Pinterest Recipes--Breakfast Edition

Now that Michael works from home, we sit down and eat three meals together as a family on a regular basis.  This takes a lot planning,  prep, and clean up on my part.  But, we have to eat and it is nice to sit down and have family time during the day.

Olivia does sleep late.  Thankfully, for now, that means we get to sleep in as well.  Depending on how late, sometimes Michael has to head straight to the office.  There are also days that we all just grab something on the go.  I'm sure most people would be happy with a bowl of cereal, but I can't have milk because of my medication so I tend to over think it.  Although, I'm sure once the baby gets here our breakfasts are going to get really simple!

Regardless, I have recently tried a few recipes from pinterest to try to spice things up a bit.

I saw a recipe for peanut butter banana quesadillas.  I had everything on hand except for the chocolate chips.  I picked them up on our next shopping trip. 

 

 I didn't really measure.  I probably should have, because it ended up being really rich.  It was good.  It was almost like dessert though, so if I make it again I will measure.  It was definitely different than our normal rotation, so that was nice.

Next up, I was looking for an oatmeal recipe.  It is a cheap breakfast that is really good for you.  Plus, it can help with milk supply.  I may be needing that in the near future!  I make Olivia oatmeal often, but Michael and I don't tend to eat it.  I don't think he's a fan, so I was looking for something that looked tasty.  I found this pin for five ways to take oatmeal from blah to ooh la la.

I made the apple pie oatmeal.  It was good.  I made it with regular oats instead of quick oats.  I like to cook oats with almond milk.  I think it cooks easier than with milk, and tends to taste better.  I used a mix of almond and cows milk this time.  It was pretty good, but I think I'll leave the nutmeg off next time.

I don't ever make french toast, but I order stuffed french toast a lot when out for breakfast.  So when I saw this pin, I thought it might be something fun to try.

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Mine didn't turn out so cute. :) Michael isn't a big fan of cream cheese, but he ate them.  Olivia on the other hand, hardly tried them.  She took one teeny tiny lick/bite and proclaimed that she didn't think she liked them.  Add cream cheese to the list of dairy foods that she won't eat.  So I likely won't be making them again, but I thought they tasted alright.

Five For Friday

 ONE

Every time we pull into the garage, Olivia says "Yay!  We're at our new house!"  I think she likes it here. :) I wonder how long she will call it our "new house".

TWO

Here is a sneak peek at a project I finished.   I'm pretty pleased.  I made the entire thing by hand, so it's not perfect by any means. I still like how it turned out though.  The entire project was less than $8.  Not bad!  We still have to buy a few of the things that are going to hang above it.  His room is probably not going to be finished before he arrives.  Poor second child. ;)

THREE

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Olivia got two big sister books for Christmas.  She has been carrying them around proudly.  We have read and re-read them.  One of them is "What to expect when you bring the new baby home" or something along those lines.  She'll ask that and then answer herself with "lots of crying". Then she'll say, "Babies cry to tell us something.  I think he needs his diaper changed." :)  People are always asking us if she is ready or if she knows what is coming.  I think she knows the best she can for a 2 year old.  If you ask her if she's going to be a big sister she says "Yes. Pretty soon."  She knows his name is Logan.  She knows he is in my belly, but will be coming home soon.  She is aware of his room, his toys, and what items in our house are for him.  Hopefully it will be a smooth transition.  I was around her age when my little brother was born, and I have a very clear memory of when he was brought home from the hospital.  I wouldn't be surprised if this ends up being one of her "first memories" when she grows up.

FOUR

I got my  test results back for my group B strep.  It was negative.  I wasn't expecting it to be positive, but you really just never know what can happen during pregnancy.

FIVE

I was able to visit with another dear friend this week.  We use to teach together, but she is now retired.  She is one of the most fun people I know.  She is crazy and she makes me laugh.  She's also a great listener, has good perspective on things, and is very generous.  She came and hung out with Olivia for hours.  She brought lunch and also helped fill my fridge with some freezer meals.  (My friend Laurie brought some over the other night too!  So grateful!)  I had a great time.  I taught for six years.  I taught with many different people.  Most of them were and still are in different stages of life then me.  Yet, they still are some of my most favorite people and the people that know me the best.  I haven't taught with her in 6 years (Wow! I can't believe it's been that long!). We've seen each other here and there over the last six years, but not often.  Yet she still knows me better than most people who share my blood.  That is both sad and comforting at the same time.

Touring the Hospital

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We went on our hospital tour the other night.  It is highly recommended by the hospital, and since this a new place for me to deliver I thought it would be a good idea.

I will be having Logan at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, OH.  It's actually where Michael was born, along with most of his family.  It's literally two minutes from his mom's house where he grew up.

I have heard nothing but good things about it.  I've had a few friends who have delivered there.  It's a level 3 maternity center and has a level 3 NICU.  It is suppose to be one of the best (and busiest) hospitals in the nation, and was featured on two seasons of Lifetime's "One Born Every Minute".

Even still, I had a pretty good idea that this experience would be nothing like the one I had in Texas.  The hospital I delivered at there was fairly new and was referred to by some as the "Taj Mahal of hospitals".  It is physician owned, which I think is what sets it apart.

The tour started out well.  The girl guiding the tour was pretty young and had her script memorized and spewed out facts like a robot.  It all started going down hill when people started asking questions.  She pretty much deferred every single question to, "You will have to discuss that with your doctor.  Each doctor has their own set of rules."

While we were in the labor and delivery room, I noticed that there was no sort of couch or pull out bed for Michael to sleep on.  There was one at our last hospital, so I asked about it.  Her response was, "Well, you are only in here for an hour and a half to two hours after the baby is born so he won't need a place to sleep."   Yep.  My jaw dropped.  Really?  You give maternity tours at a hospital and you don't know that labor could take DAYS!?!  So I explained that last time I had a child, I was in the labor and delivery room for 24 hours and that was with a very smooth labor and delivery.   He would, indeed, need to sleep!  Her face turned red and she pointed out that there was a recliner.  Awesome.

At Baylor, Michael got 3 meals a day.  As soon as I delivered, no matter what time of day it was, I was allowed to order anything I wanted to eat and have it delivered to my room.   Once we got moved to postpartum there was a room down the hall filled with snacks and drinks.  Michael could get them for either of us at any time.  We also got a steak and lobster celebratory dinner on our last night of stay in the hospital. 

At Riverside, the mom gets some food vouchers and the dad can purchase food vouchers.  Our guide was unsure at the cost of those vouchers.  Helpful, right?!  Michael can also go down and purchase food from the cafeteria, or leave and bring outside food in.  There is no snack room down the hall. There isn't even a vending machine on the floor.

Thankfully, we aren't taking any classes this time around.  Last time all of our classes were free.  They also had a beautiful spread of food--even at the hospital tour.  I added up the cost of the 3 classes we took last time and would have to pay $160+ if we took those same classes here.  My multiple visits with the lactation consultant were also free.  I am pretty sure once I leave the hospital this time, that I will have to pay for any services.

Someone asked about the pediatricians checking out the baby.  I called around when we first moved here, and from what I've found, most of the pediatricians here no longer go to the hospital.  You just have to use the on staff pediatrician for discharge.  She had no clue how to answer their question.  I'm pretty sure she didn't even understand it.  It was embarrassing.  I felt bad for all of the first time parents.  If I didn't have a clue what was going on, I would not be happy with the answers I got from that tour.

They also didn't go over safety at all.  Um, that's pretty huge.  Especially since there were was just a baby mix up in the news last week.  All hospitals say they have a great security system in place, yet mix ups are still happening.  A good chunk of our tour at Baylor was about the safety of the infant and the protocol they follow.  Here we were told that we will find out at admission.  It's a little late then if you aren't happy with the system!  Ay yi yi.

Regardless, I'm sure it will be fine.  We aren't getting a steak and lobster dinner, but I'm sure our baby will still be in good hands.  We just got incredibly spoiled in Texas.

Wordless Wednesday--Feed, Burp, Change, Repeat

36 Weeks, Baby #2

 Sorry about the glasses glare!

JUST FOR FUN....

This really does boggle my mind a little bit.  4 days before the picture with Olivia was taken, I was measuring 40 weeks!  3 days before the picture with Logan was taken, I was measuring between 35 and 36 weeks.  I had gained 30 pounds with Olivia at this point.  I can definitely see it in my face and the swelling of my ankles and feet, but I feel like I look just as big (if not bigger) this time.  Pregnancy is so crazy!


How far along: 36 weeks

Size of baby: for weeks 33 to 36 (month 8) the baby is the size of a honeydew

Total weight gain/loss: +13

Gender: It's a boy! 

Movement: It's pretty much the same. I personally wish he would move more.  I'm not sure if Olivia was just a wild women or if he is just a mellow little guy, but they are already very different.

Sleep: I've had a harder time falling asleep this week.  Mostly because to do lists keep running through my mind and I can't shut it off.

What I miss: being comfortable... putting on socks without it feeling like it's an Olympic event!

Cravings: chocolate--and if you know me, you know how strange that is!

Symptoms: back ache, cramping, heart burn, soreness--I am just overall uncomfortable.

Fun Purchases: glider/ottoman
We also went to Target and picked up the things I needed for my hospital bag, some last minute baby necessities, and Olivia's Valentine's treat.  I have to plan ahead!

Surprises: I haven't gotten my completion coupon from Target yet.  I asked the service desk if I could just get it printed out.  I did the same thing with Olivia.  Only this time there seemed to be some confusion.  So the manager said he'd take care of it.  Then he passed the task on to another manager.  I was suppose to just get 10% off items that were left on my registry.  But the manager was younger and a mom too.  She ended up giving me 10% off my ENTIRE PURCHASE.  Plus, she didn't even use my registry code, so I should still get a 10% off coupon in the mail.  Thank you, Lord!

What I'm looking forward to: We have our hospital tour this week.  That is always exciting!

Best part of the week: Getting some things done!!!  Woo hoo!  I finally sat down on Thursday and made myself some lists.  Thursday night we went and did a big Target run.  We've also been doing some things around the house.  I even finished one of my craft projects for Logan's room and am about to start the next.  There are still a few things to buy and a few things "to do", but we are getting there!  I'm just hoping he doesn't shock us and come too early.  I don't think the type A control freak in me could handle it. :)

Gliding

When I was pregnant with Olivia I was soaking up all sorts of knowledge.  I was reading, listening, and people were sharing.  One of the little tidbits I gleaned from all of that was to buy a recliner instead of a glider.  The reasoning was that A) it would be more comfortable both while pregnant and after, B) you could sleep in it if necessary, and C) it could then later be used as a functioning piece of furniture.  Some of the nicer gliders and ottomans out there are hundreds of dollars, so the thought was to put that money into a piece of furniture that you could use in your living space for years.  A friend of mine already had 2 kids and she was pretty set on this opinion.  It made sense to Michael and I, and since we had just moved to a new state and a new place it also worked with our living situation.  The recliner was purchased and to this day it is where I sit 95% of the time.

However, this time around things are a little different.  Our house is a split level.  It's not the kind where you walk in and immediately have to go up or down.  You walk in to the main level.  The main level is the living, dining and kitchen area.  You go up off of the living room about 8 stairs and the three bedrooms are up there.  You can also go down from the living room about 8 stairs and that is the family room, spare bedroom (Michael's office), laundry room and a half bath.  (You can even go down a few more stairs to an unfinished part of the basement.)

All that to say, if I want to sit in a chair for middle of the night feedings, I would have to walk with Logan all the way through the upstairs and down TWO flights of stairs to get to the recliner.  It's a main piece of our family room furniture now, so moving it upstairs wasn't really an option.

I really just wanted to get a glider and ottoman to use.  This is definitely our last kid, so I didn't want to invest hundreds in a new one.  I've been scoping out online sites for used ones.  Even then, our budget is pretty tight right now, so I was thinking that this was going to be one of those things that I would have to compromise on.

Thankfully, a really comfy looking one (some of them look like you are sitting on the thinnest piece of cushion possible!) came up on one of the Facebook sites I frequent.  It was out of our price range, so I noted it but didn't even say anything to Michael about it.  Then a week later it was re-listed at a cheaper price.  Around the same time we got some Christmas money in the mail.  Merry Christmas to me!

I didn't really care about the color because I knew it would be in our bedroom where no one would see it.  It's tannish brown color and is in really good shape.  It's super comfortable too.  Thankful for good finds!

I threw together a little breastfeeding table with an extra TV tray we had.  I covered it with a small table cloth, put a very small/dim lamp on there and a little tote with water, snacks, and burp clothes.  I have a drawer in the end table that is next to the recliner filled with the same things.  I think I'm ready for breastfeeding 2.0.  Hopefully it goes better this time!

Olivia's Room

Olivia's room is the only room in the whole entire house that is completely done.  Most of the rooms are unpacked and put together, but they aren't decorated.  Her room is the only one that has anything hanging on the walls.

We went back and forth on what to do for her "big girl room".  Originally we thought we'd be putting her in a queen bed, so I searched and searched for "toddler like" queen bedding.  That was quite the task.  I finally found what I was looking for, and then we chose a house where a queen bed wouldn't work. 

The bedding I had chosen did come in toddler bedding, so we almost went that route.  But there were 2 reasons why I decided to go with the owls.  1--it was the same colors as her nursery and most of her bird decor would still work.  That would be a huge savings.  2--this whole house has khaki builders paint.  We would love to paint every single room.  We are allowed to, but we don't want to put a ton into a house that is just a rental.  So when I saw that I could do the tree, I figured that would add more bang for our buck than some paint.  And we all know Olivia loves trees. :)

Three of the bedrooms are upstairs.  Hers is the first you come to.

The view from the door.  Yes, we are still using black out curtains.  They may not be the prettiest, but they are so worth it to me!

We bought the bed, mattress, bedding and dresser.  The tree decal(s) were a Christmas gift from her grandma.  Everything else are things we already had from the nursery.

I was going through some boxes and found those metal owl decorations from her birthday party.  I had painted them white for the party, but I might repaint them a different color and use them in her room.  For now they are just sitting on her dresser.

The door that you see across the hall is the kids bath.  It's actually the guest bath too (as far as showering goes), but the guest bedroom is downstairs.

Her bows are behind her door.  Oh, and a little hedgehog friend. :)

Thankfully she really likes her room.  She will sit up there by herself and read her books, or just sit in her bed and play with her friends.  Sometimes it's a struggle at night because she gets out of bed and wants to put every single book in her bed and every single friend too.  But I don't want to take them out of her room.  I like that she has her own space that actually reflects her and that she can enjoy.