Only When I'm Pregnant - 22 Weeks

As I mentioned in week 21, I've been craving chocolate.  We bought some fudge from a shop in Destin that I've snacked on all week!  I will be majorly disappointed when it's all gone because it's the BEST fudge I've ever eaten!!!

I'm not feeling regular movements from the baby yet, but when I do feel him/her, they are noticeably stronger kicks and punches!  Baby seems to move when I put Allie and Hayden down for naps/quiet time and after they go to bed (pretty much the two times of day I sit down and relax).  I've told Hayden he'll be able to feel the baby move soon and he's anxious for the time to get here!

I gained 4lbs on our Destin trip, which kind of bums me out!  I'm hoping in the next week the number on the scale goes down to what it was before Destin.  We walked a lot on vacation and I kept thinking all the walking was compensating for the eating, but clearly it wasn't!  My rings still fit - hoping they do the whole way through.  No swell to report yet.  I am glad I didn't cut my hair off early on like I thought about doing.  I've never had long hair while I've been pregnant and I like having the option to straighten it or throw it up in a pony tail!  That's about all the randomness I have for this week :)

Mother's Day Pic

Here's a picture from Mother's Day - a little late, but I liked it :)

Alligator Fun

Our first dinner out on the strip in Destin was to Fud Puckers.  We saw as we were walking in they had alligators outside, but we decided to investigate after we had eaten.  During dinner we saw you could get your picture taken with an alligator.  I asked Hayden if he wanted to do that and he seemed excited by the idea (which surprised me!). 

We added our name to the building - we're on the 2nd floor in a booth if you're ever there :)

When we got to the alligator exhibit after dinner, we saw you could feed the alligators for $3 along with getting your picture taken (which cost a minimum of $10 - the more pics the more $).  We all 4 enjoyed feeding the gators!  I'd definitely recommend taking the time to do this if you have kids and will be in the Destin area! 

Next came holding the gator.  I kept thinking Hayden would change his mind, but he didn't!  I was so proud of him!  Although it cost $10 for just one 5x7, it was the only family picture we had taken on our vacation and it turned out great!  I wish now I would have paid the $5 to have the photo emailed to me so I could have photo rights and make more copies!  I put our picture in a frame as soon as we got home.  I think it's one of those pictures I'll always have out - even 20 years from now. 

Here's a picture of our picture :)

This alligator freaked me out a little bit. 

Great Suggestions

Thank you, dear friends and readers, for all your suggestions when I asked for them a couple weeks ago!

• We brought little gifts for the kids to open during the vacation (they slept most of the car ride there and back).  Just want to mention these cute bubble gooey frog things from the Dollar Tree explode when they are in a hot car - so don't buy them! :) 

•  The wagon was one thing we won't vacation without in the future!  We loaded up the kids, beach towels, beach toys, camera, & cooler and used it to walk to the beach every day!  This is a collapsible stroller I bought at Sams Club a couple weeks for about $55!  I was told Aldi has them for $50.  MUST HAVE if you have little ones and a walk of any sort! 

•  The little pool cost $8 at the Dollar Store in Newburgh.  The kids LOVED it!  They played with it more than any thing else!  We had many people come up and tell us it was a brilliant idea and they wish they would have thought of it earlier. 

I was stopped multiple times for these last two ideas and I gave all the credit to my friends for their wonderful suggestions!  Thank You!!!

Saving $ on Food While Vacationing

When we are on vacation, one thing we try to do to save money is have everyone get water when we go out to eat.  There are some exceptions - if the kids meals come with a drink, we'll let them get diluted lemonade or juice - or if I'm at Cheeseburger In Paradise, I splurge on a strawberry virgin daiquiri. 

One of the other biggest money savers for us is not eating out for every meal!  Our condo had a nice kitchen that was stocked with just about every thing you'd need.  (I brought a few kitchen gadgets along with me just in case the kitchen wasn't as stocked as I'd imagined.)  We tried to eat at the condo for 7 out of the 21 meals we'd need to eat during our 7 day vacation and I bought all our snacks ahead of time (I did buy some fresh produce like oranges, bananas, and apples when we went to the store).  I made a menu and grocery list for every day just like I do while I'm home and it was a success!  I think next year (assuming we're able to go back) my goal will be to eat out only 1/2 the the time!

We had a lovely screened in porch with a table and chairs that we enjoyed all our meals at!  There was a fountain right outside of the porch and it was nice back ground noise!

Kevin made breakfast one morning - fried bacon, eggs, and biscuits - I cut up the oranges!

I made taco dip one morning before we headed to the beach and it made for a quick/easy dinner that night!

I marinated rib eyes and Kevin grilled them for us - the whole delicious dinner cost about $15!  

One of our favorite lunches were ham sandwiches with colby jack cheese, lettuce, and bacon on a bun.  We'd eat our sandwich with chips and fruit :)  It was a great, cheap lunch!

Preparing to Leave

I had spent a lot of time planning and organizing for this vacation to Florida!  One thing I really wanted to do was keep my car some what organized.  I knew it would be packed full.  I also thought it would be helpful when someone asked for something if I could tell them exactly where it was... so... I made a basket or had a bag for everything - as you'll see!  

My seat cushions and a box of tissues for Kevin's drippy nose.

At my feet I had my camera, books to read, a note book that was packed full of notes (from our grocery list to recipes to addresses!), extra shirts for Allie in case she got car sick, and a roll of paper towels because I have 2 messy kids!

Behind our seats and at the kids feet were: a basket of (Dollar Tree) gifts to let the kids open through out the trip, a trash can (which I'm leaving in my car permanently!), 2 baskets of snacks (chips/goldfish in one & healthier stuff {applesauce, raisins, craisins} in the other).

Between the kids seats, I had a basket of books, toys, and DVDs.

We purchased a new car seat the day before we left.  We decided it would be a good idea for them both to have reclining car seats since we were leaving at night and wanting them to sleep comfortably.  We will be able to use this new seat when #3 gets here though, so that's why I was able to justify buying it!

This is the back of the car.  It may look chaotic, but everyone had their own bag(s), and things were placed in the back with some order.  All mine and Kevin's things were at the back because we knew we wouldn't need them until we got to Florida.  Allie and Hayden's things were all accessible just by opening the back hatch.  I also brought that large bed rail because we were hoping Allie would sleep in one of the two twin sized beds (which she did with no problems!).

Before we left I wrote out detailed instructions for the dog, cats, and  just general information.  I left out all the cleaners that may be needed and also treats and shampoo for the pup.  

 

Everyone went to bed at 7:30 the night we planned to leave.  I stayed up and finished packing and cleaning the house (who wants to come home to a dirty house!?). We backed out of the drive way at 12:10am (only 10 mins behind schedule)!  We stopped for breakfast at Cracker Barrel somewhere in Alabama (some nice man asked to buy our breakfast - we were shocked by his generosity - great way to start our vacation) and arrived in Destin right around 11 am on Monday. 

Only When I'm Pregnant - 21 Weeks - Beach Edition!

I was very nervous for our road trip to Florida!  My last quick road trip (to Indy) left my back a mess for a week.  I'd planned as best as I could - investing about $100 in seat and back cushions.  The money absolutely paid off!  I was pain free the whole way there and back.  I did get some calf pains but I think it was from all the walking (in sand and up and down stairs).  Overall, I felt great!

The only craving I had in the last week and a half has been chocolate.  I've had no symptoms or any other cravings or food aversions.  I know that's really boring!

The pregnancy highlight from our vacation was Hayden walked in on me in the bathroom while I was getting ready and he looked at me and said as serious as ever, "I like your baby".  I tried to carry on a conversation with him but I busted out laughing thinking that was is one of the cutest things he's ever said!

I'm starting to feel really big.  I feel like my belly has doubled in the last couple weeks. 
I did read baby was the size of a banana this week - unfortunately it looks like I've swallowed about a half dozen bananas! :-/

Happy Mother's Day!

My mom with Allie when she was born.

Just wanted to wish my mom and all the other moms out there a very Happy Mother's Day!  Kevin and the kids bought me chocolate covered strawberries from Libs - the only thing I requested (I'm hoping to make this a mother's day tradition) - and I got a pedicure with my mom yesterday.  Hope all you other mothers have a great day!

Bake Easy Non-Stick Spray

Ever make a cake you have to scrape out of a pan?  Or one where just a section of what you made sticks?  It's SO frustrating when that happens, but I have a solution!  Wilton makes 'Bake Easy Non-Stick Spray'.  It's awesome!!!  I made chocolate zucchini bread a few weeks ago and I'm always scraping it out of my pans - but not this time.  I turned the pans over and out flopped my little perfectly detailed loaves of bread.  I've used this spray with cakes too - it's all I use now.  I don't have a single gripe about it.  I love it!  It's with the cake decorating supplies at Walmart, and stores like JoAnns and Michaels carry it too.  If you're a baker, you need to start using this pronto!

TJ Update

I feel like our life is back to normal, and I'm out of the puppy funk I was in!  Whew!  I love having him outside for so many reasons - how about I just start listing them?!

• He lets me know when anyone is around our house.  Whether it's the mail lady dropping off a box, or a neighbor coming over to say hi, TJ is always letting me know someone is here.
• I don't have to constantly watch him.  When he was inside I was seriously watching his every move!  I do still check on him multiple times a day though.  
• He loves being outside as much as I love having him outisde!  His first day out, about lunch time I started feeling bad for him so I thought I'd let him in, and he didn't want to come in!
• I don't have to fret about things being on my floor.  Hayden's birthday presents have been scattered across the house, mostly on the floor, and I don't have to worry about things getting chewed up.
• The cats are so much happier.  They aren't constantly being chased and  tormeneted by a fiesty pup.
• Our porch is his throne.  I may have to give it a make over - doggy edition - once he's outside full time.  

He is still sleeping inside at night and he comes inside to eat.  Other than that, he's out all day.  We bought him some new toys to help keep him entertained (his favorite is playing fetch with a tennis ball).  He also loves digging in the yard.  He's only dug in the dirt and mulch, so once we get grass planted maybe that will stop?  Oh well, I think it's kinda cute.