on doing this weekend. We are both pretty excited and I still can't believe we're half way there! Eeeeek! I swear time flies during pregnancies (after week 14 that is) whether it is a friend or mine.

How big is baby? A banana!

Maternity Clothes: Maternity pants and regular tops

Stretch Marks: None 

Sleep: Up a few times at night but not bad other than that. My hips have been hurting at night lately. I shouldn't be surprised because I have poor joints (3 knee surgeries in 2 years) but it's still not fun. I've been stretching before I go to bed and when I wake up. But poor J has a harder time than I do. He tries to sleep with me but we have a queen size bed with 2 adults, a dog, a cat, and a pregnancy pillow. I usually wake up and he has moved to the spare room bed. Sometimes he even waits until 4-5am! Poor guy. I feel so terrible but I'm not sure what to do! We need a king size bed. The end.

Best moment of the week? 20 week ultrasound!! {see below}

Movement: More than last time but still not a ton.

Food cravings: Nothing specific

Food aversions: Not much...

Belly button in or out? In! 

What I miss: I'm good and thankful how easy it has been so far. Definitely not taking this for granted and praying it continues.

What I'm looking forward to: I still look forward to my monthly doctor visits. But on a non-baby note, I'm so looking forward for state testing to be over in a few weeks!

Milestones: 20 week ultrasound! They said she was perfect and everything looked great. We were so thrilled! Right now she weighs about 14oz which is right on track.  Her heart looked perfect which I was worried about, no specific reasons. She did measure about 10 days ahead of schedule. The doctor said that she's not going to change my due date just yet (which is 8/29) since my early ultrasounds both said predicted that date. However she's going to pay close attention to measurements the next few months and then go from there if she continues to be ahead of schedule. We know that ultrasounds and measurements are not precise but it would be nice to be close.Overall, we are incredibly thankful she is healthy! And that she is still a she :o)

Our sweet Hadley!

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So what?! Wednesday

Linking up with Shannon today for So What? Wednesday!

20 week bumpdate will be posted tomorrow, even though I'm 20 weeks today.

This week I'm saying so what if...

• I have a countdown on my computer at school as to how many days we have left and a check list of what needs to be completed before summer break. I can't wait!
  
• I'm "collecting" diapers now. I know H may not like the kind that we have but it's a start. I can't complain if my mom is sending them to me every month!
  
• I eat cereal with vanilla yogurt. I refuse to drink milk.
  
• I talk to Oliver my dog like a human. I know he understands!
  
• I'm obsessed with the Oh! Burger food truck. It's delicious and it rarely comes over to our side of town. I might be eating there today...for the second time in three weeks. It's mainly because it may not be back in our area the rest of the summer! Let's face it, I'm not going to drive around the city to find it. Although it is that good.
  
• I'm excited for state testing because I know it means we're almost done with the school year. I love my kiddos and will miss them so much but this has been the year that will never end. Probably because I looped up with them (which definitely has more positives than negatives).

Bumpdate: 19 weeks

I was 19 weeks on Wednesday, April 3rd but never did an update. It was a busy week with it being the first week back from spring break. And it was a long week! I'm also slacking on the pictures. Sorry! J and I talked about it this week and his goal is to help me remember. 

How big is baby? An heirloom tomato

Maternity Clothes: Definitely pants. Regular pants are very uncomfortable. I had to wear them a few times last week until the clothes I ordered were delivered. So glad they are here. Still wearing regular tops!

Stretch Marks: None 

Sleep: Getting better now that I'm back in the swing of things. Very tired in the evening though.

Best moment of the week? Feeling baby girl every once in a while. Not a lot but small movements. Pretty sure that's what it is!

Movement: See above

Food cravings: Not much. I really wanted Chinese the other day. Finally had it and it was delicious!

Food aversions: Not much right now...

Belly button in or out? In! 

What I miss: Nothing much. Thankful I'm doing well and not sick!

What I'm looking forward to: The 20 week ultrasound!

Milestones: I got a lot done over spring break. Registry is done. Bedding and furniture is picked out. Room is not started since we are packing!