April 20th, 2015

so this is what #3 looks like at 9 weeks :)  I've been so sick and haven't felt like doing anything, so this is coming really, super-de-duper late.  I'm 16 weeks now and am finally feeling better.  it's felt like ages, but I almost feel normal now.

Dollar Tree pregnancy test - got my money's worth.

I started feeling pregnant a couple of weeks before I got a positive on a home pregnancy test, so I wasn't surprised, but it was still exciting to see the line show up.  I left it out where I knew Matt would find it, and he was thrilled - it's all he can do to not tell everyone he comes in contact with as soon as he knows we're expecting, which I know was very difficult for him while a lot of his family were in town recently.

the last, big, disgusting thing I ate before morning sickness moved in and kept anything good from entering my stomach.

food became tricky by week 4.  nothing sounded good and anything I did manage to choke down didn't sit right.  salad was alright, but not filling or satisfying at all.  I tried to eat small amounts of different things, which worked okay for a few days, then I would start craving one thing and burn myself out on it.  I never felt like I craved much with my first two pregnancies, but this time I actually, really wanted those giant pickles, and ate pickle after pickle.  I just kept shoveling them away to the point that at the end of the jar I wanted to drink the juice - this has never been appealing to me.  ever.  I did stop myself because I could only think how dehydrated I would be after!  I also tried some pickle flavored Lays... I do not recommend these.  apples seem to be my only friend right now.

I think Jack senses his role as the baby coming to an end because I've been getting more cuddles and random kisses from him.  he also wants to lay on my stomach - I didn't like that one so much when I was feeling like I was about to toss my cookies (which was all the time), but I tried to stand it as long as I could because there won't be room for him there much longer, and by the time there is room again, he might not be interested in sitting in my lap :(

I was trying not to say too much to Leo about it early on since he has such a good memory and repeats everything he hears, but now I try to talk more with him about the new baby because he understands more of what's going on than Jack does, and I'd like him to be prepared for another sibling.

stuff-wise, we are set if this is a boy, but we are totally at odds on boy name choices so I'm really hoping it's a girl this time!  we just have to wait a few more weeks to see.  luckily we're at the end of the year when the weeks just fly.

16 weeks

Snakmaster!

I remember watching HSN when I was a kid in the 90's and seeing the Snakmaster - it looked so neat to me.. for some reason!  my mom got one and we used to put pancake mix in it.  it was fun for a little bit and then we forgot about it.  recently I've been using it and coming up with some recipes, and all our food has pretty much been triangular, but it's all good.

some things I've made are grilled cheese (Leo loves this with Ranch dressing and eats it crust and all),

leftovers quesadilla made from a tortilla and leftovers from the fridge (chicken tetrazzini, I think) and cheese,

"corn dogs" made from Jiffy cornbread batter and hotdogs,

and muffin mixes (Leo's finger in the corner waiting to snatch one).

I'll be posting some recipes I came up with soon, and I have to say, they are really good!

watermelon carving

 

I made a carved watermelon bowl for a beach themed party I went to recently.  I found some simple hibiscus flower clip art online to try and it worked up pretty good.

I used a small, round watermelon and drew my design on with a dry-erase marker so it would rub off later.

traced the lines with rubber stamp carving tools, then carved away the inside of the design.

I did the design before I carved the melon so it was easier to work with and I could wash it down after I was done and get rid of the marker lines.  it tends to dry up depending on how long you work on it (took me 2 hours start to finish) so washing it helped to let it soak up some moisture.

 

I cut the top off and scooped out the inside, rinsed it out, patted the outside dry and wrapped it in plastic to set in the fridge until later that night, then I filled it with fruit right before I left.

 

it was so easy to do I would definitely carve one again if I find the time!