Friday's Letters

Dear Beach, looking at this picture, I cannot WAIT to be back with you again. It's been way too long since the sun has beamed on my face, the wind has blown thru my hair, and the waves crashed on my feet where the sand meets the water.  Dear Evening Fatigue, you have almost made me pull over on the side of the road several times this week for a cat nap, just so I we can make it home alive. It's a tired feeling that I just cannot put into words.  Dear Lavender color, please make me proud today if my client chooses you. I really, really, really need you to be awesome! Pics to come on Instagram either way, because she'll be rockin' a new cut too!  

Dear Sox, you have really out done yourself this week with your perfume. Oh. My. Quad. This is by far the absolute worst I think I have ever seen you apply the mess... all wet and steamy on your pretty fur. Don't you know I ain't got time fo dat right now??  Dear Insomnia (that's just started to rear its ugly head), I hope to catch you on the flip side ASAP.. I need some zzzzzzzz's in my life.  Dear MAC-Pro, I sent off my application and all paperwork yesterday for my membership. I was so excited to drop that envelope off at the PO that I almost skipped my way out of the lobby.

Dear Weekend, I like that I have no plans; however, I hope this is a productive one now that I have a tad bit of energy (when I get sleep) and a little motivation back. (knocking on wood)

Super Awesome Saddlebag & Inner Thigh Workout

So I have been trying to find a good inner and outer thigh workout for some time now.

Weeeeelll, on my googling search Monday night I FINALLY found one!
WHOO HOO!! 

This workout is only 15 minutes but I felt it EXACTLY where I feel like my trouble area is and it got my heart rate up as well for me to break a little sweat. 

If the video doesn't work, here is the website.

So excited to finally find a workout where I can feel the burn that I had to share with you guys!

Let me know if you try it!

Spring will be here before you know it! Eeeekkk!

Sunday Farm Day

Sunday, Coach and I started our day off going to church, we made our way back home instead of going out to eat, Coach pretty much vetoed that since I had just bought groceries the day before and I started working on the chalkboard for my first belly pic. 

Afterwards, it wasn't too cold so we decided to take a walk to the pond. As long as the wind wasn't blowing it was so nice with the sun beaming in your face! Ahhhh I cannot WAIT for at least mid-sixties spring weather. 

Before we left tho, Coach let the Amigas out and what do you know, Miss Priss decided to roll in a grease spot from the tractor. At least it wasn't a dead animal this time... she likes that perfume too.. nasty little heffa. I guess she agreed that she smelled pretty bad because she got in the tub all by herself! Those ears crack me up every time!

We made our way to the pond and I wished I would have had my Nikon. My camera phone didn't do it justice for how pretty it was. 

It has been almost a year since he had someone come in and clear out around the pond and considering the time that has gone by, not much has grown back up.

We walked all the way around the pond, and in the future, it will be cleared out more, pieces of the fence moved back to widen the walk way, and some kind of shavings/grass will be put down for it to be easier to walk on.

There were several signs of bass which Coach was fired up about.. He can't wait to get the dam fixed and for the water to fill back up where it needs to be.. he was so excited just talking about it!

We stopped and gave the horses some treats and loved on them a bit. I have to admit, I was a little bit nervous around them for some reason.

And they always love Shane.. they were nibbling at his pockets where he had their treats.

We let the chickens out for a little bit for some grass.. I was too worried about keeping them out because we have had a hawk hanging out WAY to close to the house!

And finally yesterday, it was dry enough for my Dad and Step-mom to get one of their guys to deliver some red dirt for Shane's project to fix the dam.

I'm pretty excited to see it all come together myself! Especially, when the dock gets built! Whoo hoo! I have a feeling the Amigas will love it too! I see lots of bath time for them in the future!

Weekending // Relaxing Weekend on the Farm

Hope you guys are having a great start to your week!

Linking up with B Loved Boston on this windy Monday. Goodness gracious I feel like the house it about to blow away. I don't know how many times I have said this but I will say it again, I am soooo ready for some warmer weather and sunshine! Just a tad warmer would be great!

Speaking of warmer weather, when that starts to happen baseball happens! Although, around here it has already started.. Coach has been on the phone a lot, helping with school tryouts, and also doing private lessons with some of his kids that went pro last year. He's also put me to work! Info sheets and payments come in, I log all the info and file the player's info accordingly. Pretty soon, if the heat doesn't get to me, I'll be in the stands again watching a new group of kids.

Friday night, we stayed in and the only thing that seemed to look decent was the Cheesy Zucchini Enchiladas. I just can't seem to make them as hot as I would like them to be! They were still super delicious!

Saturday, I woke up with some pretty good energy and took myself to the gym ASAP! I got in about 40 minutes on the treadmill, alternating inclines, and a Bi's/Tri's workout from Phase 2 of Jamie Eason's Live Fit Trainer. After those first couple of months or not being able to do much, I can tell that I lost a lot of strength and decided to play it safe and go back to Phase 2. I'll get back to Phase 3!

I don't know how people take so many selfies in the gym... I felt like a total idiot! The bump seems to be sticking out a little farther here. I had sucked down a TON of water! I hope the badonkadonk doesn't get any bigger.. I might be rockin' a Kim K rear! Yikes!

Saturday afternoon we just took it easy and of course, Kyli loves being with whoever has a blanket. And I'm so used to Coach's hair being off his forehead that this just doesn't even look right! I love his hair long and he threatened to shave it yesterday. Soo I guess a trip to the salon is in order for him because I do NOT want him to shave it down with a two guard himself. He's just ready for short baseball hair.

Found this amazing stuff at Ingles Saturday. 

IT. IS. SO. DELICIOUS.

Sunday, we made our way to church for the start of this new series. It was such a great message and will last for 5 more weeks.

We took a walk down to the pond yesterday and it was so pretty! 

Stay tuned! That post coming tomorrow!

No eating out this weekend! I had some peppers that needed to be cooked so I decided on the Shrimp and Poblano Pepper dish I have made this before and added Couscous this time and for dessert.. the famous Peanut Butter Bites.

If you are in the areas that are about to get snow I hope you stay safe and warm!

Have a wonderful week!

BUMPDATE // 14 Weeks

HOW FAR ALONG //

14 Weeks

This was taken today.

BABY SIZE // About the size of a lemon.

Big development's for Baby Hop: squinting, frowning, grimacing, peeing, and possibly sucking his/her thumb.

The kidney's are producing urine, the spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells, the liver starts making bile this week, and although I can't feel the tiny punches and kicks yet, Baby Hop's hands and feet are more flexible and active.

He/she can grasp, too, and if I had an ultra sound this time, we might could see him sucking a thumb.

MY SYMPTOMS // I've been recording everyday in a book the Dr gave me at my very first appointment. My memory seems shot these days. For the most part this week, I feel like my energy is making its way back but then there are still times when I need a nap and feel like I can't get off the couch. There were a couple of days that I was pretty hormonal, up and down. I mean, how crazy can hormones be??

One morning I cried thinking about delivery day. Thankfully it didn't last long and I got myself together.

My nails are getting soooo long! I don't like them very long because I think long nails are gross but I am loving how strong they are! Normally they break with me shampooing all the time but none yet.

I've been able to drink more water, wahoo for that! My goal this week is to try and drink even more.

The nausea has seemed to ease up but hit me again Thursday while I was getting my hair done.. I think I maybe ate too fast tho but not sure. It's weird to me that it's starting to hit me during the day, especially since it has only been at night.
My stomach was SUPER tight Wednesday night. Very uncomfortable.
And, I've had a little bit of slight cramping off and on, but Dr. Elder told me Monday that was probably just everything stretching and as long as I had no bleeding I was fine. Haven't had any spotting or anything like that at all.

MATERNITY CLOTHES // Still in my clothes, but Friday I used the rubber band trick to "button" my jeans. 

SLEEP // I only had one super horrible night this week. Tossed and turned forever and then by the time I felt like I fell asleep hard, guess what?? Ashley had to pee, and from 5AM to 8AM I was WIDE awake and had to be up sometime soon after that. Oh it was horrible. 

MOVEMENT // None yet!

CRAVINGS // This week I craved a Longhorn house salad with Honey Mustard dressing. And I thought I would lose it if I didn't get it. We ended up at Ruby Tuesday's for the salad bar because it was closer and I must say it did hit the spot.

Nothing else has really sounded good and mostly I've eaten bland foods, except Friday night, I made the Cheesy Zucchini Enchiladas again, like Special K cereal, which is probably not the best, and I'm sure Baby Hop is thinking, "Can't this woman eat anything else??"

GENDER // Monday at the doctor we scheduled that Ultra Sound for Monday February 23rd. So exciting! I can't believe it's going that fast that we already have that appointment!

WHAT I MISS // Restful sleep, sleep, sleep!!

WORK OUTS // I only got two workouts in this week, three if you count mine and Coach's walk to the pond. We hoofed it back to the house because there is an incline that you wouldn't think would get ya, but it will get ya for sure.

EMOTIONS // Yikes. I can't even believe I'm about to share this. I mean if I wasn't embarrassed enough with myself after this took place, I'm about to post it where anybody can read it. So. Remember the night I didn't get any sleep? Well the following morning Thursday, was not very good. I was EXHAUSTED and before I knew it, was running late to get to the salon. Coach was up, and was helping me get Mara and Sox back into the house. Now, what I should have done, was wait until Mara and Sox made it back into the house but instead I was on a mission to get on the road, and walked outside while Coach was still getting them into the house. Sox made it, Mara didn't, and I think she wanted to go for a ride because she tried to jump in the car. The whole time, Shane is calling her up to the house and I'm trying to tell her 'on the porch Mara', but she wasn't having it. As I was opening up the car door and trying to keep her out, my knee cap hit the edge of the metal door, HARD.
I. Lost. It.
I screamed bloody murder and the two water bottles I had in my arms, went flying across the yard. I fired those things as hard as I could.
Total childish meltdown.
As I was driving down the road, embarrassment hit me, then anger, and then I just started bawling my eyes out.. you know the ugly cry and everything. And just about the time that got started, Coach was calling me. He was just checking on me and was so sweet and caring and did not blast me one bit for acting so RIDICULOUS! Just tried to comfort me as much as he could over the phone. Ahhh he is SO SO good to me!
He did tell me I had great form throwing for as much as I had in my hands. BAHAHA! So maybe Baby Hop will have some mad athletic skills!
Ok, so there is my embarrassing, ridiculous, hormonal story! Maybe someone reading this needed a laugh so go ahead at my expense! We sure did laugh about it that same night after we both got home.

DREAMS // None this week that really stick out in my mind.

HUBBY'S THOUGHTS // His face lit up so much at our Dr's appointment Monday. I just have to brag on him and say that he has been so patient with me and helps me so much.. offers to cook me something when I don't feel well, rubs my back when it hurts, and I don't think he has wanted me to bring in one grocery bag from the car! He brings all of it in himself even tho I say I can do it.
And, he has started calling Baby Hop, Boo Boo. So sweet he gave him his own nickname.

3 AMIGAS THOUGHTS // Once again they are loving more of my attention I've been able to give and I'm sure they were ready for this Mama to calm down after Thursday! 

BEST PREGNANCY MOMENT THIS WEEK //

Hearing Baby Hop's heartbeat Monday! It was 145 and there were lots of scratching noises that Dr. Elder said was him/her moving around. He seemed to be quite active! I could have stayed even longer to listen to that precious sound. Those appointments seem to go by way too fast!

Oh, and I must admit, the massage I got this week was absolutely amazing and much needed!

oh hey FRIDAY // 5 on Friday

Happy Friday everyone! 

I can't complain about this week... it's been a pretty good one!

Linking up today with these ladies and Karli!

Did I seriously just blog TWO days in a row?? Say whhaa?

1/

I am LOVING these Starbucks gift cards I racked up on for Christmas. My clients must LOVE me. wink, wink 

Whitney and I must have been having a preggo moment Tuesday because this was on our mind pretty much most of the day! I had never tried their Very Berry Hibiscus until recently and it is DELISH my friends! You definitely need to try!

2/

Well, I had every intention of painting a piece of wood I found in the barn with chalkboard paint to record belly pics.. but after my board didn't get cut cough cough I won't name any names I decided a trip to Hobby Lobby was in store for me! I found this beauty and especially couldn't resist with a 40% off!

3/

Got my hair done yesterday! I had about 3-4 inches of ombre roots and decided I needed some blonder locks in my life. Now I just need a tan! Can't take anymore of this pastiness. We got teased with a couple days of high 60's beautiful sunshine and boy was it amazing! I wish I could've just stayed outside all day.

4/

This Buffalo Chicken Quinoa salad looks sooo yummy! 

On the list to try for this weekend!

SOURCE

5/

I've been checking and researching Make-up Airbrush machines the past couple days. After reading lots and lots of reviews, I think I have narrowed it down to one of the best! This has been on my mind for awhile now and something that I am SUPER excited about!

Thankful Thursday

First and foremost, I went to the bank Tuesday to finally dispute all the fraudulent charges on my account.. and GUESS WHAT?? There were none there!! Y'all I felt like a complete idiot when the teller couldn't find them, but she said after the bank had already cancelled my card and caught the fraud, they could have just dropped off. I don't know and I don't care how it happened because I am SO THANKFUL they were gone and all my money was in my account.

I went back to my blonder roots today! Oh my goodness it feels great to not have roots. The last night I got my hair done I just wasn't sure what I wanted, so I just colored my roots and tried to make them a little lighter because my natural is a dirty dishwater brown color.. well, over time my hair has turned a little red and I just couldn't take it anymore. Hormones anyone?

Whitney gave me back my nickname, Britney. Ha! Now I just need some color on this pasty skin!

And if you are going to have your hair done, why not get a massage too?? WHOO HOO! Talk about being spoiled today! Man it was just what I needed today. 

I'm so thankful for a patient husband who has been talking great care of me. I know there have got to be times where he is thinking, "What in the world?" but he just tries to by supportive and helps me any way that he can.

Our kitchen is SO close to being finished! The rest of the tile got put up last week, Shane and Ben grouted last Thursday, and he sealed it after that. All that's left is painting the sheet rock and the mantle and puttying the nails on the trim. I LOVE it! Pictures to come!

We had our second Dr Appt Monday and we heard Baby Hop's heartbeat! It was 145 and Dr Elder said that everything was measuring perfectly. He/she was being active in there too! There were scratching noises that you could hear and he said that was him moving around. He was just a-going!

So thankful and blessed for a great appointment!

Weekending // So good to be out of the house!

It's been awhile for me with weekending mainly because, well, I don't think laying around on the couch not being able to do anything is too exciting. It's good to be back!

1/

OK, so technically this was done Wednesday but when there is a color moment you are proud of, you share! Took me 3 hours and she absolutely LOVED it!

2/

Friday was a short day at work for me and a not-so-good one for Mara. This little girl had a broken tooth that had started to abcess so needless to say a trip to the vet for her was in store. This was after I picked her up after work and it's safe to say she was NOT happy.. wouldn't even look at me for a little bit. Thankfully, she didn't stay mad at me too long and seems to be fully recovered! She was having so much fun with Sox this morning running around the pasture.

3/

No pictures for this but I was able to get a last minute massage AND a nap when I got home. Made me feel SO much better and good enough for date night Friday night. Coach and I ended up at Longhorn and what I was able to eat was delicious!

4/

One of the Team Elite coach's got hitched Saturday right outside my hometown. It had rained here ALL week but Friday and Saturday it cleared up beautifully for their big day! I was sooo happy for them! The food was delicious and I had to make myself stop with the Pink Lemonade before I ended up with a sugar rush. 

5/

FINALLY got to see American Sniper. We have been waiting and waiting for this movie to come to our area. Our plans were to see it Friday after dinner, but every show was sold out by the time we got to the counter. We ended up buying our tickets online yesterday and I'm glad we did! There was still a line at the door when we arrived.

Random: I had NO idea Sienna Miller played the wife??! I don't know where I have been! The whole time I was thinking man she looks familiar but couldn't place her with her hair being dark. Anyhoo, they did a great job! I was reading a few articles last night where Taya was interviewed and she said it was "eerie" at the similarities Bradley Cooper portrayed as her husband. It went on to say that she only trusted Clint Eastwood to direct the movie and Bradley Cooper to act as Chris. I'm interested to read his book now.

Have you had a chance to see the movie?

And two date nights in one weekend.. whoop whoop!! 

Hope you had a great weekend!

BUMPDATE // 13 Weeks

HOW FAR ALONG // 13 weeks and 2 days to be exact.

Hellloooo second trimester???
Some things I've read say 13 and then some 14 weeks?

BABY SIZE // About the size of a pea pod.

Fingerprints have formed on the baby's fingertips. Veins and organs are clearly visible through the still-thin skin. The baby's body is starting to catch up with the oversized head, which makes up just a third of his/her body size now.

If Baby Hop is a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries and he/she weighs almost an ounce.

MY SYMPTOMS // This week has been off and on with feeling good. There were a couple nights where I felt I got absolutely no sleep at all.. my stuffy nose came back and it likes to hit me at night where I absolutely CANNOT breathe. Wednesday was a SUPER long day at work and I was completely beat by the time I got home. 

MATERNITY CLOTHES // Still able to wear jeans but by the evening that button is coming undone on certain pairs.

This photo was taken Jan 11th. Yes I am in my bathtub but this is the only lighted, full length mirror in our house. Probably should have been in the 12 week post. I had just gotten my belly full with some yummy Cracker Barrel.

SLEEP // Some nights are awesome and restful and others not so much. When I can't sleep I find myself praying health and life over Baby Hop and for other things as well. 

MOVEMENT // Nothing yet but people are asking have I felt anything yet.

CRAVINGS // This week has been OK in the food department. I have been able to touch chicken again so I've been getting back to preparing some meals which has been great for work and not eating out. I did have green beans for about 3 or 4 days in a row for lunch and for dinner. So delicious. 

Ate a salad one night..

Spinach, shredded chicken, goat cheese, slithered almonds, dried cranberries.

 Friday night I actually felt decent enough for a date night, I blame it on the massage and a nap, so we headed off to Longhorn and a movie. I TORE UP my salad and when my peppered chicken and sweet potato came out I got nauseas and couldn't eat it. I took maybe two bites and the rest went into a box. We didn't get to see our movie because by the time we got to the counter it was sold out! At least I was out of the house for a little bit besides being at work.

GENDER // We go tomorrow for our second dr appointment so I should find out when that exact appointment will be. Whoo hoo!

WHAT I MISS // ALL of my energy being back! I have noticed it's starting to get a little better THANK. GOODNESS.

WORK OUTS // I was able to work out a few times this week. One night I think maybe I did push myself too hard with T25 and got a little woozy. Better take it a little easier next time. I did hit the gym for the first time, in what seems like decades, for some treadmill cardio and weights and it felt SO GOOD! 

EMOTIONS // Wow at the hormones. Friday at work, I thought I was going to kill someone. There was so much going on I had to go work upstairs where is was a little more calmer. I think it was just a combo of hormones, fatigue, and being achy. Ooh and also the fact that some dirt bag has stolen my debit card info and had been spending my hard earned money, in which I will now have to wait up to a week to get back. Such sorry people in this world, who need to get off their lazy *&^ and get a job like MOST of us do. Yeah. I'm still a little angry about that. Thankfully it was a short day. And the bestie saved the day with pretzels and Sprite to kick some nausea that was rearing its ugly head.

DREAMS // I had a dream about LEO this week! Has anyone seen the pictures of him with all the 'models' on the beach recently? Yeah.. I was there.. beside him.. catching some rays. 

What in the world will be next??

HUBBY'S THOUGHTS // Maybe I have been a little more up and down with emotions this week, and Shane has been super supportive in just comforting me. Bless him, he doesn't know what to do.

He has taken sleeping to a whole new level. He has stayed up working on Team Elite players/rosters/etc and has turned to sleeping for a good bit during the day. Guess he's trying to get all he can right now. Ha.

3 AMIGAS THOUGHTS // They are still loving the attention I've been giving them lately. I just couldn't handle the dog smell, even after bath time, for some time. Mara wasn't too happy with me Friday after I picked her up from the vet.. she had a broken tooth pulled that was starting to abscess.. but she loves me again. 

BEST PREGNANCY MOMENT THIS WEEK // 

Feeling a little more energy and getting a massage!

One of the Team Elite coaches got married yesterday on such a gorgeous day right outside my hometown. Once again, it felt so good getting out of the house and doing something besides work or grocery store.

Also, my Mom gave us these little gifts this week.. She loved the chicken and it is sooo soft!

I have tons of drafts and a couple fun post ideas for this week but by the time I get home I'm exhausted and my brain just isn't functioning properly to sit in front of the computer.

Just want to say thank you to all my sweet readers and for following along on our journey in life!

Much love to you all!