A "Joy the Baker" Week

This week I made not 1, not 2, but 3 different recipes from the Joy the Baker cookbook!  Being my spring break, I had a little extra time on my hands to dabble in the kitchen.  Of course, I neglected to photograph my baking endeavors, but recapping via blog seemed like the next best option.

Recipe #1 - Chocolate Brownie Cookies with White Chocolate and Roasted Macadamia Nuts
These cookies were rich, decadent, and delicious.  Fresh out of the oven they appear slightly underdone, but I trusted Joy's notes and resisted the urge to bake for a few additional minutes.  Proved to be the right choice, as they were the perfect consistency when cooled.  In making again, I think I would add more white chocolate chunks and slightly less macadamia nuts.

Recipe #2 - "Man Bait" Apple Crisp
I brought this dessert to a double date dinner at a friend's house.  It was delicious!!  I really enjoyed Joy's suggestion of mixing Granny Smith and Fuji apples, the Fuji flavors added a touch of sweetness that I appreciated.

Recipe #3 - Single Lady Pancakes
I decided on this recipe Saturday morning upon the discovery that our pantry box of Bisquick pancake mix had a mere tablespoon or two remaining.  Feeling the craving for pancakes, I turned to Joy's recipe, and doubled it to accommodate my husband and my hungry appetite.  "Married lady pancakes," perhaps?  I made some slight changes to this recipe, substituting 1% milk for buttermilk (since I didn't have any on hand), and I added 2 mashed bananas and 3/4 cup chopped pecans.  Who knew homemade pancakes were so easy?!  I'll never buy Bisquick again!

All in all - 100% success with all 3 recipes, can't wait to test out some more!  Thanks JOY!

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Halfway

{me at 18 weeks}

As of yesterday, I'm at 20 weeks, the "halfway" point to 40 weeks.  This paired with the knowledge that we're having a daughter ups the reality of holding a baby in 20 or so weeks.  My husband was so sweet and sent me a surprise bouquet of flowers yesterday with a card that read "20 weeks!!!! Halfway there, Love you!" So thoughtful.

In the meantime, I've been trying to tackle my pregnancy checklist during my Spring break this week.  Thus far, we've registered, begun researching the big items; stroller, crib, and car seat, and signed up for a 6-week childbirth class at the hospital where I'll be delivering.  

In the mean time, I feel like I am slacking on my baby reading.  Aside from baby naming books and the What to Expect When You're Expecting and Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy, I haven't done much baby reading.  

That said, I am very open to suggestions and advice on pretty much anything pregnancy related. Items to register for, books to read/not read, groups to join...

We're Having a Girl

In the minutes and hours that followed our big news, my husband and I had many revelations about the reality of having a baby girl sink in.

"You're going to have to teach me how to braid her hair and do a ponytail," was one of his first comments over brunch, which made me smile.  Followed by, "I'm going to have to get her a Purdue cheerleader outfit," his alma mater.  

It seems so much more real now, knowing she's a she.  I have felt the first hints of movement this week, little pops and bursts in the middle of my belly.  I envision her wiggling around, kicking her feet, aiming at my belly button from the inside out.  

This is such a magical time in our lives, I'm truly enjoying every moment of it.

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Saturday Link Love

+ buttered popcorn chocolate chip cookies?  Yes, please!

+ camera happy notepad, "Oh Snap!"

+ did you see this darling duet / Lumineers cover on Nashville?

+ sweet baby girl onesies Oh man, I better keep my baby shopping in check...

+ banana pudding with salted caramel sauce...YUUUUMMMM!

+ boring old file cabinet makeover with chalkboard

+ fun and funky light fixture 

+ a child's dream: chocolate legos!

+ eco-friendly reminder / soap dispenser

+ quick & easy breakfast, parmesan hashbrown cups

Have a great weekend!  Starting today, I'm on Spring Break! YAHOO!

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It's a....

GIRL! 

Bring on the sugar and spice and everything nice!

Yesterday, we found out our baby's gender!  Ever since I saw the sweet flicker of the baby's heartbeat for the first time, I had an inkling it was a boy. My husband on the other hand, has been pretty confident from early on that our baby was a girl.  Turns out, he was right!

This ultrasound was such an wonderful, memorable experience.  After rushing in late due to heavy traffic, we were immediately soothed by the glimpse of our precious gift.  The ultrasound tech highlighted all of the body parts; the vertebrae of the spine, chambers of the heart, and sections of the brain...it's truly amazing to me how we were able to see this little life we created, beating inside of my belly.  About mid-way through, she pointed out the evidence and told us, "it's a girl!" To which I asked, "Really?!" repeating "It's a girl!" for myself, just to say it aloud. 

We saw her curl her tiny fingers, point, and do a "hang loose" hand motion of sorts.  She continued to wriggle around, kicking her little feet.  At one point we even saw her swallow and stick out her little tongue, so amazing!  It was such an awe-inspiring moment, and one I will remember always.

Afterward, we celebrated our big news over brunch at Portage Bay, and slowly let the reality of "We're having a girl" sink in.  Following brunch, we popped into Nordstrom to pick out our first little girl outfit to wrap up to tell me parents the gender.  We picked this pink polka dot outfit with a matching hat!  I think my husband was slightly overwhelmed by the sheer amount of ruffles, bows, and PINK in the baby girl...Get ready!

To tell his parents, who are back in Michigan, we called a local bakery in their neighborhood and had them whip up a gender reveal cake, with "Boy or Girl?" written on the outside, and a layer of pink frosting inside.  My sister-in-law picked up the cake after work, and brought it over for my in-laws to cut into (which she videotaped for our benefit of reliving their reactions).  Priceless.

My husband and I went to my parents house and presented my mom with our little pink outfit.  Both sides of the family were surprised but extremely excited!  My mom even had presents waiting; two outfits (one pink, one blue) all wrapped up.  We opened up the girl one obviously.  Looks like we're going to have plenty of pink in our life!

All in all - it was the best day, filled with delight, joy, and the excitement of what is to come.  Certainly one special day that I'll never forget.

Cravings

Pregnancy cravings are a funny thing.  I always grew up reading the cliches about women craving pickles with ice cream.  From my own family tree, I heard craving stories growing up.  My mom craved chocolate and Thai food with me (both foods I now adore), spicy Korean food with my sister (who consequently can't tolerate any spice).

I wasn't sure how my cravings would factor into this pregnancy gig, but they've been interesting to say the least.  Top cravings:

* Apples: for the first few weeks, I couldn't get enough apples.  I'd buy armfuls at the market and devour the entire supply by the end of day.  

+ Baguettes with Cold Butter: bread always sounds good when you're feeling nauseous, but I ate many a baguette with butter for dinner these past few weeks.  Channeling my inner-Francophile perhaps?

* Grapefruit: I've always enjoyed grapefruit, but never to this extent.  You know you are craving grapefruit, when you have to buy an extra bag of sugar to sustain your sprinkled-sugar-on-grapefruit morning ritual.  Or, felt a strong enough inkling to make a grapefruit poundcake...

+ Rootbeer: I don't drink soda, with the rare exception of an oversized soda at the movies, but lately root beer sounds amazing!  Barq's, A&W, even the good local Northwest variety, Crater Lake Rootbeer, the bubblier the better.  I think it all started with a lunch out at Taco Time with my first grade team, but whatever the reason, this craving has stuck around since the early weeks.

I've had other cravings here and there, but these have been the big 4.  In addition, I've also had plenty of food aversions as well; the smell of chicken cooking, really meat of any kind, pho, all of these foods that normally I enjoy have just held the "ick" factor.  Also, for the first trimester, I craved everything salty, rarely any sweets like cookies or candy.  Cravings are a funny business.

What did you crave during your pregnancy?

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Quote of the Week

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