Baby Suprise!

Yesterday we had our first ultrasound since I have become pregnant with baby number two! The baby's legs were crossed. so it took us a while to find something, but there was a little something there!

We are having another BOY!

We are very excited. Now we can stay in our house longer (it is only a two bedroom, so they can share). I was also trying to figure out how to decorate a room that had both a boy and a girl and I was stumped, so now it is not a problem. The room will be all about sailing, complete with a sail boat bed just for Ben. The new baby can use everything Ben did,so we only NEED a few things like a double stroller and a swing that plugs in.

We had decided on a name, but now are a little nervous about it, so I think we are open to other names again. We still might choose this one in the end, but we need some time to mull it over.

The technician said I was measuring a week small, so she would change my due date to oct. 1, but she doesn't know if the doctor will change it. The baby was breach, so it made it hard to find and measure some things, but it just took a little longer.

I want to make this little guy feel special so even though I don't need new crib bedding, I will make him his own special set and his own blessing outfit. I also wanted to make a few things for myself, like a nursing cover. I never used the ones I have made before, because they didn't cover enough when the baby got wiggly, I would just use a blanket, but I will make a poncho style one this time and see if it works.

This is the inspiration for the boys new room

Tick Tock

Ok tomorrow is the big day! We have an ultrasound at 3:30pm and we are finding out the sex of the baby. Sooo excited. I don't know how people can keep such a great secret to themselves! I am definitely not a secret keeper when it comes to what the gender is for my babies. Ok so here is the deal:

You have less than 24 hours to put your guess in for the stats on the baby, so here is the link you need to go to and put in your guess. It is major points if you guess the correct gender, so no pressure or anything. I think the person who won the game with Ben was a Friend Rebekah Tuttle.

Oh and don't cheat and read the other guesses first. The button to push is top right, and then after you guess you can check out the others.

Here is a photos of my belly for those of you who need to see the shape of the belly before you guess!

19 or 20 weeks with Benjamin

19 weeks with baby #2

Preparing

I have been thinking lately of my last pregnancy and what I did to prepare. It was my first so I was really gung ho and had lots of time to plan and make things. Not so much this time. I was way more sick and have a child, so it makes things tricky. I don't have to quite prepare the same way as the last one, because I know it will be a c-section. OK so I have found a few gems that I want to make for myself for this baby and then if the baby is a boy I NEED anything, so I would like just make some extra cool things to help me prepare for the baby. If it is a girl, I definitely want to make a lot more fun stuff, but I really think it will be a boy....boys run in our families. so here is the list:

Swaddler with minky fabric

stroller straps that hold your diaper bag

car seat blanket

A diaper bag that looks like a combo of these three

A hospital gown for my duration

I really want a new swing. Ben used his 20 out of 24 hours when he was little due to colic, so I need help. I want one that has a plug in adaptor and is comfy to sleep in. Recommendations?

Dreaming of couches

So I have been dreaming lately about getting furniture, since the stuff we have was free or less than five dollars. I came across this website. They have sofas, a few beds, and are really inexpensive and cute! Here is the site and my favourites! Help me narrow it down! I would pick a tan color for all of them due to the nature of my shedding dogs.

http://www.customsofadesign.com/styles.php?p=3

1

2

3

4

5

6

Ben's first skateboard

I think it runs in his blood! He won't let this board out of his sight. He wanted to take it to church yesterday and to pick up daddy from work. I bought it at a garage sale for $.25 and it was the best purchase I have ever made! He knows he has to push it, but he usually tries to do it on the rug and it just ends up looking like a jump and a grunt. bdh

yummy-ness

I found this really great recipe...somewhere. I searched over and over again for the original and can't find it. The picture they had was so much better than mine, but I bet it didn't taste as good as mine did! it is called "Chocolate fudge cupcakes". They are filled with a strawberry whipped filling and topped with chocolate cream cheese. I didn't having any decorating tips, so I used a small tube and the frosting doesn't look so exciting, but it would have if I did it differently.Don't worry, it still tastes beautiful! I made them Easter Sunday and they were divine, so I am sharing the recipe with you!

Chocolate Fudge Cupcake
1 Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix
3 Large Eggs
1/2 cup melted butter (butter not margarine)
1 cup water
Preheat oven to 350

Mix on low until blended, then mix on high for 2 mins.
Pour into paper lined cupcake pans. Bake for 20 min.
Strawberry Whipped Cream (filling)
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
5-6 T. chopped/processed strawberries

Strawberry filling
Chop strawberries in blender (I used my Magic Bullet) just until they look thick and "liquidy". I used really large strawberries and it took 4 to make 5-6 Tablespoons.
Beat whipping cream, and vanilla until it starts to thicken.
Mix in sugar.
Fold in strawberries.
***WARNING - this stuff is DELICIOUS - so I advise you NOT to taste any until AFTER you've finished with your cupcakes.....otherwise you may not have any left for the cupcakes!

Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting (from Glorious Treats)
½ cup butter, at room temperature
8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ cup unsweetened cocoa
4 cups powdered confectioners sugar
1-4 Tablespoons heavy whipping cream
Directions:
*Place butter in a large mixing bowl and blend slightly. Add cream cheese and blend until combined, about 30 seconds.
*Add the cocoa powder( before adding the sugar, so it gets fully incorporated into the butter and cream cheese.)
*Add vanilla extract and powdered sugar and blend on low speed until combined. Increase to medium speed and beat until it begins to get fluffy.
*Slowly add the heavy cream, a little bit at a time until desired consistency is met. (Don't add too much if you want the frosting to stay in place when piped on cupcakes.)
*Beat until fluffy, about 1 minute.
*Use at once or keep refrigerated. (This frosting will keep well in the refrigerator for several days, but you may need to re-beat it for the best texture.)

putting together:
1.Cut out a small section in the center of the cupcake (save in bowl)
2.add strawberry whipped cream to the hole
3.replace the tops (just do the best you can - or you could just leave them off)
4.pipe chocolate frosting on top of cupcake with 1M tip.

Working on my fitness - preggo style

Today I have decided to start my exercising program for pregnancy. I use a "10 minute solutions: Prenatal Pilates" dvd my sister in law Michelle lent me last pregnancy and this one too. You can choose your workouts and each segment is only 10 minutes. I know I can fit in 10 minutes a day so no matter how busy the day gets, I can relax with a stretch segment.

During the last pregnancy I gained 50 lbs. I was a little underweight from being sick in the beginning, so I had to gain between 30-40lbs. I LOVED to eat after I got past the sickness part, so I really did. I also moved in with my mom and my family during the last few months, so she spoiled me. I started to walk a lot toward the end of the last pregnancy, but I wanted to do more.

When we went to Florida I was worried my belly wouldn't fit in my swimsuit, when I should have been worried about my buns. So that really motivated me to start now so it will be even easier after the baby comes.

So this pregnancy I am supposed to gain 25-35 lbs, so I am going to TRY and keep it in that range. So today was day one and I did ok. My legs really hurt when I was doing the buns and thighs part, but I knew it would be a hard section for me. I love the stretching part. Although today I was using a yoga mat and Ben decided it would be fun to eat the mat, so there are about three little bite holes in my matt now...time out pursued.

So I am eating healthy, working out, and feeling good. Oh and next month we find out what we are having!!!