A new recipe...

Before I get to the recipe I promised, don't forget to go check out Alicia Mitchell Photography for some sneak peaks from our Maternity Shoot... she just posted 4 pictures today! I will do a blog about them hopefully next week!!!

 

Now on to the main course... the recipe!!!

 

 

Grilled Chicken Avocado Wraps

(I found this on Pinterest)

 

Ingredients:

Wraps

 

 

Chicken

1 TBSP Sour Cream (or yogurt, I don't like yogurt so...)

1/2 Avocado

1/4 C. Mozzarella Cheese

 

Directions:

I used my George Foreman Grill to heat up the chicken. While that is cooking/heating up, I prepare my wrap by smearing the sour cream on the wrap, slicing the avocado and placing it on top of the sour cream, and finishing it off with the cheese. After the chicken is done, I put a couple pieces on the wrap and then roll it up. I then put the wrap on the grill and let it heat up for 4-5 minutes. Cut it in half, let it cool and enjoy!!

 

This is a very simple meal that I have been enjoying (and looking forward to) for dinner the past couple of nights. I have not counted up the calories and I honestly I don't think I will (at least while I am pregnant).

 

Ways to make this more healthy? Change the packaged chicken for fresh chicken. Change the sour cream for yogurt. Use less cheese (mozzarella is one of the lowest calorie cheeses).

 

The Bathtub!

Do you watch Sex and The City?

 

I do (did). So Saturday when I was home alone and feared the worst (story to come soon), I couldn't help but replay one of the SATC scenes over and over in my head.

 

Don't worry, it will make more sense in a bit.

 

 

If you read my blog yesterday you will know that Saturday I was home alone all day long! I took advantage of this time and took a nice long warm bubble bath. I laid in that bath (soaking in my own filth) for a good 45 minutes!!! It was so relaxing and I loved every single minute of it...

 

That is until I realized I didn't know how the heck I was going to get OUT OF THE BATH!!!!!

 

You see, I am huge pregnant. I have a hurt swollen ankle I am just now starting to put weight on. AND my right knee is (always) jacked up and is stiff from my fall.

 

So there I was... stuck in the bathtub that was slowly draining... and I was butt ass naked (duh how do you take a bath?)

 

I decided that I would use the slant of the back of the tub to slither out. The slant works a lot like a slide at a playground... what goes up, must come down!!! I was about half way into the slithering process when I started to slide right back down.

 

Well, that isn't going to work!!!!

 

I sat there growing more and more nervous because I was STUCK IN THE TUB!!!! What was I going to do?

 

I decided to wait until the water drained out and use the towels I had next to the tub as a mat to give me some traction. I sat there (impatiently) waiting for the worlds slowest drain to finish. Then put the towels in.

 

I thought it would be a good idea to throw my legs over the side of the tub, use my hands to prop me up and do kind of a back bend to get out. Lets face it, back bends are HARD when you aren't 8 months pregnant... it didn't work!!!

 

I laid in the tub, tears flowing and the scene of Miranda hurting her neck in her shower and Carrie sending Aiden over to help out only to find a naked Miranda in her bathroom playing in my head. I started to think, "who can I call?" I needed someone who I didn't care saw me naked but also someone who could actually help lift me and help me stand up. My choices were limited!!! I needed my husband!!!!

 

Finally, I dried my tears and decided to try one more time and it worked. 3rd time is a charm!!! How did I do it, honestly I do NOT remember!!! All I remember is I was FREE!!!! It took a good 20 minutes, but I freaking did it.

 

Lesson I learned - I am not taking any more baths while being pregnant unless my loving strong husband is home to help me out!!!!

 

Six Flags & Maternity Photos

In January, Casey and I decided that each month leading up to Dax's arrival, we would do some BIG special day for Caleb!!! For April, I planned out a day of F-U-N in Glenrose, Texas. First we would hit up Dino World and then feed the animals from our car at Fossil Rim Wildlife.

 

 

Caleb had other plans... He had his heart set on going to Six Flags!!! Since I am 8 months pregnant (and my ankle is still recovering) this meant that it was going to be a boy day... have to admit, I was kind of butt hurt, but knew that Casey and Caleb needed some bonding time just the 2 of them.

 

Friday Casey worked the day shift and was home normal hours!!! This is VERY rare and it actually happened twice this month. LOVE IT. We didn't do much, just hung out around the house and hit up Dairy Queen at the request of the 5 year old.

 

Saturday morning, I woke the boys up early (8am... I actually woke up at 6am but let them sleep in to rest up for their day of fun). Caleb was SO excited and kept asking us to measure him to see if he grew any over night. He is 48 inches and really wants to ride the Batman and Mr. Freeze, but you have to be 54 inches. Maybe next year buddy!!

 

 

They spent the day at the park and I spent the day at home! My plan was to get up and go shopping but nesting took over and I ended up cleaning the whole house. We usually have chore day on Sunday... not this week! The boys were thrilled to come home and learn that all the chores were done. After cleaning the house, I decided to relax and unwind in a warm lavender bubble bath. It was a perfect day alone.

 

The boys finally returned, I thought they would be back at 3-4pm but they didn't make it home until almost 8pm... they were having too much fun. Not that you can tell by this picture (he was scared of the Bobsled but Casey made him ride it and he ended up loving it so much they rode it twice)!!!

 

Sunday was a day I have been looking forward to for a long time... MATERNITY PHOTOS!!!! I called and scheduled a time to take pictures at the Truck Yard in lower Greenville and had approval from the manager for Sunday morning at 9am to 11am. My photographer and friend (Alicia Mitchell Photography) came over and rode with us...

 

Plus side to not having daughters... I don't have to fix anyone's hair but my own!!!!

 

We arrived and while taking our photos, about half way through, a waitress rudely asked us what we were doing because they didn't open until 11. Yes we are aware of that and I have permission to be here. She left us alone, kinda... she paired up with another waitress and started to watch us and giggle. One of them even said "This isn't glamour shots!" It made me really peeved and so we decided to go ahead and finish up early and take some outside of the Truck Yard instead. Annoying that people will try to steal your joy like that... boo!

 

I am so excited to see the pictures... this is one of Casey's outfits he wore! Man he is such a great sport... love him!!!

 

The rest of Sunday we just hung out at home and relaxed. It was a perfect, low key weekend for sure!!!
 

The Fall

Last Tuesday I had a girls night with 3 of my lovely friends. We had dinner and then went to see The Age of Adaline... I won free tickets to a premier... WOW it was a great movie!!!

 

 

Well we got there right when it started and the only seats were down in the front, like 2 rows back from the screen.

 

We took our seats, then three of us went potty while one of the girls held the seats. I waddle... I am 8 months pregnant, so waddling is a must now. Well as I was walking back to my seat it was dark and I don't know if my knee gave out, if I slipped or what happened...but I fell down the stairs... in front of everyone!!! Imagine a 8 month pregnant lady waddling across the theater to her seat and then BAM she is on the floor. The whole place gasped and all eyes were on me!!!

Luckily, I am use to falling. Haha! Luckily!!! So instead of falling forward, I threw myself backwards and to the left (towards the handrails). In doing so, my ankle twisted and swelled up right away!!!

 

 

Dax was okay and kicking so I wasn't worried about him too much, as I didn't hit my belly or anything.

I propped my ankle up (I had an outside seat) and enjoyed the movie as much as I could. My sister in law sat next to me and I don't think she even watched the movie. She was so worried (she had never seen me fall before and it freaked her out a lot)... I felt more sorry for her than I did myself!

 

(The ankle the night of the fall when I got home)

The next day I went to the doctors and had X-Rays done. Looks like I have 2 previous breaks on the top of my foot that have never healed properly and they cant tell if I re-broke it or if I just irritated the old break... so I am being sent to the orthopedic doctor this Wednesday.

 

(This was my ankle on Sunday night)

 

We also went to Labor and Delivery and checked up on Dax, even though I knew he was fine... Casey needed to go and make sure for himself. They wanted to keep me for 6 hours, HA! At hour 2 I got really hangry (they wont let you eat in there) and I told them I was leaving. Well, Casey told them for me. Dax was fine, thank goodness!!!

 

 

Being 8 months pregnant and having a swollen/hurt ankle is NO fun... I highly suggest you do NOT try this at home!!!

 

OH and I don't waddle anymore, I now waddle/gimp limp!!! It is all the rage now days!!!

 

30 Weeks - Pregnancy Update

I think I can... I think I can!!!

We officially are in the single digits for our countdown... 9 weeks (or less) to go until we meet Dax Marshall!!!

Can you tell I am excited?!

How Far Along? 30 Weeks!!

 

(Dress is from Ross - I bought it for $13 and it is not maternity, I sized up and made sure it was stretchy. I will be able to wear it after giving birth until I am back down to my regular size)

 

Size of Baby: Cucumber. He is weighing a little over 3 pounds and is about 15 1/2 inches long. This is according to the website, we will not have another measurement sonogram with our doctor until we have reached 36 weeks... so the end of May.

 

Weight Gain: I peaked at my last appointment and did the math, I have gained about 30 pounds the past 30 weeks. Which I am pretty proud, if I continue at this rate I will be right around a 40 pound gain which is 25-30 pounds less than with Caleb!!!

 

 

Maternity Clothes: So I wasn't a fan of SticthFix. It is more for skinny cute pregnant women. Plus they sent me a lot of warm clothes and well I live in Texas and have hot flashes, warm clothes during spring aren't ideal. So I have been stocking up on dresses from Ross each paycheck. I am having to wear a long tank top under my shirts if I do wear jeans or shorts, because my belly hangs out. Gotta love carrying low and being 5'10!

 

Stretch marks: No more than usual.

 

Symptoms: I have been cranky lately but I chalk it up to not being able to sleep. I usually wake up short of breath (my belly is huge) or from a hot flash, then insomnia sets in. When I do sleep, I think my mood is much better. I am just done being pregnant...

 

Cravings: Sweet Tea and Chick Fil A sandwiches... it is the only chicken I can stomach. I have had a #1 so many times this past month, it is crazy!!

 

Gender: We had a 4D sonogram (which was a bust and have to go back this Saturday to try again) but the tech did say... "It is still a boy!" Dax loves to show off his manhood for sure!

 

Nursery: I love just sitting in there and looking at things, dreaming of our baby being here with us. It is my quiet happy place for sure.

 

Movement: He has been kicking a lot and Casey has been able to feel him a bit more, but not as much as he would like. He does move more at night time (which Casey works nights) and usually after I eat something sweet. From our 4D sonogram last weekend, we did learn that he is balled up and head down.

 

Sleep: Ha! I can take a great nap on the couch, actually had a 4 hour one yesterday and it was awesome!!!  

 

 

Workouts: I have froze my gym membership. Womp Womp!!!

 

What I Miss: Sleeping at night in my bed with my husband (he snores so I kicked him out and he is now sleeping in our guest room). Being able to sneeze or cough without peeing. Not being short of breath. Walking normal, instead of waddling!!!

 

Belly Button in or out? In

 

Mood: Like I said earlier, it depends on if I have sleep or not. 

 

Wedding ring on or off? It is off... I woke up the other night in pain and had to stick my hand in the freezer to get it off. I am now wearing it around my neck.

 

 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Raw chicken still grosses me out horribly!!!

 

Best Moment This Week: Being able to have a lazy weekend (last weekend)with my husband and Caleb.

 

Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks.

 

Looking Forward To: Vacation day Friday (ME DAY), 3/4D sonogram (redo) on Saturday, booking our flights to South Carolina for August (Dax will be going with us too), and our next appointment which is on the 29th... it was supposed to be the 22nd BUT our doctor is on vacation that week so we pushed it back one week. I will be 32 weeks pregnant.

 

A day in the life of...

Have you ever wondered what a day of my life looked like?

 

 

I decided to blog my routine for you {pictures included}

This isn't just for you though... this is for me! Since I am about to become a mother of 2, I am taking 12 weeks off (hello summer vacation) and then going back to work part time in the fall instead of going back full time... I want to remember life like it is now! Hectic, crazy and beautiful!!!

A typical work day starts at 5:30 am... I end up hitting the snooze until 5:45am and then again until 6:00 am. Finally, I force myself out of bed and get ready for work. I am a planner so I usually have my outfit picked out the night before. It isn't always laid out, but I do mentally know what I am wearing.

Right now Casey is sleeping in the guest room (he snores, my back hurts and I am 7 months pregnant... if I don't have sleep I am a  ______ {insert a bad word here}... so he took one for the team and uses our guest room) so that means I have full use of our room. I am able to turn on the all the lights and get ready in the room AND the bathroom instead of being stuck in the bathroom.

Usually around the time I am done getting ready, 6:10am because I am so not a girly girl, Caleb is waking up. He doesn't go to school until 9, but he loves to wake up with me and enjoy a few minutes of my time before I leave for work.

 

I fix him and myself breakfast, take my vitamins, sit my lunch on the counter by my purse (that I packed the night before) and then enjoy breakfast with him on the couch. Sometimes he is a pain in the butt and sometimes he is the sweetest little boy ever. As much as I would love to have some quiet Jordan time before work, I enjoy this time with him because I know one day he will be a grumpy teenager that can careless about hanging out with Mom before work and school.

 

 

This particular morning, we was in a GREAT mood because I bought him markers and Frozen stickers the night before and he was ready to color 1st thing in the morning! He is krafty like his momma...

 

6:35 am I head out the door to head to work. Caleb usually stands at the door to the garage and waves goodbye as I pull out of the drive and the garage door closes. He seriously is a Mama's Boy!!!

 

I make it to work by 7am and start my day! Around 9am I receive a call from Caleb and Casey, it is usually from the parking lot of the school right before Casey takes him to his class. We say our good mornings (again) and I remind him I will pick him up at 4... like I always do. Then it is back to work for me.

From 7-11 am I working... then 11ish - 12ish I enjoy some free time on lunch. You use to find me at the gym on lunch but here lately I am either sleeping, enjoying time with friends, or sitting at my desk with my door closed watching Netflix. I do miss the gym, but I also LOVE this alone Jordan quiet time! Then it is back to work until 4.

What do I do for a living? I am an Associate Land Analyst at a Oil and Gas Company. My workload is dealing with West Virginia Oil and Gas Leases... fun stuff!

 

When it is quitting time, I head to Caleb's school and pick him up. My office is downtown and his school is only 4-5 blocks away. This is a plus and a negative. I love having him so close BUT it also makes the ride home long... the boy LOVES to talk. This is a VERY rare picture of him being quiet in the car, this almost NEVER happens!

 

 

We make it home around 4:30ish (depending on the Fort Worth traffic on 35, yuck) and then our night begins. Mind you, Casey works 3pm to 11pm so M-F I am home alone with Caleb... and when Dax gets here I will be home with both of them.

 

 

From 4:30 to 5:30-6 we play, I craft, I nap, he watches TV, he runs around the house like a mad man going crazy insane, basically this is free time to do whatever the heck we want to do to unwind.

 

 

6 pm means dinner time! Caleb will take a bath while I get dinner ready, and no he doesn't take one every night. Around 6:30 he will eat dinner, watch one show with me in the living room (we love Netflix) and then at 7pm it is time for bed.

 

 

7pm hits and he is in total control of his bedtime routine (I am so proud of him)... he has to change into his pajama pants, put his clothes in the hamper (which I have to remind him to do nightly), go potty, brush his teeth, put a pull up on (yep we are still struggling with this) and pick out a movie. We let him watch a movie in bed from 7-8:30 and then it is lights out.

 

 

From 7 - 9 this is my alone quiet time and I love every minute of it!!! I usually craft, shower, clean, sit on my butt and watch DVR, and well do anything I want to do... no kid, no husband! Then I am usually in bed by 9pm!!

 

 

Then 5:30 am my alarm clock goes off and I do it all again!!!

Is it Saturday yet?!

 

Caleb & Dax - The Differences

Yesterday I went dress shopping because all of my shirts don't seem to cover my belly anymore and if I go up a size I don't have the boob-age to fill them out. It is a horrible cycle! Luckily Spring is upon us and Summer is coming very soon... so I am able to wear sundresses and flip flops!

 

Long story short, I tried on dresses and while I left with 2... I hated the experience. I was brought back to the days that I use to hate trying on clothes because of my weight. This time last year I was loving buying new clothes, my how times have changed. I know I know, I am pregnant. Still, trying on dresses wasn't all that fun.

 

I felt really down and then got to thinking, I wonder what I look like if I compared myself to myself when I was pregnant with Caleb. I pulled a photo from my maternity shoot with Caleb (6 years ago... wow!) and I was about 7 months pregnant... just like I am now! Here is the picture...

 

 

Seeing this really helped lift my spirits!! And it got me to thinking how different both of these pregnancies have been for me.

 

When I was pregnant with Caleb, I didn't care about my weight... I wanted to be skinny but that is the extent of it. I ate anything and everything I wanted. Heck I remember buying fast food and stuffing it in my face before I made it home because I didn't want my sister to think I didn't want dinner too. (Wow, can you say low point). I was single and didn't feel like I needed to impress anyone. Fitness was nothing to me, yet. I longed for the days of being able to just lay in bed and eat. I wanted a healthy baby, but I also wanted a pizza... the whole damn thing!!!

 

This time around with Dax, I am way healthier. I started this pregnancy off at a healthier weight and haven't gained as much. I gained almost 65-70 with Caleb, and right now I am sitting right under 30 pounds gained with Dax. I am watching what I am eating for the most part, don't get me wrong I still enjoy my banana milkshake here and there, but I do not cave at every single craving. I am more aware of drinking my water and getting up for daily walks. I am also more active because I have Caleb to look after. I am also more aware of my weight gain and the way I look because even though I do not have to impress my husband, I want to impress him.

 

Not only is this pregnancy different health wise but emotionally it is very different too. I have a better support system. I am not single, in fact just the opposite... I have one of the most supportive husbands you will ever meet. He has not missed one single doctors appointment or hospital visit. Having him has made this go around so much better! I am so thankful for him and I cant wait to see his face the minute Dax enters the world and Casey becomes his father. Oh I am getting teary eyed just thinking about it.

 

Cough Cough... Pee!

I sit here thinking of the days before I had kids, the days where if I coughed or sneezed I wasn't afraid of peeing in my pants. Now here I am wearing a panty liner (with back up undies in my purse) because you never know what the next cough or sneeze will bring you.

 

Welcome to my blog today!

 

Happy Friday!!

 

Haha! If you are a Mom, you will totally relate to my blog today. If you are a woman who isn't a mom yet, here is what your future (might) look like. And if you are a man... well this blog will serve as a reminder that the woman in your life is AMAZING for what she puts her body through to give you a child and you should pamper her and make sure to show her how much you love her!

 

With Caleb (my 1st born) I do not remember peeing my pants as much as I have with Dax, but I still remember the few times I did. Once was when I was sitting on the couch at my sisters and my brother in law farted and it smelled so bad. I started gagging really hard and coughing uncontrollably... and then peed my pants! Mind you, this was the ONLY pair of pants that I owned that fit my huge 30+ week belly. I had to take my pants off, have my sister wash them and sit with a towel covering my lower body until they were done.

 

Then after I had given birth, a few month down the road, I remember peeing my pants doing jumping jacks while training with my trainer. I had to quit my workout and go home to change.

 

 

Now here I am pregnant with Dax and the peeing of the pants has started back up, but this time it is hardcore!!! So I suffer from acid reflux really bad this time around. It is so bad that after I eat anything (even soup) I feel like I have something stuck in my throat. I am constantly coughing and clearing my throat after meal time. I sometimes cough so bad that... yep you guessed it... I end up peeing my pants!

 

This actually JUST happened to me! I was in my office, I had finished my morning snack, I was coughing hard core and BOOM... a co-worker (male) was walking down the hall and he made eye contact with me at the exact moment I peed. He said "What happened?" I started laughing and said "just be thankful guys cant get pregnant" and ran to the bathroom. Well I didn't run, I waddled... running might make the pee come out again!

 

Oh the joys of being pregnant and having kids! I swear Dax and Caleb owe me big time... just like I am sure I owe my mom and she owes hers and so on and so on.

 

So today, make sure to stop and tell your mom you love her because after all you are probably the reason she pees a little each time she coughs or sneezes!!!

 

 

Sweet Love Notes - a Challenge!

Last year I decided that I would start writing little love notes to my friends and family randomly throughout the year. My goal is to do one a week but I do not always make my goal and sometimes I send 2 or 3 love notes a week. It all balances itself out in the end, right?

 

I started off using cheap cards from the Dollar Tree, then one day my boss bought me some personalized stationary and I was hooked. After using what she had bought me, I went on VistaPrint and bought some more. I love having fun notecards to use that say my name on them!!

 

 

I went to write a love note today and realized I was almost out, so I hopped on to VistaPrint and placed a order for some more cards. Here are the ones I picked out this time around... aren't they adorable?! I am so excited to get them in and start using them!!!

 

 

There is something about opening your mailbox and finding a love note instead of a bill (or at least a love note amongst your bills). Plus you never know who needs that little pick me up that week.

 

So now I challenge you... start this habit! It doesn't have to be weekly, it can be however many times a year you want it to be. Make a list of friends and family and start writing them! No not over the internet, not using Microsoft word, but actually pick up a piece of paper (or cute note card), a pen, envelope and stamp and write them a love note!! It will take a few minutes of your time and will most likely make their day when they receive it!!! After all, we are put on this earth to touch lives around us and minister to each other. Why not start with your friends and family?!

 

Forced To Wear A Label

A friend posted this picture on IG and it got me to thinking so here I am jotting those thoughts down on my blog....

 

If you were forced to wear a warning label, what would yours say?

 

Hmmm... Mine could actually say a few different things. And I am sure that my friends and family could add to my list. Yes, I said list!

 

1. Obsessed with Husband and Kids

Well duh, have you looked at my husband and my kids (Dax included) they are SO cute and SO funny. I love spending time with them, love taking their pictures, love just being a part of their lives. I am so blessed, more than I have ever imagined I would be. We are never guaranteed tomorrow, so I want to make sure that I soak up every loving second I can with these guys.

 

2. Taking Pictures (and posting them)

1st let me tell you this, if you don't like how much I post, then don't follow me! Easy as pie! I love to take pictures and I get this from my Gaga. Growing up she was always snapping our pictures, printing them off and putting  them in our books. I still have my book to this day! I love going back and looking at the memories of things we did together. I use Facebook as my storage space for my photos and then use Shutterfly to go in and make books for each year/holiday/event/etc. I don't just take pictures, I print them also... Our house is decorated in pictures! I love pictures!!!

 

 

3. I am an overachiever

I like being the best at everything I do. I like to win. I like to take the ordinary and work until it is extraordinary! I think this is a huge reason I am able to achieve all my goals in life (especially with weight loss). I set a goal for myself and I don't give up until I achieve it.... even if it becomes annoying to those around me.

 

 

4. iPhone Whore

Hi, my name is Jordan and I am addicted to my iPhone. I do NOT go anywhere without it. I am constantly checking it, emailing, texting, taking photos (see #2) and keeping up with friends and family via FB and IG. You don't like that? Oh I am sorry, oh well. I am a people person and love being connected to people! AND I use it while I am in the car riding passenger because I am such a control freak and need to focus on something else besides the person driving.

 

 

5. Control Freak

Yes, I just admitted that I am a control freak. It is the cold hard truth. I like to be in control, have control, and let you know that I am doing both. I don't mean it  to be rude to you, but I like to plan and get things done... if I am in control I know when it will happen, where we are going and when everything will take place. That is until God says "Hey Jordan, I am in control" and throws my plan out the window (which happens a lot).

 

 

6. Planner

I plan EVERY.SECOND.OF.OUR.LIVES!!! I feel like we get more done and achieve more in life by having a plan.

 

 

Welp, there is my list of what my label would say!!

 

What would yours say?

 

Oh I forgot one...

 

7. Need Ear Plugs

I talk LOUDLY!!! Right Randy and Mom? I was a cheerleader in high school and my Step Dad, Randy, would always say you could hear me on the other side of the field. Still to this day, I talk loud!!!