{BABY} What's in a name?

Well, we thought we had The Name selected (at least I thought we did) but now we have added another name to the mix.  There is a poll on the right side of this blog that will let you vote for a name.... your options are:

Katelyn Leigh
Katelyn James
Madelyn Leigh
Madelyn James

Also, here are some pictures we were going to use to reveal we were having a baby but we went the ultrasound route instead!

{BABY} Ultrasound Photos!

Yea!  We got the good ultrasound tech today who did a great job at taking photos!

She was very active and refused to sit still for very long, but we did get some good shots!  

She is right below normal weight, which the doctor said is fine and everything else measured great.  It is so cool to be able to see her organs and limbs and face so clearly.  

Also, I got reweighed and I am only up 20 pounds since pre-pregnancy, not 30lbs!  I knew the last one was wrong!  

Next up this week is the 28 week appointment with the other doctor!  

{BEARS} The harness that saved a relationship

Reggie and Brad were in a bad spot due to nightly walks.  It was pretty much the worst 30 minutes every time we tried to walk Reggie.  Then we discovered this... 

The Gentle Leader East Walk Harness... it was like a magic fairy came down and saved both Brad and Reggie.  Walks are now peaceful and fun, no more yelling, strangling, threats of death!

{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! 

{FOOD} Easy Cheesy Mexican Chicken: A Slow Cooker Recipe

In order to prep for our upcoming arrival, we have been trying to make freezer dinners to see which ones we like before we make a ton.  This dinner was sooooo good and so easy to make, also it fed us three times!!!

Easy Cheesy Mexican Chicken: A Slow Cooker Recipe

Yields: Serves: 4

Slow cooked chicken, vegetables, and cheese sauce make for a delicious, healthy, and EASY meal served over brown rice.

Ingredients

▪   2-3 chicken breasts (about 1 lb)

▪   1 16 ounce jar of your favorite salsa

▪   1 cup black beans

▪   Optional: 1 cup cooked, pureed squash or pumpkin (for added tasteless nutrition!) -I DID NOT ADD THIS

▪   1 cup of organic frozen corn kernels (canned and drained works too)

▪   4 ounces of low fat cream cheese

▪   2 cups cooked brown rice

▪   1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

▪   Topping ideas: shredded lettuce, diced avocado, sour cream, diced onion, minced jalepenos, chopped black olives

Instructions

1) In a slow cooker, add chicken and top with salsa, black beans, and squash/pumpkin. Stir until combined.

2) Cover and cook on high heat for about 3 hours or low heat for 5-6 hours or until chicken is tender and white throughout.

3) Remove chicken and cut into bite sized pieces or shred it. Add to slow cooker. Add corn and cubed cream cheese. Stir until cream cheese melts and blends into sauce and corn is warm.

4) Serve over brown rice with shredded cheese and your favorite toppers.

Freezer Meal Instructions:

If you plan to freeze this for later (like these meals), go ahead and fully cook. Let it cool. Store in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours and warm on low over the stove or in the microwave. For a quick thaw, use the defrost setting on the microwave.

- See more at: http://thrivinghomeblog.com/2010/01/easy-cheesy-mexican-chicken/#sthash.JMxQNgiW.dpuf

{BABY} 27 weeks...

How far along: 27 weeks, and if I divide 40 weeks by 3 trimesters, I would officially be in my third trimester now (though some sites say 28 weeks is the third trimester). Baby could come in ten weeks and she would be considered full term. Better get to work on that nursery.

How big is baby: Babycenter says the baby is about 2 lbs (think a cantaloupe) and 14.5 inches long.  I think baby is bigger than that. 

I took this fun little due date prediction quiz:

Just about the time you think you can't handle hearing one more "when is that baby going to pop?", your baby will decide to make it's appearance. We predict your baby will be born 3-7 days before her due date. Your baby will most likely be born in the morning. Justmommies predicts that your baby will weigh approximately 7.5 pounds and that your labor will be about 12 hours long.

Total weight gain: Scale at home says I have gained 23 pounds but the doctor’s scale last week had me over 30 pounds so far… I am getting re-weighed tomorrow to clear this up.

Maternity clothes: I am living in yoga pants, Old Navy Maternity shorts and shirts. I just got  a pair of maternity jeans, which I am excited to wear since it just got super cold in AZ (63 is the high).  

Storm on Saturday Night

Sleep: Best sleep I have had in YEARS!  I can also get up to go to the bathroom and go right back to sleep with no TV on.  I cannot remember a time in my life where this happened.

Best moment of the week: Realizing we are less than 90 days until she comes…

Food cravings: Candy – hard, sour candy. 

Food aversions: Oatmeal.

Symptoms: Peeing more often thanks to baby pushing on my bladder, and general feeling of being huge and bulky which makes everyday things a little more difficult (getting up, leaning over, tying my shoes, etc.).

Movement: A lot especially at night and in the morning, then she is really quiet during the day when I am most active.  I am hoping this is a sign she can sleep through loud noises and activities!  The doctor asked about contractions and so far so good, no contractions!

What I'm looking forward to:  We are going to another ultrasound doctor tomorrow morning that I LOVE.  They are very detailed oriented about getting a really good picture and have a 4-D machine that I hoping that they will use if we are nice!

What I miss: Eating whatever I want… like bleu cheese, sushi, sour patch kids; being able to stay up past 9:30 PM.

Next appt: Ultrasound tomorrow and Doctor O on Thursday.

Baby items purchased: NA

{BABY} Week 26

How far along: 26 weeks.

How big is baby:  About 14 inches from head to heel (picture a scallion) and roughly 1 2/3 pounds and may be able to hear both your voice and the voices of people you talk to. 

Total weight gain: +30 so far; which seems really high considering I gained 10 lbs in 2 weeks.  I am attributing this to the new gestational diabetes diet and the fact I was wearing a lot more layers than normal due to the weather.  I am going to check with the doctor in 2 weeks to even this out!

Maternity clothes: I am living in yoga pants, Old Navy Maternity shorts and tanks along with a lot of Brad’s polos.  Since summer lasted sooo long I am tired of wearing dresses, but I am sure I will work them back into the rotation soon.

Sleep: Best sleep I have had in YEARS!  I can also get up to go to the bathroom and go right back to sleep with no TV on.  I cannot remember a time in my life where this happened.

Best moment of the week: The best moment is intertwined with a sad moment… one of our best friend’s moved to Salt Lake City with his family which was incredibly hard but since their daughter and ours will be exactly 2 years apart they gave us a ton of the cutest baby clothes to get us started along with a ton of baby items like a bumbo and bathtub and other items we do not even know how to use!

Food cravings: With this GD diet I am craving things I cannot have such as donuts or pastries (which I do not normally even like very much).  I also never realized how much sugar is in everything!

Food aversions: Oatmeal.  I never liked it as a child but especially now it grosses me out.

Symptoms: Peeing more often thanks to baby pushing on my bladder, and general feeling of being huge and bulky which makes everyday things a little more difficult (getting up, leaning over, tying my shoes, etc).

Movement: A decent amount especially at night and she loves to kick very hard on my sides and I need to move her over so I can stand up straight.  The doctor asked about contractions and so far so good, no contractions!

What I'm looking forward to:  We are going to another ultrasound doctor in two weeks that I LOVE.  They are very detailed oriented about getting a really good picture and have a 4-D machine that I hoping that they will use if we are nice!

What I miss: Eating whatever I want… like bleu cheese, sushi, sour patch kids; being able to stay up past 9:30 PM.

Next appt: An ultrasound and follow up in two weeks!

Baby items purchased: Organization bins for the nursery for the new clothes and shoes. Other than that nothing so far, although I did order so fabric samples to hopefully narrow down the nursery theme/décor.  We also finally decided which room is the nursery!

Brad quote of the week: Well, you finally look just pregnant nothing else… so the last 26 weeks I looked like what???