Summer Beer

4th of July has come and gone but I can't let summer completely pass without sharing one of my favorite drink recipes...Summer Beer.  When I lived in STL, I never heard of the stuff but since moving to KC (six and a half years ago...eek!), I realized just what I was missing!

Ingredients

• 1 - 12oz can Frozen Pink Lemonade
• Vodka (don't worry if the brand is cheap because the flavor of the lemonade will mask the bite)
• 4 - 6 cans Light Beer (such as Bud Light)

Directions

• In a pitcher, empty the pink lemonade (saving the can)
• Fill the 12oz can with vodka and add it to the pitcher
• Add 4 - 6 cans light beer (depending on personal taste)
• Note: I prefer to add 6 cans of beer as the pink lemonade is a strong/sweet taste
• Mix & Enjoy!

Additional Notes

• I've never tried traditional frozen Lemonade or Limeade (instead of the Pink Lemonade) but I know folks who have and really enjoy it...totally depends on personal taste.
• I've found this to be a great recipe for both med and women...it's stout enough for guys and fruity enough for gals...a win-win situation!
• You can double, triple, etc. this recipe to serve a large group...just make sure you have a big enough container.  A group of guys I used to work with would make Summer Beer in one of those big Gatorade water jugs you see at baseball and football games...stick with the ratio above and make as much or a little as you'd like. 

Whooah, We’re Half Way There…

I can’t even believe it…TeamPug has officially reached the half way mark!

Last Friday, our third OB appointment started with a sonographer who preformed my mid-gestation ultrasound.  During the procedure, she took various measurements to ensure Puglet was on track growth-wise and confirm there were no obvious developmental issues.  We were able to see all sorts of awesome stuff…such as Puglet’s entire spine and 4-chamber beating heart…it was really incredible!  She also snuck a look at gender without JPug or me knowing!  She concealed gender in an envelope which we took to our local party store along with a huge cardboard box and asked them to fill it with the appropriate color balloons.  After our visit with the sonographer, we met the second of six doctors we’ll see over the next 20ish weeks.  I really liked this doctor and the experience at the office was better than our previous two visits…things are looking up!

That evening, we planned to have dinner with my folks (who came in from STL) and JPug’s folks.  Before heading to the restaurant, we opened the box all together and found out we’ll be having a little GIRL!

It's a Girl!

Other than the ultrasound, I don’t have much new information.  A friend of mine provided this short/regular survey to update folks on her pregnancy.  I really liked the idea so I’m totally stealing it…thanks Courtney!

How far along: 20 weeks

Size of baby: The length of a banana and about 10.5 ounces.

Total Weight Gain: 5.5 pounds.  I was down 5 pounds during the first trimester and I’ve gained that back plus an additional 5.5.  Although some of you may think 5 + 5.5 = 10.5, I’m sticking with 5.5…and pounds DO NOT round up.

Maternity Clothes: I’ve transitioned to empire waist dresses and maternity pants at work.  Some of my pre-pregnancy summer shorts still fit so I’m enjoying them while I still can.  I purchased a few belly bands but I find them to be uncomfortable…so it’s mostly dresses or maternity pants for me.

Sex: It’s a girl!

Movement: None yet…the sonographer said I have an anterior placenta (it’s along the front) which means Puglet will have to kick harder for me to feel her move.  From what I’ve read and what the doctor told me, it’s common for moms with anterior placentas to start feeling baby around 22 weeks.

Sleep: Pretty excellent…some nights I even sleep through the night without needing a potty break!  I find that I still sleep on my stomach or a version of stomach/side even when I try not to.  I doubt I’ll be able to sleep on my stomach much longer because my belly will get too big. 

What I Miss: Nothing really.  I’m definitely a gal who enjoys a good craft beer or margarita on hot summer days but I don’t find that I’ve minded the switch to lemonade or water one bit.

Cravings: None.

Symptoms: None…man, I’m boring and lucky at the same time!

What I’m Looking Forward To: My growing belly (and hopefully boobs), choosing various items for baby (the process is fun and exhausting/overwhelming at the same time) and our 3D ultrasound on Tuesday, 9/4.

Busy Bee - Part 2

Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 13^th)

Mother’s Day 2012 was an interesting one.  JPug and I knew we were expecting for nearly two months…went to numerous doctors’ appointments, ultrasounds and lab draws…but our parents had no idea.  We decided to keep the news from them so they wouldn’t worry…if we got to the 12 week mark and everything seemed to be ok, we’d share the news at that time. 

The Wednesday before mother’s day, 12 weeks came and went but we didn’t share our news.  As luck would have it, my mom was extremely busy and couldn’t get away from St. Louis for an entire weekend and TeamPug was pretty busy in KC too.  We decided to meet in Columbia, MO…half way for both families…to celebrate the day.  We enjoyed a yummy brunch at the University Club…the same place where JPug and I got married in 2007 and shared our news before the meal began. 

We pulled out gift bags for each person…JPug’s mom and dad, my mom, dad and stepdad.  In each bag was a baby gift customized to the recipient’s personality and pictures of our growing Puglet.  It was pretty special…and a great surprise…tears, laughter, excitement and a kooky story from my mom.  I would share video of the big reveal but JPug was in charge of the FlipCam and somehow managed to videotape my boobs for an entire minute so I’ll spare everyone that show.

All-in-all, it was a Mother’s Day the 7 of us likely won’t forget!

Second OB Appointment (Wednesday, May 23^rd)

Our second OB appointment went better than the first.  Still no…this is definitely the place for me…type feelings but at least I wasn’t as put off as I was the first time around.  After a few quick checks with the care assistant, she took us into the exam room and we heard Puglet’s heartbeat on a doppler…144 beats per minute.  This was the first appointment with Dr. K or the OB office that we didn’t have an ultrasound.  It’s too bad we weren’t able to see how Puglet is developing but hearing a strong heartbeat was definitely comforting.  After a waiting a few minutes, we met with the first of 6 doctors in the practice…I was happy to meet with a doctor rather than the nurse practioner.  All in all, the visit went pretty well…the provider was nice and answered our questions thoroughly.  Our next appointment, on Friday, June 29^th is a biggie.  We’ll have our mid-gestation ultrasound where the sonographer checks to ensure the baby is developing properly and if Puglet cooperates, we’ll find out if the baby is a boy or a girl.

Second Round Genetic Testing (Saturday, June 9^th)

On Saturday, June 9^th, I had my second and final round of labs drawn to complete our genetic testing series.  The draw itself was remarkably quick…once I checked in, I was finished and walking out of the building less than 10 minutes later.  The second round of testing checks for markers that could potentially signal genetic issues and is a more sensitive than the first round.  The genetic counselor we worked with at our previous appointment called the following week with good news…for all markers, my bloodwork came back as good as it could have been.  She said in lab result terms, we got an A+!

Present Day/19 Weeks (Wednesday, June 27^th)

As pregnancies go, I think I’ve had the easiest pregnancy imaginable.  If it wasn’t for my growing belly and lack of monthly cycle, I would never even know I was expecting.  After the tiredness of the first trimester wore off (which was truly my only symptom), I’ve been back to my normal self.  I started showing the past few weeks…transitioned to belly bands to make my regular pants more comfortable last week and took my first trip to Motherhood Maternity this past weekend.  Now I have some sweet maternity pants with a stretchy band that reaches all the way up to my bra.  Stylish?  Heck no…but wonderfully comfortable! 

I don’t think about being pregnant or the baby a whole lot.  I’m sure it’s because of our initial struggles and the fact that I’ve seen firsthand how things can fall apart in the blink of an eye.  I’m by no means consumed with fear nor am I blindly, wildly excited...I’d say I’m more cautiously optimistic than anything.  I go about my normal routine but take it easy if/when it’s necessary.  If we’re lucky enough for the entire process to work and I deliver a healthy, full-term baby in November, that’ll be amazing/wonderful/ fantastic but should a glitch in the process arise, we’ll take it all in stride.  For now, we’re just chugging along and hoping for the best.