Pinterest tested, People approved!

The Red Velvet Poke cake was a hit!  and so easy to make.

You start out with a Red velvet cake mix, made according to box instructions.  After taking it out of the oven, poke holes with the end of a wooden spoon (you want pretty big holes).  Mix up two boxes of cheesecake instant pudding, pour IMMEDIATELY over cake, don't let it set up or it won't soak into cake.  I spread the pudding out a little with a spoon.  Refridgerate at least 2 hours.  Cover with 8 oz. carton of cool whip before serving.  You can crush 10 oreos and sprinkle on top also, but I didn't do this because they would get soggy before serving.  I crushed the cookies and had them in a bowl beside the cake to sprinkle on it you wanted.

I've read on Pinterest about several differnt options with this cake..I'm definately going to try the banana pudding version!

The "Pinterest test"

We are going to some friends house tonight for an "August birthdays" dinner.  We are grilling steaks, so I searched Pinterest for some "steakhouse style" recipes since I was bringing a side and a dessert.  For the side, I chose "Cheesy Corn Casserole" and the dessert is "Red Velvet Poke Cake."

**Photos courtesy of Pinterest**

I'll let ya know the verdict of the "taste test."  Happy Saturday!!!

2 months!

Reese Pierce!  You are 2 months old!  I can't believe it's been that long!  I am thankful everyday that God chose me to be your mommy!  I am the luckiest girl in the world!  You are the light of mine and Daddy's life and we look forward to every second with you!

You now weigh 12 pounds and 8 ounces!  You've gained almost 4 pounds since you were born!

You are 23" long!  A full 2" you've grown!  Mommy is still holding out for a basketball player!  But I'd take a long jumper or high jumper!!!  You know, we watched a lot of the Olympics this summer!!

You are in the 80th percentile in height and weight and the 95th on head circumfrence!  Again, I'm thankful for a c-section!  Haha

You are still doing great with nursing!  I have started giving you a warm bottle with some rice right before bedtime!  I also give you a couple of bottles during the day to help you transition for your daily feedings since I'm headed back to work soon!  I think you are doing better than I am with that!  I just fell in love with nursing and love the closeness we get during that time!  You seem to enjoy when I talk to you and rub your head!!   You are eating about every 3.5 hours during the day and 4-6 hours at night!  I pinch myself sometime because you are so good!

You wear a size 1 diaper still....a few more pounds and we will be going to the 2's.

You wear mostly 3 month size clothes...again, a few more pounds and we'll be moving on to the next size!

You still sleep in your pack and play next to my bed.  You do nap in your crib in the nursery but having you in my room at night gives me a piece of mind because I wake up and look at you at least 5 times a night.  It's pretty easy to scoop you out of it and nurse during the night too!  Eventually, you will sleep in your crib, but I don't know when that will be!  You take about 2 good naps a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.  You "cat nap" after each feeding for 15-20 minutes.

We still love "sooby", the bouncy seat and the boppy.  You have gotten where you sit in the boppy beside me on the couch if I am sewing or pumping!  You look so grown up when you do it!

We do tummy time several times a day.  You are doing super good with that!  Your head control has always amazed me, even when you were a newborn!  Dr. Gibbs says you are right on track with your head control!

You learned your first "trick" with your Daddy.  He holds you real close to his face and sticks out his tongue and makes a smacking noise and you laugh and stick your tongue out back at him!!  You are so cute when you do this and we clap and cheer for you, you just smile!  Sometimes I think you are probably thinking, "look at these crazy people, I have them right where I want them."

You took your first "vacation" this month!  We went with Daddy to Arkansas where he was working for a week.  You were a champ!  You slept so good while we were gone.  Ate and napped well too!  It seemed as if you were made to travel!  Daddy enjoyed showing you off to all the men he works with!  They fell for you too!!  I don't know how such a little girl can cast a spell over SO many people!!!

Reese, you will someday know how much I love you!!  I tell you a hundred times a day how special you are!  I am in complete amazement of you on a daily basis and just sit and stare at you!  I can't believe you are mine!!  You are such a delite to the WHOLE family, we all turn to complete idiots when you are around!!!  We love you so much!!!

Reese is 1 month old!!

Sweet Reese! You are 1 month old!! Me and Daddy (along with everyone else!) can't believe it's been a whole month since you were born!! You have been an absolute joy to have in our home! I can't imagine my life without you. You are a miracle from God and we thank him everyday for you!!

* At birth you weighed 8 pounds and 13 ounces....after 1 month you are 10 pounds and 14 ounces!! Dr. Gibbs is very pleased with your growth.

* You are now 22" long! You've grown 1 inch this month! Mommy is very excited about this and hopeful that you are going to be tall like Daddy! Crossing my fingers for a basketball star!

* You are in the 90th percentile on height, weight, and head circumference. Again, Dr. Gibbs said you were perfect!

* You have beautiful skin, everyone talks about your complexion and how pretty it is..again, you got it from Daddy! Mommy is happy about this too, glad you didn't get my pasty white skin!

* You are totally breast fed right now. We had to give you formula for 3 feedings when you were 10 days old. Mommy had a kidney stone and was on high doses of pain meds for about 24 hours. You were a champ and took the bottle then went right back to the breast when I was ready! I was so proud of you! You love to eat! You eat daily every 2-2.5 hours and 3-4 hours at night. I am amazed at how easy it has been. I was nervous about breastfeeding but you took to it right away and made it super easy on Mommy. I love the bond we have from the feedings, even in the middle of the night, I talk to you while you eat and you just coo like you know what I am saying. You seem to be so satisfied after a feeding and you make the funniest faces when you are full. You are hard to burp, and it takes about 15 minutes before I can lay you down so you don't reflux.

* You wear a size 1 diaper, we tried to use newborn diapers when you came home from the hospital but it was only a couple of days before we switched to one's.

* You wear mostly 3 months clothes...you have a few things that are 0-3 that you can wear.

* You sleep beside our bed in a bassinet. You have slept with us several times but you are so hot natured...with the heavy cover, you just don't sleep well. Your bassinet has a little light on it and I can see you all night long! Daddy and I sleep well too. We are very proud of you for sleeping good. You nap daily several times but are starting to stay awake more and more.

* You are a very content baby. You have a "sooby" (pacifier) that we use to soothe you and get you to sleep then you spit it out. I can usually soothe you by stroking your cheek or rubbing your back. You love to snuggle too!

* You love your bouncy seat and swing. You are really good to sit it either while Mommy does laundry or the dishes or showers!

*You have great head control for an infant!  We do tummy time for 3-5 minutes everyday!  Dr. Gibbs said you are advanced in that area, similar to a 2 month old.

*You love taking a bath!  We just sponged you off until your cord fell off, but once we put you in your baby tub, you were in love!  You don't make a peep while bathing!  That's something you take after me!!  I love bubble baths!

*You went on your first all day shopping trip with Granni Pat and I.  You did fantastic!  You never got fussy until you were hungry!  We look forward to many more shopping sprees ahead!

*You were dedicated at church this past Sunday...it was beautiful!  Bro. Steve Buchanan did a wonderful job!  You were given a little pink Bible and a little stuffed lamb.  Its our prayer that you grow into a lovely young lady with a desire to serve the Lord and love Him.

Reese, one day you will realize what a miracle you really are!  Daddy and I could not be happier!  We just set and look at you!  You are so beautiful!  We can't believe you are really ours!  We can't wait to watch you grow each month!

She's here!!

Kodi Reese Pierce

8 lb 13 oz

21" long

8:02 a.m.

June 12, 2012

36 weeks

How far along:  36 weeks, 3 days

Size of baby: 18 inches, 6 pounds (the size of a crenshaw melon)  ((according to mypregnancy.com))

Gender: It's a GIRL!!!  Kodi Reese

Weight gain: 20 pounds

Movement: A lot...not as many kicks and jabs anymore but it feels like big, rolling movements!

Sleep: I haven't had that great of sleep patterns for several weeks now.  I go to bed around 10:30 p.m. and get up about 12:30 or 1:00 to go to the bathroom.  Then it takes a little while to go back to sleep and I'm usually up again around 4 or 4:30 a.m.  If its a work day, I just get up, if it's the weekend, I will take a bath and then go back to bed.  I get really sleepy when the sun starts coming up and can usually go back to sleep for a few hours.

Symptoms: I still have the aggravating restless leg syndrome!  It is so annoying and miserable!  I so hope when Reese is born that it goes away or at least subsides to where its NOT every night.
The last few days, I've had really swollen feet by the end of the day.  Not pretty!


Cravings: I have no cravings at this point, I can't eat very much at one time because I have no room!

Best moment of the week:  We celebrated my last baby shower with our church family....again, we were abundantly blessed!  It was so nice to spend the afternoon with such sweet women!  I had a Dr. appt this week and he examined me for the first time, but, unfortunately there were no changes!  I go back next week.  Keeping my fingers crossed!

34 Weeks and "it's a start"

How far along:  34 weeks and 3 days

 Size of baby: 17.5 inches long and a little over 5 pounds, but like I said last week, Miss Reese was measuring close to 5 pounds 4 weeks ago! My doctor made the comment,"she isn't going to be small." I will have another U/S at 36 weeks, so we will see then!

Gender: Sweet baby girl! Kodi Reese

Weight gain: 15 pounds

 Movement:  She moves quite a bit!  I hope she is still head down!  I will know on Wednesday!  Cross your fingers!


Sleep: My sleep is better.  I get up at least 2 times a night to go to the bathroom!


Symptoms:  Restless legs syndrome is still my only major problem.  I have to say, it has been better the last 2 nights...knock on wood!


Cravings: Still start my day with a fizzy Sprite!

Best moments of the week:  Had my first baby shower last Saturday, it was amazing!  To know Reese is being loved by so many people!  I will have a picture post of the shower later.  

Clint was in the nursery this morning before church....I had put her piggy bank on her dresser and he picked it up and shook it...I told him there wasn't anything in there yet. He said, "well, that needs to change!" He proceeded to get out a dollar and he signed his name and dated it and put it in the bank! It was so sweet, and if you know my husband, you know he isn't the mushy kind of guy! I can already tell this little girl has him TIED!!!! Haha