14 Weeks: Feeling Better

First, let's just get something out of the way....

I'm a blogger slacker!

Something about early pregnancy, feeling sick, and eating 24/7 that doesn't leave a whole lot of time for blogging.  Actually, it's more about motivation (or lack there of) than time if I'm honest.  And I am.  ; )

It shouldn't be too much longer before I'm blogging about my usual home schooling, homemaking, large family fun...yada, yada, yada....again.  So I apologize for only posting preggy updates lately. 

Baby

Baby is about 4 inches long and weighs about 1 ounce.  Eyes have been gradually moving from the side of the head to the front.  Ears have moved from the neck to the sides of the head.  The neck continues to get longer and the chin no longer rests on the chest.

Mommy

I am so happy to report that I am feeling better.  Still not out of the woods, but definitely getting there.  In fact, yesterday, I was telling a friend that I was able to make it from breakfast to lunch without eating two meals in between.  I am still chewing on my pumpkin seeds, but I am not eating every hour now.  Hooray!!! 

So here's my 14 week pic.  I almost think I look smaller than I did at 12 weeks.  What do you think?

Do have an update?  Would love to hear about your progress!

13 Weeks: Second Trimester

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.  Psalm 139: 13-14

Baby
My sweet little bundle is about 3 inches long and weighs about an ounce.  External genitalia are almost defined.  Bone is beginning to replace cartilage and the ribs are appearing.  Baby is flexing arms and kicking legs....and I can't wait to feel it!

Mommy
I'm so happy to be entering a new trimester.  Even though I am still dealing with morning sickness, it just feels good to know I'm a third of the way there!  I am looking forward to morning sickness being completely behind me, and I pray soon.  I have been experiencing a little bit of swelling, which is not normal for me this early.  I think it's due to my sodium intake.  I have been chewing on Pumpkin Seeds all day long to cope with the nausea and the excess saliva.  I have been very vigilant in making sure I take in enough water, but the mild swelling reminds me to do even better.

I finally got a belly pic!  This was actually taken last week right before my night out with local bloggers, but I haven't changed much since then.  This is the point when my belly growth begins to balance out and slow a bit.  I pop out and show very early, and continue to get fairly big in the first trimester, and this is when things slow down a bit.  In fact, while I was at the grocery store buying flowers, the florist asked me when the big day was.  I'm so early, that I didn't even think of the pregnancy.  I thought she was referring to the flowers and a possible event.  But then she clarified by looking at my belly.  I laughed and said that I had quite a ways to go...until November.  Her eyes got very big as she said, "Wow!  You do have a ways to go!"  By the looks of my belly, especially in the evening after a rather large pre-Mother's Day dinner, I looked at least 5 months along. 

What do you think?  Big for 12 weeks? 

How is your pregnancy going?  How far along are you?  How are you feeling?  Please share!


Top Photo Credit

Grandma's Fried Rice

I am honored to have my Aunt Melissa guest posting today.  I asked her to share a few of her favorite recipes.  The first recipe she chose is my Grandmother's Fried Rice.  I hope you'll try it!  Please check back for her next recipe coming soon...Verde Burritos!  Mmm....

Guest post by Melissa Whaley

When we were growing up, Mom used to put all of the rice into a deep bowl and really pack it in. Then she would put a plate over the top and invert it, removing the bowl carefully to make a pretty "mold" of pork fried rice. :)  It looks really pretty if you reserve a few sprigs of green onion to poke into the tops of the mountains. I used to tell my kids it was Mt. Fuji and the green was the lava/steam shooting out. ;-)  Honestly, this is a meal in itself, but you can obviously add as many other things to it as you want to make it more Chinese style.  :)

It's yummy and easy for the little ones to eat!  You can adjust it to fit the size of your family, but I'll try and "guess" at the quantities for each item in order to serve 12 (leftovers are always good!). Here we go:

Ingredients:

Basmati OR Jasmine Rice (follow serving directions for 12)
6 Whole Eggs
1 lb. Bacon
2 Bunches Green Onion (chopped in 1/4 in. pieces, including greens)
1 Bag SLIGHTLY Frozen Petite Peas (C&W is the best!)
Peanut Oil (or Canola)
Low Sodium Soy Sauce
Seasoning (I like Spike)

Prepare rice according to directions (I use my rice cooker).

In HUGE skillet (or use 2 large), spray a generous amount of non-stick spray. Chop raw bacon into small pieces and cook over medium until brown and perfectly crispy. Remove with slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the drippings.

In separate bowl, beat up the 6 eggs and add to warm drippings. Stir vigorously with a chopstick to create stringy pieces of cooked egg. Remove and add to bacon bowl. If necessary, add a T. of peanut oil so that there is enough to sautee the peas. Toss the peas around long enough to warm them through, but not make them mush! Remove with slotted spoon to bacon and egg bowl.

Next, add 2 T. oil to pan and scrape the goodies from the bottom of the pan. Add 1/4 C. Spike to oil  and add all of the cooked rice. Stir the rice, oil and Spike until well mixed. Next, add the bacon, egg, peas and chopped green onion back in. Stir just until combined. You want the onion raw because green onions wilt so quickly. The hot rice will cook them to perfection as you stir.

Finally, add the soy sauce, using just enough to flavor and "wet" the rice to your liking.  Enjoy!

What do YOU like to add to your Fried Rice to make it special?


Photo Credit

Blueberry Scones with Lemon Glaze

These delicious scones have been a long-time favorite of ours.  With a light and crumbly texture, these babies melt in your mouth!  They are easy to make, and anything made with heavy cream and butter is always at the top of my food list!

Give them a try and tell me what you think!

Blueberry Scones

2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
5 tablespoons butter, cold, cut into chunks
1 cup heavy cream, plus more for brushing scones
1 cup fresh blueberries (I use frozen, thawed and drained well)

Lemon Glaze

1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 cups confectioners sugar
1 lemon, zested
1 tablespoon butter

*I actually half this glaze and feel it's more than enough.  Even halved, I still use 1 tablespoon of butter.

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Mix dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar.  Using a pastry cutter, cut in the butter until you get a coarse crumb mixture.  Lightly toss in blueberries to coat with flour.  Take care not to mash or bruise the blueberries or they will bleed into the dough.  Make a well in center of mixture and pour in heavy cream.  Ohhhh yeahhh!  Gingerly, fold everything together just to incorporate.  Do not overwork the dough. 

Press the dough out onto a lightly floured surface.  Carefully, shape into a rectangle about 12 by 3 by 1 1/4 inches.  Cut the rectangle in half, then cut the pieces in half again, giving you four (3-inch) squares.  Cut the squares in half on the diagonal to give you the classic triangle shape.  Place the scones on an ungreased cookie sheet and brush the tops with a little heavy cream.  Bake for 15-20 minutes until beautiful and brown.  In my oven (on lower rack), 17 minutes is perfect.

To make the glaze, mix the lemon juice and powdered sugar in a microwave-safe bowl.  Stir until sugar dissolves.  Add the lemon zest and butter.  Nuke it for 30 seconds on high.  Whisk glaze to smooth out any lumps.  Drizzle glaze over top of scones.  Enjoy the yummy goodness!

*If you don't have a microwave, you can use a double boiler.

What are your favorite types/flavors of scones?  If you have a favorite recipe, please link in the comments!


Recipe and Photo Credit

My Night Out with Area Bloggers

Saturday night I had the privilege of gathering for dinner with eight other San Antonio area bloggers. We gathered to learn more about a new company called Treat.com.  It was a treat indeed!  Treat.com treated all of us to a feast at PF Changs.  The food was incredible and there was an abundance of it. 

After stuffing ourselves to the gills, we watched a short presentation about Treat.com. If you're not familiar with it yet, it's a new division of Shutterfly. Treat.com is pretty nifty! There, you can choose a card for any occasion, customize it, and treat.com will mail it directly to the recipient for you! In addition to this great service, you can schedule out ALL of your cards for the whole year, and treat.com will send them just in time for the special occasion. How cool is that? You can even import birth dates from Facebook and add other important dates so there is never a missed card! And yet, there is more!

I know, right?  More?

At treat.com you can even choose a gift card from major retailers such as Target and Amazon and include it right inside your card. Can it get any easier? Go to treat.com and see for yourself!

My night out was so much fun. A fantastic dinner, fun and lively fellowship with a group of very cool bloggers, and fun gifts to open.  Yes...treat.com also showered us with gifts from the company!

The fun didn't end there. We all decided that we were having too much fun and that we had just enough room to spare in our tummies for ice cream. We headed on over to the ice cream shop and continued getting to know one another. 

If you want to visit these awesome bloggers, go to my Blogroll tab and you'll find them listed under SA Moms.  And don't forget to check out Treat.com.  :)