{BABY} Madelyn's 2nd Month

Hello!  Wow, I cannot believe how fast the last month has flown by!  Madelyn (and all of us) have been very, very busy!  

{PETS}

She has been getting to know her furry brothers... 

Hanging out with Jackson

Sleeping with Reggie

Getting to know Mini Kitty

{FAMILY & FRIENDS}

She got to meet Grandma and Grandpa Shotton visiting from Kentucky!

 

Meeting BJ visiting from Salt Lake City and thanking him and his family for all of the baby stuff she uses ALL the time!!! {THANK YOU Johnson family so much - we MISS you guys!!!}

Meeting Sam and thanking her for fixing Daddy's hair!

Madelyn attended her first Miracle League game to see Uncle Jon get his trophy.  One day she will get to be his buddy!

We also had a very special visit from Aunt Carolyn from Indiana and her first Skype with her Portland cousins!

Madelyn also had her first "professional" photo shoot when Aunt Deena and Uncle Mark came to visit from Orange County, CA.

She also spent time with the Newf's and hosted her first Boxing Party!

Mike, Raquel and Madelyn

{ABOUT MADELYN} 

EATING

She eats a lot but still is little but very long - she fits into 3 month clothes in length but not in the belly!

SLEEPING

She is a very good sleeper - normally she will eat around 7:30 PM, then 11:30 PM and then sleeping until about 4-5 AM then eat and play until about 7:30 AM then sleep.  We both consider this great since Brad will take the 11:30 PM feeding so I can sleep from about 9:30 PM to 4:00 AM!  She is still in our room and does not like her crib but it is so much easier to have her sleep next to us at night.

LIKES

Overall, it was a great month! She is such a fun loving little person and brings a lot of happiness to everyone around her.  Everywhere we go with her people comment on her hair - every. single. person.   

Next up is a visit from Cindy and Mike!  

{BABY} Week 39...

Well, it's week 39 plus 1 day... and no baby in sight.  Nothing, nada, zip at the doctor (Friday) so she is having me go in to the hospital on Monday (3.9) to get a NST (non-stress test) and some gels to help move this process along.  We are shooting for my due date which is Friday, March 13th.  Yep, Friday the 13th!

How big is baby: At our last ultrasound at 37 weeks she was 7 pounds and is growing an ounce a day…. Supposedly from here on out my belly shouldn't get much bigger. We will see about that. It gets bigger by the hour if you ask me. Oh, and at my last appointment everything was measuring on time again.

Other sites say she is the size of a watermelon... 

Maternity clothes: I swear I will miss my maternity jeans.  They have become like a second skin and I am not sure what I will do without them.

Sleep: Ehh. Not so great, I am so congested and my own snoring wakes me up and I've been waking up one or two times a night to use the bathroom.

Best moment of the week: Everything is done and ready for the baby.  Everything. 

Food cravings: None, I am so excited though to eat like a normal person again without thinking about what’s on my “do not eat” list. 

However, I am not sure if this is a craving but I LOVE the crushed ice at Circle K and make Brad go twice a day for a free refill.  The workers must think he is a freak!!!

Food aversions: None, as evidenced by my weight gain.

Symptoms: Sore SWOLLEN feet.  Stiff, tingling and swollen fingers. 

Labor Signs: None.  Last week I thought it was time, but no it was dehydration.  I now carry around a huge plastic jug of water and ice at all times.

What I'm looking forward to: Having this baby!!! 

What I miss: Sleeping on my back and stomach.  And being able to use my hands properly – the stiffness is insane.

Next appt: Monday, Tuesday and Friday.  I see the doctor’s office staff so often I know all about their lives.  Brad can now read NST results and translate the majority of the info before some of the staff.  Can we put this on our resumes?

NST Test

Baby items purchased: Have purchased almost everything off our registry, aside from the breast pump (the hospital provides it). My baby to-do list is complete.  We picked a pediatrician but now since we have time we might interview another one since he is from Indiana.  Brad also finalized putting together the swing from Cindy and Mike... a couple days, redos and assortment of batteries later, we are good to go! It's like a spaceship for babies! 

Other: We got Reggie groomed to remove a lot of his extra fur.  He looks very pretty! 

Since, the baby is not coming this weekend we decided to have Jon over for Friday and Saturday night... 

So, what date do you think she will make her debut?  I am hoping for Friday night.  Brad wants March 11th.  

{BABY} Week 33

Week 33... crazy that she will be here in March... luckily Geoff has been here to help prepare for her arrival - THANK YOU GEOFF!!!!  He has been painting, moving stuff and helping us make decisions which is awesome, since when Brad and I projects together it can get ugly... 

Home Projects + B&C + baby hormones = nothing good :( 

We actually went to Home Depot and chose three different colors of paint in less than 5 minutes - that could be a record! 

Also, Mary went to visit and help out her sister in Indiana so we have Jonny Boy to help us along... he is great at picking paint, lightening the mood and keeping us on our toes!  It has been a fun week with all of us working together!  

Here is Jonny Boy at Miracle League of Arizona - I cannot say enough about Miracle League.  It is the highlight of Jon's week and the people who work and volunteer there are amazing.  I will write more about this at some point but needless to say he had a blast! 

Jon with his buddy "Jackee" 

So here is the 33 week shot - please forgive the wet hair we were heading to Jon's baseball game! 

Deena - I added Reggie and Jack today!

Brad and Geoff agree my "belly" has grown 2 inches since this picture! 

Here is the work the men have been doing... 

While I have been working at my job, which I love doing.  It is a great mix of customer service, marketing and social media and I get to do it from home which is icing on the cake! 

Then, there has been the food!  We went to Scottsdale Beer Company, Z'Tejas, Four Peaks and Ray's Pizza!  But the best meal has been Brad's Smoked Ribs and Chicken at home!  Jonny Boy loves it! 

We have been super busy but loving every minute of family time!  I will add the BBQ Sauce recipe soon - it's too good not to share! 

Next up - Baby Shower! 

Love - Brad and Christi 

{FOOD} Quick Chicken Piccata

I love anything with lemons - lemon bars, lemon scented candles, lemon centerpieces, etc.  So when my doctor said I had to limit iron during my pregnancy (steak, kale, spinach, hummus, the list is LONG) I was happy to learn Chicken Piccata was still on the OK list!   This recipe is from Chef John from Foodwishes and I encourage everyone to look up his website because his food does not disappoint and he makes it very easy to follow! 

So the reason for this post is that we have turned Jonny Boy into a huge lover (and eater) of this dish!     So it is Jon Approved too! Also, it does not take very long to make and Trader Joe's has capers for a lot cheaper than the store. 

Quick Chicken Piccata

Rated: Submitted By: Chef John Photo By: Jana Swanson Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cook Time: 15 Minutes Ready In: 25 Minutes Servings: 4

"These quick and easy pan-fried chicken breasts are topped with a simple pan sauce made with capers, butter, white wine, and lemon juice."

INGREDIENTS:

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves cayenne pepper, or to taste salt and ground black pepper to taste all-purpose flour for dredging 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon capers, drained

1/2 cup white wine 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice 1/4 cup water 3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut in 1/4-inch slices 2 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley, chopped

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Place chicken breasts between 2 layers of plastic wrap and pound to about 1/2-inch thick.
2.	Season both sides of chicken breasts with cayenne, salt, and black pepper; dredge lightly in flour and shake off any excess.
3.	Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Place chicken in the pan, reduce heat to medium, and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes per side; remove to a plate.
4.	Cook capers in reserved oil, smashing them lightly to release brine, until warmed though, about 30 seconds.
5.	Pour white wine into skillet. Scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Cook until reduced by half, about 2 minutes.
6.	Stir lemon juice, water, and butter into the reduced wine mixture; cook and stir continuously to form a thick sauce, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low and stir parsley through the sauce.
7.	Return chicken breasts to the pan cook until heated through, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve with sauce spooned over the top.

{FAMILY} Adventures with Jon

Each week we try to take Jon out for lunch and a little fun.  We took him to lunch at AZ 88, a very swanky place known for their martinis... perfect place for Jonny Boy, right?

Jon & Brad at AZ 88

Well, Jon had a GREAT time with a grilled cheese and Brad had a great time with a Martini!  He (Jon, not Brad) always surprises us with how he can acclimate to so many different, new places and have a great time.  After lunch we walked around the Scottsdale Civic Center Plaza... 

Then we decided to take Jon to look at Open Houses in the area... which to Jon probably seemed like The Torturous Tour of Strange Bathrooms in Scottsdale! 

Luckily, Jon was a good sport and decided he had enough at house number 6, I know a lot of people who would have cashed out after house/bathroom number 3!