Ouchy!!!

Ow,ow,owwwww!!!!

My muscles are ripping!! With Jaxon's pregnancy, my adominal muscles ripped. For the past few days my upper stomach muscles have been sooooo sore!!!! Nothing helped the pain. It felt like someone ripped my muscles & took a blow torch to it! I was in tears today. It hurts way worse than with Jaxon!

So then I remembered that Missy gave me her maternity belt when I was pregnant with Jaxon. I never used it because it hurt my skin. So since I have become a lil seamstress lately, I sewed a soft slip cover on it! I wore the maternity belt this evening and it helped soooooo much!!! I did not have any pain as long as I wore it!!

Yea!!!!


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Jett's Potato Soup

Before I laid down for a nap, I read something on Facebook about someone eating some potato soup. When I woke up from my nap all I could think about was eating some potato soup!

But here in lays my problem:

1.I have NEVER made potato soup before
2.I could not find a single recipe that had all the limited ingredients that I had

So, I took my big 'ol belly into the kitchen & let Jett's cravings determine my steps. I kinda felt like the guy off of the movie, "Ratatouille"! Remember the rat that was hidden in the man's chef hat? Well, instead of a rat, I had a baby in my belly telling me how to make the potato soup!

Here is my....whoops, I mean, Jett's recipe (sorry for the "handful" of this, "dash" of that):

Ingredients:

1 really large potato (baked...in a microwave)
Instant Mashed Potatoes (I followed the 6 servings instructions)
1 small-medium onion (diced)
1 stick of butter
2 cups of Chicken broth
2 handfuls of shredded chedder cheese
1/2 block of cream cheese
2 helping spoonfuls of sour cream (maybe 1/2 cup?)
Milk (to your desired consistency)
Salt, pepper & parsley

Directions:

1. Prepare your instant mashed potatos to how the box instructs.
2. "Bake" a potato (or two!!) in the microwave (or oven...microwave is just faster)
3. Saute the diced onion in 1/2 stick of butter
4. Once the mashed potatoes are done, add the broth & stir. Add the onions too!
5.Then stir in the chedder cheese, sour cream, cream cheese & the rest of the butter.
6.When the potato is baked, peel it & cube it. Add it to the soup.
7. Add the milk, just add it to your desired consistancy. With all that cheese, it will get thick!
8. Add salt & pepper to taste. I added some parsley for color...a few dashes of it.

Enjoy!!!!!

I am pretty proud of this super yummy potato soup that Jett created!!!

ETA: I forgot to add milk to the recipe! It is added now :)

Ice, Ice Baby!!!

I went to go measure the amount of snow we got over night....but was not able to because of all the ice!! Our snow turned into ice last night. I read on facebook that my neighbor heard ice pellets falling onto the house last night. I was oblivious to all of this. So when I could not even make a dent in the ice with my measuring stick, I was shocked! What was even funnier was that Buzzie was walking on TOP of the snow!!!

Here are some pictures of Jaden playing out in the snow yesterday! He had so much fun! I had to make him come in, I think he would have stayed out there all day!

What I did on my snow day!

I made a pincushion!! I so desperately needed one! It was fun & easy to make! I just love it! I am NOT a pink girl, but this was cute enough for me to handle all the pink :)

Snow, Snow, Snow!!!

Today we got a snow day AND we are actually getting SNOW!!! They are predicting 6-7 inches and about 1 inch of ice today!! I think we are going to be snowed in! While this amount isn't HUGE compared to Snow Belt of Ohio, it is pretty bad for the south! And since we do not have the kind of snow Ohio does, our state is not equipped with snow trucks & salt.

I am taking photos every so often today to show how the snow is falling. It started at around 9am here. The snow is actually sticking, so we are getting some accumulation. I would say about 1/4 inch so far. The snow is really suppose to start falling this afternoon.

I will post some pics later as we get more snow :)

Introducing Cora!!!

My sister had her baby yesterday!!! She had her baby girl, Cora Marie, after a super short labor! I think that once she got to the hospital, she had her in just a few hours! I got a txt from her at 1:30 that she was being admitted & that she was 5cm. Then a pic of her in labor at 4:30, then a pic of Cora at 5:20!!!! I am not sure of her exact time of birth, but man....that was FAST!!!!

Now here comes the most AMAZING part....she delivered a 10lb 6oz & 22in baby.....Naturally!!! Yes...I typed that right....she had a 10lb 6oz baby!!!!!!! Holy Shmoly!!! That is a BIG baby!! I talked to my sister late last night & she was in shock! She thought that she would be around 9 lbs, but never thought that she would ever be over 10 lbs!!! She said that the nursery nurses at the hospital have to use two receiving blankets to swaddle her!! And she is barely fitting into the newborn diapers!!

What is so funny is that my sister is not a big girl! She is my size. An inch taller, but over all she has a small frame! I have no idea how she even produced a 10lb baby!!!

Here are a few pics that I got from Christina, via cell phone:

I wish that I was in Ohio to meet my lil neice face to face, I will not be able to do that till later this summer. It is hard for me to travel now (being pregnant in my 3rd trimester). I just wanna kiss her sweet lil baby lips!!!

Love you Cora!!!!!

30 Weeks!!

I can't believe that I am 30 weeks pregnant!! It seems like yesterday that I found out that I was pregnant with Jett!!!

I took some recent pictures of my ever growing belly!!!

I am feeling pretty good. I feel pregnant...very pregnant, but good! SOOOOOOOO much better than last time. With Jaxon, I was miserable!! This time around, I feel great...well, as great as being 30 weeks can be!! LOL!!

I feel Jett moving ALL the time. In fact, he is squirming all around as I type this!

Heartburn is kicking in. I forget that I have it until I eat something...well, just eat!! I am starting to waddle around...I feel like a duck waddling around! This only happens at night, when I am exhausted & tired. My body is really feeling the effects of the pregnancy. My fingers are also starting to swell up. I can't wear my wedding rings most of the time. I can mostly wear my band, but the ring is now out of the question. My back is starting to hurt & my ribs too, but this is mostly during the evening when I have more than likely over did it for the day. If I eat too much, this puts pressure on my back & ribs.

Over all, I am feeling pretty good! I can't wait to meet my lil guy!!! I just can't believe that I am going to have my 3rd boy!!! I am so excited about this!! How cool is it that all my kids are boys!! It is going to be so cool seeing them grow up together & see their bond develop and deepen!!!

Diaper bag!!

I decided to be adventurous & try to make a diaper bag. I went to Hobby Lobby to buy the fabric for the diaper bag. I bought a yard of tanish-greenish canvas and another yard of that fabric that I really liked (remember the lovie blankie I made? Same fabric).

When I got home I sat down & put the design that was in my head on paper. I liked the size of Jaxon's diaper bag, so I used those measurements. I then tried to be creative and add some pockets & other goodies.

The sewing part was not hard, it was the planning! Sewing can really mess with your mind! Before you do this, you better do that. And don't forget to add this part before you close it up! And as you are thinking ahead, you have to think backwards (you have to sew fabric wrongside together)! I had no idea sewing bags with multiple pockets, straps, staps, sides & bottoms could be to crazy! I had to think the end project as I started the beginning!

My brain hurt...it hurts just thinking about how bad it hurt! LOL!!

But I am VERY happy with how it turned out. I would do a few things different. I had actually bought some iron on vinyl to add to the fabric, so that the inside of the diaper bag would be waterproof (a good thing to have with a baby!), but I forgot to use it!!!! Maybe next time! Also, if I had to do it differently, I would have made the straps smaller. I don't know what I was thinking making them that wide. They do not look "bad" but, I would have preferred the bag to have thinner straps. My favorite part of the bag is the magnetic snaps I added. I added a decorative strap to close the bag. I sewed a cute button on for looks :)

I love it...I just hope it doesn't look "too" girly...but I guess that I am the one who is carrying it around....right?

Official Name :)

Our baby finally has a first AND middle name!!!

Drum roll please.....

Jett Joseph

Joe picked Joseph, not because that is HIS name, but after his grandfather, whom he is named after. He also wanted to keep going with our double J theme (Jaden Josiah & Jaxon Jeremiah). Also, Joe kept with our biblical middle name theme! Joseph was a perfect pick!!

Water Bottle Carrier

I decided to be brave & try something new (and hard!) in my sewing journey! I found a tutorial on how to make a water bottle carrier. I was intimidated to make it, but I am glad that I decided to brave it! I made a lot of mistakes (I messed up the bottom & the strap...boo...) but overall I am happy with how it turned out.

I started working on around 3ish & finished at 7:30ish....so a total of 4.5 hours. I did take a break for dinner & I had to deal with Jaxon too...and I had no idea what I was doing...so if I did not have any interruptions...and I know what I am doing now (well...sort of), it might only take me 3 hours to make one.

This was my practice one. I told Missy she could have it (lucky you Mis...you get the messed up one....lol). I am going to make another one for myself & as a gift. I am sure I will make more in the future, but I know that I will make 2 more in the immediate future!!

I want to make a bag soon. I have a pattern picked out, but I need to get out to the store to buy some canvas.

What I really need to make is a nursing cover. I do not have one anymore. After the nursing cover, then I will make a bag (for me...not the baby).

My brother-n-law was over playing the Wii with Joe & Jaden while I was making the water bottle carrier. He graciously posed as my model so you can see how you can you actually carry it.

Lovie Blankie

I got a sewing kick yesterday! My BFF thinks that I am nesting...who knows!!

So yesterday I came up with a lovie blanket. I tried to do some patchwork (and was pretty successful, I might add!) and make a mini blanket. Neither one of my kids has ever wanted or needed a lovie to hold, but I wanted to make one for Jett. I picked green & brown to match his car seat. I know it has flowers on the pattern....wait...do you think that it matters? Anyway, It does have flowers on it, so I don't know if I can get away with giving it to a boy....what do you think? If you think it looks too "girly" let me know...I can give it to my niece (who will be born any day now!!) who had the same carseat at Jett. I can make a new one for him...

I came up with this concept on my own. I am sure that there are others out there like this, but in my mind it is original!! I added a pacifier ribbon & some ribbon loops to add baby rings to! I love how it turned out!! Here are the pics:

Wrist Supports :)

Another gift (drool, baby, drool!!)....a wrist support for the keyboard & mouse!! It is filled with rice, so if you need heat therapy (ie; carpel tunnel), you can pop 'em in the microwave to heat them up!

I learned a new trick, to add another piece of fabric to another piece! I just patched it together! It was fun trying something new!! And I think it turned out pretty cool too!!

Migraine Cold Therapy Pack

Oh my gosh....I LOVE sewing!!!

I decided to make a migraine cold therapy pack as a gift :) (I bet you wish it was for you!!!) You can stick them in the freezer. The coolness is suppose to reduce blood flow to your head to help relieve your migraine :) I am totally making one for myself!!

I LOVE this fabric!!! I got it from Hobby Lobby!! I wanted to make the eye pack with rounded edges, but I did not have a pattern for it. So....straight edges for me :)

My cute lil migraine model!! He was "trying" not to smile....hehehe!!!

OMGBFFGNO

My BFF, Missy!!!

Me, 28 weeks preggo...please do not mind the look of exhaustion!! I know I look hit!! God bless Missy for hanging out with me & overlooking my fazzled hair!! I had no idea it was looking like that until I got home & looked at my pics!! Oh well....lol!

My mug!!

Missy's Mug!!!

Oh....and for those of you who are not hip to what OMGBFFGNO means....

"Oh-My-Gawsh-Best-Friends-Forever-Girls-Night-Out"

Rice Heating Pad

I found a cool tutorial on how to make a rice heating pad. I really need one because this third trimester (I am 29 weeks pregnant today!!!!) is wrecking havoc on my back!! And after making this, I REALLY needed one!!

I used the material that I already had (as you can see from my last project). I had some older brown jasmine rice from Trader Joe's that I forgot that I had in the back of my cabinet. It was probably still good, but I am weird about keeping any food longer than a month...strange...I know. I also decided to add a few drops of scented essential oils onto the rice pockets. Well...I think I added tooooooo much oil because my house is completely scented of Bath & Body Work's Stress Relief Eucalyptus Spearmint!! It just seemed to poor out of the bottle...next time I will be more careful &
only add a drop or two into the rice!

Now, I have to be honest, I didn't really follow the instructions to the tutorial. I probably should have. I just looked at the picture & went from there. It was pretty easy to make. It only took me like....2 hours!!!! It should not have taken me that long had I followed the instructions. I made a lot of newbie mistakes. Like I have said before, I am new to this & just trying to figure out the hows & whys to sewing. I still can't figure out why my thread keeps getting caught in the bobbin dungeon!!

I am happy with how it turned out, mistakes & all!!! In fact, I am using it now....I needed it!!!

I decided to brave it & practice my sewing this weekend. I worked REALLY hard cleaning on Saturday (see my last post) so that I could have some guilt free time sewing. My goal was to make some burp cloths. It sounded easy. 4 straight lines. What could be hard about that? EVERYTHING!!! First, I don't know how many times I had to thread & re-thread, take apart the bobbin dungeon (I know that there is a better name for this, but it seems like a dungeon down there!) to untangle thread, and then I had so much problems keeping the white fabric staying in place. It bunched & moved all over the place, even with stick pins holding it in place!! And you would think sewing in a straight line would be easy. I can cut in a straight line. I can walk in a straight line. Sewing should be no different...another big NO!! My lines were all over the place!! Seriously, it looks like Jaden was sewing!!!! LOL!!! My first burp cloth turned out horrible, but the second one I did much better. I made a lot of mistakes, but not as many as the first. I had some extra fabric, so I decided to make a baby bib. I do not really use baby bibs, but I need the practice.

My ONLY saving grace in my project was I was using super cute fabric. Also, I do not think that
Jett will judge me on my stitching!! These two things will cover my MULTITUDE of sewing sins!!!

My High

There are a few things in life that tickle me. One of those things is cleaning my carpets. I don't know why. I don't like cleaning, but I love to clean my carpets, vacuum & mop the floors. I get a high off the smell of the shampoo. My heart swells when I see the lines on the carpet from the carpet cleaner or vacuum!!!

I know this is silly...even a bit strange...don't judge me :)

Snow Day

Wanna know what a snow day looks like in Nashville? Wanna know what closes schools down for two days????



Wanna know what a snow day looks like in Ohio????



Now....THIS is a snow day!!! This picture is of my Dad back in Ohio. This is the only pic I have of the snow there :) This is the kinda snow that I grew up with. And we would still have to go to school!!! We get a dusting of snow here in Nashville & the whole state basically shuts down!! LOL!! I am NOT complaining because Joe gets the day off when we get our "snow" days :)

Jaden SOOOOOOO loved our snow today!!!! Even though we only got a dusting, he played his heart out!

Cold Morning Rambles

*It is 11 degrees now...but feels like 3!!!! I hear it is warmer in Ohio than here in TN!! What is up with that?

*Jaxon woke me up 2 hours BEFORE my alarm clock was suppose to go off. I don't know why he is up so early. Mommy really need that sleep...

*I am afraid that Jett is going to be a light sleeper. This kid has some good ears! If he hears a noise, he jumps! He heard Jaxon crying over the baby monitor this morning! If (not if...but when...lol) I flush the toilet, he jumps! Buzzie barked & he jumped! I hope this changes when he is born because I have got some loud boys & mommy will never get any rest if he keeps this up!!

*I have bible study this morning. I am excited to go, but not excited to get out in the cold. Jaden has speech after that. I hate taking the kids in & out of the cold!

*It is suppose to snow on Thursday. I have a dr appt downtown...I am not sure if I should cancel. I am NOT afraid of snow, but Nashville does not have the same snow equipment at Cleveland does. We will see how the roads are that morning. I am sure that school will be canceled...so if that is so Joe can watch the kids for me :)

I now know what it feels like to be old!!!

I am mentally & physically exhausted.

My legs, hips & feet hurt.

My back & ribs hurts.

Doing the things I use to be able to do exhausts me! Thinking about them exhausts me!

I am ready for bed at 7pm.

I am eating dinner at 4pm.

Everything I eat is bland so that I can avoid heart burn.

I am forgetting things.

I FEEL old!!!!!!!

I now can sympathize with my grandparents!! I totally know how they feel!! LOL!!

Now don't get me wrong...I am THRILLED about being pregnant! Everyday that I am pregnant is a blessing because after losing a baby, I take every day that this baby is in my belly as a gift. But I do have to admitt, the third trimester is not easy on your body!!! I would not take this experience back & would do it all over again too!

I just now know what it must feel like to be old! :)

Emma

I "tried" to do a photo shoot of my newest niece, Emma Grace. She is 4 months old. Emma is my brother's lil girl. He & his family came to visit us for the new year. I did not have good lighting when I did Emma's photos. I tried to rescue them in photoshop. Do not know if I accomplished that or not. Either way, I feel I did capture Emma's cuteness!

Happy New Year!!!

2010....Here I come!!!

This year....I will become a mother to THREE boys!!! Can you believe that? My boy are so sweet, I am sure that Jett will be no different. Yes..I said Jett! That will be our baby's name. We still have yet to find a middle name. I am leaving that one up to Joe. If it were up to me, I would pick Jett David. But, it is not. I think it is cool that Joe is picking out the middle names for our kids. I think it will be very special for our kids to know that their daddy picked out something special for them. Of course I can veto any crazy name, but I am sure that Joe will pick out a good one. We have done all biblical middle names, so I will be curious to what he picks out!

This year....I will become a mini-van mom! This will happen in a few months!! I can't believe that this will actually take place! I am actually pretty excited about it. I know that I will "officially" become old when I turn the keys in the egnition that first time...but I do not care! I really want to get some sort of saying to put on the back window of the mini-van like, "We rock the mini-van" or something cute like that. I would put something up like that in a second, but Joe is anti-fun....OK, he is not actually anti-fun, just anti-bumper sticker..lol!!

This year...I will turn 32!!! I can't believe I am getting that old! 32 seems so.....old! Oh well, I will rock it :) As I walk down the street, I am sure people will exclaim, "Wow....that is the coolest 32 year old mom we have ever seen"!!

This year...I will have been married to the love of my life, Joe, for 13 years!! When I say 13 years, I feel old! I feel too young to have been married this long! But I guess that is what you get when you get married young! I can't wait till our 15 year anniversary! We have something super special planned!!! :)

This year....I hope to perfect my photography. I feel like I totally suck at it. I take good "snapshots", but I want to make my photography an art. I want my photography to be correct...not just guesswork. I hope that I learn a lot with this new book I am reading about photography!

This year....I hope to learn how to sew! I got some new fabrics last week. I want to make some burp cloths for Jett. This "should" be easy. It is only rectangle shapped. My friend had made me some for Jaxon, so I have those as a "pattern". When I start to work on those, I will post pics!

This year....I want to learn more about God. The only way to do this is to dive into the Bible. I want to learn about His ways. I want to be able to clearly hear His voice & obey it....even when I do not want to.

I am excited about this year. I really think that this will be a really great year!!