Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from B,A, Ruby & Half-pint!

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

Favorite Christmas movies

Over the past few weeks B and I have been catching up on some of our most favorite Christmas movies....

So what are your favorite Christmas movies?

What I'm loving this december

Beautiful Christmas Trees...Just gets me in the Christmas spirit!

Good ole hot chocolate with marshmellows

My Ugg boots....Dont' judge, I know they are the prettiest things in the world, but you try living in the frozen tundra for a minute and then you will see, they are the warmest and most comfy things you will ever put on!

This Oi Oi diaper bag

They're ceramic

Happy December!

Evolution of le belly...thus far

So I did a little comparion of my belly last night.  At 18 weeks, I thought I was really showing, seriously people I thought it was obvious that I was pregnant... Well heck, I thought at 13 weeks it was obvious, boy was I wrong.  I think my belly is obvious now and I can only imagine as I look back at this post when Half-pint has arrived and think, Abby, you were soooo wrong!  I'm sure my belly will keep growing as it should, I just had fun with this and I thought I would share it!

See what I mean...18 weeks, not so much, 25 weeks, ok now I'm starting to look pregnant!

Baby Legs

Baby legs are on of the best inventions ever!  I've talked to many friends of mine and they have said it makes changing diapers so much easier!!  Since B and I are team green I need some that will work for a boy or girl, but they are just all too darn cute to choose from!  I do know that Target sells Baby Legs, but I found a few on Etsy that are just too cute for words...

Red skull baby legs

Black & gray

 

green & black

Black & white

Polka Dot

Baby clothes are seriously going to be the end of me!

Something to get you in the mood

A few holiday pictures to get you in the Christmas spirit! 

Merry Christmas

Only 9 shopping days left!

25 weeks

This week I am 25 weeks pregnant.  WOW, seriously everyweek I see my ipregnancy app tell me that I am getting closer and closer to having half-pint arrive.  Seriously, gets me everytime.  I think my belly is now starting to round out and I may actaully look pregnant, not just chubby! 

  B and I did get to see something pretty amazing on Saturday evening.  I was laying on the floor and all the sudden my hand that was on my belly jumped.  I told B to come quick and yet again we could see my belly move from the outside.  Very cool moment.  To know that there is a child inside my belly is simply a miracle from God and it still amazes me everytime I think about it.  Other than that nothing else to really report.  Oh, it is getting harder to put on my socks, not shoes, just socks, no idea why!  It feels like I am squishing all my internal organs when I'm trying to sit on our bed and put my socks on.  I think I am going to have to move to a sturdy chair this week!  I again will leave you with my 25 week belly picture.

Well hello winter!

Last week the state of Iowa was hit hard by Old Man Winter.  We had about 15 inches of snow, which honestly, isn't bad for Iowa, but then it was followed by winds ranging anywhere from 30-50 mph.  My poor dog couldn't get outside to play and just looked at me like "mom I am sooo bored!" 

Now I am a huge advocate of snow for Christmas, but snow and this cold.....no thanks!  I'll take snow and lovely 30 degrees!  Snow and -25 windchill just is bone chiling!  Here are a few pictures of the snow that was right outside of our house. 

This snow drift, was about to my chest!

Ruby doesn't mind the cold with her warm sweater!

That is our neighbord garden ball.

I don't think she minds living in Iowa!

Stay warm!  Happy Monday

I've been deemed

Honest....who knew?

Anyway, first, I would like to thank Julie from Back to the Basics for givng me this award!  First, Julie is one the cutest mommies I've ever seen and her son Brayden is too cute for words!  I love Julie's honesty and her wedding pics are to die for!  So thanks Julie!

Here are the rules:

Here are the rules:
-Thank the person who gave you the award and link to their blog. (check!)

-Share 10 honest things about yourself.

-Present this award to 7 other blogs that you find brilliant in design and/or content.

10 honest things about me:

1. I absolutely adore my dog.  Seriously it could be to a fault!  She sleeps with us, cuddles with us all the time and every night I wrap her in HER blanket before we all go to sleep.  She is our baby and seriously, we are going to have a wake up call when this bambino arrives!

2. I have a distinct loathing for anything pumpkin.  As in flavor.  Can't stand the stuff, never been able to!  Needless to say I always bring an apple pie on Thanksgiving!

3. I don't think I could ever be a stay at home mom.  I admire anyone who can, but I think I would be unmotivated.  I have always needed something to keep me going and I might work part-time when this baby arrives, but the thought of staying home full-time seriously depresses me.

4. I can not stand eggs.  As in scrambled, fried, sunny side up, any egg is not my friend.  I think it's a texture thing.

5.  As for Thanksgiving, I am a green bean casserole snob!  I only like our families recipe!  I bring this dish every year to dinner and wouldn't have it any other way!

6. I have grown up in a blended family most of my life.  My parents were divorced when I was 3 years old and I wouldn't have it any other way.  I often feel bad introducing my step parents to people as my step parents because they are so much more than step parents to me.  They are my parents.  They've been there to guide and support me since I was very young.   I feel like that title doesn't explain their relationship with me.  It makes me feel like they are less important to me than my biological parents, but in reality, I am the luckiest gal in the world to have 4 loving and supportive parents and I am so thankful for each of them!

7. I often wonder what my purpose in life is.  I feel like my job now isn't what I am meant to do.  I feel like I have something more I am supposed to be doing.  I have a deep need to be giving back, changing lives, making each day for someone else the best that it possibly can be.  I know I have this calling, but I'v never been able to put a finger on exactly what I am supposed to do.  Each day I wake up and want more, I want more from my job.  I am so fortunate to have my health, my family, my friends.  There is a deep sense of needing to give back to those less fortunate.  Hopefully in the near future I can meet that calling.

8. This honesty post has taken me over a week to complete.  I don't have an issue with being honest, but more so, I was trying to make it at least a litle bit interesting to read!  I may be failing misserably!

9.  I am deathly afraid of child birth.  I know it's a little late now, but I am terrified of the pain, the contractions, everything!  I really have been hoping that the stork would just drop our beautiful child off at my hospital room in March!  I know, unrealistic, but a girl can always dream!

10.  I can not understand why girls have what I call the "Paris Hilton Syndrome"  Where they are actually intelligent yet act as if they have no common sense.  Think Jessica Simpson in  Newlyweds.  Seriously, I have no idea where this concept came from, but it needs to go away ASAP!  Empower yourself ladies, we are smart creatures that can solve problems, discuss important issues and even kill a bug if necessary!  we don't need to squeel at every little thing or use baby talk to adults, more than anything it's just annoying!

Now on to the 7 wonderful bloggers that I am passing this award on to:
Candace @ Mrs. Southern Belle
Karen @ A day in the life of Karen
Kristal @ Good food, Good Friends, Good Life
Suzanne @ Sunshine and Wine
Steph @ You paid more than me
Katie @ Blessed Hess
Leslie @ Leslie G

Some big news at Casa de A & B

After looking for 1 year and 2 months, we have finally found a house to purchase!  It's in a new development in a lovely area of town and we are smitten to say the least.  We have been renting for over a year now, and although our town house is large enough for the two of us, we thought it would be nice to have some extra space when half-pint makes his/her arrival in March. 

  Our new house was built in 2001 and is a 3 bedroom two full bath home with lots of extra space, a fenced in backyard and unfinished basement.  We will be doing some things to it prior to moving in because we found out before we made our final offer that the carpet was shot and needed to be replaced.  Thankfully the owner knew that as well and made the necessary concessions so we would still want to purchase the property.  We will close in early January and plan on keeping our town house until Feb. 1 so that we can knock out a wall in the kitchen, paint and put new hardwood and carpet down. 

So now is where I need my faithful readers.....The whole entire house with the exception of one bath is white, completely and udder white!  We have oak cabinets and woodwork that we are going to live with for a bit so we don't rush into major changes before we live in the house.  So I am thinking wall colors.... We have a great room that we are going to carpet the living room area and put hardwood flooring in the kitchen and dining space.  We have khaki couches and mostly black accent furniture, and a blank slate of a house...

So here are a couple of pics of the living space.  Remember to the left is going to be harwood for a dining space and to the right living room space.  So now colors....what do you think?  I am leaning towards grays....Thoughts...

View from dining area

View from hallway

Thanks for the help!

24 weeks

As of Saturday, the ipregnancy ticker now says I am 24 weeks pregnant.  Holy cow, where did the time go?  6 months people, 6 months...That is just crazy!  I do have to say that this week I've noticed that it's getting a little harder to bend over.  Not so much because my belly is in the way, but just energy wise.  Needless to say I was shocked when I bent over to pet Ruby, stood up and was a little winded.  Another thing I have noticed is how hot I get.  I usually am the type of person that needs to be bundled up all the time, not so much when I'm growing a human.  I am hot all the time.  Other than that we did reach a pretty big milestone on Saturday, viability day.  This is where medical professionals say that if half-pint were born today, he/she would have a fighting chance to survive.  I am all for baking for 3 more months, but it just gave B and I a little relief at that point.  On a movement note, I swear half-pint is going to be a soccer player like his/her parents, at 24 weeks, he/she has a mean kick.  If you didn't get the hint, both B and I grew up playing soccer and I still coach high school girls at the moment. 

The weekend after Thanksgiving we purchased our crib to go in our NEW HOUSE!  Yes, we bought a house people!  That will be another post all on it's own!  We should be all moved in a settled by the time half-pint arrives.  I will leave you will be belly pic at 24 weeks.

Hug Pretzels

Lately, I have been feeling the urge to bake.  It could be a holiday thing, or a nesting thing, who knows!  Anyway, I went to one of our family staples that I make each year called hug pretzels.  They taste exactly like chocolate covered pretzels, but soooo much more simple and the taste is actually better in my opinion!  The process takes around 10 minutes, no I'm not kidding!

Here's what you need:

1 large bag round pretzels

3 bags hugs.  You can use the orginal hugs or I did some with the candy cane hugs and was in love!

1 bag regular red & green m&m's

What to do:

Preheat oven to 250 degrees.

Line baking sheets with tin foil

Put round pretzels on baking sheet

Unwrap hugs and put in middle of pretzels

Bake at 250 for 5 minutes

Remove from oven and drop 1 m&m in middle of each pretzel with melted hug..

VIOLA!  Hug pretzels!  I promise you will not be disappointed!

Happy Baking!

You Man! Merry Christmas!

Check this out...

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/ldgYwSwJqgns4mE8

Thanks to Jib Jab for givng me a good giggle while making this!

A few pics to make you smile!

If you're having a down in the dumps kind of day, let Ruby help brighten your day!

Wanna throw my ball for me?

Well, hello there!

Don't laugh at me, I'm sure you don't look like a million bucks when you're fresh out of the bath!

Happy Wednesday!

Dear Pottery Barn,

      You will always have my heart, but this just isn't working any more!  Seriously, I love your store and the wonderful ideas you put in your magazine, but seriously your prices would break my bank!  I'm sorry, this holiday season I will be cheating on your at Hobby Lobby, Michaels and Target.  I know we could make this work, but you just really aren't trying any longer, and although I would love to spend thousands of dollars in your store to decorate my home.  My husband would disown me!  My list is just getting longer and longer and your amazing set designers are not making it any easier this holiday season!  I will always love you, and maybe we can give it a try next season....

  Sincerely,

    Your long time love, A

Now on to what I am drooling over from PB this holiday season!