"Pregnancy Brain"

Pregnancy Brain.  It is a strange phenomenon but is it just a myth?  I personally used to think so but since being pregnant this time, I am a believer!

Mostly associated with menory loss, 'pregnancy brain' is also described as a brain fog.  For me, both memory loss and just a general fog have been part of every day life lately.  It's frustrating because I have not been the most dependable person lately but "pregnancy brain" just doesn't seem like a plausible excuse.   I just feel even more stupid telling someone the reason I forgot to return their call was because I'm pregnant.  So, I just resolve myself to letting people think I am an idiot.  I don't return calls, forget to reply to messages/emails, forget about nursery duty, etc...  I literally can't remember anything. 

Then, there's just the 'brain fart' episodes where I make ridiculous mistakes like, not adding butter to the pan when making scrambled eggs (which I quickly remembered as soon as they started sticking to the pan), letting Hayden go to nursery with pee on his shirt instead of taking it off when I noticed he had gotten it on his shirt (I didn't pack an extra) or not using the provided shower cap when getting a spray tan (I guess I was trying to tan my hair as well.)  Or the worst one (and maybe most embarassing), forgetting to pay the credit card bill last month which we have never missed a single payment the entire 6 years we have been married.  I almost cried because I'm somewhat obsessed with making sure we have excellent credit but that's neither here nor there...I'm heading off on a rabbit trail...
  
The things I listed may seem trivial or funny to some, but they're somewhat worrysome to me.  I keep wondering what would happen if I had to administer medicine to Hayden or if I were to completely forget something important.  I just hope this little pregnacy induced brain fog gets better soon so I can't stop being the most scatter-brained person ever! 

I am also beginning to wonder if this whole 'pregnancy brain' can be transferred to spouses?  Jeff is complaining of similar symptoms lately and says that he is forgetting how to play (drums at church) to very familiar songs, etc.  I mean, he did gain weight with me in my last pregnancy, maybe this is what he is joining me in this time around?  ;)

So, what about you?  Do you think pregnacy brain is just a myth?  Or do you have a fun story or examples of how pregnancy brain affected you (or someone you are close to?)  Leave a comment! 



p.s. sorry for the post slacking lately, we have a LOT going on at our house right now and are in the middle of adding a bonus room.  I can't wait to show it to you and show you some decorating ideas I have for the room!


All photos taken by Kristen (blog author) unless otherwise stated. Do not copy/save or print without permission. Thank you!

Today We Found Out...

All photos taken by Kristen (blog author) unless otherwise stated. Do not copy/save or print without permission. Thank you!

Budget-friendly Backsplash

l have wanted to do a backsplash in our kitchen for a while but couldn't decide on what I wanted it to look like.  I was trying to consider things other than tile since that would have been a little expensive.  I thought about the tin-looking stuff but it just didn't fit with the rest of my style.  Beadboard was the perfect inexpensive, yet casual option! 

You can get a sheet of beadboard for around $20 at Home Depot.  We only had to use one sheet since our kitchen is small (waaaaaay cheaper than a tile backsplash, right?!)

Now, you do have to get a few more supplies such as paint (the beadboard comes primed but you will want to fill in the nail holes and any seams, then paint over everything with a couple coats of trim paint.)

Speaking of trim, you will need that as well....

We chose a simple trim to go along all the edges (top, bottom and sides) of the beadboard to give it a finished look.)  The trim cost more than the beadboard at a little over $40.

My hubby installed this pretty quickly with a nail gun and air compressor.  If you don't have one, you could nail it by hand, it would just take a little longer ;) 

He cut the openings for the outlets (which is probably the trickiest part.)  He cut the trim using a simple miter box and hand saw since we don't have a big miter saw. 

This is a pretty easy DIY project that you could easily do in a weekend that adds a lot of character for very little cost!  Depending on the size of your kitchen, you could do this project for under $100 (like we did.) 

I am so happy with the result!

Please ignore my hideous "bathroom" hand towel...my kitchen towels have a tendency of disappearing...

All photos taken by Kristen (blog author) unless otherwise stated. Do not copy/save or print without permission. Thank you!

Two.

Two.  It's the dreaded age.  Hayden has only been two for a few months now and I can honestly say, I think we are full-on into the "terrible two's!" 

(For this post, I should have taken pics of him throwing one of his 3457 fits today because these images are a little deceiving!)

This little guy is stubborn, strong-willed, defiant and independent.  He can be very compliant and sweet one day and then melt down over everything the next.  Today was one of those melt-down days.  Perfect because one of my friends came over with her kids for a playdate (who happens to have a great blog, check her out!)  Anyhoo, she got to see first hand the not-so-nice side of my two year old.  I think her poor kids had to play mostly by themselves since Hayden was being a meanie.  But I could tell she understood and had been there.  It's all part of motherhood :)

Aside from the meanness, Hayden is learning and doing so much.  He has been potty trained for a while and does great with it.  He still wears a diaper when he sleeps but during the day, he goes potty on his own.  He is still learning how to 'aim' so that he doesn't pee everywhere and that is something that we're working on.  Kinda hard when he says adamantly "I do it!!!!!" when he goes potty and doesn't want any help. 

He is learning his night time prayer "Now I Lay Me."  It's SO cute to hear him saying it and he wants to say it several times in a row (probably just stalling to go to bed...) 

He loves to sing his favorite songs around the house.  "You Got a Friend in Me" is his all-time fav since it's from Toy Story (his fav movie that he watches every day...either #1, #2 or #3.)  But he also loves a song called "Turning Tables" by Adele.  It's hilarious to hear him sing it as a two year old but it's SO cute.  He also sings the Barney "I Love You" song and randomly "Happy Birthday."  ha!  That reminds me.  He calls all cake "happy birthday cake" because most of the time when he eats cake, we are at a birthday party.  He is so silly. 

He recently discovered matchbox cars and is a bit obsessed...

And we keep buying them because they are cheap but 1) they are only 'cheap' if you don't buy several per week  2) they will quickly take over your house.

Him and daddy play cars for hours.  They know how many he has and the names of them.  If Hayden is missing one, he is asking where it is and daddy is searching the house to find it. 

He is also old enough to start in AWANA at our church.  He will be in the Puggles and I'm so excited.  I can't believe how quick my 'baby' is growing up.  Soon he will be a big brother!

All photos taken by Kristen (blog author) unless otherwise stated. Do not copy/save or print without permission. Thank you!

Hump Day Blues

Today I am doing something I haven't done in a long time....post some pictures of my little man (albeit random pictures taken over the past couple of months, but pictures nonetheless... :)  I've been slacking in that area lately but today I really need a reason to smile.  Note: This is a bit of random pictures with random thoughts mixed in along the way....sorry if this post seems negative, I like to keep my blog a happy place but I guess I've just had a bit of a bad day (don't we all get those sometimes?)


(4th of July)

Sometimes it's hard for me to let go of things that people say or do.  I tend to let my frustration 'fester.'

(stealing uncle Brandon's food at The Cheesecake Factory.)

Then I have to remind myself of what is truly important and how blessed I am and it helps (some.)  ha!

Because the truth is, petty things that bother me just don't matter in the grand scheme of things.

(wearing at least 5 pair of underwear at once...)

  If something tragic happened to me, I would not care that someone upset me the day before.  So, I just have to count my blessings and remind myself not to sweat the small stuff because it doesn't really matter!

I also need to get better at this forgiveness thing.  When I am hurt, I find it so hard to forgive and I hold grudges.  I know that it's wrong and I can't expect God to forgive me when I can't forgive others so I really need to work on that. 

We all have our flaws and these are a few of mine.  I am trying to work on them to be a better friend, mother, wife, daughter and all-around person.  In spite of my flaws, I am blessed with some wonderful friends who put up with me and my 'stuff' as well as my wonderful hubby who is more than patient and understanding with me.  He is the one person I can rely on to always be in my corner.

All photos taken by Kristen (blog author) unless otherwise stated. Do not copy/save or print without permission. Thank you!

Scalloped Potato Casserole

This recipe is a concoction that my mom came up with and I have made it several times since Jeff and I got married.  I like this dinner dish because #1. Its super EASY.  #2.  It is made with ingredients that I always have on hand so it's a great dish for days when you need to go to the grocery store and the cabinets are a bit bare.  #3. Its cheap.  Nuf said.

What you will need:

One of the following meats: diced ham, 1/2 lb to 1lb ground beef, diced chicken breast (you could even use leftover rotisserie chicken.)

1 box of scalloped or au gratin potatoes.  I have even used Rosemary herb potatoes before and it was delicious.  You can really use any kind of box potatoes that you like. 

1 can of cream of mushroom soup.  You could also use cream of celery.  Again, its whatever you like (or have on hand.) 

1 can of green beans (or peas if you like)

I also add a can of sliced carrots.  I love canned carrots in this dish.  Today when I made it I only had frozen diced carrots and I like the sliced ones better :)

Shredded cheese

Butter, milk and water for the potatoes.

Cook the meat (unless you are using pre-packaged ham which is my favorite meat for this dish, I just think it goes great with the potatoes.)  I ended up using some sliced spiral ham that I had in the freezer today and it worked fine but they have the packaged diced ham in the lunchmeat section and its perfect for this dish.  1/2 a package is more than enough.  Just measure out however much you want.   

Prepare the potatoes according to the instructions on the box.  Add the soup, meat and veggies.  If needed, add a bit more milk (I usually do not.)

Add the shredded cheese to the top and bake at temp suggested on the box but add more time due to additional ingredients.  I usually bake mine for about an hour.  You can check it after 45 mins or so but make sure the potatoes are fully done (soft) and aren't still firm.  

The cheese will brown so if you want, you can add it after 20-30 mins of baking.  You could also cover the dish, but I think that prevents the potatoes from cooking as quickly (or at least that is how it seems to me.)  

Yields at least 4 hearty servings.  I make it for just us so it's perfect for leftovers the next day!   This dish is great with biscuits so be sure to bake some up while the casserole is cooling (it comes out piping hot and will need to cool for several minutes before serving.)    

Enjoy!

All photos taken by Kristen (blog author) unless otherwise stated. Do not copy/save or print without permission. Thank you!