24 weeks

How far along? 24 weeks
Maternity clothes?  Well, the weather has finally started cooling down and so yesterday I pulled out my box of maternity clothes and found these Levi's.  They don't quite fit and I spent the day pulling them up as they kept falling down.  But my regular long pants won't work.  So, I'm very glad that today's weather is warm enough to be back to wearing my shorts that are not maternity but have a stretchy-like top or another pair have ties.  Anyway, I'm still small enough that I don't wear very many maternity clothes.  In fact, right now my favorite clothes are T-shirts.  Loose and hide everything!  (BTW I don't like this picture of me at all, because in my mind I look fabulous and this photo doesn't show me the way I view myself...but I'm not too proud to realize I may not look as fabulous as I imagine).
Best moment this week?  I am feeling so normal.  I go exercise with my friends twice a week and it doesn't wipe me out like it used to.  Normal energy levels!  I had a friend tell me that I was in the "honeymoon" phase of pregnancy.  I'm feeling great and not too big to be uncomfortable.
Worst moment this week?  I don't think I have one.
Belly Button in or out?  Still in...though it's beginning to stretch open...exciting!
Wedding ring on or off?  On
Hormones?  This weekend was General Conference and Pres. Monson announced a change in age for the missionaries. Boys can now leave at age 18 and girls at 19.  I wish I could say I was bawling my eyes out at this announcement because of pregnancy hormones but I'm pretty sure it was just me feeling the Spirit and the hugeness of this announcement.  This is just a cool time to be alive and to be a parent of these future missionaries.
Baby?  Gizmo seems to be a very quiet baby during the daytime until evening time (from 8-10 pm).  Then he'll wiggle around, thrown an elbow or two, he may even kick a bit.  One website said that baby weighs around a pound and is as long as a piece of corn.

Pumpkin Whole Wheat cookies

It's that time of year when the weather is cooler for all things pumpkin.  I have to say that  pumpkin cookies are one of my favorite kinds of cookies.   These cookies are very moist and soft and melt-in-your-mouth good.  So good that I thought I'd share the receipt with all my favorite people.  Enjoy!

Pumpkin Cookies (Whole Wheat)

½ cup butter

1 cup sugar (or ¾ cup honey or agave)

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1 can pumpkin (16 oz.)

2 cups whole wheat flour (might need a little more if sweetening with honey)

½ tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon (or 2 tsp. if you love cinnamon like me)

1 tsp. nutmeg

½ tsp. cloves

1 cup chocolate chips

1 cup walnuts (optional)

Cream together butter and sugar.  Add egg, vanilla and pumpkin.  In a separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients.  Combine both mixtures and stir in chocolate chips and chopped walnuts.  (Remember not to over mix when working with whole wheat).  Place on greased cookie sheets.  Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes.  Makes approximately 36 cookies.

22 weeks

How far along?  22 weeks
Best moment this week?  People at church still don't think I look pregnant.  Part of that is because my Sunday dresses were never really tight or revealing so now they hide my baby from everyone.  Though this won't last for very much longer, I am enjoying it right now.
Worst moment this week?  For some reason my eye lashes are falling out.  I know that's not typical but I am not a typical person.  It's also a vanity thing.  I've always had incredibility long eye lashes and now I have a few long eye lashes while the rest are growing back.  It's just weird.
Another thing that wasn't fun this week.  I think I may have had a kidney stone.  Because the pain/attack reminded me of one I had a month ago, I decided to go to the doctor to make sure everything was okay with the baby.  So, the office got me in...I saw a different doctor...and ended up getting a sonogram/ultrasound on my kidneys.  Don't know the result yet but I do know that the baby is okay and still growing.
Food cravings?  Not really a craving but I really really really enjoy a banana milkshake.  Just a cup of milk with a banana blended in it and I'm in heaven.  So tasty!
Exercise?  Yep, still trying to do it every day though I'm doing a lot less running and just walking.  My lower back has begun to ache and so I will do some stretches while I'm out on my walks.  Plus, I've noticed that my feet are larger.  One of my exercise pairs of shoes is feeling rather tight.  Gotta love those hormones that loosen up everything (including my feet) and don't always get everything back together after the baby is born.
Baby?  One internet site said that the baby is the size of a papaya...and if you don't know how big that is, it's okay.  Let's just say that baby is over a pound in weight and around the length of a spaghetti noodle...still small but growing bigger each day.  Apparently he can perceive light and darkness, but I don't really think he's doing all that since I keep clothes on for most hours of the day.  He can hear my voice and SM's voice and should now have eyebrows, eyelashes, and may even have a bit of hair on his head.  The hair is white since all baby's lack pigment at this point.  But I wonder what color of hair he'll have, or even if he'll have any hair when he's born?

Walking in the Fog

 A week ago we woke up to dense fog.  It was still very warm outside and instead of pulling my hair back, I decided that I would just walk with my hair down.  I forgot that fog could be wet.  And by the time I finished my three mile walk, all of my makeup was off, my hair was wet and dripping, and my clothes were very damp.

I noticed a couple things while walking in the dense fog.  First of all, because my eyesight was hindered my other senses seemed to be hyped up.  I smelled laundry and breakfast in the neighborhood.  Another thing, the spider webs were all very visible because of the water particles that were hanging on the webs.  They were so beautiful.  Which reminds me how much Heavenly Father loves me and puts small little things of beauty all around me.  I try to not take things like that for granted.

Running in Georgia

Georgia has high humidity during the summer.  This last month of August and September we have gone running in the early mornings.  It's like running in a sauna each morning.  And SM and I have made it a priority to drink enough liquids to replace those that we spend during our runs.

I wanted to add these photos because of how wet SM is when he finishes his run.  His shirt just drips on the floor and his headband is wrung out several times during the run and after the run.

And this is the face we've made this week and last week when we've gone outside and notice that the humidity has dropped as well as the temperature.  It makes it so much easier to run AND to have energy after the run.

21 Weeks

How far along?  21 weeks

Total weight gain?  Approximately 12 pounds

Maternity clothes?  Sometimes...I like baggy clothes and so some of my clothes fit just fine.  My shorts are the tightest piece of clothing right now since I've already replaced my pajama bottoms.

Stretch marks?  No

Best moment this week:  I have really felt the baby move this week.  He does a lot of sleeping but in the evening when I sit down and put my feet up, he wakes up and gets lively.  Too bad SM can't feel him yet.

Food cravings:  Not really anything specific...but I am a lot hungrier now than compared to even two weeks ago.

Happy or Moody most of the time:  Very happy...though I had one morning where I was very homesick and enjoyed listening to Christmas music.

Sleep:  Waking two or three times a night to go to the bathroom, but able to fall right back to sleep.  Plus, if I sit down in the afternoon, I find myself dozing often...naps are nice.

Belly Button in or out?  In

Wedding ring on or off?  On

I am beginning to feel huge even though the picture says another story.  I guess I'm just feeling squished and a bit short of breath at times.  I am convinced that being pregnant means feeling uncomfortable.  When you are in the first trimester, food is uncomfortable and the feeling of being exhausted all the time is also uncomfortable.  Now I feel much more normal but my body is changing more than I've ever known...and it's uncomfortable.  Can't wait to know what the next four months will bring.

Bedroom Furniture

SM and I have been saving up money for the last three to four years for furniture.  We've moved so often that it didn't make sense to have nice furniture.  (As a side note, we've moved eight times in eight years but stayed in one location for four years...so yes, we've had some short stays).  Anyway, we know we'll have at least one more move since we are currently renting, BUT the time has finally come to get some furniture that will last and hopefully not break during any future move.  Our big major purchase was this bedroom set.  Isn't it beautiful?!  I love it!!!

Just ignore the stuffed animals....or not!  Look at the chest (which I call a dresser).

I wanted to show that we also bought the two side tables (I know, they are kind of hard to see).  The bedroom set isn't too ornate, but I prefer simple and plain.  One reason I don't like to much fluffy-fruffy decoration in the wood is that it collects dust.  Dusting is not a favorite chore of mine.  I'd much rather clean the kitchen.  So, we looked for furniture that would also be easy to take care of as well as well built furniture that should last us our the rest of our lives together.