23 Weeks Pregnant

So, I'm a few days late in getting this post up.  Oh well.  I'm blaming it on the continued lack of sleep and chasing after a toddler.  We've also been a bit crazy busy with starting the process of buying a new home.  God has put lots of little pieces together to bring us the house we have put a contract on.  It's truly amazing!  One of the good things is that we will be in the house a few months before Little Cub is due to arrive.  I hope I can get things organized in the new house by then.

Little Cub remains very active and is ready for exercise time every time I'm ready for rest time.  Go figure!  He/She is about the size of an ear of corn (8.5 inches and 1.5 pounds).  Papa Bear felt Little Cub moving yesterday morning which was really cool.  The movements are getting more and more distinct and strong.  Little Cub can really hear everything that's going on now inside my body and outside my body.  Crazy cool!  I posted the pic of me when I was pregnant with Little Bear.  It's hard to tell if I'm similar size since one pic is taken from further away.  If anything, I'm about the same size, maybe slightly smaller this time around.

Little Cub at 23 Weeks

Little Bear at 23 Weeks

22 Weeks Pregnant

So this week, Little Cub is about the size of a papaya - 8 inches and just over a pound.  This kid moves around a lot and likes to kick my bladder.  Blood vessels are growing and expanding and the lungs are making breathing movements.  That's so cool!!  The eyelids and fingernails are also completely formed.     Little Cub's pancreas is now making insulin and the lungs are starting to develop surfactant.  I'm amazed at what all goes on to prepare this child for life outside the womb.  That didn't just happen by chance.  There was definitely a designer/creator involved.  I'm so thankful I have God to lean on during this time.  I still have moments of fear that say something is going to be wrong, but God continually reminds me of his goodness and my need to trust in Him.

As for me, I'm still having trouble sleeping.  I sleep really well until I have to get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, which is usually about 1:00.  After that, I just can't get back to sleep.  Last night I knew I was keeping my husband awake, so I moved to the guest bed.  It was cooler in that room anyway.  I slept a little bit after that, but still tossed and turned a lot.  I've also had issues with restless leg syndrome.  I had the same issue when I was pregnant with Little Bear.  Some women from a breastfeeding support group suggested to drink a pregnancy tea and that would help.  I have some of that left, but I just forget about it.  Call it placenta brain.  Little Bear is actually starting to "kiss" my belly.  I don't think he really understands, but it's still cute.  Speaking of Little Bear, I have transitioned him to 1 nap a day now in the last few weeks.  So, no more morning nap for me.  Oh well. I'm definitely taking advantage of getting an afternoon nap when Little Bear does, even though I have tons of stuff to do around this house.

Gringo Tacos

I've been making a lot of this casserole lately.  It is super easy to make and a great meal to freeze for later and also a great meal to take to friends who could use some meal help after having a baby.  It uses simple common ingredients and takes just minutes to prepare.  I hope you enjoy it as much as my family has enjoyed it over the years.

Hamburger, garlic, salt, chili powder, onion, enchilada sauce, tomato sauce, evaporated milk, green chilis, cheese, and tortillas

Brown the hamburger, onion, and garlic together

Add the Enchilada sauce, tomato, sauce, and green chilis, salt and chili powder

Let mixture simmer for 5 minutes

Layer the meat sauce in a 9"x13" pan

top with flour tortillas - they'll overlap and you may have to tear some in half to cover the meat sauce

Sprinkle cheese on top of the tortillas.  Repeat meat sauce, tortillas, cheese, meat sauce, cheese

Pour can of evaporated milk over the top, bake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees F.

When it's done, let the casserole sit for a few minutes, then serve and enjoy.  I bet you go back for more

Gringo Tacos

1 pound ground beef, chicken, turkey, or buffalo

1/4 cup chopped onion

1-2 teaspoons minced garlic

1 (15oz) can enchilada sauce

1 (8oz) can tomato sauce

1 (4oz) can dice green chilis

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon chili powder

3 cups shredded cheese

8-10 flour tortillas

1 (15oz) can evaporated milk

Optional: 1/4 cup chopped green onion

                   1 can drained, black beans

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Brown hamburger, onion, and garlic.  Add enchilada sauce, tomato sauce, green chilis, salt, and chili powder.  Mix until blended, then simmer for ~5 minutes.  In a 9"x13" pan, layer the following:

meat sauce

tortillas

cheese

meat sauce

tortillas

cheese

meat sauce

cheese

Pour evaporated milk over top of casserole.  Bake for 35 minutes.  Then let stand for ~5 minutes before serving.

If you want to make this and freeze it, after putting the casserole together, cover with plastic wrap and tinfoil, then freeze.  Just thaw when ready to use and bake as directed.

21 Weeks Pregnant

In case you're keeping track, no, I'm not off in my week count.  I had an appointment last week Monday.  After having an ultrasound and getting those measurements and then my midwife getting the results of my first ultrasound, she wanted to change my due date.  So, she says I'm 5 days further along than I think I am.  I've had a bit of a hard time understanding this, since I know my body so well and know the exact day I ovulated.  I never ovulate on day 14 like the textbooks say.  With Little Bear I ovulated on day 21 - so a whole week later than the "normal" schedule.  With Little Cub, I know I ovulated on day 18.  So, how can "they" say that Little Cub is then due 5 days before I think it should be according to when I ovulated?  Anyway, the way I'm trying to look at it is that God is in control.  Little Cub is going to come when he/she is supposed to and there is nothing I can do about it.  All I can do is pray, take care of myself as best as possible, and trust that God is in control.  That last part is hard to do though.

Anyway, Little Cub is about a pound now and approximately 8 inches long - roughly the size of a spaghetti squash.  Little Cub is now developing the sense of touch and gripping a lot.  His/her's sense of sight is also increasing.  But, still just limited to differences between light and dark.  Can you believe that Little Cub now has eyelashes and eyebrows and hair is even growing on top of his/her head?  Crazy!!  We did have an ultrasound last week and I didn't see any hair, but I got to see a really cute unborn baby.  Little Cub was extremely active and rather photogenic during his/her picture session.  Mark and I really enjoyed the show.  Everything is growing a developing properly which made me breathe a huge sigh of relief!!!  With all the weird things I see at work, my "normal" is the world's "abnormal."  So, it was comforting that so far all the organs, brain, spine, etc., were as they should be.  Praise God!!!  We chose not to find out the gender of Little Cub.  The ultrasound tech said she doesn't even know.  I have my suspicions, but anyone out there want to make a guess?  Post a comment and put in your vote.  Who knows, maybe I might give a little gift to someone who guesses the gender and comes the closest to height, weight, and actual birth date.

21 Weeks and really starting to stick out

Perfect shot of Little Cub's entire leg from hip to toe

Nice profile of Little Cub's face and cute little arm

First Easter Egg Hunt

Last Saturday was Little Bear's first ever Easter Egg hunt.  The place we went to had moved the event indoors due to the weather.  They had the hunt split into different age groups which I thought was good so the older kids wouldn't over-run the littles.  They had all sorts of activities.  Little Bear LOVED the Easter Bunny.  He cut in line a few times to keep getting to sit with the Easter Bunny.  I thought it was super cute.  I'll have to teach him when he's older not to cut in front of people though.  There was a bounce house that he was interested in at first, but then once inside, he wasn't so sure about it.  When it came time for his age group egg hunt, he was ready.  His age group was 8 months to 18 months.  Since it was in a gymnasium with all sorts of things for him to climb on, he was more interested in exploring than he was picking up the Easter eggs and putting them in his basket.  He did pick up a few though.  He even picked up some of the candy packets and handed them to another kid.  So sweet for him to share, huh?  He got to sit in a fire truck with Daddy, though I couldn't get that picture to upload.

First Easter Bunny

This is the Easter Bunny he cut in line to go see

Not so happy in the bounce house

holding the Easter basket wondering what to do with it

Daddy was nervous to set Little Bear on the motorcycle for fear it would fall over

Exploring instead of hunting for eggs

Happy 16 Months

What a big boy Little Bear is becoming!  He was so excited the morning I took these pics.  He was wanting to run around so much I had to snap them so quickly.  He also kept taking the sticker off.  He's really figuring out buckles on the high chair and stroller.  He gets mad if I try to fasten them or unfasten them.  He really likes to use a fork or spoon during meal times and feed himself.  He is a bit picky right now, but LOVES oatmeal, cereal in a bowl with milk, tacos, pancakes, fruit/veggie pouches, yogurt, and applesauce.  Since he's feeding himself now, he's rather dirty after meals.  Oh well, part of the growing up stuff.  He loves to be outside - and I'm so glad it's nice enough again cause we can spend hours out there.  One of the biggest things this month is that he's weaned himself from breastfeeding.  It's a bittersweet moment for me.  I've always enjoyed it and so has he.  I haven't been offering it to him for a while now and just breastfeeding him when he asks for it.  Well, since I worked this last Sunday, I didn't breastfeed him at all.  I was a bit sore Monday morning since the last time I had fed him was Saturday during the day.  Monday he didn't ask for it at all.  Tuesday morning he asked for it and nursed for all of 10 seconds.  It made me not hurt as much - which is good.  The last 2 days he kinda asked for it as I was putting him to bed, but didn't give in.  Part of me is glad he's done, so that I can have a break from it for a while before having to go full force with it when Little Cub arrives in August.