Amanda's Blog

February 7th

2012-02-07T07:41:00.000-08:00

Blake loves his new exersauser!

His little legs are not quite long enough yet...

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Feb 2nd

2012-02-02T07:34:00.000-08:00

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January 31

2012-01-31T20:28:00.001-08:00

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January 28

2012-01-28T20:59:00.000-08:00

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January 26

2012-01-26T20:56:00.000-08:00

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January 24th

2012-01-24T20:54:00.000-08:00

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4 month check up

2012-01-23T21:08:00.000-08:00

Height: 24.5 inches
Weight: 13 lbs 11 oz
He's doing great!

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January 20

2012-01-20T20:47:00.000-08:00

Finally learning how to use the manual mode on my camera

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January 20th

2012-01-20T12:03:00.001-08:00

Waking up...

I feel like he looks so old in this one...

My poor son drools nonstop. His shirts are always soaked.

Thinking...

Still thinking...

and he's out...

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January 19th...4 months!

2012-01-19T12:21:00.000-08:00

Good morning Blake!

I decided to buy him a new book every month...

*I'll update the Christmas pics at a later date.

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A few pics from Christmas Eve

2012-01-16T14:22:00.001-08:00

My iPad is full... I was only able to load some of the pics from Christmas. The rest are on our Mac. I haven't figured out how to put pics from the Mac on my blog yet. That's partly why I haven't posted in a while. I'll figure it out soon.
Until then...
Stockings at Nandy's

IdaMary, Nandy, and Chad

Keely and Hunter

Blake, Brent, and Hattie

Hunter and the new puppy

Blake, Hattie, and Hunter doing a Christmas program at Nana & Papa's

Hattie handing out the gifts

Hunter handing out the gifts

Hunter loves his dad

Hattie's new American Doll

Brent and Keely

I love the expressions in this pic. Keely was really unsure about what she was opening from Brent...I really love this expression on Brent's face. It reminds me of when we were kids. It's his "I'm really excited, but I'm trying not to smile" face. Love ya Bub!

So frustrated that I can't put the rest of my pics up. Ugh. Soon.....
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December 22

2011-12-22T10:00:00.001-08:00

So I haven't figured out all of my camera settings...these could have been a lot better. I didn't really capture the glow of the lights, but I'll eventually learn. I'm doing a photography workshop in January. I'm so excited to learn how to take better pictures!!!

Playing with Christmas lights this morning...

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December 19th

2011-12-19T13:11:00.001-08:00

3 months!

I could seriously just take pictures of him all day long. I just can't get enough of this little guy! I love him so much! I can't believe he's already 3 months...I'm trying to soak up every second with him. I know time is going to fly by way faster than I want.
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December 17

2011-12-17T18:51:00.000-08:00

Bath time!

And my fav...

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December 16th

2011-12-16T18:08:00.001-08:00

He's pretty much got the whole rolling over thing down. I tried to capture some of it today. Sorry some of these are a bit out of focus. By the time I'd get in place with my camera, he was already rolling over and I missed it...we had to try several times.

This one is my fav! I love his smile...he's so proud of himself. :) We're pretty proud too!

It's December 16th...Happy birthday Dad! I love you!

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December 14

2011-12-14T15:09:00.001-08:00

I think the colic is gone!!!!! He's finally been able to relax and take an afternoon nap this week. PLUS he's learned how to soothe himself to sleep at night! Wahoo! Some nights he mumbles/talks to himself for a long time, but he eventually goes to sleep on his own. The big thing is that he hasn't been screaming/crying all week! He usually would scream and cry for 5+ hours each night...some nights he wouldn't sleep at all. Poor guy! So thankful for my peaceful little boy!

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December 13

2011-12-13T15:34:00.000-08:00

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December 3

2011-12-03T09:16:00.000-08:00

This swing has become a lifesaver

It's December 3rd...Happy 91st birthday Nandy!

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December 1

2011-12-01T20:14:00.000-08:00

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November 30

2011-11-30T09:13:00.000-08:00

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November 30

2011-11-30T09:12:00.000-08:00

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November 28

2011-11-28T09:11:00.000-08:00

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2 months old! November 19th

2011-11-19T15:00:00.001-08:00

Check out my drool in this last one :)

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8 weeks November 14

2011-11-14T12:09:00.001-08:00

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Nov 12

2011-11-12T20:22:00.001-08:00

Onesie a friend made for him...Who could resist this face?!?

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Nov 12

2011-11-12T12:55:00.000-08:00

Trying to do a little tummy time....

really he'd much rather stand up...

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Oct 30

2011-10-30T15:25:00.000-07:00

So I finally had a few minutes to take a few pics for fun...

-

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Oct 29

2011-10-29T15:27:00.000-07:00

I LOVE that he's so snuggly!

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Oct 22

2011-10-22T15:28:00.000-07:00

Four generations of Chad's family

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Oct 19th

2011-10-19T16:48:00.000-07:00

Cardinal's win game 1 in the World Series

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Oct 18th

2011-10-18T16:46:00.000-07:00

Titus (our pastor's son) and Blake

They're doing the same pose...both have their right arm up. Haha

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Oct 15th

2011-10-15T16:42:00.000-07:00

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Oct 13th

2011-10-13T16:37:00.000-07:00

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Oct 13th

2011-10-13T16:35:00.000-07:00

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Oct 4th

2011-10-04T16:34:00.000-07:00

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Oct 1st

2011-10-01T16:33:00.000-07:00

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Sept 27

2011-09-27T16:32:00.000-07:00

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Sept 26th

2011-09-26T16:29:00.000-07:00

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A few pics!

2011-09-24T12:47:00.001-07:00

I'll come back and write a few things and add more pics when I can...it's been pretty busy around here.

Getting rested up for the OU game.

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Nesting?

2011-09-12T17:09:00.001-07:00

So I guess my form of nesting is making things instead of cleaning. The house isn't too clean and I really have no desire to clean it. It's too difficult to bend over at this point. So instead of cleaning I've been in a big cooking & crafting mood. I love that I'm not at work and that I have time to do fun stuff!
Here's what I've been up to...

Blake's coming home outfit

Burp cloths...I made them where they'll roll up and tie. Some are out of my shirts and some are out of fabric and cloth diapers, like the one pictured...

Goodies for the hospital...Oreos dipped in mint chocolate with a B for Blake :)

...and I have another item, but it won't be complete till Blake's here so you'll have to wait.
I've also been stocking up on freezer meals. I think I'm making up for the last few months when I've done absolutely no cooking.
I go back to the doctor on Wednesday...if there's no change, she'll schedule an induction. Either way, he should be here in the next week or so!!!

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39 weeks!

2011-09-12T16:57:00.001-07:00

I figured I should take a pic like the ones I started with, so one more time in my OU shirt. :)

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Maternity Pics - 37 weeks

2011-09-10T19:43:00.000-07:00

We had a few pics taken a couple of weeks ago. This is when I was 37 weeks. If I would have known how puffy I was going to be at this point, I would have scheduled them earlier in my pregnancy...oh well. They were fun to do.

Jer 29:11

2011-08-01T06:44:00.001-07:00

It was a little tedious...

But thanks to Chad, the verse is now up above Blake's crib!

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32 Weeks

2011-07-30T14:29:00.001-07:00

Time is flying by! Blake is going to be here before I know it! I can't believe it's already been 32 weeks! I went to the doctor this week; I'm going every two weeks now. She said I'm measuring two weeks ahead and that I have been consistently two weeks ahead for a long time. So, she wants to do another ultrasound on Aug 18th! That sounds great to me! I'd love to see him again and I think it will hopefully put my mind at ease. I've been paranoid that he is going to be really big ever since I got pregnant. My doctor said she'd be more concerned if I had gestational diabetes, but all of those tests came back normal. She just wants to do another one so that she'll have a better idea as to what to expect when it's time for him to arrive. I asked if that meant he'd come early. She said not necessarily...just because he's big doesn't mean he's fully developed and ready to come out. I then told her that if it looks like he's not going to fit, I'm totally ok with doing a c-section. So we will see...is it the way he's positioned, the way I'm carrying him, the amount of fluid I have, or is he just big? Everything else looks good. I'm just very thankful I get to have another ultrasound. :)

This pic makes me laugh...Can you tell all my maternity shirts are starting to get too short?!

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Giant Ruler Growth Chart

2011-07-26T17:33:00.001-07:00

I've always loved the idea of marking our kids' height on something as they grow. I didn't want to do it on the door frame though. I came across this great idea on pinterest and loved it. It was very easy to do and pretty inexpensive too...$5 for the board, $3 for the paint pen, and I already had the stain for the book ledges. The tutorial on pinterest was super easy to follow. We haven't hung it up on the wall yet, but you can see what it looks like. I think it will be so fun to write on and use over the years.

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Fabric Covered Mats

2011-07-25T17:44:00.000-07:00

It won't be long and these frames will be filled with pictures of Blake! Thanks to another tutorial I found online, I easily covered three of the mats (the rust colored ones) with fabric. Now that the frames are matted, I don't have to use the glass with the frame. I really don't like how there's always a glare on glass...problem solved. :)

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Window shade

2011-07-22T19:45:00.001-07:00

Here's a better pic of the fabric covered roller shade. My mom and Keely did an awesome job on it. I didn't really want to buy blinds to put up, but I needed something behind the curtain to block out the light so that I could keep the curtains open. I found a couple of ideas on pinterest. The first thing we tried was painting the shade. Well, it ended up a little splotchy, so we moved on to the next idea which was covering it in fabric. I found this print last week on clearance at JC Penny's. It's actually from a twin sheet set, but it matched perfectly. My mom and Keely sprayed the shade down with adhesive and then carefully and smoothly covered it with the fabric. Then they flipped it over to glue the edges around the back. I think it turned out so cute. I love it. AND it was a lot less expensive than buying cordless blinds would have been.

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More pics...just playing with my camera :)

2011-07-22T18:21:00.000-07:00

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Blake's Room!!!

2011-07-20T19:18:00.001-07:00

My mom and sister-in-law, Keely, came up this week to help me with Blake's room. They did such a great job! I love the way it turned out!!! I am so thankful for them. I'm really not good at knowing what goes together and what doesn't. I've been looking through things on pinterest and trying to get ideas for weeks. There is no way I could have done this on my own. They were such a huge help. I even talked them into helping me hang things and decorate the rest of the house. It finally looks like we live here now!
Before:

After:
I'll be putting Jeremiah 29:11 in black vinyl letters above the crib.

I'll take the glass out of the frames and mat some pics of Blake when he gets here.

If you're linked to my pinterest, you can see what I'm going to do with the big board. It's basically a huge ruler growth chart.

Books will go on the lower shelf.

We had so much fun doing this! Chad has my camera right now, but I'll post a better pic of the window shade when I can. I can't wait for Blake to get here!
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Day Three

2011-07-20T09:29:00.000-07:00

Finishing touches on Blake's Room. You guys are my heroes!!!

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Day Two

2011-07-19T19:31:00.000-07:00

We started decorating and hanging things today. I haven't really hung much on the walls. We've been here for about a year and a half, but I have a really hard time knowing where to put things. Thankfully my mom and Keely were here and they helped me pick some things out and place them. It finally feels like we live here!

Above the sofa...

Above the kitchen cabinets...

Above the desk in the kitchen...

Guest bathroom...

Dining room...

Bedroom...

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Working on Blake's Room Day One

2011-07-18T19:15:00.000-07:00

I could not have done this without the help of my mom and Keely! They did an incredible job!!! Here's some pics of the progress...

Taping...if you don't have an automatic level, they are worth every penny!

Sealing the tape...I came across a blog that recommended using Modge Podge to seal the tape and prevent the paint from bleeding through. This was very important because I don't have any of the paint they used on our house and I have no clue what the name of the shade was. This means we didn't have any paint to do touch ups with.

Painting...love the colors!

The big reveal...the Modge Podge worked! The paint didn't bleed through and we've got perfectly straight lines!!

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30 weeks!

2011-07-13T18:34:00.000-07:00

30 weeks and feeling great!

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A peek at Blake's bedding :)

2011-06-15T16:02:00.001-07:00

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26 weeks!

2011-06-15T16:00:00.001-07:00

26 weeks!

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HelpJoplinRebuild

2011-06-02T15:13:00.000-07:00

At some point when I have more than 2 minutes, I'll post a new pic of my ever growing belly. :) I haven't forgotten. Until then, I'll leave you with this link... www.helpjoplinrebuild.com It's a site that my church has created to inform others of everything that is going on and the lives that are changed. Videos are being posted all the time...check it out.

1st Sunday After Tornado Joplin, MO

2011-05-30T09:10:00.000-07:00

Here's a glimpse of our first service after the tornado. Right now we are using our building as a shelter and for storage to help meet the needs of the community. I wish I had pictures of our parking lot and of the inside of our building. We have had so many people volunteer and donate supplies. It is really incredible to see everyone joining together. We will be having one service outside at 10:00 every Sunday for a while.

Daniel & Kristin's Apartment and Joplin High School

2011-05-30T08:38:00.001-07:00

I'm way behind on my blog. It will probably be a while before I get caught up. I'll try to catch up a little here and there when I can. Things are pretty crazy right now and probably will stay that way for a while. Here's a few pics of our friends' (Daniel and Kristin) apartment. Thankfully neither of them were home when it happened. He was at work and she was at Wal-mart...the one that got hit. Thankfully she's going to be ok...more on her story later. She's recovering in Chicago now at her mom's house. Daniel is staying with us while he tries to put things back together. Anyway, here's a glimpse of where they used to live.

These next pictures are from Joplin High School. It's pretty much destroyed.

I haven't had much of a chance to drive around yet. When I do, I'll post more pictures. However, the pictures don't do it justice. For those of you that live in OKC, it would be kinda like if a tornado went down NW Expwy and took out all the restaurants and businesses along with Baptist Hospital...or if it went down Memorial and took out Mercy and all of the businesses and restaurants down that way. It's like the main part of our city is gone now. So many houses, apartments, doctors' offices, stores, restaurants, businesses....it's crazy. I'm so thankful that my friends that were right next to it or right in the middle of it survived and are going to be ok. I feel such heartache for the families of those that weren't so lucky.
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Bedding!

2011-05-16T19:46:00.001-07:00

I've been searching and searching for the right bedding for our boy. I wanted to go for something classy and I really loved the idea of a monogrammed bumper. After thinking about it A LOT, I went ahead and ordered it. It was on clearance and I was afraid it would be gone if I waited too long. I can't wait till it gets here!

Here's a pic of the bumper. I don't really care for the initials with the stars around it. They had several options to choose from. I selected the script font in chocolate with his first name instead of the initials, so it's not exactly like this pic...

Here's a pic of the bedskirt that matches. It really won't show much, but I felt like the crib still needed one...

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Registering!

2011-05-14T20:06:00.000-07:00

I owe a HUGE thank you to Stacy McClure!!! She went with me to register today and was so much help! I really am clueless as to what I'll use and what I won't use. She guided me along and told me which products she likes and why. I had so much fun hanging out with her and picking things out. I have the greatest friends! Thanks to all of you who have been giving me advise along the way. You have no idea how much help you've been!

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Baby Boy's Room!

2011-05-09T18:56:00.001-07:00

Here's a glimpse at the room! We just moved the furniture in and I LOVE it! I'm not sure how we'll set it all up yet. We may move it around a few times :) This is just a peek so you can see the furniture. I can't wait to start decorating! My question is...Do I use a bumper? I've heard mixed opinions. If I used one, could I just use it on the back and sides since the front part of the crib has a wooden piece where it would go? Would that look weird? I found one that I like, but I would have it monogrammed. If I do that, I can't return it. I'm really not good at visualizing things or decorating. I know many of you are. What do you think? I'm really split. Part of me thinks I should just skip the bumper all together. I don't know.

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20 Weeks!

2011-05-07T18:50:00.000-07:00

20 Weeks!

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And.....

2011-05-01T17:48:00.000-07:00

We are so excited to announce.....

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Guest room turning into the Baby's room

2011-04-26T19:22:00.001-07:00

Our guest room a week ago....

And our guest room now....

Wahoo!!! We sold our bed! Soon you'll get to see pics of the baby's room! I'm hoping we'll get to set up the furniture next week. The furniture is so beautiful! I love it and I cant wait to set it up!

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18 Weeks!

2011-04-23T19:29:00.000-07:00

18 Weeks!!!

This "little mama" is quickly becoming "big mama!". I weighed the other night and... I was up 17 lbs!!! (That was right after I had dinner. I weighed again later and it wasn't quite as much.) I think my body really needs to slow down. I'm eating fairly healthy and I don't think I'm over-eating at all. What can I say....oh well. I just hope the doctor doesn't tell me I've gained too much. :/
I don't have my list of changes in our baby this week...I'll try to update it later. BUT I do get to see our baby soon! I'm so excited I can hardly stand it! We'll find out Thursday, April 28th what we're having! I honestly don't know which I think it is. Ahhhh I can't wait to find out!!!!!

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16 Weeks!

2011-04-09T19:17:00.000-07:00

16 Weeks!
Sunday, April 3rd - Saturday, April 9th

I really feel great this week! I love it! I'm so excited and I can hardly wait to see this baby! Chad's birthday was Tuesday and his parents and grandparents came up to celebrate. It was great to see everyone. I'm so thankful that even though we don't live in the same cities as our parents, we only live a few hours away.

My favorite thing this week is the Nature Valley Almond Granola Bars...they are so tasty!

Our baby is the size of an avocado this week, about 5 inches long. His or her eyes are making small side-to-side moments and can even perceive some light. He/She is also sharpening his/her sucking and swallowing skills. Within the next week or so, the pads on our baby's fingertips and toes will become adorned with completely individual swirls and creases...fingerprints.

I had an appointment on Monday and they checked the heartbeat again...she said it sounded great! They also scheduled my ultrasound!!!! It will be Thursday, April 28th. I can't wait! I haven't decided how we'll tell everyone. I love what several of you have done with the cake...the color of the cake or icing inside reveals the gender. However, since our families don't live in Joplin with us, I don't think we'll do that. I'd like to do something creative, but I think I'll probably be so excited that I'll just blurt it out....we'll see.

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15 Weeks!

2011-04-02T09:32:00.000-07:00

15 Weeks!
Sunday March 27th - Saturday April 2nd

I never got around to posting a picture last week...sorry.

I'm feeling sooo much better. I'm not nauseated at all. I'm super tired, but I don't think I can blame all of that on being pregnant. I just get busy and end up staying up too late. 8 more weeks with students! I can't wait until I can sleep in a little later than 5:45. My appetite has grown a lot this week. I still don't like meat, red pasta sauce, or salsa...weird, I know. I'm able to pretty much eat anything else though. I'm so thankful for that! I'm not really good at eating healthy, but I'm trying to eat fruit instead of giving in to all of my junk food cravings.

You can definitely tell I'm pregnant. I still think it's weird that I'm showing so much more than my other pregnant friends. I can't even imagine what I'll look like in 10 weeks....or 20 weeks! Will I fit in my car and still be able to reach the pedals??? Every time I pass by a mirror or window where I can see my reflection I kinda stare at myself. I feel like I look so different. It makes me smile. I'm so excited!

My next doctor's appointment is on Monday. They'll schedule my ultrasound at that appointment. I can't wait!!!! Another piece of the baby's furniture is supposed to be delivered on Monday too. We're listing our guest bed on craigslist. Hopefully it will sell quickly so we can get the furniture set up. I know I have plenty of time. I just want to see what it's going to look like.

Our baby this week - Tiny bones in his or her ears are in place this week, making it likely that the baby can hear our voices! The backbone is strong enough now for our baby to work on straightening his or her head and neck even more. Baby's crown-to-rump measurement is between four and five inches in length, about the size of an avocado. Our baby also now has eyebrows and eyelashes.
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14 Weeks!

2011-03-26T18:57:00.000-07:00

14 Weeks!
Sunday March 20th - Saturday March 25th

I'll add my picture tomorrow...

I'M NO LONGER NAUSEATED!!!!! I'm still picky about what I eat, but I'm past the nauseated stage. Everyone said it would get better after the first trimester was over and thankfully they were right! I think I'll have my full on appetite soon....lookout!

I had my first craving this week...broccoli. If you know me very well, you know how weird that is. I don't really eat vegetables...especially green ones. For some reason on Friday I was really wanting broccoli so I went to the store and got a few things and made a broccoli salad. You know, the one with craisons and sunflower seeds. Yum! Maybe there's hope for me and veggies after all. If this baby changes my eating habits to where I enjoy veggies more than dessert, that would be a pretty good thing. I'm not counting on it though. I've also been craving the cake batter ice cream from Maggie Moo's or Marble Slab. Unfortunately (actually it's probably good or I'd eat it every day) there aren't any ice cream places in Joplin. We have lots of frozen custard places, but no ice cream. It's just not the same.

The crib and dresser came in this week! I can't wait to get it all set up. I love it. I've been playing with the idea of how I want the bedding to look. I think I've made up my mind on what I like if it's a boy. I'm still not sure on what to do if it's a girl though.

Our baby is about 4 1/2 inches, the size of a large navel orange. Our baby is busy practicing breathing, sucking, and swallowing all day. Body movements also continue to get practice this week too. I can hardly wait to feel it! By now the ears are positioned properly on the sides of the head and the eyes are moving from the side of the head to the front of the face. I'm really looking forward to my ultrasound...whenever that will be. I can't wait to get a glimpse of this little one!

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Baby's Room!

2011-03-22T18:19:00.001-07:00

Last week was sooooo much fun! I was on Spring Break and I got to spend most of the week with family and friends in Okc. My parents generously bought our furniture for the baby's room while I was visiting. My mom and I looked everywhere and this was my favorite! It should be here in a couple of weeks! I can't wait!
The Crib....

The dresser....

And the changing table... I didn't order the hutch. I couldn't find the right pic online, but it will look like this minus the shelves on top...

It's all in espresso (the really dark wood). I love it! Thank you so much mom and dad!
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13 weeks!

2011-03-19T19:04:00.000-07:00

13 Weeks!
Sunday March 13th - Saturday March 19th

Ahhhh Spring Break!!!!

Sorry. I don't really have an update. I've been super busy this week, but I've loved every moment. I got to spend time with lots of friends and family. I didn't take any pictures. :( I really wish I would have.

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12 Weeks!

2011-03-15T08:12:00.001-07:00

12 Weeks!
Sunday March 6th - Saturday March 12th

I went in for my 12 week appointment on Monday. I was thrilled when I walked into the room and I didn't have to put the gown/sheet thing on. Wahoo. :) I really don't know what all they do at each appointment, so it's always a surprise to me. This time when I went in she used the doppler and I got to hear the heartbeat! It was pretty incredible. She said everything looked great and sounded great. I love hearing good news. I go back in another 4 weeks (April 4th) and she said they'll schedule my big ultrasound when I go in for that appointment. I'm really excited for that one. I can't wait to find out if it's a boy or girl.

I've noticed a lot of changes this week. My back and hips have been really achy. My doctor said that it was because things were moving and shifting. I guess things moved up higher this week. Which is kinda weird. I was able to button a couple of my old jeans again. They were very uncomfortable by the end of the day though.

I'm not nearly as nauseated anymore!!!!! I still am VERY picky when it comes to food. Most regular stuff still doesn't sound good, but I'm hoping that will change soon too.

I feel like I have a little more energy. I still take naps as often as I can, but I'm feeling better. I hear the 2nd trimester is a lot better and I'm almost there!!!

Our baby is about 3 inches long and the size of a peach. Up till this point, our baby's intestines have been growing in a cavity inside the umbilical cord; this week they are moving to their permanent spot in the baby's abdomen. Our baby's vocal chords are also developing this week....can't wait to hear that sound. :)

One of my favorite things this week is.....my pillow. I couldn't seem to get comfortable. Several people have told me that they use one of the pregnancy body pillows. I really didn't want something that took up that much space and I really didn't want to spend a lot on a pillow. I found this one on sale for half off on amazon last week. I thought I'd give it a try and I love it. It kinda looks like a giant comma...

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11 Weeks!

2011-03-05T07:58:00.000-08:00

11 Weeks!
Sunday, February 27th

Keep in mind, these pictures are a week late. I take the picture sometime during the beginning of the week and then I reflect on the week and write the post at the end of the week. So this is actually what I looked like last week.

Food: I've been able to eat a few more things this week. My appetite is slowly coming back. I've gained about 2 1/2 - 3 pounds total so far. That really surprises me because looking at my stomach, I'd think it would be more. As far as what I'm eating goes...I've been eating a lot of grilled cheese sandwiches and fruit. I still love fudge pop tarts and I've actually eaten a couple of salads this week.

Symptoms: Still nauseated, but it's getting better. I feel like I've been more tired this week than I was last week. Maybe I've just been staying up too late. I also switched over to maternity clothes this week. It feels so much better! I found a few things at the Just Between Friends sale in Tulsa last Sunday (that's where I got the gray pants pictured above). I really like the kind of pants that go under your belly and don't have a stretchy band...at least at this point I do. That may change as I grow. I also found a few plain long sleeve maternity crew necks on sale at Old Navy.

Baby: Our baby is about 2 1/2 inches long this week, the size of a large plum. *On a side note, the description this week says "It's hard to believe especially from the outside, since you're probably barely showing at this point, but your baby has more than doubled in size during the past three weeks." Um...pretty sure I'm more than 'barely showing' hahaha. Anyway, The digestive system is beginning to flex its muscles. The pituitary gland has started producing hormones. And the bone marrow is making white blood cells. I go back to the doctor on Monday...I really hope I get to hear the heartbeat!

Thoughts: There is so much to look forward to and things are happening so fast! I really can't wait until I find out if it's a boy or girl and I really can't wait until I can feel him/her moving inside me. That's gotta feel weird, but I think it's so cool. I can't wait to see what he/she looks like. I bet I've had 15 dreams about it. I can't wait to hold him/her. Ahhh there is so much to look forward to. I'm soooo excited and so thankful to be pregnant.

Favorite: My favorite thing this week has to be maternity clothes. I've only bought a few things, but it's made a huge difference. It feels so good to be in comfortable clothes.
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10 Weeks!

2011-02-24T14:17:00.000-08:00

10 Weeks!
Sunday, February 20th

My parents came up today!!! It was so great to see them. I wish they could have stayed longer, but I have a feeling they will once the baby gets here. There's so much to look forward to; I can't wait! At the same time, I'm trying to take everything in and enjoy every part (minus the nausea).

Symptoms: Still nauseous and tired. I'm really hoping that it will end soon. They say it usually goes away after the 1st trimester...I'm almost there. I have had some days where I've felt really good and that's so exciting. I try to do as much as I can on those days. I can't remember if I listed this earlier or not, but this whole time I've had really crazy dreams. It's so weird. I'm still really sensitive to smells, BUT my principal at school fixed my window so at least I can get some fresh air now. That has helped a ton.

My belly is also getting bigger. My students noticed this week. The secret is out. It was so funny...the student was so afraid to ask. It went something like this:
Student: "Mrs. Isaacs I have a question to ask you, but I don't want to ask."
Me: "What is it?"
Student: "I don't know if I can ask, I don't want you to be mad if I'm wrong."
Me: "I don't think I'll be mad. What's your question?"
Student: "Nevermind. I can't ask."
This went on for a while. She really struggled with saying something. All the other students knew what she was talking about and they were giving her a hard time, telling her to just ask. Finally another student came up to my desk and whispered it and I said yes, 10 weeks. They were all so excited! Then they all claimed that they've known for weeks and that there have been rumors that I was pregnant going around for a while. Probably so. I'm surprised it's taken them this long to ask. One student said she knew I was earlier that week when she saw me shoving a huge bagel in my mouth during class....hahah.

Food: Still avoiding most food. I've been mostly sticking to bagels. I have found a few things that I like this week though. Fudge frosted pop tarts are the greatest thing on the planet right now. I've been having them every day...sometimes twice a day. I also really like Cheeto's cheese puffs. I've nearly eaten the entire bag. Not the healthiest selections, I know, but at this point if I think it sounds good, I'm eating it. I did buy some carrots and cucumbers, but they've been sitting in the fridge all week. That's as close as I can get them to my mouth. I know I need to start eating better. Hopefully I can stand the thought of real food soon. It seems to be getting better!!!! Yea!

Baby: Our baby is slightly more than 2 inches long now, about the size of a lime. That's big! But then again, I compare that to the 21 inches of baby that I'll see at birth....holy cow that's huge! I still don't understand how something that big is going to come out of me.... Anyway, our 2 inch long baby is forming hair follicles along with fingernail and toenail beds. Our baby is pretty active rolling around in there doing stretches and summersaults, but I can't feel a thing at this point. Also, if it's a boy, testes are developing and if it's a girl, her ovaries are forming. I've been convinced that it would be a boy up until this week. Now I'm having thoughts that it might be a girl. Who knows....I can't wait to find out!

Thoughts: I go back to the doctor on March 7th. I doubt they'll do another ultrasound, but I'd love for them to. I want to actually see all the changes that have taken place. I just think this miracle that's growing inside me is so incredible. It just blows my mind when I think about it. All the changes that are happening and new things that are forming all the while I'm just going about my day. Seriously, the biggest miracle of my life is going on inside me and I'm not even doing anything. God's doing it all. As I think about that I think about my life. What would my life look like if I lived it that way...if I didn't do anything or get in the way and God just completly took over and worked through me?

Favorite this week: Hands down...fudge pop tarts. I could eat a box all at once. I love that something finally tastes good!

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Next Year

2011-02-23T08:07:00.000-08:00

So I've been trying to figure out a plan for next year. That's really the only reason I've tried to keep this somewhat of a secret. I didn't want to tell people at school until I knew what I was going to do for the next school year. After talking with everyone I know that might have some insight or advice, this was my plan: Start the year, use my maternity leave, then use the rest of my sick leave. That would take me through the entire 1st semester and I'd still have my paycheck and insurance through December. Then I wanted to do a leave of absence for the 2nd semester. I wanted to be upfront with the administration in my school so they could plan on finding someone for pretty much the whole year. Well, the superintendent didn't like that idea. She said I might need to do a full year leave of absence. That would mean NO pay at all and NO insurance coverage... Needless to say, it's been a frustrating situation.

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9 weeks!

2011-02-19T18:03:00.001-08:00

Sunday, February 13th

Ok, I know...I'm a little behind and it's taken me forever to update my blog. That's kinda the theme right now. I feel behind on everything. Oh well. I'll catch up at some point.

Symptoms: Tired & nauseous still. I stayed home on Monday because I just didn't feel well. When I wake up feeling bad and think about driving all the way to Miami to be stuck in a stuffy smelly room all day, it makes me just want to roll over and go back to sleep. I have a lot of sick days to use, but I still have to be pretty selective on how I use them. With state testing right around the corner, I feel like I need to be there. Since we were out so many days because of the snow, I'm behind at school too.

Food: Still don't like it. I'm mostly eating bagels, crackers, and cheese. I really can't wait for the day when I can have hot wings or mexican food with extra queso. Right now I can't really handle the thought of it though.

Baby: Our baby is nearly an inch and a half long and the size of a prune. Bones and cartilage are forming, and small indentions on the legs are developing into knees and ankles. His or her tiny arms can even flex already. Little teeth are also forming under the gums. Our baby's stomach is producing digestive juices, the kidneys are producing larger quantities of urine, and, if it's a boy, he's already producing testosterone.

Thoughts/Favorite: This is combined this week. One of my favorite things is getting to share our exciting news. I love that I have such great family and friends. Everyone has been so excited for us and I love that. There have been several people that I've told that have teared up because they know about our struggles and that it took a while. They have been praying for us and I truly believe that they are almost as excited as we are. That is incredible to me...that people are so caring and supportive to us. We are so blessed! I love that others are sharing in our excitement. I also love that so many people I know are pregnant right now! It's so fun! In a couple of weeks, I'm taking a couple of friends from church (we're all 3 due within a couple of weeks of each other) to Tulsa with me to shop at the Just Between Friends sale for maternity clothes. I can't wait.

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I have a Baby in my Belly!!!!

2011-02-10T09:03:00.000-08:00

February 9, 2011 1st Ultrasound....

First of all the day started out with another snow storm. I was determined to make it to my appointment though. I live in Carl Junction and my doctor is in Carthage. It usually takes around 15 minutes to get there, so it's not too far. However, it was snowing really hard and the wind was blowing like crazy. I could hardly see the road. As I parked in the parking lot I really hoped that my car wouldn't get stuck when I tried to leave. The lot hadn't been shoveled and it was pretty deep. Thankfully it was all light fluffy snow and I didn't hit any slick spots. Driving in that kind of mess tends to stress me out. The drive home was much better. The roads were still covered, but it wasn't snowing very hard and the wind wasn't blowing like it was earlier. I could actually see the road.
Anyway, I wasn't sure if they'd do an ultrasound or not. I called the day before and talked to the receptionist. She didn't think they would do one. I didn't know what to expect. They did all the regular exam stuff and then brought in a small ultrasound machine! Yea! I was a little nervous because I didn't know if she was going to say "woah, you have 18 babies in there," or "everything looks great, you've got one." Thankfully she went with the second. I have one happy healthy beautiful baby in my belly!!!! I guess I've just been retaining a lot of water or I'm really bloated or something. I'm not really sure why my stomach is sticking out. She said I would start to show sooner because I was small, but that it was probably mostly just bloating. She said to avoid things like raw broccoli that will make it worse...sure thing. I'll make sure I stay away from that. HAHA. I guess she doesn't know I don't eat green vegetables. :) Anyway, back to the exciting stuff. She moved the wand around and said everything looked great and she pointed out the tiny heartbeat. It was incredible to watch. I'm in love! She printed off two pictures. The picture above is a picture of the picture...I couldn't scan it in. I think if you click on it, it will come up bigger. I really don't know anything about ultrasounds. I've been trying to figure out what's what. What do you think? I'm thinking that the head is on the right and then those tiny little dots are the hands and feet???? Or am I just imagining things? The doctor said she's going to stick to Sept 19th as the due date, but the ultrasound read Sept 21st which is Audra's (my sister-in-law's) birthday! Pretty cool. :)

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8 weeks

2011-02-10T07:03:00.000-08:00

February 6th. 8 weeks!

Haven't been making the bed lately or really doing any housework. I'm really wondering how people that already have kids have the energy to do anything when they're pregnant. Um do you notice anything about this picture? My belly is sticking out even more! Woah! I've been taking these pictures first thing in the morning, before I eat or drink anything. At this point I'm starting to wonder if there is more than one in there. I don't feel like I should be showing at this point.

Symptoms: Big belly. I can't button any of my pants anymore. Thankfully I bought a BeBand last week. It has been a lifesaver. I don't know what I would have been able to wear to work this week if I didn't have one. Best $16.99 I've spent so far. Basically you wear it over your pants and you can wear your pants undone. Ahhh. Again, we had another snow storm this week. I only had to go to school Monday and Tuesday. Tuesday was long because we had parent teacher conferences, but I had the rest of the week off after that. This really couldn't have come at a better time. I don't know how I'm going to manage when I have to go back for a full week. I've been sleeping quite a bit. I tend to fall asleep at 7:30 right in the middle of my favorite shows. I can't fight it.

Food: Still pretty nauseated. I still have a lot of food aversions. I'm sticking to the bland for now, but I'm able to tolerate the thought of some foods. I think my nausea is getting better. Hopefully.

Baby: He/She is the size of a medium green olive (1 inch). New organs (liver, spleen, and gallbladder) are forming. The head has straightened out and the ears are more prominent. He or she is also making spontaneous movements of his or her arms and legs now that minuscule muscles are beginning to develop. Our little athlete :)

Thoughts: I got to have my first ultrasound this week!!!! It was so incredible to actually see the tiny little heartbeat. Check out my ultrasound post.

Favorite:
Actually the BeBand is my favorite for this week, but I don't have a picture of it. I did make it out to Old Navy Monday night. Everything was an additional 30% off. Since I'm trying to keep it a secret at work for now and I'm already busting out of my clothes, I took advantage of the sale. I bought 4 looser fitting shirts that aren't so snug against my body. The sweaters were $3.50 and the other shirts were $5. I was so thankful to find a few bargain things to help me get by.

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7 Weeks

2011-02-10T06:02:00.000-08:00

January 30th. 7 weeks!

I decided for the first few weeks I'm going to take the same picture (same shirt, same pose). I thought this might help in seeing changes. I know it's early, but I feel like my stomach is starting to stick out a little.

Symptoms: Feeling really really nauseated. I tried eating ginger candy...no help. I called in sick Monday. I felt pretty bad and the thought of being stuffed in a room with smelly students all day really made me want to barf. That's been another symptom. I've never really been able to smell things unless it really strong. That's changed. I smell everything and pretty much everything makes me want to barf. Thankfully, we had a major blizzard this week and I was out of school Tuesday - Friday, so actually I didn't go to school at all this week. I needed that. It was good to relax at home.

Food: I pretty much hate all food right now. This is new to me. I usually love food and love to eat. Not anymore. Nothing sounds good. Everything tastes different and weird. Even water doesn't taste right. I'm forcing myself to eat though and I try not to let my stomach get empty...that's when the nausea gets pretty unbearable. I've mostly just eaten crackers, cheese, and fruit. There was one night that pancakes sounded good...it was the first time ANYTHING sounded good. So Chad got out in the blizzard and took me to IHOP. He has no idea how greatful I am for that.

Baby: He/She is now the size of a raspberry (1/2 inch). The upper lip, nose, and eyelids are starting to form, along with fingers and toes. His or her heart is beating at the rate of 150 times per minute. Crazy! I really wish I could get a microscope and see for myself. It blows my mind that something so small can have so many features forming.

Thoughts: I really am just 1000% excited! I'm not really worried about anything. I love that. God has given me such a peace that everything is going to be just fine and that I need to just take it all in and enjoy it. He's continually reminding me of His promises and I just feel honored to get to have this baby.

Favorite:
These are my new prenatal vitamins. I love them. Why? I'll give you 3 reasons:
1. Everything is in one pill. My old vitamins had two...one vitamin and one fish oil or something. This one has everything all in one.
2. It has a vanilla coating. I HATE the taste of vitamins. The aftertaste makes me want to gag. These are much easier to get down.
3. I get them for free! My doctor gave me a promo card that pays your copay if your pregnant and on these prenatal vitamins.

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6 weeks

2011-02-10T05:02:00.000-08:00

January 23rd. 6 WEEKS!!! I think...

I went to the doctor on January 24th to fill out all the paperwork and do some blood work. She told me I was 6 weeks and my estimated due date was September 19th. I think it should be a little later than that. I think I'm actually 5 weeks, but I'm just going to go with what they said.

Symptoms: Oh my word! I've never been this tired. Seriously. I can't keep my eyes open. I also have to go to the bathroom all the time. The other major symptom I have is that my boobs are soooo sore. I'm not going to write about that one from week to week, but it's an obvious symptom. I kinda like having all of these symptoms. I told Chad I thought I'd want to keep taking pregnancy tests all the time just to make sure, but really I don't feel the need. I feel pregnant and that's comforting.

Food: I'm super hungry. I've been eating a lot of salty stuff, especially chips and salsa.

Baby: He/She is the size of a blueberry (1/4 inch). The biggest growth this week is the baby's head. New brain cells are being generated at the rate of 100 cells per minute. That's pretty incredible. I love that I have this little miracle going on inside of me. This is the coolest thing ever!

Thoughts: I am sooo excited! It's taken longer than I thought it would, but that's generally how everything in my life goes. Haha. It seems like there's always something great behind a struggle. God has blessed me so much! I am so thankful.

Favorite:
I started feeling nauseated at the end of the week. I found these and they help a little. I don't think they are a miracle cure for nausea, but it's a flavor that I can tolerate and it momentarily helps me get rid of the nasty taste I have in my mouth all the time. I think of these more as candy, not nausea medicine. The raspberry flavor is pretty good. Way better than ginger candy.

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Can you see it?

2011-02-10T04:36:00.000-08:00

Look closely! Can you see it?

Yes! There are two lines. Very, very faint, but definitely 2 lines!!!

I had gone to the doctor on Wednesday, January 12th. I was told that I wasn't pregnant, but that it still might be a little early to tell. My doctor talked with me a while about the next steps. We were going to bump up the dose of Clomid (the medicine that will make me ovulate) for the next round and see if that helped. Well, no need for that. :) I woke up EARLY on Saturday and couldn't go back to sleep so I got up and took a test. I was still half asleep and I kept squinting and staring at the stick. My eyes weren't adjusted yet. Was that really a second line?!? Yep! I ran into the bedroom and tackled Chad. We are both thrilled!

This was one of the cheap tests I bought at www.early-pregnancy-tests.com. Check out the site, they have lots of really cheap ovulation tests and pregnancy tests. I took another regular test (not the cheap kind) a couple of days later and it was positive!

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I've got a secret!!!!!!

2011-02-09T08:02:00.000-08:00

I've got some exciting news to share! I'm waiting a little longer to tell my coworkers, so please don't post anything on Facebook. I just want to figure out what I can do about teaching/not teaching next year and using my sick leave before I tell everyone I work with. My original plan was to wait until spring break to tell them, um, but...pretty sure I won't be able to hide it that long. I made this blog private a while back. I didn't have a lot of email addresses. If you know of any friends or family that would like to read my blog, let me know their email address and I'll set it up where they can.

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....and more snow...

2011-02-05T10:00:00.001-08:00

Snowing again! And we're supposed to get more on Sunday and again on Wednesday! Next week is parent teacher conference week which means really loooong days on Tuesday and Thursday. Selfishly, I'd really be ok with taking more snow days next week. :) Since it's a state of emergency, I really don't think we'll have to make them all up...we'll see.

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Applesauce

2011-02-04T10:12:00.000-08:00

I saw this on couponcloset.net and wanted to give it a try. All you need is a 3 lb bag of apples and 1/2 c water. Slice and peel the apples. Put them in the crockpot for 6 hours on low. I added a little sprinkle of cinnamon to mine and that's all! Yum! If you like it a little smoother, you can put it in the food processor. However, if you just stir them for a min, it smooths out on it's own.
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Blizzard!

2011-02-03T15:29:00.001-08:00

Tuesday morning...

Trying to shovel one strip of the driveway...I couldn't even get all the way to the concrete!

Diving in...

I measured several places...on average, this is what I found...

Check out our neighbor's fence...

Neighbors behind us...

Pretty sure they won't be getting our trash anytime soon...

Freshly shoveled drive...all Chad, not me :)

Seriously deep...

My hero :)

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A little snow :)

2011-02-02T08:06:00.001-08:00

More pics to come...

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Favorite Music

2011-01-19T15:26:00.001-08:00

If you haven't heard of Jesus Culture, go check it out. I love this and I'm sure you will too! :)

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Shopping

2011-01-16T19:10:00.001-08:00

Have you seen the show Hoarders??? So gross! I'm all about getting a good deal on things, but this is a little overboard. I just watched an episode where this elderly lady just kept buying things because she got a "good deal" on it. She had food in her house that had expired SEVERAL years back. SICK. I've really been trying to watch every dollar we spend and shop wisely, especially when it comes to grocery shopping. I've done really well, but I think the key is that you still have to be disciplined. There are great deals out there, but you should still only buy things that you need or will use. It's getting easier and easier every week. I've learned to look through all the local grocery ads online and match up my coupons. I try to go grocery shopping on Thursday afternoons...Saturdays sometimes, but it's usually pretty busy then. I take my list and stick to it. I'm usually in and out of the store in a matter of 15 minutes or so. The actual shopping is really quick, it's going through and matching up the coupons that takes a little time. I enjoy doing it though. It's kinda like a game to me...to see how much I can save.
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Pioneer Woman's Flat Apple Pie

2011-01-10T18:56:00.000-08:00

This was soooo good! I got the Pioneer Woman Cookbook for Christmas (which I absolutely love). When I came across this recipe, I knew I had to try it.

Ingredients:
I used a pre-made crust (2)
5 peeled and sliced Granny Smith apples
2 T flour
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
1/4 t salt
6 T butter

***This recipe makes two***
Preheat the oven to 375. In a large bowl, stir together the apples, flour, lemon juice, sugar, brown sugar, and salt. Roll out the pie dough. Place half of the apple mixture on a crust. Fold over the edges of the crust so that it covers 2 to 3 inches of the apple mixture. Dot the top of the pie with chunks of butter. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes. It was sooo good! Mmmm!

BUT please don't do what I did....

I wasn't thinking and I just put it on a flat cookie sheet...bad idea! The juice will run...and then spill over in the oven...and then start to smell bad....then it will form a huge cloud of smoke as you open the oven door....and then smell even worse, right before people come over to hang out. ugh.. that was dumb on my part. But now the inside of my oven is super clean :/
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Friends

2011-01-06T18:42:00.000-08:00

Can I just say, I have some pretty great friends! It was so sweet of Leslie to make time to hang out while she was in town for Christmas. I loved getting to see precious Jolie and what a treat for Stacy and Maddie to stop by too. I love my friends! :)

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Photos at the Park

2011-01-03T15:54:00.000-08:00

I took my camera out to the park the other day just to play around with some of the settings and stuff. Here are 3 of my favorites. I can't wait to take some pics in the spring when everything is blooming and it's sunny out. I know these aren't super exciting pics, but I'm loving my camera!

Interesting tree roots -

At some point I'll figure out how to use photoshop...which would really help with this one. It's such a cute squirrel, but I couldn't get him out of the shadows. Zoom in and you can see him holding his food and looking right at me.

I love blue skies and I liked the contrast in this pic.

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1-1-11 Chilly 5k Run

2011-01-01T16:22:00.001-08:00

Back in November a few of us from church got together and decided to do a 5K on New Years Day. It sounded like a great thing at the time, but as the day got closer I started second guessing myself. It's been a pretty mild winter so far, until today. When I left the house this morning it was 18 degrees! Burr! (I'd much rather run in 100 degree weather than in the cold.) I had so many layers on I didn't know if I'd be able to move. I always dread doing races until the race actually starts. Once it starts, I'm ok. I just don't like thinking about it ahead of time. I survived though and I had a great time. It was fun to do a race with Chad (even though he kicked my tail) and everyone from church. I'm glad we got to do it. It was a great way to kick of 2011.
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Chirsitmas 2010

2010-12-30T15:37:00.000-08:00

Actually I have LOTS of pics, but if I posted them all it would take several pages. So here's just a glimpse....
Stockings at Nandy's -

Hattie and one of her monkeys -

Chad and me at Nandy's -

Hunter and Hattie showing some love -

Chad playing showing us one of his presents -

Christmas day at the Isaacs -

Best looking man alive -

This was such an awesome Christmas! I love spending time with family! I am always blown away by everyone's love and generosity. Thank you everyone! I love my family!
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Chicken and Dumplings

2010-12-29T17:10:00.001-08:00

My great-grandma, MaMaw, made THE best homemade chicken and dumplings. They were sooooo good. I remember the first time my dad tried to get me to taste them...I really didn't want to. However, he was right and I did like them...a lot. Unfortunately, I'm not as good as she was and I don't make everything from scratch. Here's the recipe for what I made tonight and they turned out pretty good.

Chicken and Dumplings

Put a little OIL in a pot and heat. Add CHICKEN (I used some I had previously cooked and shredded that I had on hand in the freezer) and ONION (I used dry minced onion because if Chad sees any onion he won't eat it. I like the flavor so I try to hide it in things) and sauté. Add 48 oz CHICKEN BROTH, 1/2 c chopped CELERY, 1/2 tsp PEPPER, 1 tbs PARSLEY flakes and bring to a boil. Add Reames Frozen Flat DUMPLINGS (found in the freezer dept by the rolls). Let it heat back up to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Cook about 20 minutes and add 1 c chopped CARROTS. Let cook about 5 more min and it's done! Super easy, healthy, and delicious. You can adjust the amounts to suit your taste. You could add peas, but I personally hate peas...ugh.

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Free Chic-fil-a!

2010-12-27T03:27:00.000-08:00

Go to www.getspicychicken.com today to get a free spicy chicken biscuit from Chic-fil-a!!

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$aving Money

2010-12-22T13:24:00.001-08:00

Guess how much I spent today.....

my grand total was...... $3.66!! I would have been excited to just get the toilet paper for that amount. Wahoo! I saved $28.13! I'm getting so excited about saving money. It takes a while to get started...our pantry was pretty bare at the beginning of the month. I can't wait to see what our grocery budget looks like after a few months of focused shopping and coupon clipping.
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BBQ Roast Beef Sandwiches

2010-12-19T13:16:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favorites and it's so easy. I just put some of the shredded roast beef (from last night) in the crockpot with some Head Country seasoning and BBQ sauce. Let it heat up and enjoy. (Head Country is the best in my opinion)

I'm not going to post about the burritos...they ended up tasting pretty gross.

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Roast Beef

2010-12-18T13:12:00.000-08:00

So I cooked a roast beef today. I love how it smells up the entire house as it cooks. I decided not to season it very much so that I could use the leftovers to make bbq sandwiches, roast beef sandwich spread, and burritos. So I just plopped it in my crockpot, poured 1/2 c water over it along with a package of dry onion soup mix, and cooked it on low for 8 hours.
When it was finished I shredded it so that it would be ready to use for future meals. I've gotten better at planning out our meals and I decided to freeze some of the cooked meat so that I'd have it on hand for a quick meal later on. I love that idea. I get really tired of eating the same thing every day.

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Chocolate Cobbler

2010-12-16T13:03:00.000-08:00

Thanks mom! I am so in love with this!

Chocolate Cobbler

Melt 2 sticks of butter and pour into 9 x 13 pan.

Stir together:
1 1/2 c sugar
1 1/2 c flour
3/4 t salt
1 1/2 t baking powder
3/4 c milk
Mixture will be thick. Dollop the mixture over the butter in the pan.

Stir together:
1 c sugar
6 T cocoa
Sprinkle mixture over dish.

Pour 1 3/4 c boiling water over the dish.
Bake @ 350 for 40 min.

Its soooo good when it's hot out of the oven! Enjoy!
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Stone's Corner Pharmacy

2010-12-14T15:44:00.000-08:00

I'm so proud of Chad and all of his hard work with the pharmacy! He works so hard and does a great job. The pharmacy looks really pretty at night. I love the Christmas lights around the edge of the building. I'm still trying to figure out the settings, these are kinda rough pics. I hope to replace them with some better ones soon.
This is the sign. I took it from the back of the parking lot. It is soooo bright. I love it.

This is of the whole building. I'll take some more sometime when the parking lot isn't full and it isn't freezing outside. :) I left the shutter open for a longer time on this one to let more light in. The problem is...the longer I leave it open, the whiter the sign is. That's why it's a little washed out in this pic. I've still got a lot to learn with my camera, but I LOVE it!

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Danielle's Korean Style Ribs

2010-12-13T15:11:00.001-08:00

I found a good deal on some ribs a week or two ago and stuck them in the freezer. My friend Danielle posted this recipe a while back (She has lots of great recipes!) and I really wanted to try it. Chad and I both really liked it. I love how cooking in the crockpot makes the entire house smell so good for hours. Try it sometime if you're looking for a quick easy recipe for ribs...

Danielle's Korean Style Ribs

1 package of ribs (I actually used 2 pkgs of boneless so I'd have leftovers)
1 1/2 cup soy sauce
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup water
8 whole jalepenos

Place the ribs and whole jalepenos (don't cut them up) in the crockpot. Mix the soy sauce, brown sugar, and water and pour over the ribs. Cook on low for 8 hours. They were so tender, they literally fell apart (as pictured). YUM!

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