The Most Wonderful Sight of the Year

Today we got to finally see baby Roo!

We headed to the hospital and got set up in the ultrasound room. We asked the Tech to keep the gender a secret for us so we could do a gender reveal with friends and family.

The ultrasound was the most... emotional part of this pregnancy so far. Baby Roo was all curled up in a ball grabbing at their feet, then suddenly they would kick straight out to almost a standing position. It was so very amazing to watch our little one move around.

Eric and I shared many special looks as we watched our little one move around and show off for us all to see. Rachel was a fantastic Ultrasound Tech and smoothly walked us through the hour long appointment. She explained different aspects of the pregnancy that we didn't understand. She would even jab my belly when the baby wouldn't move around enough. We are so thankful we were blessed with Rachel.

He/She was very stubborn and wouldn't show their face for the profile picture... So we have an upside down, curled up baby for our first picture but it's a precious memory of Baby's stubbornness. The following was my favorite Facebook comment

We will probably not see Baby Roo again until the birth. That's something to look forward to, although I love seeing our little one. This Sunday we will be having our Gender Reveal party and will be streaming the reveal online for family and friends to see.

For now, we will cherish this sight of our little one

Pregnant or Fat? - Week 18

Week 18 has started... oh me oh my...

I can't believe how much my tummy has started to pop out. In the two weeks that I was in NY and Canada visiting family, my little Roo has started to make their first appearance. Unfortunately I'm at that stage where people aren't sure if I'm pregnant or just fat...

Everyone keeps saying I should start feeling little pokes and prods from baby - but everything I feel just turns into gas... T.M.I.?

My Mayo Clinic books saying the baby should begin to develop the bones in their ears this week. They should start being able to hear our voices and respond. When I told Eric this his response was "So I've been talking to it all this time for no reason?" He's gonna make a great daddy... I just know it.

A lot of congratulations have been shared and I now have a massive box packed to the top with baby gifts. Our family has been such a blessing with their generosity. Eric's parents Jeff and Siggi gave us a huge basket full of items I wouldn't have thought of but will desperately need once baby comes (baby lotion, soap, formula, toys, clothes, an much more). We've received clothes and toys and books for baby Roo, we can't even begin to express our thankfulness.

Monday we will have our first ultrasound and, Lord willing, will know the gender of our first child. We've already decided on baby names for both boy and girl, but they're staying secret for now.

Our new apartment search is in full swing and we hope to be in a 2 bedroom by April so we can set up the nursery and have room for all the new things in our life before the baby arrives.

I suppose that's all for now. Over the next few weeks things will be changing dramatically I am sure... Here's to growing a life inside of you!

A Nick Name for Baby - Week 15

Today baby turns 15 weeks. Don't read too much into the fact that it's Friday the 13th and I've traveled across the county...

Here are just some thoughts running through my mind...

First: Preggo pants are amazing! I started wearing mine on Thanksgiving day and was pretty proud I didn't have to unbutton my jeans after eating so much of the delicious food. (I was lucky enough to find brand new preggo pants at the thrift shop for only 3.50. NEW WITH TAGS!)

Second: Will I ever get to feel this baby move? I know I'm going to come to regret those words when I have a foot in my ribs and baby won't stop kicking me through the night. However, everyone keeps asking me if I have felt anything yet.

Third: We officially have a nick name! Thanks to Nanny and Grampa (my mom and dad) baby is now known as Baby Roo! This has a bit of a back story to it.

When I was little, my mom started calling me Roo, you'll have to ask HER why... I just don't know. What I do know is that the nick name is after the fictional Disney character Roo from Winnie the Pooh, child to Kanga. It's always been a name of endearment from my mother to me, and I am proud to have my child named the same.

It is good to know that this week Baby's eyes and ears are staring to have a "human resemblance" as my Mayo Clinic book describes... at least we know I'm not growing an alien inside me.

I can't wait to meet this precious little life. The first thing both my parents did when they saw me today was kiss the baby belly... it made it all seem much more real to me. I'm so blessed to be going through experience, despite the fears I have.

The Ambassador of New Life - Week 11

I think for most newly-pregnant women, it takes time for the reality to set in.

So far. my pregnancy has been unlike how others describe it. My morning sickness is actually quite the opposite and I begin to get extremely nauseous around 7pm at night. As you can imagine this isn't ideal when Eric is gone all day. I do my best to be as productive during the day so that night time I can slip into bed early and sleep off the sickness.

I've learned that nausea has a nasty side to it during pregnancy. I find if I let myself become even a little bit hungry the nausea increases dramatically until I can find a cracker or two to eat... This has cause me to change my eating habits to six small meals a day instead of three large ones.

Bodily changes do accompany pregnancy but there really isn't much to show for being pregnant. I find myself wondering at times if it's all just in my head, especially since we haven't had an ultrasound yet.

I think pregnancy started to feel more real for me when we went to the OB today and heard a little special something for the first time.

I had planned to record the moment for my family, since they're all so far away, many of them have asked us to document as much as we can so they can somewhat take part in it all. Unfortunately my OB didn't get the message. Near the end of our week 11 appointment she whipped out a hand-held device and started prodding around my belly with it.

And then we heard it... faint at first, but strong and fast.

My OB looked at Eric with a smile, "Is that a boy or girl heartbeat?"

I know in that moment my heart just melted. Eric and I exchanged the most meaningful look of our entire marriage as this pregnancy suddenly became real to us both. And for the record, we both think it's a boy!

Pregnancy can feel like a long time, but I'm trying to remain in the present and just enjoy the moments I have growing a new life inside of me.

How blessed am I that God chose me to be the ambassador of new life? 

Well until next time :)

Grab Green Disposal Pods

One of my favorite features of our home is the Garbage Disposal system in our Kitchen Sink. I never thought I would ever use one in my life - so I feel slightly spoiled.

However - Sometimes I'll wake up in the morning to a horrid stench coming from the kitchen... 

The Culprit? 

Mr. Garbage Disposal, in the Kitchen, with the Sink!

I began my search for a green solution to defeating the horrid monster stench that I could make myself. I came across the idea of using Ice Cubes filled with a mixture of Vinegar and Lemon Peels that has brought the stench to it's knees. 

One simple drop of an ice cube (stored in a sealed, freezer-safe container), a little hot water, and a lot of loud grinding and the job is done!

Ingredients: 

The peels from 2-3 lemons

1.5 cups of Distilled Vinegar

Directions: 

Chop Peels into small slices and add 1-2 to each cube tray

Pour vinegar evenly into every cube tray

Place tray in freeze and let freeze

Remove cubes into a gallon sized freezer bag for storage. 

And it's that simple! I only use one cube each time so they last me forever. Hope you enjoy this green solution for your disposal monster. 

Tis the Season to Party!

For those of you who know me personally, you know that I've come from a long line of family members who love to host. Our home is continually filled with the warmth of family and friends.

Recently I've had the pleasure of helping my dear friend Julie throw a few parties from their newly purchased home.

The first was our Harry Potter themed party. We scoured the internet for food ideas and decorative additives for the party. Julie did an amazing job decorating the table and assembling so many tasty treats!

• Here is the menu we served to the guests: 
• Pumpkin Dip -  a mix of pumpkin, whip cream and more. Dip some cinnamon crackers in it!
• Chocolate Frogs - a mold purchased off eBay. Used a high quality chocolate in the mold. 
• Herbology Platter - Veggies to balance out the sweets
• Dragon Bites - Jalapeno poppers; Jalapenos stuffed with Cream Cheese and wrapped in Bacon.
• Chocolate Wands - Large pretzels dipped in melted Chocolate Bark.
• Goblin Eyes - Sweet and Sour Italian Meatballs.
• Pumpkin Pasties - Sugar cookies cut out like pumpkins
• Golden Snitches - Nutter Butter Balls dipped in yellow chocolate
• Muggle Food - chips and salsa for some balance.

  

We took some empty bottles and filled them with colored water and named them after Harry Potter Potions from the books: Essense of Dittany, Bloodroot, Veritaserum, Felix Felicitus, Phoenix Tears, and Amortentia. 

The party was a huge success and we had a blast. 

A few weeks later Julie was throwing her daughter's first birthday and asked for my help. The theme was Layla's Sweet Shop. Julie and her husband made most of the treats and Eric and I were able to arrive early to help hang streamers, place chairs, and refill platters as needed. 

Everything was so colorful and delicious. Among the cupcakes we served lolipop sugar cookies, Trix Rice Krispies, Chocolate covered pretzels dipped in sprinkles, a big jar of Jolly Ranchers, a veggie tray, chips and salsa, mini corn dogs, Nutter Butter Balls, and mini sandwich rolls. Mixed throughout the table were little dishes of button candies and chocolates. 

Needless to say by the end we were all sugared out and the kids were quite hyper. Everyone got a goodie bag at the end to take home some treats left from the table.

After all this party planning I'm thinking Julie and I should start our own party business! We always have a blast working together and enjoy hosting friends and family. Just let us know if you need a party put together!

Growing by Two Feet

Well, it's been a while since I've blogged on our lives here in Tampa. The reason is simple: I couldn't spill the beans!

Eric and I are now proud to announce that our little family is growing by the size of two little feet!

Photo Credit to Joe Carlyle

The Story

October ninth I took the test and the stick was Positive! I spent the afternoon fussing over how I would tell my husband who was faithfully at work.

The same day I received a job offer so I tricked Eric into taking us out for dinner to celebrate the "job."

After being seated and ordering our dinner, I ran out to the car and grabbed the box I had prepared for Eric. Inside I packed the positive test and the two Jeffrey Brown's Star Wars kids books "Darth Vader and Son" and "Vader's Little Princess." (We are Star Wars buffs, just so you know!)

Seeing Eric's face was the most priceless moment of my life when he lifted up the books and saw the word "preggo" written on the test! The people in the restaurant were looking at us strange while we celebrated and took a picture together; but our joy overcame it all.

 

Our waitress was so sweet and when she found out about our news, she came out with a complimentary dessert to help our celebration along! We are so blessed. 

We've had such a wonderful time telling family and close friends and now we're so excited to include you in our news! We ask that you join us in our journey through prayer that our little one would grow strong and healthy; that there would be no complications throughout the pregnancy.

The Details

I am about 10 weeks along with a due date of June 6th! My family was overwhelmed with joy but all teased that we would be adding to the MANY June Birthdays in our family. We look forward to the first picture of our little one in a few weeks at our first ultrasound.

For now I will just be happy when the first trimester is over and I can get past all this nausea!

The Future 

I'm so excited about being a mommy and look forward to so many firsts ahead of us; first ultrasound, first kicks, and more!

To follow our baby story please follow my blog for updates and new stories! Being on a budget this baby will bring on many DYI projects and new, healthier recipes. I can't wait to share them with you all!