18 weeks.... almost to the half way mark!

18 weeks, 3 days

Due date: September 22nd, but my c section will be scheduled a week before

Starting weight: 130

Current weight: 142

Baby gender: boy!

Baby name: Undecided! Baby Boy Marlow for now!

Craving: Nothing specific really. Occasionally Cesar salads. Thats about it.

Pregnancy peeve: Vivid dreams! They're really getting to me nowadays!

This pregnancy is a little different on me than the other two have been. I was only 19 when I got pregnant with my son and everything was fun and cool and different and I just loved sitting around eating all the time. I stayed miserable with morning sickness throughout the pregnancy so I didn't really gain a WHOLE lotta weight. Well okay really, I was 108 when I got pregnant and I was 150 when I had him so i gained a lot, BUT i needed it and it actually looked fairly good on me afterwards.

I didn't work out to lose my weight that time. I didn't breastfeed the whole time, I didn't have some huge secret as to how I lost the weight. I did some pretty extreme diets here and there but only for a few weeks at a time, and by his first birthday I was 120 lbs and looking good.

Then baby #2. I was right at 130 when I got pregnant.... 170 when I had her.

That weight.... it didn't fall off so easy. I really had to work on that. I had another c section, but I nursed #2 so I lost about 30 of it pretty quick, but the rest... it just didnt wanna come off. I had to work out daily, and hardcore at that, do some Weight Watchers, along with some other dieting. I finally got back down to 130 but I was still different.

Pregnancy has changed my body so much.

It has opened up a world of insecurities I never thought I'd have.

I try to take care of myself while I'm expecting.... I make the best of it because its worth it.... but myself esteem has just been shattered by it. My entire body has changed and it seems like no matter what I do, I'll never be the same. 

I'm working out throughout this entire pregnancy, no matter what. I'm not sure whether I'll breastfeed again or not, but I know for sure I am immediately jumping on getting my old body back. I don't want it for a vain reason. I want it for me. I am so proud of my kids and as long as I have them I'll be happy even if I weigh 180 lbs. But it would just be nice to look in the mirror and be happy with my body. 

I know the "fatness" is coming.

I'm not looking forward to it.

Shake your head, think badly of me, but I'm NOT one of those women who LOVE being pregnant. I love the outcome, but pregnancy really gets to me. I haven't had postpartum depression, but I've been extremely depressed throughout my second pregnancy and this one. 

I'm working through it, and hopefully as I continue to update this blog with "belly pictures" I won't get too gigantic. We'll SEE!

Recipe for some yummy Cheesy Loaded Baked Potato Soup!

I'm always trying out new recipes

and messing around in the kitchen coming up with new meals

so here's a yummy easy cheesy potato soup recipe.

I did of course work at O'Charley's for some time... So you might say they

inspired this a bit haha.

 About 5 medium sized red potatoes, cut in long slices, un-peeled! 

3 medium sized baking potatoes

1/4 cup margarine, melted
1/4 cup flour (more or less depending on desired thickness)
4 cups half-and-half

2 cups milk
16 ounces Velveeta cheese, melted
Garlic powder

Pepper 
Desired amount of bacon crumbles fried for topping (or bacon bits if you choose!)
Cheddar cheese (for topping as well)
1/2 cup fresh chives
1/2 cup fresh parsley

Dice potatoes (leaving red potatoes peeled, but go ahead and remove the peel off the baking potatoes) and 

cover in water, bringing to a boil.

Continue to boil for about 15 mins or until the potatoes are tender to your liking.

While potatoes are boiling,

melt margarine and slowly add flour.

Mix until smooth and place heat on low.

Gradually add half and half and milk stirring constantly (I used a whisk)

until smooth and begins to thicken up.

Melt Velveeta and add it to the creamy mixture.

Stir VERY well. 

Drain potatoes and pour potatoes into mix.

Continue to cook the mixture for about 30 mins on low heat.

Add cheese, bacon, parsley, and chives

AFTER placed into bowls.

Just a hint:

Add cheese first, and bacon on top.

Melts AMAZINGLY!

Hair.... a tribute? A log...? Progression? hmmm.

My hair and I have a love/hate relationship.

I love it, but I hate dealing with it.

Everyone ELSE loves it short, I hate it.

I LOVE it long, but hate waiting on it to get there.

Three pregnancies have been tough on my hair.

Probably harder on it than my body.

I chopped off my waist length hair in '08...

and I've been wishing it back ever since.

Here's the long journey,

starting with before I ever cut it, and then...the cut (boo!)

So pretty, so healthy.... and ugh... check out my BOD! =]

BOO THIS!

early '08

^^^^ April 2009

^^^ May 09

Finally, a little progression!

This was in the summer of 2010...

and now here we are almost in summer of 2011....and not much is happening. Which is sad.

I intentionally wore the same shirt to do a one year side by side. =/

I NEED MY LONG HAIR BACK!

ugh.

Mommys been BUSY!

Wow! The past couple of weeks have been jam packed, one thing after the other. 

My love has been on a new work schedule and its been an adjustment for us

as he's not getting home until later in the evening,

but he's still leaving at the same time in the mornings.

It also means more days off (the hours come up to 40 after just 4 days, so he's off for 3 following).

The kids love it, and I love spending the time with him,

but boy oh boy do those kids act NUTS when he's home.

It completely throws our schedule off track.

Making for one FRAZZLED mama!

Aside from that....

BIG NEWS!

Baby Marlow #3 is.....

A BOY!

We are pretty freakin psyched! Especially Daddy! He was determined we were

gonna keep going until he got him another boy!

Now to decide on decor.

He's gonna have to share a room with little sister since Brother is about to be 3 

and he's just a little too wild to share a room with a newborn!

Plus GL is on an AWESOME sleep schedule.

I'm thinking something like this as far as set up goes since I

want to keep GL in her crib as long as possible...

I love it!

Any of you ladies have an ideas for mixed decor?

Gracie's stuff is all girly, all pink, all princess,

and she deserves that but I think half the room can be PRINCE! =]

As for Mommy....

here's the current baby bump at 16 weeks...

And Mama has seriously been busy!

My two closet friends from way back in the 

baby and kindergarten days are going through some big changes as well!

#1 here is having her first baby....

sweet Cooper,

and we showered her this past weekend.

and then Steph here is getting married and as her maid of honor I'm totally freaking 

out for her wedding! =]

This is the wedding party  (and our babies)

at the dress fitting.

And as for my monsters...

we've been trying to get out and enjoy this beautiful weather that has become

so rare in Georgia.

We took sweet Bal Bal flying

with my mom's fiancee as the pilot.

Not so sure what he was thinking about it.

He didn't cry.... just seemed a little freaked out when he looked down 

and realized there wasn't a ground below us lol.

Future pilot there maybe?

Oh and Gracie... she was completely satisfied playing in the castle at the park..

SWEET GIRL!

heres to hoping this week may be a little more....

CALM!

I'm not fat, I'm pregnant!!!

Anyone else stuck here?

I'm only 15 weeks preg, but with my third baby so of course I'm getting a little bump a bit earlier than usual,

but not enough that I don't just look a bit... chubby.

My usual size 6 Hollisters were getting a bit tight so I went ahead

and did what I was so hesitant to do with the previous pregnancies

and I bought some maternity pants.

Not just any maternity pants though,

these lovely Old Navy super skinny maternity jeans.

Oh yeah, full panel baby.

Wasnt so sure about them at first, but every time I put them on, I love em just a bit more.

Plus staying in my size 6 put a huge smile on me, especially finding they were still pretty loose.

Also picked up a few super comfy shirts...

Love them!

So I'm truly working on embracing pregnancy this time around

and completely plan on getting some cutesy maternity stuff...

My inspo's so far....

(I can't do a maternity post without having Nicole Richie, my icon for life!)

I lived in these summer dresses with both of my babies!

Love this super fitted one... great for my long summer i have waiting...

so great for this crappy Georgia weather were having right now.

Hmmm,

any thoughts ladies?

25 Things Nobody Mentioned About Being a Stay at Home Mom

1. Being woken up by a screaming child never, ever gets less nerve racking.

2. All conversation skills will go out the window as all you'll find yourself saying is "hey, stop!" and "put that down" or my favorite, "I'm going to count to three.... One.... Two........"

3. You will learn to juggle breastfeeding, making lunch, and cleaning up the kitchen all at once.

4. ..... And holding a bottle and vacuuming, simutanaeously.

5. That Dora, Blue, Diego, Barney, and Spongebob and Patrick never, ever become less annoying.

6. No matter how many toys you buy your kids or how intriguing they are, they will never compete with anything breakable, sharp, or near and dear to Mommy and Daddy's heart, and no matter where you hide these items or how high up you place them, babies and toddlers will ALWAYS find them.

7. Even though you swore you'd never be one of those moms, sometimes it is just easier to throw the kids a little Debbie cake for snack, and plop em down in front of some cartoons so you can manage to sit down for more than 3 minutes.

8. Those 1 hour naps become shorter every day.

9. Despite what the men believe, you NEVER find the time to just "sit at home all day".

10. As pretty as it may be outside, the park is only fun..... The first 15 times.

11. You will become one of those moms who photograph everything....

12. And who update their facebook when their child poops in the potty for the first time, and every time one of the kids does something even remotely funny or cute.

13. You will become so familiar with your house that you can spot a new stain, tear, scuff mark, or misplaced item a mile away.

14. Kids can figure out ANY baby proofing system. I repeat, ANY!

15. You figure out it's easier and makes more sense to wait until an hour before the hubby gets home to do your makeup and fix your hair and get out of those sweats or pajama pants. After all you do want him to think you have it all under control :)

16. You'll give up on wearing white thanks to juicy juice, Kool Aid, and Pop Sicles

17. walking all the way to the nursery to lay baby down on the changing table becomes less conveinient everyday. You find yourself with a stash of diapers in the bathroom, living room, and bedroom, plus a diaper bag at the door.

18. Meal planning becomes much harder than you ever imagined it could be.

19. The dryer really does eat socks, but theres no way to make your husband believe it when he sees the growing basket of unmatched socks.

20. You'll no longer watch Desperate Housewives to check out the clothes or the gardener... Now you'll check out how spotless the houses are.

21. Reading blogs from other SAHMs will be the one thing that keep you from feeling like youre alone.

22. Those baby milestones make you so much prouder when you know you're the one who helped them reach them.

23. Weekends are just another day. The kids don't know the difference.

24. Dinnertime signals the end of a long day, which means a much more relieved Mama. All that's left is more cleaning.... Baths... And getting ready to start the next day. :)

25. It will never, ever be that fantasy housewife life that you played out in your head as a child. It will always be far less glamourous than you thought.

Another.... LONG delay.

Its been quite a while since I seemingly abandoned this little blog. To catch everyone up, when I left I was on the job hunt. Well the search seemed endless at first but I actually got a job fairly quickly and found a job that I enjoyed quite a bit. No big time fancy work or anything, just a part time job as a server at my local O'Charleys haha.

The training was pretty stupid to be honest and I started to give up right off the bat, but I stuck to it and ended up being a pretty awesome server. I was making about $100 a night, which isn't bad at all considering it was extra money to add to the household income as my hub was still the main breadwinner of the fam. But after some hectic weeks of seeing my lovely townhome go from spotless and orgazined, kids up at 9 am, naps at 12 and 6, baths and bedtime at 10, to a crowded space with clothes pilled up everywhere, a sink packed with dishes, and bathrooms that hadn't even been straightened up, much less cleaned, not to mention the two now bratty screaming children who refused naps and threw tantrums over EVERY thing and fought sleep at bed time.... I started to see that maybe this household needed Mama a little more than anyone originally thought. My mother in law was watching the kids when we needed her to (if our work schedules clashed, which they often did), but even that proved to be difficult as it further got them off track on the schedule I had them on, not to mention little nuances like not following the diet I try to keep them on (milk and kids juice only, no highly sweet drinks; breakfast, lunch, and dinner being prepared meals, not fast food or processed stuff, snacks only being "healthy" kids snacks, no cakes and cookies, etc.) I basically called it quits here a couple of days ago and very comfortably eased right back into my stay at home mom life that I realized I missed QUITE A LOT! 

My kids have done quite a bit of growing. Miss Gracie had her first birthday, and of course the first Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. I guess I'll just take a minute and do a photo update, as these kids have REALLY sprouted!

I guess the biggest news would be....

we're expecting our THIRD!

Yep, thats right.

Another little one in my little family.

I guess that term will have to be retired soon huh? =]

We're due September 25th and my gut would say its gonna be another girl,

but we just gotta wait it out and see.

Now this mama is back to getting the chaos under control! NAPTIME!!