Maternity Pictures: What an experience!

     Recently I had maternity pictures done by my good friend Jules. I didn’t do this with Alli and now I regret that, just a little bit. So this was a huge step for me, one that I backed out of many times before actually committing and following through with. See, even though I have this insanely huge ego, I tend to be a very modest person. One of Jason’s favorite past times is teasing me about how “teacher like” I dress, whatever that means. But the process turned out to be kind of fun. It was the first time ever I could actually take a picture without having to worry about sucking in my belly! In fact, the more I let it all hang out, the better. What’s not to love about that? The most surprising thing about the day was the pictures that I ended up loving. I really wanted “candid” pictures with my husband and me lazily lying on our couch looking comfortable and cute. These looked great online. We took several and I hated them all! (Remember the movie Batman in which Danny Davito played the Penguin? Yeah, he and I had way too much in common in terms of girth. YIKES!) Then there were the dreaded “bare belly” pictures. I was seriously frightened to show my very pregnant and naked belly to the world however I did it. (I know what you’re thinking and yes, I AM WOMAN!!!) Surprisingly, these pictures happened to be my absolute favorite ones of the day. I didn’t feel like I was the focus in these picture but rather the life I am growing was. Here are some of the pictures that were snapped that day, including the bare belly! And in case you didn’t catch that, let me try again. WARNING! Viewer discretion is advised!

Preggo Cravings

I have learned that pregnancy cravings can be very intense. With my daughter, I didn’t really crave anything except watermelon. Oh my, did I crave watermelon. I would eat an entire melon in one day! Aside from my daily melon, I was good. With baby #2, I crave things on whims and in a manner so deep that it’s almost frightening. One of these cravings happened to be Frito Chili Pie. I swear that craving hit me so fast and furious I would have hurt anyone who got in my way of partaking in it.

Then there was the “I need something sweet pronto” craving. Not just anything would do either. I wanted something new and different. After reading through one of my favorite food blogs, I found a recipe for Cherry Cake Pudding.  It’s moist, sweet, and best served warm. Yum-O!

Unfortunately, these pesky cravings aren’t helping me to maintain a “healthy weight” gain. The doc says I should be gaining 1-1 ½ pounds a week at this point. I have a confession, last week I gained 3 lbs! Though I enjoyed every bit of how I gained those 3 measly little pounds, I have decided it’s time to employ some self-control. So why not revert back to watermelon? It’s healthy and sweet. Surely it would satisfy me this time around as much as it did with my first bambina. After eating a couple of pieces I got this brilliant idea to make watermelon ice. See, the watermelons just aren’t any good this time of year and they need some help. So I pureed 5 cups of cubed watermelon, 2 cups of chopped strawberries, 2 tbsp of Lemoncello, 1 tbsp of lemon juice, and ½ cup sugar together then froze it. Mmm….Now that was good watermelon! This seems to be working for now but who knows what these crazy hormones will dictate to me tomorrow!

Watermelon Ice

Cherry Cake Pudding

Frito Chili Pie

Spring: Time for Stawberry Shortcake

It’s 81 degrees out…AMAZING! Don’t you just love the transition from winter to spring? I’m becoming antsy to get a garden planted, my flowerbeds worked, and to spend countless hours after work outside playing with my daughter. As I watch my daughter chase our dog Trapper around the yard on her battery powered John Deere tractor, I can’t help but feel the karma of summer slowly drifting my way. But before I become fully infused with summer, I want to enjoy spring in all of its beautiful glory. Now spring doesn’t officially start until Sunday but I’m the type of person who favors immediate gratification, so I’m starting early! With that being said I have decided it’s time to have our cake and eat it too! And that cake would be Strawberry Shortcake. (I might consider making a meal however my preggo hormones are telling me, “Why bother? Just grab a fork and savor the cake!”)
Now I don’t mean to brag, but I have a kick ass shortcake recipe that I’m completely in love with. Okay, so maybe I am bragging but hey, I’ve never been known for my modesty. It takes less than 10 minutes to whip up and 20 minutes to bake. Here’s the lovely recipe in all its glory!
Strawberry Shortcake

2 eggs
1 Cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 Cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ cup milk
3 tbsp butter
1 pint heavy cream
2-3 tbsp sugar
1 quart strawberries
2 tsp vanilla
Additional sugar
Directions:
Wash and hull your strawberries then cut them into halves, larger ones can be cut into quarters. Strawberries aren’t in season now so they can be tart. To fix this, add ¼ cup up to ½ cup powdered sugar and 2 teaspoons vanilla. Stir to combine and let this marry in the cool of the fridge.
In a bowl, beat eggs and 1 cup sugar together. Add 1 tsp vanilla and continue beating. Combine flour and baking powder; add to the egg and sugar mixture. Heat milk and butter; then add to mixture. Grease and flour a 9X8 pan, pour in mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Cool cake on wire rack. Meanwhile, whip heavy cream with 2-3tbsp sugar. Spread cake with whipped cream, sliced strawberries, and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Nostalgia

     Today I'm just in the mood to reflect on my daughter. Truly, she is one of the funniest people you will ever meet. She aspires to be Mulan and a dentist, her favorite food is Chinese, she loves to ride her horse, Peter Pan, believes that one day she will marry her Daddy because he's the "best boy ever," and wants to be just like her Mama when she grows up. She's a natural born leader and can be quite stubborn but she makes up for it by being a really good hand. Now I could go on and on, believe me that would be so easy to do, but I think a picture is worth a thousand words so I'll just stop my ramblings and show you the good stuff about my lil' girl!

In the Beginning

     Remember when you were a kid and you couldn't wait to grow up? You would make your own rules and do whatever you wanted. Growing up, I never wanted to be married nor *gasp* have children! That just seemed like a lot of work. Besides, I had this awesome career, or rather I would when I figured out just what that awesome career was, to pursue. Then guess what? Yep! You guessed it! I did the unthinkable and met my husband.
     It started out so innocent or at least as innocent as a college girl could get! It was the day after an all-night partying bash full of beer, dancing, and contests; in which I had won $500! (That's another story though....;) My friends and I were on our way to OSU for more partying when we decided to make a pit stop at a Taco Bell. They have the best hangover food ever! Anyways...my bestie decided to call one of her rodeo buddies that lived in the area to join us. One look, one measly little look was all it took and I quickly realized I was in trouble. First off, I was speechless. Me. Speechless. I'm better known for constant word vomit then being silent. Second, he was a cowboy. (Have you ever seen one in chinks? Better yet...have you ever seen one put on chinks? Oh my...*heated cheeks, fanning self* focus...) Third, I didn't date. Period. Dating could lead to a relationship and that could lead to marriage. I'd rather just avoid the whole complicated thing. As luck would have it, we all ate like we were starving and I was able to high-tail it outta there in no time!

Cowboy Eye Candy!

     I was feeling kinda lucky because I had just managed to save myself, or so I thought. Then came the rodeo. Somehow, and to this day I still don't know how, this cowboy nabbed me. I was just there to watch a little rodeo, drink lots of beer, and enjoy some dancing. Keep in mind I was in college, so drinking was a big part of what we did. However, if you are concerned, you need not be because I didn't drink that night. Not only did I not drink, I didn't dance, and I didn't even watch the rodeo! Instead, I spent the evening talking to the cowboy from the Taco Bell lunch. That was in August 2002. By October 2002 we were engaged and by May 2003 we were married. It was all so fast and so foreign to my friends that I received phone calls form them asking if the wedding invites were some kind of April Fool's joke! Heck, even for me looking back, the whole thing still stymies me! Couldn't be more grateful though! In October 2006 we had our first child. A beautiful little girl named Allison Noel! And now, 5 years later, we're looking forward to our second child due anytime!