24 Weeks

How far along?          24 weeks

Total Weight Gain:    This past week +2 lb, Total +7 lbs.

Maternity Clothes:    I bought 3 sweaters this week!  I’m still rotating between two pairs of maternity jeans and a pair of low-rise regular jeans.  Usually if I’m just relaxing at home I’m in comfy PJ’s.

Continuing Symptoms:         Feeling movement, sore breasts, I’m generally just feeling good, feel my muscles stretching, mild occasional back pain, mild occasional restless legs.  I do have some other symptoms that some people may not care to read about (various breast changes, or things such as darkening hair on my stomach.. ).    

New Symptoms:        I’ve had a little bit of hip pain while sleeping, but mostly only when I forget to use the pillow between my knees.

Sleep:              I’ve been sleeping great!  I really appreciate that I’ve been sleeping so well.  I know a lot of women at this point already have to make trips to the bathroom in the night or have worse joint pains/aches while sleeping.  I feel very lucky so far.

Cravings/Aversions:  Sweets are still my weak spot and cravings.  I ate so many sweets while away on a weekend retreat this past week… Yet, I still want sweets, haha.  Well I am making a couple of delicious fall/Halloween treats this week.

Stretch Marks:           Nope.

Special Moments:      I enjoyed being pregnant around a bunch of ladies this past weekend, especially in this Christian setting.  It was kind of neat to have people pray for/over my baby as well as me.  It was also neat talking about being pregnant or just enjoying the extra concern and attention, heehee.

Miss anything?           I really missed not being able to sleep on my stomach on the retreat.  My thin little sleeping mat just didn’t do the trick for side sleeping… ouch!  Luckily another lady had an extra mat and I had brought extra pillows.

Belly Button in or out?         In, and still sporting the piercing.

Wedding rings on or off?      On.

Looking forward to:  Having my sister around this next week!  I think the past few days baby’s been aiming more kicks inward than toward the outside of my stomach.  I told her that she better start kicking/punching outward soon so that her Aunt Ashley can feel some really good jabs!  I’m also looking forward to receiving the cute things that Ashley and my mom bought for baby.

23 Weeks

How far along?          23 weeks

Total Weight Gain:    This past week +1 lb, Total +5 lbs.

Maternity Clothes:    Just bought some more pants and my first maternity shirts this past week.  I look forward to getting more soon.  :)

Continuing Symptoms:         Feeling movement, sore breasts, veins on chest are more noticeable, I’m generally just feeling good, feel my muscles stretching.  I do have some other symptoms that some people may not care to read about (various breast changes, or things such as darkening hair on my stomach.. ).    

New Symptoms:        I forgot to mention that I’ll occasionally have restless legs, but it’s very mild, nothing a little massage or leg wiggling won’t fix.

Sleep:              I’ve been sleeping great!

Cravings/Aversions:  It’s so nice not to have aversions!  Sweets are still my weak spot and cravings.  I made pumpkin poptarts this week (they’re kind of like little pumpkin pies).

Stretch Marks:           Nope.

Special Moments:      Buying some maternity clothes.  It was a lot of fun now that my bump is growing, and I found some places that have clothes that fit a person as small as me!  (Target and Motherhood Maternity)  Although, after receiving a free $50 JCPenney gift card, I was disappointed to find out that they no longer have a maternity section!

Miss anything?           Not really this week.

Belly Button in or out?         In, and still sporting the piercing.

Wedding rings on or off?      On.

Looking forward to:  We still haven’t bought anything for the baby, so I’m looking forward to doing that…

Recipe of the Week

Sweet-and-Sour Green Beans
Serves 2-4, Total Time 15 min

Ingredients:
3/4 lb green beans
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 medium shallot, minced
2 Tbsp cider vinegar
1 tsp sugar
Salt and Pepper

Directions:

1. Place the green beans in a steamer basket set over a large saucepan of boiling water.  Steam until bright green and crisp-tender, about 5 minutes.
2. In a medium skillet, heat the oil.  Add the shallot and cook over high heat, stirring until softened, about 2 minutes.  Add the vinegar and sugar; stir to dissolve the sugar.  Remove from heat and stir in the beans.  Season with salt and pepper.  Toss well and serve.

I did a few things differently when making this recipe.  I used yellow onion in place of the shallot, but only an amount equivalent to about the size of a shallot (maybe 1/8 medium onion).  I also did not cook the onion on high heat.  I cooked it on med-med/high.  I did not have a steam basket, so I placed only about an inch or so of water at the bottom of a pot, added the green beans, covered the pot, and let boil for about 5 minutes that way.

I found this recipe on the Delish.com website.

Latest House Tour

So... I filmed most of this video a week ago, but I added the kitchen today.  Enjoy!

22 Weeks

How far along?          22 weeks

Total Weight Gain:    This past week -1 lb, Total +4 lbs.  I accidentally lost a pound this week.

Maternity Clothes:    Clothes are still annoying me.  The hubby and I are going to the mall this weekend.

Continuing Symptoms:         Feeling movement, sore breasts, veins on chest are more noticeable, I’m generally just feeling good.  I do have some other symptoms that some people may not care to read about (various breast changes, or things such as darkening hair on my stomach.. ).  The body acne is a lot better, possibly due to the fact that I started using a pore cleansing face wash as body wash.  Still had a few headaches, the one today/last night is not going away.

New Symptoms:        Can’t think of anything…

Sleep:              I’ve been sleeping great!

Cravings/Aversions:  Still craving sweets!

Stretch Marks:           Nope.

Special Moments:      Someone could tell I was pregnant without me telling him!  That was pretty neat!

Miss anything?           Still kind of miss being able to have a glass of wine or an additional cup of coffee.

Belly Button in or out?         In, and still sporting the piercing.

Wedding rings on or off?      On.

Looking forward to:  Getting a few clothing items this weekend!

Recipe of the Week

Made-over Meatloaf
Serves 4-6, Prep time 10 min, Total Time 1 Hr 10 min

Ingredients:
2 cups bran flakes
1/2 cup BBQ sauce, divided
2 egg whites
3/4 lb extra lean ground beef
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 carrot, shredded

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Mix cereal, 1/3 cup bbq sauce, and egg whites in large bowl until well blended.  Add remaining ingredients and mix lightly.
3. Shape into loaf; place on foil lined loaf of broiler pan.  Brush with remaining sauce.
4. Bake one hour or until done (160 degrees).

This recipe is very vegetable-y, which is one reason it's healthier than traditional meatloaf.  I served mine with mashed potatoes.  I found this recipe on the Kraft recipes website.

21 Weeks

How far along?          21 weeks

Total Weight Gain:    This past week +2 lb, Total +5 lbs.

Maternity Clothes:    All of my clothes are pretty much annoying me, even the pair of maternity pants I bought.  Most of my shirts are too short, and most of the maternity clothes I got from a cousin are too big.  Maybe I should get some long tanks to wear under some of my regular shirts to extend their usage a bit.  Also, I should get some more comfortable maternity pants… Maybe I will end up going to Motherhood Maternity to shop, it's expensive, but they could have sales, right?  Also, I really want more comfortable pants!!

Continuing Symptoms:         Feeling movement, sore breasts, veins on chest are more noticeable, I’m generally just feeling good.  I do have some other symptoms that some people may not care to read about (various breast changes, or things such as darkening hair on my stomach.. ).  The body acne is a lot better, possibly due to the fact that I started using a pore cleansing face wash as body wash.

New Symptoms:        This past week I’ve had a few headaches (just mild ones, Tylenol worked), and last night my lower back was hurting while sleeping and I woke up with sore hips (that are also wider…).  I tried sleeping with a pillow between my knees last night, but I think I’ll need to use a thicker pillow.  I’ve also forgotten to mention round ligament pain, or stretching pains really.  It’s not too bad, but sometimes a little annoying.  The other day I was getting kicked in a particularly sore spot, haha.

Sleep:              I’ve been sleeping pretty great, with the exception of some back pain last night.

Cravings/Aversions:  Still mostly sweets, in particular chocolate and cake.  Last week I made a Mug Brownie!  It’s a single serving brownie that cooks in a mug in the microwave.

Stretch Marks:           Nope, but I definitely am feeling the stretching in my muscles/ligaments.

Special Moments:      We got the nursery all cleared out and ready for baby stuff!

Miss anything?           Still kind of miss being able to have a glass of wine or something, but it’s no biggie.

Belly Button in or out?         In.  I think I’ve decided to take out my belly button ring, though I haven’t done that yet.

Wedding rings on or off?      On.

Looking forward to:  I’ve really been getting the inkling to buy something for the baby, perhaps a crib…