Spud: 20 weeks

The 20 week, detailed anatomy ultrasound showed that Baby Girl is developing normally. Such a blessing to hear that things are progressing well so far!

Story: The ultrasound tech said that Spud wasn't in optimal position for imaging, so she was pushing on my belly quite a bit (which of course made me laugh). The tech showed us on the ultrasound how little her pushing on my belly moved Spud's environment, but how much my laughing jiggled Spud's "house." The tech then said that if baby is used to Mom laughing a lot then that would explain why baby was totally unfazed by her pushing on my belly. At this point Ross chimed in that there's probably not much hope pushing on my belly because this baby has a mom that laughs quite a bit :)

Here are some of the ultrasound pictures and if you're like me, you'll need to refer to the yellow labels for help deciphering the picture.

And finally here's the latest gym belly picture at 20 weeks.

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Book Review

I don't know how to read a book like a normal person and I'm finally coming to terms with this fact :) I get totally absorbed in books and I don't know how to put them down. There's just no good stopping point! You can see how books might get in the way of real life... Over the years I've learned to pace myself and allow ample time between books. I just finished "the girl on the train" and it was a real page turner. It's got a lot of simalarities to "gone girl", so if you liked that you will like this. I finished it in 2 nights :)

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Midland... And back!

Another quick, but successful trip to midland Texas!

It was snowing outside! Big, fluffy flakes.

But thankfully it wasn't sticking and my flight left on time.

Lunch in midland is all about the MEAT, pulled bbq pork sandwich

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Spud: 19 weeks

Spud is ~6 inches long and 1/2 lb this week! I think I'm starting to feel Spud moving around in my belly, but it's hard to differentiate from gas! :)

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Step 1: Potty Awareness

After reading her favorite "Potty Book" we asked Claire if she wanted to try and go tinkle on the big potty. She was agreeable to the idea so we headed upstairs. Although she peed on the floor right before we got her on the potty, I'd say we did pretty good for a first try! Our goal is to remind her that the big potty is an option, but we're going to take this whole potty training thing at whatever kind of pace Claire dictates :)

I think I'm way more paranoid about public bathrooms with a toddler than I am about diapers...

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Spud: 18 weeks

There's a little baby in there! :)

This week I've been wondering about spud's personality... Will she be a good sleeper? Will she be a happy baby? Will she have blonde hair? Will she like volleyball? Will she arrive before or after her due date?

We will find out some things sooner than others!

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Claire's Paper Fish

At Sunday School class this weekend Claire decorated a paper fish that included a relevant bible verse. On the car ride home we talked about the fish and I told her that fish lived in the water. When we got home, Claire ran into the bathroom and put the paper fish into the bath tub and said "Momma On" while she was trying to turn on the faucet.

I had to share this story because I mean... So. Cute. :)

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Back Update

Last week I pulled my back, quite possibly the worst I have ever pulled my back. After several days of little improvement I am happy to report that I am feeling better. The massage may have had something do with it :) I'm definitely not 100%, but I am not grunting and wincing every time I move. Back injuries are humbling; you realize how dependent you are on your back to complete the most basic functions. For Mommy's, this may include picking up your 30 lb, almost 2 year old and putting her in a car seat- without saying any bad words. Anyway I'm feeling much improved, but it wasn't a real action packed weekend by any means. Hope you all have a great week and remember to throw some stretching into your routine so that you avoid pulling any muscles.

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Spud: 17 weeks

Baby bump at 17 weeks! Spud is really growing now. Almost the size of a soda can! I'm getting inquisitive looks at the gym... "Hmm is she pregnant or just have an awesome holiday, eating anything and everything?"

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Back Woes

I pulled a muscle (perhaps muscles?) in my back today, which is especially no fun when you're pregnant. Hoping to be in better shape tomorrow, off to bed!

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Movie Round Up

Ross and I don't get to many movies in the theater anymore, but we still get Netflix and watch a semi-weekly blueray movie. Here's some movies we've seen recently, with my 2 cents listed too :)

*Ex Machina -Liked

*Mission Impossible- Rogue Nation -Liked

*Unbroken -Mixed Review, the book is much better

*Paper Towns- Skip it

*Jurassic World- Skip it

*Wild- Liked, I was a harsh critic because I like the book so much, but the movie was good too

After the Golden Globes, we now have a whole new crop of movies we'll have to watch. Do you watch a lot of movies? Do you have some suggestions for us?

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Chicken Paillard

Ross got me a cookbook called "The Kitchen Matrix" by Mark Bittman for Christmas. It's a neat concept that takes a single ingredient, for example Chicken, and shows you 1 basic recipe that can be altered in numerous different ways to give you a completely different meal. It's right up my ally. No more, "I have some leeks, but I don't know what to make" because you simply look up that ingredient in the cookbook and see what recipes use it.

I selected Chicken Paillard as the first recipe to try out. As far as I can tell that word just refers to the meat being pounded out so that the most surface area contacts the breading. Here's Mark's blog post all about Paillards and the recipe itself- Mark is a regular food contributor for the NY Times. I have a feeling I'll be cooking out of this book for awhile.

The recipe was good and not overly complicated. Pounding the meat makes for a faster cook time. I served the chicken with some fresh pasta (thanks While Foods) and a watercress salad. I didn't get great pictures from my iphone, so you'll have to try it to believe it.

Claire thought the chicken was better than chicken nuggets, but she wasn't sold on the pasta, so Dad ate that.

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New Years Fun... with kids!

We hung out with our neighbors on New Years Eve and had fun incorporating the kiddos this year :) Check out the fun!

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Cinnamon Rolls

Mere days before going into labor with Claire I had an insatiable desire for homemade cinnamon rolls. So I did some food blog digging and found a winner. Then I tore apart the kitchen and made 8 trays of cinnamon rolls, which is 80 something individual rolls. They were delicious- so gooey, cinnamony, and with that homemade yeast flavor. Melt in your mouth amazing. And one of the best things of all is how well they freeze in individual aluminum trays, a gift that keeps on giving. When Mom tried them she decided we should make them every year during the holidays. Who am I to disagree? Afterall,  Mom knows best :)

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