Ava's eviction notice

At my doctor's appointment today, we discussed induction. We came out successful! My induction is scheduled for this Thursday morning at 6am. I can't wait to see my daughter!!!

Santa's workshop...

This morning I woke up to Ava's bedroom door all wrapped up. I had been instructed to keep out of her room for about a week now. It has been very difficult but I managed. I was told that I was not allowed into Santa's workshop. What was going on in this room that I did not know about. Her nursery was complete wasn't it? What was so important that I couldn't see?

Do you see what is new? A glider for the mama and her baby! I had told Josh that I didn't want one first off because I didn't want to spend the money on one and secondly I had no idea where we would put it. Well my amazing husband figured all of that out so I wouldn't have to. I am so excited and cannot wait for our endless nights of reading, rocking and middle of the night feedings :)

Ava's Stocking

I have been working on Ava's stocking since July and set the goal to have it finished by Christmas. I didn't think I would be able to do it but I did!

I sent to off to my mom to use her sewing skills to turn this into a stocking.

I could not be more thrilled with how it turned out. Josh loved it so much he wanted a stocking for himself. So I am setting yet another stocking goal to have Josh's finished be next Christmas, we shall see. I still don't have all of the threads sorted out yet.

39 weeks with a trip to the hospital

Ava is holding strong to staying with mommy. Last week I went to the Dr., Ava was measuring the same size and it was the first time that I stepped onto the scale without seeing an increase in weight. I am holding steady at a weight gain of 24 lbs. I had dilated to 2 cm and was beginning to thin out. He said he would put his money on Ava arriving on Thursday, December 22nd. On Friday evening I began to loose my mucous plug, which was exciting and scary at the same time. Early Monday morning around 2:30 I started to have mild contractions and they got strong enough to where I was unable to sleep. I came into the living room and sat on the couch to see if sitting helped them go away. I started timing the contractions at 3:07 the were coming every 3-5 minutes and lasting 40-60 seconds each. I called the Dr. that was on call or rather woke him up and he had instructed me to go ahead and come in. We arrived at the hospital a little after 6:00 am. I was hooked up to monitors and was able to listen to Ava's heartbeat (that sound never gets old). After an hour of laying there they came to check on me and I had not dilated or thinned out anymore. I was at 2cm 50% effaced. They then instructed me to walk around the hospital for an hour. After this they checked me yet again... no progress. They assured me that I was having contractions and they were at least 5 minutes apart but they weren't strong enough to make a difference. They informed me that I was in what they call the early stage of labor, which could last a couple hours or a week. I was discharged, we came home and crashed. The contractions slowed and I had a few sporadic ones last night. I go back to the Dr. tomorrow in hopes of hearing that I have made some progress. The Lord will present her when he knows the time is right. Josh and I are learning the value of patience. I am only going to have to be uncomfortable for a little while longer.

Surprise Maternity Leave

Do I have an extremely thoughtful husband or what? I have been stressing out about the possibility of going into labor at work and now I don't have to! I am so excited to be able to take a few days to get things in order before the arrival of our daughter. I am such a planner and preparing for her birth has been one of the hardest things because I want to know the day she is coming and I can't . But being off work helps me to relax about it!

38 weeks

We are in the home stretch!

Heart rate: The nurse was unable to tell us Ava's heart rate at our appointment because she was moving so much. But we did get to hear it.

Weight Gain: 24.5 lbs

Cravings: For the past month all I have been wanting to eat pickles on everything. I never ate pickles before and now I can't get enough of them.

Measuring: I am 1.5cm dilated!

The Dr. said that Ava is already measuring at about 7 lbs and 3 oz. or so! I can't imagine her waiting it out 2 more weeks. I haven't been given an E.T.A. on Ava but at this point it could be anytime. I have been having strong Braxton Hicks contractions for about a week now but nothing to significant. We are all ready for Ava, yesterday we spent the day getting everything situated and ready for her.

Here are pictures of her completed room:

Mom's Apple Coffee Cake

Traditional breakfast for visits home to Mom's.

What you need: 

- 1 box yellow cake mix

- 1 can apple pie filling

- 3 eggs

Topping

- 1/4 cup margarine, melted

- 3/4 cup brown sugar

- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

- 2 tsp. cinnamon

What to do:

1. Beat eggs in a large bowl.

2. Stir in cake mix, then stir in pie filling.

3. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan or 2 round cake pans.

4. Stir topping ingredients together.

5. Spoon topping on top of cake batter and swirl with a knife to distribute.

6. Bake at 360 for about 30 min.

37 weeks

No picture this week, but I will have one next update, promise!

Weight Gain: 22.5 lbs

Heart Rate: 136

Measurement: Measuring on schedule and I have dilated 1cm. Which is extremely exciting for me because it means the process has begun. Although I know I could be a 1 cm. for a couple weeks or just a couple days. Hopefully at my next appointment I will see more progress.

The Dr. has estimated that Ava will weigh approximately 7lbs. 6oz. and measure 20 inches in length.

Ready for Christmas

Like I had said Josh has been extremely tied up in school the past few days and I have been keeping myself occupied with numerous crafts, recipes and getting out our very small collection of Christmas decorations. We are ready for the holiday! (on another note I finally felt brave enough to put my Christmas cards in the mail I hope it puts everyone in the Christmas spirit)

Josh said it is the last year of having an artificial tree, I am extremely excited. That was one thing I always looked forward to as a little girl; finding the perfect tree, cutting it down and taking it home.

Kitchen Table

The Living Room (and my ruffle wreath <3)

Ava's stocking hanger.... waiting for me to finish her stocking

One new ornament for the year

and the other new ornament. Just in case she is not here by Christmas she will still have an ornament for the year.

I'm crafty and I know it.......

Ruffle Felt Wreath

This weekend Josh has been extremely busy with wrapping up his first semester in grad school. So I decided to look through my Pintrest.com boards for some crafty inspiration to keep me quiet and busy while he completed some work. One thing I ran across was this:

from chickspicksbyhillary.com

It is sold on this website for $54.00 and it's felt. I came across a tutorial a while back of a lady that made a ruffle wreath out of paper. So I used the same logic, with folding and gluing. The texture and look all depends on the size of circles you use when cutting your felt and how closely you glue everything together.

My supplies:

-20 sheets of felt at $.29 per sheet

-1 Floral Wreath ring at $4.99

-Sparkling Holly beads  at $.99

Total: $11.78 but there are always coupons for craft stores so look online, I did not have any at the time I went because I was too excited to start my project.

The first thing you want to do is to find the size circle you would like to use. I just used a glass from the cabinet, turned it upside down and traced around the lip. I was able to fit 8 circles on each piece of felt.

 Then take the circle fold it in half then in half again. Add some hot glue to a side of the pointed part and place onto the floral ring. Continue to add circles this way to get the look you want.

I liked mine closer together because I wanted tighter ruffles. After you are finished add any embellishments. The great thing about the floral ring is that I am able to just push things into the ring without gluing them so I can use the wreath year round.

Christmas Cards

I have to admit that sometimes I like it when I feel like an over achiever. Christmas cards is something, I have to say that this year, I am an over achiever at. I have all of our Christmas cards (except 2) addressed, stamped and sealed. However, I think I am going to wait until next weekend to send them out so no one receives their Christmas card before Thanksgiving. Usually I am good about taking one holiday at a time but this year I am excited to get to Christmas!

Calzones

What you need:
-pizza dough
-pizza sauce
-mozzarella cheese
-your favorite pizza toppings

What to do:
1. Make pizza dough according to the directions on package (I like to use the thin crust pizza dough)
2. Roll dough out into a rectangle on a cookie sheet
3. Place sauce in middle section of pizza dough. So that you will be able to wrap over the sides.
4. Sprinkle cheese and toppings on top of sauce.
5. Cut the dough on the sides at about 3/4 inch intervals. Don't cut all the way to the filling.
6. Start at the bottom and alternating sides, overlap the strips of dough onto the filling in a lattice pattern. You can stretch the pieces to fit all the way over the filling.
7. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes or until lightly browned 

almost to 35.... dr. appt. update

At 35 weeks Ava is measuring the size of an average Honeydew melon!

Weight Gain: 20.5 lbs

Heart Rate: 164

Measurement: Measuring at 34. 5 weeks and I am 34 weeks and 5 days so right on target.

No concerns! Due to the holiday next week I will not be going back to the doctor until Dec. 2 when I will be 35 weeks and 6 days

stocking update.... is Christmas really 5 weeks away?!?!

I started on Ava's stocking this summer and with attempting to have all of my lesson plans and materials together for when I am out on maternity leave, I began to neglect the stocking. Lately, I have been designating certain nights for lesson plans and others for cross stitching. My goal is to have it done by Christmas because I know that when Ava gets here working on a stocking will be the last thing on my mind. Another I need to have done by Christmas is our Christmas cards. We bought some this weekend and I am in the process of addressing them, I think I have been pretty productive.

We still have so much to do or at least I think so. We are still in search of a pediatrician and an in-home child care provider. We have sorted out Ava's laundry and will be washing it this weekend along with installing the car seat. Then I will begin to pack my hospital bag. I guess it really isn't that much but there are tons of other little things. I have to realize you can only plan so much.

34 weeks and a visit from our moms

Cravings: None

Weight Gain: We have hit the 20 lb. mark, I have informed the nurses at the Dr.'s office that I do not wish to see the scale go any higher on my next few appointments... good luck with that

Belly Button: In

Heart Rate: 164

Changes: I can defiantly tell that little Ava is growing. My belly is getting rounder by the day.

Memory from the week: While at church Ava was kicking around, like I said this is her favorite time to get her gymnastics routine in. I had my mother in law, Mary, feel her kicking, when she would kick Mary would rub on her feet. Ava would then kick her back. This went on for about 2 minutes, I think someone has ticklish feet :)

My Dr. has decided that due to pelvic pressure that I have been experiencing he would like to go ahead and begin my weekly visits. Right now he has informed me that she has dropped but everything else is exactly how it should be right now. My next appointment is on Thursday.


Josh's mom came to visit this past weekend which was very nice and a great change of pace for us. We were able to celebrate Josh's birthday while she was here. My mom also came to the area to visit my bother, his wife and the new addition to their family. We were able to squeeze in sometime together shopping at the outlets.

 I think I out-did myself :)

The birthday Boy!

Crockpot Ham and Potato Soup

I found this recipes while searching the food and drink boards on Pintrest (one of my latest obsessions). I made it last night and it was delicious! For my version I did not add carrots because Josh doesn't like them and I added a half of a beef bullion cube because I thought I had chicken ones and didn't want to go back out to the store.

What you need:
7 c. diced potatoes (about 4 medium)
1 c. diced onion (about 1 medium)
1 large carrot, chopped
2 c. ham, diced
5. c. hot water
1 Knorr Chicken Bullion cube (extra large size that
makes 1 quart broth or 4 small cubes that make 1 cup each)
1 c. 2% milk
1/2 c. sour cream
Salt and Pepper to taste 


What to do:
Add diced potatoes, onion, carrot, and ham to a crock pot. Dissolve chicken bullion in 5 cups hot water, then add this to the crock pot also. Cook on low 7 hours, or high 3 hours. Then add milk and sour cream. Stir and cook an additional 15 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Makes twelve 1-cup servings.

If you'd like a thicker soup, just before adding milk and sour cream, remove 2-3 cups of the potatoes and slightly mash, then return the mashed mixture to the crock pot.

Makes 12 Servings (About 1 Cup Per Serving)

Chocolate Eclair Cake

One of my go to desserts for any type of gathering

What you need:

15 whole graham crackers (broken in half, 30 squares)

1 1/2 cups milk

1 pkg (4-serving size) Jell-O Vanilla Pudding

1 tub (8 oz.) Cool Whip

1 cup chocolate frosting

What to do:

Arrange 10 squares, overlapping slightly, in bottom of 8-inch square baking pan; set aside. Pour milk into large bowl. Add dry pudding mix. Beat with wire whisk 2 min. or until well blended. Let stand 5 min. until thickened. Gently stir in whipped topping with wire whisk until well blended.

Spread half of the pudding mixture over graham squares in pan. Top with 10 of the graham square and remaining pudding mixture. Cover with remaining 10 graham squares.

Refrigerate at least 3 hours. spread with chocolate frosting just before serving.

The other weekend I decided to make a low sugar hence lower calories version for just myself. I used sugar free vanilla pudding prepared like the directions on the box. I made one layer of graham crackers in a large flat bottom bowl, then poured on half the pudding, another layer of graham crackers, the rest of the pudding. On top I squirted on some chocolate syrup. It was still yummy :)

Zorin Brun

This past week I became an Auntie!!! I am so excited that I have a nephew. He was born on November 1, 2011 and is 7lbs. 13 oz. and I think 21 inches long. He is adorable and a very content newborn. I was able to get in some cuddle time when I visited him at the hospital just a couple hours after he was welcomed into the world.

Zorin Jensen Brun

32 weeks

We had our bi-monthly doctor appointment on Friday, Ava's heart rate was up to 163, this was the first time it was not in the 140's. It worried us a little at first but we were reassured that this is normal and I noticed that this was the first time that Ava has been up and moving during a doctor appointment. She is keeping up with her aerobics but thankfully has managed to get on my sleep schedule, no gymnastics in the middle of the night. We were also told that she is head down, yay! She could flip around but pretty soon she will not have enough room to. I actually lost a pound since my last visit due to the stomach bug I had last week.


Cravings: No major ones currently
Weight gain: 16 pounds
Belly Button: Will not be popping anytime soon
Goals for the week: I started to reorganize somethings that have been laying on her bedroom floor and her room is pretty much in order. We need to clean out the trunks of our cars before the weather gets to bad, so we can make room for the stroller.

31 weeks and a stomach bug

I had my last Dr. appt on Monday and I go back this coming Friday. I had gained 2 lbs. in 2 weeks, which means little one is growing. She continues to be active and gets the hiccups at least once a day. Josh took me out this week to purchase a couple more maternity tops for my low, growing belly and some flats to wear to work because the heels are just not going to cut it this fall.
On Thursday night I was hit with a stomach bug from work. I should have known it was coming, we had 9 kindergartners out and sent 3 home on Thursday with the bug, so it was only a matter of time. It was worse than any sickness I have ever had before. I don't know if it was worse because I am pregnant or if it was just really that bad. Based on what fellow co-workers have said, I'm thinking it was just that bad.
The T.M.I. moment- Vomiting was the main factor, not just the regular kind "lean over the toilet, wipe my mouth, I feel better" No way, projectile, I can't make it to the bathroom fast enough I need a trashcan at the ready. Just make sure you have a really deep trashcan. No fluids will stay down especially water.
So, after making it through an awful Thursday night, still debating on going into work, I still had my alarm set. I know, crazy...it's just a job, right? I had been drinking water through the night and woke up at about 7 just in time to see all of the hard work of drinking fluids rush into a trashcan. I couldn't stand up without feeling faint and walking, yeah right. Josh was ready to take me to the ER in fear that Ava was experiencing my side effects of dehydration. We decided it would be best to speak to the Dr. on call before racking up an ER bill. The Dr. on call informed me to start drinking whatever I felt sounded good (Gatorade, ginger ale, sprite and even popsicles) but to only sip it. She also told me to take Unisom, yes the sleep aid, she said that it was originally intended to aid with nausea but the sleep side effect was so strong that they decided to market it as a sleep aid and it is safe for pregos. She also told me to come to the Dr. office first to have my levels checked for dehydration before checking into a hospital. I drank Gatorade and Sprite, Josh made sure I ate some toast, crackers and oatmeal. Most of all during my Unisom induced coma he would wake me to make sure I was getting enough fluids. (I have an amazing husband!) 2 days post stomach bug I am still not completely myself but can feel myself getting better. Ava is still doing her acrobat routines probably un-phased about what has just happened.
Currently, we are re-organizing in our apartment. Our apartment is older and only contains 2 small (very small) closets. 1 in each bedroom, we really want the closet in Ava's room to be able to hold some of her things. So, this week we are learning to optimize our space for a family of 3.

only 10 weeks left!

This pregnancy has gone so fast! Not that I have anything to compare it to. I can't believe that we will get to meet our daughter in 10 short weeks. Which means that Christmas is also only 10 weeks away. Everything has been going really good. I still am having trouble sleeping, it is very difficult for me to get comfortable and then sleep for longer than 45 min. increments.
This past weekend we were blessed with 2 more baby showers for Ava. My first shower of the weekend was on Friday with my dad's side of the family. My second shower was on Saturday with all of the girls from work. We came out so blessed with all of the things people have bought for us....for Ava. On Saturday evening we decided to use all of our Target gift cards that we had received over the months as baby gifts. We were able to purchase all of the other essential items needed to raise our daughter! Such a blessing, another big thank you to everyone that has given gifts, prayers and/or support during this amazing time in our lives.
On another note, I had a doctors appointment today. We have made it to the 2 week appointment mark! So far I have gained a total of 17 lbs. Ava's heart rate stays around 140-143. My doctor says that everything is great and development seems to be going along wonderfully. I made a joke that by the time I go into labor he will be sick of me after seeing me so much. He then stated, no, I will be sad I won't get to see you as often.   Perfect answer! These are the times when you know you have made good choices.

Fluffy Pumpkin Cheesecake

Another pumpkin recipe to satisfy the pumpkin craving :)

What you need:
         1 Graham Cracker Pie Crust
         1 pkg (12 oz.) cream cheese, softened
         1/2 cup sugar
         1 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
         1 cup 100% pure pumpkin
         2 eggs

What you need to do:

1. Mix cream cheese, sugar and pumpkin pie spice on medium speed.
2. Stir in pumpkin.
3.. Add eggs and mix until blended.
4. Pour into crust
5. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes.
6 Cool. Refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight.

Beef Chimichangas

What you need:

• 1 pound ground beef (or turkey)
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon taco seasoning mix, or more to taste
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1 can of tomatoes and green chilies
• 2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup margarine
• 6 (7 inch) corn tortillas
• 
  

What you need to do:

1. Preheat oven to 450 
2. Brown the ground turkey, onion, garlic, taco seasoning, and oregano in a skillet over medium heat, breaking the meat up into crumbles as it cooks, about 8 minutes. Drain off excess fat. Stir in sour cream, chilies, and vinegar until well mixed. Remove from heat, and mix in the Cheddar cheese.
3. Melt margarine in a small skillet over low heat. When melted, dip each tortilla into the margarine for about 30 seconds, or until soft. Place the softened tortilla onto a baking sheet, and fill with about 1/3 cup of the meat mixture. Fold the right and left sides of the tortilla over the filling, then the top and bottom, making an envelope that completely encloses the filling. Flip the tortilla seam side down on the baking sheet. Repeat with remaining tortillas and filling.
4. Bake in the preheated oven until the tortilla is crisp, about 15 minutes.

2 babies in 2 months

This weekend was my sister-in-law's baby shower. She is due to have a baby boy on November 6th, but a few of us are thinking that he is going to come earlier than that. My parents will be having a grandson and a granddaughter a month and half apart from each other. It is going to be a busy and extremely joyous holiday season!

basil chicken over angel hair

A great light but filling dish in place of regular spaghetti nights.

What you need:

• 1 (8 ounce) package angel hair pasta
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 2 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes
• 2 cups boneless chicken breast halves, cooked and cubed
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

What you need to do:

1. In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook angel hair pasta until it is al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain, and set aside.
2. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Saute the onions and garlic. Stir in the tomatoes, chicken, basil, salt and hot pepper sauce. Reduce heat to medium, and cover skillet. Simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until mixture is hot and tomatoes are soft.
3. Toss sauce with hot cooked angel hair pasta to coat. Serve with Parmesan cheese.

pumpkin cookies

To help satisfy my pumpkin craving, last week I made pumpkin cookies. Delicious.

Pumpkin Drop Cookies

What you need:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 cup chocolate chips

What you need to do:
Stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda and nutmeg. In a mixing bowl beat butter for 30 seconds. Add brown sugar and beat until fluffy. Add egg, pumpkin and vanilla; beat well. Add dry ingredients to beaten mixture, beating till well combined. Stir in raisins, walnuts and chocolate chips. Drop from spoon onto cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes.


Hint for raisins: Usually raisins are pretty dry and have an odd texture in cookies. Place however many raisins you will be using in a small dish. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over raisins and let sit for 10 minutes. Drain water. Result: Plump juicy raisins perfect for baked goods.

graduate school and all of it's glory

Josh has settled into grad school at Xavier and is thoroughly enjoying the excitement of learning. After being out of school for two years their were some slight reservations on how easy it would be to adjust back into the mindset of read, read, read, study, study, study, write, write, write. However, the adjustment has come fairly easy. He will begin going to a practicum site that provides a unique intensive treatment and intervention program for high-risk children who have mental health and behavioral problems as a result of living with a family member with addiction. Josh is highly interested in working with a similar population that he worked with at his previous job. Thus far the two main areas he has not been interested in is children and the elderly. He looked at the practicum sites as an opportunity to see the unseen, so to speak. Josh has a big heart and I feel will do great wherever he is placed. He is learning more and more about himself in this program than either one of us has anticipated. 4 years seems like a long time but I know it is going to pass us by, I am so proud that he has been given the opportunity to attend Xavier University and to be a part of such a reputable program.
This past week Josh's friend from the program, Brent, had his birthday. Seeing that it was his first birthday away from home we decided to celebrate!

We bought Brent a hat, I made the cake, Josh supplied the relight candles (reason for so much smoke) and Brent and Josh supplied the entertainment of karaoke.

Mexican Stuffed Peppers

I didn't know how well these would turn out and kept avoiding to make them. However, I am glad I finally decided to. They were delicious!

What you will need:

• 1 pound ground beef (or ground turkey)
• 1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
• 3/4 cup water
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1/2 cup cooked rice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce, divided
• 3 large red bell peppers
• 6 (1 inch) cubes Colby-Jack cheese

What to do:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
2. Place the ground beef into a skillet over medium heat, and brown the meat, breaking it apart into crumbles as it cooks, about 8 minutes. Drain excess fat. Stir in the taco seasoning, water, chili powder, cooked rice, salt, garlic salt, black pepper, and 1 can of tomato sauce; mix until thoroughly combined. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer 20 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, cut the bell peppers in half lengthwise, and remove stems, membranes, cores, and seeds. 
4. Place the steamed peppers into the prepared baking dish, and fill lightly with the meat filling. Press 1 cube of Colby-Jack cheese into the center of the filling in each pepper, and spoon the remaining can of tomato sauce over the peppers. Cover the dish with aluminum foil.
5. Bake in the preheated oven until the peppers are tender and the filling is hot, 25 to 30 minutes.

Devour with a side of black beans and tortilla chips!

pumpkin cravings and a jab to the ribs

A craving has finally hit me. Pumpkin. Pumpkin anything.... pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin cheesecake. You name it I will probably want it.

Speaking of pumpkins, I feel like I am carrying one in my tummy. Although people say I am still small, I feel big. I am now 27 weeks, its amazing to think that in 3 short months Ava will be here. She is moving all the time, especially when I lay down and gets her groove on to the music at church. Which means I need to lay down in the bed a good half hour before I want to go to sleep or her dancing moves keep me up. Sleeping has become uncomfortable. I am was a tummy sleeper now I have to sleep on my side and average about 4 trips to the bathroom a night. Ava is sitting very low and I usually feel all of her pokes, jabs and kicks lower than my hips. On Sunday, she was experimenting and jabbed me good in the ribs but returned quickly to her normal position. I guess she is debating on whether or not she is ready to be head down. I go to the Dr. on Friday and get to have my gestational diabetes test. I am really not looking forward to the scale. At this point I have gained around 10 lbs. and am slowly but surely realizing that it is o.k.

Josh is doing really well adjusting to school and is enjoying it. He has already had 2 tests and reads constantly. I told him he could read to Ava, then I decided that his readings are really not that interesting to me so no to school reading materials. He talks to Ava a lot and usually ends up getting hit in the face a couple times. Her love taps make me smile.

easy oreo truffles

Lately, dessert has not been my ultimate craving but every now and then I will crave a specific item. Such as a chocolate milkshake, a piece of pumpkin pie, a cherry pie from mcdonalds or like last week... oreo truffles. They are extremely easy to make.

What you need:
-1 pkg of Oreos
-1 pkg cream cheese
-1 bag chocolate chips
-2 tbsp of Crisco

Smash up the entire package of Oreos and place in a bowl with the package of cream cheese.

Mix together

Melt bag of chocolate chips in a bowl with Crisco. I microwave in 30 second increments to assure the chocolate doesn't burn. Roll Oreo mixture into balls then coat in chocolate. Place on parchment paper, wax paper or foil.

yummy!

the decorating is complete!

We decided to go the vinyl sticker route for the longest wall in Ava's room, here are a few pictures from last night's assembly.

all of the pieces to make a tree, I was scared....to be honest

Josh working on the tree :)

Instead of leaves this tree is covered in flowers, they all are placed individually

the bare tree, it is roughly 7 feet tall. Great with the high ceilings

above her crib we placed a bible verse, 1Samuel 1:27

back to the tree and all the flowers

the finished product!!