My Other Blog

Hey everyone! I just want to let you know that I started another blog to display my photography. Check it out! If you live in our area and are looking for someone to do your portrait or event photography, feel free to contact me. Enjoy!

Photographic Memories

Sadie

26 Weeks

Only 14 weeks left until my due date! Wow, time has really been flying by!

Baby Update

*A side view of our little girl's face at 25 weeks.

I figured it was time I did another baby update, as it has been quite a while! I had an appointment last Friday, and all is well. Her heartbeat is strong, somewhere in the 160 range. We also got to have a quick ultrasound. It was so adorable! She was sleeping, using the placenta as a pillow. Her little hands were tucked underneath her, and she had the hiccups! It was so neat watching her hiccup as I felt them in my belly. Now that she moves a lot, I feel like we're getting a little glimpse into her personality. For example, she goes crazy when I eat ice cream, which I think is hilarious, since ice cream is my favorite sweet treat. Also, I think she's a bit of a tease! She already seems to enjoy teasing her daddy. Often times when Tyson places his hand on my tummy to feel her movements, she stops right away and gets really still, only to start moving again when he removes his hand! We're also able to watch her movements across my stomach now, which is a lot of fun. Basically, all is going well, I feel great, and we can't wait to meet our little girl this fall!

24 weeks

Menu Planning Monday

I'm taking a cue from my new favorite website http://www.orgjunkie.com/ and posting my menu for the week. I usually plan out our meals prior to getting groceries. That way I know exactly what I'll need. Being organized this way has allowed us to cut some grocery costs as well as eat healthier (since the meals are planned, we eat out less). Let me know if you are interested in recipes and I'll be happy to post them!

Monday- Savory Baked Chicken Breasts, green beans, homemade rolls

Tuesday- Bean and Beef Enchiladas, chips and salsa, fruit

Wednesday- Leftover chicken breasts, green beans, and rolls

Thursday- Leftover enchiladas, chips and salsa, and fruit

Friday- Baked Mostaccioli, homemade garlic bread, garden salad

Saturday- Grilled Salmon, corn on the cob, fruit

Sunday- Leftover baked mostaccioli, garlic bread, and salad

You can see that we have leftovers quite often. I have found that planning the leftovers into our menu keeps it from going to waste, plus, I only have to cook three or four times in a week. I try to save our leftovers for nights when I know that we have plans.

Bakin', Not Wastin'!

**I want to start by apologizing to all who check our blog solely for baby updates. Now that I am home full time and sooo enjoying being a little (umm….big right now) homemaker, you’ll have to deal with the occasional homemakey blog entry. You’ll also have to excuse the corny blog title. I still have a lot of first grade teacher energy pent up!**

I recently went snooping through my pantry and freezer and found a couple of items that had not been used and seemed to be going to waste. First, I found an unopened bag of frozen carrots in my freezer. I honestly can’t remember buying the carrots. I’m sure I bought them with the intention of using them in a recipe that I never got around to cooking. Next, I found an open, but sparsely used, bag of coconut. I’m sure I used the coconut during the holiday season…but not since then. Anyway, since we’re trying to be better about not wasting, I set out to find a way to use up these items.

This also provided me with an opportunity to use a handy new tool Tyson bought for me- a cookbook computer program. This program has thousands of recipes, many from my very favorite cookbooks. I can type in what ingredients I have on hand, and it provides me with a list of recipes that match. I love it!

Last week I used up a portion of the frozen carrots in a vegetable soup I made. And yesterday I finished off the bag by making these yummy carrot cupcakes. Don’t they look good?

I also concocted my own icing using a large portion of the coconut I have on hand. Walla! A yummy treat, and so frugal too! I saved a few out and froze the rest, otherwise the two of us would have them eaten in a day or two. Now we have them on hand for sweet tooth emergencies (I am pregnant, after all!) or for when we have company.

A New Chapter Begins.....

As of today I am officially a stay-at-home wife and mom-to-be! I had to go to work today long enough to hand out my end of the year report cards. Then I turned in my classroom key and employee badge and went home. Tyson and I had decided long ago that when the time came to start our family, I would stay home. Thankfully, the Lord has blessed us financially, making it very easy for me to resign. While I have loved teaching, especially the years I taught first grade, I am so ready to begin this new chapter in our lives! My heart has truly been at home the past year or two. My desire has been to be a keeper of the home and a mom. So while I am a little sad to be giving up my career for now (okay...maybe I'm not really that sad!), I know that my future as a stay-at-home mama will yield amazing rewards.