Vanilla Bean Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting

In order to get over my frosting craving, I decided to make cupcakes.  Vanilla bean cupcakes to be exact.  Anything vanilla bean is Jeff's favorite so I knew he would help eat these, which he normally doesn't eat very many sweets. 

My cupcakes are a little darker than normal because of the coconut sugar, it has a brown sugar color versus the pretty white color of regular granulated sugar.  These cupcakes are really good, and the frosting is super good.  The addition of half and half to the frosting makes it really nice and fluffy.  

32 weeks

I don't have much energy or time to do a long post this week so I will just tell you some brief updates.

I am currently craving icing, I want to eat massive amounts of icing and nothing else.  I haven't satisfied this craving yet but I am hoping to make some cupcakes this weekend.  

Any and every position is getting uncomfortable, like sitting in a desk as school or sleeping in a bed.  So I can't really get enough sleep lately because I can't ever find a position long enough that is comfortable.  Also adding to the fact that this kid likes to tap me consistently at night when trying to go to sleep or when I wake up in the night to pee.  Overall it's movements are getting more uncomfortable and just a little annoying.  But I know that movement is good so I try not to be too annoyed by it.  It also seems as if this kid is sitting as high as physically possible, so I get winding very easily, like when I try and put my shoes on my feet.  

But overall I still don't mind being pregnant and I don't want to this to come anytime soon.  But I was trying to think today about when I wasn't pregnant and it seems that I have been pregnant forever and I can't remember pre-pregnancy times. 

Trifecta Cookies and more

We have been having a very productive day in the kitchen today.  And it is amazing that everything is actually coming out how it should.

It really started yesterday with making some cinnamon applesauce and orange juice.

Today, we have made some homemade yogurt.  I finally got around to using our yogurt maker we received as a wedding gift over two years ago.  I think I still have a couple of wedding gifts that have yet to be used, hopefully I will get to those items soon.

31 weeks

Passed the diabetes test and iron levels are good.  No major updates besides that. 

30 weeks

As each week passes, I feel more stressed about how little time is left.  My sister in law just had her second child (congrats Jenny and Rob) and it really hit me how little time I have left.  She was only two months ahead of me.  Jeff of course said it made him excited and I am just worrying how I am going to get everything done in time.  
I also can't get over the fact of how big I am getting and how people keep reminding me.  I think I may have to start responding with bitchy comments so they get the point that it is not nice to point out how big a pregnant person is getting.  
I am currently having an obsession with grapefruit, something I usually despise.  This mixed with blueberries and cottage cheese, is my new favorite thing. 
Not much else to say except I am getting tired very early in the day now.  Which doesn't help with the school situation.

Kitties taking over

The other night we couldn't find MJ, we looked in all of her usual sleep spots and she wasn't in them.  Finally we looked in the guest bedroom, where the cats generally don't go and we found her.

Yep, she was sleeping in the car seat, on top of the baby sling.  She hasn't slept there since we found her and took pictures, maybe she got embarrassed. 

King for a bit longer

Heath likes to think he rules the house around here.  Which is fine, but he is in for a big change in a couple of months.  I hope he knows what is going to happen, but I doubt it.  I will just baby him until the time comes that the new baby makes its appearance. 

And yes he got on those pillows all on his own, again he thinks he rules the house.

It is also pretty funny when he wants to lay on my lap and purr real loud because the baby starts kicking him.  I don't think Heath notices, or at least he ignores it, but the kid is definitely hearing Heath purr. 

Thai Green Curry

I have been craving this dish lately, so we finally or Jeff finally got around to actually making it.  I have been wanting lots of things with coconut for some reason.  And I feel like after making this dish, even though this recipe was really good, it could use another can of coconut milk.  
This recipe comes from Love and Olive Oil

Ingredients
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3/4 cup sliced shallots (about 5 large)
1-2 tablespoons Thai green curry paste
1 14-ounce can unsweetened coconut milk
2 teaspoons fish sauce (such as nam pla or nuoc nam)
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 container firm tofu, drained well and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 lb. green beans, trimmed and cut into 1″ pieces ( had snap peas instead)
5-6 dried shiitake mushrooms, rehydrated and quartered
1 large red bell pepper, cut into strips
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil plus sprigs for garnish
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice plus wedges for garnish
Directions
Pre-cook the green beans until bright green and still very crispy.
Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add shallots and curry paste; stir until shallots soften, about 2 minutes. Add coconut milk, fish sauce, and brown sugar; bring to boil. Add tofu, green beans, mushrooms, and bell pepper; stir until heated through. Stir in chopped basil and lime juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Divide curry among bowls or serve over jasmine rice. Garnish with basil sprigs and lime wedges.

Baked Oatmeal

I have been getting in a rut for breakfast.  I find something I like and I stick with it, maybe for a little too long.  For a while it was yogurt and granola, then it switched to toast and eggs.  I have now moved onto baked oatmeal with some eggs.  And this baked oatmeal is so good, I think it is better than regular oatmeal.  This is also good because you can make the whole batch and then reheat as much as you need each morning with a little milk  or yogurt and it is jut as good as when you first made it.

29 weeks

This week I had another midwife appointment.  I had to take the gestational diabetes test, and it was gross and as long as I don't get a phone call from them I am in the clear.  Everything is measuring as it should and the midwife thought that the baby was already head down, which is nice to hear.  One of my big fears is having a breech kid and then having to try and turn it or not being able to and having to have a c-section.  Which would mean an epidural, which is what I am really afraid of.  Yes, I am not afraid of labor pain, but an epidural.  I am also glad that I am measuring on track and not any larger.  I really want this kid to be late, like a week late or later.  I just really dread it coming early.  It would just really make getting school stuff done early even more challenging.

Spain Part 4

So finally I am getting around to finishing off the trip.

On Thursday the 13th, we had churros and chocolate for breakfast, which were really good.  We also went to the market and wondered around.  The fish smell was getting a little too strong for me so I had to steer clear of that area.  After the market we went to the aquarium, which was decent.  A large part was more museum than aquarium.  Then we walked along the beach for a while. 
For dinner that night we went from bar to bar and ate tapas, some of Jeff's favorites were bacalao, foie, risotto, lobster over rose oil and beef cheeks. 

On Friday the 14th, we had crepes and french toast for breakfast.  Then we walked to the hilltop park in San Sebastian. 

Today was also the day that I had the best chocolate croissant of the trip, which I ate one everyday.  Then we had to take the bus back to Bilbao which was an awful ride, I wish we would have taken the train back.  Then for dinner we made sure to have one more plate full of Serrano jamon. 

On Saturday the 15th, we flew all day.  We first had to fly from Bilbao to Madrid, then Madrid to Philly then Philly to Denver.  It was a long day, but at least when we got to Denver we could sleep since it was 9pm.  The kitties were very happy to see us.  Overall it was a good trip and I now miss eating a chocolate croissant everyday and Serrano jamon.