Bumpdate: Week 26

How big is baby? The size of a head of lettuce. Wowza! No real pics this week. Probably for the best. I felt like a hot mess because it was a crazy busy week!    

                                         

Maternity Clothes: All pants. Regular shirts and a few maternity shirts here and there. I've noticed that my regular tshirts are becoming too short with my jeans. Sad day. My summer wardrobe usually includes all of these tshirts. I will have to get some plain ones from the maternity section.

Stretch Marks: Still the tiny one from last time but that's it! 

Sleep: A little better when I'm on the couch. Although I usually wake up to Wembley laying on top of me or Oliver crying because Wembley is touching me.

Best moment of the week? Celebrating the school year with field day and the 5th grade picnic.

Movement: Feeling it every day! Sometimes she will get in my ribs (or it feels that way) and hurts. My ribs definitely feel like they're expanding!

Food cravings: Iced tea and watermelon. I can't wait to go to the farmer's market and get some fresh melon this weekend!!

Food aversions: No aversions, but nothing still sounds good.

Belly button in or out? In but I've noticed it getting smaller. This scares me!

What I miss: Not having hip pain and sleeping well. But can't really complain!

What I'm looking forward to: Summer break! FOUR more days of school

Milestones:  Nothing big this week :( For me it's been harder to get dressed because I feel frustrated with things not fitting or clothes looking funny. My regular pants fit but I can't zip or button them. My shirts are much tighter. In the past when this has happened, it has involved tears because it's been from weight gain. Thankfully it's mostly baby weight gain. I can't say that I'm disappointed in how my weight gain has progressed. Could I do better? Always. Am I under my final goal still? Yes. Just gotta keep swimming and know that it's okay.

Kids say the darnest (baby) things!

Since I told my students I was expecting I've heard some of the weirdest and funniest comments. I thought I'd take a blog post to write them all down so I never forget them. Remember, these kids are 10 and 11 years old. I love them dearly but sometimes they just need to think...or many they really do have their heads in the clouds. :o)

• One boy asked me if I had to be in the hospital for 9 months. He has four siblings. I told him I was pretty sure not many people would have kids if we had to be in the hospital that long.
  
  
• The same boy asked me if I had the baby yet (I was about 20 weeks). Did I miss school?
  
  
• A girl asked if I was going to be grumpy like her 4th grade teacher was last year when she was pregnant. I told her I only to her {the girl}. Sarcasm.
  
  
• One of the boys in my class asked if I was going to leave them. I told him no, I wouldn't have the baby until August. He told me that one of his 4th grade teachers left them last year. I told her it was because she had a baby in January. He swore up and down she did not have a baby and she just didn't like them. For real?
  
  
• I've had several comments, "your stomach/belly is growing". My comment back is usually, "yes, the baby is growing".
  
  
• A boy pointed to my stomach and asked, "is that the baby?" I said, "No, it's my puppy." Everyone in the class was silent. Finally one of the smarter girls said, "Yes! That's her baby! Duh!"
  
  
• Another boy asked if I was having a baby because he was getting worried my stomach was growing. Seriously? Your class talks about it weekly. We're on week 25 and you're just now asking?
  

What are some of the funniest/weirdest comments you have ever hear from kids or even adults while pregnant?

Busy Busy: Brain Dump

We have been so busy around here. I was actually looking forward for things to slow down at the end of the school year but I was totally wrong. I guess it makes the days and week feel faster and that's okay.

• We have 8 days of school left. EIGHT. Where did this year go? Holy cow! This is my second year with this group of kiddos (I looped up) and I feel like I've had them forever. I'm going to be so sad to see them go (for real) but it does feel like the year that never has ended.
  
• I will suddenly become very panicked knowing that when I go back to school in the fall I will have days or weeks until Hadley's arrival. CRAZY!!!
  
• Our house is up for sale. This is stressful in itself. It's hard not being able to move furniture and left heavy objects. I really try not to.
  
• It's weird not knowing where we will be in a month. Will be still be in this home? Will we find a new home? I hate not knowing. But I've been praying a lot that whatever happens will be what is supposed to happen for us. If we don't sell then we need to stay where we are and it's for a reason. If we do sell, then I hope we find a great home for our new addition.
  
• J will be 30 in eight days. I'm pretty excited for his birthday celebration this weekend (pictures to come).
  
• Wednesday is field day. It's supposed to rain. Thursday is 5th grade picnic. It's supposed to rain. This means I have to find something entertaining for my class to do :( #movieday
  
• One of my good friends (shout out to Abby) is due with her baby very soon. My other good friend is having her shower in just a few weeks. It's baby central around here!
  
  Now just to make it through the next 8 days and home free! Summer vacay here I come!

Menu Monday!

P.F. Changs Lettuce Wraps

Not my favorite but J loved them. I have never had the real ones to compare to but I'm sure they're much better!

Oven Tacos

Thank you Jennifer for this delicious recipe! We both loved them! I took out the beans because J doesn't like them but next time I'm making a side for me :)

Pioneer Woman Mac & Cheese

This was made for school potluck but we had a little here (since I made two dishes)

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I forgot to take a pic. Oops!
  {link}

Don't forget to link up with Rachel!

Bumpdate: 25 weeks

One day I will get back to more consistent blogging rather than just Menu Monday and bumpdates. We have been so busy I can't keep up with everything! Two more weeks of school after tomorrow! That will definitely help.

25 weeks 

How big is baby? She's growing!!                                               

Maternity Clothes: All pants. Regular shirts and a few maternity shirts here and there. I only have like four.

Stretch Marks: Still the tiny one from last time but that's it! 

Sleep: HORRIBLE! I read that this is when it can start. The main thing is my hips. They hurt so bad at night when I'm on either side. But when I wake up and stand up, no pain! Crazy! I actually moved to the couch 2 nights ago and then slept on it the whole time last night. It's soooo much better. Maybe it's just my sucky mattress? We don't have terrible ones and I've always liked them but maybe they're too hard...? Either way the couch and I will be bffs this summer. :)

Best moment of the week? Baby shower at school! I am so lucky to work with such amazing people. They showered us with love for sure.

Note to self: Stand up straight

Note to readers: I got 3.5 hrs of sleep the night before...woof

Movement: Feeling it every day. Wembley (cat) loves to lay on my stomach at night. No worries, he's pretty tiny and light weight.  It's usually more of leaning than anything. I think he likes to feel her kick. :)

Food cravings: Sweet tooth has taken over. This is so weird to me because I normally want nothing to do with sweets and only want things that are salty. I really hope this goes away!

Food aversions: No aversions, but nothing ever really sounds good.

Belly button in or out? In!

What I miss: Not having hip pain and sleeping well. But can't really complain!

What I'm looking forward to: Summer break! We have 9 days after Friday. I'm so happy! I'm going to miss my kiddos but it will be nice to relax over summer break.

Milestones:  Nothing big this week :( Glucose test in a few weeks...ahhhh!!!

Menu Monday

I was so excited for teacher week last week but it didn't work out as planned.

Skinny Enchiladas

A favorite in this house! If you have not tried them yet, you must!!

With PW Salsa

Tuesday was supposed to be B1G1 Chipotle. But when we go there the line was clear out the door...and that was at 7:30. J was starving and didn't want to wait, so we went to a Mexican restaurant close by. It was still delish...but not as cheap.

Thai Peanut Chicken Wraps

Not my fav but J loved them! 

Thursday we had dinner at Cul.vers. J loves their burgers. I volunteered to work there for a school fundraiser, so it was win-win.

Bumpdate: 24 weeks

24 weeks Wednesday, May 8th. I'm a little behind!

I feel enormous! I'm scared for 34 weeks!

How big is baby? The size of a cantaloupe. Oh my gosh, that's big!
                                                  

Maternity Clothes: All pants. I have been wearing shirts but most regular dress shirts fit. My t-shirts are getting a bit tighter (see above).

Stretch Marks: Tiny one on the back of the top of my hip, but it could have been there before! Nothing else new.

Sleep: Comes and goes. I slept really well a few nights this week then there were other nights that were horrible. I actually slept on the couch for a few hours last night and it was so much more comfortable! 

Best moment of the week? My sister coming home (although that could come back and haunt me later...haha!)

Movement: Feeling more and more. J still hasn't felt it. He will try then she will stop. She's also been kicking my bladder like crazy! It's not cool when I am teaching and have to use the restroom fast.

Food cravings: Nothing really. Although I'm acquiring a sweet tooth which has never been me. I usually am not a big sweets fan. Now I could eat ice cream every day!

Food aversions: Not much. But nothing ever really sounds good.

Belly button in or out? In!

What I miss: Not having hip pain and sleeping well. But still thankful overall so I hate to complain!

What I'm looking forward to: My school shower is this week!

Milestones:  We're at 24 weeks and my dad is healthy and good to go *knockonwood*. My grandma's dad passed away when my grandma was 24 weeks with my mom. My mom's dad (my grandpa) passed away when she was 24 weeks with me. My dad is going to break the streak. He's not allowed to do anything dangerous either. So keep him in your prayers! {I wish I was making that up, but I couldn't if I tried}

Easy Spring Wreath!

I'm not a craft person. Period.

I'm creative. I can decorate and party plan. But when it comes to arts and crafts. Forget it. I have scrapbook ADD. I have a hard time sitting down to complete a craft, therefore, I never make them because they never are completed.

A few weeks ago I proved myself wrong. About a year ago, yes a whole year, I bought a styrofoam wreath and ribbon. I had plans to make the kind of wreath where you loop the ribbon and stick on the wreath. Well, that didn't work out. So in March I bought some burlap. Finally I sat down and put the wreath together.

I had no idea what I was going to do with all the items I had. I started just wrapping the burlap around the wreath. Worked out well. Then I added one ribbon at a time. I ended up with three different patters. I liked the spring colors!

If you make a wreath with ribbon, make sure to pin it down as you go. I have a lot of pins in the back.

But something was missing. It needed a little more...

Someone loves ribbon!

I started playing around with the ribbon and ended up making some cute flowers!

These flowers are held together with straight pins only!

I made three total (always want to add items in odd amounts) and I think it turned out perfectly!

Not too shabby for my first wreath! And I'm proud to say that I came up with it on my own...no inspiration from Pinterest! :)

Next craft will include:

Menu Monday!

Dinners this past week were great!

Bang Bang Chicken Po' Boy

 Not too long ago, I made bang bang chicken for dinner. J really wanted a po' boy and LOVED the bang bang chicken, so I put them together. They turned out really well. We had left over bread to use so I figured it would work. I love a lot of lettuce on mine so J made me take a picture with my lettuce and then with a normal person's amount :) Only negative side is the house smells like oil for about 2 days and we hardly use any. Nothing compared to what the recipe calls for! :(

Turkey Meatball Gnocchi

No recipe to this. I bought a pack of gnocchi and already had the meatballs frozen from a while back. I had never made gnocchi before so I kind of just put things together. We love pesto, so I thought that would be something good to add. It wasn't bad but I need to work on my gnocchi skills.

What do you make with gnocchi??

Crusted Chicken in Basil Cream Sauce

This was AMAZING!!! It does not look as good as it actually tastes. I promise! It takes almost like a Chicken Marsala. I let J pick the side and he picked Julianne potatoes. Not good. We totally should have gone with pasta. It would have been much better. I didn't touch the potatoes (I don't like that kind) so I can't really complain. Next time pasta all the way!!

Pioneer Woman Salsa

{modified}

I've wanted to make this for awhile and just made it last night. OH MY GOSH. Best salsa ever! We love it spicy, so I added a little more cumin and used a whole lime (love my limes). I also only had one can of rotel tomatoes so my recipe was a little different...

Modified:

1 can (14 oz) whole tomatoes

1 can (10 oz) Rotel tomatoes with chilis

1/4 white onion (didn't measure in cup--used 1/4 of the onion)

1 clove of garlic--I used more because I love it!

1 whole jalapeno

1/4 tsp sugar

1/4 tsp salt (added more)

1/2 tsp cumin

1/4 cup cilantro (ended up being perfect)

1 whole lime, juiced (1/2 in food processor then half when finished and stirred with spoon)

Bumpdate: Week 23

23 weeks yesterday!

I had no idea how dirty my mirror was until I took this picture. Didn't have time to clean it and retake, so this is what you get. ::: embarrassed:::

How big is baby? The size of a grapefruit


                                                 

Getting closer to a ruler!!

Maternity Clothes: Still maternity pants only. I have a few maternity shirts but regular shirts still fit (regular shirt in picture). Trying to get by with what I have for the school year. I'm sure I'll live in comfy clothes and dresses all summer!

Stretch Marks: Tiny one on the back of the top of my hip, but it could have been there before!

Sleep: Same from last week...Very sleepy. Hips still hurt unless I get the pillow just right. 

Best moment of the week? Finishing state testing!!

Movement: Feeling more...which is crazy! If I press one side, I can usually feel a kick or two!

Food cravings: Nothing really. Nothing sounding too good lately.

Food aversions: Not much.

Belly button in or out? In!

What I miss: Not having hip pain. But still thankful overall so I hate to complain!

What I'm looking forward to: May 1st Doctor checkup and scheduling glucose test. I want to get it over with. I'm so scared of this darn test!!

Milestones: My school shower has been scheduled in May and my mom showed me the invites for my shower my aunt and sister and hosting (which isn't for a while). Crazy!! 

Also I can't believe she can now start to hear a lot. I've been listening to a lot of music. All different kinds. Classical (of course), jazz, Disney, and musicals. J and I love the arts and maybe that will rub off a bit!

Hello May!

I'm so happy May is finally here. April was a long month! Testing for school is officially over. The kids took their test yesterday and I'm so thankful we are finished. I'm so proud of all the hard work they have done. Now if I could get them to remember we still have 22 days of school left, that would be great!

Things to look forward to in May:

Visiting my cousins

Teacher Day at Chick-fil-a

My first (kinda) Mother's Day 

Hadley's baby shower at school with my coworkers!

Two PD days at school

5th Grade Talent Show

J camping--excited for him even though I'll miss him

Sister's 19th birthday!

Memorial Day

5th Grade picnic

Last day of school--bittersweet!

J's 30th birthday!!!!

What are you looking forward to this May?