HSDesigns

34 Weeks - Only 6 more to gooooooo...yipes

2009-07-13T09:23:00.000-07:00

WOW - this pregnancy is going by SO FAST - yet SO SLOW at the same time. I can't believe I am 34 weeks....Only 4 more to go - I am so over it - I can't WAIT to have this baby. We still have not decided on a name though - I wsh we could find the perfect name - poor baby no-name. I am looking forward to my Showers this coming weekend and next week - that will be FUN! I will be sure to post pictures.
Have a great week.

How your baby's growing:

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

See what your baby looks like this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing:

By this week, fatigue has probably set in again, though maybe not with the same coma-like intensity of your first trimester. Your tiredness is perfectly understandable, given the physical strain you're under and the restless nights of frequent pee breaks and tossing and turning, while trying to get comfortable. Now's the time to slow down and save up your energy for labor day (and beyond). If you've been sitting or lying down for a long time, don't jump up too quickly. Blood can pool in your feet and legs, causing a temporary drop in your blood pressure when you get up that can make you feel dizzy.

If you notice itchy red bumps or welts on your belly and possibly your thighs and buttocks as well, you may have a condition called pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP for short). Up to one percent of pregnant women develop PUPPP, which is harmless but can be quite uncomfortable. See your practitioner so she can make sure it's not a more serious problem, provide treatment to make you more comfortable, and refer you to a dermatologist if necessary. Also be sure to call her if you feel intense itchiness all over your body, even if you don't have a rash. It could signal a liver problem.

Pregnancy Update ; 30 Weeks

2009-06-16T09:52:00.000-07:00

I am absolutely HUGE and very uncomfortable - I really need to STOP growing now...lol - Can I really be expected to go TEN more weeks? YIKES

Scott, Dylan and I all went to Baby's R Us this weekend to pick out our crib, mattress and bedding set. That was FUN and a total WEIGHT off my shoulders. The crib will be in - in about a week. I can't wait to get it and out it together. The crib set we got is really cute. It is called ABC 123 and it is really colorful and just darling. I had planned on doing the Disney "Cars" theme for the bedding so that it would match Dylan's stuff since they will share a room - but Scott felt the baby should have something more baby-ish. lol - It IS really cute - so I am glad we went with it. Here is a picture...I will take some more when we get the crib put together.

Things are all starting to fall into place and this little boy will be here before we know it. I am starting to get more excited now. I have been feeling so big and blah that I just want it to be over with, but now I am getting excited. I hope these last ten weeks go fairly quickly.

Now we just have to come up with a NAME for this poor kid. We have gone through THOUSANDS of names and nothi9ng is "right". When we came up with Dylan's name it was just PERFECT and we knew that was the name for him, so we will keep searching until we feel that same fit with poor ol' baby no-name. He just be called "Baby Brother" until he is old enough to pick his own darn name...lmbo

Here are two photos my little 4 year old photographer took of me....
Poor kid could hardly hold up my big ol' heavy camera...lol
I look a little psycho because I was afraid he would drop my camera and I was like "hurry up Dylan"....lol

28 Weeks - June 1st, 2009

29 Weeks - June 6th, 2009

Silver Lake

2009-05-19T17:01:00.001-07:00

DSC_0079-1, originally uploaded by Stokes Family Photography.

The Sierra's
May 2009

OH MY GOD - 96 Days ?????

2009-05-18T11:03:00.001-07:00

I am so not ready for baby no name.....

Make a pregnancy ticker

25 Weeks and growing.....

2009-05-13T12:42:00.000-07:00

How your baby's growing

Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

See what's going on in your uterus this week.

How your life's changing

Your baby's not the only one with more hair — your locks may look more full and lustrous than ever. It's not that you're growing more hair, but thanks to hormonal changes, the hair that you'd normally shed is sticking around longer than usual. Enjoy the fullness while you can — the extra hair will fall out after you give birth.

You may also notice that you can't move around as gracefully as before. Unless your caregiver has advised you otherwise, it's fine to continue to exercise, but follow a few safety rules: Don't work out when you're feeling overly tired and stop if you feel any pain, dizziness, or shortness of breath. Don't lie flat on your back and avoid contact sports as well as any exercise where you're apt to lose your balance. Be sure to drink plenty of water, and make time for both warm-up and cool-down periods.

When you have your glucose-screening test at 24 to 28 weeks, a second tube of blood may be taken at the same time to check for anemia. If blood tests show that you have iron-deficiency anemia (the most common type of anemia), your caregiver will probably recommend that you take an iron supplement.

Have you started thinking about baby names yet? Choosing a name is an important decision, but it should be a fun one, too. You may want to consider family history (Great Grandpa Zeb), favorite locations (Venice, where you honeymooned), or cherished literary or film characters (Greta, Meg, or Atticus, for example). Check out a couple of baby-name books to help you brainstorm, too.

I am 23 weeks along.....and growing....

2009-04-27T09:21:00.000-07:00

How your baby's growing:

Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.

See what your baby looks like this week.

How your life's changing:

You may notice that your ankles and feet start to swell a bit in the coming weeks or months, especially at the end of the day or during the heat of summer. Sluggish circulation in your legs — coupled with changes in your blood chemistry that may cause some water retention — may result in swelling, also known as edema. Your body will get rid of the extra fluid after you have your baby, which is why you'll pee frequently and sweat a lot for a few days after delivery. In the meantime, lie on your left side or put your feet up when you can, stretch out your legs when you sit, and avoid sitting — or standing — in one place for long periods. Also, try to exercise regularly to increase circulation, and wear support stockings (put them on first thing in the morning) and roomy, comfortable shoes. You may be tempted to skimp on liquids to combat swelling, but you need to drink plenty of water because staying hydrated actually helps prevent fluid retention. While a certain amount of edema in your lower extremities is normal during pregnancy, excessive swelling may be a sign of a serious condition called preeclampsia. Be sure to call your midwife or doctor if you have severe or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, more than slight swelling of your hands, swelling in your face, or puffiness around your eyes.

Happy 4th Birthday Dylan

2009-04-14T11:27:00.000-07:00

My Son is having a great day today - I got him some Pancakes from McDonalds as a special treat and I sang Happy Birthday to him all the way to Grammie's house this morning in English, Cat Meow, Dark Bark and Birdie Noises...He LOVED it - then we pulled up to Grammie's house and she and Uncle had the house all decorated for him with Birthday flags and balloons outside and Happy Birthday signs in the grass....he was so excited, then when he went into the house where they had hung streamers all over the ceiling and more balloons, he said it looked like Spider Man's webs on the ceiling. Then Uncle called to wish him a Happy Birthday and he got a special call from Auntie Lori as well as this AWESOME Birthday video from his cousins (that made me cry because I miss them so much and I know how much Dylan misses them) You gotta watch this .....- Tonight we will be having a little BBQ at Uncle & Grammie's house - just us and Granny, Grammie & Uncle - to celebrate his actual Birthday. Sunday is his actual party. I am so proud of my little man, he is so special to me. I can't believe he is growing up so fast.

21 Weeks

2009-04-13T11:12:00.000-07:00

How your baby's growing:

Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like she's practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well.

See what your baby looks like this week.

How your life's changing:

You're probably feeling pretty comfortable these days. You're not too big yet, and the usual discomforts associated with early pregnancy are, for the most part, gone. If you're feeling good, relax and enjoy it while you can — the third trimester may bring with it a new crop of complaints.

That's not to say you won't have some minor glitches to deal with now. For example, increased oil production may contribute to the development (or worsening) of acne. If that's the case, be diligent about washing well with a gentle soap or cleanser twice a day, and make sure that any moisturizer or make-up you use is oil-free. Don't take any oral acne medications — some are very hazardous during pregnancy — or use any topical acne products without first checking with your practitioner.

You're also more prone to varicose veins now. As your pregnancy progresses, there's increasing pressure on the veins in your legs; higher progesterone levels, which may cause the walls of your veins to relax, can make the problem worse. You're more likely to get varicose veins if other family members have them. Also, they tend to get worse with each successive pregnancy and as you age. To help prevent or minimize varicose veins, exercise daily, prop up your feet and legs whenever possible, sleep on your left side, and wear maternity support hose.

You may also notice so-called spider veins (a group of tiny blood vessels near the surface of your skin), particularly on your ankles, legs, or face. They may have a spider- or sunburst-like pattern with little branches radiating out from the center, they may look like the branches of a tree, or they may be a group of separate thin lines with no particular pattern. Though they may be a bit unsightly, spider veins don't cause discomfort and usually disappear after delivery.

Were back from the BIG Ultrasound and....

2009-04-09T18:59:00.000-07:00

....the minute she put the ultrasound to my belly she declared "Whelp - I know what your having"....Well it was THAT obvious. Were having a BOY. I am slowly coming to terms with this...lol I was doing great - I didn't cry in the Doctor's office although I was really dissapointed....I was fine until I told Dylan he was getting a brother and he said "awwww.......but I wanted a sister"...then I lost it and had a good cry with my Mom. I am feeling a little better now. Scott was so great in the ultrasound and I can see that he knows how much I wanted a girl. He said - Well we can try again...lol. I know Dylan will LOVE having a baby brother and two boys is going to be SO MUCH FUN! I am looking forward to it - it is just not what I was expecting.

Here are some videos the doctor gave us...
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

I'm Half Way There : 20 Weeks Pregnant

2009-04-06T11:15:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe how fast this is going and I am already halfway there...I get to find out (hopefully) what were having on THURSDAY - only three more days - I am so excited.

How your baby's growing:
Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)

He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

How your life's changing:
Congratulations! You've hit the halfway mark in your pregnancy. The top of your uterus is about level with your belly button, and you've likely gained around 10 pounds. Expect to gain another pound or so each week from now on. (If you started your pregnancy underweight, you may need to gain a bit more; if you were overweight, perhaps a bit less.) Make sure you're getting enough iron, a mineral that's used primarily to make hemoglobin (the part of your red blood cells that carries oxygen). During pregnancy, your body needs more iron to keep up with your expanding blood volume, as well as for your growing baby and the placenta. Red meat is one of the best sources of iron for pregnant women. Poultry (especially the dark meat) and shellfish also contain iron. Some common non-meat sources of iron include legumes, soy-based products, spinach, prune juice, raisins, and iron-fortified cereals.

If you haven't already signed up for a childbirth education class, you may want to look into one, especially if you're a first-timer. A structured class will help prepare you and your partner for the rigors of labor and delivery. Most hospitals and birth centers offer classes, either as weekly meetings or as a single intensive, one-day session. Many communities have independent instructors as well. Ask your friends, family members, or caregiver for recommendations.

First Catch

2009-04-03T09:30:00.001-07:00

First Catch, originally uploaded by Stokes Family Photography.

A page I made of Scott & Dylan on their first fishing trip together. I haven't scrapped in a long time, that was fun! I came across the perfect kit for the perfect pics and I couldn't resist.

I am 19 weeks - Almost halfway along! YAY

2009-03-30T12:31:00.000-07:00

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

See what your baby looks like this week.

How your life's changing:

Think you're big now? You'll start growing even faster in the weeks to come. As a result, you may notice some achiness in your lower abdomen or even an occasional brief, stabbing pain on one or both sides — especially when you shift position or at the end of an active day. Most likely, this is round ligament pain. The ligaments that support your uterus are stretching to accommodate its increasing weight. This is nothing to be alarmed about, but call your practitioner if the pain continues even when you're resting or becomes severe.

You may be noticing some skin changes, too. Are the palms of your hands red? Nothing to worry about — it's from the extra estrogen. You may also have patches of darkened skin caused by a temporary increase in pigment. When these darker patches appear on your upper lip, cheeks, and forehead, they're called chloasma, or the "mask of pregnancy." You may also notice some darkening of your nipples, freckles, scars, underarms, inner thighs, and vulva. That darkened line running from your belly button to your pubic bone is called the linea nigra, or "dark line."

These darkened spots will probably fade shortly after delivery. In the meantime, protect yourself from the sun, which intensifies the pigment changes. Cover up, wear a brimmed hat, and use sunscreen when you're outdoors. And if you're self-conscious about your "mask," a little concealing makeup can work wonders.

Now for a bit of fun - Go to my Facebook page and help us name the baby!
http://apps.facebook.com/babynamer/ShortListed.aspx?profile=591361923

Fiber One Chocolate Mocha Chewy Bars GIVEAWAY

2009-03-27T09:34:00.000-07:00

I was recently asked to participate in a Fiber One Giveaway from MyBlogSpark...They sent me a WONDERFUL Gift Basket full of chocolaty goodness....Let me just tell you this basket made a PREGGO very happy....lol

Not only are the bars delicious but the fiber was just what I needed....if you know what I mean....lol

My basket included the snack bars, a bath pillow, chocolate scented soap, lotion and bath salts and a coffee scented candle. Everything you need for an indulgent spa treat.

The BEST PART is that I get to give away THREE of these gift baskets to my lucky readers.....All you have to do is leave a comment below and let me know what YOU do to relax.

GOOD LUCK!

I will announce the winners next Friday - April 3rd.
The Gift baskets will be mailed to you FREE of charge!

New Fiber One Chocolate Mocha Chewy Bars combine a rich chocolate taste and smooth coffee flavor with the benefits of fiber in one delicious snack. Each great tasting, chewy bar provides 35% of the recommended daily fiber intake and also is a good source of calcium.

Did you know?

Fiber can help you satisfy your appetite and manage your weight

Research suggests that people who have high fiber intakes tend to have healthier body weights

Fiber can help keep your digestive system on track

9 out of 10 Americans aren’t getting the recommended amount of fiber

Do you want to know if you are getting enough fiber? Check out the Fiber-O-Meter at: http://www.webmd.com/diet/healthtool-fiber-meter

GIVEAWAY WINNER

2009-03-23T15:33:00.000-07:00

Well I guess there was not a huge response for the My Fruit Roll Up giveaway lol - so Krisi is our lucky winner....

Here is her response :
What a great giveaway. I would love to get some made up for party favors for my daughter & husbands birthday (they share the same day).

THANK YOU Krisi - Send me an email at stokes@avinc.com so that I can give you the redemption codes for your prize. Thanks for playing along and have a wonderful party!

Fruit Roll Ups : My Blog Spark : GIVEAWAY

2009-03-17T09:55:00.000-07:00

I recently had a chance to sample a new product called My Fruit Roll-Ups. You can go online and PERSONALIZE your fruit roll ups with Holiday designs, your child's, name and even PHOTOGRAPHS...HOW COOL IS THAT. You could do so many things with these.....what a fun way to add a healthy snack to your child's goody bag at a Birthday party.

I used mine to make REWARD roll-ups for my Son Dylan. They say things like WAY TO GO - GOOD JOB, and his name. What an effective reward for a child. HE LOVED IT!

With customizable My Fruit Roll-Ups you can create one-of-a-kind,
personalized messages and designs that help to make birthdays, holidays,
or any occasion just a little more special. The My Fruit Roll-Ups site
has more than 400 graphics to choose from, or you can even upload your
own photo, artwork or logo to make a treat that is truly customized.

I get to giveaway a box of 30 that you customize yourself to ONE LUCKY READER - all you have to do is leave a comment here and tell me what YOU would do with your My Fruit Roll-Ups, and I will randomly select one winner on Friday, March 20th.

GOOD LUCK and HAPPY ST. PATTY'S DAY

Dr. Appointment today....

2009-03-12T10:19:00.000-07:00

I had my 17 week Dr. Appointment this morning and got to hear the heart beat - it was so loud- and she found it right away. WOW - It was 145..... My weight and everything looks great. They drew some blood for the second half of my triple screen and that was it. We will HOPEFULLY find out the sex of the baby at our next appointment on April 9th. When I was leaving the Doctor's office they asked me if I was hoping to find out the sex of the baby at my next appointment, I said "Oh YES please, I would like to find out TODAY if that is possible"lol - all the girls just laughed.....Can't blame for trying right? Scott took me to the Dr. today - I had a really bad morning - I woke up around five am with an EXCRUCIATING headache - It was so bad - I was crying, and moaning in my sleep - that was what woke me up - I could not get back to sleep - so I went to take some Tylenol and then instantly - my stomach was turning and I felt like I was going to gag - I ran into the bathroom and started throwing up. It was terrible - I was hoping to sleep in this morning since I didn't have to get to work so early. I feel much better now - thankfully. It was SO WEIRD.

*******************************************************************************

Baby Gender Prediction Based On Baby's Heart Rate

One of the popular theories on baby gender prediction is based on the baby's heart rate.

The theory states that if your baby's heart rate was 140 beats per minute and above, you would be having a girl. If the heart rate was under 140 beats per minute, then you would be having a boy.

While this would be a quick and easy baby gender prediction method, there is actully no evidence that this theory is accurate. There is recent study, "Sex, Heart Rate, and Age" from Terry J. DuBose, M.S., RDMS; Director Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, which indicates there is no correlation between fetal heart rate and the gender of the baby.

Extreme cheapskates: Tightwads revel in frugality

2009-03-11T11:38:00.000-07:00

Make your own detergent? Tightwads embrace frugality to new extremes in recession

Anne D'Innocenzio, AP Retail Writer
Tuesday March 10, 2009, 4:46 pm EDT
SOURCE

NEW YORK (AP) -- Amy VanDeventer has always been a cheapskate. The recession is taking her to new extremes.

Before the economy tanked, she was still wearing maternity clothes from her last pregnancy, clipping coupons and using hand-me-downs to dress her daughters, ages 2 and 3. Now, she's salvaging bagel scraps left on their plates for pizza toppings and cutting lotion bottles in half so she can scrape out the last drops.

"I was already cheap," said VanDeventer, a 36-year-old mortgage loan underwriter from Broomfield, Colo. "Now I am neurotic about it."

If you thought those cheapskate friends and relatives couldn't pinch pennies any tighter, think again. The recession is making tightwads like VanDeventer cut back even more. They're going way beyond sharpening their coupon scissors, replacing already cheap store-brand fabric softener with vinegar and even making their own detergent. VanDeventer was drying her hair in front of a fan after her portable hair dryer broke -- until her friends bought her a new one.

The recession is radically changing behavior among many different types of people, from the Wall Street bankers who are now waltzing into Wal-Mart for the first time to buy their groceries to teens who are now thumbing through the piles of status jeans at secondhand shops to save money. And experts say that such behavior could linger long after the economy recovers.

What surprises frugality bloggers is that many cheapskates such as VanDeventer haven't lost their jobs and are not in danger of losing their homes. Many have stashed a good chunk of cash away. But the economic uncertainty is catapulting them to new levels of thriftiness.

"I do it out of fear because I would rather put that money in the bank or purchase something we really need," said VanDeventer, who now saves about 50 percent of her take-home pay, up from 25 percent before the recession began more than a year ago.

The trend is disturbing for merchants, who are already reeling from the sharp pullback by spenders. Such extreme miserly behavior could only worsen the decline in consumer spending.

"Frugal people are now looking at more ways not to spend money," said Lynnae McCoy, who runs a blog called beingfrugal.net, which attracts seasoned penny pinchers. In January, her site received 110,000 hits, up 30 percent from a year ago. What intrigued McCoy was the interest among frugal folks to save even more money by making their own detergent and other household goods.

Elizabeth Schomburg, a credit counselor from Roscoe, Ill., is now replacing store brand softener with vinegar in her laundry. The 31-year-old, who used to comb the 80 percent off sales racks, said she has stopped doing any "recreational buying."

"I am questioning every single purchase," she said.

She's also not stockpiling discounted groceries because she wants to limit how much money she puts out for each trip to the supermarket. That kind of behavior is showing up in fourth-quarter results at companies including foodmaker H.J. Heinz Co., whose sales suffered as consumers are cleaning out their cupboards before buying new items.

Jeff Yeager, author of The Ultimate Cheapskate's Roadmap to True Riches, sees a silver lining to the economic downturn.

"Whatever you do to simplify your life is a good thing," Yeager said. A self-proclaimed cheapskate, he has spent no more than $100 over the past five years on clothing for himself and won't throw anything out until it literally falls apart.

But he's found ways to cut back even more now, such as eating more lentils -- which are cheap and nutritious -- and biking more to save gasoline. His mantra for buying food? Buy not what you want, but what's affordable at the time.

Unlike many big spenders during the boom years, he says he and other cheapskates are "sleeping easy" these days.

They're also getting some respect from the spenders, who even just a few months ago mocked their thrifty ways.

"My friends used to laugh at me," said Jodi Furman, referring to her obsession with 70 percent off sales and her knack for saving money with coupons.

They're not laughing now. The mother of three from Lake Worth, Fla., parlayed her knowledge into a blog called neverpayretailagain.net last fall. The blog helps shoppers save money on fashionable clothing and healthy food.

"If you can't make more money, then you can spend less -- and that's the equivalent of making more money," Furman said.

While she doesn't scrape pizza crumbs or make her own detergent, Furman said she's "laser-focused" when it comes to saving on groceries. She's saving 60 percent to 70 percent off her grocery bills. On a recent trip to Winn-Dixie, she scooped up $63.50 worth of groceries for $16.45. She picked up a box of TLC Cereal bars, regularly priced at $3.99, for $1 -- it was on sale for $3 but she used a $2 coupon. She got a $3.99 package of Equal sweetener for free -- combining a coupon with the sale price.

Many people are embracing the new challenge of squeezing the most value out of every last penny. Who knew you could make household products such as detergent? McCoy says it's not hard: mix Borax with a half bar of soap, baking soda and its relative washing soda, which cuts grease and can be found in the laundry areas of many supermarkets.

"If you have vinegar, Dawn soap and baking soda, you can pretty much make any cleaning product," McCoy said.

16 Weeks - Yay - we are 4 months along...

2009-03-09T08:45:00.000-07:00

How your baby's growing:
Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.

See what your baby looks like this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)

How your life's changing:
The top of your uterus is about halfway between your pubic bone and your navel, and the round ligaments that support it are thickening and stretching as it grows. You're probably feeling a whole lot better as you settle into pregnancy, too. Less nausea, fewer mood swings, and "glowing" skin contribute to an overall sense of well-being.

Soon you'll experience one of the most wonderful moments of pregnancy — feeling your baby move. While some women notice "quickening" as early as 16 weeks, many don't feel their baby move until about 18 weeks or more. (And if this is your first baby, don't be too impatient — you may not be aware of your baby's movements until 20 weeks or so.) The earliest movements may feel like little flutters, gas bubbles, or even like popcorn popping. Over the following weeks they'll grow stronger and you'll be able to feel them much more frequently.

Tips from Ava

2009-03-06T14:48:00.001-08:00

Hello Ladies!

Sorry I am sooo late responding (partially because I didn't think I had much to contribute). Thank you Shannon, for starting this conversation.

Everyone has such wonderful ideas and I have learned so much from the responses. I am already using the spreadsheet - we have been wanting to create something like that for the longest time. I loved the crock pot recipes website (I just got my first crock pot a few weeks ago) and I am going to get a CVS card! Haven't had much luck with the coupons yet, but I am eager to learn.

The ways that we save are pretty simple and have probably already been mentioned, but here goes:

I read somewhere that in times like these, families tend to gain weight (which lends itself to obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes) because we cut back on those grocery items that cost the most but are also most beneficial to our health - fresh fruits and vegetables, whole wheat and grains, fish and poultry.

So, with the intent of infusing these staples into our diets consistently, I browse the circulars each week for what is on sale/where and that is where I shop for those items. Also, I have save $40-$50 per week by shopping at more than one store. Target is much cheaper than the grocery stores for a lot of items (especially condiments: jelly, miracle whip, salad dressing, etc). The best price for bananas, a bag of organic apples, RBST free milk and eggs is Trader Joes. Otherwise fresh fruits and veggies are almost always cheaper at a farmers market. This requires planning, when I plan our meals for the week and where I will shop it saves time and money. Whenever I can, I duplicate ingredients or plan for meals that will feed us for two days. It also lends itself to healthy meals with some variety. Because when I cook the same thing over and over, I find McDonalds and Del Taco wrappers in my husbands truck

Also, we only go out to eat when/where kids eat free or with some other type of coupon.

We shop for school supplies in July and August when they are half price at Target and Wal Mart.

I haven't graduated to aluminum containers yet (but plan to), in the meantime- we recycle our all of our juice and water bottles each month and usually come away with around $20.

Thanks so much for sharing such wonderful information~

God Bless!

Ava

My Pregnancy - 15 Weeks

2009-03-02T11:51:00.000-08:00

How your baby's growing:

Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")

How your life's changing:

You've probably gained about 5 pounds by now (a little more or less is fine, too) and are well into the swing of your pregnancy, but you may still be surprised by an unexpected symptom now and then. If your nose is stuffed up, for instance, you can probably chalk it up to the combined effect of hormonal changes and increased blood flow to your mucous membranes. This condition is so common, there's even a name for it: "rhinitis of pregnancy." Some pregnant women also suffer nosebleeds as a result of increased blood volume and blood vessel expansion in the nose.

Birthday Card Annoyance

2009-03-02T11:29:00.000-08:00

So I have an annoyance with birthday cards. Especially when it comes
to children, they are such a waste of money! So here are a couple of
my ideas for solutions:
1. Instead of buying a card, but a small inexpensive book (under $4)
and write a special note to the birthday kid on the front cover.
You're spending the money still, but at least it doesn't get thrown
away the next day and they can read the book over and over again?
2. You can order a dozen birthday cards from places like www.terrysvillage.com
or www.expressions.com and they usually cost around $5 for a dozen and
then save them and pull them out of your "extra cards" box whenever
you need a last minute card. I usually get the Suzie's Zoo ones
because they're cute and not so personal.
3. Skip the card all together and go to the office store and buy a
little box of tags. Tape the string under your bow on the package and
write a little note (ex: Happy Birthday Riley, Love Shane) and it
looks cute and it's sweet and simple!

Ok, there's my spheal about how much I hate birthday cards! Hope you
can use one of these ideas if you want!

- Shannon

----------------------------------------------------------------------

I also like to make my own. I do digital scrapbooking
and have TONS of graphics, so I either make my own...or Dylan and I
make the card as an art project - he LOVES to do that and then it is a
keepsake for the recipient as well.

Another thing we do is - Dylan LOVES his cards, he has to keep them all....so we use the cards later for art projects - cut them up and glue them to something. That's fun too.

Heather Stokes

Fun T-Shirt Design

2009-03-02T11:28:00.001-08:00

Here's another money-saving idea...

I buy inexpensive solid-color t-shirts for my boys and then use puff paint
(buy it at Michael's) and stencils to put a picture of something on the
front.  My two-year-old has a brontosaurus shirt that he loves, and my
four-year-old always wants to wear his frog shirt.

You can buy the t-shirts really cheap at places like T-Shirt Mart in La
Verne.  I just bought several at the 99 Cents Store in Montclair (across
from the mall on Moreno), but they don't always have them.

First put a piece of cardboard inside the shirt.  Then use the stencil to
draw the design with a pen, then go over it with puff paint.  I have tons of
stencils in my scrapbooking stuff.  You can also get clip art from the
internet, cut it out, and trace around it.

It's easy and fun--this even makes a fun craft project for a moms' group.
You can wash the t-shirts in the washing machine.  The puff paint will
eventually start to come off but it takes a long time.  Turn the t-shirts
inside out before washing to extend the life of the puff paint.

-Dana

Another Mom Chimes in with some great tips....

2009-03-02T11:23:00.001-08:00

OK....I got back on the computer after about a week. I'm in a slightly different situation because of where I live, but we lived in suburbia for a decade, and I'm from Orange Co., so those roots are deep. We live on a ranch now, and that brings its own challenges. We have a large family garden. We have before and will this year, grown enough to can for the winter. Its kind of fun. Brandon really liked the blueberry peach jam I made one year. Look forward to it again this year....During the Depression, my Grandmother used to tell me about the Victory Gardens that Eleanor Roosevelt (sp?) promoted for families to help themselves. It was a hugh success, as everyone was living on government 'coupons' for sugar, gas, meat, (yes your meat from your butcher/market), etc. All those things that were in really short supply. And there was no money or work. The Great Dust Bowl was going on then, and farmers couldn't produce enought to live on themselves. Similar to the Central Valley in CA, which produces more that 50% of the entire nations produce. Its has had to cut production from 20-50% of its entire production. Things will be very scarce and expensive. The idea of a family compost pile and garden that someone brought up (I'm sorry I don't remember who, and it will take time to go thru the whole thing again!) is excellant. Your water bill will be higher, and I know Riverside just put in mandatory water rationing for western Riverside Co., and the drought may bring this situation on to most of So. Cal., so we'll see. We are on 2 wells, so we are ok....unless we have well problems.... Check out your local Farmers Markets also, esp. if produce shipped in becomes sparse. The farmers prices will go down with the economy, and you may be able to find things you won't be as able to at the big supermarkets. Plus a lot of this stuff will be shipped in from Mexico, and with the standards they have, and the current unrest they have there, this is personally very scary to me. Also stuff comes from So. America, where again the standards aren't anywhere what we just naturally expect from our government. If you have enough people close to you that have a garden, you can even pool ideas of what to grow and trade. We have a large flock of chickens, a dairy cow (and new calf), and neighbors who will exchange for pigs, goats or sheep. We have several acres planted in pasture for the spring, but contingent on rains. I have way to many horses, who are very expensive to keep, but half of them are rescues, and it they go to auction they will surely go to slaughter. Actually the cow was a rescue, and turned into a wonderful addition, considering the current economic situation. I watch this very carefully, because its even hit my husband's company. Her milk is wonderful (we were already very heavy milk drinkers), and her cheese and butter are as well. My grandmother told me that a lot of the city dwellers also had a few chickens and some raised rabbits (for meat) in their backyards to trade for stuff they couldn't get. I don't think you could get away with it today, but we'll see how bad things actually get. I shop in bulk at Sam's Club, and other places similar......because we live a ways out and running to the grocery store or Wal Greens is not the best option. But I save a lot of $. And shopping time. Get online and there are quite a few really good recipe sites. I cook according to whats in season or what was a good price. Plus I always have certain staples on hand. Rice, beans, flour, yeast, potatoes, onions. And lots of different canned things. I have a lot of good tried and true recipes that I'll get back online with and send. Right now I've got to get outside and plant and weed, and rake, and it goes on and on........

If your new to coupon clipping....

2009-02-27T11:03:00.000-08:00

Thrifty Momma has a post titled "Coupon Basics for Newbies".
SEVERAL great tips for the beginning coupon clipper.

She also has a post called "Coupon Lingo" that I found quite helpful.

CVS Savings Tutorials

2009-02-27T10:45:00.000-08:00

I found some tutorials for saving money at CVS over on a lovely blog I just discovered called Centsible Savings (cute name huh?)....

Check out the tutorials here....