twenty two.

How far along? 22.6777 weeks

Sleep: Yes, except for at 5 am, or every time I need to turn over because my left or right hand has fallen asleep. Whats amazing about this is that I used to NEED 8 hours of sleep or I would be yawning and exhausted all day. Now, I think God is getting me used to sleepless nights because I haven't had a full nights sleep since day one and its no biggie anymore! You're worth it lil bean. 
Best moment this week: Sitting on the beach with my toes in the sand while a little baby bean kicked away in my belly. (Ocean sounds are a MUST on her future sound machine!)
Miss Anything? My cheekbones! Ha where has thou goneeee? 
Movement: Yes, she just so happens to have found a new spot where she cannot be intterupted from curious hands on the outside of my belly. So I've been hogging all her movement this week...
Food cravings: Ice cream!!!
Have you started to show yet: Is this a trick question?
Gender: Girl
Labor signs: No-17.5 weeks to go and I am going to freak when the answer to this is yes.
Belly Button: I have a flattie.

Stretch Marks: None yet! 

Looking forward to: Taking our little bean to the Bahamas this week! 

"He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams." Psalm 23:2

twenty one.

How far along? 21.5 weeks

Sleep: Sleep sleep wonderful sleep.
Best moment this week: Hubby got to feel a swift kick from our baby banana!
Miss Anything? hmmm nope. Feeling happy and content.
Movement: She is getting very good at water aerobics morning, noon and night.
Food cravings: avocado. In the form of guacamole or just plain ol' avocado.
Have you started to show yet: funny.
Gender: Girl
Labor signs: No
Belly Button: In-so barely in... 

Stretch Marks: None yet! 

Looking forward to: Meeting her in a few months!! I can't wait to put her in all the itty bitty clothes and shoes with ruffles!

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

Black-eyed pea-brain salsa

Have you ever heard of pregnancy brain?

Or the lack of brains during pregnancy.

[It is a real thing people.]

I should wear a sign that says "Please don't judge. I am with child and have not lost my mind."

Like this morning, when I called the hubby on my way to work because "my car is making this funny noise and won't go over 60 mph on the highway and is at 4000 RPMs."

His response? "Oh that could be bad."

I then proceeded to make the grrrrrmmmmm noise the engine was making and I told him it sounded like the engine was working real hard.

And then he said, well before I try to figure out what it is, is your car in DRIVE?

Um, no.

It's in 2nd gear (I have an automatic.)

Thankyouverymuchforfixingit.

He laughed profusely, and then wished I had gone to a mechanic so they too, could laugh.

i.e. pregnancy brain.

So try as I might, I will beat pregnancy brain.

I will make lists, I will double triple check the iron, coffee pots, curling irons, etc.

And I will eat black-eyed peas.

I recently learned they are full of protein- 13g of protein in just 190 calories. And according to the brain and memory foundation, protein boosts memory. Yay protein!

So whether you're having pregnancy brain, memory problems, or are just plain ol' hungry, try this salad. It's tangy and crunchy and good for your brain (and baby's brain too: if applicable)!

Black-eyed pea-brain salsa
1 can black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup diced green pepper
1/4 cup diced onion
1 medium tomato, seeded and diced
Juice, 1 lemon
3 Tbsp olive oil
Salt & pepper, to taste
1 tsp cayenne
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tbsp fresh cilantro leaves, torn

In a small pot, cook peas over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until tender. Transfer to a colander and run cool water over beans.

Combine beans with remaining ingredients in a bowl, and serve chilled. Eat with a spoon or tortilla chips!

"He is my God, and I will praise him." Exodus 15:2

triflein

Thursday was my momma's birthday!

And she requested her birthday cake to be a trifle.

At first, I freaked at the thought of making something as complicated as a trifle.

Also, did this count as baking? Because we all know I can't bake. Extra freak.

But then, she quickly assured me it was like a parfait but layered with cake instead of granola.

I can do this. I can make parfaits.

And it was. Easy as  pie  parfait.

With a lemony simple syrup, fresh peaches from MacBee, SC, strawberries, and a fluffy and delicious cream cheese whipped cream. 

All of those delightful layers meet nicely together in your mouth and dance down the top of a hill whilst singing, [cue Julie Andrews]. 

I urge you to make this Fresh Berry Trifle for your momma on Mother's Day. Thank you mayasmom for a delicious recipe!

And thank you to my mom, who always shares her birthday week with mother's day. I am so thankful for her joyful spirit, her dreams for me, which were always bigger than my own, and her sweet goodness. 

And-her love for foo-foo gifts like frilly shower caps!!

I hope that I can be as good of a mom to our little bean as she has always been to me! Happy Mother's Day momma!

twenty.

How far along? 20 weeks- halfway there!!

Sleep: Yes, please. Whoever said the sleepiness goes away in the 2nd trimester is playing a rude joke on you. I still <3 sleep and naps like they're going out of style.
Best moment this week: Feeling baby move! Lots!
Miss Anything? Today...lack of heartburn??
Movement: Squirms and squiggles after almost every meal! It's so great to feel her wriggling around in there.
Food cravings: Gum. Can this be a craving? Yes, I guess so, if I've gone through 2 packs in 1 week. Now don't get all pica on me, I don't EAT it, I just like to chew it. All the time.
Have you started to show yet: hahaha....
Gender: Girl
Labor signs: No
Belly Button: In-but hanging on for dear life.

Stretch Marks: None. I'm slathering on cocoa butter every day just in case.

Looking forward to: Baby movements that the hubby can feel too!

"he will quiet you with His love." Zeph 3:17

nineteen.

How far along? 19.5 weeks

Sleep: I <3 sleep. Sleeping pretty good except for random 4 am waking times almost nightly. At least I can catch up on my reading.
Best moment this week: Buying the baby's first pair of shoes! I will share once they make it in the mail. Eee--- they are so teeny and fabulous!
Miss Anything? Today...Red wine.
Movement: Little squirmies felt here and there. But still very faint. Thank you anterior placenta.
Food cravings: McDonald's Sausage breakfast burritos. Like almost every day at 10am.
Have you started to show yet: See above...
Gender prediction: GIRL!!! Yay for pinks and bows and ruffles and tutus and sugar and spice and everything nice. 
Belly Button: In-but looking decidedly funny lately. Like the shallow end of a baby pool.

Stretch Marks: No-PTL

Looking forward to: Feeling our sweet baby girl move very distinctly.

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12

Apple Pie Parfait

Last week, we were blessed to see our little bean blossom from a teeny little blob on a 6 week ultrasound into a kicking, wriggling baby at our 18 week ultrasound!

It was more than beautiful. 

It makes the entire pregnancy seem more real and tangible. 

Little feet kicking away and a little face nuzzling up against me. Precious doesn't even begin to describe it.

And it makes me completely sympathetic when I   baby finds itself craving things like apple pies.

I mean, why would baby NOT crave a warm and crunchy, cinnamon-y apple pie?

I have completely underestimated the magnificence of the creation of the apple pie. 

Until now.

Ever since the little bean has graced my womb, I had never longingly drooled at the thought of crunchy and crispy pie crust and warm apples dancing in my mouth. 

Longingly... as in morning, noon, and night.

And I will admit, pregnant or not, it is completely inappropriate to have an apple pie as an afternoon snack. 

So baby and I made a compromise.

Because, at 2 in the afternoon, it is completely, 100% appropriate to have an apple pie parfait. 

So far, we make a pretty great team.

Pregnant or not, you will not be disappointed. It is creamy and crunchy and full of all of the important things you or baby need in your life [like dairy and fruit and maybe even a little butter]. 

Apple Pie Parfait

1 apple, sliced into 1/2" cubes

1 tbsp butter

1 tbsp cinnamon

1 tbsp brown sugar

2/3 cup vanilla yogurt (I used Greek)

1/4 cup granola

In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter, and saute apples, cinnamon, and sugar until apples have a slight cinnamon-sugar glaze on the outside and have lost a little bit of their bite. (I left mine slightly firm but soft on the outside.) 

Layer yogurt, granola, apples. Repeat. Eat.

Makes 2 small or one large parfait.

"All beautiful you are, my darling; there is no flaw in you." Song of Soloman 4:7