Let's Get Pinning: It's Lent!

Now that Mardi Gras is over, it is time to think about Lent.  I have been brainstorming what I should give up, but I keep coming up empty-handed.  I think I have finally found it, though.  That being said...

It's Wednesday!  Which means it is time for another linky party with Michelle over at The Vintage Apple!

This year, I am not giving anything up for Lent.  Well, actually, that's not entirely true.  This year, I am making a commitment to getting organized.  So I guess you could say that I am giving up clutter and chaos.  Okay, okay--so that is not entirely true either--I know there will always be chaos, especially with three kiddos!  I live for that kind of chaos.  I am talking about the chaos that is a messy house ;)

Pinterest has been most helpful in giving me creative ideas on how to get organized easily.  Those of you who know me know that I am not the best--er, um, uh--okay I am not good at all at keeping organized.  I need all the help I can get.  These are some pins to help me in my Lenten journey.

I have no idea where I would put these (yet), but I just love the idea--They are "crap baskets" with name labels. At the end of the day everyone takes their own crap and puts it away!



This would be perfect for the metal conversion charts Mom gave me for Christmas!  It would also be a great place for the grocery list and a few other small things.

This is a cute mail system.  Easy and cheap, too!

I really want to do this in the hallway.  Now that Austyn has ballet, and Gannon is about to start baseball again-not to mention kindergarten-this is great.  I can write out schedules, homework assignments, doctor's appointments, etc. on the boards, and they have a place for their backpack/dance bag (don't forget diaper bag)!  Plus, it's pretty :)

This checklist is perfect!  Okay, so most of it doesn't apply to me, but the idea is great.  I have already modified all the chores to fit our household, I just need to figure out how to make it pretty like she did.

Part of me wants to dedicate a portion of the pantry (if I can find room) to this idea.  Just take 4-5 baskets and fill them with all the ingredients for the meals you have planned for the week.  That way, each night, you just pull out the baskets--looks like a real time saver, not to mention a good way to be sure you actually have everything you need before you start cooking, ha!

I am just dying to do this!!  I found this on a blog a couple of years ago, and I love it!  It is just expensive.  I am slowly accumulating all the containers to store everything in, and my pantry is looking better and better.  I just can't wait until it is complete!  Oh, and I would love my pantry to have yellow walls, too! 

If you want to see more, just head on over to Pinterest, and check out my boards!  Do you celebrate Lent?  What are you giving up?  Or doing extra?

See yall next Wednesday!

34 Weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: Thirty-four weeks!

At this point in my pregnancy with Austyn, I knew she would be coming early.  I was already feeling tons of pressure and sporadic contractions.

This time, I have sporadic contractions, but I am feeling almost no pressure. 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: +17 pounds

Size of baby:
Baby M weighs a little almost five pounds, and is almost 18 inches long.

Fetal Development:

"Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies."
-babycenter.com

"Your baby's the size of a durian!  He weighs in at about 4.2 pounds to 5.8 pounds and measures about 17.2 to 18.7 inches.  He's recognizing and reacting to simple songs, if you're singing them (if you're not, start! He may find them soothing after birth).  He's also urinating about a pint a day."

-thebump.com

Okay, so you are probably wondering, "What the heck is a durian??"  So was I.  Here is a picture, although I am still not really sure what it is ;)

Movement: Roll, squirm, wiggle, punch!  Baby M is turning out to be a very active baby!  Baby M also gets hiccups all. the. time! Seriously! I can feel them at least once every day, and usually, it's two or three times per day!

Heartbeat: 150

Gender: We don't know!

Cravings: Chocolate milk!  Lately, I just want anything sweet! 

MaternityClothes: I am still wearing both regular and maternity tops, but I have retired my regular jeans, finally!

Sleep: I am sleeping a little better these days, but not much.  I have to get up to go to the bathroom at least once every night, and I am having trouble falling back asleep.

What I miss: Sleep! And an ice cold beer. Is that weird? I want one so badly, I can taste it! I am not really a beer drinker, either, but I really want one right now ;)

Symptoms:

-Clumsy!! Chalk it up to preggo brain!

Leg and foot cramps! Yuck!  These are contributing to my sleep issues, since that is mostly when they occur.

Missing Feet-- I am having more trouble every day reaching my feet! Putting on my socks and shoes has become nearly impossible, ha! Bryan has been so great to help me with my socks in the mornings :)

Braxton Hicks Contractions: I am still having these all the time, but I also feel some real ones mixed in there every once in a while :)

Indigestion/Reflux! All. Day. Long! I keep Tums with me all the time...sometimes it helps, but usually, it doesn't.

Shortness of breath-- Because Baby M is so high, I always feel out of breath. I find it hard to catch my breath, and I can never inhale quite enough. I am ready for Peanut to drop so I can breathe again :)

Family Game Night

We had our first Family Game Night on Sunday, and it was a huge it!  We played "Assteration".  Many of you may recognize it by its original name of "Operation."  HA! 

Bryan kicked things off and showed them how to play the game.

Gannon was next, and he played like a pro!  Although, I don't think he understood that the buzzer was bad.  He liked it, and just kept making it buzz while laughing hysterically!

Austyn said to heck with the tweezers!!  She thought her fingers would work much better...We got her back on track with the tweezers, and she got it!  She was so proud of herself :)

Needless to say, we are adding Family Game night to our weekly routine!  Stay tuned to see what we play next week :)

Let's Get Pinning: Sweet Treats!

It's Wednesday again, which means it is time for another linky party! It's Oh, How Pinteresting with Michelle over at The Vintage Apple.

Since Baby M has me craving all things sweet this week, I decided there was nothing better to post about!

These mini apple pies look absolutely delish, and hey--it's fruit!  It can't be that bad, right??

And, seriously!  Who thought of flattening out cinnamon rolls to use as a pie crust for apple pie?!  Genius!

We made this Coca Cola cake the other day, and it was really yummy.  But, I would definitely recommend cutting the recipe in half unless you are having a big party.  It made tons, and it is super rich.

Oreos.  Need I say more?

Homemade Butterfingers??  Yes, please!

strawberries, angel food cake, and chocolate--OH MY!

And I'll leave you with one that actually IS healthy--homemade strawberry frozen yogurt :)

Happy Wednesday, everyone!  See yall next week!

33 Weeks.....

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: Thirty-three weeks!

At this point in my pregnancy with Gannon, I was five weeks away from delivery.

With Austyn, I was about three-and-a-half.

It's crazy to think that we are actually getting this close!

I had a doctor's appointment this week, and everything looks great!  I am measuring perfectly again (I don't know what happened last week?), and Baby M's heartbeat is strong.  My next appointment will be the last of my two-week appointments (I will be thirty-five weeks).  After that, I will go once a week.  At my next appointment, we will also schedule my last ultrasound.  This is to verify Baby M's position (hopefully head down!!), and to estimate the weight.  Hopefully, this one will be about like the other two.  Bryan keeps joking that this one will be over nine pounds--I really hope not ;)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: +16 pounds

Size of baby:
Baby M weighs a little over four pounds, and is just over 17 inches long.

Fetal Development:

"This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood."
 -babycenter.com

"Your baby's the size of a honeydew!  He weighs about 4.2 to 5.8 pounds and measures about 17.2 to 18.7 inches. And he may grow up to a full inch this week -- amazing.  He's keeping his eyes open while awake.  He's also starting to coordinate breathing with sucking and swallowing.  His bones are hardening, and he going through (more) major brain development -- that's one smart baby!"
-thebump.com

Movement: Baby M gets hiccups all. the. time!  Seriously!  I can feel them at least once every day, and usually, it's two or three times per day!

Heartbeat: 150

Gender: We don't know!

Cravings: Chocolate milk!

MaternityClothes: I am still wearing both regular and maternity tops, but I have retired my regular jeans, finally!

Sleep: I haven't been sleeping much lately. I don't think the alarm has woken me up once in the last week-and-a-half. Sometimes I wake up as early as two, but sometimes I am able to sleep until four. I don't know why...I am not really uncomfortable or anything, I just can't sleep.

What I miss: Sleep!  And an ice cold beer.  Is that weird?  I want one so badly, I can taste it!  I am not really a beer drinker, either, but I really want one right now ;)

Symptoms:

-Clumsy!! I broke a plate last night--and a few days ago, I knocked over a glass. 

Leg and foot cramps! Yuck!

Missing Feet-- I am having more trouble every day reaching my feet! Putting on my socks and shoes has become nearly impossible, ha!  Bryan has been so great to help me with my socks in the mornings :)

Braxton Hicks Contractions: I never really had these with the first two, but I have them all the time with this one.

Indigestion/Reflux! All. Day. Long! I keep Tums with me all the time...sometimes it helps, but usually, it doesn't.

Shortness of breath-- Because Baby M is so high, I always feel out of breath. I find it hard to catch my breath, and I can never inhale quite enough. I am ready for Peanut to drop so I can breathe again :)