Living Room Spruce Up

Randomly this past Sunday, John and I were sitting watching TV and decided “Hey, let’s update our living room”. It was part nesting…part “We are about to have a new baby and lots of visitors coming over” that sparked our idea but it definitely needed an update. We rearranged the sectional to add room for Hamlet’s swing, moving one of the corner pieces to the opposite wall creating a little reading nook. We also got a new rug, curtains and blinds that match our décor better.  Having a new rug definitely puts my germ-aphobic mind at ease with having a new baby in the house. Who knows what was on that old one…ah! Next up, we plan to update our room. Might be a little while before we get to it but I can’t wait!

before closeup of old blinds and curtains

close-up

new reading nook

Kitchen Experiments: Cake Mix Cookies

WARNING THESE ARE NOT HEALTHY: STOP READING IF YOU ARE ON A DIET (YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO RESIST)

 So I admit it…I do make some non-healthy recipes every once in a while. And this recipe is the antithesis of diet friendly. My mom baked these cookies last week to bring to the hospital for John’s step-dad’s chemo treatments. We took one bite and I swear it was like a scene out of a movie where everything slows down and the song “Dreamweaver” starts playing…but seriously, John and I were shocked at how delicious they were and knew we had to make some ASAP!

I decided to bring them to our friend’s Super Bowl party hoping we would have extras to bring home. They are really good warmed up for a few seconds with ice-cream (and yes I am pregnant if you couldn't tell). Thanks mom for another amazing recipe.

This recipe allows for personalization depending on your taste. My mom used chocolate cake mix and chocolate chips I decided to go with chocolate chips, dark chocolate cake mix and mini Reese’s cups.

Cake Mix Cookies

Makes 3-4 dozen cookies

INGREDIENTS

1 box cake mix, any flavor (I used Dark Chocolate Fudge)

8 oz package cream cheese, room temperature

1 stick butter, room temperature

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup total of any add-ins you like (candy, chocolate chips, nuts or a mixture of any of them) I added one 12 oz bag of semi sweet chips and 1 bag of the Reese’s Mini Peanut Butter Cups

STEPS 

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Cream together the stick of butter and the cream cheese. 

whole stick of butter = amazing-nessss!

 3. Add egg and vanilla and mix until well blended. 

4. Stir in the cake mix a little at a time until it's all blended and then add any add-ins you like.

Is your mouth watering yet?

5. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto cookie sheets

6. Bake for 10 minutes, until edges are brown (watch carefully because every oven is different. Mine took about 12 minutes).

7. Set on a Cooling Rack to cool

j+k

Baby Hamra: 37 Weeks

Getting heavy

I can't believe we are just 3 short weeks away.
We had another appointment last thursday and I am still just 1 cm dilated but about 30 % effaced (which is the fancy word for thinning of the cervix). He was measuring about 38 weeks and had a healthy heart beat of 148.
His nursery is officially complete and we even rearranged the living room to make room for his swing. John was busy installing the car seats and I have packed my hospital bag. We even took our infant lifesaver class last week and learned CPR and safety tips for when we bring him home.

Bet at work on when he will arrive.

Hard to believe!

Baby Hamra 37 weeks

Countdown: 3 weeks or 20 days

Size: 19-22 inches
Weight: approx. 6-6.5 lbs (watermelon) - although Dr. thinks he is only about 5.5 lbs.
Fun Facts: Weight gain for baby can be about half an ounce per day. His head at birth will be the same size circumference as his hips, addomen and shoulders. baby's organs are fully developed and prepared for the outside world. 

2012 MO Sports Hall of Fame Induction

This past Sunday, John, my dad, Greg and I attended the 2012 Missouri Sport Hall of Fame 2012 Induction ceremony at the University Plaza Convention Center. We have gone in years past but this year was particularly special because we got to meet St. Louis Cardinals Jim Edmonds. The list of inductees was very impressive and even though I am not a huge sports buff I recognized a few of the names on the list. In college, I nannied for an awesome family who was very close friends to Jon Sundvold (an 2012 inductee), so I also babysat his kids a few times. It was cool to get to see them at the banquet supporting him as well as see Jon be inducted. He had quite the impressive basketball career with Mizzou, Seattle, San Antonio and with Miami.
We were able to get a few players to sign their cards for Hamlet’s baby book too.

Terrible pictures but at least we have one

 

2012 INDUCTEES
Click here to read more on each inductee and their bio

Jim Edmonds - Outfielder, St. Louis Cardinals

Emmitt Thomas - Cornerback, Kansas City Chiefs

Jon Sundvold - Guard, University of Missouri

Jamie Quirk - Catcher, Kansas City Royals

Mel Gray - Receiver, University of Missouri, St. Louis Football Cardinals

Al Onofrio - Football Coach, University of Missouri

Mickey Owen - Catcher, St. Louis Cardinals, Brooklyn Dodgers

Dr. Richard Lehman - Sports Medicine, St. Louis, MO

Rex Sinquefield - Chess, St. Louis, MO

Lawrence Walls - Football Coach, Sumner High School - St. Louis, MO

Jim Pearson - Golf/Football Coach, Kickapoo High School - Springfield, MO

Richard Hantak - NFL Official, St. Louis, MO

Ellen Port - Amateur Golf, St. Louis, MO

Clyde Lear - Sports Media, Jefferson City, MO

Gene Ruble - Basketball, Southwest Missouri State University

Columbia College - Volleyball, Columbia, MO

New Haven High School - Basketball, New Haven, MO

Baby Hamra: 36 weeks

We are 9 months!!! Can't believe how fast time has gone by and how little we have left.

This week we had our last birthing class and had our first weekly doctor's appointment.

Hamlet's heart rate was 140 and was he measuring 37 weeks (when we went we were 35 weeks 4 days, so about a week and a half ahead). Doctor also said we are 1 centimeter dialated and she thinks he is about 5 pounds now. I always assumed he'd be a big baby like me (I was 8 lbs 11 oz.) but she said she think she will be a smaller baby around 6.5-7 pounds. I am feeling really good and still working out/walking but I am definitely feeling more contractions, the most being on Tuesday when I felt 6 in 2 hours.

We picked up the final things we needed to for his arrival...monitor, pack 'n play, jogging stroller, baby bjorn and of course his coming home outfit (I'll save those pics for his birthday).  We are getting so excited and are anxiously counting down the days.

Baby Hamra 36 weeks (9 months)

Countdown: 4 weeks, 28 days

Size: 19-22 inches
Weight: approx. 5-5.5 lbs (melon/large canteloupe)
Fun Facts: By the end of this week baby is considered full term. This week, the fat is dimpling on the elbows and knees as well as forming creases in the neck and wrists. The baby's gums are very rigid.