What I'm Loving Wednesday!

Haven't linked up in a while...so I'm linking with Jaime today for WILW!

I'm Loving...
that I went to the grocery last night for the first time in 14 weeks and made it through without getting sick! YAY!

I'm Loving...
that I'm feeling a good peace about being pregnant.  I haven't felt that yet, and my fears are *starting* to get less and less with worry. Thank you Lord for putting Your hands on me and baby!

I'm Loving...
that although we haven't seen a day without tornado warnings in almost a week and a half, my family is all safe! I'm also loving that today during state testing we had to stop and go into 'severe weather mode' and my kids were wonderful!! They were scared but they were so quiet and patience and listened so well to me when I told them it would be okay!

I'm Loving...

My husband.  For many reasons of course, but most of all, being my husband and putting me first!

I'm Also Loving that he will be running in his first mini-marathon on Saturday!! Good Luck!

Lastly... I'm Loving...

That I can FEEL baby H!!!!!! And that we get to find out if baby H is a boy or girl on Tuesday!!!



Hope you're having a good Wednesday!
{And I'm also loving new followers! Leave me a comment with your blog address...I'd love to visit you!}

Easter Sunday!

Our Easter Sunday didn't start with your typical Sunrise Service.  We actually went on Friday night to church {through the tornado touchdown and all!}.  Our church is pretty large and asked regular attendees to think about going to another service so it would open up some free spaces on Sunday...so we went.

My Mom and Dad had lots of my Dad's side over for Easter Lunch.  It has been pouring here and we were really keeping our fingers crossed for a dry day since there were so many people coming over! Luckily, it rained a lot through the night and morning, but dried up just in time for the entire afternoon to be enjoyable!

We started with a massive Easter egg hunt in the backyard for the 3 boys.  Cameron was sound asleep upstairs not knowing what he was missing! :)  Jackson and Caleb were so sweet with Colby and helped him find a few of the eggs the men hid!

got a little excited and was trying to pick up all the Easter baskets!

Jackson was the winner of the BIG egg!

Colby...look up in the tree!

Colby, Caleb, and Jackson

Afterwards we enjoyed Easter lunch outside! It was so good! I just love comfort food!! It seemed like we had all my favorite things: honey-baked ham, deviled eggs, pasta salad, scalloped potatoes, fruit salad, green beans, hashbrown casserole, 7 layer salad, and more! And oh the desserts!! I helped myself to 2 different desserts! My sister's delicious homemade chocolate cheesecake and Hope's Strawberry stuff!  Me and baby were enjoying the food Sunday!! :)

he loves smiling!

It was so fun to get everyone together and hang out.  Us 'kids' aren't the kids anymore though!  There used to be 5 of us cousins who were the kids...but that's quickly changing! Jackson is in 2nd grade, Caleb in K, and Colby and Cameron are growing up too! Next Easter we'll have baby H to join in on the mix! Seems so weird...which I think it does to everyone else since they kept saying, "I can't believe you are going to have a baby!"  Believe me, I sometimes can't believe it either!

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter Sunday and remember how blessed we are that He rose from the tomb for each one of us no matter what we've done!! WOW! Gives me chills!

*Future* Easter Traditions

I'm not much on decorating for every season (except Christmas!!) but I have put up just a few Easter decorations.  My regular table decoration has transformed into grass and Easter eggs, and I have a few things here and there.

I'm very excited to *hopefully* get an Easter basket on sale for my baby for next year! I know I want to put the name or the initials {HAB} on the liner.  Here's a few of the ones I found and liked:

And look at what happens after you plant these jelly beans from C Jane Blog.  What an adorable idea! How exciting for a kid! I can't wait to do that in a few years, along with making Resurrection Eggs.

What's your traditions for your kids?!

Happy Easter!

Knocked-Up and 28 :)

Like the title? That's what my little hubby is really liking to say right now. :)  He likes the fact that we are only a year apart for about 2 months until he turns the big 3-0!

We celebrated my birthday with my parents and sister's family on Sunday.  With her husband working nights during the week and having 2 kids, it was just easier! For everyone in my family, they pick out where they want to eat.  But for me, I always have Mom cook and Dad grill steaks...because that is really my favorite! Sometimes we get to sit out on the deck...but Sunday the wind was a little too chilly!

Mom is making Easter dinner, too, so I only asked for a scaled-back version of my favorites since I knew I'd be getting them a week later!

So...Dad grilled Critchfield steaks {yum!}, and Mom made: scalloped potatoes, green beans, pasta salad, corn on the cob, and cheesy bread.  And for dessert...homemade Strawberry Cheesecake!! Yummy! My favorite!

Colby kept telling everyone he was at a 'birthday party' and 'where's the cake'! He likes to help open all the gifts and then move you right along into the cake! No more slow birthday parties in this family!!

how cute is that cheese?!

helping me read my 'favorite aunt award' card

my little guys :)

cheesecake! yummy

me and the 'rents

granddaddy...read his funny comment, here

baby daddy and me :)

On Tuesday I had life group and the girls surprised me with the best tasting cookie-cake ever! I wish I could share the picture...but it will come in a later post...

Wednesday Brian and I spent the afternoon and evening just spending time together.  He's been training for a mini-marathon so runs for what seems like forever and doesn't get home until about 7 each night. Then I'm ready for bed around 8:30 {ok, well, I just don't feel like talking at that time, ha!}, so he decided to skip running so we could have time together! I was really craving Olive Garden and it did NOT disappoint!! We haven't been there in about 3 years...but I think we'll be going back soon! 

{Hubby got me a camera that is so cool and high-tech that I can't figure it out just quite yet! ha! I was excited because my old camera stunk and wanted a better and faster sharing one for when baby comes!}

It was a great birthday! :) Cheers to another year of life!

16 and a Day Down!

Alright! We are 16 weeks and 1 day down as of yesterday...working through week 17!!

I'm feeling really good ~ still tired, but I will take it! I gag still about 2-3 times a day...but like I've said before, I'm okay with this because I know being sick is a sign of a healthy pregnancy {for some}.

I've been trying to do weekly bump pictures just for Brian and I to remember here, and will be adding this one in, too!

Whoa Nelly! Yup, I'm showing! :) In this picture, I'm wearing maternity pants and a maternity top! Brian bought me this top for a Valentine's Day gift!  This week the baby is compared to an avocado! That's kind of big, people!!

A few neat things: baby Burton can now taste what I taste! The baby will even begin enjoying certain foods I eat, so the cute book {which is so cute BTW, it's a must have with really funny and good advice about ALL things!!} Jennifer got me said to eat broccoli now! haha! Baby is also developing ear drums so he/she can hear our voices and sounds.  Hmm, are we going to start being those people who talk into my belly?!

Weight Gain: HAHA, yea right. You're not getting that out of me just yet! :) I'll keep that info in my super cute Pregnancy Journal for my eyes only.

Cravings: Chocolate Milk and breakfast-for-dinner

Funny Moment: Yesterday we celebrated my birthday {post coming} at my Mom and Dad's house.  My Granddaddy was there and said, "Megan, I was about to tell you you looked like you've really put on the pounds...but then I remembered you were pregnant." HAHAHAHAHA Mind you, he's 88. :)

Clothing: I'm mostly into maternity pants or squeezing into a few regular pants with the Belly Band.  I'm also wearing a few maternity tops or some tops that are in a larger size than what I normally wear. {hello boobs for the first time ever, haha} Luckily I already had some flowy tops and dresses that fit great!

Baby Planning: 2 more weeks until we find out the gender of our little one!  For the most part, we have the color scheme's down for either gender...just waiting to see!

A Miracle and A Vent...all in the same post

So, which kind of person are you? Do you like to start with the bad and end with the good or the other way around?  I like to end with the good I can remember it {hopefully} more than the bad.

The Vent:IF one more person tells me they hope I have a girl baby rather than a boy baby I might literally say something nasty and hurtful to you. Honestly.  If one more person tells me that if I have a _______ than it won't matter because I already have so many ______ in my family, I might once again say something mean and ugly. Honestly.  AND, if ONE MORE PERSON tells me they'd rather have a ______ over a _______, again, you guessed it, I will not be a nice lady. {and I even had someone tell me I shouldn't accept a shower if it's a ______ since I can just use all hand-me-downs...}

A baby is a miracle. NO MATTER if it's a boy or girl.  Since when did people start thinking you can *wish* what you are getting?!  A baby is a baby, no matter if you have a 'lot' of one or the other.  I'm so sick of it and I'm realizing it's probably only going to get worse the longer I'm pregnant.  So, if you're around me, I'd stay clear of saying any of the things above, or, you might get your own feelings hurt....and I probably won't say sorry. :)

The Miracle:Ok, think of the person you know that has the absolute worse allergies.  Then times it by 100.  That's me.  I seriously have the worse allergies known to man.  Mix that with living in Kentucky, Keeneland season and Patio season (outdoors) and you've got a pretty miserable Megan. So I've always imagined how bad it will be once I have to get off all my meds during pregnancy.  The only med I'm allowed to take is Claritin; which I've been immune to for about 7 years.  But guess what ~ my allergies have honestly not been that bad at ALL! I've truly never had a Spring {or any other time of the year for that matter} that has been this tolerable...and it's all without my boat-load of meds!! So, I say, "Thank you Jesus" for giving me this little miracle right now and giving me a break.  YAY!  I am so thankful every day!

Cottage-Cheese Mac N' Cheese

This little dish was so yummy! We were thinking it would taste like regular mac and cheese but with a little extra kick, but it actually tasted like something totally different! It was great! :)
This recipe is from the same cookbook as here, Southern Living.

Cottage-Cheese Mac N Cheese
Prep: 10 min, Cook: 25 min.
What you need:
1 12oz. container of cottage cheese {low fat}
1 8oz. container sour cream {fat free}
4 C cooked elbow macaroni
2 C shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 C milk {1%}
1 green onion, chopped {we didn't add this}
1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 tsp pepper
1 egg
cooking spray
1/4 C fine, dry breadcrumbs
1/4 tsp. paprika
What to Do:
Process cottage cheese and sour cream in a blender until smooth.  Combine cottage cheese mixture, macaroni, and next 6 ingredients; spoon into a deep baking dish coated with spray.  Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and paprika; coat with cooking spray.  Cover and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.  Uncover and bake 5 more minutes.

this is how it looks before pouring in dish; I got nervous it was so soupy, but it turns out great!

WILW

Ok, I'm jumping on board with Jamie again for WILW Nephew Edition!

I'm Loving...

This little guy....

Cameron

And this not-so-little guy.....

Colby and Cameron

taking them on a walk with my sister!

I'm also loving...
the fact that soon, we will have 3 babies to take walks with!

I'm also loving how cute this little guy looks who got G-Daddy to re-do the tree house for all 3 grandkids! :)

Colby

I'm loving that a few weekends ago this little guy came to visit us and play!

Hayden

Lastly, I'm LOVING that it is Wednesday already and I only have to work 2 more days until it is FUN weekend time again! YAY! :)

Hope you're having a good Wednesday!

I'm BAACK!

OK, not as in posting...I know, I post a lot. :) haha

I'm back to COOKING! YAYAYAYAYAY! It makes me feel so good and it also makes Brian feel so good!  {praise the Lord} I'm feeling good, so I decided to cook almost every night this week ~ and add a new recipe with each meal!

I went to my fav. cookbook for some ideas - Southern Living Ultimate Quick and Easy Cookbook, a gift from my mom a long time ago!

So, here's my menu for the week, and I hoping to share a few recipes from these meals with you, too!
Day 1: Home-made Potato Soup, Tiny Cream Cheese Biscuits, and Pimento Cheese toasted sandwiches
Day 2: grilled corn on the cob with jalepeno butter, cottage-cheese mac'n'cheese, salad
Day 3: Tortellini Carbonara, honey-fruit

Recipe: Tiny Cream Cheese BiscuitsPrep: 8 minutes, Cook: 16 minutes
1 8oz package of cream cheese, softened {we used fat free}
1/2 C butter, softened
1 C self-rising flour

Beat cream cheese and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer 2 minutes or until creamy.  Gradually add flour, beating at low speed just until blended.  Spoon dough into ungreased miniature muffin pans, filling full.  Bake at 400 degrees for 15-17 minutes or until golden brown.  Serve hot.

*We thought it would take even better with red pepper-jelly on top!  We also lightly sprayed butter on top, too!
The recipe says it would pair perfectly with soup...which is why I made it with the homemade soup...but I think it'd taste good with just about anything! :)

Personalized Beverage Cups!

Mandy, the winner from the *Give-Away* last week said she didn't care what color/font was used...so, I used Loop Dee Doo font {again, it's so cute!} and added some polka dots! I love the pink and brown combo.! :)

I'm also putting these up for sale HERE for $10.  Cups can be made with an initial or monogram.
Hop on over to the Store and check them out! :)

The Myth is/isn't a Myth: 1st Trimester

So...which one is it? In several different books I have {What To Expect, The Pregnancy Countdown, my Pregnancy Journal, the Doctor's Handbook, thebump.com} there seems to be a different opinion on when the first trimester ends: is it 12 weeks or 15 weeks?

If a woman is pregnant for 40 weeks, and you split that up into sections of 3...wouldn't it be 12 weeks?

Who knows! All I know is...there wasn't a 'light-switch' affect for me, but there has definitely been a 'slowing down' of sickness, so I will take that! I'm at 15 weeks {so working on my 16th week} so I'm hoping to begin cooking a lot more this week and hopefully even making some meat dishes now! haha!

I think I'm officially into the Honeymoon Trimester as the books says!

What do you all think?!

:)

I'm not sure if it's because the weather has been so wonderful here, because it's been Spring Break, or the fact that I feel like I'm finally out of the touch-and-go time of my pregnancy; but I just feel so overwhelmed and excited about everything right now!

As I was driving back to my house from my parent's house, I saw lots of cute little families strolling their babies on a walk.  I just got giddy thinking about doing that next Spring! :)

I'm SO very thankful that I'm feeling much better than before! I still have bouts with nausea and even some 'getting sick' moments in the mornings and at nights, but {not so secretly} it gives me a little comfort that everything is still going ok.  Is that normal or crazy?

Today my sister and I totally tried the needle and thread old wives tale about telling the gender.  It was too hilarious for words and my Dad even got in on the action!!! We took pics, but to save myself from looking like a totally crazy lady...I'm not going to share them! HAHA! I guess in only 3 more weeks we'll know if the tale is true or not! :)

I'm also smiling extra today about an answered prayer! God's timing is ALWAYS perfect timing!!!
Psalms 31:14-15

But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD, I say, "You are my God." My times are in Your hand.

Hope you're enjoying your Sunday!

Opening Day ~ Keeneland!

We love Keeneland! Friday was Opening Day and Brian surprised me with taking a half-day so we could go! We could not have asked for better weather in April! It was close to 78 degrees and super sunny! It sprinkled only once or twice, but not long enough to have to move inside.  After Keeneland we went to The Boathouse and enjoyed a patio dinner! YAY, Spring is finally here!! :)

my hair looks bouffant - its just the wind blowing my hair over my sunglasses, ha!

3 Amigos back together again...B, Casey, Adam

watching the horses in the Paddock

Go, Go! There was a horse there named our boy name so we bet on it..it came in second!

showing a little 14wk6day bump pic..to find more of these click under the Our Little Blessing tab

Pros & Cons of the new Spring Meet:
Pro: They had live music on the back Paddock area ~ so much fun!!!
Con: Gate 2 tailgating is taken away...BOO! We were laughing that we never would have met if that was the case a little over 3 years ago!
Pro: We spent less money because I was drinking water...HAHA  and not the 'crack' beer
Con: Did I just get old or are the younger girls more slutty revealing than usual? I mean, I saw lots of butt and lots of cleav.  Even B was talking about how those girls weren't leaving much to the imagination! ShooWee...nasty!
Pro: I could wear my regular capri pants with the belly band and my 3-sizes too big top! :)

Hope you're having a great weekend!!