Baby #3: Week 13

This is not the prettiest picture, but I guess it will do.  We're only camping out at 13 weeks for, well, one week.  So, I guess this photo will do.  Other sources say that baby is about the size of a plum or peach.  

Baby Center says:

Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce.


How I'm feeling:
Great!  I think I'm past all of the nausea and stomach aches.  Hopefully.  Now to get past this laziness!

Belly Progress, Week 12

I kept thinking I would retake this picture when I had some makeup on and my hair down, but, let's face it, makeup and decent hair are a rare occurrence.

So, I bare myself (not literally) for you.

Here is the 12 week belly, still able to be stuffed into a few size 6 pants, but much more comfortable in an 8.  I'm just thankful to be in non-maternity clothes at 3 months.

I Want to Make This

Maybe just for myself...maybe one for you if you ask me nicely...

241 Tote by Noodle-Head

How soon?  Who knows...

Baby #3: 12 weeks

Baby Center Info:

The most dramatic development this week: reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder.

Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in your baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. His face looks unquestionably human: His eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over 2 inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.

How I'm feeling:

I think I may be past the stage of nausea.  I am still in a few of my normal clothes, but mostly just the bigger sizes.

The Story of My 30th Birthday

Who was involved:
A lying husband :-)
Scheming friends

My birthday was Saturday, the 19th.

I had made several suggestions to Jadie about going somewhere the weekend of my birthday, but he always said, "No, we can't go that weekend."  I didn't prod...I like surprises.

On the Friday right before my birthday, Jadie asked me and the kids to join him for lunch.  It was nice.  I drove through the countryside to meet him.  I had a BLT.  Yum!

During our lunch conversation, he told me to pack an overnight bag for myself and that he'd pack one too (a lie).  He told me that our friend, Courtney, would be coming over at 7ish to watch the kids for the night (another lie).

I posted to Facebook that Jadie was taking me on an overnight getaway for my birthday.  He raked in the compliments.

I spent the afternoon straightening and cleaning the house.  You know, for the babysitter.

After Jadie got home, I made dinner for the family and proceeded to ask Jadie for some guidance on how to pack.  Do I need a swimsuit?  -No.  Will I feel awkward in the skirt I've been wearing all day?  -Maybe.  Should I change into pants?  -Sure.  What kind of PJs do I need to pack? -Nothing sexy. (I packed the fuzzy grandma socks.)  Should I put on makeup for tonight?  -Sure.

I watched as Jadie dressed himself after his shower.  That was confusing.  he put on khaki shorts and a really crappy housework type T-shirt.  Now, that made me feel excited about my upcoming getaway.

I awaited the arrival of the babysitter (scheming friend, Courtney).

When she arrived, she was shocked at the tidiness of the house.  And she knew it was pointless for me to have cleaned like a mad woman that afternoon.  Nice.

I started telling her about the kids' bedtime and a few little things about the house.

She handed me a piece of paper and said, "Well, plans have changed."  Actually plans, had not changed...Jadie had been lying.  Courtney was kidnapping me!

Here's what happened next!

First, she drove me to a secluded parking lot.

 Then she handed me Clue #2.

 Then she took me for one of my favorite refreshments!

Bahama Bucks, baby!

Then she took me to Amanda's house, where I found the culprits...

Courtney and Beth!

Amanda!

Mary!

Anne!

Happy 30th Birthday to Me!

Mary thought it would be funny to provide kumquats as part of the snack food, in honor of Baby #3 who was about he size of a kumquat at the time.  These little guys pack quite the punch...they are SOUR!

Compared to an orange.

Do you see how small that is?  Why exactly have I already started gaining weight?

Baby #3: 11 weeks

Info From Baby Center:

Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.

She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.

What I'm Feeling:

I've been feeling nauseous the last few weeks, but I'm praying we're just about through it.

I'm still way sleepy and low-energy, though.  That's been the story since about week 5.

The belly is growing, but I'm still in my regular clothes...for now.

Baby #3: Belly Progress

I've officially outgrown 2 pairs of pants...more to come.

No picture of the bump today.  I plan to start monthly pictures at the 13 week mark, AKA the 3 month mark.

We're at 11 weeks today.  I can't tell you how ready I am to have my regular non-nauseous self back!

We'll see if I can manage a St Patty's Day photo later today when Caleb is home...

Real Life Version of the UP house

Have you seen this?  Incredibly imaginative and so much fun!

Spring Mantle

For the spring mantle, I used a lot of things I already had, but there were a few things I just couldn't resist adding to the mix.

1. Images:  Just as with the pictures from the Christmas and Valentine's mantles, I printed images from the internet and simply matted them with scrapbook paper and framed them.  The butterfly image is actually taped right onto the glass of the large frame, covering our engagement photo.

2. Art: The Bubble Art in the dead center is Caleb's Craft from this week.  I just made sure that we used pastel colors to go with the spring themed mantle.  The giant, brightly colored Easter egg was painted by yours truly.  A gallery worthy effort, I assure you.

3. White Ceramic Bird: 50% off at Michael's this week.  I paid $3.50 for her.

4. Yellow Candle: A gift that had been hanging out in the bathroom.  I simply relocated it.

5. Pregnant Willow Tree Figurine:  Already had it.  It was a gift from my first pregnancy.  You know, when I was toting Caleb around in my uterus.  Fun times.

6. White Vase: Actually not a vase, but a juice bottle I picked up at Marshall's almost a year ago.  It's been in the kitchen cabinet since I brought it home...unused.

7. Cherry Tree Branches: 40% off at Michael's this week.  I paid $6.00 for them.  Silk and indestructible.

8. Praying Angel Willow Tree Figurine: Already had it.  A gift from I can't remember.  Oops.

9. Dark Brown Iron Cross: Already had it.  And it's been seen in a few previous mantles as well.

Although this season is a fun time for Easter Eggs Hunts and lies about the Easter Bunny, I strive to teach my children the true meaning of Easter, or Resurrection Sunday.  There is nothing more important than the truth that our dear Savior rose from the grave on the third day and sits at the right hand of God this very day, interceding on our behalf.

Caleb's Trio Block Creation

Caleb's toy of choice over our "Spring Break" has been the trusty Trio Block Set.  Actually, Caleb has three sets of these.  Each set has pieces to create themed projects.  I believe his sets are the insect set, the airplane set, and the police station.

This week, he's been thinking outside the box, making tall towers, a church building with a preschool, rocket ships, and this creation.  See for yourself, this kid knows no bounds!

Yes, that's a mountain of laundry in the chair back there.  So what?

Baby #3: 10 Weeks

Info from Baby Center:

Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.

He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.

If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.

In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.

Longing

I remember a time in my life when I lived like this...

Sarah's Post from Memories on Clover Lane

And I  MISS IT.

And I'm looking forward to beginning again May 12.

By then my nausea will be long gone (hopefully) and I'll feel like being creative and energetic again.  Right now, I feel great for spurts of time, but I just can't make it through the whole day without needing to lay down from being tired or nauseous.

Planting flowers would be nice.

Sewing more than once a week would be nice.

Going to the zoo would be nice.

Playing in the backyard in the kiddie pool would be nice.

Until then, I'll just keep dreaming...

More Teeth!

Sarah has 12 teeth at the moment, but she'll have 16 before the week's up!

I can see 4 teeth poking through at the same time!

I promise that she does give us a toothy grin from time to time, I just didn't have one in my photo library.

Crafting with Caleb: Bubble Art

I snagged the idea from here:

Meet the Dubiens

And now, for the Bubble Art reveal....

Baby #3: 9 Weeks

I always find reading about fetal development to be interesting.  And I always manage to forget how incredibly amazing it is from baby to baby.

Info from Baby Center:
Your new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's starting to look more and more human. Her essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: Your baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Your baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. She has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, she's poised for rapid weight gain.


FYI: This only reads "she" because that is how Baby Center wrote it.  We do not know whether we're having a girl or boy!

My Favorite (Ground) Beef Stroganoff

I tried this recipe for dinner last night.  It could be the pregnancy, but I just couldn't get enough!

1 lb. ground beef

2 garlic cloves

2 cans cream of mushroom soup

1 pkg. onion soup mix

8 oz. pkg. sour cream

Finely chop garlic.

Brown the meat with the chopped garlic.

Prepare the onion soup as directed on the box.

Add cream of mushroom soup to prepared onion soup.  

Mix well. 

Add soups to the browned meat.

Heat through.

Add sour cream and mix well.

Prepare egg noodles.

Serve the stronganoff over egg noodles.

We Did It: Paying Cash for a Minivan

How we created enough savings to buy a (used) car with cash only:

• After we paid off our Saturn  a year and a half ago, we started paying ourselves, building significant savings.
• The only debt we have is our home mortgage (even owing that drives me bonkers).
• In case you didn't know this about me, I don't pay full price for many things.  I shop the rewards program at CVS and use coupons or buy store brands whenever possible.
• Most work around the house is done by Jadie.  Even our bathroom remodels last year came in under $2,000 total.

Here's how the deal went down:

• We made a mental list of what we wanted.

1. Stow-n-go for all 5 seats.
2. around 50K miles, if possible.
3. 5 years old or less.

• We shopped online for minivans, getting a firm idea of the going rate for what we wanted.
• We stopped at a Carmax in Austin to get an education regarding pricing and features of various minivans.  They have No-Haggle pricing and No-Pressure sales, so we felt free to ask questions.
• While working in Temple, Jadie spotted a 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan with 54K miles and 5 Stow-N-Go seats.
• We drove down to take the minivan for a test drive with the kiddos.
• We almost walked away that night, but the manager of the dealership quickly made a $1,500 price drop to keep us interested. (I'm assuming this is because this vehicle had been sitting in their parking lot for over 2 months.)
• We still walked, saying we'd think about it.
• We looked at every dealership in Waco to scope out comparable or better deals.  Zip.  Zero.
• Jadie called the dealership in Temple and negotiated another $500 price drop.
• Jadie brought the minivan home last night so we could have our mechanic look at it today.
• No major issues with the minivan functionality or under the hood.
• We gave the dealership a list of things we saw and wanted to have repaired.  They agreed.
• We drove to Temple to pay for our new minivan!

Baby Bottle Perusing

Although I have a plethora of plastic baby bottles...

I'm looking at glass bottles today...

Any feedback?

Lifefactory Glass Baby Bottles

$55.49

OR

(the more economical choice...perhaps...)

Evenflo Classic Glass Bottles

$15.99