26 Week Check-Up

Yesterday we went for our monthly visit to the doctor. We started with an ultrasound to check and see if the placenta had moved up. Luckily it had and the tech said everything looked great! We were so relieved. We should be able to have a natural delivery like we planned. We also got to get a good look at our sweet girl. The tech got some great shots of her "girl parts" to ensure that she was, in fact, a girl! Whew! We have a lot of little girl stuff already so we were glad to know they were right! We saw her little face and we could really tell that she has my nose...and her daddy's legs. I'm only 5'3 and he's 6'0....and she has long legs:) The ultrasound tech said she bets she looks like me. Who knows? I'm sure she will get a little of me and a little of Robert. We just can't wait to see her and have her here safe and sound. Here are a few pictures of the sweet pea.

The ultrasound was at 1 and our appointment with Dr. Mou wasn't until 2:45, so to kill some time Robert dropped me off at Michael's to get some bow making materials and he went to Lowe's. We got what we needed and then headed back to the doctor. We had to wait awhile because the doctor ended up having to do a quick procedure on another patient. While we waited...we were both messing on our phones...I was texting ultrasound pics and I'm sure he was either on Craigslist or checking work emails...

The check-up went great. Dr. said I had gained 10 pounds total but I know it's at least 12. She measured and said I was measuring big but that was good because it meant the baby was growing. :) I ended up having to do my gestational diabetes test which consisted of me chugging this nasty orange stuff that tasted like flat orange soda. It wasn't terrible, but the worst part was that you have to take it down in 3 minutes. I did it and waited for an hour so they could take my blood. I won't know the results until tomorrow but I'm REALLY hoping that I don't have to do the 3 hour test. Let's just hope I pass!

We ended the day with dinner with our friends Kenny & Becky. They were in KC with a family member in the hospital so we met up for dinner. On the way home it started snowing...and this morning we have 3-4 inches, and NO SCHOOL! Looks like I'll be making some bows and taking it easy :) I love being a teacher!

26 Weeks

Yesterday we were officially 26 weeks. Here are the stats:

Total Weight Gain/Loss:  13 lbs. (I'll update after appointment today)

Gender: Girl

Movement: All of the time. She's an active little girl. I'm starting to notice her kicking, or punching, high and low at the same time! She must be upside down or sitting straight up! (Hence the sore ribs!)

Stretchmarks: None yet

Sleep: I wake up frequently during the night. Seems like I can't get comfortable. I must be getting enough sleep though because I'm not dog tired in the mornings. 

What I miss: Being able to sit down after I eat without feeling like I'm going to hyperventilate! It's so worth it though!

Cravings: I'm not really having any cravings lately. I've reallllly been wanting a vanilla diet coke from Sonic...

Symptoms: Sore ribs and shortness of breath (big time)

Best Moment this week: Just feeling her move constantly.

Random Updates: We go to the doctor today for an appointment and ultrasound. Next Tuesday we go for our 3D ultrasound and we can't wait. It will be so neat to see what she is looking like!


And here is the 26 week pic:

...and I thought I was big at like 12 weeks...ha!

Fist time with the self-timer & boy will Lexi be spoiled!

Our good friends Emily and Renee are throwing a baby shower for us! It is so nice of them and I absolutely can't wait! They asked us to take a picture of my belly with our hands on it and I don't want to ruin their invitation but here is what the picture looked like...

...and it only took 2 tries!

Lexi's Gigi {My grandma} has been a sewin' fool the past few days...here is a little taste of  what she's been making for Miss Lexi.

Won't that look so cute on her this summer?

Little black Mary Jane's

My Grandma Kathy made these for LB today. Aren't they darling!!?!??!?! I think I'm going to make a little zebra bow to put on the toe, or possibly a little red flower. We decided to kick them up a size because we already know she's going to have big feet (from her daddy). I just thought these were too cute not to post!

A couple of new items for Lexi & TLC's A Baby Story

 Here are the two newest things I've gotten for Lexi. Isn't this cute!!! I found it on Etsy.com (quite possibly my favorite website EVER). They had a million different patterns and colors, but I couldn't get away from the zebra. Robert said, "What's that for?" and I told him it was a wipes case...and he said, "Well, we probably need like 3 of those." He was being sarcastic. I think he thinks I'm addicted to ordering things online. Maybe I am :)

And here is her baby book. It's not very "girly" but I loved the cream polka dots and black and white ribbon. I started writing in it since we have been home for 3 days now due to the snow!

Today Robert had to go back to work...so it's just me and Ellie at home. Here is what she does while I'll blog. :)

On another note...has anybody watched TLC's A Baby Story? 

Since we've been snowed in I have got to watch them and I cry every stinkin' time. Is that hormones or am I just a crack head? I'm not sure. :)

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Well, it's a cold, snowy night and what better to have for dinner than a good soup. I read Kendall's blog at www.kendallandkeith.blogspot.com. She always has the BEST recipes and this one has sounded good for awhile. We tried it tonight and she did not lead us astray! It was great! I stole this from her blog...

(Here's a newer/better photo!)

Here's a recipe for a delicious Chicken Tortilla Soup. It makes a whole bunch, so be prepared to share and freeze some.

The cast of characters.

In other words, a whole bunch of stuff!!!

Chicken Tortilla Soup
(click here for printer-friendly version)

Ingredients

• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 tablespoons margarine
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 (14 ounce) cans chicken broth
• 4 cups half-and-half
• 1 (10 3/4 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup 
• **Recommended addition from my mom: 1 small can of tomato soup**
• 1 cup salsa
• 1 (15 ounce) can creamed corn
• 3 cooked boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 1/2 tablespoons fajita seasoning mix
• 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
• 16 ounces tortilla chips
• 8 ounces monterey jack cheese, shredded 
• Bread bowl - optional 

First: cook the chicken breasts. I didn't photograph this. Sorry, it wasn't all that exciting! I boiled mine in water in a sauce pan with a bay leaf. Then, Keith shredded it and set it aside.

Chop the 3 cloves of garlic and one onion

Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a big soup pot. This is going to get really full, so use the biggest one you have!

Add the garlic and onion to the melted butter. Saute for 5 minutes.

Add 2 tbsp flour and stir well, cooking one minute more

Next, you're going to add the chicken broth and half & half

Broth

The good & evil. Half & half.

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low

Add the condensed soup

1 cup of your favorite salsa

Can of creamed corn

All that shredded chicken

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 package fajita seasoning

Chop up the cilantro

And add 2 tbsp to the soup

{sorry some of the pics are blurry, my handy assistant snapped these in a hurry}

Stir and continue to heat for 15 minutes

We didn't put it in a bread bowl. We just crunched up some tortilla chips, added a little monterrey cheese, salsa, and sour cream! Yum!

{I also halved everything since it was just the two of us. We had some left even at that!}

Give 'er a try! You will LOVE it!

Major Snow

Well, Missouri is getting hit with a major snow storm, as everyone knows. Apparently Clinton is getting it preeeeeetty bad. It started early this morning and here is the progression today...these pictures do not do it justice. I've never seen anything like it. The wind is blowing from the north and it's solid white outside. 

8 am

10 am

Noon

2:00

4:00

This is where Robert plowed around 1ish.

...and these are his tracks a little after 2:00. 

Does that tell ya anything?

We are getting slammed!!!

Robert went out to plow our drive, as well as some of the neighbors. We knew it would get covered, but at least this would be a start.

...and the snow isn't suppose to stop for awhile.

While he was pushing snow...I made some bows for LB.