I guess a budget modification in is order! March 29, 2008

Well, in order to prepare for the arrival of a new baby, I think a budget modification is in order.

S and I have been discussing our options and have come to the conclusion that I will nurse this baby as well. Although some of our extended family won’t be too thrilled with this, well his mom won’t be because K was so clingy and wouldn’t go to anyone during the first few months. But we have to do what’s best for us and our family. We also decided that we want to cloth diaper. I’ve been doing some research and the more I read, the more I think this will be a good choice. And besides the little dipies are available in so many cute styles! In doing just these two small things, we will be keeping money in the budget to go toward other things. Now we just have to crunch the numbers. Updated budget soon to come. (Please pardon me if you’ve read some of this in one of my other blogs. Sometimes I tend to forget what I’ve already posted. Guess that’s one of the drawbacks of having more than one. But it’s not as if anyone reads this anyway.)

It’s Official March 29, 2008

Well, there is no more guessing. The 2nd and 3rd HPT are positive. Looks like we are expanding our family once again. You would think we’d be worried. But we are ecstatic! I think the best gift God could ever bless us with is a child. A tiny being to shape, mold, teach, and love. Someone who will love us unconditionally and not judge, despite how many times we show how unperfect parents we are. How could anyone be upset about that?

I do worry how K will react. He loves babies, but this particular baby will be invading HIS territory. He may not take to that too well. LOL Actually, I think he will be fine as long as we continue to give him his time. We also have to ensure that we spend QT with D as well. We are going to be some busy parents!

I’m anxious already. I love being pregnant. I’m looking forward to swaddling, nursing, burping, diapering…I’m weird like that I guess. It’s just that I think motherhood is an amazing job. As far as symptoms go, I’m not experiencing many yet. Outside of being a little tired more often, I feel great. No nausea…YET!!! But S has been a tad bit on the blah side. Better him than me! My day is coming!

As for Daddy…he couldn’t be happier! Although we know we are done after this. Financially we will not be able to have anymore babies, that is, unless we win the lottery!!! We’ve told a few people and most have been happy for us. D is happy and of course is hoping for a girl. Tonya actually spared us the dramatics and actually congratulated us and even said she is ecstatic! Go figure. I guess my lil sis really is growing up. She shocked me even more when she told me that she has been thinking she wants to have a baby! No way was I expecting that! But I think my sister would be beautiful pregnant and be a wonderful mother. Her and her SO have actually been looking at their options. As for Meme, well, let’s just say this has to grow on her. We haven’t been able to tell B yet. I wonder how he is going to take the news! I can just hear him, “Mother, I’m 20 and you’re still having babies!” LMAO…oh well…

A little dess than 8 months to go!

Photo: 4 weeks 5 days (ignore the stretch marks…I have 3 kiddos, okay…)

What’s Cooking – Week of 3/30-4/6 March 29, 2008

Here’s what’s on the menu for us this week.

Sunday: Grilled chicken, sweet potatoes, greens, hot water cornbread
Monday: leftovers
Tuesday: Baked ziti, salad, rolls/bread
Wednesday: Manwich, fries/onion rings
Thursday: Pork chops, mac n cheese, greens
Friday: Pizza
Saturday: Chili dogs, fries/onion rings

Grocery List for the week:
charcoal
salad dressing
greens
sweet potatoes
cornmeal

Recipe of the Week – Chili Dog Bacon Cheeseburgers and Fiery Fries March 27, 2008

Here’s one for the kids! If your family is a fan of cheeseburgers and chili dogs like my family is, try this recipe. It’s sure to please!

Chili Dog Bacon Cheeseburgers and Fiery Fries
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 18 minutes
Yield: 4 servings

8 slices center cut or other lean, thick-cut, smoky bacon
1 pound ground lean beef
2 hot dogs, beef or pork, diced
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon grill seasoning (recommended: Montreal Seasoning by McCormick)
2 teaspoons Worcestershire, eyeball it
1 teaspoon plus 1 tablespoon hot sauce, eyeball it, divided
2 tablespoons ketchup
Vegetable oil, for drizzling
4 slices deli sliced Cheddar
1 sack (16 to18 ounces) crispy style frozen potato fries
2 tablespoons butter
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
3 tablespoons chives, a handful
Salt
1/2 cup chili sauce
4 kaiser rolls, split
1/4 head iceberg lettuce, shredded
1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves
1/2 lime, juiced

Preheat broiler to high.
Place bacon on slotted broiler pan. Cook bacon 10 inches from the heat and cook 3 to 4 minutes on each side until crisp then adjust oven to bake setting for temperature recommended on fries packaging.

While bacon cooks, make the burgers. Preheat a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Mix beef with diced dogs, chili powder, grill seasoning, Worcestershire, 1 teaspoon of hot sauce and ketchup. Form 4 large patties. Add a drizzle of oil, 1 turn of the pan and add the patties. Cook burgers 6 minutes on each side, then top with 2 slices bacon and 1 slice of cheddar, each. Turn pan off, cover with loose foil tent and let cheese melt, 1 to 2 minutes.

While the burgers cook, add fries to oven and cook until extra-crisp. Remove from oven. Place butter, 1 tablespoon hot sauce and garlic in a small dish and microwave on high 20 seconds then transfer fries to a large bowl. Toss fries with garlic-hot sauce butter and chives and season with salt, to taste.

Slather chili sauce on the tops of split keiser rolls. Place bacon chili-cheese burgers on bun bottoms and top each burger with lettuce, cilantro, and lime juice. Set bun tops in place. Pile fries alongside and serve.

Woo woo woo woo wooooo! March 27, 2008

Okay…so now I am 10 days late! No sign of a period in sight! Only 4 more days in this month left. So I guess we better start making preparations.

Although we said we weren’t going to tell anyone, well our parents and Meme, we did! Well S told Meme – I wasn’t about to touch that one! LOL Of course my mom was happy – she loves babies. MIL was cool about it. She didn’t want to wait until the weekend to find out for sure, but she had not choice. S said she is going to have to wait until the weekend like everyone else. LOL Needless to say, she said we better get the test done Friday because she is going to call bright and early Saturday morning. And I know she is! The wait is killing me as well. I asked D hypothetically how he’d feel about another baby. I couldn’t believe he was happy about it. Now B and Tonya, thats another story all together. We will not mention it to them until we know for sure. (They may be kind of dramatic…lol)But I don’t think we are going to get a different outcome. I am pretty sure that I’m preggo…

A Space to Call Your Own March 24, 2008

I find a lot of good information on CleanHomeJournal.com. When I came across this article I had to stop and read. It thought it was very fitting to post because we, as women, seem to always neglect to take care of ourselves. This includes setting aside a space where we can rejuvanize minds. To have some peace. Think about it…our husbands have their own personal places where they hang out. For my husband it’s the garage. He’s setting it up to be his own little haven where he can go to regroup; have some alone time. Our kids have their own spaces inside their bedrooms. Even the dog has his own little space in his doghouse or his corner. So, why don’t we claim what we so rightfully deserve; set up a small nook in your bedroom or anywhere else you can come across a little space. My restroom makes quite a peaceful sanctuary. So get creative. Claim your space!

Click on the title of this post to read this article.

Getting Organized for Spring – Kitchen March 24, 2008

I found some great information to help get those kitchens decluttered and organized for Spring. If your kitchen is in need of some organization, click below.

Oranizing the kitchen & 8 Spring Cleaning Twists
http://www.cleanhomejournal.com

Swollen Penis! March 24, 2008

WOW!!! D came home last night. Before bed he came in our room and showed me his little penis and it was swollen! I had never seen anything like that before. Not that I’ve looked at many penises but, anyway. It shocked S as well. One night before he left for Spring Break vacation he started complaining about a slight stinging sensation when he peed. I gave him a cranberry tablet and had him to drink plenty of water because I figured he was starting to get a bladder infection and I didn’t want to accrue any unnecessary medical bills since we are trying to get our finances together. I know, maybe not the best idea. But he didn’t complain anymore and said that he wasn’t feeling any stinging anymore afterwards. I talked to my mom Saturday and she said he complained about it again one night while he was there and she had him to drink water because she was figuring it was the same thing. My mom is a nurse, so I guess I wasn’t completely off track in my thinking sense she thought the same. As I was looking at his penis, I noticed an area on his thigh that looked like he’d been bitten by something. He said it didn’t hurt and never bothered him really, but he did remember that area itching a little a few days before. I don’t know how that would cause his penis to swell. So, needless to say, we are about to make a trip to the doctor’s office. I will update once we find out what is going on with him.

Can it be? March 24, 2008

Okay, a few days ago, S and I were talking when all of a sudden he stopped talking and looked at me. Then he blurted out, “Your belly sure looks big!” I instantly grabbed my tummy by instinct and looked down at the little pouch that was definitely noticeable. I was shocked that he’d said it because a few days before I’d had a weird feeling rush through my body. I was about to take a shower so I hurried and stipped out of my clothes to do a mirror observation of myself to see if there were any new curves there that hadn’t been there before. I thought I looked a little rounder but attributed it to my newly developed appetite. I put my pointer and index finger in the hollow space of my neck to feel the beats there and quickly drew my hand back. I peeked out the bathroom door to make sure S wasn’t paying me any attention and then got back in my spot in front of the mirror and repeated my pulse check. I felt the same…one steady, consistent “THUMP…..THUMP…..THUMP….and then a second “THUMP..THUMP..THUMP..THUMP..THUMP.” Then today…S and I were sitting in bed; him playing his PSP and me, of course on the internet. Then this thought came to me. When was the last time that I had my cycle? I’m sure it was on the 16th because I remember sketching a mental note to myself to help myself remember (in the event I have to go to the doctor or something.) It’s an old habit. Anyway, these thoughts just kept coming to me. If it was the 16th, it had to be the 16th of February because the 16th of March was just last week and I definitely wasn’t on my cycle last week. Was it really the 16th of February or am I confusing the 16th with the cycle I had in January and did I really have my last cycle at the end of February? No…I’m sure my last cycle was on the 16th. I vividly remember sitting on the toilet and wiping…(I know…TMI, but as the subnote in the title of my blog reads, it’s the good, the bad, AND THE UGLY…I guess this is part of the ugly. But I digress…I remember doing that and realizing that I needed to make a trip to Wal-Mart to stock up on sanitary supplies and we were here in the house. On January 16th we were still at Meme’s waiting on the lights to be turned on in the house and I know I wasn’t on my cycle then. I was going to wait until time for my cycle again before I ran out and bought a test, but if this is the case, that time has come and gone! Suddenly I felt myself slowly starting to perspire across my forehead. If you haven’t gotten where I’m going with this by now, could I be pr…pr…I can’t even make myself type the word! Could I be….PREGNANT???? Oh my!!! If I am, can I go through another K? He is truly a different kind of kid. Can I deal with two of him? S says if I am, hopefully it will be a girl and she will be calmer. Does he know that girls are nothing but DRAMA???? I know! I was one! Still am…

In the Kitchen – The Perfect Boiled Egg March 20, 2008

The perfect boiled egg actually is not boiled at all. Boiling the egg makes the protein unpleasantly rubbery and can give a nasty green cast to the outer layer of the yolk. (I’ve tried this and it works. The eggs are beautiful!)

Follow this foolproof method for a firm but tender white and a smooth, butter-yellow yolk–a truly eggcellent egg:

1) To prevent cracking during cooking, prick the larger end of the egg with a pin. This provides an escape hatch for the air trapped there. (I didn’t prick egg and there was no problem.)

2) Place eggs in a deep saucepan in a single layer. Pour in enough water to cover eggs by 1 inch.

3) Set the saucepan over heat and then bring the water just to the boil.

4) Immediately remove the saucepan from the heat and place a cover on top.

5) Let the eggs sit for 15 minutes.

6) Place the eggs in a bowl of ice water for 4 minutes to cool, then refrigerate.

Your eggs are now ready for dipping and dyeing. Remember, if you’re going to eat the eggs, don’t leave them out of the refrigerator for more than two hours.