Changes

Friday marked the day of our first ultrasound! It was a wonderful end to the week. Prior to Friday we had our 4 year wedding anniversary (7 years of being together!), we headed down to California, my home state, to spend time with family and friends, and finished Winter term of school. On Friday we also applied for an apartment! Fingers crossed that we get it. It seems that 2013 is a year destined for changes! At first it was hard to imagine and honestly hard to deal with all of the changes that are and will be happening this year. But as the days and weeks fly by the more I try to enjoy every moment. I start my new temporary position this upcoming week that will last through my pregnancy, it will be challenging and I have definitely been needing some mental stimulation! Seeing our baby grow and being reassured that everything is okay is making this pregnancy so much better. I am getting pretty excited. Changes, while hard at the beginning, can be a gust of fresh air.

Bebe (French for baby, not the baby's name), is 14 weeks old! Only 6 more weeks and we can find out the gender and do our gender reveal party!! Unfortunately, due to how busy we were the last week we did not get names for week 13... weeks 14 will be up soon.

Onward and up! =)

Homemade Cleaner

It took me forever to find a recipe for non-toxic cleaner. I was so happy to find one with simple ingredients  and it cleans, and smells great!

All-Purpose Disinfectant Cleaner*

• Essential oil of lavender (15 drops)
• Essential tea tree oil (15 drops)
• Reusable squirt bottle 
• Natural soap (3-5drops)
• Water (2 cups)

1. Mix water, oils, and natural soap into a measuring cup. 

2. Pour into squirt bottle. It is as easy as that. 

~For the natural soap I use Dr. Bronners. For this recipe you can use any of the scents because so little is used, however, the unscented and lavender go nicely with this recipe.

~The squirt bottles I use usually take 4 cups so I repeat instructions 1 & 2.

~Give the bottle a little shake before use and you are good to go. 

~I use this in the kitchen, bathroom, tables, and pretty much anything that needs to be cleaned other then fabric and glass (it will streak from the oil). 

*Please note DO NOT USE if you are allergic to any of the ingredients!

For more non toxic cleaning recipes and this one visit HERE.

Heartbeat

Today we went to the midwifes and heard Bebe's heart beat... It was the weirdest and most elating feeling that I have ever felt. After the appointment I was so happy. Through the last 12 (almost 13) weeks I have been about neutral about this whole situation. Today was the first day I felt excitement... maybe because the reality is setting in. I am growing a whole new person... Their heart is beating 160 beats per minute right at this moment. This is going to be an incredible journey.

In addition, my midwife, Michelle, IS AMAZING. Exactly what I need in every way support wise & personality wise! Hurray! Dare I say I am getting excited... MAYBE!=) I started a name journal where each week Jeff and I are writing our favorite names for a boy and girl just to see how it changes. I will do week 12's tonight but week 11 was as follows:

Jeff                                 Ashley

Archer                             Lucas

Saydie                             Fallon
Week 12
Julian                              William
Aurora                         Mariposa