Pregnancy Highlights - 18 weeks AND the BIG revealing....

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 18 weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss: May be starting to gain because I feel like eating and my meat aversion isn't as bad as it was.

Maternity Clothes: Bought a few more things :)

Gender: Um....I was wrong!!!! It's a GIRL!!!!!!

Movement: She's kicking and moving away. I'll feel it every once in a while.

Sleep: Sleeping good other then getting comfortable and shifting around.

What I miss: nothing much these days....

Cravings: Coffee, brownie with ice cream on it and chocolate in general

Symptoms: Still reminding myself to slow down some...Belly is definitely getting harder...

Best Moment this week: Hum this one is a hard one...haha...Not really, finding out we were having a baby girl was by far the best moment!

Size of baby: 5.6 in, 6.7 oz

Baby is the size of a: Sweet Potato

Our sweet baby girl and her eye lashes :) I'm in love already!

Next time...

that I post I'll be posting if I'm having a boy or a girl! :) Stay tuned...

Saturday 9: Make You Feel My Love

Saturday 9: Make You Feel My Love

1. What has someone done unusual to make you feel their love? Cleaned the bathroom! :) Seriously...

2. Do you own a smart phone? If yes, is it everything you wanted? If no, how seriously have you considered a purchase of the new smart phone? Yes I have an iPhone and I love it. It's everything I wanted and very entertaining majority of the time!

3. Have you ever camped out to purchase something? Um no, I don't want to go camping much less camp out for something. I did go to a midnight release of one of the Twilight books, I'm thinking it was the 3rd in the series, and stood in line for about 15 minutes for my sister-in-law to purchase the book. But we did not camp out!

4. What is your worst habit? Biting the skin around my nails.

5. What is your best habit? Taking a shower?? haha. No, I'm a little OCD with some stuff, more at work then home (weird I know). But my best habit at home is that I'm very OCD with the bills.

6. In your opinion, what is life's greatest mystery? Gardening! I just don't have what it takes to do even flowers. Even small house plants :(

7. Are you one of those people who is constantly busy with projects, social outings, etc. or do you just like to lay low and stay home? I like to lay low and stay home. When I was younger I liked going out and stuff but now I figure I'm paying for a house I need to enjoy it!

8. Whether you're busy all the time or like to just chill, have you always been that way? See previous answer.

9. Is there something you'd like to change about how you spend your time? If so, what is it? If not, why not? I'd like more friends to hang out with but I also like my time at home. And I'm not very likely to give up much of my time that I have with my husband since we don't get to spend a lot of time together.

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!

Six Word Saturday

I have the best husband ever!

Simply put my husband is awesome!
OOOO, 2 six word sentences. Ya'll get the idea though....

Five Question Friday

1. What is your current favorite tv show? Jamie and I have been watching Lost on Netflix Instant and we're loving that. We also like to watch Parenthood. And I've been watching Army Wives on Netflix Instant and loving it!
 
2. What's the worst haircut you ever got? UGH, in Elementary school I had a perm and it was hideous. And for that very reason I don't know that I'll ever have another perm.
 
3. What was something that you did as a child that you thought you were so cool for doing? HUM....When I moved to Florida they had very different styles then we did in NC and I remember wearing my white socks pulled up as high as I could and wearing them like that! haha
 
4. Do you have any GREAT frugal family fun tips? Other then the snowball effect of trying to live debt free not really. We are wanting to get to that point, it's a slow process.
 
5. Would you drive across country if you had the money to fly? If I could have an RV to drive and no time limit then sure. But my husband would do the driving so does that count?

Book Blogger Help

This is my first time doing this one but it sounded super cool and I found it from Jen at Crazy-For-Books.com. She asks a different question each week and this week the question is....

"When did you realize reading was your passion and a truly important part of your life?"

I don't ever remember not loving to read. And just the same I don't ever remember not having a book handy at all times. But in the past 4 or 5 years I have really realized how much reading means to me. How if I don't have it I kind of feel bored. I know this because being pregnant I haven't been able to focus to well on reading. Maybe it's that I don't have a good book or maybe it's just being pregnant. I don't know but I'm ready to get back into it. So if you know of a good book I should try then let me know, pppllleeeaaassseee! :)

Friday Fill-ins

Friday Fill-Ins

1.  Getting away is so great when you can do it (especially if you are with someone you love)!.

2.  A little time with God to start your day off right.

3.  Coffee, tea or chocolate!

4.  Cool air in place of warm air (sounds great to me). 

5.  The lights need to be turned off when you leave a room, unless you are paying the power bill (will you?).

6.  Chocolate = happiness.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to spending some time with my mom and dad then cleaning, tomorrow my plans include cleaning, sleeping in, laundry, and seeing a frand and Sunday, I want to go to church and then see my mother-in-law!

IT's FRIDAY!!

It's Friday...YAY!!! It has been a good week. My class was low all week at daycare. The most children I can have is 16 with another teacher, but this week the most my co-teacher and I had were 11. Today we only had 9 and it's just awesome. You never realize what a difference 2 or 3 children can make. Well, I guess if you work with children you do realize that. Not that I don't love those other 2 or 3 children because I do, but everyone needs a break, ya know? But tonight I've been cleaning some and tomorrow I plan on cleaning some more. My mother-in-law is coming to stay with us for about a week on Sunday evening. AND Tuesday we find out if our baby is a baby girl or a baby boy. I'm so excited and so ready!

Anyhow, I've found a few fun survey/meme's that I wanted to do this week so this Friday there will be a few post... :) Enjoy!!

Pregnancy Highlights - 17 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 17 weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Doctor says I lost 7 pounds so far.

Maternity Clothes: Went and bought a pair of capri's and two more shirts today. AND my parents got me a skirt and some pants as well :)

Gender: Still thinking it's a boy - We find out June 28 - next Tuesday!!!! :)

Movement: He/She is moving and I'm loving it. I can't wait for my husband to feel it!

Sleep: Sleeping good other then getting comfortable and shifting around.

What I miss: Shrimp...We went out to eat and since there's so many fish that I'm supposed to stay away from I just don't eat any fish at all...

Cravings: Can't think of anything in particular that I've been wanting...

Symptoms: When I sit up to fast it hurts but I'm trying to remind myself slow it down.

Best Moment this week: Went to the doctor today and heard the heartbeat for a split second before the baby moved. She tried to get it again and it sounded like he/she hit it away.

Size of baby: 5.1 in, 5.9 oz

Baby is the size of a: Onion

Laundry Detergent

I originally started making my own laundry detergent after seeing The Duggars do it on their show. AND I actually use the recipe that the Duggars use for the powdered type for the most part. They also have a recipe for liquid detergent. The first time my husband and I made detergent we made the liquid recipe. I hated it. It was a lot of work and just not worth it to me. BUT the second time we made it I made the powdered recipe and it's great. My recipe is....

1 bar of Fels-Naptha Soap (I have read that you can us other soaps but this is the one I always use cause it's cheap and smells good)
1/2 cup of Borax
1 cup of Washing Soda (NOT Baking Soda)

You can find all of these ingredients on the detergent aisle at most grocery stores. I say most because borax is at majority of all grocery stores. Fels-Naptha is as well. It's the Washing Soda that you may have to hunt for. Here where I'm at you can find it at Harris Teeter and Ingles. Now on to the directions (they are quiet easy). Or the way I do them they are.

I use a mini food processor and I cut my Fels-Naptha soap up into small chunks. I then go ahead and measure out my Borax and Washing Soda. I add all of the Borax with the soap and then blend the food processor. When all the chunks are cut up into small pieces I add in more small chunks to the food processor and then half the Washing Soda. Blend that. Then add the rest of the soap and the rest of the Washing Soda. Make sure it's all blended together and the soap is broken down in small pieces and then put it in a container big enough to hold it all. I use a big container of Folgers that I can put 3 batches in. When I'm washing clothes I use 2 Tablespoons in the wash unless it's my husband's work clothes and then I use 3 Tablespoons.

When I first started making my own laundry detergent, I went and bought some cheap measuring spoons and one of my aunts gave me two Folgers containers. I use one to keep my measure spoons in other then the Tablespoon one. And the other Folgers container I use to keep the ready laundry detergent. So here's some pictures...And ask questions if I left something out :)

(Top) All the ingredients minus the food processor.
(Bottom)Cut up Fels-Naptha, 1 cup of Washing Soda, 1/2 cup of Borax, and my mini food processor.

(Top)All the ingredients blended up into the mini food processor.
(Bottom) Ready to wash some clothes with my freshly made batch of Laundry Detergent inside of my Folgers coffee container. That's one batch.

So, it's super easy and takes all of about 30 to 45 minutes (if that) once you get use to making it. I usually make 3 batches at a time and that'll usually last me about 3 months doing about 4 to 5 loads of laundry every weekend. The Borax is about $3.00, Washing Soda $3.50 and Fels-Naptha Soap is about $1.50. The soap is the only thing you have to buy a bar for every batch. Usually a box of Borax and Washing Soda make around 5 or 6 batches (maybe more, I've honestly never measured it out to see). There are other ways to make Laundry Detergent but this is the way I make it. Enjoy!

Blog Button...

YAY!!! I now have a blog button.

Look over there ---------------->
See it?? I created it all by myself and after much trial and error I succeeded! :) So excited...Now will you grab it please? And on to making laundry detergent...Be right back with that post! :)

Six Word Saturday

Have to make laundry detergent today!

Yep you read that right, I make my own laundry detergent. It's cheaper then buying detergent (unless you are one of those coupon people who know how to find the deals). But it's really cheap overall. I'll be posting pictures AND the recipe later. Now you'll have to come back! :)

 

So glad it's Friday

I'm so glad it's Friday. And I'm also so glad I'm off tomorrow and Sunday. This week has been busy, busy, busy. We had Vacation Bible School and then there was a HUGE fire on Wednesday night about a block from my house. You could see the smoke from miles and miles away. Then everyday but today I worked different hours because of Vacation Bible School, which was awesome by the way (both VBS AND working earlier hours). Anyhow, here it is finally Friday. This Friday I'm going to do Five Question Friday and Friday Fill-Ins.

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Five Question Friday

1. What is your favorite summer time activity? Staying inside. No probably swimming.

2. Do you have one laundry soap you stick to, or do you buy whatever's on sale? Well, growing up I was always a Gain girl. But once I got married and I started buying my own detergent I realized how expensive it is. SO I started making my own. I'm going to be making a batch or 3 of that tomorrow and going to try to remember to post on it!

3. What is your favorite dinner to make in the summer? The same stuff I make any other time. Other then chili we eat pretty much the same stuff year round. BUT I do love me some tomato sandwiches during mater season!

4. Do you have any talents? Other then tying a cherry stem with my tongue I have a few. I love to crochet but I can not follow a pattern that someone has written. I just have to make it up on my own. Yep that's about it as far as the talents go.

5. If you could instantly be an expert in something, what would it be? Why? Computers. Anything to do with them and the way they work.

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Friday Fill-Ins

1. One of my favorite birthday presents was the steak dinner my husband had prepared for me one year when I came home from work. (I'm drooling just thinking about it - so good!).

2. You see, it was as simple as that.

3. The moon is beautiful.

4. Everything includes taxes on the end!

5. I was tempted by anything chocolate.

6. Relaxing, sleeping, reading and a lot of nothing are some of the things I like to do on vacation.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to being at home and relaxing, tomorrow my plans include making laundry detergent and doing laundry and Sunday, I want to go to church and spending time with family!

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Hope you enjoyed! :)

Pregnancy Highlights - 16 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 16 weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I'm pretty sure I've lost a total of about 10 pounds. Go to the doctor next week though.

Maternity Clothes: A few shirts. Hopefully going to get a some maternity pants though.

Gender: Still thinking it's a boy - We find out June 28 - 15 days but who's counting?

Movement: Think I've felt a him/her a few times.

Sleep: Sleeping good!

What I miss: Coffee drinks...

Cravings: Still wanting coffee stuff this week!

Symptoms: Back's been hurting and headaches. Oh they are horrible!

Best Moment this week: Belly getting hard AND knowing in two week's we'll be finding out if the baby is a boy or girl. Also the doctor gave me meds for my headaches.

Size of baby: 4.6 in, 3.5 oz.

Baby is the size of a: Avocado

Kiss Mommy Goodbye by Joy Fielding

Donna and Victor were once madly in love, but after years of mental abuse, divorce is the only way out for Donna. Despite Victor's threats, Donna wins custody of their two children, but when Victor takes the children for a weekend away, Donna has no idea what nightmare has just begun.

My Review - I've had Joy Fielding on my list of TBR authors for a long time and I finally gave her a chance. She's awesome. I knew what the ending was going to be but I wanted to see how she took the characters and plot there. It was pretty good. I'll be reading more of her books for sure!

Pregnancy Highlights - 15 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 15 weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss: lost some...

Maternity Clothes: A few more maternity clothes. They are just so much more comfortable.

Gender: Still thinking it's a boy - We find out June 28

Movement: Think I've felt a him/her a few times.

Sleep: Sleeping good!

What I miss: Coffee drinks...

Cravings: Wanting coffee stuff this week!

Symptoms: Nauseated here and there.

Best Moment this week: We had preschool graduation for my class last Friday and then yesterday one of the parents said, your baby bump was cute Friday night because I had on a tight shirt. :) That was cool

Size of baby: 4.0 in, 2.5 oz

Baby is the size of a: Orange

Swagger Wagon Video

So I had a friend post this on my Facebook page and said that this is what my husband and I are going to be one day. haha. We are anti-minivan so far. But we do have a CR-V and I guess that'll be our Swagger Wagon. Watch it...It's funny!

Six Word Saturday AND Saturday 9.......

Counting down days, to different things... :)

So, I'm counting down the days to many different things. I go back to the baby doctor in 16 days. We go to have an ultrasound to find out the gender of the baby in 24 days. And then next month we're going on vacation in 48 days. I AM so ready for all of these things and I've always been one to count down. Seriously, I counted down the days from the time I got engaged, November 4, 2006, all the way to my wedding day which was November 9, 2007. I drove my boss near crazy just from counting down. Anyhow, are you one who counts down to something minor or major? And if so, WHAT are you counting down to?

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Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!


Saturday 9: The Best & the Worst

1. What was the best thing that happened to you this week? I was able to watch my four and five year old graduate.

The worst? Getting ready for the graduation! haha.

2. What's the best thing someone's done for you (recently or not so recently)? The best thing that anyone has done for me is when God sent his son to die for me.

What's the worst thing someone's done to you (again, recently or not so recently)? When family hurts you by lying and acting just plain stupid. And also when people you love say hurtful things to you.

3. What's the best thing about your job? Loving children and watching the grow

Worst? When you work with a bunch of women it can get very catty. That or the sassyness of the children sometimes (but I don't put up with that very much).

4. What's the best new website you've found? NookDeals - I absolutely LOVE this site.

Worst? If you find a worst website why would you go back??? I don't have one.

5. What's the best book you've read? Really I have to pick just one??? I have to many best. But I love these authors: Amanda Hocking, Jodi Picoult, Lynn Austin, and Lisa McKay.

Worst? Roseflower Creek by Jackie Lee Miles (Just didn't care for it)

6. What's the best movie you've seen? UM Cinderella for sure! No really, I'm a kid at heart and I love Cinderella, Shrek, Nemo...all the kid movies. If I had to pick a best "un-kid" movie it'd probably be The Time Traveler's Wife. I loved the book and the movie!

Worst? The Saw Movies...They are HORRIBLE!

7. What's the best meal you've had? Hum...seeing as how my husband is a chef I've ate a lot of good meals because we know a lot of good restaurants. But I have to say last year when we went to Chicago last year for vacation (just to eat at different places) I had some of the best food ever. But by far Schwa was the best of it all. Not in the best part of Chicago and not super easy to get a reservation for but it's the best food ever. Another place in Chicago is Perennial which was super good too. AND the last place I'll tell about is Hot Chocolate. SO GOOD! (Sorry I know you didn't ask for a report on food but these are my favorites!)

Worst? Probably just chain places. I can't think of anywhere where we've gone and we just haven't liked it at all that's worth saying it's the worst. Hum...I'll have to ponder this one.

8. What's the best holiday? I definitely think Christmas is the best holiday. You get to celebrate the birth of Jesus AND spend time with family. It's pretty awesome!

Worst? Halloween...Just never been about it.

9. What's the best thing in your future? A baby for sure! All before Christmas I'm going on my first cruise and having a baby. Super excited!

Worst? I'd have to say labor. Although something super awesome will come from the pain of labor, I must admit I'm a wuss when it comes to pain!

Five Question Friday

http://fivecrookedhalos.blogspot.com/

1. If you had to choose, how would you prefer to choose to spend money...on landscaping or a pool? I'd probably spend it on landscaping. I'd love to have a beautiful yard with lots of flowers that I didn't have to plant or water! haha That's why we don't have them now is cause I'd have to do it. And I'm not about the heat!

2. (Scott likes to get things stirred up...) Death penalty, yay or nay? This is a tough one. Part of me says that some crimes need to have a punishment to fit the crime. BUT in God's eyes a sin is a sin. I think that even if criminals don't get a punishment to fit the crime they will have to stand before God one day. And he'll have the final judgement.

3. What's the worst thing your kid has gotten into when you turned your back/blogged/showered/blinked? Not sure yet. :) My child is still growing inside. My kids at work can qualify with the many wild things they do!


4. How often do you REALLY go to the dentist? I go every six months. I just went last month and I'm supposed to go in November but we'll see!

5. What is your favorite animal (doesn't have to be a pet-type animal)? Probably a cat. I love my Chubs (I have a cat named Chubby!)

Special prayer request...

So I need a to ask a favor of everyone. I've been praying about something for years. I know God is in control and HE will take care of my needs in everyway but I'd just like to ask that ya'll will pray as well. I may share what my request exactly is at some point but I may not. Because God knows my deepest thoughts and He's the one who needs to know this particular request. Anyhow, I'm rambling. Thanks in advance for the prayers!

The Other Daughter by Miralee Ferrell

The girl standing at the door took a deep breath, pulling her suitcase a little closer to her trembling legs. “My mama’s dead. He’s my daddy.”

Susanne Carson knows that she can trust the love of her life—her husband, David—until she discovers a strange, unkempt young girl on their doorstep, claiming to be David’s daughter.

Not that their marriage has ever been perfect—David’s decision to embrace the Christian faith has strained their relationship. Susanne may not agree with his beliefs, but at least she trusts him. Has David been hiding this not-so-little secret from his past? He wants Susanne to believe in God, but believing hasn’t done much to keep David out of another woman’s arms. What else could her husband be hiding?

As David confronts the truth of his past, Susanne must face her own moment of truth as her marriage is taken to the breaking point and the life of one young girl is left in her hands.

Miralee Ferrell and her husband, Allen, live in a rural community in Washington State. She serves on staff as a licensed minister at their local church and is actively involved in ministry to women. Miralee developed an interest in writing in high school and took honors English courses in college, but put writing on the back burner for the next thirty years while raising a family and helping her husband in their growing business. Two and a half years ago, she returned to the pen, publishing a number of short stories and The Other Daughter. Currently, she is working on the next book in this series.

My Review - This book has been on my TBR list since 2008 and I finally decided that I was going to try to start reading from that list more. Especially since I am constantly adding to it. Anyhow, I loved this book. If a child came to my door and said they were my husband's son/daughter I would flip. The way Susanne handled herself all through the book was amazing. I loved the ending. The uncle made me want to hurt him but not as much as the social worker. This was definitely an awesome book and I'll read more by this author.