Easy Lasagna

Easy Lasagna
serves 12
(recipe given to me by an old boss at Braun Intertec)

1 lb ground beef
1 8 oz container ricotta cheese
1 8 oz container cottage cheese
handful of fresh spinach
carton of mushrooms
1 16 oz jar spaghetti sauce
1 6 oz jar tomato sauce
fresh basil
9 lasagna noodles
1 lb mozzarella cheese
Parmesan cheese (grated)

1. Brown mean, drain off excess fat.

2. Add ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, tomato sauce and spaghetti sauce. Set aside.

3. Cook noodles in boiling, salted water. Grate mozzarella cheese. Rinse and cut spinach, basil and slice mushrooms. Put in bowl together.

4. Place half the noodles in 13x9x2 inch baking dish. Add half the sauce. Add half the veggies. Add half the mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers. Cover last layer with Parmesan cheese.

5. Bake at 350-375 about 30-45 minutes. Until hot and bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Karl's reaction - "Seems like there needs to be more red in here. Like it's missing sauce. But it still is good!"

My take - "I didn't add the tomato sauce because the recipe doesn't call for it, so that's why I added it. Definitely needs more red sauce, but it's easy to make and tastes great!"

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The Good News is Out - Month 3

week 12

The most dramatic development this week: Reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over two inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce. (http://www.babycenter.com/)

Ahh, we can both breathe a sigh of relief now that our awesome news is out to the world. Boy, did we find out some cool stuff once we made that announcement. For one, a million of my friends are pregnant too!!!

• My BFF She-Dawg is due in February.
• My awesome hair stylist (and soon to be full-time stylist when I become a famous writer some day...he, he) is due February 16.
• My awesome friend Wendy is due in early March.
• Two great friends I played volleyball with at UW-Whitewater are due. One in April and one in May!
• My friend Amy is due in May.
• One of Karl's coworkers and my new cool friend is due TWO days after me!!!
• Am I missing someone? I feel like I am....

It's so much fun when you can share your pains, worries, concerns with someone else, especially new timers cuz it's like what the H is going on with me right now!? HA! I also love texting and emailing my friends who also just had babies because they are offering up tons of great advice.

New food cravings -

• Honeycrisp apples. I need at least one a day. Thank you University of Minnesota for coming up with the most delicious apples ever. I really need to send them a thank you letter. I think I'm going to do that!
• Olive Garden. I dream of the soup, salad and breadsticks. Going there tonight. Can't wait!

New things I've noticed -

• At week 12 I figured I'd be almost over the hump in the feeling bad department, but this week was actually kind of hard. The only thing I changed in my diet was I ran out of acidophilus vitamins, so I'm wondering if that's why I'm feeling more nauseous than usual? Nothing is coating my stomach.
• I eat...a lot and non-stop! How I'm not the size of a house yet, I do not know???
• I love pomegranates and they are making their comeback in October already...yee-yah!!!

Typical day of eating:

Breakfast -
One or two eggs for breakfast
One or two pieces of whole wheat toast.
Flaxseed and Nutella.
Grapefruit
Water. Lots of water

By the time I get into work, I'm starving.

Snack time begins
Greek yogurt (lots of protein).
Few minutes later I'm hungry again. (yes, I'm serious)
I have a banana
I eat a small baggie of walnuts
I get hungry again
I have string cheese

LUNCH time!
Usually leftovers from the night before. Bigger portions than normal (and I'm good until 3)

Snack time again!!!
My beloved honeycrisp apple

Dinner
Some healthy recipe and larger portions

Hoping I'll be okay! I haven't been that great with walking this week. Why? Welllll because I'm in bed by 7:15. What on earth!?!?!? I couldn't even hold my head up at the dinner table the other night. So messed up.

So work was super cool about the news, which made me feel like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders!! Very happy about this. They are willing to work with me and I'm willing to work with them. Yeah! Karl's work seemed very happy for him too! Phew, that worry is over with for now.

We were just so excited to get the response we did from family and friends. You guys are making this so much fun!!!!!

Questions I'm faced with:
1. Should we find out the sex of the baby?
2. Daycare? Nanny? In-house? A center? Akkkk!!! This is going to be so so so hard!!! I can't even imagine doing this!!!!

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Telling Friends and Family - Month 3

Sharing the Good News

This is the best part!!! Now I see why people want to share the news right away! It's so hard to keep it in. And I think for those who do, that's awesome because you have tons of people cheering for you, ready to pray and catch you if anything should happen along the way. It's so much fun to see people's reactions. Every one's is different, of course, but I can't help and smile when people share such kind words with us!!

We gave the blessing to our parents that they could share the news with their friends and family this weekend as long as nobody posted anything on Facebook. I need to get to work first. The calls and texts messages started coming in, which has been really cool. I love to hear the excitement in every one's voices. This is going to be fun!

Karl and I went to church this morning. It's been many many weeks since we've been. It's been hard for me to get up early on Sundays, but for some reason this morning I could do it. And thanks to Pastor Stephanie for sending me a text to make sure I was coming. I needed that extra push! Plus, I knew I had to tell the organist Karen! I was missing her hugs anyway. Karen was pumped and it felt good to get it out. Church always seems to add an extra step of goodness in my whole week. I feel so lucky Karl and I have a place to go that feels a little like home. Like our second family is waiting for us. Where else can someone go and get a hug as soon as they walk through the door? (Thanks John!!!) Today, I feel really good about everything...life...the baby...the future. We need to start showing up more!

I couldn't help but think about baby Koester's baptism and him/her singing in the children's choir and getting his/her Bible blessed. What will he or she participate in? Will he or she be one of those kids who are overly animated up front or will they stand there scared out of their mind? It's fun to think about. I am so so thankful for our church and the people there, and for the sense of community it brings every time we walk through those doors. Instant connection. Love it.

We're headed for a nature walk because it's gorgeous today. I love getting fresh air and just spending time together. Just trying to enjoy every moment and every day because there are always changes coming and there are a lot more about to hit us. Every one keeps hinting that our marriage and relationship will change once baby comes. But instead of worrying about how it'll be, or what could happen, I'm just going to enjoy today and what's going on right now.

Thanks for your excitement!!! It really means a lot.

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Telling My Grandparents and Visiting Parents - Month 3

written Sunday, September 18, 2011
week 9

This week I've been feeling really great. Finally! I'm not sure if it's because I was able to see the ultrasound on Monday and actually see that there was indeed a baby growing inside me and hear from the doctor that it was natural to feel the way I've been feeling, or what? But I really do feel like myself again. Thank you God!!! I was getting pretty worried there.

Wednesday night Karl and I left work (late)...both of us had real bad days but pushed the bull aside, shoved food down, packed and hopped in our car. We didn't leave until 6:40 and I knew that meant we wouldn't get to gpa and gma's until way past their bedtime. Rats. Another day of waiting to tell them our good news. As we pulled up their long driveway, everything was dark. We crawled into bed and couldn't wait to tell them in the morning.

Grandma, me and Grandpa Powalish

Both Karl and I woke up early and realized it was freezing out. I saw on Twitter most of Minnesota tied for a record low and there was frost in Wild Rose, Wisconsin. We walked in the kitchen and got our hugs and I handed grandma an ultrasound picture.

"What is this?" She studies it.

I look at grandpa sitting at the kitchen table and he has a gleam in his eyes. "I'm pregnant." I smile.

"Really?" Grandma squeals and grandpa smiles. She squeezes me and grandpa stands up and walks over to Karl.

"Congratulations you big buck, you."

We laugh and all hug again. The moment is real special and my grandma looks at the picture again. "Oh, Christie. This is great news! Oh! The baby is in a heart! Look!" She points and she's right. The space around baby is definitely shaped as a heart, which only makes me smile bigger.

We sit down and talk more about baby and grandpa cuts in. "I'm shocked!"

I giggle.

"I thought you said you weren't ready?"

"Will I ever be ready?" I ask.

Grandma, Karl and Grandpa Powalish - lots of love there!!!

Throughout the day we talk about it more and have a real nice time. Grandpa tries bribing us to stay longer but we tell them my parents are dying to see us and we have to go home. They can't wait to hear from them on Sunday. We leave around 3:30 to see mom and dad. The trip with gpa and gma was really really special and grandpa mentioned he now has to stick around for sure to see baby born. Yeah! He turns 85 on Thursday.

We arrive to Roscoe and mom and dad are very excited to see us. We show them ultrasound pictures and give them two to hang on their refrigerator. I can tell they are excited - my dad is talking a mile a minute. My mom can't wipe the smile off her face.

So far the trip has been wonderful. Karl's golfed with my dad. I went to the Apple Orchard with my mom. We've cleaned the basement and introduced my parents to Craigslist - how their junk can become someone else's treasures. We've eaten really good. I've gone shopping with mom. This really has been such a great time and I so wish we lived closer. It's so nice to get spoiled like this.  Our baby is going to be one lucky grand baby and great-grand baby!!!

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For the Love of the Game - Month 3

written September 27, 2011
week 11

Why I need Volleyball in my Life


Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden. She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming. See what your baby looks like this week. (info found at http://www.babycenter.com/)

Me! 11 weeks with a bump!!

I haven't worked out in five weeks. Yes, five. Me. As in the gal who used to work out twice a day and run half marathons and play volleyball five days a week. The girl who has a trainer and a whole workout plan and goes ballistic if I miss being active more than two days in a row. I just couldn't do it. My body wouldn't let me. I've been confined to the couch. Okay...well, I go on 35-40 minute walks most nights.

But finally. Yes, finally... I had to play volleyball. Our fall season started in Eden Prairie last night. I was nervous knowing at the moment I'm totally not limber. But I stretched a little and before I knew it I was hitting and serving and jumping...and digging!!!! Every minute that went by I felt more and more like myself. And by the end of the match, I wanted more. I was bouncing everywhere. I haven't felt that good in a long time!!!!!!!! I felt the energy and good vibes racing through my blood.

My legs felt like Jell-O. My back was already sore. I swore I stretched my stomach muscles. But I felt so awesome. By the time I crawled into bed, I was feeling pain but I don't care. I felt like meeeeeeeeee!!! Then I woke up this morning and felt totally like me again!!! I treasure feeling this way. Ahhh. I hope it's here to stay! I love volleyball!!! It's my cure!

"God puts each morning, each new chance of life into our hands as a gift to see what we will do with it."

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Telling Work: Month 3

written October 1, 2011
11 weeks

What will work say?

I'm not sure what my work is going to think when I tell them the news. My thought is they'll be happy for me. But you never know. I'm scared, which I think is normal.

The thing is there aren't many females at my place of employment who can have babies anymore.

Plus, I haven't fully accepted the fact that I am preg. It just seems so surreal to me. So it's hard for me to blurt it out. Twelve weeks is sort of the safe zone.

So with that said, I felt these past few months I needed to prove a lot to myself and to work. I wanted to be able show work that, yes, I could be faced with some major life-changing news and still get projects done. I could still remain focused. I could still manage a team. I wasn't broken or needed to be treated any differently. I didn't need to miss work or leave tons early. I could do it. Yes, the trails of overpowering perfume of some employees knocked me on my butt. The lunch smells killed my stomach at times. And little things did annoy me very easily, but I took deep breaths and kept my head buried in my computer. Yes, there were days I wanted to throw up. Yes, there were mornings I had to dive back into bed in tears. I had no idea how I'd dig past the grossness so I could walk into work for eight hours and act like nothing was wrong. But I survived!!!!! I did it!!! This too shall pass!!!

So on Monday I plan on sitting my boss down and breaking the news. My goal is to take 8-12 weeks maternity leave. 

Thankfully I have been saving just a little bit of each paycheck in an ING account ever since we got back from South Africa almost two years ago to cover my butt. I want to enjoy maternity leave comfortably. I have enough to cover me for eight solid weeks. And I think I'll still be able to continue some freelance work with AOL so I can get some cash flow. Short term really only covers 60% of two weeks because I have to burn through my vacation first. But I will say some of the BEST advice I have ever been given is.... It's not how much you make, it's how much you save. If I never saved, I would've never been able to take maternity leave. And what? I had to give up going out to dinner with Karl once a month or had to turn down a fun night out? It was worth it!!! Now I'll have time to heal and get to know baby!!! Because I have NO IDEA what I'm doing!!!

We'll see what happens!

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Jeans Don't Fit No More No More No More No More - Month 3

written Sunday, September 25, 2011
week 10

Thursday was a monumental day for me. Monday through Thursday I have to wear nice pants to work and then on Fridays I'm finally allowed to wear jeans. Now...not all people in the company follow this rule as most employees wear jeans and sweatshirts Monday through Friday and I'm wondering when I can start wearing my Yoga pants all day every day since I'm not so sure this pants rule is really enforced. Anyway, I was able to slip on my size 6 long black pants from New York and Company just fine on Thursday but by the time I got to work I realized my waistband was cutting off my circulation and I was miserable. I did the unthinkable and unbuttoned my pants and walked around like that the rest of the day. Hey, nobody knew and I sure felt a whole lot better.

Then Friday came. I pulled on my favorite Express Jeans...all $85 of them. They were cutting off my circulation even before I pulled them over my thighs. I think I felt a tear spring to my eye because I know how hard I worked to get into those jeans, but I quickly peeled them off and blamed the dryer. I dug around and found a pair of jeans I hadn't worn for at least a year and slipped those on. They were always my "bigger" jeans. I could barely button them. At least my thighs could breathe though. So I took a hairband and looped in through the button hole and spent my day wondering how much longer I was going to avoid buying maternity clothes?

So yes, soon I'm going to have to take a trip and buy some newer pants or better bands or something. Month four is creeping up so quickly and once that hits, there's not stopping the growing belly. I now get why this all takes nine months. Moms need to mentally adjust and baby needs to grow into this little healthy miracle. This is all just so crazy!!!

Any suggestions for cute maternity clothes?

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