And then there were 5........or should I say 6 (counting Chloe)

Yes, that's right! We are pregnant! Surprise! haha!
I know most of you already know our big news, but I'm behind on blogging about it.  So here it goes..

Michael and I were suprised this go around. We weren't actually "trying" to get pregnant. 

Baby fever started hitting me over the summer, so I became open to the idea.  We always said we wanted 3 kids; just didn't realize it was happening sooner than later.  :)

Up until this point, it was an overwhelming thought.  In November 2010, we added a maltipoo named Chloe to our family.  She is like having a third "child."  Thankfully, she's nearing the end of the puppy stage! We've all adjusted for the most part. Although, I still wonder at times why I gave in to getting that cute thang. 

Back to baby....Michael didn't believe me at first when I told him.  We actually both laughed about it and he said, "Go take another test."  Although I knew the episodes I was having made sense now that I was officially pregnant, part of me wanted that same reassurance.  I'm here to say, obviously, we now have 2 positive pregnancy tests....So funny...like it's our first time to be parents!

Reminds me when of when we found out we were pregnant with Kate. I took 3 tests, then went to Urgent Care and got a blood test before I believed it. Yea, the doctors laughed at me too. :)

When Maddie came along, I knew better and took the tests word for it. 

Anywho, I am 13 1/2 weeks along and I'm so thankful that I'm not due in June, again! Looks like our due date is gonna be May 4, 2012.  I am hoping my doc will induce me at the end of April. It sounds farther away from June than May. So, we'll see ;)

When I told the girls we were having another baby, it was easier telling them than I thought it'd be! Kate was really excited, and actually kept the secret until we announced it to everyone.  Maddie, on the other hand....well, she has her moments! She'll go from kissing my belly to saying "no way, no baby" when we talk about it, or when I mention seeing the baby at the doctor's office.  She has actually re-gressed to wanting a pacifier and bottle. (Which is funny, b'c before she refused both as a baby) I think she's wanting to make her mark as being "the only baby around here."   

Well, that's really all I have for now.  Hopefully by Thanksgiving we'll know if we having a boy or a girl.   So exciting! Other than the daily reminder I get from lil' peanut symptons; this pregnancy has gone by fast....if that makes sense. That's probably due to me having 2 other children, a dog and a husband.  Not to mention everything else.  It's so true, your kids grow way too fast!

Here is our 1st ultrasound and belly picture at 9 weeks:

Our Friday Night- Cooking with Kids!

                                                                  On the Menu:

Chicken Nuggets 

French Fries

 Green Beans

Chef: Mom

Mini Chef's-Kate and Maddie

Chicken Nuggets

(watch Food Inc's episode about Tyson foods- you won't ever eat a frozen chicken nugget again.....)

1/2 cup of flour, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp Maplehouse seasoning, 1 1/2 tsp pepper

(these are the spices I like for my chicken..use whatever you like!)

1 cup buttermilk-(I didn't have any so I used milk)

1 pkg Harvestland Brand Chicken Breast Thin-cut up into nuggets

Pan with hot vegetable or canola oil

Cut up the chicken and soak them in buttermilk, or if your like me and you don't have any...use reg. milk

Cover those babies with the flour mixture! Kate and Maddie did great at this!!

Fry until golden brown

Okay, so they made a big mess, but it was fun! :) They really enjoyed helping me cook!

I am very particular when it comes to bacteria and meat! Michael calls it "anal." It's serious stuff tho! You can get  really sick from salmonella, or get stapholocous...or whatever it's called! :P

Anyways, I really didn't like the idea of them messing with raw chicken, even though they used tongs, but I decided to chill-out about it!  Another point for Mom, letting go! :0)

I did have to stop Maddie at one point from sucking on her fingers though!!  

Of course, afterwards we washed our hands and our arms....up way past our elbows. :P

 I then cleaned the counter with antibacterial spray, cleaned the dishes, then we all washed our hands, yes, again. Lol! Okay....well I have to admit, I did wipe the counter down again and let it dry before we began the potatoes! Yes I guess I am a little anal, but I'd rather not have food poisioning! :)

All Done!!

It's soooo good!! Now get out your favorite sauces!!!

We like-Ranch, Honey Mustard, Ketchup and Bar-b-que

 On to the French Fries: These are pretty self explanatory.

It was soo cool for Katelyn.  I make potatoes in most all of it's other forms, but we normally don't make french fries at home, so this was a treat. 

 She didn't know fries were made from potatoes b'c she is used to only seeing them from

Chick-Fil-A or Restaurants! lol!

To have them at home, and her make them was soo cool to her!

We used 4 large potatoes. 

She was a good peeler!!

Maddie lost interest at this point...she decided to dance in the living room

 to the background music..all while in her apron! :)

I didn't get a picture of that!

Mommy took over from there and cut these potatoes into french fries! 

Fry until golden brown!

                                                                  

Green Beans

Frozen Green Beans- Pop those in the microwave with salt, pepper, bit of garlic and butter

Dinner is Served!!!  It was easy and we made fun memories while in the kitchen with the girls!!

Michael, one of 3 critics, even said it tasted good! Yay!

I love when a meal makes everyone in my family happy!

Now, onto dessert...I'm thinking Cookies, Milk, Then popcorn and a movie with the fam!!

Have a great weekend Everyone!