2012: A year in review

Well I have to say this has probably been the most eventful year of my (short) life! So much has happened and I am not even sure where to start....From the birthdays and wedding festivities to the new baby on the way and my Little man's first 'Real' Christmas..

I tried to put the main highlights into one frame....but I just couldn't do it. SO here are my top 18 highlights of 2012.

1. We are officially home owners :)
2. My baby is allergic to penicillin (SCARY Couple of days!!)
3. He is such a little ham and has grown so much!
4. Little Man's 1st trip to Dollywood
5. My Best friends Bachellorette party!
6. Best Friends Wedding (with my honey)
7. Little Man's 1st Birthday!!!!
8. His 1st trip to the Aquarium..He loves Pishies as he likes to say.
9. His first Fireworks show Booms day 2012

10. Another Friends wedding we were both a part of.
11. WE ARE PREGNANT!
12. Little Man is going to be a big Brother!
13. His first trip to the beach! He loved the sand!
14. My little Pirate
15. His 1st trip to the Pumpkin Patch and his 1st little pumpkin.
16. Our 1st Family Christmas Tree
17. ITS A GIRL!!
18. Little man and his new best friend Levi!

What a year it has been filled with family, friends, and Firsts! I cannot wait to see what 2013 brings. A lot more firsts and more family to enjoy!

Happy New Year everyone!

December Cara Box & my new friends!

Thanks to Kaitlyn @ Wifessionals this is the second month I have participated in this amazing gift exchange. This month I was able to send Kimberly Erskine a special gift that I hope she loved!! Hop on over to her blog and check out her reveal too! Lordes @ Life of a 20 something sent me a wonderful package as well.

I found the package Friday morning sitting on my doorstep. I couldn't wait for the hour long drive to work so I (dangerously) opened the box and looked through it while driving!  I am so glad I did :) Here is what I got.....

Some Amazing Chocolates...that are all gone now :)

Two beautiful votive candle holders...I LOVE CANDLES!!

Some absolutely wonderful Hot cocoa with Peppermint rim topper (also already gone!)

And a box full of peppermints and mini chocolates....Talk about one happy pregnant chick!! Thanks to Kaitlyn for making this swap so much fun and thanks to both of my new friends for participating! Have a great Monday!

H54F: Fa-la-la-la Friday!!!

1) Christmas for my little man was very eventful (& noisy!!) Every toy he got this year made noise!

2) Only 2 months and 11 (now 10) days until Little Emory is set to make her gran appearance!!

3) Baby Bump at 30 week...its getting out there!

4) My rocking chair from my sweet boyfriend...and the little monkey loves it as much as mommy!

5) Christmas will really wear a puppy out!!

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and has a safe New year!!

30 weeks & Counting!

How far along? 30 weeks

Total weight gain: 15 pounds

Maternity clothes?I am down now to 1 pair of normal pants that still fit...even with my Bella bands! SO yes Maternity bottoms are a new item in my closet...and leggings LOTS of leggings

Stretch marks? Nope not yet, THANK GOODNESS! Palmer's Cocoa Butter is applied 3 times a day lol

Sleep: a little better, but maybe because I am super exhausted from the holidays!

Best moment this week: Watching my little man on Christmas morning...nothing better than this sweet little boys smile!

Miss anything? Being able to put on my shoes without gasping for air!

Food cravings: Popcorn and Sanders Salted Dark Chocolate Caramels....thanks to a holiday party @ work I am addicted and have reverted to ordering them offline!!

 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Smells are starting to bother my stomach again...this dog has got to learn to potty train and QUICK!

Gender: Still a sweet little girl!

Labor signs: Not yet...back pain is about it. 

Symptoms: Nausea and back Pain

 

Belly button in or out? It is mostly out now...look so funny

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy...just tired

 

Looking forward to: Having my 3D/4D ultrasound on January 2nd! I want to see my little princess in full picture! Maybe the little Drama Queen will actually show us her face this time!!

We are blessed this Holiday Season!

I hve come to realize that Christmas traditions come and go as you get older. All the places you use to go every year and all the people you use to visit now have their own families and their own places to attend. This year is the first year I have truelly experienced what it is like to be spread between two families.

Christmas use to be a time where all my family would gather at the grandparents house and stay all day talking and laughing and waiting giddily to open presents at the end of the night. Since my grandmother passed it seems as if this time of family and friendship and bonds has faded...though we still gather and we still celebrate Christmas something is missing. All the joy and excitement is no longer apparent. Half of the family doesn't show up at all and the other half runs in to open gifts and head right back out the door. It makes me so sad to think that my family is growing apart...I guess this is all part of getting older.

Now we have our own parents..now grandparents temselves...to go and spend all day letting the kids open gifts and tell stories and laugh at all the silly things that happened this year. We have our own traditions to make and I can only hope that they will be as memorable for my kids as they were for me.

I love all my family and I am so glad to get to spend he past couple of days with such a wonderful group of family and friends.

Although it is not the true meaning of Christmas my baby was very blessed this year with many presents to bring home and play with. We are so greatful to all the ones who took time to give :) Santa Claus was very generous too...

Hope you all had a safe and wonderful Christmas! Happy Birthday Jesus!



Little Man's favorite gifts..of course he would like the loudest ones!



Friday is the best day!

Since School is finally over I now have my amazing every other Friday off schedule back!! This was my first Friday off in a loooong time! Recap of the rest of my (short) week below :)

1. My amazingly stubborn little girl has managed once again to get out of having her picture made. Her and that hand in front of her face are getting a little aggravating for this mommy who is ready to see what my precious little girl looks like!!
2. My little man was amazing when he had his picture made with Santa :) and I have to say he is the cutest kid ever lol
3. Santa stopped by a little early since my baby has been so good!! Levi the lab us te newest member of the family.
4. We spent our Thursday night in the dark! The power went out during a storm so we had some Extra cuddle time!
5. I made an amazingly tasty meatloaf for the bf and it is all he has talked about!

A fun week for sure!!

Out of the mouth of a 1 year old...

I am impressed every day at the new things my baby is learning. Each day it is a new word or a reaction that makes me so proud to be a mommy :) This week was no different....except for the slight embarrassment of what came out of my 1 year old's mouth in the middle of Wal-Mart.

For about a week my little man has been telling me every time he "poots" as we so nicely like to say or anytime he has pooped in his diaper by saying "Mommy boop boop" and pointing to his diaper.

So Monday we are walking through the electronics department at Wal-Mart when this little old man and woman stop to talk to him. No surprise really as he has to wave and talk to every person he sees. The little lady says you are just the cutest thing look at those bog blue eyes! My little mans response......"Mommy butt boop butt butt" to the top of his lungs (which are very large for a normal one year old!) all while pointing to his diaper. I have no idea when or where he learned to say butt....but it happened and he is screaming it in the middle of a store to a little old lady who told him he has pretty eyes. I was so embarrassed, but it was too funny not to laugh. The lady just looked at me and smiled and slowly walked away.

Out of the mouth of babes....

The Best Meatloaf Ever :)

Okay so I have made several meatloaf's in the past and they have all turned out pretty well (Kind of hard to mess up a big ball of meat if you ask me) but this one was FANTASTIC!!

Check out the recipe I used in this weeks Mouthwatering Monday's segment.

When my bf asked me to make him some to take to lunch tomorrow I knew it must have been absolutely delicious. I think this is the first (maybe the second if you include eating pizza at midnight the night it was delivered) time I have ever seen him eat leftovers of any kind!

I must say me and Emory enjoyed it and my little man ate a whole piece. This in itself is a miracle as he has never been a meat eater! He eats a chicken nugget every now and then, but meat is not his favorite. This meat however was the best meatloaf ever :)

Week 29 :)

How far along? 29 weeks

Total weight gain: Not much change in weight although my belly has sure taken a big growth spurt!! 

Maternity clothes? Unfortunately I only have 2 pairs of normal pants that still fit...even with my Bellabands! SO yes Maternity bottoms are a new item in my closet...

Stretch marks? Nope not yet, THANK GOODNESS! Palmers Cocoa Butter is applied 3 times a day lol

Sleep: Non existant the past week...but most of that has been due to a sick baby boy (will we ever be healthy again??) 

Best moment this week: Watching my baby meet his little Levi for the first time. They have become instant friends!

Miss anything? Being able to put on my shoes without gasping for air!

Food cravings: Not much in addition to the OJ I have been craving all along...

Anything making you queasy or sick: Too much sweet. From the beginning this child has not cared for sweet things..this is not my child!

Gender: Still a sweet little girl!

Labor signs: Not yet...back pain is about it. 

Symptoms: Just some Back Pain... 

Belly button in or out? It is mostly out now...look so funny

Happy or moody most of the time: If we don't count last weekend I would say Happy! HAHA

Looking forward to: Having my 3D/4D ultrasound! I want to see my little princess in full picture! Maybe the little Drama Queen will actually show us her face!

Rest in Peace

I cannot help but think of all the hurting families on this gloomy Monday. Not getting up at the normal hour to fix their children breakfast and get them ready for school. Not making their beds and helping them tie their shoes. Not walking them to the bus stop or being there in the afternoon to pick them up. No instead they are planning a funeral much to soon. They are laying their dear children in the ground at the age of 6, 7 or 8. How any human being could be so depraved to kill an innocent child no matter what the state of mind is beyond me! God knows it all and he knows the hurt on every heart that is touched by this tragedy. 

I took this poem from a friends blog and I hope it blesses you as much as it did me. 


Twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
When 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate. 
Their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air. 
They could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there. 
They were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say. 

They remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
"where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
"This is heaven." declared a small boy. "we're spending Christmas at God's house."
When what to their wondering eyes did appear,
But Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
Then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
And in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
Those children all flew into the arms of their King
And as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
One small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.
And as if He could read all the questions she had
He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."
Then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe
Then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"
"May this country be delivered from the hands of fools"
"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"
Then He and the children stood up without a sound.
"Come now my children, let me show you around."
Excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
All displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
And I heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
"In the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."

Written by Cameo Smith, Mt. Wolf, PA

Hug your children and loved ones extra tight every night. And spread the love that God has given us to share.

Mouthwatering Mondays: Meatloaf

So the agenda for today...like most Monday's....is a little hectic! I get off work at 5:00 p m . Drive an hour home to pick up the baby and head into town to grocery shop. (I am literally out of everything so this could be a long trip!!) Then I have to go home put all the groceries away and let the dog out...more to come on this new addition to the family a little later in the week...By this time I am sure it will be well after 7:30 pm  so I will need to find something I can stick in the oven quickly and let it cook while i clean up the house and give my baby a bath.

Here is what I have decided....

Easy Meatloaf

Ingredients 

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. pepper

1 egg

1/2 sm. onion

1 lb. ground beef

1 can tomato paste

1/2 pkg. beef stew seasoning

1 1/2 c. Pepperidge Farms herb stuffing

Directions

Take off your rings! Chop onion finely. Combine salt, pepper, egg, onion, ground beef, 1/2 can of tomato paste, 1/2 package of beef stew seasoning, and herb stuffing; mix together with hands until well blended. Press meat mixture into pan or Pyrex dish lined with Pam. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Take out of oven and spread remaining 1/2 of tomato paste on top of loaf. Cook for additional 10 to 15 minutes.

My favorite part of this recipe....I get to mix it with my HANDS!!!

So that is what I am making tonight...Hopefully it is delicious! Review to come.

Hey its Friday Jack!

Well this week has definitely been an interesting one! Lets see if we can recap....

1. I made some amazing Oven Baked Pork Chops for the family! You HAVE to come check these out! Super easy and delicious!!







 2. Apparently I gained like 15 pounds this week! I have hit 28 weeks and all of a sudden my bump is GINORMOUS!!!

 3. I got a sneak peek of our family and maternity pictures and I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!! 

 4. My little man who use to Double stuff with
his passy has officially said Bye Bye Binky!!!
(We are a little excited can you tell??)

5. I have finally caught up on my Duck Dynasty on DVR and I swear these shows get funnier as they go!! If you have not watched it yet....You should! 







Well that was my week...be sure to share your too :) 

Family Photos - Sneak Peek

After much deliberation and begging...I finally convinced the BF to let us have some family pictures while I was still pregnant. He HATES having his pictures made! When he agreed I practically fell out the chair, but I immediately called Farrah to setup an appointment.

If you haven't done so you really need to check out Farrah's Photography :) She did an amazing job and is very affordable! She has a beautiful house and an amazing view with a setup in her basement for indoor pictures. It was perfect!

After shoot she sent over a couple of sneak peek photos and I cannot wait to see the rest!!!
Enjoy :)

Raving Reviews: Oven Baked Pork Chops

It seems that the quick and easy Oven Baked Pork Chop recipe was a SUCCESS!! Everyone in my house truly enjoyed them :) All the plates were empty within minutes. 

The breading was DELICIOUS!! The Parmasan cheese really made this dish! I know the recipe says optional, but I would definitely include it! 

Our mouths were watering at the smell and the taste was much better than expected! This is one quick dish you will definitely need to try. 

Please let me know if you have tried it...I would love to hear your reviews as well!!

Mouthwatering Mondays: Third times a charm!

It is another Monday...If you are anything like me today you are definitely looking for a QUICK & EASY recipe today! It is rainy outside and a very gloomy day!! And if that wasn't enough I have a Final Exam tomorrow...like any other Exam I ever took in college I have again waited until the last minute to study, so I would like to devote as much time tonight as possible to studying!! (Yea Right!)

Since I know I have some Pork Chops in the Freezer that need to be used, here is what I have found for today! Sounds simple and hopefully delicious!!

Oven-Baked Pork Chops

Ingredients

4 thick cut Pork Chops 

1 c. dry bread crumbs

1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese, optional

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. pepper

4 tbsp. butter, melted

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine bread crumbs, cheese, garlic powder and pepper. Dip each Pork Chop in butter, then roll in dry mixture. Place in greased baking pan. Bake for one hour.

Sounds like my kind of quick & easy...now we will just have to find out if it is delicious!! 

And there is another edition of....

Blog Lovin :)

Come follow me on Bloglovin :)

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/4349069/?claim=g6t6zh9fs3r">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

FRIDAY how I have missed you

Here's to another segment of High Five for Friday. This past week has been somewhat of a blur. But here goes....

1. We put up our very first family Christmas Tree :) I think we did a pretty good job!

2. The baby bump has reached week 27! She is growing so fast and kicking like crazy!

3. I received my Origami Owl  necklace!!! I am so excited..today is the first day I have got to wear it and I have to say it looks AMAZING :)

4. My little man has learned several new words including truck, fish, help, stuck, and (my favorite) your welcome :)

5. Baby has found a new place to play and chill out all day....My left rib cage!! Although it is a little uncomfortable I love to be able to see her little butt poking out of my belly! 

This has been my week...What about yours??

Are you Serious!

Okay so let me just preface this by saying that my 1/2 year old is slowly learning to copy EVERYTHING! Every action, every word, every move we make!

The other night I am in the kitchen trying to get things together to begin supper. I am in and out of the refrigerator and my little man keeps coming behind me and shutting the refrigerator door. Very calmly I say "Mommy is using the refrigerator please do not shut the door." (Yea like that tone ever works!) So after about three times of almost losing a finger in the door jam I say (with a much more motherly tone) "Mommy said to stop and I mean it." 

My 1 1/2 year old looks at me folds his arms across his chest and says "I MAD" as clear as day! After about 5 minutes of complete shock I call my mom to tell her what just happened. After laughing hysterically (because apparently he acts just like me!) she tells me that he had heard one of the other kids say that earlier in the day. 

Really my 1 1/2 year old folded his arms at me and told me he was mad...I was in shock. 

Yea that just happened!

I know what your thinking...How can this sweet little face have such an attitude??
TRUST ME it's there! lol

Bump Update: Week 27

Thanks to a friend I have a new way to track all the cool things happening with Baby Emory :) 

By the way she now has a middle name ....Finally! Emory Elizabeth will be here in less than 3 months!!! AHHHHHH


How far along? 27 weeks

Total weight gain: All in All about 15 pounds! SHeesh...

Maternity clothes? I squeeze into every normal pair of pants I can possibly make work with the help of my BellaBands...but yes I have had to break down on a couple pairs of work pants.

Stretch marks? Nope not yet, THANK GOODNESS! Palmers Cocoa Butter is applied 3 times a day lol

Sleep: Going to sleep is not a problem...staying asleep WELLLL I am usually awake at 4 am chugging a glass of water because my throat is so dry. 

Best moment this week: Watching BF and baby boy lay their heads on my tummy and talk to sissy. It was the sweetest thing and she moved over to where they were like she was listening :)

Miss anything? Normal Clothes and CAFFEINE!!

Food cravings: Orange Juice (or oranges in general) special thanks to my co-worker who is keeping me stocked!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Too much sweet. From the beginning this child has not cared for sweet things..this is not my child!

Gender: Still a sweet little girl!

Labor signs: not yet. But if my back does not stop hurting I am calling the DR...

Symptoms: Headaches and back pain....that's about it 

Belly button in or out? Its on the verge of turning out...YUCK

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy...I can safely safe thus far I have not had too many psycho mood swings..although there was that one time, but I like to forget it (and so does my BF haha)

Looking forward to: Having my 3D/4D ultrasound! I want to see my little princess in full picture! Maybe the little Drama Queen will actually show us her face!

Mouthwatering Mondays: Round 2

Its Monday again! Time for another quick and easy recipe to throw together on this 'I don't want to do any more than I have to" kinda day. Hope you like today's pick!

(I promise to take pictures this time....as long as I don't slice my finger off!)

Skillet Chicken Enchiladas 

Ingrediants

12 corn tortillas

3 cups shredded cooked chicken

1 can (10 oz) Rotel Original 

1 can (10 oz) red enchilada sauce

1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce

1 cup shredded Chedder-Jack Cheese

Directions

1. Spray large nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Add tortilla pieces and chicken; mix well. Cook over medium-high heat 5 minutes or until hot, stirring frequently.
2. Pour Rotel and enchilada and tomato sauces over chicken mixture in skillet. Mix well. Sprinkle 1/2 cup cheese over chicken mixture. Cover skillet; cook 5 minutes or until hot, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. 
3. Serve immediately.

I am hoping this is as yummy as it sounds! Hoping to serve with some Mexican rice and re-fried beans. 

Look for the family's review and photos to come! 

 

High Five for Fridays!

Well I have to say my week has definitely been an interesting one. Between two sick babies (a 1 year old and a 23 year old) my week was a little off. BUT Here are my top 5 highlights from the past week :)

1. I got to spend some much needed extra time with my little family due to the Holidays and the icky bug floating around our house (I guess this one is a little bitter-sweet)

2. I decorated our table top Christmas tree with all the Girly decorations I could find :) Its our "It's a Girl" tree :) SO much fun for the whole family!

3. I got my first ever Cara Box and I could not have been more excited. Thanks to Wifessionals for making this possible it was so much fun!!If you are not part of this awesome gift exchange you should really try it out!

4.  We did a little shopping for the new baby...its safe to safe Emory will not need new clothes for a VERY long time. I just can't help myself!!

5. And finally my wounded finger. Yea I know the picture does not look that bad, but for real it was AWFUL!!! Come check out my blog Mouthwatering Monday Review to read all about it. The quick and dirty...My attention got diverted while opening a can and i sliced the tip of my finger prett badly! It bled for FOREVER!!

This was my exciting week! Hope your's was just as eventful (and maybe a little more upbeat!)

Playing Catch-up: Mouthwatering Monday's Review

So I know today is Friday and it has been 5 days since the recipe release...but I have been a little preoccupied this week! (sick bf and baby...my poor little guys) I promised pictures and a review of the Semi-Homemade Chili recipe on Monday so here goes....

First of all I did a little improvising on the recipe...I used a little less Chili Beans and a few more Pinto beans. I also used tomato sauce instead of tomato paste. All in all it was the basic recipe and turned out pretty AMAZING :)

I had planned on putting it in the crock pot when I got home and letting it simmer a good 3 or 4 hours before the bf got home...WRONG! BF was not feeling so hot and decided to call into work so he was waiting on me when i got there. If your man is anything like mine....they don't wait around for food when they are tired, feeling icky, and hungry. So there went that idea. NEW PLAN: put it in the crock pot on High and let it simmer for about an hour...yea that will work!

I am opening all the cans and pouring in the ingredients when I feel a little attachment on my ankle...MAMA MAMA MAMA..I look down and BAAAMM it happens...I sliced my finger with the metal can lid. We aren't talking about a little paper cut that has a little trickle of blood...no this was a fountain! And it wouldn't stop...I TRIED EVERYTHING! After a drenched towel and 4 band aids later it finally let up. I guess they aren't kidding when they tell you the amount of blood your body makes nearly triples when your pregnant!

After that 30 minute disaster I got back on track (no blood in the Chili thank goodness) and finished up the pot. I turned it on high to simmer and waited. And let me tell you it was well worth the wait.

The bf LOVED it and I have to say although Chili is not my favorite meal this Chili was AWESOME! Just enough sweet and just enough spicy! :) It was a huge hit at my house and I will be at yours as well.

I know I promised pictures, but with almost slicing my finger off and the speed at which the entire pot disappeared...I didn't manage to get any :/ I will get some next time!!

Join next Monday for another great recipe!

November Cara Box

You know those times when you walk to the mailbox and you see a special little package waiting inside? You can't even wait until you get up the driveway because you know there is something really exciting in that box and you have to find out what it is!! Well the Cara box started by Wifessionals is designed to give you that same exact feeling once a month :)

November was my first month joining in this fun little exchange and I have to say I could not have had more fun. I was paired up with Sureye, a sweet little blogger who also just found out she is expecting a little bundle. We had a great time getting to know each other and shopping for her was as much fun as receiving my own box!

November's theme was Childhood and what better way to remind you of being a child then to get a package in the mail.
Soooo...Here is what was inside :)

First thing I saw when i ripped into the box (before i made it all the way up the driveway) were all the Christmas ornaments decorating the box...let face it what kid did not like Christmas?? Then there was the Straw - ba-ba-ba-berry Shortcake rolls...because I LOVED this girl as a kid and love the snacks even more as an adult :)

Then of course there were the Sour Patch Kids candy canes because this was my favorite candy of all time!
The next thing I found as I dug deeper into the box (now parked in the driveway but too excited to get out of the car) was the red nail polish by Essie! (my favorite!)

And last but not least were these amazing sparkling orange drinks (with no caffeine)  for us prego girls who are at least trying to lay off the caffeine! The fact that they were Orange flavored only made them that much better. When I was little the only thing that made me feel better was an Orange slushie from Sonic!

Thank you so much to Sarai of Sureye and to Wifessionals for making this Cara Box swap so fun! I cannot wait to start again in December!

Mouthwatering Mondays!

Okay so everyone hates Monday's right? First day of he work week. You have to wake up early after a tiring weekend and get to work before the sun rises...work all day and come home to a messy house and a hungry family right?? SO the question of the day is What are you going to make for dinner?

Well here's to a new segment :) Mouthwatering Mondays! 

The Goal will be to provide a recipe for a quick and easy meal for a family of 4 

Today's Recipe: 

Semi-Homemade Chili 

Ingredients

3 cans Chili Beans

1 cans Pinto Beans

2 cans Pork and Beans

1 can Tomato Paste

1 can Mild Rotel

2 packs Chili Seasoning 

1/2 cup water

1 lb browned meat (I use ground beef)

Directions

1. Brown Meat in pan and stir in 1 pack of Chili Seasoning.

2. Mix all other ingredients in Crock Pot and turn on low

3. Stir in Browned meat
4. Let simmer for 4-6 hours
or
if you do not have 4-6 hours stir all ingredients in large pot and let simmer on stove until hot! (approx 1 hour)

Voila! Semi - Homemade chili is as easy as that :)

Pictures and reviews to come (after i make it tonight of course!!)

Dr appt and baby update :)

Today was mine and baby's 25 week appointment. We are both doing wonderfully with no problems to speak of! I am so thankful to have a healthy, happy, and beautiful ( I'm sure) baby girl growing inside me.

Weird side effect of pregnancy #1:
So I have noticed lately that every time I wore my spoon ring my skin would itch. After about a week of the itching my finger actually had big blisters right where my ring sits! Obviously I stopped wearing the ring ( the same ring I have wore every day for 6 years) but I decided to venture put and wear a different ring on a completely different finger....same result!
My body has all of a sudden become allergic to silver!! This is really killing me because I LOVE my jewelry! Hopefully everything returns to normal after the baby!

In other news my babies are already fighting! Baby boy falls asleep on my chest just about every night so last night he is laying on my chest and Emory starts kicking away. I don't just mean a little flutter kick every now and then..it was non stop for about 5 minutes!! Pretty sure she was saying get off my mommy and he is just over here snoozing away! It will be very entertaining when she gets here that's for sure!

That's all for now! Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend I know I will. We all have a lot to be thankful for and the list grows every year for me :)