La la la la

Luke is really into singing songs right now and especially editing the words to songs and creating his own "Luke version". I wrote in an earlier post how Luke doesn't want us singing "Jesus Loves Me" but "Jesus Loves Luke".

Tonight before bed we sang "Day 2", also known as the Creation Song. When we got to day 7, Luke did NOT want God resting in heaven, but on his pillow. We then sang Old McDonald. And on his farm tonight he first had a "Snuggle Bunny" followed by a Sailboat that said "Fish Fish". Then he requested Row Row Row Your Boat. But his boat doesn't row gently down the stream, it rows gently on the water. Finally we sang "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"...the only song that didn't need revisions tonight. Maybe he'll grow up to be a song writer. Who knows!

Leta's Room!

Here are pictures of what Leta's room looks like currently. Kyle just finished painting and WHAT A PAINT JOB IT WAS! There is still much to be done. Haven't organized her closet, thought about her bathroom, still need get started on curtains and hang something up on her walls! But, it's a good start and we'd be ready enough if she came tomorrow. Hopefully NOT, but her room is ready enough for her!

This n that.

L to R Alyssa, Onawa, Natalie, Tara, Shanna and Me!

Kyle is finishing the paint job in Leta's room tomorrow. YEA! And then I will begin cleaning, arranging, organizing and hanging.

Kyle went hunting with Jeremy up by Pond Creek this past weekend. He didn't shoot anything this time, but it sounded like he had fun none-the-less. He's been a deer jerky making fool since their last hunting trip and so he brought 4 different recipes he's used for them to try.

I also had my Body and Soul winter workshop this past weekend. It wore me out! 6 hours of working out in one evening and morning.... My quads are a little sore thanks to a new move our power strength choreographer likes to call the "Jenga". I presented our boot camp training. I explained how to plan a boot camp etc. step clinic-ed several new moves and then demonstrated a mini boot camp. It went pretty good I think, for my first time to do that anyway. My partner and I had decided which moves she would demo and I would just cue due to pregnancy restrictions, but I missed one! I ended up doing 8 burpees and Leta kept getting squished and didn't like that too much =)

Saturday night was my non-baby-shower Girls Night Out. 5 of my friends took me out to the Melting Pot (my favorite restaurant) and we had a great time. It was fun to hang out with the girls and accomplish nothing but have fun for an evening. And even though there weren't supposed to be gifts, Leta got a gift card, bows, an "L" onsie, a wall hanging and her first doll. Thanks Tara, Natalie, Onawa, Alyssa and SHANNA (who planned it all) for a great night! All of us (except Alyssa) are pregnant or nursing. Quite the group!

Quintessential Luke.

Time for a new meal plan around these parts. I just finished our last one tonight and I need to get to the grocery store, but think that will have to wait until Wednesday since Kyle has a meeting tomorrow afternoon.

New Meal Plan:

Chinese with new sauce (different from last meal plan)

Taco Soup

French Bread Pizza

Creamy White Chicken Chili

Maple Porcupine Meatballs side of Pasta and spinach casserole

Sloppy Joes

Broccoli and Cheese stuffed Chicken breasts

Pepper Jack Mac Cups

Broccoli Tuna Casserole

Ham & Ricotta stuffed chicken breasts with a side of horseradish Crockpot scalloped potatoes

Extras: Sugar cookies, beans, french toast, pizza, chicken strips

Chinese was on the list last week, but I'm using a different sauce this time so it'll be almost like it's brand new. And the Ham and Ricotta stuffed chicken is a repeat of last time because out of the blue (without me asking) Kyle said, "This is pretty good." And I still have leftover ricotta to use up.

My last meal plan had several successful recipes so I have lots to share this week!

Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup (this was was so good I'm still reminding Kyle about it almost 2 weeks later!)

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 tsp celery salt

1 onion, chopped

2 qt water

1/2 tsp poultry seasoning

2-3large carrots, sliced

1 tsp garlic salt

2 celery stalks, sliced

Boil the above ingredients for 1 hr. When chicken is tender, remove and chop and put back in pot. Add

2 cups uncooked noodles.

Boil 20 minutes.

Cream Sauce:

6 T butter

6 T flour

4 cups skim milk

1/2 tsp lemon juice

TONS of pepper

Add cream sauce to soup. Season with salt to taste. Do not boil. Serve immediately.

Ricotta and ham Stuffed Chicken Breasts

1/2 c ricotta

1/4 c shredded parmesan

3 tsp dried basil

1 clove garlic, minced

4 chicken breasts

4 slices deli ham

salt, pepper, cayenne pepper

1/2 c flour

1 T olive oil

1 T butter

In a small bowl, combine cheeses, basil and garlic. Cut a deep pocket into each chicken breast (without slicing all the way through). Open breast as much as possible and lay one slice ham in it. Spoon 1/4 ricotta mixture in then close and secure with toothpicks. In a shallow dish, season flour with spices. Dredge chicken in seasoned flour until well coated on both sides. In a large skillet heat oil and butter. Add chicken and cook 9 minutes then flip and cook until no longer pink.

Ravioli Lasagna

1 jar spaghetti sauce

1 (20 oz) pkg refrigerated cheese ravioli

1 (10 oz) pkg frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry.

8 oz. shredded mozzarella

1/4 cup parmesan

Preheat oven to 375. Spray a 9X9 pan with Pam. Spoon 1/4 cup sauce in bottom of pan. cover with 1/2 the ravioli. 1/2 remaining sauce. All spinach. 1/2 mozzarella. Remaining ravioli, sauce then both cheeses. cover and bake 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 10 more. Let cook 5 minutes before serving.

Thanksgiving

We traveled north to Ponca City for Thanksgiving this year. At 28 weeks my doctor restricts travel to 1 1/2 hours, so Ponca City is about as far away as I can get from home, but it worked out perfect for us. Doug, JoAnne and Jimmy were supposed to be there, but Jimmy got sick so they wimped out on us. Even though the Herrington's couldn't make it, Pappaw, Grandma Key, Marjorie, Jim and our family managed to have a good time. Luke enjoyed being the center of attention and seeing the trains go by just behind their back yard. It was a highlight for him.

The food was WONDERFUL and there was a ton of it, but I like to think we did our part in consuming it =) We had lots of leftovers to bring home with us that we have been enjoying. It was nice to be able to go up and spend the day. Luke especially thought so since I didn't make him take a nap.

Another Dr. Visit

Luke coloring at his table.

I had another doctors appointment this afternoon. Which means I did TWO things today. Body & Soul, and the doctors appointment. A big day for me, so now I don't feel like cooking supper =) All is well with Leta, although I've moved into a new number in the tens place on my weight, which is never a happy time. My glucose test came back fine as I'd anticipated, but I did find out I'm anemic. I think I was supposed to know that my prenatal supplements were supposed to contain iron, but I'd been taking the ones without this whole time. Well done me. Anyway, I have some samples and a prescription to be filled now.

I reminded the doctor that Luke was 3 1/2 weeks early and asked if that means anything for this pregnancy, and he said, "Yes, generally expect to be about 3 1/2 weeks early this time too." So we'll see. I do have care for Luke all lined up. Luke's "Gigi" and Great Grandpa Wilbur will care for him the whole time we are in the hospital. If we have leave for the hospital in the middle of the night again, our kind neighbors are going to stumble across the street and go back to bed in our guest room and stay with him until Georgeanne and WT arrive to take over.

Kyle has one square left to paint on Leta's room and then I can really get in there and organize it and clean it up. It's a major construction zone right now and will be a pretty big job to get it looking halfway decent.

I'm 32 weeks along right now, and a doctor prediction at delivering early, so everyone needs to start locking in their delivery dates and Leta's length and weight. The person closest will win the bragging rights of ...well...being closest = D

On a side note, I was using a 3 hole punch last night and pinched my belly skin in it. Yeah. It hurt. My belly is just all sorts of in the way these days.

Revision

Luke wearing Leta's shower gifts =)

Luke has revised Jesus Loves Me. He no longer wants us to sing "Jesus Loves Me", instead we have to sing, "Jesus Loves Luke".

Body & Soul baby shower for Leta!

The wonderful ladies in my Body & Soul class had a shower for Leta and I this past Monday. I don't know what I was expecting, but I wasn't prepared for what I got! It turned out to be a huge shower, with tons of yummy healthy snacks and way more generous hearts that I thought possible. Leta basically got all clothes (a few books and a blanket, too) and they were all SO CUTE.

Here is Luke holding Leta's mouse. It goes with the book, "If You Take a Mouse to the Movies"

Some of the gals. The girl in front is Kerri and she made the WONDERFUL diaper cake pictured below. That's her little boy, Jack, whom Luke loves. He's just a few months younger, but makes a good partner in crime back in childcare.

Sara (from Nebraska) and her three boys. Talk about determination to attend a baby shower!!!

Our wonderful childcare workers. Hope and Vicki, whom Luke calls "Bicki". Hope has her son Matthew with her much of the time and Luke loves them all. "Go Body Soul. Play Bicki. Play Hope Maf-ew".

I will say this for all of us. We just got done sweating for an hour...none of us has on make up, so trust me when I say, none of us are pictured at our best!

Ruth Ann Dreyer. My partner in crime.

AND THIS WASN'T ALL!

GORGEOUS!