Progress pics and pregnancy update...Weeks 25 & 26

In the last week, I have started getting more tired during the day. As I draw closer to the end of my second trimester and the start of my 3rd trimester, I guess that is bound to happen.

Our little girl seems to really enjoy moving whenever I am ready to settle in for the night. I also found FIVE new stretch marks on my stomach. GASP!!! This is in spite of using Palmers Cocoa Butter religiously every morning and evening. I have read that stretch marks are passed on based on your genes and since I already have them in other places, I was bound to get them. Oh well...now my body is more uniform :-).

I am LOVING the fact that my innie is still an innie. PRAYING it stays that way.

So far, I have been lucky and no one has tried to rub my stomach. Praying that continues because I don't really feel comfortable with it. I used to always say if someone rubs my stomach, I'll do the same to them or grab their boobs in response. But now that I am starting to show, I am not sure if I'll have the nerve to do so.

Now, on to progress pictures.

Week 25

Week 26

Thoughts/Random Questions:
When you were pregnant, did you ever have random strangers (or co-workers) walk up to you and rub your stomach? If so, how did you react?
Does anyone know the origins of the pregnant woman stomach rub? I have often wondered if people do it because they think it'll bring them good-luck. If so, what's the benefit to the mom? I really don't get it so if you know, please enlighten me :-).

Bon Appetit Mondays

I telework from home on Mondays which means I start and my work day at 6am since I can roll out of bed and start my work day. This also means my work day ends at or a little after 2:30pm.

Once my regular workday ends, my second job begins...doing laundry, cooking dinner and getting ready for the rest of the work week. On Mondays, I cook a pretty sizable dinner that's enough for Monday night dinner and 2 lunches for J and I to take to work.

I'll try to blog about what I make on Mondays and share the recipe incase anyone is interested.

Today's dinner is rice jambalaya!

Rice Jambalaya:

Ingredients:
2.5 cups rice
1 box chicken broth (32-oz)
1-cooked chicken leg with skin
1-cooked breast with skin
1-package kielbasa
1-packet salad shrimps (cooked)
2-cans diced pepper/tomatoes (14.5oz each)
3-TBSP oil (your choice)


Spices:
Salt
Pepper
Parsley
Minced onions
Curry powder
Paprika

Process:
1. Put the oil in the pot to heat it up.
2. Slice the kielbasa into bite size pieces and add to pan. Saute for about 3-minutes
3. Add all the spices above (based on how spicy you want the dish) and let cook for 3-more minutes
4. Add the canned tomatoes and the entire box of chicken broth
5. Add the chicken breast and leg
6. Add rice
7. Allow everything to cook together until rice is soft (about 20 to 25-minutes). You will need to stir every 10-minutes or so to ensure it doesn't get burnt.
8. Remove the chicken and pull it apart using 2 forks or your hands to shred it and then add back to the pot
9. After rice is cooked, add shrimps and mix it in
10. Bon Appetit

Thoughts/Random Questions:
If you do make this dish using the steps above, please be sure to let me know how it turned out for you. I'd love to hear about your variation of rice jambalaya as well.
Feel free to share your other easy/favorite recipes with me. I like to try out new recipes and J loves my cooking so that helps :-).

J saves the day!

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you all had an awesome week. I am so glad Friday is FINALLY here.

I am posting this as Kudos to J for a job well done! Hopefully, he'll see this and buy me something nice ;-).

A couple of weeks ago on my way to a friend's daughter's party, my car AC conked out! Now, anyone who lives in the DC/MD/VA area knows that summers here are BRUTAL! I tried not to let it bug me too much and went to the party as planned.
The following Monday, since I had an OB appointment, J took my car to the dealership to have it looked at. That's just one of the many reasons I love him because he was willing to delay his work arrival time to make sure I was taken care of. A few hours and $132 later (yes, they charge you just to look and tell you what's wrong!), he called me with the news. They said it'd cost $4,500 to fix the AC!
The car is a 2003 Honda and according to KBB, is only worth about $3,800! Imagine my surprise when they said they wanted to charge me $4,500 to fix it. That coupled with the weight gain news I had just received from my OB as well as other upcoming expenses (baby, new car, new home) all got me a little down. Side Note: I know I shouldn't be upset about gaining weight at this point in my pregnancy but the pregnant emotional me was...

J decided to bring the car back and take it to the guy who did the last work on his car. He also told me not to panic and that he would take care of it. (That's another reason I love J...he knows how to calm me when I am going or about to go nuts!).
J went online, ordered the parts for the AC (total cost of $445). To be sure he got all he needed, he also went by his car guy's shop the following morning to make sure he didn't miss anything.

This past Monday, J dropped off my car to get the AC fixed. We were charged $297 for the service since we brought the parts ourselves. Total cost for AC repair was $742. I am a happy gal and you know what they say...Happy Wife = Happy Life!

Here's what got me...why was one shop able to fix the car for a total of $742 while another was willing to charge me $4,500 for the same work? One thing is for sure. At this point, I won't be taking my car back to the dealer unless it involves a recall notice.

So...KUDOS to J for saving the day!


Thoughts/Random Questions:
Do you take your car to the dealership where you got it or do you typically go somewhere else? If so, why?

Progress pics and pregnancy update...weeks 15 to date

I figured it would be interesting to document my progress pictures from when I started taking pictures of my pregnancy to date.
I have heard some interesting comments from folks as well and will post them whenever their received :-).

I am FINALLY starting to look pregnant @ 6-months! I did start wearing my maternity clothes at 20-weeks cause they were just more comfortable than my regular clothes.

Week 15

Week 16

Week 17

Week 18

Week 19

Week 20

Week 21

Week 22

Week 23

Week 24. I popped last week! YAY!!!

 Now, you're all caught up. I'll post more progress pics as the weeks go by. Still don't have the fully rounded belly yet but I have had 3-people congratulate me since last week so I am guessing they can finally tell its not just fat but actually baby :-).

Comments I have received so far:
If you've been following my blog, you'd know that I have received some really interesting comments since J and I are an interracial couple.
Since getting pregnant, I have received the following comments from random people! I have found that getting pregnant invites ALL SORTS of people to make comments that just make you go "hmmm...that's different."


- Comment #1: "Wow...you didn't wait long did you?" My response to that is that we were 10-months married when we got pregnant. But seriously, is it ANYONE's business how long I waited? I am no spring chicken afterall :-).

- Comment #2: "Chop chop...what are you waiting for? You're not getting any younger!" I wish I could attribute this to my mom who prayed for a baby before the end of the year but that would be unfair. This was from the same lady who said I married J to have light skinned babies. I gave her a look and didn't bother to tell her I was already 5-months pregnant when she made that comment.

- Comment #3: "Wow...the ladies are growing!" Really? I didn't notice! I assumed my bras shrunk in the dryer! For the record, I know women can talk about other women's boobs but it is never OK to mention that its growing. Its OK to say "they look perkier" :-).

- Comment #4: "You're carrying low and on your hips! You must be having a boy!" I didn't realize folks still believe in the old wives tales! For one thing, 3 sonograms (I know its not 100% proof) have said girl. And for another, it is NOT nice to imply that my hips are getting wider!

- Comment #5: "Auntie! You're still pregnant??? Geez, I want to meet my cousin!" This comment was just too too cute and I can attribute it to my nephew. It was my favorite of all. He is just so excited and when I showed him the sonogram pics, he knew EXACTLY what he was looking at! I was quite impressed and know he'll be a great older cousin come Fall.


Thoughts/random questions:
Moms out there (or moms to be), how long did it take you to start "showing"?

Has anyone made any silly comments worth sharing regarding your weight or how you look?

J won the Chick-fil-A bowl!

I know you're thinking about the actual food franchise but nope...I am referring to J's play station 3 game (NCAA Football 12).
Here is something I don't understand. J treats this game like he really is playing real football! He actually makes time for the game and I often wonder what his fascination is with the game. But apparently, it is a good stress reliever for him because when he has had time to play his game, he is in a much better mood. Plus I do not want to take this away from him since our lives will change significantly once baby arrives this fall.
So ladies, do your men spend a lot of time playing video games? How do you handle it? How much time do they spend playing the game and does it make you uncomfortable?