Thumper

This week we had an exciting development...KICKING! I was so anxious to feel the baby move recently. On a Sunday drive to church I felt a thump right in my midline and just KNEW it was the baby! I screamed! Truth be told I think I felt the baby sooner but I generally had to push on my belly to feel anything. Not anymore. I feel those sweet tender thumps at all times of the day and night now. It is so incredible! A few nights ago I was nearly in tears about my scrubs getting too small and not having enough clothes and feeling chubby and all these silly things. I sat down with my iPad to forget things for a while and stumbled upon this blog post about someone's miscarriage. My heart ached for her. I felt the baby move the whole time I read it...I realized I had been give a dose of perspective. Clothes do not matter. My body at this point in my life should only be appreciated and respected for this beautiful gift it is able to grow and protect. I am so grateful for that lesson.

I can't believe I'm already half way through this pregnancy. We have been so blessed with a healthy pregnancy so far. I am feeling better and getting nausea less and less and getting sick even more infrequently. I'm able to tolerate different kinds of food and have a bit more energy. I love anything cold and fruity so Popsicles and slurpees are a favorite! I still have an intolerance to eggs mostly and guacamole which I usually love. I'm sure the Chipolte employees miss me.

Next on the agenda prenatal massage on Saturday! Can't wait!

Dear little one,

 Your Daddy started calling you peanut around week 7. We read somewhere that you were about that size. We also think you are a boy so we frequently call you "he" and "him." If we're wrong, I apologize in advance. We still have quite a few weeks until we find out your gender. You want to just nudge me with the answer? Sometimes at night when everything is quiet and still I put my hand over my tummy and hope I feel you under my fingers. Are you okay baby? I hope I feel you soon. I am so excited for that. We both are so excited you're coming. Not only us but many people. You will be so well loved and nurtured little one.

Daddy has been out of town for awhile.

"How's peanut?" he asks.

 A few nights ago we were texting before bed...

"I love you" I wrote.

 "Love you two" he replied.

My cup runneth over. Love for that man is expounding. Love for you is sweet.

Love you,

Mommy

New things

We have been keeping a little secret for the last few months...

I'm here.

One day I'm going to look back at this break in blogging and be sad. How many things will I have forgotten. Events or conversations. Pictures that weren't captured or memories left behind. I look back in time at this blog and I'm so grateful for all the moments written down that have already slipped my mind. I get so caught up with life. I'm very happy in Orlando. Work is busy. Gabe is singing all over the place. I'll be blogging more frequently soon even if its the last thing I do. :)

Vegetarian or not...

Lately Gabe has been out of town a lot. He's working so that's awesome but I miss him bad. I try to sometimes focus on the perks of being pseudo single like making anything I want for dinner or eating Chipolte multiple times a week. Sad but true. It makes the time go by faster when he's not here.

Here are a few of my favorite vegetarian recipes...

P.S. their pictures are better than mine.

Great Sandwich
http://www.housebeautiful.com/kitchens/recipes/gabrielle-hamilton-avocado-sandwich-recipe-0712

Great lettuce wraps. All hail Ree Drummond.
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2012/02/vegetarian-lettuce-wraps/

Now onto my latest attempt. I found this recipe on buzzfeed.com. Do you know about this website? It's freaking hysterical but also no holds bar. Turns out they also write about food. White bean and kale stew sounded like just the thing Gabe wouldn't want to eat. Turns out it was pretty tasty. They suggested serving it on toast with a poached egg on top. Did you ever see that scene in Julie and Julia where Julie tries making a poached egg with multiple failed attempts? I was scared of trying a poached egg. So the first night I fried an egg. Then tonight I was eating the stew for leftovers and I got brave. The recipe gives very strict instructions about temperature, vinegar and time. It said cook for three minutes exactly. I cooked about thirty seconds longer because I HATE RUNNY EGG WHITES. First attempt was a complete success. Poached egg checked off the ole cooking basics list. Yummy!

http://www.buzzfeed.com/johnmahoney/how-to-make-a-healthy-delicious-white-bean-and-kale-stew?sub=2045670_919960

I'll try and catch up on posts soon. Like I should probably tell you about the time the New York Times gave Gabe a good review. Like whhhaaaaaaaaaaaat!

Have some chocolate

I recently was invited to a birthday party with friends from church. We went to a place called Farris and Fosters in Baldwin Park. They teach you how to make different chocolate goodies to take home. So much fun. In other news someone needs to save me from the full pound of chocolate I brought home. :/

Happy twenty thirteen

As a new year begins and we try to benefit from a proper view of what has gone before, I plead with you not to dwell on days now gone nor to yearn vainly for yesterdays, however good those yesterdays may have been. The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead and remember that faith is always pointed toward the future. Faith always has to do with blessings and truths and events that will yet be efficacious in our lives.
-Jeffrey R. Holland