21 weeks: Our Baby Girl

How far along? 21 weeks!

Total weight gain/loss: 11 lbs! Man I'm feeling very thick. 

Maternity clothes? No, sun dresses & bikinis! 

Stretch marks? No but in so so dry!!! 

Sleep? Yes!!! And now I want a nap during the day!

Best moment this week: i didn't have a best week, I had a worst week tho! Landon ended up in the ER and had to get stitches. Worst moment of my life! 

Miss Anything? Real seafood.

Movement: lots of moment and she sometimes kicks my ribs or stays wedged between my ribs.

Food cravings: i don't want to eat anything all day and out of the blue, I suddenly end up wanting everything in site... 

Anything making you queasy or sick: all clear! 

Have you started to show yet: yes and every one points it out.. No shit Sherlock.. I'm 21 weeks pregnant!! 

Gender: a sweet little girl!!

Labor Signs: nope!

Belly Button in or out? IN.

Wedding rings on or off? on

Happy or Moody most of the time: happy happy happy!!

Looking forward to: crib shopping! 

"Rustic Owl" Baby Shower For My Niece!

Over the weekend, we threw my sil a baby shower! We were going for a rustic owl theme. So so cute!! Color scheme: burlap & Lace with pop colors: pink & gold! 

Let's be honest.. A party by me isn't complete without my chalkboard sign lol! Best $49.99 I ever spent in my life! 

Next was my invitation! Coral ombre with an itty bitty little owl, wrapped in doilies! My favorite invitation yet! That's the problem with Pinterest... It has the best ideas!!! 

My pink ombre rain drop gift table... I think it would've turned out nicer if I had larger balloons, but my darling assistant Landon spent some time rolling on the balloons... Lol 

My center pieces were mason jars wrapped with burlap and lace... Flowers were hydregnas, babies breath and pink roses. Originally it was carnations but the florist didn't ask if I wanted light pink or hot pink so they bought white... Then offered to spray paint it pink but I refused to sit in a car with spray painted flowers (I had Landon and I'm pregnant).. So I went for roses.. Worked out but I wasn't happy. 

Table setting was exactly what I envisioned.. Rustic and classy.. 

The minute my sister and I saw these gold chargers... We had to get them! We threw on pink heart shaped doilies to add a pop color, thank goodness for valentines day around the corner, the dollar tree had them available! For favors, we got nail polish and wrapped it with burlap. (Again thanks Pinterest!)

Here is the mama to be! 

I made little bunting signs for the baby Mia using burlap with lace lettering (for desserts and drinks too) i also used pink, burlap & lace ribbons to add a pop! My sister made all the poms... So so cute! 

I loved the candy bar... Almond roca is my favorite treat, add in grape fruit flavored gummy bears, I was in sugar heaven! We also served pink donuts, cream puffs, heart shaped cookies and mini cinnabuns! 

We served mimosas with a variety of juices! 

The cake was 2 tiered.. Vanilla with fresh strawberry filling! The cake topper was purchased on etsy.. Really cute and they work fast too!!! 

I decided I wanted to do a bow station.. Different than a onesie project. We had headbands, hair clips and a variety of different colored felts. I added fake flowers... And plenty of scissors and glue guns! 

Here is my bow! Super cute and I can't wait to make bows for my little baby girl too!!! 

Some of the games we played... 1. Hold a baby while talking on a cell phone and hang laubdry.. My mom was so cute! 

2. Match the socks game.. This is my sil's grandmother trying to match socks... Here's a tip: keep it to 10 pairs minimum.. This game takes forever! 

3. "Oh shit my water broke" freeze little plastic babies (from any craft store) in an ice cube maker... Whoever frees their baby first screams "shit my water broke" wins!

4. Last game was guess the baby food game... Pretty easy.. NOT! Pears and apple smells exactly alike! 

3 of the diaper cakes that were gifted at the shower, how amazing is the golf cart diaper cake?!!! The owl was made by her sister. 

Such a fun shower for my sil! My sister is a fantastic party planner! So much goes into throwing a party and I'm exhausted! But it was all worth it.. Because I would do anything for my little niece! 

Toddler Meals: Protein Power

Introducing eggs, meats and dairy to add protein into my guys diet was a lot more complicated than I thought... So I started sneaking it in. If Landon refuses to try something, I will continue to offer it until he gives in.. It usually takes 2 weeks.

Hard boiled eggs was a "new thing". He likes the egg whites but not the egg yoke but I still offer 1 hard boiled egg 2-3x a week. I still always offer stuff he likes: meatballs, almond butter with crackers and cheddar. Cucumbers are new so we offered it a lot the last few weeks. He will take a few bites but he's not too excited about it.

Scrambled eggs is a hit! Adding rice, greens and chicken has helped as well. Yogurt twice a day keeps him regular and he loves expensive organic berries. 

I'm trying really hard to simplify lunches. I started trying to introduce sandwiches 2x a week. He's very "blah" about it. He prefers a bowl of soup or rice... I also add fresh fruit, cheese and trail mix to make sure he gets some variety. 

He eats everything we eat and this meal was particularly devoured in our home.. A bed of thinly sliced sweet potato and zucchini.. Baked 400• for 10 minutes- lay 2 marinated chicken breast on top and bake for 30 minutes... It was so good! He  had 2 servings! Hummus is a great source of protein as well so we add them on crackers. Grapes is always a hit in our house!

Fried rice is so easy to eat! It's healthy too! I use a little coconut oil, frozen veggies, meatballs and cooked rice.. Give it a good stir to warm everything up then crack 1 egg to bind everything. He can eat this everyday... Pears are in season so we serve them sliced with sliced cucumbers as well!

We are reintroducing pasta. It's hard to have pasta meals when my husband is gluten free and basically hates Italian food.. But while visiting my husbands family (not italian), they served pasta every other night. I personally love it but Landon isn't really a fan... He does love spaghetti and meatballs tho! I served it with a toddler salad and homemade rolls.. 

20 weeks: 1/2 way there!

How far along? 20 weeks 3 days!

Total weight gain/loss: 10 lbs! Holy casserole.. That's 5 lbs while on vacation!

Maternity clothes? We are living in 74-80•+ weather.. I'm in sun dresses & shorts! My maternity leggings are tucked away in my drawer.. 

Stretch marks? No but in so so dry!!! 

Sleep? Yes!!! And now I want a nap during the day!

Best moment this week: we named our baby girl and we got to see her at out 20 week ultrasound!

Miss Anything? Got my Asian food in...  I miss not having this 10lbs on me.. Miss having a cocktail.. Miss eating real sushi!

Movement: Too much movement, she sits on a nerve that shoots pain down my leg... It's killing me!!!

Food cravings: no, but my OB wanted me to gain 10lbs by 20 weeks and I was successful!! Really stuffed my face! 

Anything making you queasy or sick: nope! I hear morning sickness comes back and I really hope it doesn't!! 

Have you started to show yet: yep!! 

Gender: a sweet little girl!!

Labor Signs: nope!

Belly Button in or out? IN.

Wedding rings on or off? on

Happy or Moody most of the time: happy happy happy!!

Looking forward to: we will be nesting!! Gathering nursery plans and re-organizing our home! 

Landon is 19 months

This amazing super kid is 19 months... I need a time machine so I can press pause and take a breath... He's growing up too fast and it makes me want to cry!! 

Weight: 26 lbs (on our home scale).. We Won't be seeing our ped until he's 2 years old... So home scale weigh-ins it is!! 

Health: Healthy as a mule.. All his teeth are in and we managed to avoid any flu mishaps while traveling!

Diet: we are definitely enjoying lots of soups and vietnamese dishes! I can barely get him to eat a sanwhich but he loves noodle soup! Lots of fruits, almond milk, trail mix cheeses and yogurt! 

Social: this funny guy loves to ease drop! When people start laughing at restaurants, he loudly laughs along... It's really embarrassing! He loves to say hi to everyone he sees and he loves to people watch. He enjoys ignoring my mom and he will run away with her. If they're alone, she's his best friend... It's very strange behavior!

Sleep: he's down to 1 nap a day, 12-2:30 and bed time is 7:30-7:30. I'm starting to leave him in his crib until 8am. He ends up just playing with his toys.

Crying: Still only cries when he gets hurt.. But man, the alligator tears are pitiful and down right sad. When he's hurt he wants to be held, kissed and soothed.. 

Loves: Mickey Mouse figurines, hotwheels and playing at the park.

Clothes: size 18 month & 24 month/ 2T and Shoes size 5. 

Milestones- lots of new words, started asking for piggy back rides and he likes to go up and down the stairs by himself.. Like a big boy. 

Words:

Sings and shows "itsy bitsy spider", "10 in a bed (roll over). Sings "hot dog song" and dances to see Mickey Mouse club!

"Baaah" for sheep

"Bock" for chicken Chicken 

"Boo" for anything Halloween

Cow and moo

Cat and meow 

Dog and woof

He makes an elephant noise for elephant

Makes fish face for fish

Chatters his teeth for ground hog

Duck

Bird

Bear and "Roar!!!"

Hello

Bye bye

Mama

Dada

Ba (grandma)

Pap pap (grandpa)

Tree

Water

Milk

Juice

Baba (for drinks)

Snack

Treat

Done

Poo poo

Leiah

Book

Ball

Dinosaur "dine "

Come on

Please

Go

No no

Shirt

Shoes

Socks

Up

Down

signs: eat, milk, more, all done, please, help

Travels: NYC and Pennsylvania

Must Haves: water, snacks and his iPhone to watch Mickey Mouse clubhouse 

Teeth: 14! 

This month.. It seems like he's more of a toddler... He loves puzzles, standing up his figurines and playing with his little hotwheel cars! He's very interactive and plays pretend very well! We spend a lot of time whispering secrets to one another.. He's so much fun! 

18 weeks: Our Baby Girl

How far along? 18 weeks 4 day.. 

Total weight gain/loss: I would say I'm packing on the lbs... All these casseroles, pies, cakes, bread rolls... I have to be looking jolly.

Maternity clothes? Yes, I wore a pair of my red maternity jeans for about 4 hours and they felt like sand paper... So back to my beloved leggings! 

Stretch marks? So dry! So so so dehydrated & dry!

Sleep? I'm getting sleep but Landon has some major sleep issues since his final 2 molars are coming through. 

Best moment this week: we just found out my mom is cancer free! 

Miss Anything? Asian food... Not because I'm craving it, but because I'm in need of a homemade meal!

Movement: yes! Her kicks are stronger and startling. My husband felt the baby move... Also my sister in law & mother in law did too! 

Food cravings: nothing too crazy. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: nope! Baby's been so kind to me!

Have you started to show yet: yep!! 

Gender: a sweet little girl!!

Labor Signs: nope!

Belly Button in or out? IN.

Wedding rings on or off? on

Happy or Moody most of the time: happy happy happy!!

Looking forward to: a brand new year!

Toddler Meals: take out

We often order take out for dinner. This is a quick lesson on how to order take out & make it "healthy" for your children.

Thai Food:

I love Thai food. Any Asian food is a favorite of Landon and I!  Landon loves seafood, so I ordered shrimp pad Thai, brown rice & egg rolls. Simple, easy and pretty heathy because he gets protein, carbs and vegetables. 

Flame Broiler:

Introducing pieces of meat: now that Landon is older, I try to incorporate meat 1-2x a day in his diet. I will often either carry my own scissors in his food bag or I will request a pair at a restaurant. 

But he loves steak & rice.. Loves it more with eggs & broccoli. I cut the pieces of meat super small so it's easy to eat and chew. 

I will also request at most restaurants to prepare our vegetables extra well done, then I can cut it up with scissors and mix it in his food.

Pho:

Pho (noodle soup) is a big thing in my home... Truth is, he will eat a bowl of soup over a sandwich any day.

When I prepare a bowl for Landon, I don't just give him noodles.. I make his bowl with everything!!! He eats pho with beef slices, noodles, chicken, bean sprouts, cilantro, green onions and sometimes, I'll add mix veggies. I also add 1 small drop of sirracha and hoisin sauce into the broth. He can eat this on repeat multiple times a week. I will often swap out noodles with brown rice. 

There you go, take out. When we eat at the restaurant, I always pack raisins, fruit, string cheese & crackers to take with me... I've also carried a container of cooked peas as well. 

Bon Appitite!