Redefining Moments

Hey there and happy weekend to you all!  It's been an up down weekend in my world-the perfect mix of busy, getting it done, and quiet.  Just the way I like it (countdown to 13 (or so) more weekends where we decide how they go!! Ha!)
Yesterday was all about business.  We ran some errands, including some birthday shopping for my little "niece" who turns one on Tuesday, some baby shopping, a dresser pickup for the nursery (yay!-Just needs a little cleaning, but the price was right!), and some grocery shopping.
And just to show you that I haven't lost my deal edge....here's the loot: (coupon and deal shopping only, of course).  Store of Choice-Tops.  Always.

We have- 6 navel oranges, 4 Gala apples, 5 boxes of cereal, one Healthy Choice Dinner, two boxes of pasta, crackers, chips, 2 boxes of light popcorn-bowl pop ups, 4 cans of soup, cooking wine, and 4 organic yogurts.
Original price:  $65
Out of pocket: $16.53, with tax.  Plus 116 gas points = $1.50 off in gas.
Sweet.  I'm still learning the fine art of diaper deals (seriously overwhelming) bu if I can coupon and bargain shop the way I know best on groceries and toiletries, I think we'll make it through just fine :-)
After a zillion hours of running around, I came home and rode my bike - 20 miles on the trainer...which....is getting to be a bit harder these days :-)  I'm officially 6 months in this weekend-and I've given up aero for good (belly is in the way) and starting to shift my position quite a bit on the bike to find a not belly in the way spot.  All for good reasons, of course, we're just adjusting!

Today was housecleaning, laundry, baby clothes sorting, and run day!  I've signed up for a 5k next weekend (my quest to run each month with baby g!) and a duathlon next month with my father in law, so I just want to make sure that I can still run around with this belly cargo each week-I take nothing for granted.  4 nice easy miles with my heart rate at 130 in 37:55.  Sweet.
I might be slowing down a bit, but I'm still unstoppable!  (my new motto!).  It's so wonderful to be able to still run at 26 weeks, but sometimes I see people talking about racing and tri's and blitzing by my huffing behind (yeah, I breath a bit heavier-blame my rib crushing bebe!)...I remember the days of ticking off miles at a sub 8 pace and feel... out of shape.  And lumpy.  And not inspired.  But then I remember how very lucky I am to be able to put on my shoes and enjoy the beautiful thing that is my life....and the new life creating inside of me...and I smile.  And know that even before our baby is born, s/he and I are creating a wonderful mommy and baby bonding time through running.  When I'm not getting kicked, that is :-)

Pants Dance

Since it's Friday-let's do a little dance!  Most of you might be doing the Friday Happy Weekend Dance....and I respect that.  But today, I'm doing a new kind of dance.

The Pants Dance.

It's not a new concept.  My ever brilliant Father in law dubbed this one before I was on the scene....some kind of crazy dance involving sweatpants and how they stretch.  It's goofy.  And fun.  And worth your time to see really how far those damn pants stretch.  But it also works with different kind of pants.  Like Race pants.....

Yeah, that's the trifecta of Glaser pants dance.

But today, I'm pants dancin'.  Just in my big girl pants.

That's right.

Bring on the maternity clothes!  Pregnancy time clock :  25 weeks and 5 days. 

I can handle that one.

Just one question.....

WHY IN THE HECK DID I STAY IN NORMAL PANTS THIS LONG?

Comfy. beyond.belief.  Just a bit saggy (I'm not that big yet!)
If you've been preggo, when did you bite the bullet and pull out the elasti-pants?

Now if you'll excuse me, me and my comfy pants have a date with some pizza.  And a husband.  And a cat.  And Les Mis.  Yeah, I know how to rock the Friday night.  Any fun plans out there this weekend?  We actually have a weekend that's pretty open!  (Pending one plan for tomorrow...we'll see how I'm feeling).  Sometimes, "down" weekends are good for the soul.  With me on this one?

Week 25: Invasion of the udder snatchers

Halfway through the '20's....is there really only 3ish months left?  Yikes!

Your Pregnancy: Week 25
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.

I can't even believe the lil one is already a pound and a half-up from a milli-ounce in week 3.....so amazing how they grow!  (I have a feeling I will be saying that for the next 18 years, getting my practice in :-P)

Who else is growing this week?  Me!
Momma's Stats-Week 25
My Body: Up 12 pounds- steady as she goes, one pound a week!  I suspect the salty foods have really helped this one-I haven't been eating a huge amount, but plenty of salty, starchy foods and protein. 
Cravings:  Do I get kicked out of Mommy club if I don't really have any this week?  Still enjoying

my potatoes, chicken/cabbage and pizza, but no real new "gotta have it now" stuffs.  I have to admit, this was a shocker for being preggo-I pretty much assumed that I would want to eat everything, and have a great time doing it.  Erm.....not so much.  Ahhh wells.  Chalk that one up to another sordid pregnancy myth in my case!
Aversions: Greek Yogurt back with a vengeance.  I see the stuff and gag.  Literally.  They showed a TV commercial the other night featuring oikos and bananas, and I almost lost my dinner.  Greg laughed about it, the little jerk.  (Love you, babe).
Sleep: A little less soundly on that front this week.  Not sure if it's the extra water I've been craving to compensate for the pretzels and fries, but I am really taking a decent amount of potty breaks this week.  I've also had some soreness in my milk udders (hows that for PC?)...okay...alot of soreness.  The skinny?  It's time for colostrum production, so I'm all ready to feed lil bit in a few months!  Sucky, yes, but kind of neat how the body adapts to get ready for mommy-hood.  I just hope I can still get around and be active without cutting 'em off :-P
Best Baby Moment: We're getting kicks round the clock lately-it's so amazing to get a lil good morning, afternoon holler and PM tickles from baby g.  I might be singing a different tune when I get hard kicks, but for now, it's simply awesome!
Baby Items Bought/Received: My sister in law gave us a nice mattress pad, along with some nice baby clothes.  Hubs also cleaned out a few old toys from his house and brough home a baby pool and a few kiddo toys to grow into-yeah, I'm looking forward to being a kid again myself and playing with fisher price bowling!
Aside from kicks, we were in motion last week....here's Iron baby!: In utero travels for week 24...
Swimming: 4 miles
Biking: 96 miles
Running: 5 miles
Total =105 miles


Cumulative Total (week 19 on) = 602.8 miles...that's about the distance from Rochester to Virginia Beach, VA.  Spring Break Baby!

In the latest news...even though my belly has gornw 11 inches!! .....yes, I somehow still it into my pants.  I know I keep saying it, but I'm pretty sure by the end of this week we will be doin the maternity pants dance.  Crazy!  Amen to low rise pants!

Pizza Puffers

Ugh, Monday.  Like a bad penny, you always turn up.  Luckily, only once a week though :-P  Let's not delay on Monday though...let's talk about fun things!  How was your weekend?  Another slammer at casa Glaser-we're trying to pack em in before baby g shows up, so we are wining (okay juicing) and dining and hanging out with as many friends and family as possible. Hey, whatever works, right?  So if you wanna hang out....give us a shout!  If you have cooler people to hang out with, we understand that too :-P
So, over the weekend we hosted a game night-everyone brings a dish to pass and you spend the night playing old board games that never go out of style.  Of course, we laughed, joked, and in general, had a flurch* full o fun (those present get that one).  What to serve for family game night (besides yummy chocolate cake, salads, bean tosses and fab apps?)

Pizza Puffs!  I saw this guy on Pinterest, made some changes, and served em up - 15 minutes with prep.  And Less than $5 for  over two dozen.  They made a yummy snack, but would also make a great weeknight quick dinner.  Idiot Proof recipe:

Pizza Puffs (makes 30)

3 cans mini buttermilk biscuits
2/3 cup pizza sauce
2/3 cup mozzarella cheese
1 cup broccoli (optional)
4 oz. sausage crumbles (optional)
garlic powder for dusting

Get out 2 mini muffin tins (mine hold 15-you might need 3 if yours hold 12), spray with cooking spray.  Press one biscuit in each muffin hole,  press to form indentation.  add in 1/2 tsp of either broccoli or sausage (I did half and half).  Spoon 1 tsp. sauce over topping, and sprinkle cheese to cover.  Dust muffins with garlic powder.  Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, broil to brown for 2 if desired.  Let cool for a few minutes then....nom nom nom.

Board games optional, but highly suggested.

Do you do family game night or just ole weekend friend game night?  If not, I highly suggest it....it's highly underrated and such a blast!  Next time we'll bust out Twister....muahahahaha.

Week 24: Belly Movin'

Another week, another growing baby post :-)

Your Pregnancy: Week 24


Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

We now have taste buds....better watch out what I feed this kid, right?  Never to early to grow the pizza taste bud, I hope! :-P

Momma's Stats-Week 24

My Body: Up 11 pounds-my belly is expanding at a monumental rate.  Somehow, I can still button my pants.  I don't know how.  It's a mystery.  But I'm not complaining. 

Cravings: Still on the chicken and cabbage kick.  Not much else.  It's been a stressful week in my world, which is affecting my body for sure.  I have my eye on Sunday-a day of rest.  Ahhh. :-)
Aversions: Still not too sure about peanut butter, and I'm not really a fan of sugar.  Same story of the pregnancy, rinse, recycle, repeat.  I'm not too worried about it-just not one of those women who can have their cake and eat it too while pregnant.  And that's not entirely a bad thing now, is it?
Sleep: Can't get enough.  Really can't.  I'm dead in the water by 8pm, without a doubt.  But I seem to be sleeping pretty well, aside from a screwy incident on Monday night that scared the crap out of us.  I woke up and felt horrible, but was super thirsty, so I went downstairs to get water.  Well, somewhere between the fridge and bathroom, I fainted....yikes!  Greg rescued me, and I'm fine save for a bruise on my elbow.  My doc told me my blood pressure is low...and prescribed more salt and smaller, more frequent meals.  I typically have BP on the lower end, so that makes sense to me....and if my doc tells me to eat more fries, I'll eat more fries!!
Best Baby Moment: My awesome co-workers threw me a baby shower on Tuesday, AND one of my old besties surprised me with an awesome baby car seat!  I've felt so loved this week....both me and baby g :-)
Baby Items Bought/Received: Tons of shower love, along with a dresser for baby g's room from my mother.  Slowly but surely, we are accumulating a nice stockpile!
Iron baby!: In utero travels for week 23...
Swimming: 3 miles
Biking: 85 miles
Running: 7 miles
Total =95 miles

Cumulative Total (week 19 on) = 497.8 miles...that's about the distance from Rochester to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where my cousins grew up (almost to Lake Michigan)....hey guys!!


And that about wraps up week 24.....watch out for week 25....pretty sure I've been going through my big pop!!

April Shower

And sometimes....staff meetings at noon are NOT, in fact, staff meetings!

They turn out to be baby showers!!  My wonderful team got together and decided to throw me and baby g a little party....such a wonderful mid week surprise!  Complete with "surprise" face.....

A cake (it was delish!!)

 

Co-workers (and my belly!)

 

And some awesome gifts for baby g!!  (okay, and Mom too....)

 

 What a great day at work!!  Thank you so much to everyone who was in on the baby party....we really enjoyed it, and I feel so spoiled and loved :-)  But the showers weren't over......when I got home from work, I had ANOTHER surprise waiting for me on my porch.....

 A wonderful car seat from my best friend from middle school, Amy!  I was completely floored-aside from some facebook-ness, we haven't seen each other in years (and really need to fix that).  Such a sweet, thoughtful gift and it totally made my day!  Amy, you are awesome!!!

Just when I thought I couldn't feel any more loved.....people really amaze me.  Thank you everyone for such a spectacular day.....me and my little sugar coma-ed (and divinely future dressed) baby are so grateful for such wonderful people in our lives!

48

Again, sometimes saying less is more :-)  Here's a weekend peek at Easter 2013 at casa Glaser....

Makin the cookies...

 Bump cookie!

Egg Hunt/present time

Easter Bunny brought goggles and a swimsuit-yay!

Brunch sweets

Easter #2....Glaser time!

Cute Couple :-)

Too funny not to capture :-P

 Awesome weekend.....full of family, friends, laughter, love and of course....food!!  Today is a veggie filled reset day and a relaxing day.....with the lil guy, my hubs...and most importantly, our fur child Summer!  She turns 16 today....hard to believe I got her when I was a lil freshman back in high school!!

To my baby 'roo- I love you so much.....you are the best snuggler, cuddler, wet food inhaler, talker, and flirt that any family could ask for!  We love you so much!!