Tuesday, April 29, 2014

The journey of pregnancy

I confess. I confess. I have had a major addiction to candy this pregnancy. And honestly there hasn't been much I could do about it. It drives me crazy I hate it but stil place it in my mouth. I've been known to throw a whole bowl full away. Yes you heard that like 3 bags of candy. Out of a site out of mind. It worked for a day or so then I needed gas so I bought more and then my mother in law bought me a Easter basket full. So of course I ate all of it. She must know my favorites cause it was Devine! So now that I'm pretty much candy free. Aka I threw it all away again today. I got this brilliant idea for replacing  my candy with power protein balls I use to make all the time. But haven't made them in forever. Yep they are pretty much life changing and healthy so hopefully this is my new replacement. And I must share with you the recipe. Enjoy! 

Peanut butter protein balls. 
1 c oats 
1/4 c protein powder (I used chocolate peanut butter) 
1/8 c shredded coconut flakes 
1/4 c creamy peanut butter 
1/4 c honey 
Mix dry ingredients together then mix in wet I stir with my hands and then roll into balls. Place in fridge for about 30 mins and nomnomnom! 

One more tip during the growth of baby k:
While I was out visiting Rachelle in Colorado we headed out for a shopping day for baby k. While browsing thru one of the baby boutiques I came across this stretch mark/ belly oil salve something about it and the feeling of it I loved but it was 4 oz and I was flying with my carry on and didn't want it tossed. So when arriving back home to Washington, I got on amazon and found this magical jewel. With fabulous reviews I decided to order and it has been the best product I've found for belly stretching/ itching/ discomfort. Since using this I have had none of the above. Rarely do I used my Burt's bees stretch mark cream besides fresh out of the shower. I layer this on all times of day and my skin looks flawlessly amazing. Just hoping it stays that way. I just had to share as I have so much "Motherlove" for this product. And it does go a long way. So when you know someone in need of stretch mark cream. This is the magical product for you! 


Tuesday, April 15, 2014

21 weeks.

Time really is just flying by and its so hard to believe that we are now half way thru our pregnancy and this little GIRL will be here in no time!
Symptoms at 21 weeks: 
-swollen feet 
-always hungry 
-belly is itching a lot. :( stretch mark cream is still my BFF 
-candy is often a huge part of my day. 
-raspberry lemonade is my fav! 
-clothing is getting tighter.

21 weeks is a special time for me as during this time of this week I was out visiting my best friend Rachelle in Colorado.  We had such a great time too much fun to not blog about and I'm pretty sure I haven't had a post just yet on this amazing lady in my life.

Friendship.

Let me just give you a little back ground on our friendship. Rachelle and I have known each other since kindergarten yes, that's right KINDERGARTEN! Years and years later our friendship has ever lasted this life. We have been thru our ups and downs, we have laughed, we have cried. We have hated each other severely and loved each other dearly. From cruising town in Dixon chasing boys, to having too many to drink at a Saint Anthony party. Moving on past those days to me living in Springfield and Rachelle coming to visit every few weeks, downtown Springfield was our theme and Icon nightclub was our hot spot.  Or you could catch us in Dixon floating down the Gasconade reminiscing about old times. She was my maiden of honor at my wedding and enjoyed celebrating the love Derek and I have for one another. Once we moved to North Carolina and Washington every year Rachelle came and visited while me coming home twice a year we always visited then as well. Well Rachelle has moved on into the army world and now lives in Colorado it was time for our annual gathering and I decided verses her coming here why not me go there?  After all I haven't been to see her there and I have never been to Colorado lots of planning took place and I was Colorado bound.


Visiting Colorado.


I arrived in Denver Colorado, Rachelle and Alex greeted me at the airport and we headed to their residence in Colorado springs, Co.  Many things were planned during my visit. The next morning I woke up to the aroma of freshly made buttermilk pancakes.....every pregnant girls craving and dream and then we were off to the Royal Gorge to take a train ride thru the Gorge along side the fast flowing river. It was a beautiful afternoon the skies were clear and the weather was warm.  This was my first time riding on a train and it was so fun breathtaking and beautiful.  It was amazing to me that the mountains in Colorado are beautiful although its very desserty and looks a little dry. Not what I had envisioned, I envisioned it being more like Washington green and bright all around but it was quite opposite of that. 



Later that afternoon they took me on a ride thru Garden of the Gods and that was something my eyes have never seen so pretty huge boulders overlooking the town and a backdrop of mountains. 

That evening we went to the Rabbit Hole which was an amazing hidden restaurant under ground mmmm. . so good. 
The next day was a lazy day we woke up hung around the house in our pj's and just enjoyed our friendship times telling old stories, looking back thru old pictures and reminiscing about old times. I think we could look at the same pictures over and over again, laugh until we cry and tell a new story every time.  Its so much fun. The best part is that we are still best friends and that all of our friends that shared those moments with us we are still just as great of friends today as we were back then. Later that afternoon Rachelle and I decided to get out of the house.  As we were driving around and she was showing me the area all the sudden it started to lightly snow. But we had a plan and were determined we were going to go to Helen Hunt Falls well little did we know the weather was going to tell us differently. As we made our way the snow began to really cover the roads and what seemed to be a good idea suddenly changed and we decided to not risk our lives and turn around as the roads were a little slick. 

We got back home told more stories, played beauty shop and just visited while Alex prepared us an amazing dinner I must say that man can cook! Holy cow I felt like I had dinner at an amazing gourmet restaurant. He sure did know how to make this pregnancy girls night by making homemade Salted Caramel Ice Cream.  As our weekend quickly was flying by we did find time to go to a few baby boutiques and find some adorable new outfits for baby k . 
 Sadly to say my trip was over and I was back home. Sitting back just thinking of how much fun we had, the memories made and how we really did a lot in those few days I was there. this mamma is tired and now needing rest. But I couldn't not share with you how amazing this made the beginning of my week 21. One that I will not forget.




Gender Reveal Party


The anticipation of this day was out the roof.. The day I thought was never going to come and it was finally here the evening of our gender reveal party. 


It all started....

When Derek and I first found out we were expecting the first thing that popped into my mind was, we live here near his family and what better time than to have a gender reveal party and find out as a family what we will be having.  I ran the idea across Derek that I thought it would be fun to not find out at the Doctor appointment and to find out a few days later with the rest of the family and group of friends. Derek thought this was a very stupid idea but I gave him no other choice but to participate and that he would not be finding out at the appointment.

The Ultrasound:: Tuesday, March 8,2014:: Northwest Imaging

I had envisioned in my mind the fairytale ultrasound the story that I hear from most, my ultrasound tech was amazing super exciting full of energy and so happy for us. Detailed and precise on revealing the gender to you. Ours didn't turn out the way I had envisioned but that is quite alright our tech was older possibly needing to retire in the near future maybe we were even taking up part of her lunch break or maybe she was just hungry and I would say a little cranky.  She revealed all the body parts thankfully cause neither of could vision what these parts were. the veins, the bladder, the arteries, the list goes on and on and boy is that a list for them to go thru. I had asked her in the beginning to not reveal what the gender may be and thankfully she didn't. Her way about telling us she had found out the gender had us wondering if she really knew what she was talking about but a few questions and I felt like she knew what we were having. While still keeping it a secret.  All in all it was probably a good thing that she wasn't this chipper exciting tech because honestly it probably would've been easier for me to just found out then. We left the office knowing in this envelope was the reveal of our gender but keeping it sealed was hard but I had my heart set.

 

Preparation for the party.

Thankfully one of the stylist at our salon,  Tamera was nice enough to volunteer her time to fill our cupcakes with the icing color of the gender and promised to not say a peep. (I must say when I delivered her the envelope she was quite shocked it was still sealed) So Tuesday evening Derek and I prepared 40 Betty Crocker Vanilla cupcakes then delivered to the salon on Wednesday. Filled that afternoon and I brought them back home for the party the next day. Tamera sure did an amazing job at making sure there was no evidence of color. They looked beautiful but man was it hard for me to not peek in to one once Derek was off to work Thursday morning. 


BOY OR GIRL.

Prior to the party at our first initial appointment when we found out we were expecting we had our first ultrasound to see the tiny baby swimming around in there. Dr. Song told Derek and I if she had make the decision she would be almost positive it was a boy. I was so excited came home talked to my wonderful friends and goggled online like crazy about ultrasounds at such a early point in determining the sex.  It came to me that at that point it was still unclear and too early to determine. Well that's all Derek needed to hear was BOY and he was convinced, me on the other hand at first I kinda though boy but then just really felt it was a girl. That's all I could think was we were having a girl. It was fun hearing all my clients and coworkers, friends and family make there guesses but deep down for some reason my heart said girl. So much that the week before I had to convince myself it may be a boy. and I was ok with that, my only wish is healthy and happy gender didn't matter. well the reveal party is here.

 

Party.. 3..2....1....

We got the webcam all set up for my closest friends back home and family members to have a conference call to find out what this little baby k is.  Everyone was excited and arrived at the party sporting what their guess for gender would be BLUE or PINK. the anticipation was out the roof and honestly I didn't think the time was ever going to arrive. We had a slight delay and during this time I thought I was going to go crazy. Everyone gathered around grabbed their cupcakes and 3...2...1.... its A GIRL!!! 

Pink filled cupcakes flooded my house we were all super excited Derek was a little shocked but was so so happy. Finally the day was here and now we are happy to announce we cant wait for this little girl to get here... LET THE SHOPPING BEGIN!!!