Thursday, July 31, 2014

Comfort Food

 

Sister #4 made this delicious looking dinner a few nights ago but we couldn’t stay. It is cheeseburger pie. I’ve been thinking about it ever since. It seemed like the best (unhealthiest) comfort food dinner and just what I neededtonight!

 

She sent me the recipe from theshabbycreekcottage. This one makes three round pans for freezing:



I didn’t have the flour so I modified it slightly. Here are the ingredients I used for one rectangle pan:



I mixed up the crust while I was browning the ground beef:



While the ground beef was cooling, I added some barbeque sauce and ketchup:




Then I poured out the crust into a greased pan and layered the meat then cheese:





Yum!

Girls!

How much shopping and daydreaming do you think I have been doing about my two little girls in matching outfits? It's bad.

They will definitely need this outfit!

http://www.burtsbeesbaby.com/Applique-Bee-Dress-and-Wide-Stripe-Footless-Coverall-Set/LY11280-BLM-NB,en_US,pd.html?start=19&cgid=Baby_Girl_Clothing

And these jammies! 

http://www.burtsbeesbaby.com/Quilted-Snap-Front-Footless-Coverall/LY11245-BLM-NB,en_US,pd.html?start=15&cgid=Baby_Girl_Clothing

Baby Richmond 2


Friday after the sonogram Annabelle announced to our family that she will have a little sister! She ran in the room wearing this pink dress. We couldn't be more thrilled that God has given us another sweet, perfect girl. I know they will grow up as very best friends.






Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Sheets

You all know I’ve been daydreaming and shopping around for ideas for Annabelle’s big girl room. I have a general idea of what it will be like. She has a full sized bed and a white quilt. Her room has a high vaulted ceiling and I am picturing it light and bright, and of course we have to use some “yellow” (Belle’s favorite word and color).

 

I feel like my first purchase needs to be some sheets. I can’t envision the paint color, bed skirt, or details without the sheets. You aren’t ever going to hear me say this again in my life, but I’m not thrilled with any of the Pottery Barn sheets right now. I don’t absolutely love any of them for her new room. I know – that sounds crazy.

 

I made a big mistake a few days ago and browsed Anthropologie sheets. Dumb, dumb, dumb because of course I am not buying my two year old $188 sheets! Or myself for that matter. I just thought I would get some inspiration. And believe me, I got it. I found three sets I am in love with, but since I don’t want to be a single mother of two since my husband would leave me (and rightfully so), I am on the search for something comparable.

 

Here are the Anthropologie ones I am obsessing over. I think this color is so beautiful for her room and would look great with some blues and yellows.


http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/home-bedding-sheets/30160014.jsp?color=085#/

 

My mother in law and I made a quick stop at Target last night with Annabelle to see if she would pick anything out. Let me tell ya, Belle is not fun to shop with these days! She wants out of the cart the whole time and after promising to hold my hand once out, of course the 19 month old went back on her promise and picked up the first doll she could find. Anyway, long story short, she didn’t care to pick out sheets. However, I did find some pretty sheets at a MUCH more reasonable price. I’m still not settled on these because they are a little bit more muted than I was envisioning, but for $40 I think I could fall in love and still keep my husband.



And I LOVE these from Pottery Barn Kids on sale for $53 even though I said I had trouble finding any I really loved. I think they might be a little too pink instead of coral or orange though.


 http://www.potterybarnkids.com/m/products/lara-sheeting-pink/?pkey=cbedding-sale&


 

Delicious New Recipe to Try

I found this amazingly delicious looking recipe on a blog that I love to read! Check outhttp://designerbagsanddirtydiapers.blogspot.com/ - she is the cutest and fun momma. I love her recipes and honesty about being a mom and wife. I am going to try a cheat of this recipe below using Annie’s Shells & White Cheddar mac and cheese (http://www.annies.com/products/pastas/shells-white-cheddar).

 

|| B A C O N  + B R U S S E L S   S  P R O U T S   M A C   A N D   C H E E S E ||

adapted via How Sweet It Is

 

Ingredients:

1 pound of cooked pasta, smaller noodles desired
6 slices of bacon, chopped
1 shallot, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 pound of brussels sprouts, stems removed and sliced/chopped
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons flour
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup half and half
8 ounces fontina cheese, freshly grated
4 ounces white cheddar cheese, freshly grated
2 ounces parmesan cheese, freshly grated
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
2 tablespoons fine breadcrumbs

 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Heat a large, 12-inch oven-safe skillet oven medium-low heat and add bacon. Cook until the fat is just rendered, then removed about 1/4 of the bacon and set it aside in a bowl. Cook the remaining bacon until completely crispy. Add in the shallot, garlic and brussels spouts, stirring well to coat. Cook until the brussels soften, about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and toss the pasta in with the brussels.
To make the cheese sauce. heat a small saucepan over medium heat and add the butter. Once it's sizzling, whisk in the flour to create a roux and cook until it is golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. Pour in the milk and the half and half, stirring the entire time and cook until it is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the fontina, cheddar and parm, stirring until the cheese is melted. Stir in the nutmeg. Once the cheese is melted, pour it over the pasta in the skillet and toss well to coat. Add the panko and fine breadcrumbs over top of the pasta and sprinkle on the bacon that your set aside earlier.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbly.

 



Katy’s Cheat Recipe:


Ingredients:

1 pound of cooked pasta, smaller noodles desired
6 slices of bacon, chopped
1 shallot, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 pound of brussels sprouts, stems removed and sliced/chopped
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons flour
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup half and half
8 ounces fontina cheese, freshly grated
4 ounces white cheddar cheese, freshly grated
2 ounces parmesan cheese, freshly grated

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Annie’s Shells & White Cheddar mac and cheese
1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
2 tablespoons fine breadcrumbs

 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.


Heat a large, 12-inch oven-safe skillet over medium-low heat and add bacon. Cook until the fat is just rendered, then remove about 1/4 of the bacon and set it aside in a bowl. Cook the remaining bacon until completely crispy. Add in garlic and brussels spouts, stirring well to coat. Cook until the brussels soften, about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat.

Make your mac and cheese according to box directions, pour it over the pasta in the skillet and toss well to coat.

Add the panko and fine breadcrumbs over top of the pasta and sprinkle on the bacon that your set aside earlier.


Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbly.

 

 

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

20 Weeks

We had our sonogram this past week and we are ecstatic with the news that our little baby is perfect and healthy and growing right on schedule! I cannot explain the feeling when the sonographer starts in on the details of a healthy baby. I am in shock and awe with how amazing this little life is.

 

I am feeling great and the baby is doing great and so we are taking time to celebrate that! We had our family and some friends over Friday to celebrate and announce the good news. And we spent the weekend daydreaming about what this little one means to our family and all the plans we get to start working on now.

 

I have been running, swimming, and doing the elliptical along with taking walks with David and Annabelle as often as possible in this amazing weather. All of my hard work has paid off because I hadn’t gained any weight between these appointments, or maybe a pound. I really am okay with gaining weight, but I just wanted to make sure it’s under control. Now that I’m feeling good and know the baby is perfect, I will continue to run and eat as healthy as possible. My doctor says I’m right on schedule for weight gain.



 

This little, perfect baby is 10 ounces and has a heart rate of 142. How sweet is this profile. I stare at it all day! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Snack attack

My yogurt obsession has definitely continued. This week I can't stop eating Chobani black cherry! It is so good. I eat yogurt once a day at least.



I am still obsessed with cucumbers too. Saturday my mother in law made a cucumber salad that she said her parents made and they ate every day in the summer. I have been eating it for lunch every day! It's amazing!


My next appointment is Friday! Please pray for a healthy baby for our sonogram. 

Friday, July 18, 2014

Maternity Clothes

I really don't have too many maternity clothes that I have bought. I have borrowed some from a few very generous friends. I hate putting too much money into clothes I will not wear long. I do love buying a few staples that are my own so that I can be extra comfy after work - plus they are for post baby too.

I was looking through my closet this morning and found a pair of white capris I had bought on major sale from Banana Republic last year. These are not maternity but I decided I should squeeze into them while I can. Thank goodness for the hair band trick and long tanks :) If I had found them even a week later I am not sure I would be able to wear them until next summer! 



Thursday, July 17, 2014

Diaper Bag

You all know about my big bag obsession. You know I'm already thinking about a new diaper bag (one big enough for both kids' needs). My current bag was made by one of my best friends and I love it and it has been perfect for Annabelle. But I don't think it's big enough for two kids.

The minute I find out this baby is a girl I am going to order this bag that I've been eyeing forever (and is on sale right now!).


I love that it has two separate zipper spots - two big compartments and two small ones. That way I can keep things separated a bit.

I'm going to be shocked if this baby is a boy if you can't tell!



18 Weeks!!

18 weeks already!

 

I can’t believe I am 18 weeks pregnant already. I am really feeling much better. If I don’t get enough sleep, I still get sick the next day. But most days I feel pretty good, if I keep eating and drinking tons of water.

 

I have kept up with my running and even added swimming into the workout mix. I am loving both. Even with working out, I have gained more weight this time. But I really am okay with it. I feel good and have been eating healthier. I know that my body is changing because of this miracle. I decided to stop commenting on it. I have noticed a lot lately I’ve been telling my friends how much I’ve already gained and feeling insecure. I don’t want to be that way and I would die if someone I loved was talking like that about themselves. So I’m going to work hard to keep feeling good and doing what’s best for me and this little one, and try to not let the weight gain get to me.

 

Next week is our sonogram! I couldn’t be more excited to see this little one kicking and wiggling on the screen. I feel her all the time – I say her because I’m guessing another girl! – but David hasn’t felt her yet. I am excited for him to see her. We haven’t had a sonogram since 9 weeks. I can’t wait to see our perfect little one again!




Thursday, July 10, 2014

Messes

Belle is a messy and fun little 19 month old. David and I are not messy at all. I can’t even go to sleep at night if there is a glass in the sink or a sock in the hallway. I’m not claiming my house is always in perfect condition, just that we really prefer things to be tidy.

 

I have been trying to not let my OCD ways get in the way of Annabelle exploring, creating, and just getting messy. Over this weekend I realized where I get it from. I was letting Annabelle sit in her chair and explore with some flour. And I could tell my poor mom was just cringing and trying not to “help” her play a little bit cleaner. My mom kept asking me “is this okay?” when Belle would get a little bit messier. I thought she might die when I let Annabelle see what happened to the flour when she added a little bit of water and used her hands to mush it all together.



She was a mess, her highchair was a mess, and my floor was a mess. But for ten minutes, Annabelle was contained and happy while I chatted with my sisters and mom and washed dishes. That’s priceless!

 

Another thing that she has been loving to do is to “help” me cook. Oh boy. This is messy and it takes twice as long to cook a simple dinner, but I love this time with her. I ask her what colors the ingredients are, if she thinks they will taste sweet or salty, if she thinks she will like them, and just anything I can think of to hear her say her little “yeah!” and “no no!”. She is such a doll and I hope she always wants to help me cook. I daydream about her coming home from school as a 16 year old girl and throwing her backpack on a stool and chatting with me about her day while we cook dinner.



Hopefully I won’t ever mess that up by worrying about a little bit of ricotta cheese on her outfit and my floor.



Wednesday, July 9, 2014

16 Weeks or so

 

Yesterday was my 16 week appointment (I’m actually 17 weeks).

 

Everything was perfect! The baby’s heart rate is in the 160s (right where Annabelle’s was at this stage so I think it’s another girl). I’m right on track with all my levels and weight gain - already ten pounds! To which I said oh my gosh! but my doctor reassured me that’s perfect and right where I was with Annabelle too.



I can’t believe I’m already this far along! We have our sonogram July 25th and I can’t wait to see our little one. Our office doesn’t do sonograms each visit unless you are high risk, so I’ve only seen our little one once and that was when he or she was a tiny little bean (I think it was 9 weeks). I can’t wait to see this baby wiggling and dancing on the screen.

 

I have been feeling much better. Yesterday I vomited a lot but I think I was just anxious and excited about the appointment. Other than that, I don’t think I had gotten physically sick for four or five days. I even went on a little two mile run last night. I like to spend my runs daydreaming about the baby so it’s a nice time to reflect and think. This has also helped me sleep better at night. Last night was the first night I would say that I had a great night’s sleep lately.

 

I have a new obsession: popcorn. I want it every night before bed. It’s so good!



And here is a picture of me and my best little friend just because she is so incredibly adorable.



Monday, July 7, 2014

Make Ahead Lasagna

Now that I am feeling better I have been trying to think ahead and cook more. I am so tired after work and so ready to eat when we get home that I don't have a lot of time to whip things up. I have been trying to make the meat portion of the meal ahead of time if I can. 

Like tonight we had taco pockets from a bean and meat mixture I had frozen from the last time we made this meal.

Tonight after we ate, David played with Belle for some one on one time and I started the meat mixture for tomorrow's lasagna. 

I sautéed onions and spinach and browned a pound of ground beef and threw it together.


Then I browned a pound of Italian sausage and put that in a bowl with a jar of tomato basil sauce. 



Then I threw it all together and put it in the fridge. Now tomorrow night I will just add the cottage cheese, ricotta, mozzarella, and noddles and throw it in the oven. 


This will actually make two lasagnas so I can freeze one! Bam.

Friday, July 4, 2014

What I'm Craving Friday

Yep, I made that title up. But this week I can't get enough of ice water with fresh squeezed lime juice and coconut milk Greek style yogurt. This is my favorite brand of yogurt and ice cream.


I'm also still spreading almond butter on everything! 



Thursday, July 3, 2014

16 Weeks

I am getting big fast this time! I am finally feeling pretty consistently good. It seems like as long as I get enough sleep, I feel pretty good the next day.

I have been feeling good enough to run again and then that makes me feel even better.

I had my wellness screening yesterday for work and it went perfect. All of my labs are great and even my weight and BMI.

This is a picture of being pregnant with Annabelle at 16 weeks and now 16 weeks for baby #2. I think I'm carrying differently this time - not just that I'm bigger, but I think it looks higher and wider. 


My Cutest Firecracker

My friend was here last 4th of July and left this little outfit for Annabelle. Her daughter had just worn it and I couldn't imagine that Annabelle would ever fit into it. It's even more amazing to me that I stored it for a whole year...I'm usually bad about this.






Favorite things

I was talking to my also pregnant friend last night and she was asking some advice on baby products that she will need since this is her first pregnancy. She was talking about how stressful it is to pick a brand or item, and how she has done hours and hours of research. I totally remember those days. I would get so stressed out about which swaddle or pacifier to order. I was trying to remind her that it won’t matter and that she is such a great mom. And then I realized that maybe I should be stressing a little bit more! I honestly hadn’t even thought about all of that again. Maybe it’s because I know so much more now that I’ve been through this newborn thing once.

 

But it did start me thinking about which items I wouldn’t want to live without. We didn’t have too many panics once Belle was here, but there were a few things that I had to send people out to buy or that I would run out of and be stressed about. So I thought, in case it’s helpful to anyone else, or at least so that I can remember to stock up ahead of time, I would make a quick list of what I consider to be necessities from the start.

 

Earth Mama Angel Baby Nipple Cream. I have sang the praises of this product on here multiple times, but I truly believe it is what allowed me to continue breastfeeding. I buy it for all new mommas and will stock up myself towards the end of this pregnancy. I hated Lanolin and so did Belle. So I always tell new moms to maybe have a couple of different things on hand like this in case your baby refuses to nurse at any trace amounts left on you.


http://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/breastfeeding-support/natural-nipple-butter.html


A Boppy and multiple Boppy covers. I didn’t take my Boppy to the hospital last time because I thought I would just use pillows. Oh boy. As the  nurse on day two told me so herself, I had no idea what I was doing when trying to nurse (Yes, I broke down and cried when she said that!). One of my struggles was that Annabelle had an IV in, but even then, I really think I was so uncomfortable trying to position twenty hospital pillows correctly at 2 am when I had no idea what to do. Once I got home, that Boppy became my best friend and I used it for the first 6 months! You definitely want lots of covers. Just take my word for it. My baby was messy.

 

Swaddle blankets. Soooo. No one really told me that when you are changing your baby’s diaper in the middle of the night, they will probably pee when you first open their diaper and the cold air hits them. This took me way too long to figure out what was going on. That first night, let’s just say we went through all of our swaddle blankets and I was in a panic that I didn’t have more. I l.o.v.e LOVE Aiden and Anais. This is not sponsored, but I wish it was. Aiden and Anais, you should sponsor me because I love these blankets and give them to everyone as new baby gifts. I still keep one in Annabelle’s diaper bag, in her room, and in the car. They are the best! And they are especially amazing for new babies. They are the perfect weight and so cute. I could only swaddle with these.


http://www.adenandanais.com


Once we stopped swaddling we moved right to the Aiden and Anais sleep sacks. I used these for probably way too long. But I love them! I would still have her use them if she would let me. Now I just go in her room multiple times a night to cover her back up. I hate thinking she might be cold.



A caddy. I kept things for Annabelle in one side and things for me in the other and carried this thing all over the house with me when Belle was first born. I would keep snacks, my Earth Mama cream, chapstick, and journal in one side for me. And diapers, burp cloth, pacis (even though she didn’t take one), onesie in the other for her. I loved having all of these things right with me so that when I’d get up to nurse in the night and watch Gossip Girl (woops) I could just grab Annabelle and this caddy and be ready. Did I mention that it took Annabelle 45 minutes to nurse each time for the first few months. Wow, I watched a lot of Gossip Girl.


This is the exact style I have, but of course mine is purple.


http://www.potterybarnkids.com/m/products/light-pink-gingham-diaper-caddy/?pkey=e%7Ccaddy%7C18%7Cbest%7C0%7C1%7C15%7C%7C3&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH


One piece footy pajamas that zip. This is total preference, but we had some gowns last time for easy diaper changes, but her socks never stayed on so I worried she was cold, and I had to completely unswaddle her anyway so she was awake. She never really did that sleepy nursing and fall right back to sleep anyway. And trying to button up a million little snaps or buttons in the night drove me crazy. I just prefer the zipper jammies and I still do. She sometimes wears some two piece, big girl jammies to bed now, and I go in and check on her a million times through the night and pull the shirt down or the legs down because I hate when he skin is exposed. She might not sleep better in one piece, zippered pajamas, but I sure do.

 

A box fan. I love a box fan to sleep with personally. I don’t care for sound machines as much because I like the box fan to keep the air moving in her room. I don’t point it at her, I just like it running because it makes the air seem fresher and not so stagnant. Plus I love the sound. I think the box fan drowns out sounds when a noise machine just adds background noise. Annabelle can sleep through anything with a box fan running.

 

A journal. I can tell you that I honestly still write in her journal a few times a week. I love it. But when she was really small, it helped keep me sane. Now of course, all of the writing is so fun to look back on, but at the time, I did it just because it felt like the only thing that gave me a little bit of control and organization. I would write down when she nursed, when she slept, when she pottied, etc. And then I would write her little notes about what she did that day. It definitely helped me because there were times that I had no idea when the last time she ate was or if she had pottied recently. I was in such a haze those first few days, that it was important for me to write that stuff down.

 

I will keep adding to this, but this is for sure what I would recommend to any new mom.