Sunday Scavenger Hunt

1. This is me

28 years old, 5 months pregnant, 4th day of the New Year

2. Resolution

Run three days a week, lift twice a week, eat more fruits and veggies

3. Treasured

Iced coffee made at home, but enjoyed via the Starbucks cold cup. I am not be affording Starbucks right now...but I can love their cup.

4. Innocence

This puppy is always claiming hers and passing all guilt to her twin brother.

5. Primitive

Easiest Mexican dinner ever. Simple, delicious, and crock-pot friendly.

Stay In Saturday: Week 2/52

One of my January goals was to have a real date with Mr. R. once a week. He is still feeling cruddy so we are staying in tonight.

I have two new recipes I wanted to try, a few TV shows I want to catch up on, and a dining room table that hadn't been used all week. On the menu, Jenna's Enchiladas and rice.

You start by sauteing a red onion and opening two cans of enchilada sauce.

Then add one pound of chicken, green chiles (from the can), 1.5 cans of enchilada sauce, and the onions to your crockpot.

Turn your crockpot to low and cook for 6 hours.

Then shred your chicken, (this is always Mr. R's job).

Place two spoonfuls of chicken in each tortilla.

Roll up your tortillas to make enchiladas, You will make about 6.

Next shred your cheese, you can do this by hand or in your food processor.

(I always choose food processor.)

Top your stuffed tortillas with the remaining enchilada sauce and 1.5 cups of cheese.

Bake for 20 minutes at 350. (I also broil mine at the end for 5 minutes).

And a word of advice.... if you don't read/subscribe to EAT, LIVE, RUN you are missing out. Jenna may just beat out Pioneer Woman in my book.

Not the day I had planned.

Mr. R is still sick. I am trying to be an awesome and sympathetic wife, but to be honest his cold/flu symptoms are cramping my style. I had fun plans to attend the Art Walk tonight and stuff myself with Mexican food from Acapulco. However, Mr. R's body had plans to hack, sneeze, and be otherwise gross and odiferous.

So... I am making lemonade (figuratively) and making the most of my marriage mandated stay-in night (literally). Panera catered chicken noodle soup and salad. Redbox gave me two hours of high school hilarity, heartbreak, and sheer craziness in the form of Easy A. (Dear God, please do not let Mr. R and I be those parents).

And now I am in my jam-jams (name that TV show!) and will be fast asleep by 11 PM.

And because I love quotes and this once was my 17 year old dream too... I leave you with an amazing one from Olive Pendergast.

"Whatever happened to chivalry? Does it only exist in 80s movies? I want John Cusack holding a boombox outside my window. I wanna ride off on a lawnmower with Patrick Dempsey. I want Jake from Sixteen Candles waiting outside the church for me. I want Judd Nelson thrusting his fist into the air because he knows he got me. Just once I want my life to be like an 80's movie, preferably one with a really awesome musical number for no apparent reason. But no, no, John Hughes did not direct my life."

Baby Talk #5: Week 22

Mr. R wrote our Dear Baby letter this week. So I thought I would follow up with pregnancy highlights. I still don't feel very pregnant and the morning sickness has finally stopped so I am almost feel normal or at least what I remember as normal.

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 22 Weeks!

Size of baby: According to the book, she is the size of a naval orange.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained: I was up one pound, but then at my appointment last week I was down 2 pounds. So I think I am actually down one pound.

Maternity Clothes: I am still in my regular clothes but the baby bump is out is all it's glory. I actually looked into a pair of maternity pants because let's face it there will be a time when my jeans just refuse to button, but the way I am carrying maternity pants aren't an option right now.

Gender: GIRL! And we have a name! Piper Jayne Martin

Movement: I have belly flutters and what I think are little kicks. Also I am pretty sure she likes to dance on my bladder at 3 AM.

Sleep: I am sleeping fine, but my bedtime is still between 8:30 & 9:00. I didn't even make it to midnight this New Years Eve!

What I miss: I still miss coffee. I would love to have more than one cup a day.

Cravings: Salad, fruit, and cereal. I went to Publix for groceries earlier this week and came home with four bags of salad, a giant bowl of fruit, and two boxes of sugared cereal. Clearly the cravings have kicked in!

Symptoms: I don't think I have any yet. I posted about needing more air while running yesterday, but besides taking deeper breaths I can't think of anything. And best news yet! The constant burping has almost stopped!

Best Moment this week: The ultrasound! We are having a girl!!! Tutus and pink all the way!

Husband Quote: At the ultrasound Jeff was so excited to be Piper's dad. He has been amazing supportive these past 5 months and while he isn't always vocal about his thoughts and feelings, he left the ultrasound beaming and ready to pick out girl clothes.

Another winner! (Last Nights Dinner)

Rachael Ray is my homegirl! Wait, can I still say that and be cool? Is the saying _______ is my homegirl to 2003? Did anyone else have the Mary is my homegirl t-shirt? And moving on....

Last night I tried RR's chicken suiza enchilada casserole. Ms. Ray has a new show called Cooking for the Week and I caught the last 10 minutes of it before church on Sunday morning. That was long enough to set the DVR for all future episodes and get the gist of this amazing recipe.

Ingredients: Shredded rotisserie chicken, salsa verde, sour cream, tortillas, and a mixture of Monterey jack and swiss cheeses.

You basically layer the ingredients, making three layers total, bake and enjoy!

The actual recipe is found here.

Seriously, go bookmark this page, watch her show, and eat an awesome 30 minute meal :)

Sweaty Tuesday

I did not want to run today. In fact I stayed at work an extra hour to put off going running. I had that overall tired feeling and the last thing I wanted to do was put on my Nikes and hit the gym with Mr. R. He has been pretty stellar on the running circuit lately and I didn't want to be shown up. Yes, I have pride issues.

I made it home by 5, Mr. R was ready and waiting... so were my Nikes and I headed out. And my run was awesome. I was strong. My legs felt light. And Nelly and Ke$ha carried me through three fast miles. Before I knew it my run was over and I was moving on to arm weights.

I guess I wanted to run after all.

I haven't really made any specific running goals because of my preggo status. But I talked with my Dr. and she thinks I am totally capable of running 3-4 days per week. So I think my current running goal is between 12 and 15 miles a week.

Not much has changed in my workouts or body since Piper came on board. I keep reading the books and waiting for the symptoms to kick in, but other than morning sickness I have been pretty lucky in the mom-to-be department. I did notice that I do have to take much deeper breaths now post run and when I try to increase my speed. I am not sure if that's a symptom or just an increase in heart rate, but that is the only difference I can speak of right now. Let's hope it stays that way and I don't get the scary increased facial hair or skin darkening! Yuck!

***Also, if you look closely at the bottom of my pic you can see my Piper bump. Yup, she's a low rider... which I guess is lucky for me, most people just think I am a little chubby and not 5 months along.

Hi Ho Hi Ho... It's back to work I go

Today I am back to work and I think 66 seventh graders were happy to see me. However, they were not very thrilled with the homework I assigned. Such is life.

I spent much of today answering emails, posting grades, munching on fruit, and writing lesson plans. I also need to write my midterm exam ... hopefully I will have some time tomorrow.

Post work I made it home in time to walk the pups, spend quality time with my husband, and make an awesome dinner.

I had plans to run three miles, but Mr. R is not feeling well and just wanted to veg. I am never one to turn down "laying like broccoli"...(name that movie!)... so I joined him for some couch time. Sometimes it's worth catching a few germs and missing a workout to reconnect.

Today I referred to myself as an old married lady. I learned the hard lesson this afternoon, that am no longer in the in-crowd. I can't afford to spend my salary on the coolest clothes or the nicest car or take vacations on a whim. My days of excess are over. No longer can I drink like a fish, eat like a pig, or stay up all night like I did back in my college days. And I don't think I would trade my current status for anything. I spent my college and post grad years single and in amazing cities, but I was lonely. My life wasn't complete. And all the clothes, food, shoes, purses, and friends couldn't fill the void that was waiting for Mr. R.

Soon I will be an old married lady with a baby and I think that might just be pretty awesome. That is if I can still spend a few nights a year veg-ing on the couch with Mr. R by my side.

***Photos of Mr. R from various weekends this fall and winter and yes, he does love pancakes THAT much.