Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Banana Bread


I will say, that banana bread is hands down my favorite bread to bake. It's an easy breakfast or snack. It's perfectly sweet without being too sweet. I've used this recipe time and time again with adults and kids alike; it hasn't failed me yet! Kids love to make this recipe with you and it's easy because you don't need a mixer to make this bread. It doesn't need to be perfect either so... DON'T OVER MIX!! :) 


Ingredients: 
  1. 3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed
  2. 1/3 cup melted butter
  3. 1/2 cup sugar 
  4. 1/2 cup brown sugar (you can reduce this to 1/4)
  5. 1 egg, beaten
  6. 1 teaspoon vanilla
  7. 1 teaspoon baking soda
  8. Pinch of salt
  9. 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
Directions: 
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F 
  2. In a large bowl combine butter, mashed bananas.  egg and vanilla. 
  3. Add in flour, sugars, salt and baking soda to wet mixture. 

  4. Pour batter into buttered 4x8 inch loaf pan. 
  5. Bake for 1 hour and let cool before cutting.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Welcome to the World Haidyn Bayne Wells- The Birth Story


On week 39 and 3 days (April 13, 2014), I walked around the Sparks Marina with Jon in hopes to speed time up. I wanted the baby to come before Jon shipped off to boot camp. It was really important that they would meet. So many people had suggested doing so many ludicrous things to get the baby to get here faster and I figured that walking wasn’t something that was out of the ordinary.. and honestly what are the chances that the baby would come out right after. After our brisk walk around the marina (and many dirty glances later) we stopped by Tacos el Rey (my favorite) for a takeout dinner. I ordered so much because finally food started to look and sound good again after puking everything I ate up the last few days.

At the dinner table, we were all laughing and conversing when I suddenly had the urge to pee. However, this urge felt different. I couldn’t stop it no matter what. It didn’t smell like pee nor did it look like it. I couldn’t believe it; this was NOT my water breaking right now. I told Waymon and Jon, “I did keegels! And it didn’t stop.  I think my water broke.” Confused as hell my husband and brother told me that if it happened again then we would go to the hospital. So, we waited… Everyone cleared out of the kitchen and went our separate ways trying to do our best and catch up on some sleep. I went to the bathroom numerous times and nothing but pee came out. I was a little disappointed. Why was nothing happening? At 5 am, April 14th, 2014, my husband woke up for work and I went to the bathroom again. My underwear was damp and not from pee. I told him that we had to go to the hospital to get checked just in case. We packed everything in the car and drove to the hospital.

As we checked into triage, I was told that I was to undergo 3 tests to see if my water had indeed ruptured. I took all of the tests and patiently waited an hour for the results to come back. I felt so silly taking all of the tests and being hooked up to all of these monitors. I felt like they were going to send me back home and I was just going to go about my daily business. At 7:30 am, the nurse stepped in and told us that we were going to be admitted due to my water being ruptured. I looked at my husband in disbelief. We were going to have a baby soon. It was actually happening. My mother-in-law, Tracey, came by right after we got the news as did Stacy. Everyone was in a light and cheerful mood.

















We checked into Labor and Delivery and was checked by my OBGYN. I was having contractions but I wasn’t feeling them at all. The latter scared the doctor a bit since my water broke at 8:30 pm the night before. I should have been feeling something. He gave me a chance and put me on pitocin to speed things up. Contractions came and I didn’t feel much until 5 hours into labor and pitocin was off. Baby girl wasn’t responding to pitocin. I chose to get an epidural to help me up the pitocin and have my contractions come faster and stronger.  I went from dilated from a fingertip to a 1cm in an hour, 1 cm to 2cm in 2 hours, 2 cm to 3cm in 3 hours and 3 cm to 4cm in 4 hours and suddenly everything came to a screeching halt. We thought that we would be able to continue with the labor on my own, but after waiting another 4 hours for things to change at 8:45 pm I stayed at 4 cm. At that point, we needed to get the baby out due to my water breaking 24 hours prior. Emergency C-Section we went.






I was terrified of the fact that I needed to get an emergency C-section. I felt awful at the fact that I didn’t come sooner so that baby girl would have time come out on her own. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know how to feel about anything anymore. My baby girl was going to be here tonight with me. I wasn’t going to be able to hold her until 2 hours after my surgery. I couldn’t be with Waymon until everything was well underway in the operating room. I was shaking in the operating room. I was nervous. After a while, I didn’t feel anything below my chest. I started to fall asleep from all of the drugs I was given. There was no pain at all during surgery. I felt the tugging and pulling, nothing else. At 10:11 pm, I heard baby girl cry for the first time. I couldn’t see her, but I could hear her. I cried. It was the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard in my life. Waymon whispered, “She’s here and she’s so beautiful.” I couldn’t believe that I was a mom. I couldn’t believe that after all of this time waiting she was finally here. The nurses cleaned her up and gave her to Waymon. I saw a glimpse of her while Waymon was holding her. I cried seeing my family for the first time. They were perfect.



 I couldn’t be any happier with everything. I fell asleep soon after Waymon and I parted. I was in recovery with for an hour to make sure that everything with me was okay. Waymon came to visit me telling me how beautiful and perfect baby girl is. He showed me a picture of her. I couldn’t believe it. After that hour of monitoring me, I was checked into my room. I waited another hour to see baby girl for myself. I couldn’t wait. I was anxious. I was so happy to see everyone I loved, but I just wanted to see her.




At 2:10 am April 15th, 2014, I finally got to hold my baby girl. I didn’t feel like a mom yet. I couldn’t believe that she came out of me. I couldn’t believe that, she was the one kicking me from the inside. I couldn’t believe that she was one that I spent the last 9 months with.  Waymon was right. She is perfect. She is beautiful. She’s everything I could have ever asked for. I didn’t want anything else more in my life, more than I wanted her.











On April 14, 2014, Waymon and I welcomed Haidyn Bayne Wells into the world at 10:11 pm. She weighed 6lbs 15 oz and measured at 18in long. 

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Overnight Oats


It's a struggle for me in the morning to get something together to eat in the morning. Every day, I contemplate on what I'm going to eat. I go through about 10 different things I COULD eat before actually choosing something to eat. This week I didn't want to go through that hassle and decided to stick with my trusty overnight oats.

This is really easy to make and really good to eat. Trust me!

Ingredients:

  • fruits ( I like to use berries) 
  • soy milk ( you could use almond or regular) 
  • greek yogurt ( I like to Fage, but this is what I had in the fridge) 
  • Chia seeds 
  • Flax seeds *optional
  • Plain oats 
Directions: 
  1. Place 1/3 cup of oats in your containers
  2. Add in 1/4 cup yogurt 
  3. Add in 1 tsp or so of chia seeds 
  4. Add in 1/2 tablespoon of flaxseeds 
  5. Add in chopped berries, as many or as little as you'd like
  6. Add in 1/2 cup or so of milk 



I don't stir my oat meal when I make it. I like to stir it all right when I eat it. You could add more milk if you need more. I love my oatmeal really thick and creamy and this consistency has always worked for me.  These will last me the rest of the week. I wouldn't make more than 5 of them at once. 

Pumpkin Week


How far along?  39 weeks . 7 more days....unless she decides to debut later :( We really just want to meet her already! 


Total weight gain/loss: 147.6 lbs this week. +0.6lbs up from last week and an overall gain of +29.1lbs.  

Maternity clothes?  Belly band and belly belt :) 

Stretch marks? The marks are underneath my belly (like before) and now creeping up above my belly button due to her dropping. 

Sleep: I would honestly just love a nap. I can't seem to catch one even if I wear myself out. Sleeping at night is starting to be a struggle due to my belly being so big. 

Best moments this week:I've had two moments this week: 
1. Baby girl is head down when we went to the doctor. She is unfortunately big for me. Hence the stretch marks. She's estimating at 7lbs and 13oz. If that really is her weight... I'm blaming my husband. :) She is healthy and happy in my belly. I am scared of the latter since I really want her out now so that she can meet her Uncle Jon before he leaves. Time will tell. I thought that she'd have my grandma's birthday (April 11th) , but at this point I think she may be making her debut a little late. 
2.Hearing that my Mom is cancer free. After 13 years of doctors appointments. I couldn't believe it when she told me the news. I wanted to cry, but I knew that she would start crying too. I AM SO HAPPY for my mom. I remember the day that she told me had cancer and I didn't know what to do. Every day was a struggle for her. I remember helping her in any which way I could help her. I remember when she asked me to shave her head for her because she was losing all of her hair. I remember seeing her under go treatment and holding her hand. She never cried nor did she complain about how hard it was. She went to work everyday and didn't take any time off. We didn't treat her any different because that's what she asked us to do. And now, I only wish I could have half of the strength she has. It's unbelievable looking back at all of it now. My mom is truly amazing. 

Miss anything?  I miss peeing normally. 

Movement: She's active early in the morning and at night. She favors the left side of my belly. I look like an alien haha. 

Food cravings: I'm over eating food. I just don't enjoy it as much as I use to. I'd rather drink gallons of water. And no I'm not starving myself...I just know when I'm full. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope nothing! 

Gender: baby girl wells

Labor signs: I've had a quite a few sharp back pains. A little pain in my belly- baby contractions. Nothing really major. Lightening definitely. Her head is down and in position already and I can feel ALL of the pressure. OH and TONS of Braxton Hicks! 

Symptoms: Feet swelling a bit, rush of blood to my hands and feet, chubby face, dry skin, nausea, constantly peeing, tired, blurred vision.... at this point I'm just very pregnant. 

Belly button in or out? In... but there's almost no belly button hole. haha it's really funny. 

Wedding rings on or off? On, but it's so loose now.  

Happy or moody most of the time:  VERY VERY HAPPY! I could literally explode from it! 

Looking forward to:  Meeting my baby girl hopefully soon! 

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Watermelon Week




How far along?  38 weeks.... 14 days and counting. 

Total weight gain/loss: 147 lbs this week. +0.8lbs up from last week and an overall gain of +28.5lbs.  

Maternity clothes?  Belly band :) 

Stretch marks? Same ol' marks. 

Sleep: I'm sleeping ehh.. okay this week. I'm getting up more to go to the bathroom and that in itself is a struggle.  

Best moments this week:
Having our little family hang out in baby girl's room last night. I read to her. Daddy talked to and kissed her. Sass was listening to her. We are all equally excited to have her here with us. 

Miss anything?  I miss seeing my feet right now. Along with that... I miss not having to huff and puff from point A to point B. 

Movement: I was telling Waymon the other night that I swear she is "Pop, Lock & Droppin" it in my stomach. This girl is always doing something crazy. 

Food cravings: More and more fluids for me. I'm always parched. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nothing in particular. Last night/early this morning I was sick to my stomach out of nowhere.

Gender: baby girl

Labor signs: I'm not quite sure at this point. My back has sharp pains every so often. My pelvis is sore. That's all that I can think of. I'm also not going to make her come out any faster than she has to. I'm content with whenever she decides to come out.  

Symptoms: Lots of Braxton Hicks. Lightening? I guess is the word. I can breathe a lot better now. :D 

Belly button in or out? In! 

Wedding rings on or off? On, but it's so loose now.  

Happy or moody most of the time:  VERY VERY HAPPY! I could literally explode from it! 

Looking forward to:  Meeting my baby girl.