a few new milestones :)

Quite a bit of new things to report since i last wrote! And yet, life has barely slowed down long enough for me to post.

Ireland was wonderful. Seriously, if you've ever debated going, just go. You'll love it. So beautiful, lovely people, and so much to see! Only I'll warn you, you're most likely going to wish you'd gotten to spend more time there ;)  It was so great to hang with Heather and her family, as well as to get to see Laura (think we really have spent more time together abroad than at home) and the wedding of dear Stefanie and Mitchell in Germany. Way too much goodness in one trip, and so little time since to sort and post pictures! :( 

Since we got back from Ireland (and after I finally got through the bulk of jet lag), we had TMC's Outreach Week to prepare for and direct (thanks so much to the 12 students who came up from Master's, and got so much work done around church! And to all those who helped with hosting and otherwise taking care of them). Even crazier, on Monday of last week, we closed escrow on our new house! So for the times we weren't working with the TMC team, we were in demolition and decision mode at the house. So far we've torn out cabinets and a sofet (sp) in the kitchen, jack-hammered out some tile, even torn out some of the drywall, taken down popcorn ceilings...and some other things either destructive or constructive. Thanks to the helpers who've already jumped in! Especially our parents. It's a bit overwhelming, but I think we can expect great things from the finished product!

Our new kitchen ;)

But more importantly, baby!  I am now definitely "showing," and baby is definitely moving! I felt my first for-sure little kick or bump on one of our last nights in Ireland (fortunately before Scott and I separated to head home and to Germany, respectively). Since then I've felt little him or her squirming or jumping around quite a few times, and last night he/she even gave us a couple leaps that Scott was even able to feel for the first time! Crazy, crazy. Hard to believe that in not so many months, we'll be seeing this little one squirming right beside our bedside instead. But speaking of him/her and he/she, maybe even crazier, we have our mid-pregnancy ultrasound today!! As always I'm just a touch anxious (plenty to check up on besides gender, I guess), but mostly excited.  I hope baby is not shy, cause we're really looking forward to knowing whether we've got a son or a daughter, and all the excitement of picking paint, and registry items, and for me, just getting to imagine our new lives as parents with a little more specific detail! 

Well, suppose that's enough until later (and I don't just mean enough exclamation points).

Turkey Minestrone: the I'm-out-of-veggies version

Turkey Minestrone: the I'm-out-of-veggies version

Just made up this recipe tonight, and since it turned out pretty tasty, I thought I'd write it down for another time. Really it's pretty quick, because of the frozen, canned, and dried ingredients (don't judge) ;)
Would have added more veggies (like green beans, shredded carrots, or zucchini) if I had them on hand, but I didn't. Maybe I'll try adding the first two next time, but it's pretty good without as well.

Sorry that I'm still too lazy to make my photos all super-apetizing and pinteresty.

1 lb roll of ground turkey
Onion (1/2 small?), fresh garlic or garlic powder/salt to taste
Italian herbs, lemon pepper
2 cans tomatoes (petite diced)
~1 can chicken broth (keep another ready if you want it later)
1 can garbanzo beans/chickpeas
1 can white beans (cannelini)
~3/4 cup frozen spinach?  less or more according to your preference
~1 cup (maybe less) small pasta, like mini shells
~2 cups water and/or broth
(even better if you have "caldo de tomate" boullion)
Fresh basil?

Fry the turkey in the pan, adding a little onion, garlic, and other seasonings (I used mainly Italian herbs and lemon pepper).  Once cooked through, add the tomatoes and chicken broth. drain the beans somewhat and add them as the soup heats up, as well as the spinach. Take a taste of the broth and adjust accordingly (remember noodles will suck up some water and concentrate the flavor a little). When satisfied, add the pasta (last 10-ish minutes of cooking).
Once the pasta is cooked, observe and taste again. If it's too thick and stew like for you, add the water or broth or mix of both. I used water with half a cube of Tomato boullion (one of my go-to favorites from the Mexican food section).  Add extra seasonings as needed, I also added a little fresh basil.

.....Aaaand that's pretty much it!!

2nd Trimester and 4 months already?!

September 17th

Just a quick update before we leave on our trip to Ireland (and me to Germany, for the much-anticipated wedding of Mitchell and Stefanie)!  Can't wait to see Heather, Laura, the Walshes, and the lovebirds, and get in some incredible sight seeing and relaxation. Our "last big hurrah" I joke, before baby comes. Hope this poor kid won't be angry forever that we took them to Ireland before they could see it. Sorry, baby!

How far along? 16 weeks. That's 14 weeks of carrying little one, and 12 weeks of knowing about it.

Total weight gain/loss: Well I'm still not sure it's possible, but I weighed myself the other day and guess what? Normal weight!! I have no way to explain except to suppose that the baby must have gotten the best of both his/her parents' good metabolisms! Fine with me, I'll keep eating, maybe even more now....

Maternity clothes? Rubber bands on a few jeans... but I can tell I'm getting real close to that "just give me stretch pants so I can be comfy" phase. 

Stretch marks? Don't think so? 

Best moment this month: Seems like there has been so much to plan and look ahead to, so I've really liked the moments that some things started to feel more set, finished, or tangible (instead of looming).

Miss Anything? Caribou Coffee white mocha or whatever it is. that probably doesn't count but it's true

Food cravings: Yep, I do crave food, often and plenty. Sometimes I imagine baby as The Hungry Thing. I like dinner food so much more than lunch food, so lately I'm trying to have more leftovers available for lunch.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not really. I feel a little guilty when people ask how I've been feeling, 'cause I've had it pretty easy so far! There's the occasional food picture (pinterest or recipe books) that makes me have a stronger "yuck" reaction than I would normally, but that's it.

Have you started to show yet: Not by a lot, but yep! And actually, after the chiropractor straightened me out yesterday, I think I might show a touch more... or at least I'm more comfortable. 

Gender prediction:  Oh we're so close! We're finally starting to think maybe a girl, despite what has seemed the majority opinion at first! A girl name is the only one that we have pretty set, so it would be convenient ;)

Belly Button in or out?  In... but I think it's getting a little shallower...hehe.

Wedding rings on or off? on. oops, except when I'm working, gotta put em back on

Happy or Moody most of the time: The past few weeks have been a bit more stressful (seems like I've just had so much to do/plan/think about) but I'm enjoying the second trimester so far.

Weekly Wisdom: Make sure I'm getting enough protein! It's crazy how much higher this recommendation is for pregnant women than for everyone else (almost double, by most suggestions)!

Weekly Confession: Oh shoot...I think I had one but I forgot it. Have I already confessed my forgetfulness?  Oh how 'bout this... I have like 5 brands of prenatal vitamins and enough of them to keep me going past my due date already. Most I've gotten free or cheap. I switch off to get the best of each. It's a little weird, but let me have my thing.

Looking forward to: Ireland, nesting, and perhaps most of all... Four more weeks 'til we (hopefully) get to stop calling the baby It or He/She. It's not like the anticipation is killing us or anything... but just a little bit it is :D Also, 'til the end, I'll be wondering what this little one's face looks like. No "cheating" on that one though!

These are starting to look a touch repetitive, aren't they? hmm...