Summer break that is...
No more sleeping until whenever I feel like peeling myself out of bed. No more napping whenever I get the notion. No more beach trips, last minute lake trips, or multiple poolside days in a row. No more staying up until midnight or after watching silly T.V. shows or movies with Nick. No more days of not having any plans, random plans, or too many plans. Back to the grind starting Monday...
Here's how I spent my last week of summer break...
Well "Monday" began pretty early...around 3 A.M. I woke up to the sound of Jonah (our dog-son) throwing up. I found several places around the house where he had gotten sick prior to the one that woke me up. I was up with him until around 6 A.M. He threw up a total of 10 times inside and a few times outside. I, of course, as his mommy, was very worried about him, but I wasn't sure what to do. When Nick and I woke up around 8, Nick thought that maybe we should give him 24 hours before taking him to the vet in case it was just a little bug that he had. We were concerned that it may be Kennel Cough because our in-laws boarded their dogs at the same place Jonah was at and they had been coughing very badly since we picked them up Saturday. However, Jonah was not coughing at all...so I agreed with Nick to just wait it out and see.
About 9 A.M. our door bell rang...not typical...it was the guy from Service Masters here to clean the carpet! OOPS! I thought he wasn't coming until after lunch. I keep getting dates and times mixed up...just blame it on 'baby brain'. ;-)
I had oatmeal for breakfast and I fixed Nick an omelet and some bacon. Then, I got dressed and headed up to school to work on my classroom around 11. My sister-in-law, Kelly, met me up at school to help me get some things done. We got a good bit done and had a good time doing it, too! We talked and talked and talked and just had a great time getting to hang out!! Josh brought us Chick-Fil-A for lunch and it was yummy of course!
Here are a few pictures of the work in progress...
A HUGE THANK YOU to Kelly for helping me get so much done!!! XoXo:):)
When I left school I went by Wal-Mart to get something to fix for supper. Since I didn't plan anything to cook I just went with easy Pesto Chicken. That is one recipe that I have the ingredients memorized...chicken, basil pesto sauce, and mozzarella cheese!:) I fixed dinner for Nick and then I went to meet my friend Amy at Panera for our dinner date. I know I say this often, but seeing my sweet friends never happens often enough! It's crazy how much time goes by between our get togethers!! It leaves a lot of conversation to be had though because we have so much to catch up on. I had yummy Frontega Chicken (thanks to Erica for introducing me to it!!:)) and a bowl of Summer Corn Chowder. YUM, YUM!! Amy and I ate and sat and talked for a while! I love hearing her stories of 'life' at her school because our schools and districts are very different. She always has lots to share and we like to compare different things about where we work. I don't get to teach at the same school that she does, but I know she is a FABULOUS teacher because she has such a big, sweet heart!
I hated to hug her bye because I know it will be a few weeks before I see her again. I wish life had a pause button so things could slow down long enough for there to be more friend time!!
When I got home I was very...no...VERY surprised at what I found...Nick had put all of the furniture back in it's place from where he had to move it that morning for the carpet to get cleaned. AND here is what I was so very surprised and excited about...he had the crib put together in the nursery!! We were waiting on the carpet to get cleaned before we did that. It was so sweet...he had the lamps turned on and everything back where it was supposed to go in there. Ahhh...melted my heart!! We put the bedding on the crib so we could see what it looked like! That was an eventful 30 minutes! HAHA! Who knew it was so difficult to fix and tie a bumper to crib rails.:) Ahh the memories!!:)When I left school I went by Wal-Mart to get something to fix for supper. Since I didn't plan anything to cook I just went with easy Pesto Chicken. That is one recipe that I have the ingredients memorized...chicken, basil pesto sauce, and mozzarella cheese!:) I fixed dinner for Nick and then I went to meet my friend Amy at Panera for our dinner date. I know I say this often, but seeing my sweet friends never happens often enough! It's crazy how much time goes by between our get togethers!! It leaves a lot of conversation to be had though because we have so much to catch up on. I had yummy Frontega Chicken (thanks to Erica for introducing me to it!!:)) and a bowl of Summer Corn Chowder. YUM, YUM!! Amy and I ate and sat and talked for a while! I love hearing her stories of 'life' at her school because our schools and districts are very different. She always has lots to share and we like to compare different things about where we work. I don't get to teach at the same school that she does, but I know she is a FABULOUS teacher because she has such a big, sweet heart!
Here is a sneak peek at the crib and bedding...
It looks soooo good!! So soft and sweet!! I can't wait to get the nursery finished!!
Here's a quote for today to my sweet Amy... I love you Amy Heinze!:):)
I woke up at 5 A.M...I was a little hungry and I was also worried about Jonah and I wanted to see how he would do eating a little bit of food. He threw up 2 times yesterday when Nick was home with him so he put his food up since he obviously wasn't able to keep any down. He ate some food and then we laid down on the couch for a little bit. I read some in my bible and he fell asleep right on my tummy.:) I don't know how much more love I could have for a dog! He is my baby boy!:)
I fixed Nick and I breakfast around 8...we had "Egg White Bites". These things are soo good and soo easy to fix! I use whatever veggies I have on hand and we just use the regular liquid egg instead of just liquid egg whites. I also add some cheese sometimes, too! They seriously taste like mini omelets! Nick loves to put salsa on his.:) Here's the recipe:
I took a shower and got ready. Then I met Emily at school at 11:30. I got to see her new *THIRD GRADE* classroom for the very first time! It looks amazing! Here's a link to her blog...
Not only do I love her as my best friend, I also love her because of her passion for children and teaching. She's one of those teachers that her love for what she does and why she does it just oozes out of her! She is also so very, very driven! Constantly reading and learning more about teaching and how to change or adapt things to help children learn even better.
After a tour of her classroom we headed to eat lunch at Delightful Dishes! YUM on top of YUM!! Not only was I SO excited to get to spend time with Emily, I couldn't wait for my Chicken Pecan Quiche, Pasta Salad, and Strawberry Congealed Salad! Oh my, it's all heavenly!!:) We had a great time chatting, chatting, and more chatting...trying to do our very best to catch up on so many things in the short time we had to spend together.
After lunch I brought her back to school and I went and worked in my classroom for a bit. I started looking at first week plans from last year to see what I wanted to keep and what I wanted to change. I didn't stay up there too long though. The 'summer bug' is still nibbling at me quite a bit.;-)
I went to Wal-Mart to get a few things when I left school then I headed home. My sister, who I hadn't seen in weeks came over! It was SO great to see her. There's just nothing like the bond that we have. She truly is my other half! It's hard to feel 'complete' when we go so long without seeing each other. We had leftover Baked Pesto Chicken for dinner and I tried to fix a new recipe for zucchini. Here's the link if you want to try it...
They were yummy! BUT would have been even better if I would've used the right kind of grated parmesan. :) For dessert we had strawberries and nutella! The perfect sweet treat! It was my sister's first time trying Nutella and let me tell you she is ADDICTED!:):)
Nick and I went to see our friends, Brooke and J.P, so we could see their newborn baby, Ace. We brought them dinner from Capri's and hung out talking to them and holding Ace. He is absolutely precious!! Such a good baby, too! We loved listening to their story of Brooke going to the hospital to have him and then the story of his birth. So amazing!!
We left their house around 8 and headed home (a few streets over). Mom came to walk so Kimberly, mom, and I walked around the neighborhood.:) It was a great time having "The 3 Musketeers" together and getting a chance to catch up!:)
After mom left, Kimberly, Nick, and I watched "What to Expect When You're Expecting". Nick and I had already watched it, but he thought Kimberly would think it was funny and he wanted to see it again anyway. I fell asleep a little bit into the movie. This 'lil mama was tired!:)
Here's a quote for my sweet friend, Emily... I love you Emma Loo!:):)
I woke up around 5:30 and got up. I hadn't cleaned since we got home from the beach so it was that time again. I had some Special K Protein Cereal and a banana for breakfast after my cleaning frenzy. Kimberly and I got ready and headed to Emily's to have a pool day with her and her 2 girls. We had a great time getting a suntan, relaxing by the pool, catching up, and playing with Emary Kate and Ellie.:) Emily made pasta salad for lunch and it was very yummy! We stayed until around 3:30 and then we headed back to my house. I'm so glad that we made time to finally get together this summer, but it made me sad to think this was our last chance to have a Wednesday pool date...before...break is over... :(
Not long after Kimberly and I were home, my mom called to tell us that she was taking our dog, Blondie, to be put to sleep. Blondie was bought many, many years ago by my 'ex'. He wanted her to stay at my house temporarily, but that changed when mom, me, and Kimberly all got attached to her. She was our baby girl! I loved that dog so very, very much! Then when I got married and moved out she got very close to mom and Kimberly. Long story short, she hadn't been doing good over the past month and after a few nights of staying at the vet having an IV in her to get fluids and a change in her diet she was able to go home. The vet wasn't sure how long she had. She is over 11 years old and has lived a very good life being loved by so many people. She did pretty good after her vet visit, but slowly she started going down hill again. Mom knew that it was best to have her put to sleep so she wouldn't suffer anymore. It was a hard night for all of us. Crying...thinking about all of the memories with her and just knowing how much she was going to be missed.
Blonde Girl you are loved and you will be missed more than you will ever know!!
I love this...
My cousin Amanda, her husband, Gary, and their kiddos came over around 9. Amanda was letting me look through some clothes that she had that her daughter, Taelyn had outgrown. I got a TON of sleepers, gowns, and precious outfits!! It was great getting to see them! They are more people that go on the list of "We don't see each other enough". :(
Nick rented a movie for us to watch. I can't even remember the name, which is fine with me because obviously it wasn't able to keep my attention since I fell asleep about 30 minutes into it. Another fun day...but I was ready to get some Zzzzz's.:)
Here are a few quotes for my sweet sister, my best friend, Kimberly...
I love you Kimberly K. (KDUB)!:):)
I did some more cleaning this morning when I woke up. I had oatmeal for breakfast, then Kimberly and I went to see our mom at work around 10. We brought her a treat from Starbucks to surprise her. I knew she would be feeling down since what happened the night before so I thought seeing us would brighten her day...and it did.:)
Kimberly and I met Erica at the pool around 11:45. It was another nice, sunny day perfect to be poolside. However, we found ourselves in the pool more than beside it because it was so hot! I love spending time with Erica! She is such a special friend!! We started teaching at Oakland the same year...she teaches 1st grade right across the hall from me. She is a wonderful teacher! She is my 'go to' person if I have a question about anything or need any advice on pretty much anything, but especially school related topics! We share the same thoughts and views on a lot of the things we go through as teachers. It's nice to have her right across the hall from me! She's a great encourager and she keeps me grounded. Her love for children and helping them learn far beyond just academics is a breath of fresh air so often! God shines through her every day in so many ways!:)
A few years into our teaching careers, Erica and I were in each others weddings. Now we are both pregnant with girls are due 8 days apart!:) There's always so much to talk about with her. Of course we do the normal school talk and we share and compare preggo stories, but I love hearing stories about her family the most! They are so close and I just love it when she shares about them.:) We decided to head in from the sun around 3:30. Knowing the weather was calling for rain the rest of the weekend made it hard to come in, but we had gotten enough Vitamin D for the day!:)
Nick's mom came over around 6 and we went to eat dinner at Capri's with her.:) I had grilled chicken with grilled pineapple. (It's not on the menu, but I asked for the grilled pineapple and thankfully they fixed it for me!!) I also had a delicious salad and some veggies as my side. It all hit the spot.:) After dinner we had Tutti Frutti for dessert! My favorite...Pomegranate, Frutti Pebbles, strawberries, and blueberries! SUPER YUMMY!!:):)
Nick rented a movie for us to watch...I can't remember the name of it, but it was another one that sent me straight to sleep after the first few minutes in. Another wonderful day! So blessed:):)
Here's a quote for my sweet friend, Erica... I love you Erica!:):)
31 Weeks!!!!:):) 9 Weeks to go!!:)
Another early start this week, BUT for another great reason...my 31 week doctor's appointment!!! YAY!! I was so excited to see our sweet baby girl again!! Nick's mom, Nick, and I got ready and met my mom at the doctor's office at 8:45. They made me do the normal 'urine sample' and checked my blood pressure and weight...I'm up to 128.2 pounds. Not bad, not bad, but when I grew up praying to peek 100 lbs. and then doing whatever I could to reach 105 lbs.... seeing 128 on a scale is a little...umm...let's just say one of those times that you swallow and you get that lump in your throat. BUT I have a healthy baby growing inside of me, so it's expected!:)
Lillian is doing great! She weighs 3 lbs. 9 oz. and is measuring right where she needs to be for the October 10th due date. She was in her favorite position during the ultrasound. She moved a little, but not much. If only the appointment would have been around 6 this morning...that's when she normally makes her tumbling début for the day. :) She likes to keep her hand up at her mouth and she was sucking on her fist some. We got to see her little feet and her sweet toes, too! Precious, precious!! I can't wait for her to be here and hold her and just love on her!!
Here's a pic collage with a few of the ultrasound pictures...
After the appointment, my mom had to go to work and Nick's mom had somewhere she had to be, too. Nick and I ran by Lowe's real quick to get a few things and we grabbed a Chicken Bacon Swiss sandwich from Arby's on our way home. I left for Greenville to run some errands that afternoon. It was a rainy, yucky day so I stopped by Starbucks for a sweet treat...decaf Java Chip Frappuccino! YUUUM!!! (If you've never tried one them, then YOU SHOULD!!) After running around and spending TOO much time sitting in traffic I headed home with a few new purchases.
I grabbed salads from Zaxby's and chocolate chip cookies on my way home for us to have for dinner. We climbed in the bed not long after we ate. Nick watched a few episodes of Cheers and I decided to see what my eyelids look like....good night.:)
Here's a quote for my sweet mommy... I love you Mom!:):)
Here's a quote for my sweet mother-in-law... I love you Cheryl!:):)
Rise and Shine with the birds this morning! Hey, they say...."the early bird gets the worm". I don't know about getting a worm, but I will tell you what I did get...a big pancake, sweet juicy peaches, and cheese grits from Strawberry Hill! I went to pick my grandpa up at 7:30 A.M. He said that we needed to get there before 8:00 to avoid the rush. (Oh, how right he was!!) We met my mom and her friend, Donnie, at the restaurant to eat. It was a great time! Great people+great conversation+great food= Great memories made!:)
YUUUUM!!!!!!:):)
I took grandpa home and stayed there talking to my grandma for awhile. I love hearing her stories about her life growing up and she shared some of her pregnancy stories. It's hard for me to complain about anything that I've experienced when she tells me about being pregnant with twins...my mom and my aunt Rita. Whew! Count me out on twins!! She had 3 other pregnancies not counting that one, too! It was great getting to spend time with her just sitting and talking. Those are the times that I will cherish forever.:) I feel SO very blessed to have them both as my grandparents. Their faith in God and their marriage is such an incredible testimony!
I left there around 11 and decided to ride over to Marshall's and Ross in Spartanburg to see if there were any good deals. I ended up heading home a few hours later empty handed. Trying on clothes is just getting to be something that I absolutely dread these days. It's hard going shopping...seeing something cute...trying it on and then realizing I look like an 'oompa loompa'...and there is NOTHING cute about an 'oompa loompa'!! No shape whatsoever! No waist! Just round!
Here are a few other funnies about being preggo and sporting 'the bump'...
I ate a tomato sandwich for lunch. Nick was busy today doing yard work, cleaning out the garage, and pressure washing the house (and anything else in sight:)). So, since he was busy I went to get my 'back to school' pedicure. Nothing like relaxing and getting pampered...especially when I can't imagine trying to paint my own toes at this point! Whoa...no...not happening!!:) After my pedi I went to Wal-Mart to get a few things. I came home and fixed us dinner. We had Smothered Chicken and Quinoa Skillet. It was VERY YUMMY! And VERY EASY! I will have to confess though in case you click the link and give it a try...I changed things up just a little. The directions tell you to fix everything in a skillet, but I couldn't imagine it all fitting in my skillet, so I only cooked the chicken in the skillet. I put the other ingredients in a pot and let it simmer on the stove. I also pre-cooked the quinoa (even though it says not to) and then added that to the pot. Last I added the chicken after it was finished. I then moved it all to a casserole dish, put the cheese on top and put it in the oven for about 5 minutes for the cheese to melt. Nick loved it too, but I'm not sure how much weight his opinion holds because he will eat just about anything! Bless him!;-)
After dinner and dishes I decided to head to Hobby Lobby. After an hour here the only thing I returned home with were birthday bags for my kiddos. I looked and looked and looked and saw a few things I liked for the nursery, but I just couldn't make up my mind so I didn't get any of it.
Nick and I got into the bed after I got home. He watched a few episodes of Cheers and I dozed off during the first one that he watched.:)
Sleeping in just isn't supposed to happen this week...but for good reasons of course.:) I woke up around 7 and took a shower. I also did some laundry and made a few lists of things that we need. Wal-Mart list...school/classroom list...nursery list...I love lists! But my favorite thing is getting things checked off my list!!
I fixed Nick and I some oatmeal for breakfast and then we headed to church around 9:20. We went to a new bible fellowship class for the first time this morning. Kelly and Josh came, too!:) It was a great class and a great message. The service at 11 was good, too despite a fuse or something blowing which caused there to be no sound for music or singing this morning. And then, our preacher, Mike, had to speak at the loudest possible level for everyone in our huge sanctuary to hear him. Despite the setback it was a great message and as always it feels so good to come together with believers.:) Thank you God for the freedom that we have in our country to come together to worship and praise you!!
After church we went to eat at Jason's Deli with the Allen Clowns. Who can pass up a trip to Jason's Deli? Not me...or Lilly either.;-) Yummy salad bar with a scrumptious salad and then melt in your mouth creamy chocolate vanilla ice swirl ice cream for dessert! Yes, please!:)
Kelly and I went to Michael's, Ross, and TJMaxx while the boys headed to Academy to get things for their camping trip in September. Kelly and I had a great time looking around in the stores and lucking up on a few good deals!!
We picked our hubbies up from Academy at 4 and then Nick and I headed to Target. I was just planning on browsing thru the maternity section...I have refused to purchase anything maternity other than my bathing suits up to this point...however...after glancing at a black pair of maternity dress pants I decided to try them on. Ahhhh...the comfort of the elastic waist band. A few turns in the mirror and I decided they were worth the $35. So along with those and a few non-maternity shirts we made our way to the check-out line.
After Target we came home...I finished doing some housework and then before I took off my face paint for the day and put on a worn out t-shirt and gym shorts I decided to take a picture of me and my bump.;)...
The chalkboard says... Her heartbeat: 146 BPM...she weighs 3 lbs. 9 oz...I love talking to you and feeling you move all the time...she's my little wiggle worm! And I love listening to your daddy talk to you! Melts my heart!:) Mommy Allen weights 128 lbs. and still loves salads, fruit, and chocolate.:)
Here's a quote for my sweet hubby... I love you Nick!:):)
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