Pregnancy.

Ohhh pregnancy. It's such a glamorous thing to think about when it isn't happening yet. I always thought it was going to be so fun being pregnant and have a cute belly to wear like a trophy all over town (not that I go out on the town... but in my fantasy I did because I was picturing myself like a celebrity... I blame this on my former hobby of frequenting the "star tracks" section on People.com).

I am now 31 weeks pregnant and it has gone by so fast. I was telling Derek the other day that sometimes it feels like I have been pregnant forever and other times it feels like I have only been pregnant for a day. I feel my little guy moving allll the time (he seriously doesn't stop) and I absolutely love that. Sometimes he kicks me in the ribs or he just hangs out on my bladder but I wouldn't trade feeling those little and big movements even if they make me uncomfortable and have to go to the bathroom every time I stand up. It's such a special bonding experience feeling him moving around and becoming bigger and stronger.

In my first trimester and up until about 18 weeks, I was pretty sick... and by that I mean I was throwing up a fair amount. Luckily, I got myself a prescription pretty early on that I would take every day religiously so I could make it through my work day. I had my routine down where I would wake up and take my medicine and eat right away so my stomach wasn't empty. Most mornings that worked but some mornings I would do that and then get sick. Derek said it was so difficult to watch me be so sick and then say bye to me as I left for work. Other than being sick, the first trimester had me soooo tired. I would come home from work at 4:30 or 5 and just want to go to bed. Most nights I was asleep by 9 (I know, it's like I aged 40 years).

After 20 weeks hit and it was summer time, everything got a little easier. I wasn't sick, I was feeling great, I found out my baby was a boy, and I wasn't working anymore. I remember having the thought that I didn't know why people are so antsy to have their baby as soon as they hit full term. I had in my head that I could go a few weeks late and be totally fine with that. I had more energy than the first trimester, I could eat what I wanted, and I was for the most part comfortable.

Now I'm into my third trimester and life is getting more difficult. I feel like I am obese because I am so warm all the time. I don't even like to think about the temperature outside unless I am on my way to the pool or the beach. Most the time I walk around the apartment looking so white trash because I pull my shirt up to give my belly some air. Walking up and down stairs feels like I am running a mile. I am starting to feel just big... like my t-shirts don't even really fit anymore, the baby is heavy and it's hard to get comfortable when I have this big belly. Maternity leggings are the best things in the world, if you are pregnant, go buy some because they have changed my life. Right now I am laughing at myself for wondering why people were so antsy at 37 weeks because it would be so nice to lay on my stomach again or not feel like I am overheating all the time. I do love that I can feel his little hiccups so often and distinct now and sometimes he will be kicking around while he is hiccuping. I love to try and picture what he is doing in there exactly with some of his movements.

I love this baby and I love the miracle that is happening with this baby growing and developing. It is amazing to me the way babies develop from start to end. Then after they are born they grow up to be adults! It's so weird for me to think about my little squirming baby as a working man later in life. Pregnancy is wonderful and crazy and surprising all at the same time but I am so glad I get to experience it, even with the discomforts this third trimester has brought. Hopefully, I'll update this blog more often so I have a record for myself but I don't want to make promises I can't keep!

My Cooking Obsession

I have an obsession... with the Pioneer Woman. Seriously, if you haven't checked out her cooking website... do it. now. I just find such treasures on there and she is so funny. So many websites I find for recipes use so many ingredients that are kind of weird but her recipes hardly ever require a spice that costs an arm and a leg for one use and I feel confident in switching out a spice I don't have for something I do. Derek helps in this because he makes me more confident in my cooking by always complimenting everything I cook. He makes me feel good  :) This week I think he has just been extra complimentary because I made loaded tacos.. which he really loved.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2013/05/loaded-nachos/

But who wouldn't love these! They were so tasty and perfect for watching the game :) (I can't remember which game... which watch a lot of games...) 

Anyways... I am obsessed with The Pioneer Woman on a weird level.. like the same level as my mom is obsessed with Clover Lane... 

Well.. I think I am finished for this post, except for listing my two favorite "cooking in the kitchen" songs... 

Sweet Pea by Amos Lee

Love by Matt White

Busy but Wonderful!

Basically this is my life lately... I have been so busy with all sorts of things but it has been so great! I am finally getting some real teaching experience and I am loving it and looking so forward to hopefully being an intern next year. Also, life has been great lately because I love my new apartment! I am so much more motivated to do the laundry and to keep the apartment neat and tidy (because everything is better that way) and because I actually really like our new apartment. Also lately I have become in love with looking online and putting together good "teacher outfits" but right now its hard because I have to overdress since I am not a teacher or even an intern yet but one day it will all be worth it... probably... My problem is I don't want to spend money on something I am only going to wear teaching because one day when I am not teaching, I don't want clothes to go to waste just sitting in my closet. Also another problem is I don't have money for new clothes (I have negative money if you ask Derek haha). So, ya know, if anyone wants to send me teacher clothes money I probably wouldn't turn you down ;). It's funny because since I have been in the schools more, going to my classes on campus seems useless because I learn more one hour in the school than I do with one week on campus. But I guess that's the way real-life applicable experience goes and I will just be glad I have the real-life experience in addition to the on campus classes I'm still taking right now.

Derek has been keeping busy too. He keeps to his studying and I try to not distract him or drag him away from that because I understand that it is important. It also helps that I am really busy too because then neither of us feels neglected or whatever the word to use there would be. We are both happy and loving life the way it is and enjoying every step of our long journey of schooling :)

Also, I think I am turning into an old person.. this picture was taken last night at about nine pm. Already in bed and reading.

One of the joys of Sundays.

Spring is Coming Early this Year!

.... no this does not have anything to do with groundhogs day. haha but basically spring means new beginnings and I feel like is a second new years day because it signifies a fresh start. As most of you know... we don't really like the apartment we currently live in and have just been needing a change. A week and a half ago I came across this apartment that just seemed perfect for Derek and I so I jumped on the opportunity and we are in the process of moving this week. I just feel so excited to start new and fresh in a different apartment in a different part of town in a different ward (church congregation). I feel like in my current ward I have been somewhat antisocial because I just for some reason had no desire to make new friends and I am hoping to be a little bit more outgoing (like my personality is normally). One other fun thing about me and Derek's place is we have a nice little laundry room that I just love. Since we got married, Derek does the laundry and I fold it because our laundry room is creepy and shared.... seriously, it's creepy.... if you don't believe me, I once had to email my landlord and the email was "Possible Dead Cat"... it was in the laundry room... and it was gross, and I had nightmares of it coming to life and coming after me. Anyways, I have missed doing laundry... I love clothes and I love being in control of how the laundry is done because I guess when it comes to my clothes I am a bit of a control freak. Derek is also loving that we are moving because he is off laundry duty and unlike me he doesn't like to do laundry... what a weirdo! Over the weekend Derek and I went to buy a washer and dryer for our little laundry room and while walking up and down the aisles of an Appliance Direct type store I just kept singing this song in my head....

Buying a washer and dryer is probably the most womanly thing I have ever done! Isn't buying appliances what being a woman is all about?

We are also excited because at our new place we will have a spot for a little grill so we can have real hamburgers and steak instead of the fake ones I have been doctoring in our kitchen now. Basically, I am so happy and excited for a fresh start and hopefully spring the season comes soon too so I can just enjoy everything!

On different news real quick, as I get further and further into my program and spend more and more time in the elementary schools, I just want  to be a teacher even more and can't wait until it actually happens! Only a little while longer :)

Cheddar Baked Chicken

So, a couple weeks ago I asked Derek to grab a block of cheddar cheese while he was out for something that I was making and he came back with a huge block. So, we just decided we would make a lot of grilled cheese sandwiches to use it up. Anywayss, yesterday for dinner I was planning on making the Pioneer Woman's Pantry Pasta for Two until I looked in the fridge and remembered the block of cheese that was still pretty huge and I thought I had maybe heard of people doing cheddar baked chicken so I just decided to give it a try. It turned out sooo good! I don't like to promote myself or toot my own horn but Derek and I both agreed it was some of the best chicken we have ever had and he said I need to write down the recipe because he wants it again (such a nice compliment :)) So I decided that before I write the recipe into my custom cookbook (thanks again Steph!) I will post it on here since a few people have asked for it anyways.

One disclaimer before I start... I didn't measure much but I will try to estimate how much of everything I used.

So first I guess is what you need.... here it is..

2 chicken breasts (sliced lengthwise to make 4 total thinner pieces because I think it's easier to work with)
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
1 to 1-1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 to 3/4 cup crunched caesar croutons (that's what I had, you could use breadcrumbs, cereal or whatever)
1 teaspoon ground pepper or less... or more depending on how much you like.

These next two ingredients can be substituted for what you have in the pantry, I had these so I added them..
~1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (I just shook and mixed until it looked like there was a good amount
1/2 teaspoon rosemary (it smelled good)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Prepare a baking dish (I used an 8x8 pan) by melting 2 tablespoons of butter in the bottom

Beat one egg and mix in milk in a small bowl.

In a little bigger of a bowl mix together shredded cheese, crunched croutons (or whatever you use), pepper, red pepper flakes, and rosemary. I found it best to just use my hands and make sure everything looked pretty evenly dispersed.

Take each chicken breast piece (you should have 4) and coat it in the first bowl of egg and milk and then dip it in the cheese mixture making sure it coated good on both sides then place it into the baking dish. Do this with the remaining pieces of chicken. My pieces fit pretty snug in my 8x8 dish so if you were going to do more than you'd want a bigger dish. Then, you just pop it in the over for 35-45 minutes or until the top is nice and golden and the chicken is cooked through.

Then, you enjoy :) Hopefully you like it as much as we did :)

Settling In

I know I know, it's been awhile, but it has been so busy here in our little household. Recently school started back up which means both me and Derek going to school full time and work part time. I started the semester off with 17 credits but it felt more like 25 because all of my teachers seemed to think that their class was the only thing I was ever going to think about. (I'm frustrated about it if you can't tell). Anyways, I found myself always grumpy and the apartment was turning into a pigsty... and a big one. Our apartment is small so it gets messy really fast. Like if I leave one pair of shoes out, it looks messy. So basically I was trying to do what I want (being a wife: cooking, cleaning, looking good everyday), my schoolwork (which was impossible to do anything 100%), and my work (luckily we aren't too busy this semester). I felt like I was past the drowning point and just sinking deeper and deeper. Like every thing I had to add to my to-do list was another weight being added to my ankle. So, after a Sunday afternoon of crying feeling so stressed and sorry for myself, Derek and I decided it was best to drop one of my classes and take it through independent study. It was hard for me to admit defeat but I had to do what was best for my health, sanity, and my new life with my husband. I am so glad he is so supportive. :) He tells me he is so lucky all the time to have married me but he doesn't know that I am the lucky one. Our days lately have been filled with homework and studying but it's fun to hang out and do our homework together (well separate because pre-med and el ed don't have similarities). I am hoping to get into running/exercising because I haven't been doing that at all. Hopefully I will get up the courage to go on a run soon but I just know that the first one is going to be so embarrassing because I know I won't go far... Oh well, I guess no one has to know :) Well, I am off to get dinner started but I just figured I would take a minute to post a blog!

Dedicated to my Youngest Sister Lizzie :)

Well... today I was video chatting with my family (one of my favorite things) and my mom said I hadn't posted in a while and she was RIGHT! (like always :)) Anyways, my sister Lizzie was right there and she said I should write it about her. So here goes nothing.... Lizzie is basically pretty awesome for a whole lot of reasons....

FIRST: She is probably the funniest person in my family. She can make a joke out of anything and it is always hilarious!
SECOND: She can sing like nobodies business, she can sound like any artist in any song.. my favorite impersonation she does is miranda.. .you know as in miranda sings... here is a sample

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC-yzx0y8fU&feature=BFa&list=UUR69uTjRYrIDjbIOmgSyx6w

I picked this video because Lizzie was singing the song that she sings in it today... so basically I had to.

THIRD: She is super loyal... like the dog in homeward bound or where the red fern grows (were they loyal?). Anyways, she is a great sister and I know she always has my back, and all of our other siblings too.
FOURTH: She could beat me up easily but she never does... probably because we don't really ever fight... I don't know.
FIFTH: She likes to spend quality time with me and she loves to shop just like me but she also knows when to tell me that something is too expensive and I don't really need it. Also, we both like the same kind of shirts so that is pretty awesome.

There are so many other reasons to love Lizzie but because my arm hurts from my mini golfing accident the other day I think I will stop there.

Oh and I made this recipe tonight... MAKE IT! It was sooooooo good!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/07/peach_crisp_wit/