Ultrasound and 20 week update

We had a good report that all looks good & normal on the ultrasound and we can't wait to meet this little one in June!

How far along: 20 weeks!

Best moments this month: Our ultrasound for sure. Such a neat experience and better equipment and quality of picture than we were used to. Always love seeing the baby on the screen and then hearing a few days later that all looked well and normal. So thankful to hear that.

Food cravings: Fruit, Popsicles 

Gender: A June surprise!!

Belly button in or out: It's about evenly in and out at this point. which is crazy bc I had the most inny belly button ever before kids!

Labor signs: nope

What I miss: Not being congested all night long :(

What I am looking forward to: I look forward to each month - knowing the baby is getting closer to a safer age to be born. Looking forward to celebrating Lucy's bday this month, Joe's next month and spring arriving :)

Milestones: Making it to the halfway point!!

Give yourself Grace

A blogger I follow posted this blogpost from Where my heart resides - a reminder for herself since she just had a baby a couple weeks ago. I want to read it now and maybe again every week after I have baby #3 

"You just had a baby"

What 2,000 Calories Looks Like

Check out this article from the NY Times - a little depressing but I'm glad to know the info and going to think twice before I order at, well, every restaurant!

Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

I always come back to this recipe when I have extra raw or cooked chicken on hand. It's from Iowa Girl Eats and it's really good but pretty simple - I will take it!

Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons butter
1/2 small onion or 1 large shallot, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
2 small carrots, chopped
salt & pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
8 cups chicken broth
2 chicken breasts, cut in half
3/4 cup wild/brown rice blend
1 cup milk
1/4 cup gluten-free or all-purpose flour (I like Bob’s Red Mill White Rice Flour)

Directions:

1. Melt butter in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add onion, celery, and carrots, season with salt & pepper, then saute until tender, about 10 minutes. Add garlic and thyme then saute for 1 more minute.
2. Add chicken broth then increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Add chicken breast halves and cook until no longer pink in the center, about 10 minutes, then remove to a plate and set aside. Shred when cool enough to handle. Add wild/brown rice blend to the pot then place a lid on top, turn heat down to medium-low and simmer for 40-50 minutes or until rice is tender.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup milk with flour until smooth then add remaining milk. Slowly drizzle into soup while stirring. Add chicken then simmer soup for 10 more minutes uncovered and serve.

Photos and Full Recipe:
http://iowagirleats.com/2013/01/28/chicken-wild-rice-soup/

A Momma Must Read

Read this blog for a good laugh, you might relate to it all or at least parts of it :)

"When I have Kids"....

Bare Minerals

source

So I was at our local outlets and stumbled upon a Bare Minerals outlet with all kinds of deals going on after Christmas. I was looking for a foundation to replace my mabelline one that I was out of and that Ulta was out of as well :(
And although my skin is always better in pregnancy, it also seems that this foundation is helping my skin in a lot of ways. I haven't had a single break out since using it and I like the way my skin looks when I'm wearing it. It's light and feels really good on. A big test will be trying it this summer when I'm not pregnant and when my skin is much more oily! But my guess will be that it works much better than my cheap-o liquid foundations!

I tried the original loose powder foundation, the mineral veil powder, blush,mascara, 2 brushes and some lip glosses and tinted chapsticks. I couldn't believe the prices, the Christmas specials were an additional 50% off so the prices were lower than drug store cosmetics which seems amazing for the quality and purity of the products!

If you are looking to try some new makeup and can find these specials online or in-store go for it, I've been loving it!

Here's a review on Bare Minerals/Care Escentuals and explains why it's so good for your skin

Christmas Review

Noah got a tractor and Lucy an Elsa dress from us on Xmas morning and they were very excited :)

Then came Christmas with the Jones side and later celebrations with my parents and then parents and brother's family. It was a very special time and so fun to catch up with our parents and siblings and the kiddos with their cousins. Doesn't happen as often these days, especially after moving! Now we are looking ahead to all that 2015 will bring: 1 year of being in Indiana, a new baby, new stages for L & N - like Lucy going to Pre-K (?!?!) And with this weather, I can't help but dream of summer days with the kiddos at the beach :) Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a very blessed New Year!