Bump it: 25 Weeks

Hey Everyone! I'm 25 weeks along!

Howdy! I'm sure you realize that I'm back home and back in front of the nursery closet for my weekly photo shoot. I apologize that I didn't get any true "bump photos" while I was away but things were just so crazy that in all honesty I completely forgot about them :-)

In really good news this baby has finally started kicking! It really started (or I really started noticing it)  while I was home in Rhode Island. There were several instances late at night that I would be laying in bed and I would feel a distinct "kick" from the baby. There were a few times when I would pull my shirt up and I could actually see my belly shaking! Unfortunately he was only active late at night so on one else really had an opportunity to feel it. When he gets bigger and really starts moving around enough that I can take a video of my belly I will post it up for you all to see!

When I was traveling I also experienced my first illness of this pregnancy. It was only a cold but I really got hit hard with a runny nose and dry cough. I attribute it to being in the airplane with all the recycled air and the constantly changing weather of New England. I didn't realize how much of a bummer it was to not be able to take any medications when you are pregnant! I usually get a mild to moderate case of sinusitis at least once a year and I usually just grab a box of Advil Cold & Sinus and call it a day. This time I just had to suffer through it but luckily it only lasted about a week. 

Every day this week it seemed like I had a box on my front stoop from amazon! I can't tell you enough how thankful I am for everyone generosity in helping us get ready for baby!

Things keep progressing wonderfully in my pregnancy, I can't wait to be a mom!

Until next time I remain a happy mama to be!

Bump it: 24 Weeks

Hey everyone! I'm 24 weeks along!!

RI Baby Shower!!!!

This week I had a great time visiting with friends and family in Rhode Island! The week ended with a fabulous baby shower co-hosted by my mom (blue on my left) and my mother in law (blue cardigan on my right). It was so much fun and I got to see a lot of wonderful friends and other mothers that I don't get to see all that often. It was a "bring a book" baby shower with a winnie-the-pooh theme and I was truly overwhelmed with how generous everyone was! I came home with a second suitcase full of baby supplies and my mom and I packed up 7 USPS flat rate boxes that shipped out the day I flied home. 

My friend Haley came with her 7 month old son Henry and it was so much fun being able to visit with him. I have to be honest I have been going out of my way to spend time with other mothers and as such have been exposed to more babies in an attempt to get more comfortable interacting with little kiddos. I have some limited experience working with kids at the hospital but I figure only having experience with kids when they are sick and pissed off isn't really very accurate. The point is little Henry was such a little sweetheart and it makes me excited to see my son smile at me the way Henry was smiling at his mama.

Anyway here are a few more pics...

My Aunt Claudia had this 3-tier diaper cake made for me. It was covered in toy rings, toys and baby spoons. I was quite a showpiece!!

My mother-in-law Lynn was responsible for the yummy desserts. We had snicker-doodle, lemon and chocolate cupcakes!!

she also quilted this for the baby, what a multi talented lady!!

I had such a nice time at my shower, and I think my little baby enjoyed the food too!

Until next time I remain a happy mama to be!

Bump it: 23 Weeks & Kelly's graduation!!!

Hey Everyone! I'm 23 weeks along!

I know I know you can't even see the bump at all but this is literally the only pic I got of myself the whole week,
baby bump fail........

So this week has been pretty busy. I had my spring concert with the Monterey Peninsula College Wind Ensemble which went pretty well. I was nervous because since the group is short clarinets my teacher was hired to play for the performance; and ended up sitting right next to me! She did have a lot of nice things to say though which was very reassuring. 

I had my first experience playing in a small wind group too which was really fun! I played in a sextet (that's six musicians - in this particular instance it was a flue, oboe, contrabass clarinet, two french horns and a clarinet, played by yours truly!) We played movement II of Sextet, by Carl Reinecke. You can listen to the rough recording taken by Kyle's iphone here. Hope you enjoy!

The next day we were off to Gettysburg PA to watch my sister in law graduate from college! (when did Kyle get that OLD? I however haven't aged a day....) It was a wonderful weekend full of Fullerton family fun. We got to meet my brother in law's girlfriend for the first time too; she was really nice and fun!

Here are a few other pics from the ceremony!

The graduate and her proud brothers!

Nice looking family!

So pregnancy wise I am still anxiously awaiting some movement; I'm pretty sure I'm feeling *something* late at night but it's so hard to tell if that is the baby or if that is just me wanting it to be the baby. Ugh, I know that it's hard to differentiate when you are a first time mom but seriously little boy give your mama a good kick; she's asking for it!!!

Until next time I remain a happy mama to be!

Bump it: 22 Weeks

Hey Everyone! I'm 22 Weeks along!

I've been feeling pretty good this week! I had another prenatal appointment which went really well, all my numbers still look great and I've gained about 10lbs so far this pregnancy. Before my next appointment I have to go in for my glucose testing (I'm already dreading it!) but I think I'll save that for after I get back from my RI trip. What's a better homecoming present then having to chug incredibly disgusting super sweet flat 7-UP?

If there is one I'd like to hear it haha!

This week was pretty uneventful so I'll end it here. I am hosting my first ever dinner part this weekend. Some of my neighbors are coming over for dinner so I'm really excited/terrified about that. I hope everything goes well!!!!!!

Until next time I remain a happy mama to be!!!

Kyle's Banana Bread

One of my Pregnancy “cravings” has been sweets. I have always been a gal who prefers salty to sweet hands down; pretzels over skittles; chips over hershey kisses etc. When I go to the movies I skip right over the glass candy case and head for the gigantic popcorn maker (a dash of salt and artificially processed butter substitute please!) So imagine my surprise when I started really craving cookies and ice cream instead of my usual standby snack of salt and vinegar chips. I’ve been avoiding these particular cravings like the plague because I know that they will only pack on the non-essential pounds that will be the very weight that will be impossible to loose post baby.

But every once in a while I give in to temptation!

I had been craving my husbands banana bread recipe for the last week and Kyle finally made it for me yesterday. Its been my favorite ever since he first made it for me about 5 years ago; not only because he makes it but because it’s amazingly moist and delicious. It can easily be adapted to your taste (or your pantry’s inventory!) And bananas are healthy right?

Kyle’s Banana Bread

adapted from the Barefoot Contessa Cookbook.

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 lb unsalted butter, melted and cooled

2 extra-large eggs 

3/4 cup whole milk

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 brown bananas)

1 cup medium diced ripe bananas (about 1 yellow banana)

1 cup diced walnuts

1 cup granola

1 cup sweetened shredded coconut

Dried banana chips, granola or shredded coconut (optional)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Grease and flour two bread pans

Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Add the melted butter and blend. Combine the eggs, milk, vanilla, and mashed bananas. Add them to the four and butter mixture; scrape the bowl and blend well. DON’T OVERMIX

Fold the diced bananas, walnuts, granola, and coconut into the batter. Spoon the batter into bread pans, filling each one 1/2 to 3/4 full (mine ended up being about half full) Top each loaf with shredded coconut, diced nuts or granola if desired. 

Bake for 1 hour or until toothpick comes out clean. I love a slice of bread lightly toasted with butter for breakfast (with some whole fruit or something so I don't feel too guilty!)

Enjoy!

Chicken and Basil Calzones

I figured that since I have devoted almost 100% of this blog to my pregnancy for the last 5 months (and who doesn’t love a weekly pregnancy photo from yours truly?) I want to go back to posting some recipes. (Please bear with the food photography as I get used to using my camera again; it’s been too long!) 

I have had this recipe bookmarked in Cooking Light for quite some time and finally got around to making it this week. The fresh basil added a nice earthy quality to this calzone stuffed with seasoned ground chicken and homemade pizza sauce. Make sure you have extra sauce for dipping!

Chicken Basil Calzones

Adapted from Cooking Light: December 2008

Ingredients

Cooking spray
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
1 pound ground chicken breast
3/4 cup pizza sauce
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
Pinch Oregano
Pinch Italian Seasoning
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
refrigerated pizza crust dough
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 425°.

2. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add garlic and chicken to pan; sauté 5 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink, stirring to crumble. Stir in pizza sauce and pepper. Reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add oregano and italian seasoning to tase. Remove from heat; stir in basil. Let stand 10 minutes.

3. Unroll dough onto a baking sheet coated with cooking spray; cut dough into quarters. Pat each portion into an 8 x 6–inch rectangle. Divide chicken mixture evenly among rectangles; top each serving with 2 tablespoons cheese. Working with one rectangle at a time, fold dough in half over filling, pinching edges to seal. Repeat procedure with remaining rectangles. Bake at 425° for 12 minutes or until golden.

I used my homemade pizza sauce which has it's own spice to it so I backed off on the red pepper but if your sauce is store bought I would definitely add the full amount. I served it with a large green salad on the side, delish!

Stay hungry my friends....