Pregnant Schmamey Week 7

I am not sure how often I will blog this little series, but God willing, it will result in a healthy baby being added to my family.  I plan on blogging on my Dr. visits so I can be sure to have those interesting little tid-bits of information to share with you, so that means it will be monthly until week 32, then it will be bi-monthly, then at week 37 it will be weekly, up until you get the blog about this journey being over.

Keep in mind I am only 7 weeks so this means that there is still a high percentage rate of miscarriage.  This also means I have no baby bump, just bloating and pudge.  So.  No pictures until at least week 14.  Not because I will be showing, I usually don't look "pregnant" until week 20... but because at week 14 you will at least be able to see that a baby bump is trying to emerge... rather than right now, when it just looks like I can't lay off the fried chicken.

So how fat is Amy getting?  Well.  All of my jeans are tight.  BAH! ha.  I don't even like to think about going out because I look at my closet and think, what in the heck am I going to wear?  Ha ha ha.  I started this pregnancy at 135 lbs... I think I am tipping the scales at 138 right now.  Not good.  I have already put on 3 lbs.  I do not want to end this pregnancy any heavier than 155 lbs so you have my goal, let's see if I can accomplish it.

I have a nature trail right by my house so I have been walking about 2 miles daily.

My symptoms, I won't share all of them with you ;) ha, but for the most part have been a complete lack of energy, bloating, a bit of cramping, insomnia, bouts of nausea here and there, hunger, and sonar nose.

What is sonar nose, you may ask?  Well, I don't know about any other preggos, but when I am expecting my sense of smell goes haywire.  With Lindsey I wanted to smell freshly bleached whites coming out of the washer and lemon dish soap.  I don't remember with Brendan what I liked to smell, but this one, I have already found that wet pavement smells heavenly.  I know.  Weird.  We'll just have to wait and see what other smells grab my attention.

I have called to get in with the OB that delivered both my son and my daughter so I will probably have another update for you after that first appointment, but until then... I hope you enjoyed my pregnancy TMI.

Straws Make Drinking Anything Better.

I am a firm believer that straws can make drinking just about anything easier.  Notice I said "just about" so don't get all gross on me ;).  For me that anything is water.  I have such a hard time drinking water.  To me, I mind as well drink my spit.  I find that adding lemon, ice, and a straw help. :)

P.S.  I love drinking out of mason jars. :)

Today.  I did dishes like 3 times!  I promise the task is never-ending.  I then made dinner and watched 2 movies with Dave, Anthony, and Liz.

Believe it or not, I have NEVER seen the movie "Mean Girls," so Liz made sure that I fixed that really quick.

Then we  watched "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" which I have seen numerous times, but not in a while.  I love watching this movie with my brother because he can quote, word for word, the entire movie.  It's surprisingly not annoying.  It's funny actually.

I also made more no-bake cookies which I know I will regret tomorrow when I feel enormous.  Oh well.  I have to remind myself it's healthier than the alternative, which would be bavarian cream filled eclairs. SO!

As for the pregnancy.   Still pregnant.  Tuesday will begin my 6th week.  This week is going to be a big deal because I have only miscarried a pregnancy once and it was at 6 weeks.  I feel that if I make it through the 6th week, I should have a pretty good chance of going to term with this one.  Over all I am feeling good.  I feel fat and crampy among other things.  Starting to feel a tinge of nausea, so I fear morning sickness is on it's way.

That's about it.

I hope you all have a terrific Monday!  Make this week GREAT!

My goal is to get energetic this week and spring clean my house.  I CAN DO IT!

No-Bake Cookie Recipe

HI!
Two days ago, I made the family... ok, myself... some no-bake cookies.  I was craving something sweet yet with some nutrition to it.  Oatmeal is good for you!  Peanut Butter is good for you (well.  the all natural kind, which I used)! Cocoa is even good for you... ANTIOXIDANTS PEOPLE! Hello.  Ok. Ok.  So the butter and sugar are a bit much... BUT STILL!  Probably the healthiest junk food I could have made myself.

Well.
I was tweeting about this yummy goodness and Suzy from over at It Walked On My Pillow declared that her recipe doesn't include Peanut Butter.  I was shocked!  A No-Bake... WITHOUT PEANUT BUTTER!  That's like Hot Chocolate without the Marshmallows.  Somethings missing, ya know?  For her sake I wanted to share a very simple, very common recipe for No-Bake cookies... WITH PEANUT BUTTER!  Because Chocolate and peanut butter = best food combo EVER.  Don't even argue.

No-Bake Oatmeal Cookies!

1/3 C. cocoa
2 C. sugar
1 stick butter
1/2 C. milk
3 C. quick cook oatmeal
1/2 C. peanut butter
1/2 tsp vanilla

First thing you will want to do is lay down a long sheet of wax paper.  This is where you will put the cookies to set.  Next you will take the Oatmeal, peanut butter, and vanilla and dump them in a large bowl that is heat safe. Then you will bring the first 4 ingredients to a boil while constantly stirring.  Once mixture has reached a boil, boil for 1 minute.  After that minute is up, pour this into the bowl with the oatmeal, peanut butter, and vanilla.  Stir well.  Then you can either use a regular spoon or I like to use a small ice cream scoop and drop spoon fulls at a time onto the wax paper to set up.  It takes about 30 minutes to set enough to eat... but generally it takes about 1 hour to cool and set.  I'm usually impatient and help myself after about 15 minutes.  GET IN MY BELLY!

Well.  There you have it.  A tried and true recipe for No-Bake cookies.  Enjoy!

My Life is Going Crazy.

Most of you follow me on twitter and already know this, but I will tell the story here, for my record and for your entertainment factor.  March 21st I was expecting a visit from Auntie Flow.  Well.  When she was a no-show, and she is NEVER a no-show, I decided it was time to consult the All Knowing, Ever Seeing, Magically Magic, Tell-you-your-future, Plastic Pee Stick.  This is what it said in two lines...

Well, isn't that a dandy.  Most of you know that Dave and I weren't planning on having anymore kids.  I never thought I would ever see a positive pregnancy test for the rest of my life.  Yet, here it sits.  On a counter top.  Telling me I'm pregnant.

I admitt.  My first reaction was less than glamorous.  I didn't cry.  I just pouted, and pouted, and pouted some more.  See.  I know that there are many women who struggle with fertility and more than likely despise people like me, who really could live happy without seeing a BIG FAT POSITIVE result on a fortune telling pee stick.  While I really wish I could give my fertility away, I can't.  Just like, I can't help but react the way I did upon seeing the results.

Now in denial, because you will agree, the line is very faint, right?  I mean.  HCG horomone is pretty exclusive to pregnancy, especially the amount that would cause a test to show even a faint line, but still.  I had to take one of those fancy digital ones.  I mean this is the year 2011.  Analog is the way of the dinosaurs.  Digital is where it's at, and it will tell me in a clear easy to read typed font.  Oh yes.  It will tell me clearly Pregnant or Not pregnant...

Meh.  Pregnant.  Yup.  BUUUUT!!! You will be pleased to know, that since taking this test I have actually grown a little bit of excitement, nay, I say even a little bit happy???  I mean.  It's early.  I am 4 weeks 5 days along.  EDD 11/29/2011 RIGHT AFTER MY MOST FAVORITE of holidays, Thanksgiving.  See?  There is reason to be joyous.  What a great time of year to have a baby? right?  Well.  Still.  I am only 4 weeks and 5 days.  Most people wait until their 14th week to tell a living soul that they are expecting because of the high possibility of miscarriage in the 1st Trimester.  I, however, have never waited to tell anyone.  I have always been the one to take the test and tell everyone.  No exception with this one OBVIOUSLY! ha.

So, now you all know.  It's the beginning of a new adventure on my blog.  God willing that I carry this baby full term to delivery and the baby is perfect and healthy, you will be getting "How fat is Amy getting?" updates... ok.  Not really.  I will probably be doing a weekly or monthly feature on it.  Fun stuff.

Well. That's that.

Have a HAPPY happy week.

Love.

Healthy Chili Tex Mex Style

I love me a good hot bowl of chili.  The way that I make chili is very healthy.  Well, at least I think so.  It's also rather delicious, so I thought I would share my recipe.  It's so simple.

1/2 lb ground turkey (you can use a whole pound if you like)
2 cans of pinto beans (drained and rinsed)
1 can of black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 can of Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes and Green Chili's (I have only found this in the Great Value or Walmart Brand of Tomatoes, but if you can't find this, Rotel will do just fine)
1 can of tomato sauce (6 oz.)
2 tbsp Chili Powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp minced garlic (I love garlic so I tend to add more than that)
1 bundle of fresh cilantro
1 lime
1 bundle of green scallions.
Cheese

The best way to make this chili I find, is to bring all the ingredients together on the stove then dump into a crock-pot to simmer all day.  So good.  Anyway.  Here is how I do things.

First brown your meat.  Once your meat is browned add the Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes and Green chilis and tomato sauce.  While that is heating up with the meat drain and rinse your canned beans.  After they are thoroughly rinsed dump them in the pot with the tomatoes and meat.  Begin to add your spices; chili powder, cumin, salt, garlic.  Add a cup or 2 of water.  Bring to a boil.  Now  you can either put a lid on this and let it simmer for 30 minutes, or if you have planned for it to cook all day, dump the contents of the pot into a crock-pot and let cook on Low or Medium Low setting until you are ready to eat it.

While the chili is cooking mince up your cilantro, slice your lime into wedges, and chop up your scallions.  Set them aside in seprate bowls.

When serving the chili, it should be topped with shredded cheese (unless you are lactose intolerant like my husband), cilantro to your liking, and green scallions to your liking.  Squeeze the lime on top of all this and you have a delicious blend of flavors that hopefully will have you saying mmmmm with every bite.

We also like to eat our chili with tortilla chips.  We either use Baked Tostitos or some all natural ones.

The Best Valentines Day EVER!

Well.  We did it!  We went and got Waffles.  It was a group thing.  We even had the kids.  It turned out to be the best place to go!  Everyone was packing into the steak houses and Italian restaurants so The Belgian Waffle and Pancake House was all ours.  After about 30 minutes we were the only people there!  It was awesome!  We laughed so hard that Liz had a hard time eating her waffle ha ha ha.  Brendan was HILARIOUS!  The restaurant gave the kids these Styrofoam cut out things and Brendan stuck his in syrup and then stuck it on Nate's shirt.  It was so funny. He also had the most hilarious things to say ALL NIGHT!

Danielle will appreciate this: At one point I asked Lindsey what Valentines Day means to her and Brendan interjected "BACON!" ha ha ha... Then a bit later he had some bacon pieces, and while moving the pieces like a mouth sang "I am bacon, I am bacon, I am bacon!" ha ha ha.

I brought my big girl camera but forgot to grab a memory card.  FAIL! ha ha ha.  Oh well.  So you are stuck with iPhone pics.  Sorry! ha.  Poor people on Instagram got a rare bombardment of photos from me this evening. Sorry.

Ok.  Here we go.  Valentine's Day in Photograph documentation.

It was funny because their waffle description says "served at room temperature with melted butter and hot syrup" ha ha ha.  I questioned this room temperature thing and the waitresses thought I was making it up or something... then I showed them and they were so confused.  The waffles were served warm for the record. ha.  Time to edit the menu?  I think so.

Meet my brother Anthony!  He is awesome.  He never gives real smiles for the camera, he has done this for as long as I can remember.  I love him though.  He has this way of making a bad day good and a good day better.  I love him for that.

This is Liz.  You may recognize her from her blog Liz Lemon.  She is such a cool person.  I met her through my brother because they are really good friends.  If you don't follow her blog you should.  She is awesome!

This is Hannah and Nate.  Hannah is fantastic and Nate is such a laid back cool guy with a huge heart.  Where these two are involved it's sure to be great times had.  Glad they shared my Waffle Valentines Day with Dave and I.

The kids.  I  love Bren's face here.  They both were having such a fun time.  It took me several shots to get a decent picture because Lindsey gets so awkward in front of the camera... maybe one trait she borrowed from my brother, ha!  Bren was seriously cracking us up all night!

Awe!  Dave and I.  :)  Thanks Hannah for snapping this.  Every time I do a self portrait of Dave and I, I chop off a portion of Dave's face. ha ha ha.  Hannah saved the day.  Love him.

My waffle.  It was sooooooooooooooooo yum.  :)

There was a small debate between Nate and Anthony over which is better.  The HTC Evo or the iPhone 4... What do you think?

Our waitress was awesome!  She talked about liking White Russians (the alcoholic beverage) which had us laughing and talked about how awesome the cooks are for like 5 minutes.  So funny, but I guess you would have had to have been there.

Anyway.  It was great times.  It will go down as one of my favorite Valentine's Days EVER! 

How was your Valentine's Day?

I Want Waffles for Valentines Day.

image source

This is what I say to Dave.  I say.  I want to eat a waffle for Valentines Day.  A Waffle.  With butter.  And Syrup.

So... this is what we will do.

I am excited about Valentines Day.  Are you? What are your Vday plans?