37 weeks

How far along?  37.5 weeks!

Total weight gain: 12 lbs. I gained 4 freaking pounds in one week lol! I’m chalking it up to pigging out at hubby/mom’s birthday dinner and also we had a huge pig out night with Taco Bell and Krispy Kreme hehe

Maternity clothes?  Yes indeedy.

Stretch Marks?  Just a couple itsy bitsy ones near my belly button.

Sleep:  Good! Sleeping like a rock and often pass out in bed with lights on (and even sometimes my glasses still on, oops)

Best moment this week:  Andrew starting music class again this week, having a comfy couch and getting things done!

Worst moments this week:  Frustrating OB appointment.

Miss Anything?  Lying on my stomach and being able to move more normally. Also I could REALLY use a beer about now….yup still true.

Movement:  LOTS. You can definitely tell she’s running out of room in there.

Food cravings:  Chocolate and lots of it.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not really. Just occasional light acid reflux or heartburn.

Gender:  Girl!

Labor signs:  Nope…

Symptoms: Sore ligaments, and a squished bladder.

Belly Button in or out?  Flat!

Wedding rings on or off?  On!

Happy or Moody most of the time: I feel a bit moody but also very productive which is nice. 

Looking forward to:  Not being pregnant anymore/ having baby here.

(Andrew at 37 weeks)

36 weeks - NINE MONTHS!!

How far along?  36.5 weeks!

Total weight gain: 8lbs. Lost another pound lol

Maternity clothes?  Yes indeedy.

Stretch Marks?  I am now pretty sure I have a few tiny ones around my belly button.

Sleep:  Good! Sleeping like a rock and often pass out in bed with lights on (and even sometimes my glasses still on, oops)

Best moment this week:  Getting the apartment more in order.

Worst moments this week:  Realizing we still have a LOT to do haha

Miss Anything?  Lying on my stomach and being able to move more normally. Also I could REALLY use a beer about now

Movement:  Oh yes, lots of stretching and pushing out on my sides and also turning around now and then. Also hiccups almost every day :)

Food cravings:  Chocolate and lots of it.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not really. Just occasional light acid reflux or heartburn.

Gender:  Girl!

Labor signs:  None, and I’m only at a 1 so far.

Symptoms: Sore ligaments, squished bladder and some minor back soreness.

Belly Button in or out?  Flat as a pancake

Wedding rings on or off?  On!

Happy or Moody most of the time: Kind of monotone if that’s a sort of emotion haha 

Looking forward to:  Meeting baby girl!

(Andrew at 36 weeks)

35 weeks and counting!

 How far along?  35.5 weeks!

Total weight gain: 9 lbs! My appetite has come back full force over the past week or so haha

Maternity clothes?  Yes indeedy.

Stretch Marks?  I *think* I’m getting one or two tiny ones above my belly button but not 100% sure. It might be the lighting in our bathroom. It’s hard to tell haha

Sleep:  Good! Sleeping like a rock and often pass out in bed with lights on (and even sometimes my glasses still on, oops)

Best moment this week:  Hearing that baby girl is doing well and I didn’t overdo it too much during moving and stuff.

Worst moments this week:  Starting to really be getting uncomfortable and baby girl is apparently a black belt in karate already so my belly feels like I’ve done a million sit-ups (LOL) and should be bruised.

Miss Anything?  Hard cider and sushi. This really doesn’t change, haha. Just also wishing I could have regular old lunchmeat and not having acid reflux. Also lying on my stomach. And being able to get comfortable, haha.

Movement:  SO MANY JABS. She is super active and super strong. I can also feel her when she tries (not sure if she succeeds) to turn upside down in my belly – the center of my stomach gets flat and the sides stick way out. She usually is head down but I have noticed a couple instances when she’s been head up. Oh and occasional hiccups.

Food cravings:  Fruit. Like crazy. I can easily eat an orange every day. I try to share a few pieces with Andrew though ;) Otherwise a burger always sounds good.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Acid Reflux and smells.

Gender:  Girl!

Labor signs:  I’ve been trying to take it really easy and haven’t really had any cramping the past day or two which is good.

Symptoms: Discomfort, frequent trips to the restroom, sore hips and back, muscle cramps, fatigue, acid reflux, and sore ligaments.

Belly Button in or out?  Mostly flat, a little bit out.

Wedding rings on or off?  On!

Happy or Moody most of the time: I’d say I’m mostly happy but definitely lose my temper or cry pretty easily.

Looking forward to:  Hopefully (fingers crossed) starting to order things for baby next week. SO looking forward to having Andrew’s room and the nursery completed, get the rest of our boxes taken care of and Jesse’s birthday on the 26th!

(Andrew at 35 weeks)

31 and 32 week bumpdates!

Almost caught up!

How far along?  31.5 weeks!

Total weight gain: Last time I checked I had so far gained 1lb.

Maternity clothes?  Oh YES. 

Stretch Marks?  Starting to wonder if I got some above my belly button

Sleep:  Pretty good, but just less of it as we are moving which means late nights, early mornings and short or nonexistent naps.

Best moment this week:  Signing our lease

Worst moments this week:  Dealing with our (almost) ex apartment community

Miss Anything?  Hard cider and sushi

Movement:  Feeling lots of hands, feet or elbows poking out, hiccups, and can definitely see and feel when she turns around in my belly.

Food cravings:  Chocolate or really anything sweet.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Acid Reflux or really bad smells.

Gender:  Girl!

Labor signs:  Nope

Symptoms: Sore hips and my back gets sore easily.

Belly Button in or out?  Top half is out, bottom half is about flat.

Wedding rings on or off?  On!

Happy or Moody most of the time: A bit moody this week I’m afraid.

Looking forward to:  Getting settled into our new place and resolving things at our old place. 

(Andrew at 31 weeks)

**********************************************************

How far along?  32.5 weeks!

Total weight gain: 5 lbs. Which seems nuts since baby girl is supposedly a bit over 3lbs right now.

Maternity clothes?  Oh YES. And even some of them are beginning to not cover my whole belly.

Stretch Marks?  We have so much natural light in our bathroom now and I’ve noticed lots of lighter marks all along the side of my belly and above my belly button but I am not really sure if they are new or not. They haven’t been red at all but I suppose that doesn’t necessarily mean anything. Hmmmm

Sleep:  I sleep like a rock at night and have had a daily struggle keeping my eyes open during the day as I haven’t really gotten any good naps in this week.

Best moment this week:  Seeing Andrew open his Christmas gifts!

Worst moments this week:  Dealing with our (almost) ex apartment community.

Miss Anything?  Hard cider, sushi, beer, lunch meat, etc.

Movement:  It’s getting intense in there- she’s super strong and active!

Food cravings:  Chocolate or really anything sweet.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Acid Reflux or really bad smells.

Gender:  Girl!

Labor signs:  No, but I’m feeling like she has dropped a bit and I’m definitely feeling more pressure/ fatigued much more easily. I know I’ve been overdoing it lately and am beginning to wonder if she’ll make it to February lol

Symptoms: Sore hips, lower back gets sore easily, Charlie horses, pressure, shortness of breath, frequent trips to pee…

Belly Button in or out?  Top half is out, bottom half is about flat.

Wedding rings on or off?  On and loose.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy. I’m so excited for baby girl to make her appearance (though she can wait at least another month, thank you very much), and am just loving watching Andrew grow and learn and play – and my heart practically bursts when I watch Jesse and Andrew interact. I can’t wait to see Andrew with his little sister or Jesse with his new daughter. It’s going to make me bawl, I just know it.

 

Looking forward to:  Mid-January!

(Andrew at 32 weeks)

29 weeks!

How far along?  29.5 weeks!

Total weight gain: Last time I checked I had so far gained 1lb.

Maternity clothes?  Oh yes, so thankful for maternity clothes! LOL

Stretch Marks?  Still no new ones as far as I know.

Sleep:  It’s getting better, thank goodness! I’m usually able to get a little bit of a nap in the afternoon and starting to get better sleep at night too. Plus the OB said I could take Unisom if I needed to so I bought some to have on hand just in case though I haven’t needed it yet…

Best moment this week:  Seeing Andrew react to the Christmas Tree and Elf on the Shelf!

Worst moments this week:  Oh just boring stuff I’d rather not talk about – nothing related to pregnancy though! Not looking forward to the month of January though for sure. It’s going to be mid to late January before we can move or begin getting baby stuff which is crazy stressful for me.

Miss Anything?  Hard cider and beer. And sushi and lying on my stomach and being able to hug my hubby without piking haha

Movement:  Getting a bit more muted – I’m sure she’s beginning to run out of space. But lots of pushing out on my belly and testing the boundaries of my skin lol

Food cravings:  Chocolate. All the time.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Acid Reflux or really bad smells.

Gender:  Girl!

Labor signs:  Nope

Symptoms: Sore hips!! Out of breath easily and get tired easily. Went on a short grocery trip this week and felt like I needed a nap after haha

Belly Button in or out?  Top half is out, bottom half is about flat.

Wedding rings on or off?  On!

Happy or Moody most of the time: I’d say I’m beginning to get pretty moody, haha

Looking forward to:  Christmas!

24 weeks/ six months!

How far along?  24.5 weeks!

Total weight gain: Up 3lbs from pre-pregnancy

Maternity clothes?  Yup – living in maternity leggings, yoga pants and jeans/shorts. I have started rotating in maternity shirts, but still wear a mix.

Stretch Marks?  Haven’t noticed any new ones so far

Sleep:  Lately it’s been really good. I have had a bit of a cold so I am out like a light when my head hits the pillow but I wake up still tired.

Best moment this week:  Being told that baby is doing great and so am I!

Worst moments this week:  Getting a cold. I’ve been so achy, foggy and just rough overall.

Miss Anything?  Hard Cider, Moscato, being able to drink at social events…. SUSHI

Movement:  Lots and lots of soft kicks in my pelvis, occasionally I get a harder kick and sometimes they are on my sides and up near my ribs but most often they are down low.

Food cravings:  Still fruit and sweet things. It’s a freaking miracle that I’ve been avoiding sweets since getting sick – I know I feel about 60 times worse when I eat anything sugary when I’m sick so trying like heck to avoid it! I also try to not take any medicines while pregnant so I’m holding out hope that my cold continues to get better and I don’t break down and take something.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Just smells.

Gender:  Girl!

Labor signs:  Nope

Symptoms: Round Ligament pain in my pelvis, swollen ankles if we walk around all day (at the zoo, pumpkin patch, etc), stuffy nose (even before my cold), still a bit of fatigue and occasional heartburn.

Belly Button in or out?  It’s getting real, guys. Barely hangin’ in there.

Wedding rings on or off?  On!

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!!

Looking forward to:  Halloween!! We’re taking Andrew to an event at the Children’s museum with tons of fun activities and trick or treating. It’s going to be awesome!!

23 weeks - going SO FAST!

How far along?  23.5 weeks!

Total weight gain/loss: negative 1lb at my last appointment… will find out how much I’ve gained next week!

Maternity clothes?  Definitely- I don’t even attempt to wear non-maternity pants anymore. I have quite a few maternity tops as well so I *usually* wear those but some regular shirts are still working (so far)

Stretch Marks?  Haven’t noticed any new ones

Sleep:  Sleep is pretty good but still wake up every few hours to shift positions.

Best moment this week:  No news is good news and I never heard anything from the OB about my glucose test so yay! I still have to do a second one-hour test at around 32 weeks due to diabetes running in my family. BUT it’s still great to hear that everything is good so far! :)

Worst moments this week:  Pregnancy brain is definitely setting in, sigh. Haha!

Miss Anything?  Hard Cider, Moscato, being able to drink at social events…. SUSHI

Movement:  Lots of soft kicks, some that are a little rougher, definitely some rolling or dragging a knee or elbow or something along the side of my belly. The other night as I was trying to get comfortable in bed it felt as though she was alternating between kicking my intestines and bladder so that was interesting.

Food cravings:  Nothing super specific but dairy is definitely more appealing than pre-pregnancy… especially milk.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Smells

Have you started to show yet: Oh yes indeed!

Gender:  It’s a girl!

Labor signs:  Nope

Belly Button in or out?  It’s getting real, guys. Barely hangin’ in there.

Wedding rings on or off?  On!

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!!

Looking forward to:  A super fun family weekend!

17 weeks!!

How I look before 8 am...uuuggghhh haha

How far along?  17 weeks!

Total weight gain/loss:  Lost another pound! So far I am 4 months in and negative 4 pounds lol. Morning sickness got the best of me I guess

Maternity clothes? Oh yes, I am loving the maternity leggings, shorts and yoga pants! So comfy!

Stretch Marks? No new ones that I've noticed.

Sleep: Good.

Best moment this week:  Going to an OB appointment! I love it there! And getting a doppler device which allowed us to hear the little one's heartbeat <3

Worst moments this week: The little man getting sick :(

Miss Anything?  REALLY wanting a beer! And lunch meat. Oh man, Jesse's going to be grabbing me a big old sandwich as soon as little one is born at this rate lol!

Movement:  Pokes, flutters and big rolls.

Food cravings:  Burgers, fruit and coffee. I only have maybe one coffee a week but I definitely crave it most mornings.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Smells.

Have you started to show yet: Yes!

Gender prediction: I'm team boy, Jesse is team girl.

Labor signs: Nope

Belly Button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off?  On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!

Looking forward to: The 20 week anatomy scan!

16 weeks ♡

How far along?  16 weeks

Total weight gain/loss:  Last I knew, down 3 lbs

Maternity clothes? Oh yeah. And soooo comfy :)

Stretch Marks? Still have 'em, yup!

Sleep: Okay, lately I've been waking up with a sore neck which leads to a headache later in the day though :-/

Best moment this week:  So far, it's been taking Andrew to the Children's Museum and planning a trip to the zoo.

Worst moments this week: Finding out that I may either have to choose between an OB I feel really uncomfortable with or having no prenatal care at all.

Miss Anything?  Lunch meat, sushi, hard cider, lying on my stomach, beer, not being tired all the time...

Movement:  Maybe one poke here and there but definitely not noticing much.

Food cravings: Fried pickles but even that has been calming down. Peanut butter M&Ms and Airheads always sound delicious though haha

Anything making you queasy or sick: Smells. My motion sickness is worse than usual as well

Have you started to show yet: Yup!

Gender prediction: I still think boy

Labor signs: Nope

Belly Button in or out?  In

Wedding rings on or off?  On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy. Even yesterday which was a horrible day, getting to spend it with Andrew and watching him play and everything put me in a much better mood.

Looking forward to: Figuring out the OB situation. We have three possible routes though none of them are likely going to work. Just need to start praying and stop worrying and just trust that something, somehow will work out.

13 weeks!

Hey everybody! I forgot to take a picture last week so this week you just get the survey - next week I'll have a picture as well :)

How far along?  13 weeks

Total weight gain/loss:  Negative 3 pounds

Maternity clothes? None yet though I'd be lying if I said I'm not horribly tempting to dig out my maternity leggings. They are soooo comfy!

Sleep: Good when I get it but almost always wake up still tired.

Best moment this week:  Honestly, just hearing Andrew say more words/ put more sentences together. He's learning so fast!

Have you told family and friends: Yes

Miss Anything?  Lunch meat, sushi, hard cider....

Movement:  I *think* I'm feeling little flutters here and there. They are rare and very small though

Food cravings: See *Miss Anything* haha. Otherwise, chocolate and anything cheesy is always good. I've also had way more milk so far this pregnancy than I think I had during my entire first pregnancy. I'm usually not a fan.

Anything making you queasy or sick: The smell of the dishwasher and faucets.

Have you started to show yet: Yes. Mainly looks like I'm just extra pudgy though haha

Gender prediction: I'm team boy, Jesse is team girl

Belly Button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Tired.

Looking forward to: Hearing the heartbeat, changing OBs and learning the gender!

TTC and pregnancy so far

So for those of you that don't know, I miscarried last year - blog post here. It was really hard on us both but after a few months we were both wanting to continue trying.

In January I started birth control again and it made me so irregular, I basically just spotted for two months. It made trying to keep track of everything a nightmare. Finally in March, we decided to stop and see what happens. Again, I was really irregular for the next two months and then in May, after a few bouts of some nausea and sore boobs, I got a few positive tests. 

We made an appointment as soon as we could, and while they couldn't see anything on an ultrasound yet, they were able to confirm the pregnancy. A week later, we got to see what the tech referred to as a "tic-tac" and got to see it's tiny heartbeat. It was such a relief to see, and each appointment I go to/ each week that passes calms me a little more. There's definitely a lot more anxiety in this pregnancy than my first, but I'm trying to stay calm and take it easy.

As for pregnancy itself, it's been rough. My boobs are out of control, I'm lazy beyond all belief, exhausted 24/7 and the nausea is extreme. I'm holding my record of not throwing up while pregnant but it's come close many times, haha. I've definitely kept peppermints and ginger ale in stock and have found that eating snacks throughout the day and eating smaller meals really does help.

Also, I have a super nose. Hubby has been made the official dish washer and gross diaper cleaner. If I even get near the sink or dishwasher I pick up on something... like a weird mildew type of smell and it makes me want to hurl. It makes it quite difficult to do things like diaper laundry and gathering the trash as well. Ah, the joys of pregnancy ;)

We told our parents early on, and got on as many prayer chains as we could, told our friends in late July and then made it public. I had wanted to wait longer, but hubby was pretty unhappy about that. And one day I realized I could probably come up with excuses to keep it a secret the whole time. I'm sure I'm going to be much more anxious and aware this time around, even once the baby is here.

Andrew, however, seems to be doing very well. He is giving us hugs and kisses all the time, talking up a storm, and other than a few tantrums here and there, being very helpful. He tucks in his toys and gives them kisses. Also after reading a new baby book I asked him if he wanted to be a big brother and he got a huge smile and said yes.

Anyways, that's about all that's going on for now. I'm not in any maternity wear but my jeans are a bit snug. Not feeling any movement yet, but I'm looking forward to it! Right now there's just some stretching pains, usually in the evenings towards the beginning of a new week (week 11, week 12, etc). Cravings have been spicy food, onion bagels, and milk. Aversions so far are just eggs.

Planning on starting weekly updates any day now so stay tuned :)

TTFN <3

Wee Baby Schmitt #2

Estimated arrival: Valentine's Day, 2016 <3

Cloth Diapering!

For us, the decision was fairly simple. 

We, like a lot of folks we imagined, didn't exactly look forward to having to wash out diapers or scrape poo off them but the savings way outweighed the gross bits in our minds. My husband was a tad bit more resistant about the extra effort but he is now a believer!

Andrew goes through about 3-5 cloth diapers a day at 18 months. We change him between 2 and 4 hours based on need and use a disposable at night because that kid can create a lake in 12 hours.

While about 5% of the time using cloth diapers can be kind of.... for lack of a better word, 'icky'.... it really is better, in our minds, for the kid as well as our wallets. We only have 10 cloth diapers so I do end up doing laundry about every other day but our water bill is only $30. One package of disposable diapers is $28 and even if that includes 98 diapers, that can be gone in about 2 weeks. So paying $30 for all of our water needs monthly and then buying one package of Luvs every few months is really ideal for our family. It save us close to $60 a month.

We didn't shop around honestly. I had heard wonderful things about Fuzzibunz diapers and went ahead and ordered a three pack before the little man came along. We loved them right off the bat-- they are 'One Size Elites' so with all the snaps and the extra elastic they provide, they last forever. We have not changed any elastic but Andrew has been using them now for just about 16 months. And even after the close to 240 washings, they are holding up GREAT. Still have their color, are still soft, still function perfectly, absorb well and aren't stained. 

Though we have not tried other brands, I have heard great things about BumGenius, Little Monster, 'G', etc. We have just never felt the need to try anything different. 

We did have some trouble with leakage when Andrew was very small because his thighs were so thin there was a gap between his leg and the fabric, but pretty soon he plumped up a bit and they fit perfectly. Today he wears the legs on the loosest snap but still has a ways to go on the waist snaps. And if the legs get too snug, we have the extra elastics provided! They also come with two pads per diaper, one short one long. We used to just use the long ones but once he got bigger and started drinking more, we doubled up the pads in each diaper (one short, one long). While it seems a little bulky to the eye, it fits perfectly, is great for absorbing and let's face it, what baby doesn't look adorable with some "junk in the trunk"?!? Also, extra padding for all those falls, haha.

Another great aspect is the lack of chemical burns and diaper rashes. We noticed that Andrew gets diaper rashes very easily in disposables. And other than in extreme cases (like long period of time in the same diaper or sickness) he's never had rashes from the cloth diapers. 

All in all, we're very happy about the upsides for both us and our LO, and will definitely be ordering more Fuzzibunz next time around so we can be washing less, too!

Fuzzibunz are about $20 each, which can seem like a lot but it is a wonderful investment. Here is a breakdown of cost from their website.

Here is a link to buy their One Size Elite diapers if you want to check them out!

Well, that's all for now! TTFN! <3

Happy first birthday, Andrew!

How did we become parents to a one year old???

"If your one-year-old hasn’t yet mastered the art of walking, he may be clocking some serious miles anyway by hanging on to anything he can and propelling himself forward. (Don’t worry if your tot is doing neither of those — every child progresses at his own pace and some may not yet be pulling themselves up to stand.) In addition to cruising, he may be using his hands for some very important tasks, including holding his cup, picking up tiny objects, playing patty-cake, and waving bye-bye. He may also summon you with a loud and clear “Mama” when he needs something — even just a hug. Don’t be surprised if your little one protests (a lot!) when you leave the room these days.Separation anxiety is very common at this age. And while some toddlers are the life of the party, others may seem suddenly shy, which is actually developmentally appropriate. Try not to worry about it or other typical behaviors of the one-year-old set, such as hitting, not sharing, serious attachment to his bottle (though the time to ditch it is imminent), and picky eating. All are normal and most likely temporary as your child’s growing sense of independence leads to some trying moments. Weaning from the breast may be high on your priority list or months down the road, but either way, it’s one milestone that’s best approached with patience and a plan."

--whattoexpect.com

Andrew's birthday fell on a Thursday. His one-year check-up was on the same day. His grandparents got in on the 11th. So we were a bit confuddled about what to do when. We decided to do sort of a three part birthday celebration.

The first part came on January 4th. We took him to the circus! He was pretty transfixed for the bigger numbers started getting restless during the tigers but nothing some snacks and a nap couldn't fix.

On his birthday, like I said, he had his one year check-up. Shots and all. So we decided to go buy him a gift, and let him pick out a gift as well. He chose a xylophone and a peg puzzle. We also grabbed some triangle crayons and a large drawing pad. LOVE Melissa&Doug products!!

The last part came the next week on the 17th. We went to the Lowry Park Zoo after we all had breakfast. Arrived around noon and stayed until close at 5! We adopted an elephant calf, M-Pumi, in Andrew's name and got an annual membership. Andrew actually looked at a bunch of the animals and seemed interested which was great! We went on the safari ride which takes you into some exhibits/ behind the scenes of a few.... something I think we'll be repeating a lot. We also got a free ticket to feed the giraffes but we were too late in the day so we're thinking of going back later this month for more zoo fun :)

After arriving home we had his little party. He "opened" all his gifts, and ate his birthday cake - he was pretty unenthusiastic about getting frosting all over his hands but once he took a bite he loved it! (Recipe below*)

The adults had some cupcakes and moscato spumante hehe

I was a bit disappointed we didn't have a bigger party but #1 we have no parent friends yet/ Andrew hasn't made any friends and #2 it was so great to have all of his grandparents there to celebrate with him and #3 he's one. He's not going to remember. We all had fun and he was surrounded by people who love him to pieces so it was pretty perfect :)

Here are some pics:

Andrew at One Year:

• Stands alone for a few seconds at a time
• Will take a few steps on his own between things but refuses to try otherwise
• Hates all chicken except chicken nuggets
• No longer likes eggs
• Squeals and laughs all day
• Has learned to throw a ball back and forth
• Is matching shapes to their holes
• Has said "Mama", "Dada", "Yes", "No", "Ewwo" (Hello), and "Ligh" (Light)... and "Moooo" haha
• Has scooped up beets in his spoon and feeding himself
• Helps dress himself (puts his feet up for socks and pants/ pushes his arms through sleeves, etc)
• Will walk with you holding one of his hands
• Claps
• High-fives
• Will sort of sing  with you in baby language
• Bends his head so you can kiss him on the forehead
• Points
• Loves drinking water throughout the day
• Will book it toward any open door/ ungated Kitchen
• Drinking whole milk now
• Waving

*Sugarless Carrot Cake and Cream Cheese Frosting:

8oz (2 cups) whole wheat flour

1tsp baking powder

1tsp baking soda

pinch salt

10 fl oz (1 1/4 cup) water

6oz (3/4 cup)raisins

1tsp cinnamon

1/2tsp nutmeg

8oz (1 cup)carrot, grated

4 fl oz (1/2 cup)sugar-free applesauce

Preheat the oven to 375 deg F (190 deg C).

Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a bowl.

Pour the water into a small saucepan and add the raisins, nutmeg, cinnamon.

Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 5 mins.

Put the grated carrots into a bowl, then pour in the liquid mixture. Then, add the applesauce and stir the mixture thoroughly.

Mix the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients and stir thoroughly.

Pour the mixture into a greased pan and bake for 45 mins to 1 hour, until a sharp knife inserted into the centre comes out clean.

Stir together one 3 ounce package of cream cheese, 1/4 tsp of vanilla and 2 1/2 tbsp regular frozen apple juice concentrate (thawed). Spread over the top of the cake once it's cool.

Our trip to the North Pole and Stocking Stuffers!

So this was back a while ago but we took the North Pole express with the little man earlier this month! It was a lot of fun, and nice to introduce Andrew to new traditions!

The train depot is about a 45 minute drive from home in Parrish, FL. We picked up our tickets at will call and then walked around the grounds until we found our train car. It was a 30 minute trip to the North Pole (Jesse said that Santa used his magic to make the North Pole our "Southern" temperature so we would be comfortable and not too cold haha) - also, along the way we passed by a factory with tall red and while stacks and the warning lights for aircrafts that the workers said was Santa's workshop lol!

Once there we made a beeline for Santa! It was inside a house and the kids went in one at a time. They made it very calm inside, and Santa was very nice. Still, Andrew has entered a very bashful stage again this month so he clung to me with all his strength and flipped out when we sat down.... here's a look:

Poor little guy, haha! He at least very much liked the ornament Santa gave him :)

We walked around a bit, sat by a fire pit, had hot cocoa and cookies, we all sat and had dinner/ chatted with another family and Andrew was changed on the floor of a portapotty. You'd think at a family event like that they'd have a changing table but no. No they did not.

All in all it was a lot of fun. It was a little long of a time, and was pretty chilly on the way home but otherwise lots of fun! Maybe something to repeat, but in a closed car so it's not as chilly. Also hoping to start the Nutcracker tradition next year as he officially gets put in ballet in 2015! Hehe, I've been planning this for ages. Yay for ballet schools offering free tuition for boys :)

Stocking stuffers are one of my new favorite things this year. In my family it's always been things like pencils, post-its, rulers, etc... cute but a bit hard to find use for sometimes. This year we tried to be more creative.

Pretty happy about this year's stocking stuffers- maybe I'll get some new and better ideas for 2014! :)

TTFN <3