Turnips Anyone?

I am 17 weeks along now.  I am actually starting to feel pretty good, and have a "little" more energy.  At least it's enough to get Natty out of the apartment for a little bit on Saturdays, so we're not getting "apartment-fever" from being cooped up all day.

Our baby is the size of a turnip.  I cannot believe how much and how fast this baby is growing.  It is already very active.  I am being kicked fairly often throughout the day, but (like Natty) the baby gets shy when Tim puts his hand on my tummy.

At 17 weeks, our baby's skeleton has changed from cartilage to bone.  It's umbilical cord is also growing thicker and stronger each day.  Our miracle weighs about 5 ounces.  It can move its joints (obviously since I am kicked constantly) and is starting to develop sweat glands.

Well, it's been a pretty good weekend so far.  Condering Natty's been sick pretty much all week, she is still in very good spirits.  She is slowly getting better.  Thank you all for praying for her.  Even though she hasn't been feeling her best, she is still making leaps and bounds learning language.  She is learning a new word practically every other day.  Some of her new ones are:  all gone, bubbles, love you, who is it?, what is this?, duck, and thirsty.  All I can say is that I am amazed.  I really do not drill her on words.  Tim and I just talk to her alot, and I guess she is just soaking everything up.  We are so proud of her.  

It's Official....

....I've got the baby bump!  It has been fun having people (and my students) start to notice that we are expecting baby #2.  I didn't tell my students this year, and waited to see how long it would taken them to notice.  Surprisingly, my 7th graders caught on before my 8th graders did.  Anyway, here is the first picture of our precious "baby bump."

 Like my PJ's?  At least they fit.  =P

Natty has been enjoying kissing and hugging on the baby bump.  She has such a lovable personality.  I cannot wait for her to meet her little sister or brother in person.  The last time I had my appointment, the doctor did a quick ultrasound.  When Natty saw the baby on the screen, she shouted "Hi!"  You should have seen how much the baby jumped!  She continued to do this several times, and the baby would jump each time.  =)

In other news, Natty is growing like a bean stalk and her brain just seems to be like a sponge right now.  Recently, she's gotten really good at repeating what we say, so we have really been trying to teach her some more vocabulary.  She also recognizes people she knows in photos, and can name them.  She still likes bath time and her 'bubble,' but has discovered she can crawl out the tub recently.  =P

Tim's applying to jobs, and has had a couple interviews.  We're still waiting on the Lord's timing and seeing where that open door is.  With the economy continuing the way it has, it has never been more important to lean complete on the Lord.  We are learning that even if we were to be down to our last dollar, the Lord will still provide all we need.  

Even though I struggle with working right now, I am definitely thankful I got the job I have when I did.  I'm tenure, so will get my contract renewed for the following school year.  However, I know I am praying for a lot of my friends who are working in other districts in worse situations.  It looks like our district employees will loose a week's worth of pay.  Even though that is alot of money to Tim and I, it would be better than for everyone else to loose their jobs.

Well, hope you guys are all doing well!  Take care and Happy Wednesday!

 

Crock Pot Chicken

I have never baked a chicken before, but when I saw that Albertson's had their chickens on sale for 49 cents a pound, I just had to take advantage of that savings opportunity.  After doing a bit a research, I found and tried out this EXTREMELY simple recipe for a crockpot baked chicken.  I have never had chicken turn out SO tender, ANYWHERE!  I absolutely loved it, and the clean up time was awesome, considering all I have to clean is the crockpot.

Ingredients:

• small whole chicken
• butter

Directions:

• Clean chicken, getting rid of giblets.
• Rub chicken all over with butter.
• Place in crockpot, depending on your crockpot:
  
• On high, 2-3 hours.
• On low, 4 1/2 to 5 hours.

I have a fantastic husband who cleaned the chicken out for me and got it started on high.  I left it cook on high for 3 hours and switched it to low for the last 1 1/2 hours.  You don't need to add water.  The chicken will yield about 2 - 3 cups of broth (which is handy for other homemade recipes), depending on size.

Serve up with some steamed carrots & potatoes.  I have fallen in love with these bags...

I steamed a handful of baby carrots, 1 LARGE potato, 2 cloves of garlic, and a tablespoon of butter for about 4 1/2 minutes.  It was very yummy!

This made for a very quick and simple dinner, with minimal clean up required!  (My favorite!)  And it was pretty healthy too!

Pretty Good Walgreens Trip...Under $2

Got a pretty good deal on cleaning supplies the other afternoon at Walgreens.

I snagged up:

• 2 Oust (Buy 1 Get 1) = both ended up free with a BOGO Coupon
• BOGO Windex and Fantastic 
• BOGO Celestrial Teas

Total was 5.47 after freebie for Oust and a 0.40 off for Windex wipes and a $1 off Celestrial Teas.  There was a rebate form for Windex wipes.  So after rebate...  5.47 - 3.49 = 1.98

Woo Hoo! Pretty good in my book if I do say so myself!

Hope your weekend is off to a great start!!!  I know mine is!

Update on the Rockin' Diaper Deal

Oh hey, forget how you guys can even rock this diaper deal further! Save your receipt and turn them into the Caregivers Marketplace for 0.75 back for each package of diapers. Go here to find out more info.

So I recalculated my savings...

I bought:

• 2 jumbo Huggies Diapers
• 2 boxes of Huggies wipes
• 1 bubble mailer
• 1 Christmas cookie jar (on clearance, couldn't resist)

Used:

• Rite Aid $5 off $25 here.
• 2 $1.50 off Huggies Diapers coupons
• 2 $ 0.50 off Huggies wipes
  

Total was 24.88 - 10 (rebate offer #48 ) - 2 (rebate offer #29 ) - 2 (rebate offer #30) - 1.50 (Caregivers Marketplace) = 9.38 (cheaper than one package of diapers!)

Rocking Diaper Deal at Rite Aid

I subsribe to The Thrifty Mama blog, and I always find awesome deals. But my good friend, Nicole, actually beat me to this one.

After I went all the way to Rite-Aid, discovered I left my wallet at home in the parking lot, went back for the wallet, and came back, I bought 2 jumbo packs of Huggies and 2 boxes of Huggies wipes for $3.96!!!!!!

How to do it:

Go here for $5 off $25 Rite Aid coupon
Use (2) $1.50 off Huggies Diapers coupons
Use 0.50 and 0.75 off a tug of Huggies wipe coupons

Submit for Rebates #29 ($2 for Huggies Diapers), #30 ($2 for Huggeis Wipes), and #48 ($10 Rite Aid giftcard for $25 purchase of Kimberly Clark Products).

Don't Delay!!!!!

Simple Creamy Alfredo

I tried out this recipe last night for some quick, easy alfredo.  It came out pretty good!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 c. milk
• 1/2 c. butter
• 2/3 c. Parmesan Cheese
• 8 oz. Cream Cheese (cut into bits)

Directions:

Cook on medium heat until everything is melted together.  Stir often.

Makes enough for about 2/3 lb. of Pasta, depending on how saucy you like it.  It thickened up quick, so depending on what you like, I'd dilute it a bit with more milk next time around.  Taste Yummeo!

My name is Natty...I eat dirt....

I've been feeling pretty bad that Natty and I haven't been able to get out much.  She loves being outside.  I just still feel icky and don't really have that much energy.  So in an attempt to get some fresh air, we go out on the balcony to water Natty's garden.

I turned around to set our watering can down.  Imagine my horror when I turn around to the sound of chocking...just in time to see Natty pull her hand out of her mouth - FULL OF DIRT!  AGH!!!!!

Needless to say, I threw her in the tub and scrubbed her teeth. 

So much for our mini-outting.  =)

Our beautiful Princess - with dirt in her mouth...