Looking Forward To - September Edition

It's been awhile since I've done one of these!  Here are some of the things I'm looking forward to in the month of September!

• Daughters of the King kicks off the fall semester!  I'm taking the Focus on the Family class again and I'm hoping I can go even after I have the baby.  
• We are planning to go to Holiday World early in the month for Kevin's annual work party.  We haven't been all season and I think the kids will really enjoy it!
• The Christmas Lake annual yard sale is just a couple weeks away!  We are planning on shopping till we drop - or run out of money :)  Kevin is just as excited about this sale as I am!
• I think we'll be spending the night at Christmas Lake at least one time!
• We keep talking about having a cook out - hot dogs & s'mores... and that sounds absolutely fantastic to me - especially the s'mores!  Hoping to have one asap!  (I've been doing "oven s'mores" and they just aren't the same!)
• Oh yea, I'm having a baby this month!  I'm SO excited to find out if it's a boy or girl and to see how Hayden & Allie react and adjust to a new little sibling.  
• In line with having the baby, I'm really looking forward to labor/delivery/and the hospital stay.  I've had such great experiences the first two times and I know this won't be any different.  
• I'm looking forward to packing up these maternity clothes!  I know it won't happen over night, maybe not even in the month of September, especially if I don't have the baby until the end of the month, but the end of maternity clothes is near - and I want to wear all the cute things I've found thrifting!
• I'm looking forward to figuring out our new routine.  I'm also excited about Kevin having a couple weeks off work to help out when #3 decides to arrive! 

Exploring PhotoShop

I think it is convenient most photo editing programs offer a free 30 day trial.  When I bought my new camera last year, I considered buying an editing program then.  I just kept putting it off until now.  I downloaded a free trial of Elements 10 and CS6.  CS6 is supposed to be one of the top of the line editing programs (from what I've read).  Elements is more for photographers like myself - basic and for simple edits for an amateur photographer. 

I got frustrated with Elements 10 pretty fast.  I couldn't get the program to make the edits I wanted; which is why I downloaded CS6.  I am sure they teach classes on this editing program because there are about a million and one things you can do to edit your pictures.  I don't have a clue what 80% (ok maybe more like 90%) of the options do, and I don't understand how to use them.  I have been playing with the CS6 program more and it's been fun exploring. 

If I had to decide today I'd pick the CS6 vs Elements 10.  It is about twice as expensive, but I told Kevin I could always grow into the program.  I think I've already outgrown Elements 10 and I really don't know how to use that program. 

Here's a picture I posted last week that I played with and edited...

Hayden's Style

Hayden told me he wanted to go put on his boots and jeans.  I said that was fine then Allie said, "My boots and jeans"... looks like Hayden's style is rubbing off on Allie!  Eek! 

Only When I'm Pregnant - 36 weeks

Baby is getting bigger!

 Uncomfortable - yes.  Horrible round ligament and back pain - yes.  Pressure from the baby dropping - yes.  Zero energy - yes.  Completely whiny - I think that's obvious.  I'm ready.  I know the baby isn't, but I am.  I was in full fledged nesting mode when I was this far along with Allie, but not this time.  I mean it still bugs me I have things to do, but I'd much rather sit with my feet up then actually have to sweat and work on something.  (Probably going to regret that later!)

I posted Monday about my new found love for Raspberry Lemonade and I think I could live off this drink.  I wish it were sugar free so I wouldn't feel any guilt while drinking it.  I did pick up a container of cottage cheese this weekend just because it sounded good, and that's not something I buy all the time.  Guess I'd consider that a pregnancy craving (or maybe my body is trying to balance out all the sugar I've been drinking with that darn lemonade!)

This past week Kevin took the middle seat out of my middle row.  I LOVE it!  Hayden will sit in the 3rd row, and Allie and the new baby will sit in the middle row.  It will just be easier for Hayden to get in and out.  Hayden was actually disappointed we took the middle seat out because he loved climbing over it.  We also got one coat of paint done in the baby's room.  The 2nd (and hopefully final) coat will go on tonight or tomorrow when Kevin is up and moving.  This week, I'm hoping to get my hospital bags as packed as possible and get the baby's room completely put together.

I had my 36 week check up yesterday.  I'm not dilated at all (BOO!) and I'm 20% effaced.  The heart beat was 135bmp,  This past week I've been leaning more towards "boy" than "girl"...  Kevin and I finalized the names.  We decided to change the middle name of both our boy and girl choices!  We both are happy with both names now.   

Martha & Me

When I was at JoAnns today, I passed this magazine in the check out - Martha Stewart Living - and I was tickled to see MY giant giraffe made her cover!  I knew the giant giraffe was a brilliant idea and I'm glad Martha agrees!

First Day of PreSchool

Hayden started his first day of preschool today.  Our church offers a "Mother's Morning Out" program, 2 days a week for 3 hours, and that's the program I signed Hayden up for (also the program I helped with last year).  There is a new director this year and I'm really excited about the changes she has made.  The kids will work through a curriculum and learn about Jesus at the same time.  It seems more structured than when I was involved, and I think that will be good for Hayden.

He ended up having a great first day!  I was a little worried - on our way into church, he fell in the parking lot and got two scratched up knees.  He was really upset about his bleeding knees and didn't want me to leave.  After promising him a piece of Laffy Taffy when I picked him up, he seemed just fine with me leaving :) I bought him a Thomas the Train back pack (I wasn't sure if he needed one or not, so I asked the teacher when I dropped him off) while he was at "school" and he was so excited about it when I picked him up.  Looks like we're going to have a good year!

  

Girl Hair Accessories

This past weekend I decided I'd make a few hair accessories.  Allie needed one to match her "Big Sis" shirt and while I was at Hobby Lobby this weekend I found a stem of pretty pink flowers.  I thought if baby #3 is a girl, I want her and Allie to have some matching hair accessories, so I talked myself into buying them.  If I don't have a girl, I'm hoping Amy does and I'll give the extra set to her! 

I put the baby's set on a pink headband.  The flowers have alligator clips on them so they are easily interchangeable.  That pink flower on the left is about the size of a newborns head - what can I say, I love big flowers and bows! 

If you have girls/will have girls/know any little girls, you should definitely get in to bow making.  It's easy, cheaper than buying them, and it's fun! 

Chicken Enchilada Pasta

Last week I tried a new recipe for Chicken Enchilada Pasta.  While I can't say it was my favorite dish I've ever made, there was a lot I did like about it.  The recipe makes a lot of servings!  I like having the option to have seconds (I'm growing a baby, don't judge) if I want it and still have plenty to pack for Kevin to take to work.  It also is different from any other pasta recipe I have.  I also made the recipe to a T - which means I ate red pepper and chopped chilies (gasp).  They weren't bad.  I couldn't really taste them, and they added nice color to the dish.  The dish also had plenty of sauce.  I can't stand eating pasta that needs more sauce!  Extra points for the extra sauce!

Is regular enchilada sauce the same as red enchilada sauce?  I guessed yes, but I still don't know the answer.

What I didn't love about the recipe is I couldn't find all the ingredients at my Walmart (in Newburgh).  Schnucks saved the day and had what I needed.  We all liked the recipe but it didn't blow my socks off.  I had a hard time knowing what kind of sides to pair with it.  Maybe with a couple good sides, it would move up in the rankings.  

Raspberry Lemonade

While my sister was in town, my parents hosted a get-together for my Dad's family.  My Uncle Ray offered to bring some of his favorite lemonade and boy am I glad he did!!!  I've seen Simply Lemonade in the stores, but never really considered buying it.  (I'm cheap and usually just buy Koolaid lemonade, which is very good by the way!)  Uncle Ray brought regular lemonade and {sound the trumpets} Raspberry Lemonade.  Until that point, I had never tried any raspberry lemonade before but it has become my newest addiction.  I've since tried Cracker Barrels raspberry lemonade and it's equally delicious!  You.Must.Try.It!!!

Raspberry Lemonade from Cracker Barrel (usually severed in a frosted mug, but they were out).

Girls Day Out

Kevin and Hayden had a fishing trip planned for this morning which left the morning wide open for me and Allie to get some things done!  We ran a few errands (TJ Maxx, Hobby Lobby, and JoAnns) which made us work up quite an appetite.  GD Ritzies was close by and their O-O-Oreo ice cream sounded pretty amazing.  Allie tried the PBJ's for the first time and I got a cheeseburger and cheese fries.  We both got some yummy ice cream to top off our girls shopping day.  She really loves the one on one attention from me (or Kevin) and we are all trying to soak up the last couple weeks of "normal" before things get crazy :)

Allie with her horsie she got from Hobby Lobby.

John Deere Fun

I'll admit I think twice about letting the kids out to play in the evening.  This west nile virus has me a bit concerned.  Kevin planned on grilling out last night so I decided to let the kids play outside for about 45 minutes.  They had an absolute blast on the John Deere tractor! 

The kids took turns driving and riding in the back of it.  They were very entertaining to watch!

 

Allie kept running into things and Hayden would get her back on track.  He's such a good big brother, not to mention totally adorable with his goggles and boots! 

Allie doing a wheelie.

She loves him...... most of the time!

And she also thinks he's hilarious.

TJ enjoyed all the attention last night too!  He was worn out after chasing the tractor.

Compost Bin

I had mentioned in my mid-month update that Kevin was wanting to build a compost bin.  When he gets something on his mind, it has to be done right then (I'm the same way).  So several days ago he completed the project. 

We've already started putting our peelings and grass clippings in it.  It's amazing the things that you can add to your compost.  
I found this information on Gaiam Life's composting article...
Green materials are rich in nitrogen; brown materials are rich in carbon. Microbes thrive in the particular ratio of carbon to nitrogen created by the balance of green and brown materials,
Green / wet materials

• Fruit and veggie scraps
• Egg shells
• Tea bags, tea leaves
• Fresh green grass clippings and plant trimmings grown without pesticides or weed killers
• Plate scrapings (excluding meat and bones)

Brown / dry materials

• Dry leaves, dried grass clippings
• Wood shavings or sawdust
• Nuts and shells
• Coffee grounds and filters
• Pinecones, pine needles
• Shredded egg cartons (the paper kind)
• Shredded newspaper and tissue paper
• Twigs
• Hay
• Peanut shells
• Cold wood ashes
• Dryer lint
• Shredded cereal boxes and other paperboard items

There are definitely other things you can add - I was surprised to hear pet fur (from when you brush them) and human nail clippings made the list of things that were approved for good compost.  One article said you can empty your vacuum cleaner into the compost bin.  This has definitely been a learning experience but I'm looking forward to seeing how this benefits our future garden!

Favorite Pics...

We have been trying to spend more time outside now that it's not 100+ degrees.  Hayden has been pretty much obsessed with riding his four wheeler (and wearing his goggles 24/7 {I'm not exaggerating when I say he snuggles with them when he sleeps at night}).  Here are a couple pictures I took this weekend that I liked :)

Big smiles for momma

Hayden loves kisses from TJ.

Pregnant BFFS

I'm thinking it was in March when I got the text from Amy (my BFF) saying she was pregnant.  I was still really early in my pregnancy (I'm thinking 8-9 weeks) and I was THRILLED because we always talked about how fun it would be to have babies at the same time. 

This is Amy's 4th baby.  She has 3 adorable boys that NEED a little sister!  Amy doesn't find out what she is having, but I think this pregnancy is so different from her first 3 and I think she is carrying different than she did with her boys!  All her boys had lower heart beats (120s-130s) and this baby has had a very high heart beat (140s-160s).  She was very sick/nauseous the first trimester, which also never happened with her boys.  I'm convinced she's having an "Emma" this time, but she still is thinking it's a boy.

My due date is Sept 26th, and her's (right now) is October 31.  She has an ultrasound next week because her doctor thinks she may be further along than what they originally guessed.  If they move her due date up a few weeks (which I'm hoping for) there's a chance we could have these babies at the same time!  How.Fun.Would.That.Be?!

She came over for a visit Sunday night and we took some belly pictures together.  I think our bellies look a lot alike, so I think we'll end up having the same thing.  I think we are both having girls; she thinks we are both having boys.  We are both fine with either one, but we want to know what you think we are having!

My normal pose...

Amy's normal pose...

Back to back - and I think our bellies look identical!

Amy has been craving sugar cookies this whole pregnancy so I made her some when she came to visit!  (Pink icing in hopes she's having a girl!)

Only When I'm Pregnant - 35 Weeks

35 weeks

Complete exhaustion and discomfort has set in.  I move a lot in my sleep and every time I move I wake myself up.  Back pain seems to get the best of me.  It's funny how you forget about these things after the pregnancy is over.  Another thing I forgot about was the pressure you feel as the baby gets bigger and moves down.  I sat on a fold up chair for about two hours this past weekend and when I went to stand up I thought this baby was going to drop out of me.  I didn't think I was going to be able to walk out the door.  I waddled my way out, and I'm sure everyone thought I looked ridiculous!

If I had to guess the baby's sex, 4-5 days a week I'd probably guess girl, then the other 2-3 days I'd guess boy.  I'm really starting to second guess my name selection.  I'm not sure if I've mentioned this, but Kevin picked our boy name and I get to pick the girl name.  There are a couple really different names that I love, but since Hayden & Allie are pretty common names, I feel like I have to have a pretty common name this time too.  The one I originally picked fit all my categories (2 syllables is my biggest requirement.)  I also have a middle name in mind and it's hard to pair with a first name.... so I'm wondering if I should just change the middle name.  I don't remember stressing about the name this much the first two go arounds.

I knocked out about half of my to-do list this past week (making big bro/sis shirts, getting the crib bedding washed and put together, making Sept/Oct menus were some of the bigger things I completed)!  I'm hoping to get a few more big things crossed off my list this week (like washing all my boy and girl newborn clothes and getting the room painted {which Kevin is doing}).  Baby will be here before I know it!

Heat-less Curls

I saw several tutorial on Pinterest on how to get a heat-less curl to your hair.  If you are interested in seeing how to do it too, watch the first video on this link.  It looked really simple to do, so I thought I'd give it a try one night before bed.  I do have naturally curly hair with lots of frizz and I decided it would be better to try it with wet hair (rather than dry like they suggest).  I definitely needed more than a night for my hair to dry.  I woke up and it was still damp.  I tried to blow dry it a bit before taking the headband out.  I loved how it first looked.  About an hour later when my hair was dry, it got really frizzy and lost the curl in all the frizz. 

Right after taking the headband out.

Next time I want to try it with my hair 80-90% dry, and I'll spray some frizz control in my hair before wrapping it up for the night. I love this idea because my mornings are usually busy and I don't have much time to spend in front of the mirror... if I can do the bulk of the work the night before (which really takes less than 5 mintues) and come out with a good looking hair do, it will definitely be something I do more frequently! 

Big Bro/Sis Tshirts

When you have other children, it seems now days that it's a must to have "Big Bro" and "Big Sis" shirts.  My favorite are the cute craft ones on Etsy, but I didn't want to pay $20-$40 PER tshirt.  That just seemed ridiculous.  I decided I'd make some myself (and I also decided that because I hadn't seen any that matched at the local stores)

While my sister was home, we went to JoAnns and started looking for fabric.  After finding several cute choices, she suggested we pick out the tshirts before picking out material - definitely makes more sense, but I hadn't thought about that.  So we walked a few isles over and the only color options, in both of their sizes, were white and black.  We agreed the black would look better than the white, so we were on a hunt for material to match.  We found several cute options for Allie, but it was hard finding something boy-ish for Hayden.  Whit suggested looking for Hayden's first, which again made more sense (have I mentioned I'm glad she went with me?).  After deciding on Haydens, we quickly found cute coordinating material for Allies. 

I used a ruler, measuring cup, and button to make my letters. 

Letters ironed on.  Only about half of them stuck.

When I got home I drew some letters on paper, cut them out, prepped my material (with Wonder Under, which allows you to iron the fabric on to the tshirt... didn't have the best results with it, but I'm not giving up on it), traced and cut out the letters, ironed them on the shirts, then was ready to put a stitch in them.  I just assumed I could use my sewing machine, but after 3 attempts with different settings and stitches, I realized it wasn't going to work.  I felt defeated and went to bed for the night.

The next morning I had decided to hand sew each letter and my sis helped me (once again) figure out the perfect stitch.  Within a day I had finished the shirts, and the project cost about $15. 

Ta-da!  I'm happy with how they turned out.

Side note... we did this shopping/material picking out Thursday morning.  Hayden's big brother class was Thursday evening and that's when we learned the 3 colors babies can see at birth (black, red, white).  I was thrilled those just happen to be the colors we picked out for the shirts! 

Big Brother Class

Kevin and I took Hayden to the Big Brother class at the Women's Hospital last week.  He really enjoyed going.  I signed him up for the class that was ages 3-5, but they also offer a class ages 6-8.  I really wish I had taken him to the older class because he really didn't learn much he didn't already know.  None the less, it was only $10, and Kevin and I got to spend some one on one time with him, and he really enjoyed that more than the class!

The teacher was very nice and great with the kids.  She started by talking about the importance of hand washing.  Next, she showed them the right way to hold a baby.  That was the only interaction they had with their dolls and I wish they would have done more.  The older class learns how to help with baths and changing diapers, and Hayden will love helping with things like that once the baby gets here.  The only thing all 3 of us learned, that we didn't know, are the 3 colors babies can see when they are born.  (They are black, white, and red, in case you were curious!)  Next the teacher passed out binoculars to each child.  We all went to the first floor to try to find some babies.  The teacher took us all in a hospital room to show the kids where the mommies and babies would be staying.  This was about the jist of the class. 

Here are some pictures of Hayden during class :)

All the kids got to pick out a baby.  Hayden picked out the only baby wearing blue.

They sang, "This is the way we wash our hands, wash our hands, wash our hands.  This is the way we wash our hands, before we touch our baby."

He's already a pro at holding a baby.

He looooved his binoculars!

Trying out the stethoscope in the baby's crib.

Hayden got a certificate showing he had graduated the Big Brother class.

Bedding Preview

One thing I got checked off my "Baby To Do" list was get the bedding washed/ironed/and put on the crib.  As soon as it was complete, Harry (who thinks I put it all together for him) jumped in to give it a try.  Cat tested, mother approved!

Visual Countdown

Both of the kids know the baby will be here soon, but I think it's hard for him to understand the concept of several weeks verses tomorrow.  They think if I say something (like the baby will be here soon), it will happen tomorrow.  Hayden is starting to figure out days of the week and things don't always happen tomorrow, but I thought we'd create a little visual aid to help them. 

Hayden and I sliced paper early this week while Allie was snoozing.  We put the date and how many days left until baby gets here on each slip of paper.  Then we stapled them together and made a big chain.  Each day we cut yesterdays off.  I've explained that by the time we get to the end of the chain, the baby will be here!  Seems easy enough and I like the festive baby colors hung on my mantel :)

Hayden wanted to give the chain bunny ears... why not, right?

Ham & Potato Alfredo

Update 3/3/14:  I made this recipe in the oven instead of the crockpot and we loved it even more this way!  It was more saucy and cooked perfectly!  I layered everything in a 9x13 pan just like the instructions say.  I also added the cheese before baking, but I covered it with foil.  I baked it at 375* for 1 hour.  This is a family favorite of ours! 

I've been on the search for new recipes the last several weeks.  Actually my goal is to come up with 2 (or maybe 3) months of meals with out me repeating the same things over and over.  I had some leftover ham in the freezer that was needing used, so I was on the hunt for a recipe that called for cubed ham.  I ran across this recipe for Ham & Potato Alfredo.  All the ingredients are things I eat (with the exception of the green bell pepper, but I'm trying to expand the list of food I like!)  It's also a crock pot meal and who doesn't love a good crock pot meal?!

Ingredients:

2 lb red medium-size red potatoes cut into bite sized pieces

1/3 c chopped green bell pepper

2 cups cooked ham, cubed 

1 jar Alfredo pasta sauce (I use Newmans alfredo sauce) 

1/2 c milk (2% works better than skim)

1/4 tsp pepper

1/3 c shredded Parmesan cheese

 

Instructions:

Spray your crockpot with cooking spray. Layer half each of the potatoes, bell pepper and ham in the crockpot.

        In a medium bowl, mix Alfredo, milk and pepper; spoon half of the mixture on top of the ham. Layer with the remaining potatoes, ham and bell pepper. Pour the remaining sauce mixture on top. (Do Not Stir)  Cover; cook on Low heat for 6-8 hours.

        About 5 minutes before serving, stir mixture gently. Then sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese and replace lid until cheese has melted.

 

Kevin was anxious to try the new recipe, so it was dinner on Tuesday.  He ended up sleeping through dinner, so I tried it first.  I served it with cornbread and they complimented each other perfectly!  If I had the ingredients for a toss salad, that would have been a nice touch too - maybe next time.  But, there will definitely be a next time.  Kevin RAVED about the recipe.  He loved everything about it!  Next time you have some leftover ham, give this recipe a try!

P.S.  I used that Newman brand alfredo sauce.  The recipe calls for a 16oz jar of alfredo, and this was a 15oz jar.  I'd definitely recommend it though!