A Sneaky Treat

Pinterest. It has opened my eyes and my belly to things I would never have known. My most exciting recent find is chocolate frosting shots made from coconut milk. I had never opened a can of coconut milk before and was surprised to find it thick like whipped cream. Don't shake your can! The recipe suggests opening the can and letting it sit in the refrigerator over night so that the whole can gets thick. I wish I had done this as only 25% of my can was thick but it was enough to experiment with. Since my milk portion was off I just improvised to taste with the following ingredients: cocoa powder, vanilla extract and powdered sugar. The result is very tasty but with every bite my brain screams It's Not Buttercream!!! Every night I get into it, I find the taste better and the consistency is so delicious, like thick frosting or mousse. I can't believe this girl made a vegan dessert and is enjoying it. Give it a try!

17 weeks and some change

17 weeks and 3 days over here. I have been feeling lots of movement regularly for about two weeks now. I had forgotten just how magical those little thumps are and this time around they seem perhaps even more precious since I have tangibly held a little being that did similar thumpings. This pregnancy is truly flying by and I often forget that I am even pregnant until I get a little kick or a side-mirror glance at my growing bump and I instantly smile thinking of this little gentleman that for now, is all mine. The name debate seems neverending around here and I have this feeling he will not have a name until he is here in our arms. We aren't agreeing on much and I think I am choosing names that would suit a baby boy who looks like Rivers when there is a chance (although in my heart of hearts, I feel they will look just the same) that this baby could look completely different.

Pregnancy Stats:

How Far Along: 17 weeks

Size of baby: Sweet Potato

Total Weight Gain: 7 lbs (5 of which have jumped on me within the past two weeks. Ridiculous) 

Gender: BOY (I still can't believe it!)

Movement: I always feel him when I've been moving around a lot and finally sit down. Probably about 4 times a day now and at night!

Sleep: Sleeping alright minus the potty breaks. Having a hard time falling back asleep once I get up to potty. 

Cravings: Spicy Pad Thai Pasta, Cornichons, Vinegar and Chocolate

Best Moment(s) this week: Coming home to the babysitter saying Rivers was pretending to take a phone call from "Brother".

Baby Boy is going to get his first taste of Sin City this weekend when we go to Vegas to see Garth Brooks! I'm also feeling lucky so we'll see how the Craps tables treat me! Momma needs money for maternity clothes and a new nursery!

Yosemite

 My baby dear checking out the baby deer in Yosemite. Just this one second of cuteness makes up for hours upon hours of pure stinker behavior.

The Birthday Surprise

You may recall me touting my decision to wait until delivery day to find out the gender of this baby. Well, Dave really wanted to know and ultimately I realized it wasn't that big of a deal to me. I didn't tell him I had changed my mind and I went and got a secret ultrasound yesterday morning. I had the tech put the picture in the envelope so I wouldn't know either. My big plan was to take a box to Party City and have them blow up pink or blue balloons and seal it. I was then going to wrap the box as a present so Dave had no idea. Have you heard that there is a national helium shortage? In short, no one in town has helium and thus the balloons were not going to happen. I ended up blowing up pink and blue balloons myself and purchasing one it's a girl banner and one it's a boy. I asked a coworker to bury the correct one at the bottom of the box and seal it. I then wrapped the box and stuck a big bow on it. It worked splendidly! Dave had to dig for the answer and I was honestly so shocked when he pulled out the sign below. I am over the moon!!!!

Ralphers Goes Posh Spice

Until Ralphie I had never owned a dog that needed to be groomed. We always had dachshunds or labs who required very little, if any, beauty treatments. Ralphers is not that kind of dog. He gets straight up wild if we don't tend to his locks every few months.

Before we take him we always ask what celebrity he wants his hair cut like and it has ranged from Justin Bieber to Gary Busey. This time we forgot to ask Ralphie so I told the groomer to trim him up short but leave his eyelashes. I don't know why I forget but it never fails that they don't trim the hair on his ears and I always make a mental note to fix that next time. When I picked Ralphers up on Friday, I berated myself again once I saw his ear hair but I thought he still looked pretty cute.

On Saturday we took a family bike ride to our favorite bagel shop. I left Ralphie outside with Dave and Rivers while I ran in to fix my coffee. While pouring the creamer I overheard a group of college age friends talking about Ralphers and laughing. I strained to hear exactly what was so funny just in time to hear "that dog has an A-frame haircut". GASP. My Mr. Bud Bud got the Posh Spice. I was hoping he wouldn't notice but he's been extra clingy lately so I know he's feeling self conscious. I feel so bad because I keep laughing to myself every time I see him. My poor, sweet boy. Next time I won't forget to ask him what celebrity he wants to look like and he can tell me what he wants, what he really really wants.

A Toddler in Action: Foot Flare

I think Rivers is on to a new trend. A little bit of foot flare that felt oddly awesome. It's a great little game for me. She goes into the other room to get a new rubberband, places it on my foot and repeat. In the meantime, I lay on the couch the whole time snuggled with Ralphadoo.

The Most Delicious Chicken

With no hesitation, I will tell you this is the most delicious tasting chicken I have ever had the honor of placing between my molars. It is so good that on nights I make it I don't even eat dessert because I am too busy in the kitchen eating little pieces left in the pan with all the remaining juices. I can't take credit for it, I found it on this blog: http://healthyeasyrecipes.blogspot.com
But every time I make it (so easy) and every time I eat it (so yummy) I am overcome with the need to share this treasure. So if anyone reads this anymore, this is for YOU.

Without further ado, may I present the honorable Lemon Honey Chicken.

2 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp honey
1/8 cup grape seed oil (I never have
this and just use olive oil)
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 large chicken breasts sliced in half
and half again

Put everything in a large ziplock bag and mix together. Let refrigerate for an hour or longer but no more than two hours. Pour the whole bag into a skillet and brown chicken by cooking four minutes on each side. Put all contents into Pyrex dish and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

I've served this with veggies and potatoes or rice and just recently with pasta and homemade pesto. It is delicious in pita wraps too. This chicken can do no wrong! Enjoy!!!