Appointment Number 2!!

I will admit with full honesty, this appointment left me a little confused. Our doctor has moved to a new location and I honestly have no idea what I think of the new office yet. So stay tuned for that.  Aside from the confusion of no medical records on file yet and being totally out of my comfort zone in terms of where to go and what to do, the rest of the appointment went well.  The baby’s heartbeat was a nice steady 158-159. I am happy to report it took no time this time to find it. I was 14 weeks and 6 days and measuring 15 weeks. And I got the usual comments that were consistent through my pregnancy with Owen…this appointments was “Look at you Go!”  I’m starting to think I’m going to collect all of my Dr. Talsky quotes and put them in a letter to him along with photos of our babies!

We also got our first official wager placed on the sex of the baby!  Dr. Talsky said he bet on Greenbay for the Superbowl, and then said I’m placing my bet right now that you’re having a girl. Sounds good to us!!

Our next appointment is March 11. Because of the new office and the ultrasound tech situation at the office (still in the process of hiring a tech), I’m hoping that March 11 is our ultrasound; however, we may be going back the following week to have our ultrasound.  Either way…it won’t be long and we’ll know if Baby Linley #2 is a boy or a girl   It’s pretty exciting I think!!

Stay tuned for my first belly shots.  I popped earlier this time…but with chasing Owen around and the busyness of life, we’ve kept forgetting to get a snap shot!!

A Favorite Winter Past Time...

I had just crossed over to my favorite spot on my drive to work.  The sun was peaking out from behind some clouds. Everything around me had this amazing red glow.  This time of year, sometimes I get an extra surprise on my drive.  It's funny, I always forget about it until it happens each year.  But this particular morning as I looked out, drinking in my view, an eagle came soaring over my car.  It was just a mere 20 or 30 feet above me.  I could see it's wings and pretty white head and tail feathers.  Right there, just above me.

I'm reminded of how cool nature really is when things like this happen.  And also how neat it truly is that every single winter...eagles follow the ice down the river and settle in our little river-side town and make a home for awhile.

I love getting out and cruising down the river road and watching to see if we spot any.  I love seeing them on the ice.  I even love knowing that the cluster of jammed up cars up ahead means there are probably eagles to be enjoyed!

One of my favorite eagle cruises in recent seasons was the one we shared with my parents the winter I was expecting Owen.  You can read about our adventure here!  We still talk about mature and immature eagles to this day.

It's one of the fun winter past times I look forward to.  Not only does it mean winter isn't too far from over, but it also means we are in for some car rides and lazy Sunday afternoons in our sweats!

Happy Eagle Watching Everyone!

My Little Mess Maker

So I found him like this:

He pulled every shoe off my shoe wrack and then sat with them in his lap.  I kid you not, it had to have went on for 30 minutes!

Later, after he evacuated his spot, I found a pile of shoes all stacked up and shoved into Jer's side of the closet.  At least he tidied up after himself right??

Thankful Thursday

A good report at the doctor's office. 

A Friday night spent relaxing with Owen

Finishing up my root canal process...I'm thankful b/c it's down to one appointment where they are placing my permanent crown.  Finally!!

Celebrating my friend Jenn's baby shower...it's a girl and everything was pink...and it was adorable!

Carpooling to the shower with Keli and talking about our crazy little boys

A surprise visit with Jer and Owen in Edwardsville

Our new, pristine MacBook that we purchased at that surprise meeting on Saturday night...boy did we need an upgrade and boy did we get one! Thanks Steff and Bry and Jonnie and April for the affirmations about your experiences and helping us chose!

A Sunday spent cleaning house, walking through slush at the park and enjoying some family time together

A crazy Valetine's Day at work.

Getting to spend some quality time with Mom

Hugs and kisses from Aunt Jenni and Uncle Doug

Uncle Doug letting me try Hummus for the first time...um I've been missing the boat b/c this was roasted pepper flavored Hummus and you could have 15 crackers loaded with the stuff for 50 calories...not to mention...it's healthy!  It's on my grocery list.

Owen's bath time. This week it's been a total blast!

Enjoying some me time...blogging, email catch up, bubble baths...oh and some shopping too!  

That one of the craziest work week's I've had in a LONG time is over...well..until next week. Thankfully I have a great partner to lean on at work when it gets crazy! 

This absolutely amazing weather.  I LOVE it!

My first trip to the meat market where I purchased bacon wrapped filets, seven layer salad and homemade garlic bread.

Making a fresh dinner that pretty much reminded me of all my favorite summer meals at home with my parents...and with Jer here in the home we've made.  All that was missing were fresh-cut chives from my herb garden.  Soon enough right?

Feeling happy, healthy, hopeful and thankful as I type up this post.

God is good to me.  All the time!

My first stab at Homemade Mac and Cheese

I got a new book at Christmas time called Pioneer Woman Cooks.

I have been doing LOTS of cooking out of this book!  Some of my favorites include the jalapeno poppers, sour cream pancakes...and now this mac and cheese recipe :)  For my first time through I followed the directions to the letter...including using cheddar cheese vs another kind (she suggests trying different cheeses).  I, however, do plan to give this a shot with a block of White Cheddar and maybe sometime do a Mexican version with a little white queso and maybe some pepper jack.  Anyway...this is a delicious, basic recipe that was much easier than some of the other ones I've tried.  AND it didn't disappoint. We managed to finish the entire pan within a week.  Usually after a few days if it's not gone, we don't eat it!

I'm not sure about the rules with posting recipes on the net that came from a book and are not available on an online source.  So if you are interested in trying it, leave me a comment.  I'll be happy to share the recipe directions with ya!

I hope you enjoy some of my cooking photos :)

You know it's been a cold winter...

When you find yourself looking like this:

We did a lot of "off roading" in the wagon through quite a bit of unmelted slush.  But despite the wind, the over 40 degree sunshine felt awesome!

Here's to warmer weather! This break might not be permanent, but at least it's a positive sign that it will return soon :)

Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

It’s the day that’s all about love…and I just so happen to adore this commercial and thought it would be appropriate to share today!!

I also just so happen love the pictures I posted last year on Valentine's Day :)  So I'm recycling last year's post because, well, I like it!!

Even if you may feel it’s a greeting card holiday…why not live it up a little and enjoy a silly reason to wear red (though I forgot this morning!), buy goofy cards and remind those you love that they are special!!

Happy Vday Everyone!! Make it a good one :)

Making one BIG mess!!

But we sure had fun when we did it!!

Just one of the many many reasons...

Being an Aunt is already AWESOME!!!

 Sorry for the sideways shots...I can't figure out what I did wrong with the camera on these!

Thankful Thursday

I’m tardy on my thankfuls…and for that I apologize! Here is what this week brought in the land of Linley

A Friday craft and scrapbook night that landed me and Steff at Target…where I bought this:

PW’s sweet (in more ways than one) new book

AND

A blow dryer with an awesome diffuser…long overdue with my out of control waves...my is blue and has a giant black diffuser on the end though...but otherwise...it looks like the one below ;)

A Saturday visit from our niece and Jonnie and April

Pizza Hut stuff crust for dinner that night!

Getting to hold Isabel for a nice long time!

Superbowl Sunday at Bryan and Steff’s - What a blast and Greenbay won!  Even though I'm a Bears fan I couldn't bring myself to route for the Steelers!

Figuring out how to make my wings with chicken tenderloin instead of chicken drummies…and it being a very happy accident b/c they were awesome with no bones!!

Watching our first episode of Glee in forever

Busyness at work

More busyness at work

A Linoski American Idol night and having another delicious dinner from The Hut.

That though that night…The Hut proved to be too much for my stomach and caused quite the episode of throwing up…which interrupted my sleep…it was not the flu as I feared. After one round of clearing out my stomach I seemed to be ok!

Having an early Thursday afternoon with my little man and doing some crafting before bathtime with him!

Answered prayers

A wonderfully lazy morning to look forward to and the anticipation of my next doctor’s appointment tomorrow.