Ultrasounds and Birthday-weeks.

Yes! We're having a boy! The ultrasound was such a wonderful experience. I was getting a little worried because several people had told me, "you should start feeling the baby move around any time!" and I hadn't really felt anything. Or at least, nothing that was recognizably a baby kick or movement. I was ready to get back to the doctor's to at least hear a heartbeat for some reassurance, but seeing the images of our little baby boy was even better. He did kind of stay in a tucked-up position for most of the ultrasound (camera shy), but we saw him move around some. 

I don't know if you can tell, but he's got his knees all the way up to his chin. I'd like to see YOU be that flexible. 

The happiest part for me was that Chad ended up getting to be there. He wasn't sure he'd be able to leave the dental clinic for the ultrasound. Of course, once he talked to his supervisor about it, the guy was pretty emphatic about how much Chad "needed to be there"--at the ultrasound, that is. It's nice that people understand that it's kind of a big deal. 

I had asked Chad several times whether he wanted it to be a boy or a girl and he said he really didn't care either way. I had said I wanted a girl. But once you find out, that's it! We have a little baby boy and I wouldn't trade him in! He's already a part of our family. I'll be the lone woman around our house--and I guess I'm okay with that! I am already dreaming about signing him up for little league in a few years. 

In other news, Chad's birthday is this Wednesday. A while back he had mentioned he wanted a "nice outfit" to wear to a job interview or to work. Seemed like a pretty easy gift, until I said, "Yeah, but you'd have to come with me to the store to try stuff on." That was the end of that conversation--Chad is not a fan of shopping. So for his birthday, I created a personalized Chad-man boutique in my office. I did a bunch of shopping and bought lots and lots of shirts and pants that I thought would fit Chad, and offered to take back whatever didn't fit and/or find better sizes/colors if there was something he liked but needed changed up. I think he was pretty surprised, because I managed to set it all up without him noticing. We had a fun little fashion show and he tried on all the clothes. Of course, the idea is that I will be taking most of the clothes back (money don't grow on trees, people), but he did find a couple shirts and a pair of pants that were absolutely smashing on him. I think it was a win! 

Looking forward to more birthday-week celebrations with my main slice. And I'm SO happy winter is finally on its way out. Hope you and yours have a great week!

Strawberry Pie.

I am so happy with the warmer weather we've been having. It really does wonders for my mood (read: balances out my crazy pregnant-lady mood swings so they are tolererable for those around me).

The other day at the grocery store they were offering samples of fresh strawberries. I thought, "Why not?!" 2 packages of strawberries in hand and leaving the store, I was already stoked to get home and make my favorite treat--strawberry pie. It made me so happy and I thought maybe you could use a spring-ish dessert recipe, too.

Strawberry Pie

Graham crackers

6 tbsp butter

3 tbsp sugar

1 tub cool whip (we actually used 2 cups heavy whipping cream instead, prepared according to instructions)

2 8oz packages of cream cheese

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 cup powdered sugar

Fresh Strawberries

1 cup of semi sweet chocolate chips

First, prepare your crust by mixing graham cracker crumbs (about 10 full crackers' worth), the melted butter, and sugar in a pie plate. Press the crumb mixture into the plate. For the filling, mix your whipped cream, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Pour that over the crust. Place the washed, hulled strawberries on top of the pie. Melt chocolate chips and drizzle over the strawberries. Allow to cool in the refrigerator so the chocolate can harden. Yum!

This was what I usually asked my Mom to make instead of a cake every year on my birthday, and it is so yummy. Enjoy!

Decisions, decisions

About a month ago, Chad had a brilliant idea. Spring Break was coming up, I was going PRN at work, and hello! We're having a baby in August. So let's go on a cruise, he said. Yes! I could not agree more. What better way to phase out of your last few months as a solitary couple than to lounge around on a cruise ship in the Bahamas? It was perfect.

But over the course of a few days, we managed to talk ourselves out of it. Too expensive. Too impulsive. Just too much. (We are already in the process of incurring some serious student loan debt,  after all.)

I've gotten a lot of advice from different people as we've waffled back and forth over the past month. "You should do it! Enjoy your LAST CHANCE to party without worrying about kids!" (That one really speaks to me, I must say.) Or, "You will have other opportunities, and you don't have to stop having fun just because you have a baby." (Mmm, I hope that's true.)

What do you think? What would you do? I don't think we are going to go, but I want to hear some perspective. How does life change after kids? Is it possible to still enjoy a vacation after kids?

Sincerely,

Homebound and Pregnant

Hi.

So, it's been a while. Sometimes when major, exciting things actually happen in my life, I think, "I can't trivialize it by writing about it on my blog--I'd never do it justice." I don't know what that's about.

Anyway, I'm pregnant! We found out in December, after I peed my pants driving home from a work meeting. Great story, maybe I'll have to share sometime! We are so, soooo excited about being parents for the first time. Being a mom is something I've always wanted to be, and I can't wait to meet our little one in August!

I'm hoping to ease back into blogging. I've reduced my hours a little at work and I'm feeling a little less frantic about my schedule, which means I may have time to pick some of my hobbies back up. :)

week 13ish?

week 15

week 17