Week 15!

My baby is getting so big! S/he is the size of an apple this week. Apple is getting much cuter this week because her eyes are moving from the side or her head to the front where they belong. Thank goodness for that. Even though those eyelids are still fused shut, she can detect bright lights so don’t shine any flashlights at my belly. Maybe she can detect the Christmas lights though! Aww….

She is also wiggling her fingers and possibly sucking her thumb. She is moving around like crazy in there even though I can’t feel it yet. 

FYI…I am referring to the baby as a girl because her name is Apple this week and that just sounds girly. I still don’t know what it is yet and won’t until January 5th. Seems like a lifetime from now! 

This week mama is feeling tip top except for this nasty runny nose that won’t quit. Another lovely side effect of pregnancy…loads of snot. I also welcomed in the second trimester by dying my hair darker. You aren’t supposed to dye your hair in the first trimester among a zillion other things. It’s pretty dark, but I like it. And since I can’t go to the tanning bed I am starting to look a little like a vampire. Not a bad thing though. Pregnant vampires are cute. 

They say I should start to feel her move around in a few weeks and I will be able to detect her heartbeat with a regular stethoscope. My mama gave me one so I can listen in whenever I want! She tried to hear it yesterday and both her and Abby swear they heard it, but I couldn’t hear a thing. 

I tell you what is annoying though and that is trying to find something to wear, especially to church. Your real clothes are too tight. Your maternity clothes are frumpy and you feel silly wearing them before you have a big belly. Basically you have nothing to wear all the time. Sucks. I almost had a meltdown yesterday before church and when Edward tried to tell me to wear black ballet flats with the long black dress Aunt D gave me, I thought I would kick him. Really Edward? You want me to look like a dork? He has something against heels that I can’t figure out. I think it has something to do with the way they click across the floor. 

Things I Believe in at Christmastime…

The other night I got to thinking about things I believe in around this time of year. Well, some of them I believe in year around and others I only think about come December. Please remember, these are things I believe in so don’t get all pissy if you disagree with me about some of them.

I believe in:

• Jesus being the true meaning of Christmas. Hello. His name is in the word. 
• Real, live Christmas trees. Even if it does look like Charlie Brown picked it out. Every year its a different tree and you remember the years it was really little and skimpy or the time it was so huge and lopsided that it fell over six times a day. You also get the adventure of going to pick it out, sawing off the limbs, arguing with your spouse over how to get it in the tree stand…wonderful family memories. 
• Sending Christmas cards. 
• Resorting to gift cards only and ONLY if you have no other choice. Same goes for gift bags. Spending the time to think about what someone might want and taking the time to wrap it shows love. The only time I relent on this is when someone really wants something that you nor anyone else can afford so you all chip in and give them money or gift cards to make it happen for them. And for the gift bags…I wrapped two bicycle helmets this weekend so I really don’t know of a time when gift bags HAVE to be used. I follow the Martha Stewart philosophy on this one…a pretty package is almost as important as the gift. And please….put a bow on it. Sounds like Beyonce’s Christmas version of Put a Ring on it. 
• Wrapping every gift separate. And I mean wrapping the socks separate from the boots, separate from the leggings, separate from the necklace. What else do you have to do Christmas morning other than open presents? 
• Santa! There are still some things about Christmas Eve when I was little that nobody can explain like those jingle bells on the roof….
• Adding new ornaments to your tree each year. 
• Stuffing stockings for everyone. Even the pets! This year we might go broke doing that. 
• Watching as many Christmas movies as you can. This year I had the forward thinking to save the newspaper section with the holiday show schedule and have set my DVR to record everything from Its a Wonderful Life to A Very Brady Christmas. 
• Buying your wrapping paper, bows, cards and other perishable items at the after Christmas sales. You get a much better deal and it is always a surprise when you see them the next year. You never remember what you bought!
• Having one day where all you do is bake goodies.
• Reading the Christmas Story from Luke and The Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve. 
• Keeping secrets about presents. Its no fun when you aren’t surprised Christmas Morning. 
• Listening to Christmas music starting asap after Thanksgiving. 
• Serving others at this special time of year. I believe in this all year long, but it takes on a special meaning when you get to make someone who is having a harder time than you have a wonderful Christmas. Sharing the love of Jesus Christ!
• Putting up Christmas decorations. I believe the happiest people are the ones who decorate. 
• Laying down at least once underneath the Christmas tree and staring up into the lights. It’s magical. 
• Having a nativity in your house. 
• Going riding around to look at lights.
• Drinking apple cider as many times as the opportunity presents itself.
• Baking a birthday cake for Jesus. I know he likes Kathleen cakes too. It’s something we have in common. 
• Going to Christmas Eve service at church. Nothing and I mean nothing makes Christmas feel as magical and extraordinary as this service. You are celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior in his house with his body and blood as the refreshments. Really makes Christmas REAL.
• Wearing Christmas socks. Some people do the sweaters or pajamas. I am a low key socks kind of girl.
• After all is said and done, getting yourself a big glass of wine or a an ice cold beer and relaxing. This year I will make do with an O-Doul’s but the sentiment will be the same. 

Love Letters to my Baby

I am so excited about this book my mama gave me, Love Letters to my Baby by Vickey Banks. It is a book all about writing memories down from your pregnancy and telling your future child what they mean to you now. Things like:

When I found out I was pregnant I was….

The first person I told was….

The first time I really felt pregnant was…

You will always be special to me because…

I want you to know you are valuable because…

God hears your heartbeat and I…

Seeing you move around on the ultrasound was…

I started filling this out the other night and it made me so excited for my baby and the fact that one day s/he will read it and know how much I loved them even before I knew them. And they will know how much they were wanted and needed in this family. I hope and pray that this isn’t just something I will have time and energy to do for my first baby. I would like to be able to have a book like this for all my children. 

The book continues all the way through birth and includes things on how having a baby changes the parents and what life is like after having a baby. So sweet.

This book is a great gift for any soon-to-be mama!

Baby Christmas Tree

Our tree this year is itty bitty! It is adorable though. And not having to stand on a stool to put the star on was nice. 

Normally we move our armchair to the guest house, but it is such a pain in the butt to do that I said this year, we will get a really skinny tree and that is exactly what we did. I can literally reach all the way around it at the bottom. And the fact that it only cost $19.95 made Edward happy. 

Today I plan on making a poinsettia garland out of red ribbon that I saw on Martha Stewart and cutting out snowflakes for the windows.

Signs for Sale!

There has been a lot of interest in the Christmas signs I’ve been making so I thought I would take orders here or through my email or facebook page. However you want to get in touch with me although I have to tell you that the telephone is not my favorite way to communicate so if you choose that way you will be screened and the return phone call might take awhile. 

Here are the two signs I have left  from my original sale to buy “as is”. You can buy these or you can order a custom sign which I will outline at the bottom of this post. 

These two above are $12 a piece. 

Custom Signs:

You choose the background color (Snowy beige, Santa suit red or chocolate brown) and the letter color (Santa suit red, glitzy gold or chocolate brown). If I think the colors you have chosen will look spastic together…I’ll let you know. You will also need to choose and thin or a thick sign. The thin signs are about 2.5 inches wide and the thick ones are about 4 inches. 

2.5″ – $10

4″ – $12

And one last thing…what you want it to say of course! I find little short things like titles of songs work well. i.e. Silent Night, Joy to the World, O Holy Night, Be Merry & Bright. Try to keep it under 15 letters.

I am going to try to make these all this week and weekend so I can mail them or give them out at the beginning of next week so you can hang them in time for Christmas. 

Here are some examples from my show.

Happy Ordering!

I’ve Got a Plan

I’ve got a plan and I don’t care if you agree with me or not. It makes me happy so I’m keeping it. 

The other day I was talking to my friend Heidi who is also a former smoker. I told her that if I thought I would never smoke another cigarette again, it would make me go crazy. I have to believe that one day I will have another one. She said she felt the same way and that is why she plans on starting to smoke again when she turns 70. I love it! 

By 70 who cares anymore?! It also gives me something to look forward to and will probably give me the willpower to stay alive until then. I can’t wait. It makes me smile just thinking about that day. If any of you are still around on my 70th birthday, I would like a carton of Parliament Lights as a gift. By then they will cost about $75 a carton so feel free to go in together on it. 

Also, a fact…If I found out I was going to die tomorrow I would smoke until my lungs exploded. Just thought you should know. 

Baby Update! Week 14!

My baby is an orange this week! Orange you glad I’m sharing?!?

Little OrAnge is sprouting hair this week, moving his/her arms and legs around and now has fingerprints. S/he is beginning to practice inhaling and exhaling. Go OrAnge!

This week OrAnge’s mama is going to start doing yoga again. At home at first until I get limber enough not to embarrass myself in a prenatal class. I also want to wait until it is a little more obvious I am pregnant so the other girls in my class don’t think I am lying. I am also walking it out on the treadmill or around the block every day! Welcome back energy!

Birthday Celebrations

29 isn’t so terrible. It isn’t 21 again, but I think I am going to have to let that go sooner or later. 

I had a pretty good birthday. We went to eat at Red Robin after church on a suggestion from Jessi and it was AMAZING! The best burger I have ever eaten. You can swap out a Boca patty for any of their burgers so that is what I did on the Bleu Ribbon Burger. Bleu cheese, fried onion straws and chipotle sauce on an onion bun. Absolutely to die for. I almost finished the whole thing which is pretty amazing in itself. 

Then we went back to mamas house for cake and punch. She had decorated so pretty! A few days ago we had this conversation over text messaging. 

Mama: “What kind of cake do you want for your birthday?”

Hear crickets chirping

Me: “Why are you asking me dumb questions?”

Me thinking ‘This lady knows good and well what kind of cake I want. KATHLEEN!!!!’

Mama: “I mean how do you want it decorated?”

Me: “Pretty”

So that is exactly what she did. Made everything so pretty! 

Speaking of funny birthday conversations…let me replay one that happened Friday night while we were out to dinner with our church group. I had a feeling someone was going to tell the waitress it was my birthday so when they came up to me at the table I wasn’t completely surprised. 

Female Waitress: “I hear its your birthday. Go ahead and stand on your chair for me.”

Me: “No. I am pregnant and clumsy. Thanks but no thanks.”

Male Waiter: (In an annoying singsong voice) “If you don’t stand in your chair, I’ll take away your brownie!”

Me: “Okay.”

Tommy and Abby (in unison): “She doesn’t like chocolate.”

Awkward silence.

Female waitress: “Can you at least twirl this towel around your head while we sing happy birthday to you?”

Me: “Oh all right.”

Good times.

So back to my birthday party..I got some great presents! In addition to the maternity clothes, I got a Ultimate Snuggie, cell phone snuggie, baby photo album, battery operated candles, big sweatpants to fit my expanding belly and a Beth Moore book. I also got the promise of Prenatal Yoga Classes from Edward. 

Here are some pictures.

Christmas Scenes from Around My House

 

Please notice the cute doggie in the doorway!

The pets stockings

Maternity Clothes

Mama, Abby and I went shopping for maternity clothes last night. Wow. Its a whole new world of designs that tie in the back, shirts that allow easy access to boobs and pantyhose attached to the tops of jeans. And most of it made me look more pregnant than I am! They accentuate the belly I guess. 

I did end up getting two pairs of pants (one jeans and the other black), two sweaters, two casual shirts and one top to go with leggings. This adds to a few shirts mama gave me already, a dress Aunt D gave me and two shirts I found at Old Navy. This should get me though most of the winter, but please if you see me wearing the same thing twice in one week…ignore it. 

I also did get a red ‘Christmas’ sweater. It isn’t a Rudolph or jingle bells sweater. It is just red with black and white snowflake looking things on it. It has the feeling of a sweater you would wear while skiing the Rocky Mountains. You know…the kind everyone was wearing in Lloyd’s dream in Dumb and Dumber. But much cuter. Abby approved. What Abby didn’t approve of was the black velvet pants mama picked out for me with the rhinestones on the back pockets. I didn’t think they were half bad, but did remind me of middle school or maybe what Katie would have worn with her furry pink sweater ten years ago. 

So Happy early Birthday to me! I must get used to the fact that I will now be giving up things for the sake of my child. For my 29th birthday I got a shopping bag full of clothes that accentuate my belly (in a good way). I’m only kidding. It is actually very lucky that my birthday fell near when I started to show. Saved me some cash!

Baby Bump Pictures!

Edward really wanted in on one!

Vegetarian Sausage Cheese Balls

I would be lying if I said I NEVER missed any meat products. True, it does make me sick to think about eating the real thing, but it also inspires me to try and make vegetarian versions of the meat items I sometimes miss. 

For me, sausage cheese balls equal Christmas. Well, that and the birth of our Lord and Savior. And since loving Jesus doesn’t mean eating meat, lets move on to what this post is about. Although let me inject a suggestion here…Read Luke 2:1-20.

Today I made faux sausage cheese balls!!! And I have to tell you that they are pretty awesome. They don’t taste EXACTLY like the real thing, but after not eating meat for almost a year, they taste really close. Here’s what I did:

I took Morningstar sausage links and defrosted them. I smushed them up and added proportional amounts of shredded cheese and Bisquick. You have to eyeball this since the normal measurements don’t apply. I sprinkled a little crushed red pepper since I like mine hot and added enough olive oil to make it all stick together. You have to add the olive oil since fake sausage doesn’t have fat in it to make them greasy. 

Mix together and roll into balls. Place on a greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees until the bottoms are golden brown. Yummy! 

Merry Christmas!

A Brief History of My Pregnancy So Far

Since I haven’t really been able to write about being pregnant yet I thought I’d update you on the first three months.

The Beginning: When we were in Pittsburgh at the beginning of October, I started to suspect something was going on. And apparently everyone else did too. I guess it isn’t normal to pee every 10 minutes, feel sleepy all the time and smell the neighbors three streets over making tacos for dinner. Okay I didn’t really smell the tacos, but I could smell really good!

On the way back I was in the car googling ‘early pregnancy symptoms’ and could check about 90% off the list. Thats when I started freaking out. By the time I got home I was convinced I was pregnant and the four consecutive tests I took after that proved it. 

We were so excited!!! I got down on my knees and praised the Lord for this amazing blessing. I really thought that I would have trouble conceiving, but I think everyone has that fear. 

The Sickness: That’s when things went from exciting to nauseating. I am going to  be honest with you here when I tell you that the first 6 or so weeks of pregnancy made me feel like I was hung over everyday. I was more exhausted than I had ever been in my life, everything made me want to barf (btw, don’t ever give me cranberry or leaves scented things from Bath and Body ever again or ask me to eat a Michalenas lasagna) and I had headaches for days. I do count myself lucky though because I actually only threw up twice which I have heard isn’t too bad. 

Other Side Effects: I have discovered that pregnancy brings out all the underlying issues you have. Acne that you thought was gone from middle school comes back. Asthma that you haven’t had since you were a kid suddenly rears its ugly head. Movies that you’ve watched a hundred times make you cry (Never Been Kissed…Josie Grossie finally got kissed! I couldn’t help it!). And there is also the lovely side effect of gas. Now I have never been a particularly gassy person, but now its payback time for Edward. Maybe another side effect of being pregnant is losing all sense of modesty….I just told ya’ll I’m gassy….

Things That Freak Me Out: Reading too far along in my pregnancy books. When they ask you a million questions at the doctor’s office and you get overwhelmed and confused. The fact that maternity pants feel SOOO much better than my regular jeans now and that I might never want to wear pants with actual buttons again. People touching my stomach…ya’ll know how I am about people touching me. When I eat an entire pizza by myself. 

Currently: I am feeling great! I have lots of energy and I eat all the time. I actually went down a size in clothes (maternity that is! I bought a size 2 jeans which made me feel good…I think they do that on purpose). 

Today’s Cravings: Steamed broccoli. Don’t let that fool you into thinking I am eating really healthy these days. I have been eating a cheese ball I made and fried rice everyday, but last night we ate at Long Horn and since it is the only place in the world that doesn’t have a vegetarian option, I ate a baked potato and steamed vegetables. The broccoli was incredible and I can’t get it out of my head. I need more. Stat.

Hot Potatoes

I’ve got a Hot Potato Recipe from Healthy Appetite with Ellie Krieger that will never make you miss those greasy loaded potato skins you get from the bar again. Edward and I had these the other night and they were to die for. Big hit.

Healthy Potato Skins

• Small russet potatoes
• Fresh broccoli
• White cheddar cheese
• 1 Acacado
• 2 Tablespoons of sour cream
• A little lime or lemon juice
• 1 clove of garlic
• Olive oil
• Sea or Kosher salt

Wash and poke potatoes and cook them in the microwave until done. Slice in half and scoop out the insides (I reserve mine to make mashed potatoes with later). Brush them with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Bake in a 450 degree oven for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Meanwhile, cut the broccoli into bite size pieces and steam until tender. Shred the cheddar cheese and set aside. When the potatoes are done, add the broccoli and cheese to them and put back in the oven at 400 degrees for about five minutes.

For the topping, combine the insides of the avocado, the 2 tablespoons of sour cream, the clove of garlic and citrus juice in a food processor until creamy. Add a dollop to each potato skin and enjoy!

*I added bacon bits to Edwards potatoes, but Ellie put canadian bacon on hers. I prefer mine violence free. 

 

 

Happy Birthday Mama!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful mama! She is going to be the best Grammy ever! Was there ever any doubt? The lady already has a crib, bedding, clothes, a pack and play and she bought me a jogging stroller. I like how this is working out. 

I love my mama so much and I hope I can be half the mother she was to me. 

Big News!

I got some big news….WE’RE HAVING A BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow, it feels so good to finally get that out in the open!

At this point in time, I am 13 weeks and the baby is the size of a peach. We went this morning to do the ultrasound and got to see the heartbeat, arms and legs, the spine and the brain. Every time I go, it feels like a big relief seeing the baby and hearing the heartbeat. 

I also have a feeling this baby is going to be just like its daddy. HYPER. It was moving all around and doing flips this morning. It also loves to get noticed because the technicians are always surprised at how quickly they find the heartbeat and the baby on the ultrasound. It’s a little ham.

Here is the first baby picture of Peachy.

Adorable if you ask me.

Hit List

Hit List for the week! 

• Cabot Cheese – I bought this as a direct result of listening to too much holiday music on 99.5. Robin, one of the DJ’s, had a commercial on the air about how freaking good this cheese is and when I saw it in the store I bought some. Proof that advertising does work. They have several different flavors, but I got the Reduced Fat Sharp Cheddar. Man oh man this stuff is good! So good that when I turned my back for a minute last night to let Hattie outside and then saw Jack licking the last slice, I ate it anyways. Judgement free zone, remember. Cabot is also a cool company because they are owned and operated by their members/farmers. Try some today! 
• Trident Layers Gum – This is some seriously delicious gum. I have tried the strawberry banana and the pineapple green apple and both were awesome. It is so sweet that it almost makes your jaw hurt if you know what I mean. 
• My Christmas Signs – I started making some new Christmas signs and I love the way they turned out! They wire I found to hang them by is really cool because it looks like rope, but has wire in it and is thin enough to bend and mold the way I want it. What do you think?

 

• Christmas scented candle and plug in’s – I had to break these out since I was listening to Christmas music already. It completes the mood. Currently I am burning a Yankee Christmas Cookie candle and my Balsam plug in’s. 

 

 

Warning for Vegetarians!

Warning! If you don’t eat meat and feel nauseous every time you think of little bits of ground up cow flesh and you enjoy eating at Taco Bell, then you need to open your burritos before biting into them! I am telling you this from second hand experience! 

My dear sweet sissy who isn’t eating meat anymore (best decision she ever made, besides deciding to be my sister) was having lunch at Taco Bell the other day. She ordered a cheesy bean burrito and only after she took a bite and swallowed it, did she realize that it had meat in it!!! SICK!!!!

It made her feel so nasty and she couldn’t eat anything else for two hours when she could finally stomach a veggie sub from Subway. If it would have been me, I would have made myself throw up, but she has a thing about puking so she had to deal with it. 

I don’t think Taco Bell maliciously did this to her, but from now on we must all be very careful. 

p.s. Also watch out for Dominos not clearly marking the line down the middle of the pizza for half cheese, half meat lovers. I had to spit out a bacon bit the other day. Not cool.

Thanksgiving Preparations

Okay everybody! Time to begin Thanksgiving preparations! Time to head out to your local health food store and get your Tofurky Holiday Roast. Oh wait. Maybe thats just me. Although I suggest Stephanie and Jessi do the same. I will report back on how delicious or sick it is. 

I also got my food assignment today for what I am supposed to bring to my Nana’s and it is sweet potatoes. But I’m not going to bring just any sweet potatoes. I am going to bring Whipped Sweet Potatoes with Roasted Bananas and Honey. I saw it on Tylers Ultimate and now its time to bring this new and updated version to Thanksgiving 2009. 

Having nothing to do with Thanksgiving, but consuming my time this week is making 40 Christmas bows that my mom so lovingly volunteered me to make for a house that we are decorating this coming Saturday. The house is for women who are recovering drug addicts and since we love decorating, we are helping this worthy cause. I might have serious arthritis, but all in the name of love and peace this holiday season. 

I also have my Thanksgiving holiday party with the card ladies Tuesday (yay!) and four Thanksgiving celebrations to attend Wednesday and Thursday. I was feeling pretty annoyed at the amount of places we had to go to and the exhaustion that follows each family event until one of my sweet ladies at cards told me her plans for Thanksgiving. Eating a club sandwich by candlelight with her best friend. They are all they have left since most of their family is dead or moved far away. We should count our blessings for all the people that we have to celebrate with on holidays. Even if they do make us crazy. By the way, if you are my family and reading this, I am not talking about you. Promise. You would never make me crazy. Love you. 

 

Precious Babies

Are these two not the most precious things you have ever seen? They love each other so much! 

 

Boone and Esther!