16 Weeks

Still kind of a puny bump...but definitely more than it was!

Nursery Bedding

So, I've really gotten into browsing the internet recently for baby stuff. I've started my registry, although it's hard to pick out some things because we're not sure of the gender yet. But, in any case, I found the most awesome baby bedding website, Carousel Designs, that lets you custom create your bedding from all different kinds of fabrics. You can even change the color of the wall and flooring to match what you already have in your house as well as change up the crib color to see what your bedding would look like on different crib finishes.  It's pretty addicting!  Here are a few designs I've been playing around with:

The best part is you can save your designs, so that when we do find out the sex of the baby in another month or so, we can see our saved designs! The only drawback? The sets are a *little* pricey. By little, I mean a lot pricey. Definitely more than I would spend on my own bedding. But it's certainly a good starting point to help you start to put a nursery together.

*I have no affiliation with Carousel Designs, and they are not compensating me in any way for this post. Although I would gladly take free bedding from them if offered. I just enjoy playing with their interactive designer.

Baby Updates

Hey! I feel so much better! I just can't believe....oh no...wait a minute...nevermind. I was just kidding. I still feel like crap. I figured by now at almost 14 weeks that I would start to get my energy back and not spend my mornings leaning over the porcelain god. But alas, I had a couple weeks in there from about 10-12 where I was feeling so much better, but today I especially feel like I've taken two giant leaps back. Ugh! I'm trying to be grateful knowing it means a healthy pregnancy, but it's hard.

In other news, in order to avoid bombing my friends' facebook feeds, I will be doing all the baby updates on this blog. So if you're curious, check here if you really want to know. I'm trying to avoid ending up on this site.

In other news, I can no longer button my cute size 4 express skinny jeans. Does that mean I'm not wearing them? Heck no! They are now being held up by a lovely hair band around the button, ninja-style! I'm not really showing that much, but I did get to hear this little gem from my husband the other night..

"I can see the bottom of your bellybutton. I feel like I don't even know you."

Guess it will soon lose it's normal cave-like structure completely pretty soon.

6 weeks

12 weeks - I'm not annoyed, I just have the inability to look natural.

Hormones Are Crazy

Shows I've Cried At While Watching Recently:

• How Do I Look - you know, that show on the Style Network. . .
• Modern Family - because that show is just so touching
• Chopped - a show on the Food Network where they send a chef home after each round. I guess I just felt really bad for the chef they let go
• Wilfred - a show about a pot smoking dude in a dog costume. What is WRONG with me? I guess Elijah Wood's face is just so earnest it brought me to tears.

Seriously, pregnancy has done some crazy things to my body that I would have never expected. I thought there's no way I would be the one getting sick every morning, crying over reality television...but alas, I have no control! I hope my sob stories can entertain you at least until I have the time to publish something good.

Our Biggest DIY Project

So, I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I had a DIY project I'd been wanting to share with you. Well.....

There's the project we're working on now! Coming to theaters near you around Leap Year, 2012...

I know I've been so bad about blogging lately, but it's because I literally have not had the energy to do anything. I've been SO sick for the past five weeks that it's a miracle if I can do any chores around the house, let alone the mountain of DIY projects I'd like to tackle. Hopefully in a couple of weeks the nausea will taper off...like everyone keeps saying it will.  If not I will hunt those people down and puke in their trash cans...

We found out about our little gummy bear (look at the photo, doesn't it look like a gummy bear?) the DAY we got back from our trip from Paris. I suspected something might be going on when we were there. I couldn't decide if it was baby or if my lunch at the Palace of Versailles was just making me feel queasy for no other reason. I was too afraid to buy a French pregnancy test and misinterpret the results, so I waited the painstaking time until I could get home and take a test in English.  And sure enough...

Why yes, that is the same kitchen island I prepare all my food on...so?

We got to see the little one's heartbeat on the ultrasound on July 14th, and I got to hear the heartbeat on the doppler at my doctor's appointment last thursday. My doctor says that's the earliest she's EVER heard a heartbeat on a doppler before, so we feel pretty special.

Keep your fingers crossed that everything continues to go well and that I start feeling better soon. I promise to try and not turn this into a "mommy blog." There will hopefully be a lot of new craft and recipe opportunities to explore soon! Until then, 10 weeks down...30 to go.

What Harry Means to Me

"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?" ~ Albus Dumbledore

Oh, it's the end of an era. Tomorrow (or at midnight tonight if you've got tickets) the final Harry Potter movie is released upon the world. I don't think I can even put into words what the characters in the books have meant to me over the past many years. That a series of books has inspired a generation to get excited about reading is amazing in and of itself. And these kids aren't just reading a little chapter book...they're reading 900 page epic behemoth hardbacks and not putting them down once they start.

I was 13 years old when the first book, The Sorcerer's Stone, was released and I'd never even heard of Harry Potter. When I was 16 I got a part time job working as a cashier for a Barnes and Noble subsidiary and was constantly inundated with requests for the first couple of books that came out. I admit I didn't understand the hype. To think I was even annoyed at the time by the mania surrounding the story! I refused to even read them because I thought the story of a boy wizard could only be silly.

It wasn't until I was in high school that I saw the first two movies, and I thought, "Meh, they're ok." Then one bored day I started reading my brother's copy of The Prizoner of Azkaban. BAM...that was all it took and I was hooked. I remember the excitement of waiting patiently for the next book to come out, and then the next one, and then finally the 7th book was released shortly after my wedding and I had it delivered to our first apartment the day it came out.

I started dragging Scott to see the movies, and it wasn't until the third one that he really even started liking them. But slowly, I started breaking him down. And now? A self confessed non-reader like him has read every book but the last one (he wants to be surprised at the movie but promises to read the book after seeing it). In fact, he read all of the first 6 books in less than two months.

I can't wait until we have a little one we can read the books aloud to and create all new wonderful Potter memories. Until then, we'll have to content ourselves with rereading the books, having movie marathons, and maybe making it down to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando. So have a butterbeer for me, and everyone get their geek on!

BUTTERBEER RECIPE

Rosmerta's Recipes - Butterbeer by Melissa

Butterbeer! It warms you up AND tastes great. Now in take-away form from The Three Broomsticks. (Many thanks to Melissa for this recipe!)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (8 oz) club soda or cream soda
• ½ cup (4 oz) butterscotch syrup (ice cream topping)
• ½ tablespoon butter

Directions:

Step 1: Measure butterscotch and butter into a 2 cup (16 oz) glass. Microwave on high for 1 to 1½ minutes, or until syrup is bubbly and butter is completely incorporated.

Step 2: Stir and cool for 30 seconds, then slowly mix in club soda. Mixture will fizz quite a bit.

Step 3: Serve in two coffee mugs or small glasses; a perfectly warm Hogwarts treat for two!

On the Menu: Best Grilled Cheese Ever



Original Recipe Source - Jana Laurene

This original idea was found in Pinterest. Which, if you haven't signed up for yet, what are you waiting for? Anyways, last night I made a panini (instead of an actual grilled cheese) with the idea above. It was one of the best sandwiches I've ever had. Here's what I used:

Ingredients:
Italian Peasant Bread (Couldn't find any sourdough)
Avocado - Mashed
Thinly sliced pink lady apples
2 Bacon slices, fully cooked
Pepperjack cheese, sliced
Dijon Mustard

Directions
• Preheat your panini press or you can always just use a George Forman Grill as well. Set to medium heat.
• Spread dijon mustard on both sides of your Italian or Sourdough Bread.
• Spread a little mashed avocado on both sides of the bread after that.
• Layer on however many apple slices, slices of bacon, and pepperjack cheese your bread can handle.
• Grill your panini in your press for a few minutes until your cheese is melted.
• Enjoy!

Here's my not-so-lovely photo with my extra apple slices on the side. But seriously, DELICIOUS! Makes a wonderful fresh summer panini.

On a side note - sorry about the light blogging lately. We're still trying to get back into a routine from after the trip and the long holiday weekends. BUT, I've got an exciting DIY project I hope to share with you in the next couple of weeks. Until then, à bientôt!