26 Week Update

• Week: 26 weeks
• Size of Baby: 14 inches, 1 2/3 pounds...the size of an English hothouse cucumber
• Movement: Each week, her movements are getting stronger and stronger. It truly is my favorite part about being pregnant. I'm still feeling the strongest movments a few inches below my belly button. I just wonder what she's doing in there.
• Symptoms: The leg cramps are coming almost every night. I am feeling more and more pregnant all the time.
• Cravings: Maybe since it's Easter and sweet treats sound so delish...but I've been loving pink Peeps these days. (Gross, I know!) I'm still all about fruit and am very happy it is strawberry season!
• Sleep: It seems like this has changed drastically this week for some reason. I miss sleeping on my tummy and back. The past week I have not been sleeping too soundly. The joy of a growing belly (and precious baby)! Plus, the more frequent leg cramps have been waking me up more regularly. I guess it's God's way of preparing us for middle of the night/early morning feedings.
• What I'm Missing: Sushi and wine
• How I'm Feeling: BIG :)
• Moment of the Week: My precious grandmother, Sarah, found the most gorgeous dresser for the nursery. It is my shower gift from her. We picked the dresser up this week...so now our peanut has some furniture in her nursery. YAY! Thank you sweet Sarah! Love you so much!

The Bump...Weeks 20, 21, and 23

I had been slacking on putting up the bump pictures. So I'm playing catch up today.

I finally popped at 23 weeks!

Derek's 31st Birthday

D turned 31 yesterday. We had a very full day of shopping for Clara. His big birthday present was...the B.O.B. Revolution stroller (thanks to Bob, Sare, Jenn, Doug, my parents and sister). Wow our life has changed! We were supposed to have dinner at Carrabas, but I was actually feeling pretty lousy with a cold. SOOOOOO, we ended up getting take out from Lasagna House (one of our faves) and spent the night in with the pups. I truly cannot even begin to say how blessed I am to be married to Derek. He is the most precious man who has gone above and beyond for our growing little family. I am so proud of who is and all that he has accomplished. And to top off the big 31...he got another promotion...Director of Ticket and Event Sales. Way to go love. I love you!

25 Week Update

• Week: 25 weeks
• Size of Baby: 13 1/2 inches, 1 1/2 pounds...the size of an average rutabaga
• Movement: I'm definitely feeling her more throughout the day. I mostly notice it after lunch. She is still the most active at night. It still feels like flutters, just bigger flutters. I'll feel tiny kicks and punches too. It's the best feeling in the world.
• Symptoms: I've been having some sciatic nerve pain just recently. Some swelling in my feet, but not too bad. By the end of the day, I'm absolutely exhausted. I've been getting leg cramps in the middle of the night. I'm also finding that I'm becoming a little more clumsy and way more forgetful.
• Cravings: Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, strawberry popsicles from HEB, fruit...especially grapes and strawberries
• Sleep: I've been sleeping much better. I'll wake up maybe once or twice. I will still sometimes wake up on my tummy and on my back, but I'm reeeeally trying to sleep on my sides.
• What I Miss: wine...especially this time of year
• How I'm Feeling: I really feel great! I'm loving this part of my pregnancy.
• Moment of the Week: I'm 15 weeks away from meeting my little girl! I love rubbing on my tummy and getting to feel her tiny movements. She's my miracle.

The Nursery...switching gears (kind of)

Last week, I got Clara's crib bumper in the mail from Restoration Hardware Baby. Well...I HATED the color. It was a really wierd pink that did not go with the rug I had. So I decided to send that back. Then, I recieved the fabric swatch for the crib skirt I was having made. Again...yuck, I hated it. Back to square one. I will admit, I was in panic mode. I am very particular and know exactly what I want when it comes to the nursery, and had been looking FOREVER (even before I found out she was a SHE).

Well, I have an amazing home room mom this year, who has AMAZING taste. She called me and told me she was getting rid of her youngest daughter's crib bedding. I went over to look at it and fell in love with the crib skirt. It is ballet pink dupioni silk and gorgeous. And it looked great with the rug. So we've got the crib skirt! Now onto the bumper.

After posting that I was looking for a seamstress in Houston on facebook, I had a few people tell me to get in touch with Jerry Manto (who is one of our music teachers). I spoke with Jerry and she is able to sew the bumper! YAY! My mom and I went all over Houston trying to find the perfect fabric. We ended up finding a gorgeous melon quilted fabric with embroidered dots. The dots are the same ballet pink as the crib skirt. So the melon quilted fabric will be the actual bumper fabric. Then, we found this gorgeous sheer scroll fabric which will be the ruffle on top of the bumper and the bows that tie to the crib. I am so excited I can hardly stand it. I am just so ready to start putting things together. We just don't have anything to put together yet!

I am hoping to find a dresser we can use for a changing table. I'd be happy finding something super inexpensive that we can refinish and add some cute knobs. I found these adorable owl knobs at Anthropologie. We always LOVE a project!My grandmother, Sarah, is giving me my great-grandmother's gold beveled mirror we will hang above the dresser. I would love to find little antique plates to possibly hang above the crib. I like things a little more symmetrical as far as the plates go, but below are a few pictures I found. I will also use fewer plates. I also adore the little owl light switch cover from Anthropologie (are you noticing a trend?) We really need to decide on the glider now though. Sooooo...that's where we are as far as the nursery goes. I am loving every minute of this and cannot wait to have a room set up all for our little Bee.

24 Week Update

I need to update the baby bump pictures since my belly is growing like crazy. Since we got our new "fancy camera" I haven't uploaded the new software to the computer. Anyway, I thought I'd include some stats and would try to do this weekly.

• Week: 24 weeks
• Size of Baby: 12.5 in long (length of an ear of corn) and 1.25 pounds
• Movement: I am feeling Little Miss Thang all the time now. Her movements are getting stronger and stronger. She seems to be the most active at night. Awesome, right? :)
• Symptoms: Growing belly, SOME swelling in the ankles, much more sensitive skin
• Cravings: orange juice, fruit, peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, plain glazed donuts (again...awesome)
• Moment of the Week: Watching my tummy move while lying in bed. It was crazy. Derek and I just laid there and stared at it. She was all over the place!

eat: peanut butter cookie dough brownies

I have never had much of a sweet tooth. I would much rather have chips and salsa over chocolate any day. Things have changed a bit now...thanks to pregnancy. All I want is sweet, chocolatey, peanut buttery goodies! (I have to have peanut butter at least once a day!) I have made this delicious recipe several times, and just MIGHT have to make it today. It is amazing and oh so easy! Ingredients {Brownie Layer} nonstick cooking spray 1/2 c unsalted butter 2 (1 oz) squares unsweetened chocolate 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 c sugar 2 large eggs 1/2 plus 2 T all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 3/4 c semisweet chocolate chunks {Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Layer} 1/4 c unsalted butter, softened 1/2 c packed light brown sugar 2 T milk 1/2 c creamy peanut butter 1/2 c plus 2 T all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp salt {Ganache Layer} 3/4 c dark chocolate chips 1/4 c heavy whipping cream 1/4 c corasely chopped salted peanuts Directions 1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray the bottom and sides of an 8x8 inch pan with cooking spray. For the brownies, microwave the butter and unsweetened chocolate in a microwavable bowl at high power until the butter is melted, about 2 minutes. Stir until combined, then mix in the vanilla extract. Meanwhile, beat the sugar and eggs in a large bowl and add in the chocolate mixture. Stir in the flour, baking powder, salt and chocolate chunks. Spread the brownie mixture evenly into the prepared pan. Bake until the brownies are set and a toothpick inserted in the center of the brownies comes out clean, about 22 - 28 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool for 30 minutes. 2. For the peanut butter cookie dough: Add the butter and brown sugar to a large bowl and mix until creamy. Mix in the milk and peanut butter, then stir in the flour and alt. Spread the peanut butter cookie dough evenly over the cooled brownies. 3. For the ganache: In a small microwavable bowl, microwave the dark chocolate chips and heavy whipping cream, uncovered, on high for 1 minute, stirring after 30 seconds. Continue stirring until the chips are melted and the mixture is smooth. Spread the ganache over the peanut butter layer and sprinkle with the chopped peanuts. Refrigerate until the dough and ganache are set, about 1 hour. Cut into 16 squares and arrage on a serving platter to serve.

Enjoy!