Green Mocha Smoothie

Santa gave us a new blender for Christmas!

Kitchen Aid awesome blender

We are soooo excited about this blender! Our old blender broke about a month ago and I've been craving a smoothie! So this morning I whipped together a new smoothie recipe I've been wanting to try: (measurements are not precise...sorry!)

• 1 frozen banana
• 1 cup of milk
• 1 handful (or 1 cup) of spinach
• 1 packet of instant coffee (i'm sure brewed coffee would work too)
• 1 spoonful cocoa powder
• 1 spoonful sugar
• 1 spoonful peanut butter
• a large handful of ice cubes

Mocha Smoothie

This was different from my usual Green Monster smoothie I make, but still very good!!  I liked that there was a lot of flavor! I could taste the peanut butter, banana and a hint of the coffee. Violet liked it too!  It was very yummy and I'm glad I got a helping of veggies without even trying.  Definetly making this again soon!

Dashing through the snow

Okay so not really dashing through the snow, but more so the week! For starters we had a wonderful Christmas with my family. We opened presents, ate, relaxed, played games, ate some more, and enjoyed each other.

Christmas 2011

I don't think I have mentioned this on here before but my Sister is also pregnant...and due on the EXACT same day! Though I'm having a c-section a week before our due date, its just amazing/crazy that we can both be due the same day!  We are both currently 27 weeks along.

Sisters and Baby Bump Cousins

The day before Christmas Violet started to develop a nasty cough with wheezing, but she was acting like her silly self. Thankfully her pediatrician office was open the next day and we went right over.  Poor thing had to do a breathing treatment, but luckily Bryson had the day off to go with us and pictures on my iPhone entertained her for the time.

At the Doctor

Isn't that picture horrible looking! It really isn't has bad as it looks, she wore the mask for like 5-10 mins and then it was over. This was her second time having to do a breathing treatment at the doctor, and the second time her body didn't respond to it.  So the doc concluded it is either RSV or a developing pneumonia.  But.....because she isn't showing full symptoms of either one he didn't want to over diagnose or give her meds when it wasn't needed. We're on watch over her to see if she is breathing normally at night or if her cough/wheezing gets worse.  Thankfully she has been sleeping better at night and she is acting normal. 

Yesterday I celebrated our annual "CYP Christmas" with Kim and Kimmy (we were missing LeighAnne) We have been friends since 7th grade and have shared to many Christmases together! We had a yummy lunch at Tiny Boxwoods and exchanged gifts.  I'm so glad we have this little tradition of getting together at the end of the year.   

CYP Christmas

It's been a great week so far, but it's time for me to dash to get our place ready for our weekend guests! 



Merry Christmas

I love love love sending and receiving Christmas cards! There is something about the season hearing from family and friends...and getting snail mail these days is very exciting! 

This year we took pictures with our new friend Natalie Blazei Photography . She did an amazing job (and has an incredible price) we will definitely be booking with her again in the near future! You should check her out if you live in the Houston area.  Our cards were made by another new friend of Little Bears Designs .  She has really cute designs and fun prints to choose from for all occasions. 

Remember today "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the LORD" (Luke 2:11).

Merry Christmas!

Projects

At mothers day out and during church (usually) Violet will bring home a cute little craft for us! We hang it up and she is so proud of her work! She walks by, points and talks about the project. It really is cute.

It has been so much fun to watch her be creative! I try for us to a "project" a week. I keep it simple. We collect leaves and glue them to paper, color a picture or trace our hands. The best part is every time I ask "do u want to do a project?" she says "yeah, dada?" because she likes to give them to Bryson when he gets home.

Today, she drew with chalk. She didn't like the texture of the chalk on her hands but quickly got over it when she saw how easily she could draw with it. We then added stickers. Heres how it turned out:

Reasons

This is my second time to be pregnant during this season of the year. (I had Violet in February and I'll have this one in March) And I have to admit, it's probably the best because:

1. Cooler weather
2. Halloween candy
3. Thanksgiving food
4. Christmas
5. Warmer weather when the baby is born so we can go outside
6. Not having to get in a bathing suit
7. Leggings!!!
8. Sales on summer/fall maternity clothes that still work bc it's not freezing in Texas
9. Seeing family and friends during the holiday season while pregnant
10. Less sweat!

Congestion

My nose has been congested on and off again for about three weeks. It's horrible, uncomfortable, annoying and irritating! I've tried taking over the counter meds that sorta helped. A netipot helped a little. But I'm so congested that the water wont drain out! I had a slight sinus infection so my doc put me on a Zpack that took away the pressure in my face. But still I'm snotty and congested!

I've learned it's hard to do everyday things while congested. Such as:

•Sleep
•Chew Gum
•Kiss
•Use Mouthwash
•Drink from a straw
•Breathe through your nose (duh!)
•Hum a song

24 weeks

Time is flying by: 6 months down, 3 more to go! And since I'm having a c-section again we have only 15 more weeks! yikes!  This pregnancy is really going by so much faster than my first. Here a a few updates:

• Since we found out we are having a boy we still have no decided on a name.  We have thrown some out there and have an on going list, but playing it cool as to not making any commitments yet on a name.
• Physically I've been feeling pretty good. I feel pregnant, big and little more uncomfortable than usual.  I dont remember feeling this way my first pregnancy, but since I now have a bump, I'm just feeling it more. I think because I was pregnant before, lost the weight and now am pregnant again, it's been harder to accept my physical appearance.  
• Violet points to my belly when we say "brother" and of course she says "loooook looook" and then we look at my belly.  When I feel him move, I try to get Violet too feel it too, but she won't leave her hand still long enough. She is going to be a great big sister. 
• Baby boy is a mover!! Usually around 7am I feel him a lot, through out the day randomly and then a lot between 9-10pm. 
• Now that it's finally winter here in Houston, I need to buy a maternity jacket. Like a casual zip-up hoodie type thing. But I'm pretty set with most my wardrobe
• Violet and I are still walking regularly. Though I miss running! But during my walks I've been getting sorta crampy in my lower belly.  My doctor said this is pretty normal for a second pregnancy since my muscles have already been stretched before, they are just weaker than the first time. She recommend a maternity support band....so we'll see how that works.
• My sister in law is going to make the baby bedding!! I'm super excited to pick out fabric this weekend!

24 weeks (sorry the shadows in the picture annoy me!)