Cards Win!!

What an amazing night! The St. Louis Cardinals are the world champs after beating the Texas Rangers in Game 7 in St. Louis. It is pretty meaningful for John and I since we were both World Series babies in 1982, me actually living in St. Louis and only a month old, John here in Springfield only a few weeks old. Hamlet may still be in the belly but it still feels special! We watched the game at Big Whiskeys South with Trina, Melanie, Brent and Adrienne. Mel even brought Hamlet a gift...a mustache/teeth pacifier, hilarious!!!

Nursery Planning: Color Scheme

John and I are taking the plunge and starting the nursery. We went through paint samples from Seminole Decor Center and picked our winners.
I created a color scheme for Hamlet's nursery, which is a white, grey, yellow, espresso combo.
http://kuler.adobe.com/#themeID/1576236
Painting starts Wednesday and we'll post before and after pics soon.
j+k

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

We aren't huge Halloween fans but one thing I do love about this time of year is roasting pumpkin seeds from the pumpkin we carve. It is super easy and very nutritious. Check this out: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=82

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Ingredients:
Pumpkin
Olive oil
Garlic salt
Parmesan

Steps:
1. Gather seeds from pumpkin and seperate from pulp
2. Rinse and drain seeds
3. Spread out evenly on cookie sheet(s) to dry for 24 hours
4. preheat oven to 250
5. In a large bowl coat seeds with olive oil and toppings - I used garlic salt and parmesan but just salt or even cinnamon sugar are delicious options too.
6. Return back to cookie sheet and bake for 60 minutes, stirring every 15-20 minutes.
7. Let cool completely before eating. If stored in an air tight container you can keep these bad boys for up to 3 months!!!
Happy Snacking!

Kitchen Experiments: Cheeseburger Ring

Sounds sort of strange, I know, but this recipe I got from my mom was surprisingly delicious! The Johnson's came over for our weekly Dexter date and I think they approved. Best part is you can really adjust the recipe to a bunch of different options. Our ideas: buffalo chicken burger ring and BBQ chicken ring.

Cheeseburger Ring

Ingredients
1/4 cup onion
3/4 lb lean ground turkey or beef
1/4 cup ketchup
2 teaspoons yellow mustard
9 slices American cheese, divided
2 (8 ounce) packages refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
16 slices dill pickles
3 large plum tomatoes
2 cups lettuce

Steps:
1. Preheat oven to 375°F Chop onion.
2. In frying pan, cook ground turkey with onions over medium heat 8-10 minutes or until beef is no longer pink; drain.
3. Add ketchup, mustard and 5 of the cheese slices, cut up; stir until cheese is melted.
4. Remove pan from heat.
5. Unroll crescent dough; separate into 16 triangles.
6. Arrange triangles in a circle on a 13-inch round pan or baking stone with points towards the outside.
7. (There should be a 5-inch diameter opening in the center.) Scoop meat mixture evenly onto widest end of each triangle.
8. Top each scoop with pickle slice.
9. Bring points of triangles up over filling and tuck under wide ends of dough at center of ring.
10. (filling will not be completely covered.) Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
11. Remove from oven.
12. Cut each of the remaining 4 cheese slices into 4 triangles.
13. Arrange cheese triangles over top of ring.
14. Serve with additional ketchup, pickles and mustard, if desired.

j+k

Girl's Night (+Dutch and Hamlet) Pumpkin Carving

It's almost Halloween so we decided to do a Girl's Night Pumpkin Carving (plus Dutch and Hamlet). I made some chicken chili, Katie brought over some yummy corn bread and Trina topped it off with Andy's Pumpkin Pie concretes. Anna brought little Dutch along and decided to try out a Pinterest idea and carve her pumpkin so Dutch could fit....let's just say it didn't go as smoothly as Pinterest leads you to believe.

Carving out the guts

Anna preparing the pumpkin for her little man

I am toasting the seeds this weekend, one of my favorite fall treats

so snuggly!

Taken from Pinterest....this baby LOVES IT

And didn't turn out quite as we planned.

Who knew Dutch dug Star Trek

Trina's Mizzou "M" and my "H"

My finished product

Katie's drilled dot pumpkin

Baby Hamra: 21 Weeks

Our little football fan

Hamlet was 21 weeks thursday. He is now the size of a banana or 10. 5 inches long.
He is quite the mover too, morning, afternoon and night I can feel him kicking, punching and rolling around. Het also got to experience his first (well sort of) Homecoming at Mizzou. We already made plans to bring him back next year. We made a stop at the outlet malls on the way home and got him some things. A bunch of adorable onesies/bodysuits and his first pair of Nike Jordan's to match his dad's. I am sure it won't be his only pair, they are just too cute!

His first Homecoming 

We went on a mini (literally) shopping spree since we finally can call Hamlet a HE!

Daddy & Son's kicks

Proud pop with his matching jordan's

A little birthday note for my husband

John and I promised we wouldn't exchange gifts this year so I thought I would write a little something for John instead. Hopefully I don't embarrass him too much. Love you babe! 

29 Reasons why I can’t imagine not having 

you for my husband, best friend and 

daddy to our soon-to-arrive son.

1. I know you are going to be the most amazing father to our little Hamlet
2. Your happy sock collection
3. The funny voices you make when you are in a silly mood
4. You never get mad…ever. I even try to get you to get mad and it’s just not in you.
5. You cook me lunch at least 2-3 work days and it's waiting for me on my lunch break
6. Your Nike high top collection, Jordan would be proud.
7. You adopted my aging snoring pug and love her just the same
8. You accept my obsession with yellow even though sometimes it gets excessive
9. Your happy go lucky attitude, you are definitely not a complainer
10. You call me 1- 3 times when you go to pick something up at the store, just because
11. Your guilty pleasure of chick flicks even though I can’t stand them
12. Your new found love of sweets lets me not feel so bad when I crave ice cream
13. How you relate everything in life to Seinfeld so convincingly
14. Your confidence in yourself, it is so refreshing to be with someone who is comfortable in their own skin.
15. You love to cook which helps on nights I love to be lazy J
16. Your insane and sometimes “crossing the line” sense of humor, I laugh out loud on a daily basis
17. Not many people can pull off a bowtie and/or suspenders
18. You can hang with literally anyone and make a good time out of it
19. Some of my family members seem to like you better than me and vice versa 
20. How you can’t watch people perform on tv for the first time because you say you just want to see people success and not fail or embarrass themselves.
21. Our memories span decades. Besides family I don’t have that with any one else
22. I love the way you rub my baby belly for good luck, our little lucky charm…which must have worked cause you got yourself a son!
23. Your crazy mustache obsession…even though it takes you months to grow it you sure know how to rock it proud.
24. How supportive you have been during my random pregnancy cry sessions, they usually come and go quick but you still treat each one like it is important
25. Your mad dance skills, when you get into the zone you can sure cut a rug
26. You love to shop as much, if not more than me.
27. Your mummy sleep style, you wrap yourself up like a human burrito and don’t move until morning.
28. Your terms of endearment for me, my favorite of course will always be “babe”
29. How you sincerely care about people and will do just about anything to help a friend out.
30.  (Plus ONE TO GROW ON) You are the best travel partner, you are always up for an adventure and can lighten any mood if there is tension or problems.

Happy Birthday John, can’t wait to keep adding to the list!

And the verdict is in.....

First off Happy Birthday to my amazing husband! I don't think he will ever forget this birthday!

My handsome husband!!

Today was an amazing day!! Not only did we find out what our little Hamlet is, with my mom at our side, but my two best friend surprised me at the ultrasound appointment.

 The girls waiting outside my appointment!

Trina's & Megan's votes...

See for yourself....

Profile shot

Little foot

Whole back, belly and spine. Nice round belly!

Money shot.....Can you tell???

And the winner is....

It's a BOY!!!!

The appointment went great, we were so shocked & delighted it was a boy we were both convinced it was a girl.  I cried of course and John just beamed hardly believing it was true! Hamlet is healthy and 13 ounces and we are a little farther than they original thought at 20 weeks. We got to call my dad and sisters and John got to share the news with his family too. We are beyond excited for our little man's arrival.

I  surprised John with his first card from his son. And my mom got us the cutest little jammies! Thanks MOM!

 

 love,

j+k

Kitchen Experiments: Mama Engel's famous B&G's

John loves some Biscuit & Gravy, love might actually be an understatement. I can't think of a better recipe ever than my momma's. I decided to attempt it for John this weekend to see if it passed the test. I had to modify it a bit since I don't eat red meat but I think it fared pretty well.

B&G's 

(Mama Engel Style)

It doesn't get any better than this!

INGREDIENTS

3 cups Milk (use less if you like your gravy runny)
1/3 cup Flour
Turkey Sausage (My mom uses Sage Italian Sausage)
1 Tbl  Sage
Biscuits

STEPS
1. Preheat oven for biscuits (use instructions on package)

2. Brown Sausage in skillet

3. Start biscuits

3. If using turkey sausage add sage and cook until done

4. Do not drain and add milk and flour

5. Cook until starts to bubble and get thick

6. When biscuits and gravy are both done, pour gravy over biscuits and Ta-Dah...yumminess!

John went back for seconds but this time he invented a Biscuit and Gravy sandwich, pretty amazing! 

Baby Hamra: 19 Weeks

Our little one is 19 weeks today, the size of a Mango (6 inches and .5lbs). This week is so exciting for us because we finally get to find out the gender of our beloved Hamlet. Thursday Oct. 6 is the big day (John's birthday) and we are patiently waiting for our appointment. This weekend was also very special because my best friend Megan got to feel Hamlet kick while we were out shopping. She is the first person besides me to actually feel them. The past few nights I have felt lots of kicks but unfortunately John has been working and missed it. I am sure there will be lots of opportunities in the next few months.

Our little Mango will soon be revealed