The Awkward's & Awesome's of Pregnancy This Far . . .

i am 20 weeks and although there is still lots of fun in store, there are definitely a few awkward's so far...

awkward

-let's just go ahead and say it, my body. although i may not look preggo to everyone yet, i'm definitely feeling different. i've realized that my belly is quite a bit extra to be carrying around and have already noticed it's getting slightly uncomfortable. 

-i still feel like i get a "look" every once in a while (mostly after eating lunch or dinner because that's when the belly loves to come out to play) and i can tell someone is trying to decide whether i'm pregnant or not. i'm about ready to buy one of those shirts i see on pinterest that say "there's a baby in here, not an extra meal!"

-the fact that i think this little peanut is dancing on my pelvic bone. Little baby C doesn't even seem to mind that it's slightly uncomfortable for me. i sure hope he/she is enjoying themself in there...

-my sleeping situation. it's starting to get slightly awkward. let's just say, pillows in front, pillows behind, pillows in-between... and no room for hubs. 

awesome

-the fact that i am making a human right now. pretty amazing if you ask me.

-my husband. he is awesome. that man makes sure to let me know every single day how beautiful i am and how much he loves me and our baby. he is going to be the best dad and it makes my day. every day.

-starting to feel baby move. and i get as giddy as a little schoolgirl.

-the fact that i can love this little one so much. and I haven't even met them yet . . . I'm so excited to have this baby here :)

20 weeks . . .

Happy Nurses Week :)

Yes, I have a stomach of steel . . . well most of the time :) 

Happy Nurses Week to all my fellow nurses!

xo

Beergaritas . . .

Ok so I have a new favorite drink . . . They are SO GOOD.  It has two of my favorite beverages 1) being Jose Quervo and 2) beer!!! If you like these two drinks then this is a must try . . . Recipe goes something like this. Fill your blender 3/4 of the way full with ice, one frozen Minute Maide Limeade concentrate, one squeezed lime ( just the juice ) and as much tequila as you want. I think I used like 1/4 of a regual bottle of Jose Cuervo for my batch. ( I suck at recipes! ) Blend it. Rim your glass with salt. If your glasses won't hold a bottle of beer, you can just add the corona to the blender, otherwise just tip it into the glass at the end! Each batch makes about 4 beergaritas, depending on how big you want them! And you'll want them big . . .trust me! They're delicious. 

Here's how mine turned out . . . 

I don't have margarita glasses yet . . . they are on my shopping list . . . so I just had to use one of our drinking glasses so I wasn't able to tip the bottle of corona in my glass . . which is a total bummer because I think that just completes the look but if you do have a margarita glass your finished drink should look like this:

image from pinterest . . .

Enjoy and I would love to hear from anyone who has had them or that makes them . . .

XO

Wish List . . .

Why is it that I always have like a million things that I want when my birthday and christmas have already passed?!?! Oh well . . . Mother's Day is coming up :) :) so hopefully this is one post my hubby or daughter reads. . . XOXO

Sibling Love . . .

I love you all so much . . . You are all my best friends and I wish I could spend every single day with you!! My best moments are when we're all together wether it's just laying around talking, drinking a few glasses  I mean one glass of wine of course. . . "Said not one of us EVER LOL"  or if its just us laughing uncontrollably. . . I know no matter what happens we will always be the best of friends and always be there for each other . . . HUGS AND KISSES!! MUAH MUAH

 Cheers to National Sibling Day!! 

XO

Motivational Monday: Shine Bright

Something that I need to really work on :)  Happy Monday Everyone!!!

XO

Throw Back Thursday : 1989 Style

This picture is from November 1989.. Jess was one and I was 3 years old . . . How precious were we?!?! I loved that camera and I think probably every kid in the 80's had one. Lol

iPhone Diaries . . .

Hey there . . . I was looking through my phone and I've noticed that I'm quit the picture taking machine. So I thought I would share some of my favorite pictures from the past few days. . . Enjoy

My favorite little Keeker!! " what the hell I look crossed eyed!?!"

John assembling his new Smith Weight Machine

Does this even need a caption ?!?! Get in my tummy!!

Loving the first nice day outside with my moon roof open :) and loving the fact that I'm not at work :):)

Found these at Target!! How perfect are these coaster ?!?! 

My 3 little darlings

John and our next door neighbor making beer can chicken . . . 

Ok.. now there is a story behind this... I never win. . . EVER... and I finally did . . I was so excited that I took a picture and sent it to John and then put it down on my med cart . . . I shit you not as soon as I go into a pt's room the infectious disease nurse makes her daily rounds. . sees my cup and tosses it into the trash!!! PISSED!!

Nicki :) Fuzzy picture but fun night . . .

and then there's my daddy cleaning my car for me!! Love Him to Pieces . XOXO

Easter Sunday . . .

I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend with their families :)  We woke up and Lillie with every negative part of her body she found her Easter bag. . . Luckily the Easter Bunny  had a winning moment and she loved her gifts :) :)

Swedish Fish, Soleil Razors, Iphone Cases, Bracelets, Shirts from Rue21, EOS lip balm, and Flip Flops

 . . . and then we were off early to head down to Farmington to have an Easter brunch with John's family. John's step mother Karen puts on this amazing spread every holiday. We had oven baked french toast. . vanilla bean scones. . fruit . . . cheesy potatoes . . chocolate  chip cheese cake and I'm sure I'm missing something but it was like heaven in my tummy! I got a little creative this year and dipped peeps into chocolate and then added some festive sprinkles and threw them on a stick . .  they turned out pretty darn good and the kids loved them and anything with chocolate and marshmallows . . . I'm down for!!

Then after eating my father in law puts on this easter egg hunt . . . I believe he had filled 300+ eggs with candy and money for the kids to find. It's fun watching John's little cousins do the hunt and I can't wait for one day for my little baby to run around his yard looking for those filled eggs . . . It excites me to know end thinking about holidays again with little ones . . .

I think it's safe to say this will be her last year participating int the egg hunt :( 

After spending the morning with them it's back in the car to come home to Lapeer to have dinner with my mom's side of the family. .  That's were I've gone my whole life for every single holiday.. We have a large family and everyone travels to come back to Lapeer to my grandmas house. My Uncle Doc is truly a wonderful cook and his holiday cooking is my favorite!! I look forward to every holiday to be surrounded with family and catch up with my cousins and aunts and uncles that I don't usually get to see unless its a holiday.. But since my grandma has passed away ( it has been 2 years yesterday) every holiday seems to be getting smaller and smaller. It's so sad to me see this happening but I know that we are all getting older and have our own little families. . I guess I've always thought that no matter what things would always be the same.

Lillie is getting older and the holidays seem to be just like any other day of the week.. "I have no idea where she gets this from because I'm the complete opposite" . . . I go way out and celebrate BIG for every holiday!! It hurts my heart and it saddens me to no end but I pray this is just a phase and that she understands the real meaning of holidays and will join in the magic with her momma of celebrating them :)

Easter Sunday 

" PS. I know I'm a little late with this post but I had to work yesterday so. . . here it is!"

XO

What's For Dinner At Your House ?!?! Oven Tacos . . .

I'm always trying to find new and easy recipes for dinner . .. I like something thats fast and that can be on the table when John gets home from work. . . So I found this recipe on Pinterest and thought " hey I'm gonna give this a whirl"

This is my first recipe/dinner blog so I hope you all enjoy and I would love to hear feedback if you try these out in your home for dinner one night!!

Oven Tacos

1 lb ground beef (or turkey/chicken)
1 small onion diced
1 small can diced green chilies
1 pkg of taco seasoning ( I used reduced sodium)
1 (8 ounce) can low sodium tomato sauce 
1 (16 ounce) can fat free refried beans 
2 cups shredded reduced fat Colby-jack cheese 
Hard taco shells 

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

In a large skillet brown ground beef and onion over medium-high heat. 

Drain off any excess liquid. 

Return to pan, add chilies, refried beans, tomato sauce, and taco seasoning. Mix well and cook for a few minutes if mixture seems runny.

Spoon the taco meat mixture into the taco shells and place into a 9 x 13 inch baking dish, standing up. 

Since there is only 3 of us instead of using a 9x13 I just used a square 8x8 pan

Sprinkle cheese over the top of the taco meat in each shell. Place into the oven and bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the tacos are heated through.

Remove from the oven and top with any optional condiments for serving. 

Optional Condiments-
Lettuce (shredded)
Tomato (diced)
Salsa
Guacamole
Sour Cream
Olives, sliced  

I have a picky family so we opted for salsa, shredded cheese, sour cream, and lettuce. . . 

AND TADA!!!

Dinner is served

They were hit... Even Lillie liked them and I know I'm winning when she asks for seconds :) :) 

** I had ton and tons of leftovers of the meat soo family of 3's you might want to cut recipe in half. . . but for a family of 6 I think you'll be safe with with this receipt**

Welcome Spring :)

So it's officially spring but what the heck is up with this Michigan weather ?!?! Am I shocked? NO Am I bumming? YES!!! It's 28 degrees Cloudy and my whole yard is covered in SNOW!! I feel like this has been the longest winter ever . . . 

However on a good note. . . my back is finally starting to feel better. Last night my husband finally made me go to the ER for my back. I've been in bed since Monday with lower back pain and muscle spasms. Nothing was helping. Pain meds, muscle relaxers and  all... But thanks to an awesome nurse, speedy doctor,  A HUGE needle in my ass of steroids " which burns like a mo fo"/ Valium / and pain meds . . . I am starting to feel some relief :) I hope to be on the up-swing soon, but in the mean time, I will still welcome Spring with open arms!

XO

Tumbler Tuesday: Keep your babies home people!!

When My Patient's Family Brings Their Babies and Children To Visit . . . 

Hospitals are not for children and there especially not for 9 week old babies!! Sometimes it amazes me how ignorant people really are . . .  

Throw Back Thursday

Here is a picture of Lillie and I in Las Vegas . . . this seems like forever ago and by the looks of Lillie I think it was awhile ago. . . LOL!! I miss her being little and wanting to take pics with me . . . She has such a baby face. . . it's SO ADORABLE!!

XO

It's What I Do . . .

When the feeding tube is clogged and it sprays back at me

I love my job. . . my co-workers. . . and the hospital I work for . . .But lets face it there are days/situations/patients/family members/doctors/ ect ect... that can make us nurses all go a little crazy at times!! You have to fine humor in your job or you'll burn out real quickly!! I'm gonna make a page dedicated to these hilarious tumblers for us nurses to laugh until our bellies hurt :) 

Enjoy

Motivational Monday: Be Who You Are

Happy Birthday Nic!!!

Wishing so much birthday love to my beautiful big sister on her special day! Happy Birthday Nicki! I love you more than anything and hope your day is perfect. You deserve to be smiling!!! Shine bright like a diamond baby! Can’t wait to celebrate when you tonight!! xoxoxo 

Spring Fever

Does anyone else have spring fever?!?! I am dying for spring colors, warmer weather, and sunshineeeee! :) Not to mention all the pretty blossoms! I spend so much time outside in the spring, and the complete opposite in the winter.. in fact on my days off I do not even like to leave my bed! I decided to give myself a little boost by painting my nails a bright fun color . . . This polish is Cute as a button by ESSIE! 

xo

Throw Back Thursday

Lillie and I at a tigers game in 2007 . . . I love watching the tigers play and I love love going to Comerica Park . . . something about the hot dogs . . popcorn. . . beer. . . warm weather :) :) all of this excites me so much!!

Okay who's ready for baseball season to start back up and warm weather?!?!

XO

Lillie's 12th Birthday Party

Yesterday we celebrated Lillie's birthday with family and it couldn't have turned out more perfect . . . Birthday's have always been celebrated big in our family. We like to go all out and I have my parents to thank for that :) :). . . I love love love to have all my sisters over and my parents and now John's family too!!  It makes for a lot of people and a lot of loudness but honestly I love that!!

We ordered pizza and had some appetizers and of course my step moms famous artichoke dip so that all the focus could be on the desserts and I think we succeeded on that. . . 

The dessert table was full of goodies!! We had the cake, cupcakes, pink puppy chow, chocolate chip cheese cake, and banana bars!!

I'm not gonna lie this birthday cake was my favorite part of the birthday party!! I had the same lady make her cake that made our wedding cake . . . and Emma couldn't had made this pink ombre/ gold cake any more perfect :) 

Unfortunately I wasn't able to take a lot pictures . . . mostly because "I guess at 12 your to cool for pictures"  but I was able to grab a few of our dessert table and the cake :) 

Thankfully Lillie grabbed Kristen's phone to take this little candid shot of herself . . . So I do have a close up of her rocking her gold headband with the pink ombre flower!!!!

All in all, the party turned out to be so much fun & very festive! I loved planning it & am already looking forward to next year! Thank you all again for all of the sweet birthday wishes to Lillie!  

XO

Happy Birthday Lillie Michelle

It is so hard to believe that 12 years ago today Lillie made her entrance into this world! She's had my heart since I heard that sweet little cry that "Fat" Tuesday afternoon. . .

Today I did a little stroll down memory lane and even though it made me tear up, I also smile because I know that there is a lot of fun to come watching my sweet girl grow into an amazing young lady. . .

I love this little girl so much . . .

the picture to the right was taken 10 years ago . . . how is it possible that 10 years has gone by?!?!

Since Lil's birthday is today and her actual party isn't until Saturday , I wanted her to still have a birthday "cake" but since I'm having one made for Saturday's party we decided to switch it up a little bit  . . so we went for DONUTS!

Happy Birthday Lillie. . .I love you so so much.. muah

xo