Life's Turns...A Possitive Change

My writings have be virtually non-existent as of late...and there is a good reason for it, I assure you. You see, my life has taken another turn...and it's a good one.  Two months after my husband & I had decided that we were not going to increase the size of our family, I found out I was PREGNANT! In fact, as of today I am 10 weeks into this pregnancy.  It was a shocker to say the least...and it made me extremely grateful that I had not made that trip the week before to Goodwill with all of my maternity clothing.

And it just goes to show God's sense of humor...I had told my husband that I didn't want to try to have a baby after age 39.  Since the odds of complications tend to increase with age, it was just my way of insuring that I wouldn't be putting me or the baby in a risky situation.  Well, this little one has a due date 9 days before I turn 40.  I love God's sense of humor...an answered prayer fulfilled after it was given up on and just within a deadline that I had set for myself.

Unlike my other two pregnancies, this one has completely wiped me out!  Therefore, I am convinced that this little baby is bound to be wearing a ton of blue.  I could be wrong, but all signs so far tell me that this one is not like the others.  I've been more inclined to meat, which is not like me at all, and have been battling high blood pressure with every natural form I can along with the medication that was prescribed by my doctor. 

How did my girls take it?  Well, here's a little clip...it will clear that question up immediately.  My youngest has the best reaction and comments from beginning to end.

So needless to say that my life is shifting in a major way once again.  And it means that I have to figure out how to keep both a cat and a dog out of the way once the baby comes...OR I simply get rid of them. (which is a bit tempting right now I must say) 

In the meantime,  I am focused on getting even more healthy and keeping myself in line to only gain the 25-30 pounds of baby weight.  It's not impossible and I know that it's something that I need to do for myself.  My first pregnancy had my body in complete chaos...gaining 60 pounds!  My second started with me only having lost the 30 pounds from the first, so I knew that I had to keep myself inline because my bod couldn't handle more than a 30 pound weight gain the second time around.  Now this little baby is in a better place...I'm starting off 10 pounds lighter than I did with my first and I wholeheartedly believe that I can keep everything in balance for a normal weight gain that won't add stress to my body or cause problems for the baby. 

No, I am not just obsessed with weight, there is a very good reason for my focus on it.  All three pregnancies have one thing in common: high blood pressure.  I know that too much weight gain only increases the chance of complications and negative issues with my blood pressure, so I have to keep my eyes on it.  I can't be one of the women who indulges in every little goodie just because I'm pregnant.  I wish I could!

My life has been focused on getting healthy for months before the news hit us...and my juicer is my best friend.  Lot's of fresh veggies and fruits along with lean meats is going to continue to be my daily menu.  (a few little goodies here and there, but not in excess)  By all accounts this should be the healthiest pregnancy of all!

Be Prepared #Giveaway ~ Ends 9/23

Welcome to the Be Prepared Giveaway sponsored by Rayven Perkins with Jerky Direct, and Sandra Girouard with Shelf Reliance. 

 

Here's your chance to stock your pantry with some excellent food storage items!

Are you prepared for a natural disaster? Most families aren't. And yet it doesn't take too much effort to put a plan into place to make sure you are. Read this page on how to budget for emergency food preparation.


Get prepared with this fantastic prize package worth more than $250!


The winner will receive:

• (12) months of Jerky Direct "Jerky of the Month", two bags of jerky shipped directly to the winner's home each month for a full year (rv $171+)
• (8) Shelf Reliance Pantry Cans full of emergency food (just add water) in the following flavors: 10 grain Pancake Mix - Scrambled Egg Mix - Fuji Apple Slices (freeze dried) - Honey Crystals - Orange Bliss beverage mix - Seasoned Chicken Slices (freeze dried) - Onions (freeze dried) - Celery (freeze dried) (rv $100 including stove)
• (1) Esbit Stove and (3) fuel tablets

You can make a hearty breakfast using your own skillet, the Esbit stove, and the pancake and scrambled egg mixes, and top with honey and apples. Or the apples can be for a snack, or mixed into a chicken salad. The chicken salad can be made up simply from reconstituting the meat and vegetables, draining (if necessary) and using your favorite dressing from the pantry.


Giveaway Details

• Giveaway runs September 3 - September 23
• Open to those 18 and older in the United States

Fill out the Rafflecopter below to enter to win

• Winner will be chosen randomly via Rafflecopter; entry methods are verified, only those who complete entry methods claimed are eligible to win

This blog was not compensated for this post and is not responsible for prize shipment

   

Questions? Want to sponsor a Giveaway? Contact Stay a Stay at Home Mom

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Party Like A Football Star ~ Ends 9/12

Prize:

Best of Times Ultimate Personal Bar Package (A.L.L. Review)

ARV $698

Hosted by:

A Ladybug on the Go


and 


M.O.O.N.


"The Best of Times Bar is the ultimate piece of party equipment for entertainers from all walks of life. The portable bar is perfect for any occasion, and can be customized with a variety of interchangeable wraps."

Blogger Opp ~ Samsung Chromebook Giveaway (FREE & Paid)

Organized by One Punky Mama

Prize:  Samsung Chromebook

Event dates: 8/26 - 09/16

Free & Paid Options Available

Sign Up Here

First Day Of School

 

It's that start of another year and my girls' individual style is shining through...

 

Rose: Rainbow striped zebra shirt, rainbow butterfly capris, rainbow gummy bear bracelet, mood changing necklace and rainbow zebra striped boat shoes on her feet. 

 

Grace: Blue/green ombre tunic w/VERY glittery large flower, matching leggings, Hello Kitty flip glasses (for fun) and her "disco" boots.

 

I love my girls and their uniqueness.

 

This morning started off with a phone call from one of my Grace's friends...15 minutes before my alarm was set to start hounding me.  I hate waking up from something else before my alarm goes off. It just completely throws me off. Bit this extremely tired, red-eyed Momma moved on and tried to get dressed as swiftly as I could before rousing my kiddles.

 

Just like me, they hate being woke up in the morning. My "Good Morning" song was greeted with a big smile from one (shocking) and the comforter being pulled over the other's head (not surprising).  After about 15 minutes giving the best pep talk I could come up with (on 5 hours sleep) to simply get them out of bed, the pep talk for getting them dressed began. I think it helped that there was the smell of bacon cooking in the air...it's a great motivational tool. The aid of a mule team might have been needed otherwise.

 

I had one girl excited about seeing friends and one begging (with a monsoon of tears) for me to not make her go. This was not the best start out of the gates for poor little Rose. Having all of her friends in different classes was posing a huge dilemma for her...although she did have one of her best buddies, Joe-Joe (as she calls him), to get her through the morning. I'm praying that they are seated next to each other...otherwise there will be a negative right at the beginning of class for her.

 

Well on a good note, breakfast went smoothly without a spill or confusion of clothes for a napkin. THAT'S HUGE!  I had fought the urge to go buy one of the ridiculously huge raised donuts from Doughboys Donuts and went with a breakfast drink & bacon for one and eggs & bacon for the other. My Charming even got his tummy blessed with a breakfast burrito...he was a happy man.

 

Lunches are always tricky, but somehow I was able to make both girls happy without too much information prying and collaboration needed. With Rose completely anti sandwiches (she just hates bread) and not willing to go a pasta salad route, it's always a challenge. Final solution - several containers: peanut butter, fresh strawberries, a mozzarella cheese stick and organic gummies. 

 

Both of my girls were so nervous about their new classes because they each only had 3 out of 24 classmates that they knew. This was a huge change from the last year when teachers were able to help keep more of the kids together. We were so thrilled with the two teachers that the girls got though. All summer we had been praying for God to give us favor in their placement...there is a horrible teacher (with tenor of course) who has treated classroom after classroom of students with such insensitivity and hateful words. Thank God that our Grace did not get placed with her! I would have been in battle mode for sure to keep her from ever stepping foot in that classroom.

 

Why is it that a teacher with tenor can keep their job when any one of us would lose ours for being inappropriate and down right hateful & demeaning?

 

 

Anyway, we all made our way to the lines that awaited us.  By this time both girls had gotten excited to see friends again and were assured that Daddy & Mommy had their backs should anything need to be dealt with. (I had already battled the school for half the year last year because of rotten treatment from a half year substitute for my Rose. I know what I'm doing and don't back down when it comes to my girls or the treatment of any other student in their class for that matter.)  Daddy stayed with Rose until her class was ready to go in while I tried to catch up with Grace and pull her from the wrong line into the right classroom. 

 

I'm believing that it's going to be a great year. One where true friendships are created that will carry on into middle & highschool.

 

Now I sit here with green tea in hand and sincerely hope you all have a wonderful start to the school year too!

 

Suddenly Salad Prize Pack #Giveaway ~ Ends 8/24

The Chatty Mom has teamed up with Asha Butterflys 

 

To host a Suddenly Salad

 

Giveaway!

 

Fashion Wig #Giveaway ~ WW ~ Ends 9/09

Ever feel like changing your look just for a night? Feel like you need to step out of yourself and be someone else just for a day? Have you ever feel the need to cut your hair short but quite not sure if it fits you? Then this giveaway is perfect for you as we have teamed up with Giveaway Monkey, Zebra Print Mom, and Keauty Store to give away one Short-Style Fashion Wig to one lucky reader!

This Short-Style Fashion Wig is brought to us by Keauty Store (Korean Beauty Store) - an online store based in Canada that sells Korean items and products for both men and women. Make sure to visit their online store to find variety of Korean products, from cosmetics to contact lenses to fashion wigs and a whole lot more.

Get a chance to experience Keauty Store's item and service for free by winning this Short-Style Fashion Wig (worth $34.30). This Fashion Wig will be shipped to you anywhere in the world for free by and from the Keauty Store.

 

Just use the Rafflecopter form below to earn your entries and win!

This giveaway will run until September 9, 2013 and is open worldwide to ages 18 and above!

Good luck!

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Disclaimer: I did not accept compensation for this event, nor are we responsible for the delivery of the prize. The prize will be shipped by the sponsor, Keauty Store straight to the winner. This giveaway is in no way administered, sponsored, endorsed by, or associated with, Facebook Twitter, Google, and/or Pinterest. Read full terms and condition in the Rafflecopter form above.

Easy Canvas Prints 8x10 Giveaway ~ Ends 8/25

Easy Canvas Prints 8x10 Giveaway

Welcome to the Easy Canvas Prints Giveaway!


Hosted by: Perfectly Beachy

Sponsored by: Easy Canvas Prints





A picture is worth a 1000 words.  Here is your chance to win a 8x10 Canvas from Easy Canvas Prints. Read my full review here.

The question is .... What will you choose to showcase? A family photo, a landscape pictures or a picture of your pet?


Details:

• Giveaway runs from August 11th (12 am) to August 25th, 2013 (12 am)

• Winner will receive a free 8x10 Canvas coupon code via email

• Open to US residents only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A huge thank you to the bloggers who joined this giveaway!

Disclaimer: Perfectly Beachy will email the winner within 48 hours of the giveaway ending. The winner will have 48 hours to respond. Open to US Only. Must be 18 years of age or older. The author and host of the giveaway retains the right to cancel the giveaway in the event that the contest is compromised in any way. No cheating, people. The email address you provide maybe used for promotional/marketing communication. In the event the recipient does not claim the prize in 48 hours, another winner will be announced. Void where prohibited. The Chatty Mom is not responsible for Prize delivery.

Baby Bullet Food Making System Giveaway ~ Ends 8/21

Welcome to the Baby Bullet Food Making System Giveaway!

Hosted by:  Savory Savings


LoveMy2Dogs and GottaGetMyBodyBack


Sponsored by: Baby Bullet

Have you thought about making your own baby food, but decided not because you thought it would be too hard or take too much time?  Have you heard of the Baby Bullet?  It is a food puree system by the makers of Magic Bullet – but with special blades and cups just for baby food!  This easy to use machine is convenient, fun and fast!  Krista over at Savory Savings had a chance to review the Baby Bullet and has shared her thoughts on why she wishes she had this when her little ladies were babies and how she is using it now when they are toddlers!