Back to reality

The holidays are officially over and I think today was the longest day of my life. I worked 6-6 so that didn't help but I couldn't quit thinking about kissing those sweet Ava cheeks! We had some fun little adventures this weekend including a play date with my longtime, similarly parenting (you have no idea how valuable that is in a friend), girl friend Linde and Ava's future BFF Amelia. We had a baby wearing date and the girls were quite content waltzing all over target and Gordman's with us. I can't wait to have some more Babywearing dates and can't help but think about Ava being old enough to really shop. It might be pretty dangerous.

The rest of the weekend and Monday and Tuesday we just had a lot of Ava mommy time because Quincy has been hunting a LOT. Thank god waterfowl is almost over.

I made some seriously amazing cinnamon rolls, recipe at this blog http://tastynest.blogspot.com/2011/11/cant-miss-cinnamon-rolls.html?m=1

And after a long day today made these for dinner and man oh man they were all I had hoped for in a quick flavorful dinner.
http://www.navywifecook.com/2011/11/hawaiian-baked-ham-and-swiss-sandwiches.html?m=1

My kitchen would be so boring without Pinterest :)

Ava had some fun eating peas while I cooked.

I had really hoped to go to the gym.... But then I remember it would be so so busy... And that recipe looked too yummy and those Ava cheeks... They just needed kissing

New year, New social media outlet

It's been awhile since I've blogged but I find myself looking for a healthier outlet to share my life with my family and friends. Not having any kind of social media isn't really an option for me. Most of my moms side of the family lives on the west coast (some on the east) and is quite spread around. It's hard to keep up in this world and especially now that we are so busy with our little family. So I'm going to try blogging out for a spin minus Facebook. This gives me a more private (is that possible?) outlet that I can share with my friends and family. Something where people have to make an effort to come read instead of me just popping up on their news feed. And something that I don't have to feel like an obsessed freak for posting 5 pictures of Ava to in a day and possibly clogging up people's news feeds. Ill be switching over to private so that I can monitor who is reading about our baby bean in a few days.

Although I don't feel like I have to justify my decision I hope to gain a few things by making these changes.
Building the relationships I really have instead of fostering Internet relationships. I have a lot of amazing people in my life but I'm not focusing on those specific relationships as much as I could be.
Facebook is such a time suck and I'm constantly on it. Why do I have to scroll through my news feed several times to see what everyone is doing? If I want to know why can't I call them? Email? Text?
I'm wasting precious time scroll scroll scrolling even when I have my baby girl sitting in my lap. Life is literally passing me by and I'm busy staring at the blue screen of death.
I find myself not having time to read, crochet, run. Things I really really enjoy. But why? People lead very similar lives to my own so why do they have time to be healthy and have constructive hobbies they love? I've noticed it's people that don't spend time posting multiple statuses and liking everything that have time. My hopes are my house will become a little more organized.... Or not, may ill be too busy smelling the roses.
So what can you expect from my blog? Life updates? Daily rants? Recipes? Ava updates? Quincy and amber updates? Maybe. I don't really know. I'm still learning but I'm glad you're reading, because that means that I'm not just someone on your news feed but rather someone you really want to her about. I encourage you to email me, text me, call me, stop by (unless I don't know you, which is why my blog is going private soon lol) because I want to know you too, better. I want real relationships that I have to work to build. Those are the ones that mean the most.
Ill also be on Instagram so feel free to follow my multiple uploads of Ava, food, scenery and what nots a day. My tag is mrsneverlift.
If you'd like my phone number or want up hang out or just want to email me my email is qandasimon@gmail.com

I hope that you'll subscribe to my blog updates. It makes it easy to keep up and gets sent straight to your inbox. Ill make sure I have that up later when I'm not mobile.

I'm going to go enjoy my second cup omf coffee and some more Ava snuggles...
Stay tuned :)

Baby is getting spoiled already....

Today I went Christmas shopping with my grandma, as we do every year. I was expressing my concern that maybe I should be buying a pack of diapers every week or something?.... She said noooooo, just buy things you want and you'll get tons of stuff at the shower...I've only bought her 2 little outfits up until today and she got 3 more, including an outfit I have to share, because it is sooooo cute and maybe her coming home outfit. :)
http://www.carters.com/carters/Animal-Print-2-Piece-Dress-Set/V_121A030,default,pd.html?cgid=carters-shower-gifts-baby-girl-babys-first-wardrobe

How adorable is that? She'll definitely need a bow to match :)

Other than that we're layin low this week and trying to keep up on crochet orders!!!

22 Weeks

Well I'm technically 21 weeks and 6 days but better early than late (or not at all because i'm a slacker right?).
I finally got around to taking a belly pic. Usually i don't feel like i look presentable because i'm home all day i've been living in sweatpants...and I rarely put on more than mascara. I'm gross. I accept it.
First Belly Pic, then stats :)

Officially not a cupcake belly I think. I also think I actually look pregnant, and for now I say THANK GOD. 

How far along? 21 Weeks and 6 days
Total weight gain/loss: Still No clue. But I do fit in my american eagle jeans with some fixing up with a hair ponytail holder, they still fit great in my legs. Although most shirts haven't fit very well for awhile unless they were long to begin with.
Maternity clothes? I bought a few on black friday (shirts) and for awhile i don't think i'll need anything. Maternity leggings are on my Christmas Wish List, and sadly I had to retire my favorite pair of fleece sweatpants that were fitted to begin with in the waist. They seriously hurt my belly now :( sad day. 

Stretch marks? No stretch marks, although i think that stupid zipper line is coming in and it is NOT welcome. I've been putting on Lamaze Belly Cream twice a day....hopefully it fades or doesn't get much worse. 
Sleep: Sleeping more through the night with less potty breaks actually. But, Waking up with some decent hip/lower back pain. I think that make have to do with the new mattress we got before Thanksgiving though. It is not pillow top, AND we went from a Cali King to a Queen. eek.
Best moment this week:  Feeling the baby move EVERY day. It is amazing. 
Miss Anything? Running! I miss running SO BAD.
Movement: Definitely, she is CRAZY. 
Food cravings: Anything spicy, and Tabasco goes on basically anything and everything now. No heartburn yet. 
Anything making you queasy or sick: Not anymore really :)
Gender: Girl OFFICIALLY

Labor Signs: No
Symptoms: hip/back pain. Tired quite a bit.
Belly Button in or out? In still :)
Wedding rings on or off? Only On when i'm out and about. otherwise it stays off.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, especially since i feel like i can start planning
Looking forward to: Christmas and Maternity Pics in February with Sara Mac Photography out of Douglass KS. :) 

20 weeks and a few days ;)

Alright readers, I'm sorry I've been on super Hiatus! So I'm gonna fill you in.
We went in for our 18 week sono to find out that we have a REALLY difficult baby on our hands. The whole time 'it' was laying head down like in a head stand, curled around the placenta and had the legs closed tight. They could see a little bump but never could get a shot of the boy parts to confirm if it was a boy or girl. He said he would wander to guess boy but would not buy blue because at that point it could be swollen girl parts....
I was pretty disappointed but felt like I was right, that we were totally having a boy as I have felt non stop since we got pregnant. So I had my 18 week appointment that week also and she said that I was measuring perfect, and also that as long as we don't have any complications that we wouldn't have any more sonograms....This is where I start hating my doctor btw. So I leave and think, well fine, we'll have a babywaves appointment and find out that way after 20 weeks. So I've had a few pretty boring weeks, no funky stuff, only getting sick once a week like I have been etc; etc;.
So we get to go in for our 20 week sono at babywaves, that my doctor refuses to sign permission for. Thankfully they never even asked for the permission slip so we got to go in anyways. This is where I'm finding a way to switch primary care physicians if possible Monday, because I officially HATE my doctor. really? you're going to deny a babywaves appointment. For gods sakes.
We get in and I immediately inform the tech that we have a pretty defiant baby on our hands. I mean, the last sonogram we had LITERALLY crossed feet. Which i was REALLY bummed about as was Q. So I tell her if we need to use the full 30 minutes to figure out the sex, that's fine. So she gets in position, what do you know. The baby has flipped, BUT, is now sitting cross-legged on the butt....making a view pretty hard to get. She says confidently 'oh they always undo you just have to give them some time'...So she starts showing us the face, which was a much better sono picture than our last, of course we have the typical crazy hands like the last time, which we refer to as 'jazz hands' And she tries again. She gets 3 white lines numerous times, which is a girl. But can't get a good shot yet...so she goes back around. And the only way she can get a view is to move from the top of my stomach dowwwn to the pelvic bone and look up with the probe. I swear she made that movement 50 times. But we keep getting 3 lines, 3 lines, no boy parts. So.....I was wrong....
We're having a GIRL!!!!
The Tech Said this is By far the most difficult baby she has ever had to try and find gender on.

Quincy was maybe a hair disappointed, i sort of blame myself which he says obviously is not my fault and he will love her anyways, but I was so persistent that I swore it was a boy. I mean, we had a boy name picked out (Brecken Kenneth), and had not even looked at girl names because I felt it was kind of pointless. But since last night he has come WAY around to it and I know he'll love her no matter what.

So she's our little stubborn shocker!

Still No Ideas on names btw.

Also, I PROMISE to get a belly pic up and more of the 20 week Sono.

18 Weeks, showing off those Jazz Hands

Curled around the placenta, you can also see the feet

Crossed feet

Good Shot of Spine

20 Weeks, Sweet little profile :) My favorite thing is her nose. 

17 Weeks

So after much pestering from my family and friends, I give you a belly pic....a sad version via picture phone, but hey, as you see, I look like I've had 2 dozen cupcakes...fun. I'm so so ready to look like i'm actually pregnant and not fat. And i'm kind of waiting for some stranger at the grocery store to ask me how far I am, since that will be confirmation that I actually look preggs. 


So without any further delay...

Nice for a belly full of cupcakes right? 

We find out the sex in SIX DAYS. Time cannot go any slower, and if this baby is shy I will be so bummed. 

Here's the stats!

How far along? 17 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: Still no Clue. I still fit in all of my shirts (some are short ish), and my jeans technically still fit but have been tossed aside due to the comfy-ness of my one pair of maternity jeans.
Maternity clothes? Haven't bought anymore yet...probably wont until BLACK FRIDAY!!!

Stretch marks? Thankfully no, And i've gotten better about cocoa buttering. 
Sleep: Suddenly i'm sleeping through the night without potty breaks...which could be bad because i might be slacking on fluid intake....but other than that and bizarre dreams, sleeping good!
Best moment this week:  Eating the chocolate cake that I made from scratch today ( http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/06/the_best_chocol/ )
Miss Anything? still margarita's. 
Movement: maybe? still?
Food cravings:I'm pretty sure Saturday I had my first Legit craving...A chili cheese coney. It was divine. 
Anything making you queasy or sick: just the usual typical nausea 
Gender Prediction : Boy
Labor Signs: No
Symptoms: Round ligament pain, some nausea.
Belly Button in or out? In still :)
Wedding rings on or off? I've had it off all week, but I haven't gone anywhere.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Quite happy this week, maybe due to the sono coming up and my clean house since i have had some decent energy.
Looking forward to: Still finding out the sex and holidays..... And a drink in less than 180 days...

16 Weeks - Busy Sunday

First off, yesterday was horribly un-productive, not totally a loss but didn't get much don't. Got some chores done but that was about it. Spent the rest of the day crocheting and facebooking and...pinning (addiction alert!). Highlight of the day, Bambino and I experienced our FIRST earthquake! It was pretty weird, Shook the couch and I thought I was going crazy but the news was on and shortly after they said it had just happened. Quincy was asleep and missed it. Although it was pretty neat, I think they need to quit. I mean, each region should only have to deal with one possible natural disaster. We have tornado's....not earthquakes. 

Today, Quincy worked again so I busied myself with finishing laundry, cleaning up my french toast mess (Cloe ruined my french toast dreams yesterday by stealing a WHOLE loaf of bread off of the counter), and cleaning the mud room. My goal is to do a decent sized organization task once a week until the holidays and keep the house really clean. God knows everyone is busy during the holidays and i just really don't want to deal with it, not to mention we find out what this baby is right before thanksgiving so i'm sure once the holidays are finished we'll be jumping straight into painting the baby's room etc;....so it just needs to be done...

Here are somethings that have me swooning this weekend, besides the chili cheese coney I had to have 20 minutes ago....it was divine. 

This elephant hat. so freaking cute. 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/58335925/elephant-hat-prop-or-gift-newborn-to-18

This Deer wall art. If we have a boy i'm thinking a fun nature ish fun nursery is just the ticket, and I'm pretty sure i can swing this one DIY.

http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2011/02/diy-deer-head-silhouette-wall-art-decor.html