Let's talk about food!

This seems to be a subject I have been thinking about lately. I think I overdid salty foods and was retaining a crazy amount of water... that and another lovely PG side effect made the scale ready several pounds heavier than it did this morning (::exhale:: what a relief!).

So, I have several blogs and websites that I follow to check out new recipes. I love food and love to cook, so the more the merrier! Here is a list of what look at for inspiration:
http://diaryofarecipeaddict.blogspot.com/ (the title is funy to me since my H would say I am a cookbook/recipe addict too!)
http://disfordinner.blogspot.com/
http://freezerchicks.blogspot.com/
Then the regular websites:
http://www.allrecipes.com/
http://www.weightwatchers.com/
http://www.halfmysize.com/

I have been compiling a list of recipes that I want to make before this little wiggle worm comes out. I have talked to neighbors who I have previously done a freezer cooking night with to confirm a date, talked with Moms Club about maybe planning a freezer cooking night before baby comes out and I have a date with another PG Mom who is also in need of making backup meals like I am.

However.... I have 24 meals on my menu list. My H thinks that is too much. He said that when I do it now, it is 5-6 meals and it takes us 3 months to eat those.... but that is not with a newborn in the house! I asked my sister's opinion (Mom of 6) and she thought that 24 meals was NOT excessive.... I know that a couple friends brought meals after Alex was born which was awesome. I honestly think that getting food after the birth of a baby is the #1 gift a new Mom (or an old Mom w/ multiple kids) can get! So... instead of assuming that anyone would do this for me (after Taylor the only meal was muffins MIL made for us - which I am not complaining - they were GREAT!). Maybe it was also because we had just moved and I didn't know anyone yet too.

Of course, all the meals depend on freezer space too. It appears that since we got a pig this fall, we have such limited freezer space. I wanted to buy another deep freeze, but the H said that since we are getting a new fridge for the kitchen, the old fridge will become a garage fridge which will increase my freezer space by one fridge freezer..... (really?!) I cannot complain, we have two fridge freezers, full and a stand up deep freeze full.... The basement fridge freezer is where all my freezer meals go now, unless I run out of space.....

Here is another dilemia on that. I heard of a federal tax incentive on appliances to be offered after April 15th. I really hate to wait so long to make the bulk of my meals.... BUT I did have 13 meals in the freezer when Taylor was born and did it all in the week before her birth since I found out my induction date 5 days before her birth. I guess if I did it then, I can do it now.

Another belly pic

Holy Cow, is that thing getting big!

24 weeks, 5 days

Yet another belly pic

This picture was taken at 23 weeks, 4 days. Any guesses on baby's gender?

Life of a SAHM...

So, today is a pretty typical day in the life of a SAHM, so I am going to give you a rundown of my day....

Woke at 5:30 because I am PG and about every other day I cannot/do not sleep well. Since I was up, I came downstairs to try out our new treadmill and walked a mile - took me 22 minutes, but I walked a mile and increased the incline with every 1/4 mile I walked. Got done, played on the computer, went upstairs and got some cereal before I fainted. Took a shower, got dressed, did my hair & make up. Waited for the girls to get up. Alex got up first, she cuddled for a long while as we watched the Today show and she drank her hot cocoa.

Taylor woke and had her chocolate milk. Got the girls dressed and ready to leave. Oh - that was not before a tantrum by Alex because she couldn't pick whatever dress out of her closet to wear. So, she got a nose-in-the-corner time out, which is works best these days. Neither girl wants to eat breakfast, so I don't push it because they are both terrible breakfast eaters. I separate laundry and throw a load in before I leave. I hate to see dirty laundry sit.

Left for Moms Club Business Meeting. Had to leave twice to pee (once after the "meeting" part was over). Of course, the first time, my two year old decides that she also has to "Pee Now" as she says. So, I missed a bit due to mine and her pee trips.

Get home and I am STARVING! I wanted to warm up leftover kneophlia soup. Alex wants biscuits, so I eat a fiber bar and wait for the biscuits to cook and we have kneoplia soup and biscuits for lunch. Clean up the kids after lunch, throw the dishes in the sink. Turn cartoons on for the girls so I can switch and fold laundry. I also put away their clothes from the other day. I hate to put clothes away.

Come downstairs where Mommy has some computer time and the girls play in the toy room. Then it is time for Taylor's nap - which we go upstairs for. Alex will not stop talking to let Taylor get comfortable, so she gets to sit on her bed... she doesn't fall asleep, but is quiet and lays there until I lay Taylor down. I then fold the last load of laundry that is in the dryer. De bone the leftover rotisserie chicken that is in our fridge, take out some carrots and slice them, get corn and peas out of the freezer. This is dinner tonight. I will mix the chicken and veggies with cream of chicken and use crescent roll dough for top and bottom crust of a chicken pot pie. Until then... I am updating my blog while Alex watches cartoons as quiet time and Taylor naps.

I am working out, again!

My H really wanted a treadmill, so we used our Christmas money, plus our soon to be earned tax return and bought one on Monday. Monday night H's BIL had to come over to help my poor H get the box down the stairs and Tuesday while we left for a playgroup, H got the thing set up. The salesman said it was really simple, my not so mechanically inclined husband said it was not so easy.

However, it is set up and in our computer room with the eliptical machine now. I also got my way in the placement of the machines in the room, which H never got even though I tried to explain this to him over and over. So, I walked a mile yesterday and I walked a mile this morning. I know that even if I eat right and exercise, I will continue to gain weight.... :o) I guess I am hoping that walking helps with stress relief and maybe - just maybe slow weight gain?

I had my mind set on a number to gain this PG. Well, if I gain 10 more pounds, I am there. Yeah, at 23 weeks pregnant, I am thinking the chances of exceeding that number are pretty high. Oh well, I can just hope that the weight melts off after like it did after my previous two kids. I did start this pregnancy 14 lbs less than I did with Alex (#1) and 10 lbs less than I did with Taylor (#2), so even if I only lose my "baby weight," I will be sitting almost at my goal! I don't know if I need to add, but I feel that I should also say that I also gained 10 lbs less with #2 than I did #1. That is where my # came from - 10 lbs less than baby #2.

However, I have 16 more weeks of pregnancy and feeling this amazing little wiggle worm wiggle and kick until I have to worry about that.

Snowy days at the zoo!

Today was a high in the 40's here in snowy North Dakota.

The Dakota Zoo is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday's, so we bundled up and went for a snow walk. We even walked to see the buffalo since Taylor loves buffalo! The path that goes out there is a mile long, so the girls and I all walked over a mile today at the zoo!!! Taylor was getting tired and kept asking me to hold her, I would try and make it about 15 feet before I couldn't do it anymore...

~ The girls walking the path to see the buffalo~

~Again, on the path, a little sisterly love here~

Taylor's classic "Cheese" face.

Yes, I do allow my kids to wear character clothes. :o)

Alex, being Alex...
Such a pretty snow bunny!

Another snowy walk....

The girls walking...

The Buffalo!
They are at the end of the mile path, but it is worth it!

The bears
They were busy digging....

The tigers were very active...

Another tiger view - a close up.

The tigers were watching us!

Basketball anyone?

22 weeks, 5 days PG w/ baby #3

So, I think I swollowed a basketball.... anyone missing one?

I didn't think I looked so round anymore, but I was wrong.