Black Friday Baby!!!!!

YES, we did it. We went out into the crazy dark night the night of Thanksgiving after our wonderful meal at about 8pm.  

We went to Macy's mainly to shop for Andrew for a new suit, dress shoes, dress shirts, and tie. In the midst of shopping for a tie we were engulfed by a cloud of STINK from a stink bomb...come on people. After shopping for him and waiting in longggg lines with old women that had 50 coupons that they wanted to see if they applied to the promotions, it was about 11pm and we were ready to get home and into bed. Once getting home Andrew realized he bought the wrong size pants for his suit. I didn't want him to miss out on the sale sooooo, yep, we headed back out to the mall for a second attempt at this.  

Went back to Macy's and got the right size and of course I had to go to Baby Gap since I noticed they were having a 50% off everything sale and got these little cuties (for some reason I am obsessed with little baby jeans).  Bottom line is that we got home at 1am and once in bed still could not fall asleep from all the adrenaline. 

The next morning, yep we got up and did it again! We went to the Lazy Boy Store and ordered and awesome rocker/glider for the baby's room. Then headed over to Old Navy and bought Andrew some more pants, me maternity clothes, and the baby some more cute clothes. All in all, it wasn't as bad as we thought it would be but we are EXHAUSTED now!

Maternity Photos

26 week maternity photos are up! Thank you momma for taking pictures of me :)

Glucose Tolerance Test

Had to sip this sweet drink this morning....followed by a lovely blood draw.

The oral glucose tolerance test involves quickly drinking a sweetened liquid (called Glucola), which contains 50g of glucose. The body absorbs this glucose rapidly, causing blood glucose levels to rise within 30 to 60 minutes. A blood sample will be taken from a vein in your arm about 60 minutes after drinking the solution. The blood test measures how the glucose solution was metabolized (processed by the body).

The oral glucose tolerance test is used to screen for gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is a specific type of diabetes that can develop in some women late in pregnancy (usually after the 24th week). Women who develop this complication do not have diabetes before becoming pregnant.

Now lets just hope that the results some back good :)

Pumpkin Truffles

Made this little treat over the weekend for all the Thanksgiving festivities this week :)

Soooooo YUMMY!

Pumpkin Truffles
(40 truffles)

Pumpkin Truffles:
1 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
3 cups gingersnap crumbs plus about 2 Tbsp more to top each truffle
4 Tbsp powdered sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp Nutmeg
1 tsp salt
8 ounces Neufchatel cheese, room temperature
2 cup white chocolate chips, melted

White chocolate topping:
24 ounces chopped vanilla almond bark
1/2 Tbsp vegetable shortening (ONLY ADD IF NEED TO THIN)


Before you make these truffles, you must prepare the pumpkin puree by draining it of excess liquid. You can do this one of two ways: 1) place pumpkin in a strainer lined with a paper towel or cheesecloth, put the strainer over a bowl to catch the liquid, and place in refrigerator overnight OR 2) layer three or four paper towels on a baking sheet, spread pumpkin puree into a thin, even layer over paper towels, top with another three or four paper towels, and lightly press to absorb liquid out of pumpkin.

Once pumpkin puree is drained of excess liquid, add it to a food processor, along with 3 cups gingersnap crumbs, powdered sugar, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, salt, and Neufchatel cheese. Pulse until smooth. Add 2 cup of melted white chocolate to food processor; process until all ingredients are mixed together and form a smooth mixture. Pour truffle batter into a shallow dish, place in freezer for an hour, or until mixture is firm enough to shape into balls.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop truffles into 1 ounce balls (about 1 1/2 inch diameter), place on parchment paper, cover with plastic wrap, and put back into freezer until ready to coat.

To make the topping for the truffles, place 24 ounces of vanilla bark in a bowl and microwave for 90 seconds, then in 15 second intervals stirring in between. Place one truffle on a fork. Hold truffle over melted chocolate, spooning melted chocolate over truffle until it's fully covered. Return truffle to parchment paper by carefully pushing the truffle off of the fork with a spoon or toothpick.*  Repeat for remaining truffles. Use leftover vanilla bark to drizzle over top with a spoon. Chill the truffles in the refrigerator until set, or about an hour. You can store the truffles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a week or freeze for a month.

ENJOY!

Tear Jerker

Last night Andrew told me to watch this video about a baby being born 3 1/2 months early.  I didn't think it was going to be soooooo moving! By about 30 sec in we were both crying. As of right now we have 3 months left so I think it hit home a little harder because this is basically how big our little man is right now.  Andrew and I always say "Awww I can't wait for our little baby to be here. I hope he comes a little early because I just want to hold him"....well after this video that is definitely not what we are hoping for.  All we ever hope for and pray for each night is for our baby to be healthy and happy.  I am so very thankful that our little baby is still healthy and inside of me at 26 weeks.  Love you little guy!

So go ahead and watch it!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2510987/Father-Benjamin-Scots-video-premature-baby-Ward-Miles-development.html

100 Days Left

With just 100 days left, the count down begins!

Crafty Tuesday

I decided to get in the holiday spirit a little early this year.  I had been search Pinterest for some good ol' wreath-spiration and found a few that I liked, pulled ideas and decided to go for it!  I went to Michael's craft store (with a coupon of course because they always have one) and bought what I needed.

SHOPPING LIST

Grape Vine Wreath

Hot Glue Sticks for my glue gun

Glittery Sticks and Leaves from their holiday aisle 

Burlap Material

Fake Pieces of Christmas Tree

Fake Cranberries

Once I bought all that I needed I went home and laid out all the goodies I bought. When I first started hot glue gunning all the stuff to the wreath I was really bummed and didn't think it was going to turn out.  I was just thinking to myself why do I try to do stuff like this, I should have just bought one! But I just continued to attach stuff to the wreath.....and now I LOVE IT! I'm so glad I kept on with the project.

The Scale that Never Stops Going Up

I swear by continuing a workout plan while pregnant. I think it has helped so much to keep me having a positive self image while I continue to watch the scale go up and up! Especially for us ladies, we are always trying to watch our weight and when you become pregnant the numbers on the scale never seem to stop. I mean we are growing a person, we need to gain weight though.  Currently I weigh myself every Friday morning before I eat and get ready.  Right now I am up 15.8 lbs and on track to a healthy pregnancy weight gain :)

 I do believe however that pregnancy should not be a time to let yourself go and make excuses to eat whatever you want and stop working out.  I still lift hard and continue with my cardio.  Lifting weights helps women who are pregnant stay in shape and toned while pregnant and recover and bounce back to pre-pregnancy weight quicker! So why wouldn't you do it!? There are some modification I have had to make but not too many.

Once in 2nd Trimester stopped laying on my back. 

No more core work laying flat on back or flat bench chest press

*MODIFICATION #1: For core I do planks, side planks, cat cow, on hands and knees extend opposite arm and leg, and at an incline on back resting on forearms lift legs at 90 degree angle and tap down one heel at a time.  

*MODIFICATION #2: For Chest Press I do Incline (on bench or machine) & Decline press (on a machine), and Fly's using cable cords.

Cardio is getting tougher since my heart is beating so much faster now with the baby

*MODIFICATION #3: Instead high interval running I either jog, do the elliptical, or the stairmaster. Some days jogging is easier than others.  I would say running has been the biggest change so far.

INTERESTING FACTS

Where Does the Extra Weight Go During Pregnancy?

• Baby: 8 pounds
• Placenta: 2-3 pounds
• Amniotic fluid: 2-3 pounds
• Breast tissue: 2-3 pounds
• Blood supply: 4 pounds
• Stored fat for delivery and breastfeeding: 5-9 pounds
• Larger uterus: 2-5 pounds
• Total: 25-35 pounds

Belly Progress

Lastest bump progress photos. ENJOY!

Nursery So Far

It's so exciting getting the baby's room together.  I love just going into his room and imagining what it will be like when our little man arrives. The books I will read to him, the songs I will sing, the messes that will happen, the crying and of course his cute little moments that we will share in that room. Last night while laying in bed trying to fall asleep, I was thinking to myself how our new life will be with a baby around.  Andrew and I get into such a routine during the week and I know things will change once the baby is here (as Andrew would like to say "Be free movin'"). Things are going to definitely shift but I don't think that it's a bad thing at all. Some people say "Oh your life will end when you have kids" but really I think it's just beginning.  

So far we have gotten the dresser/changing table, crib (which was an amazing deal on craigslist), Book shelves, a rug (which can double as a photo opp for the baby lol) and some pictures.  Still on the hunt for a rocker/glider....so many choices!!! Lots more to buy and do for sure...

Nursery Book Shelves

I have seen so many cute pins on Pinterest for making book shelves for a kids room out IKEA Spice racks, so I thought I would give it a go! To make them go with the theme of the room I decided to paint them a light baby blue. I love the way they look complete! I think it was totally worth putting these little suckers together with all the IKEA screws and pieces :)  Now I just need some more baby books!

BEFORE:

AFTER: