Wordless Wednesday - Awesome Daddy

27 Weeks and I crave rainbows...

Had a doctor appointment today so I thought it was way past time to do an updated post! (don't worry there may not be belly pics with this post, but I hope to take at least one soon!)

I have no idea where the time went, but today I went into have my Glucose test done. I feel like I completely skipped over my entire 2nd trimester...where is the energy burst I was supposed to get? Or the end of the nausea/acid reflux? I think I want a refund on that entire trimester please!

But anyway back to the test/appointment...I swear the cup of that *wonderful* stuff was NOT that big last time :) but I got it down, it's not all that bad like a mini cup of flat super sweet soda.

Everything went great, Ali is growing perfect and her little heart was chugging right along, she didn't appreciate the dopplar though she kept finding a way to kick/punch and/or just move out of range (that is what they get for making me drink the super sugary drink before doing my normal apt :) ). And the vampire nurse I had was able to get all the blood she needed from just one jab! First time ever that happened (including my various hospital stays with Cassie requiring at least one IV each time), usually they need to poke one arm, route around for a vein decide that isn't working then try the other arm repeat the process then move down to my hands where they finally get a vein that drips and drops...this time? Nope one jab and 6 filled vials later I am free to go!

Blood pressure was fine, but I need to go back next week to get my lovely RhoGAM shot. After that it's another 3 weeks till my next apt!

How far along? 27 Weeks

How big is baby? according to my Bump ticker about the size of an Egg Plant...but according to Fit Pregnancy about the size of a small Pot Roast...

Stretch marks? yep on my thighs, but nothing on the belly still, YAY!

Weight Gain? FINALLY...not saying how much though :)

Sleep? Nope not much but that is more because of Cassie...

Best moment this week? the temp got above 50 degrees on Monday!! It felt sooooo nice, sure its single digits with subzero wind chill today, but still there was that shining ray of hope :)

Food Cravings? FINALLY! I craved a nice M&M McFlurry, and then today had an awesome craving for some Funfetti Cake :)...looks like I am craving rainbows...

Gender? GIRL!!!

What do you miss? NOT having acid reflux...and being able to walk a full day with out waddling...

What are you looking forward to? being able to sleep on my back...and or being able to play on the floor with Cassie and not having my back spasm.

Milestone? Had my Glucose test today does that count??

Happy Valentine's Day!

Here are some Valentine kisses from Cassie!

P.S. One day I WILL learn how to post decent size/quality videos on here!

Menu Planning Monday...

Looks like we are getting better and better at this :) Stayed on budget and only did a little rearranging but made everything on the list!

Monday: Breakfast for dinner

Tuesday: Beef and noodles with gravy

Wednesday: BBQ Chicken Sloppy Joes

Thursday: Unstuffed Cabbage

Friday: Steak Pizzaiola (trial recipe for the week)

Saturday: Hot Dogs and veggies

Sunday: Chicken with apples and stuffing

Monday: French Lasagna (okay looks like we are trying 2 new recipes this week I need to broaden my horizons anyway!)

Recipe Review...Pineapple Pork Chops

I have been trying to challenge myself to become better at cooking, trying to make dinner healthier and more interesting by adding one dish that I have never tried making before each week to our menu. Bonus points if it involves a meat that I have a rough time cooking and therefore always avoid, extra bonus points if it has vegetable or fruits that I have never tried before!

I technically have two recipes waiting to be reviewed, but I can't find the magazine with the recipe for the Chocolate Parsnip Chili in it so that one will have to wait :)

Anyway...on to the Pineapple Pork Chops...I picked this recipe (found on moneywisemoms.com) mainly because I have a truly difficult time cooking pork chops and the pineapple sounded delicious and perfect for a little variety.

1 to 1.25 pounds pork loin (boneless when I can get it), sliced into chops
1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp minced ginger (you can use fresh or just the powder)
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 8-oz can crushed pineapple

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Place pork in single layer. In a bowl, combine soy sauce with brown sugar, ginger, crushed pepper and pineapple. Pour over pork chops. Bake uncovered for 25 minutes, basting frequently.

These were so super simple to make and they came out fantastic!!! I don't know if it was the acid from the pineapple or the fact that it was a pork loin cut of meat that I cut up into the chops or a combination of both, but these came out so super tender and juicy I was really quite proud of myself. They even came out cooked all the way through the first time I took them out of the oven, which is unfortunately a first for me when it comes to pork chops.

Bottom line? These will absolutely be made again!

Valentine's Date Day

To celebrate Valentine's day Matt and I had a date day today...date nights are too exhausting and this way Cassie got to spend some time with her grandma Peggy. We went out to the Melting Pot and a Movie and it was the perfect combination. Come to think of it we did the same exact thing last Valentine's day but the movie we went to was really really bad...not so much this time :).

We have been to the Melting Pot several times over the last couple of years and usually we stick to the usual...plain Cheddar Cheese for the cheese course, Caesar salad for the salad, Mojo for the cooking style, Pure Milk for the Chocolate, and Chocolate Fontinis for the drinks (yum yum yummy).

This time we decided to be a little adventurous and stray from the norm. We got the cheese of the season called Fondue A La France - which included 4 cheeses of which we had only ever heard of one (brie) and white truffle cream which we normally stay as far away from anything mushroom/truffle related as possible...however? This was fantastic. Probably one of the best cheese courses we have had there.

AND we didn't get our Fontinis like normal, Matt got himself a mudslide (though that isn't all that different from a Fontini) and I got myself the most wonderful Red Sangria I have ever tasted (I allowed myself ONE alcoholic drink so I made sure to savor it...) of course since I haven't had a drink in over a year I think anything would have tasted wonderful. (though now I am going to be on the search for the perfect Red Sangria recipe :) )

For the Salad and Meat courses we stuck with the normal because seriously they make the best Caesar Salads, and the Mojo style is the only cooking style that appeals to us. We never get the Seafood that comes with the Meat, just get double the steak :) though this time the meat course included Duck. And I have to say never really having had duck before we are not really fans at all. But the dinner was still fantastic.

And then the Chocolate Course...the best course of the night I think :) today we strayed only slightly from our normal path and had them include some Bailey's in the milk chocolate.

It. Was. Fantastic.

Seriously...Chocolate Brownies covered in rich Bailey's infused milk chocolate fondue should probably be illegal :)

After lunch was over we rushed on down to the Movie theater and saw Gnomeo and Juliet in 3D. The Perfect ending to a perfect date day. The movie was cute and funny and really? What is better for Valentines Day than a version of Romeo and Juliet involving Gnomes and a happy ending?

On the way out of the (almost sold out) movie we were following an older couple and the thought just hit me I hope that is going to be Me and Matt some day, in our 70's or 80's going to a Quirky G rated movie on a date then slowly making our way out of the theater together. It was pretty darned romantic if I do say so myself :)

Fun Friday - Imagination!

It is truly amazing watching Miss Cassie grow from a baby into a little person. Not just the milestones lately, but just watching her mind develop as well. Right now I think we are seeing her imagination come out more and more. Her favorite thing? Talking on the "phone" be it a real one or a fake one, or even a remote control. She will have animated conversations with herself, at first I thought she was just copying mommy and daddy, but then she started doing it on her own just picking up anything remotely phone shaped and talking into it, pausing as if getting a response and talking into it again.

Now when I say talking, I mean she babbles in her own language, we havent *quite* gotten the hang of big people words yet, but daddy and I work on it with her every day (and night).

She is also picking up on the copying game, when she sees someone dancing on tv (her favorite show being Yo Gabba Gabba) she tries very hard to imitate what they are doing, then just gets on a role and does her own thing and just goes crazy (which is awesome and encouraged :) we like to have fun in this house, have I mentioned that?). Her newest thing she tries to do is jumping, so adorable to watch her try and do it!

And on top of all that she loves being read to, at least the first two pages of every book she brings out to us. Which is usually her entire book shelf throughout the day. We will sit and we will start reading one book, she will get up run and get another, start reading that...the cycle goes on and on though we are more than happy to oblige her. Her absolute favorite book right now seems to be Brown Bear, Brown Bear. She will actually go all the way through this one, not once but twice. The first time we read through using the words and the second time using the animal sounds. Never thought I would love reading a children's book like this over and over and over...but? I do :)

and the headband in that picture? Yeah she put it on...looks like dress up is just around the corner.