21 weeks

21 weeks pregnant

How far along? 21 week 1day 

Weight gain/loss: gain.

Maternity clothes? In totally, still have one pair of pants I'm good with.

Stretch marks? not that i've noticed

Sleep? with a toddler that somedays has sleep through the nigh issues, no..

Best moment this week? Passing halfway point

Movement: yes

Food cravings: nothing particular

Gender: My dear husband knows, but I'm staying Green as long as I can stand it :D 

Belly button in or out? still in, but on the verge

What I miss? caffeine 

What I am looking forward to? 2u2 getting into mischief and seeing my family all together.

Milestones: 3 wks till v-day

New inspiration

I found this website yesterday.  A woman on one of The Bump.coms message boards posted this picture

for Apple dumplings and the picture was linked to this website The Pioneer Woman.  And OMG I'm in love.  Being from the country myself and having my Nana (May God have mercy on her) being born in the early 1900's was a GREAT from scratch cooker.  I never really took to much interest in making the things myself just eating them, but being married with 2 kids and one on the way and my husband being so into making stuff ourselves because it's healthier (i.e. we know for real what's going in it) and cheaper than buying out for someone to make the same thing.  I've come up a little in my home cooking prowess and have slowly (much to my husbands dismay) began to try to branch out my cooking skills.

I think this website has definitely lit a small fire under me.  Again being from the country and knowing what real home country cooking tastes like I am in love and I pray God makes it easy on me to take some of these recipes and run with them.  I hope my family approves and I hope I do the Pioneer woman and my Nana proud.

Stay tuned for my hits and misses.

Insanely Easy Vegetarian Chili

I have done it again.  Below is a recipe I tried out last night because well the whole family has been under the weather and I heard on the weather that it was going to get cold so I thought some night warm hearty chili would do the trick. 

We didn't have everything on the ingredients list but it still turned out pretty tasty.  DH ate 3 full bowls, Khalifah had a nice sized baby bowl and Africa even ate it without to many complaints ;). I used fresh corn and kidney beans instead of canned.  We didn't have mushrooms.  I subbed tomatoes for ketchup chili powder for cayenne (only 1 tsp not the recommended tbsp) and Coriander for cumin.  Oh and I threw in about 1/4 tsp of salt for taste. Insanely Easy Vegetarian Chili

Rated: Submitted By: Tia Photo By: Extra Foamy Prep Time: 25 Minutes Cook Time: 30 Minutes Ready In: 55 Minutes Servings: 8

"This recipe is a great alternative to traditional chili. It combines onions, carrots, celery, red and green bell pepper, mushrooms, tomatoes and corn."

INGREDIENTS:

1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 cup chopped onions 3/4 cup chopped carrots 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 cup chopped green bell pepper 1 cup chopped red bell pepper 3/4 cup chopped celery 1 tablespoon chili powder

1 1/2 cups chopped fresh mushrooms 1 (28 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes with liquid, chopped 1 (19 ounce) can kidney beans with liquid 1 (11 ounce) can whole kernel corn, undrained 1 tablespoon ground cumin 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Saute onions, carrots, and garlic until tender. Stir in green pepper, red pepper, celery, and chili powder. Cook until vegetables are tender, about 6 minutes.
2.	Stir in mushrooms, and cook 4 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, kidney beans, and corn. Season with cumin, oregano, and basil. Bring to a boil, and reduce heat to medium. Cover, and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2011 Allrecipes.com

Printed from Allrecipes.com 10/28/2011

bumper sticker of the day

Come to the darkside

___________________

we have

Cookies

My Dearest Africa

On this day 6 years ago God bless my husband and I with the most priceless thing in the world.  Our oldest daughter Africa.

Time has flown and I love watching her grow.  From a little 7lb 8oz baby to a tall little lady.  I thank God and my husband for my daughter.  God because of course without him none of us would be and My husband because without him she would not be the little person she is today.

So on this day as my daughter has turned 6 I ask only that God bless her with many more days like today with health, happiness and family.

Love,
 Mommy

P.s. If you thought I wasn't gonna share some of your baby pix you are so sadly mistaken.

 

20 down 20 to go

20 weeks pregnant

How far along? 20 week 2day 

Weight gain/loss: gain, finally back on the rise after the first tri Morning (all day) sickness

Maternity clothes? In totally still have one pair of pants I'm good with, but other than that I'm out an poppin :)

Stretch marks? not that i've noticed

Sleep? with a toddler that somedays has sleep through the nigh issues, no..

Best moment this week? Feeling baby move more

Movement: yes

Food cravings: nothing particular

Gender: My dear husband knows, but I'm staying Green as long as I can stand it :D 

Belly button in or out? still in

What I miss? caffeine 

What I am looking forward to? 2u2 getting into mischief and seeing my family all together.

Milestones: Half Baked whoo hoooo!!!

Anatomy Scan - Check

It's a.........Baby!

Today was my anatomy scan and I am proud to say that as of now I am still Team Green.  I do not know what we are having.  I have a paper of the sex written down, but that is for DH's eyes only.  Well in theory. I plan to let him and only him see.  I hope to avoid the urge to look tonight (or anytime today while it's in my possession).

The baby is healthy and a nice week ahead of schedule.  I go back in 8 weeks to keep an eye on my lady bits and the baby's growth. :D

I am so proud.  When the questionaire asked if I wanted to know I said no to put it away for Husband.  I even watched my gaze to keep from getting an accidental glimpse on the screen.  The doc was pretty good after he found it out at not going back to that area and not telling me either.  I'm sure this is not his first GREEN ultrasound so.  They also didn't put it anywhere in my chart so even my doctor (who I was surprised to find out didn't know until delivery) won't even know.  Soo Yeah for a mini milestone of making it through the u/s without caving.