10 on 10ish {october 2013}

I totally missed 10 on 10 this month, so this month I am just going to post 10 pictures from our everyday life that happend around the 10th.....hence the "10 on 10ish" title!!

 It makes me so happy to see notes like this come home in Pearson's folder. He loves his music class.  He is always coming home singing new songs! 

 For some reason MOPS Mondays always start like this.  He actually loves going, but getting there is always a battle.  This particular morning I think the coat is what really ticked him off.  He did not want to wear it but it was 46 degrees!!!

 A typical "school day lunch" for P-Man.  He usually eats almost all of it. He is such a good eater. 

 Our HUGE four family garage sale that we had at my grandma's house.  All together I think we made a little over $1,000.  I made almost $400 by myself. I was thrilled!!!

This is the crib and matress I got for $50 for Nash's room!! It's so cute!!

 And then I totally lucked out and got this dresser/changing table for $75.

I've been making Trader Joe's Chai Tea Lattes in the mornings that have been cold.  So yummy!!

 This kid loves cucumbers and ranch!!!

Pearson had a tea party at Lolly's house while I went to my new OB.  The next morning he asked me if we could have a "Tea Tea Party"! Ha!!

Pearson and Oliva hanging out in the car while I was picking up my double stroller off of Craigslist.  Pearson kept saying "Wooooowww!" since the sun roof was open. 

meal planning monday

Monday: Parmesan Chicken Bake & Caesar Salad

Tuesday: Matt: Work Event Me & P: Taco Soup

Wednesday: Easy Navajo Tacos

Thursday: Monterey Chicken, Baked Potatoes, & Roasted Green Beans

Friday: Anniversary Dinner @ Siciliano's Taste of Italy

Saturday Breakfast: $1 Chiloso Tacos

Saturday Lunch: Grilled Cheese & Tomato Basil Soup

Saturday Dinner: Chicken Poppyseed Casserole, Baked Rice & Salad

Sunday Lunch: Chicken Salad Sandwiches & Chips

Sunday Dinner: Dallas Moms Blog Date Night

baby no. 2 {20 weeks}

how far along? 20 weeks

how are you measuring? 3 days ahead according to the sono about a week ahead with the doctoring measuring my belly

size of baby? size of a banana 

heartbeat? 147 bpm (at our 18 week appointment) 

total weight gain/loss? 4 lbs 

maternity clothes? A mixture of regular clothes and maternity clothes.  Dresses and leggings are my go-to because it's just more comfy than squeezing into my regular pants or having to pull up my maternity pants. 

stretch marks? No new ones!

sleep? Most nights I wake up once to go to the bathroom.  I'm having to sleep on my side now full time because it really bothers me to sleep on my back. 

best moment this week? Name our sweet boy, Matt feeling him move, getting my house cleaned, buying a hand-me-down crib and dresser from a friend for $125 and picking out fabric for his nursery.

movement? Yes! For the last few weeks I was only feeling him in the evenings but now I'm feeling him more in the mornings too.  I typically don't feel him move much during the day, but he does kick around during the day sometimes.  His kicks are definitely getting stronger with each day.  On Friday morning Matt even felt one of his little kicks!!

food cravings? I can't get enough of my Honeycrisp Apples

gender predictions? BOY!!!! And his name is Nash Matthew Link

what i miss? My skinny jeans! We had our first boot wearing weather day and I still don't have any maternity skinny jeans to wear with my boots.
what i'm looking forward to? Getting started on his nursery.
how are you feeling? Great......other than a random cramp that I keep getting in my butt. 

comparisons to last pregnancy? Can't really think of anything!!

Here I am 20 weeks with Pearson and 20 weeks with Nash.

chevy after dark

On Tuesday night Matt and I got to have a little week night date night.  It pays to be a blogger sometimes!! Chevy contacted a handful of different local Mommy Bloggers and invited us and a guest to come to the State Fair and test drive their cars in the Chevy Ride and Drive Exhibit.  The closed it down from the public and we and about 15 other Mommy Bloggers and their guests had it to ourselves.  We didn't have to wait in any lines to drive the cars!!

We got to test drive a 2014 Silverado Double Cab, a 2014 Camaro Coupe, and a 2014 Impala, 

But the best car that we got to test drive was the 2014 Corvette Stingray!!!

To bad there's not enough room for two carseats in the backseat because I think I looked pretty good in this red Corvette!!

After we were finished test driving all of the car each of us were given 2 more tickets to come back to the fair and 20 coupons to spend!!  Since we were already in the Fair we walked around and spent our coupons!

We hadn't had dinner so we were both starving.  We spent all of our coupons on food!!  Matt got a famous Fletcher's corn dog. 

I'm not a fan of corn dogs so I always get a Corny Cheese! It's my must have at the fair!

We always like to try something new.  This year we tried the Fried Biscuit & Gravy.  It wasn't good at all.  I don't recommend it.

We also tried the Fried Spinach Dip Bites which were one of the award winners this year.  They were delicious.  It was too bad that we only got two of them because I could have eaten like ten of them! 

Our last stop before we headed home to get our little man was a Nutty Ice Cream Bar.  Sooooooo good! It's also one of my must haves.  

I'm so glad we got free tickets to go back so we can take Pearson and do some of the kid things with him.....and of course indulge in some more fried food!

project mom

Last weekend Carissa and I went to Project Mom.  Since it was in Allen, we were able to get away for the day but be back home for dinner with our boys!! We went to three different breakout sessions and they were all so informative: Growing Confident Children, Messy Mommyhood, and Creative Discipline for Every Child and Every Age. 

My favorite “take-away” was from the session taught by Rebecca Carrell titled “Messy Mommyhood”.  Social media makes us all feel like we have to be the perfect Mom or doing what the next Mom is doing but she really encouraged us to know that it’s okay to be a mess.  Messy Moms learn far more from their struggles than from their success.  It was encouraging to be reminded that I don’t have to try to be like any other Mom.  I am the only one that can be my kids Mom and I am exactly what they need!! 

I am already looking forward to next year’s Project Mom.  I can guarantee you that I’ll be there!  It was such a refreshing day to be surrounded by and encouraged by other Moms.  

GMT fall fashion day

Last week I, along with some other Dallas Moms Blog Contributors, had the opportunity to sit in the  audience of Good Morning Texas' Fall Fashion Day!

I didn't want to drive down to Dallas by myself so my sister in law joined me!! We had so much fun and even made a few appearances on TV!!

The show was all about fashion......hair, make-up, nails, clothes, shoes, accessories, & jewelry.  We both really enjoyed seeing how a live show is taped.  It was definitely a neat experience. 

 We also got to see Greg Fields tell us about the weather!!

 After the show we made a quick little stop at Trader Joe's to shop around and then we went to Zoe's Kitchen. It's probably my new favorite place!! Apparently there is a good Greek Restaurant very close to where I need to live so I need to go check it out!!

Did any of you see me on TV??

desktop {october 2013}

he has a name.....

This video is just audio, but I just love hearing Pearson say his baby brother's name.  I tried to get him on camera saying it, but he wouldn't cooperate.  He says, "Baby Nash" all the time now and it melts my heart every single time. 

meal planning monday

Monday: Cornflake Chicken, Cracker Barrel Potato Casserole, Veggies, & Rolls

Tuesday: Date Night @ The Fair

Wednesday: Out before Small Group

Thursday: Three Cheese and Chicken Ravioli, Garlic Parmesan Toast, and Roasted Green Beans

Friday: Parent Night Out

Saturday Breakfast: Sausage Biscuits

Saturday Lunch: Mac N Cheese

Saturday Dinner: Me & P: Fuddrucker's Matt: BU Football Game

Sunday Lunch: Taco Soup & Cornbread

Sunday Dinner: BOGO Pei Wei Coupon

Baby No. 2 {19 weeks}

how far along? 19 weeks

how are you measuring? 3 days ahead according to the sono about a week ahead with the doctoring measuring my belly

size of baby? size of a large tomato 

heartbeat? 147 bpm 

total weight gain/loss? 3 lbs (All of my free birthday food finally caught up to me.  Thankfully birthday month is over because it's time to get back to eating healthy, trying to work out, and not gaining 40 lbs this pregnancy!!)

maternity clothes? A mixture of regular clothes and maternity clothes.  Picking out clothes is SO annoying these days.  Most real clothes feel tight but maternity clothes feel to big.   

stretch marks? Nope.  Lotioning up and hoping to not add to the few my Sweet P gave me.  

sleep? Most nights I wake up once but for some reason I woke up 5 times last night to go to the bathroom.  Hoping that doesn't become the norm because I need some interrupted sleep. 

best moment this week? Finding out we are having a boy!!

movement? Yes! And it's getting stronger each day.  It's strong enough where I can feel it without my hands on my belly, but Matt still can't feel it yet.  As I'm typing this he is kicking away! Love this feeling.  

food cravings? Honeycrisp Apples

gender predictions? We were all wrong, but we couldn't be happier that we are adding another little boy to our family.  Pearson and Baby Boy are going to have so much fun together.  I have to add that Tuesday morning I woke up really thinking we were having a boy even after thinking it was a girl for the last few weeks.  

what i miss? Working out, feeling like I am in shape, having more energy and fitting into my clothes.  Can you tell I miss my body?? I'm feeling huge today!!
what i'm looking forward to? Announcing our baby's name.  I don't like to have a no-name baby so I immediately starting thinking of boy names after we found out.  We have decided on a name and we have told some friends and family.  I will announce it on the blog sometime this week!!
how are you feeling? Pretty good.  I still feel like I have to eat breakfast very shortly after I get up.  I already feel big. Ugh. 

comparisons to last pregnancy? At this point with Pearson I was still unsure if I was feeling him move or not.  It's crazy because this one's kicks are so obvious.  I'm feel very pregnant way earlier than I did with Pearson. 

Here I am 19 weeks with Pearson and 19 weeks with Baby No. 2.

gender reveal play dough

 Back in the day when I taught Kindergarten, on the first day of school I made Magic Playdough.  I filled plain colored playdough with food coloring and told the kiddos that if it changed colors were were going to have a great year!! When I was trying to come up with a way to tell our parents if we were having a boy or girl, I just knew this would be the perfect way to do it.  

I follow this easy recipe for making playdough......

1 c. flour

1/2 cup salt

1 c. water

1 T. oil

2 tsp. cream of tarter

Mix flour, salt, and cream of tartar in a heavy saucepan. Combine water, oil and food coloring and slowly pour into flour mixture, stirring constantly, and cook over medium heat. Cook and stir until it forms a ball and pulls away from the sides of the pan. Turn out onto wax paper. After it cools a little, keep in a Ziploc bag.

After I made the playdough, I rolled it into small balls and stored it in little ziploc bags.  I packed red and blue food coloring to fill the playdough with after we found out what we were having.  To fill the play dough, I just pointed my finger into the playdough to make a little hole.  (Be sure not to poke to close to the bottom or it will show through.)  I put 5 blue food coloring drops in each playdough ball. After filling it with food coloring, carefully seal the hole where the color can not be seen!

I made this little image to decorate the playdough cup.  

{To re-use this image, just right click on it, save image, and insert it on your labels. }

And here is the final product before we took them to our families!! I thought they turned out so cute!! I just wrapped them up in little cellophane baggies from Hobby. I loved how I was able to re-use an idea I already had and that it was an idea that included Pearson in the reveal.

We met my parents (who brought Pearson with them) and Matt's parents at Grimaldi's for dinner.  We had a cup of playdough for each of our parents and then one for Pearson!!

 "I'm supposed to do what with the playdough Mommy?"

 Pearson was a little slow getting the color to show through on his playdough so the grandparents went ahead and squished theirs.  They couldn't wait to find out.  

 By the expressions on their faces I would say they are pretty excited about our sweet little boy on the way.  

 "Wait, what are they so excited about?"

 My big boy playing with the playdough announcing my little boy! 

After announcing our baby boy to the family we all had fun playing with the playdough.  

It was the perfect way to entertain Pearson until our food got there.  

 We are absolutely thrilled to be welcoming another little boy into The Link Home.  Pearson will make the best big brother.  We can't wait to watch our boys be the best of friends.  With Matt having two sisters and me having two brothers, neither of us got to experience a same sex sibling.  I'm excited that we will get to experience that special relationship through our boys.  

 Lots of fun times ahead for us!!

It's a.....

I am officially WAY outnumbered! 

We are so excited for Pearson to have a little brother! 

big day

Today is the big day!! We find out the gender of our baby!! 

(as long as he or she cooperates)

What do you think we are having???

meal planning monday

Monday: Breakfast Tacos

Tuesday:  Baby Gender Reveal with family @ Grimaldi's

Wednesday: Which Wich

Thursday: Lasagna, Mixed Veggies, & Parmesan Toast

Friday: BBQ Meatballs, Mashed Potatoes, Mixed Veggies, Cole Slaw & Rolls

Saturday Breakfast: Blueberry Muffins

Saturday Lunch: Ham Rolls, Chips, & Fruit

Saturday Dinner: Leftovers

Sunday Lunch: __________ for Matt's Birthday!!

Sunday Dinner: Matt's Choice: Bacon Wrapped Jalepeno's, PW Queso,
& __________ and Banana Pudding 

Baby No. 2 {18 weeks}

how far along? 18 weeks

how are you measuring? We'll see on Tuesday!

size of baby? size of a bell pepper

heartbeat? 180's bpm (at our 13 week appt)

total weight gain/loss? 1.6 lbs (I am amazed that I only gained .6 lbs with all of the free birthday food. I was really afraid I was going to have to explain a 5 pound weight gain to my doctor on Tuesday!!)

maternity clothes? I'm wearing some of both.  It just depends on what I feel like wearing.  Regular clothes are getting on the tight side yet maternity clothes are a little on the big side.  Just mixing it up a little trying to find things to wear each day.  I'm not really a fan of the Bella Band this go round. 

stretch marks? Nope.  And I've decided that the lighting in my bathroom is awful.  I can totally see the few stretch mark Pearson gave me when I'm in the bathroom but when I'm in any other room I can't seem to find them.  I'm just going to stay out of our bathroom!!

sleep?  I'm just waking up once a night to go the bathroom.  I have no problem falling asleep but I feel like I've been restless this week.  I'm starting to feel uncomfortable on my back already so I'm forced to sleep on my side.  When I sleep on my side I have to constantly switch and with the switch I have to move my "belly pillow" with me.  Ugh, sleep is just no fun when you are pregnant......and I'm not even very big yet.  I've got a long way to go. 

best moment this week? Oh my goodness, the weather was unbelievable this weekend.  We enjoyed multiple walks again this week and it feel sooooooo good to get moving again.  I also had  an amazing 29th birthday.  I had such a good day spending time with one of my friends during the family and then my little family of 3 in the evening. 

movement? Yes! It's just here and there though.  Mainly at night. I can't wait until I can feel kicks all the time!!  It's the best part of pregnancy. 

food cravings? Free food...ha! All of my free birthday food has tasted so good!! 

gender predictions? My official vote for this baby is girl!  We would love to have a little girl to throw some pink into the mix but the thought of little brothers sounds pretty fun too.  We can't wait to find out in two days. Matt and Pearson also think its a girl.  I guess we will all be wrong or right!! But no matter what we know that God chose the right sex for Baby #2 in our family!! 

what i miss? I miss my clothes all fitting perfectly.  This in between stage really stinks.  It's such a pain picking out clothes for the day.  I'm ready to just be in all maternity clothes so I at least don't have to think about what fits. 
what i'm looking forward to? Our appointment on Tuesday. We find out the sex of our baby!!!
how are you feeling? No complaints here!!

comparisons to last pregnancy? I am already feeling very pregnant at night when I sleep.  I have had some round ligament pains already too.  I definitely feel like I'm feeling the pains of pregnancy sooner this go round.  I also do not like wearing the Bella Band.  It's just not comfortable. I've been much more laid back this pregnancy with the cokes and lunch meat.

Here I am 18 weeks with Pearson and 18 weeks with Baby No. 2.