Hi. Remember me?

Well. I certainly did not expect to take a nearly four-month hiatus from blogging, and yet here we are, approaching June without so much as a peep since early February. All I have to say for myself is that life has been a nonstop adventure… and we’ve been loving every second of it.

The last few weeks of pregnancy were a blur of baby showers (so very fortunate to have such great friends and family), baby-related purchases and finishing up a mountain of pre-maternity leave work projects. I finished those just in time for my last day, thank goodness, and was fully expecting to have a week or more of waiting for Spidey to make his arrival.

Two days after my last day of work, Spidey decided he’d been in cramped quarters long enough. Sort of. He wanted out – as evidenced by my dramatic water breaking just as I was about to go to sleep on Sunday, March 15 – but he wasn’t exactly in a rush once he had made that decision. Nearly 48 hours of labor later, our little leprechaun finally debuted at 8:05 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17. He’s been keeping us guessing ever since.

I can’t say for certain what the future holds in terms of posting, but I do know that I miss blogging and look forward to sharing my random musings with you as often as I can. For now, I wanted to let you know that I am, in fact, still here, and you haven’t heard the last of me. There’s just a small bundle of love that takes up the majority of my hours now with cuddles, coos and kisses. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Abrazos,

I am so excited to participate in a virtual baby shower for an amazing blog and real life friend today: Nicole of The Marvelous Misadventures of a Foodie! Kudos to Ari for the awesome idea.

Nicole was the first new friend I made upon our move to Arizona, and she is also the person responsible for introducing me to many of the friends I’ve made since. That alone gives you a glimpse of the caring, warm-hearted person she is. She is my book club co-founder, trusty rock jumping partner and so much more. We’ve often commented about how likeminded we are, and so when we found out we were both pregnant and just four weeks apart, it was all the more exciting to be able to share in the journey together. I can’t wait to meet her little boy or girl!

Knowing that Nicole is a huge fan of pizza (seriously, just check out some of her creations like Chicken Enchilada Pizza, Thai Chicken Pizza or Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Pizza, among many other delicious possibilities), I thought it would be fitting to make one that featured our shared love of goat cheese. Then it hit me: four cheese white pizza! Four cheeses, a pizza that incorporates the family name with a pun … what’s not to love? And so, a recipe was born.

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White Pizza with Bacon, Basil and Tomatoes

Yield: 8 to 10 slices

Ingredients

• 1 whole wheat pizza dough ball (homemade or store bought)
• 2 tablespoons truffle (or olive) oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 8 slices nitrate-free bacon, crumbled
• 1 medium tomato, diced
• 3 ounces fresh pasteurized (for pregnant ladies) goat cheese, crumbled
• 1/2 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
• 6 to 8 basil leaves, thinly sliced
• Optional: Fig balsamic vinegar drizzle

Directions

Preheat the oven to 475 degrees. Roll out pizza dough ball on floured surface until desired thickness and shape are reached. I went with a rectangular shape and somewhere between 1/4- and 1/2-inch thick, as I like a doughy crust with my pizza. Transfer to baking sheet covered with floured parchment paper or Silpat.

Cook bacon according to package directions and allow to cool before crumbling. Combine oil and garlic in a small bowl, then brush over the top of pizza crust. Sprinkle on mozzarella cheese, bacon, tomato, goat cheese, ricotta and Parmesan, layering one on top of the other.

Bake the pizza for 15 to 20 minutes, or until cheese is fully melted and golden brown. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with basil. You can also stick the pizza back in the oven for a couple more minutes to wilt the basil leaves slightly.

Serve pizza topped with a drizzle of fig balsamic vinegar, if desired.

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I think my favorite part was watching the cheese transform. Oh how I love cheese.

The drizzle of fig balsamic added a whole new dimension of flavor. You could use any balsamic vinegar, but I am a big fan of how the fig blended with the rest of the ingredients.

I hope you enjoy this pizza, Nicole! Thanks for being the reason I posted a recipe for the first time in months. Check out all of these other scrumptious-looking drink, brownie and pizza recipes from your other virtual baby shower guests!

Nicole’s Virtual Baby Shower Recipes

Boozy Red Velvet Hot Chocolate from Ari’s Menu
Boozy Iced Coffee from The Wanderlust Kitchen
Coconut Oil Brownies from Handle the Heat
Raspberry Lemonade Champagne Punch from Eat. Drink. Love.
Chocolate Cherry Brownies from Savvy Eats
Four Cheese Pizza with Sausage and Peppers from The Little Ferraro Kitchen
Crab Rangoon Pizza from Mollie’s Sprinkles of Life
Grapefruit Chia Seed Cocktail from Peace Love and Oats
White Pizza with Bacon, Basil & Tomatoes from Eating Bender

Can’t wait to try the boozy ones – won’t be long now! Nicole, I wish you a wonderful rest of your pregnancy and truly can’t wait to hear all about the moment when you meet your son or daughter for the very first time. He or she is very lucky to have you as a mom. Love you lots!

Abrazos,

Honestly, I don’t know where time is going these days. It seems I went from being halfway through pregnancy to almost entering the third trimester in the blink of an eye! I’m sure the holidays play a big part, not to mention that I am definitely still in my second trimester “honeymoon phase.” But I’m going to hold on to the bliss as long as possible and hope that suddenly I’ll be at 40 weeks and saying the same thing. I mean, it could happen…

Here’s a look at what’s been going on in the world of Baby Bender.

Boy or girl? BOY!

Name: We’ve got one! The challenge is keeping it a secret. He’s still “Spidey” for now!

How far along: 26 weeks, 4 days.

Baby is the size of: A head of lettuce! Although I am starting to wonder about these food comparisons, since a few weeks ago he was the size of a spaghetti squash. The coolest part is knowing he’s around a foot long and weighs at least a pound these days.

Feeling: Pretty darn good! I’ve started to have some back pain while sleeping, but this pregnancy pillow has been working wonders.

Total weight gained: 16 pounds – woohoo! (I’m a big fan of the number 16.)

Exercising: Yes! Still keeping up with pre-natal yoga, both through in-person classes and this DVD (thanks, Karla!). I’ve also started doing my exercises for The Bradley Method, which is what we’ve decided to go with for childbirth preparation. I’ve been wanting to do a drug-free, natural childbirth for a long time. I know it’s not for everyone, but the more I read about it the more excited I get. It helps to know a lot of amazing bloggers who have written inspiring birth stories! I know it will be one of (if not the) most challenging things I’ll ever do, but also the most rewarding.

What has made me happiest and most confident is how pumped my coach seems to be about it, too. Bobby has been learning everything right alongside me and I know he is going to be a pro at helping me through the various physical and emotional stages of the journey. We’re using the two recommended books (Husband-Coached Childbirth and Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way) and are also getting a copy of the workbook they use in the classes.

Sleep: Overall, it’s going well. I wake up a couple of times a night but for the most part am able to get back to sleep. And I find it kind of hilarious that I am woken up by Spidey’s crazy exercise sessions at 4:00 in the morning. I’m not sure if this kid sleeps anymore. Let’s just pretend he is getting all his sleepless energy out now…

Showing: I will let you decide based on the above picture! Today was actually the first day a stranger said something. I was checking out at the store and she looked me up and down and said, “You have a little bump.” I told her my sweatshirt makes it look modest, haha. I was recently looking back at pictures from when I first thought I was showing and had to laugh. I can only imagine I’ll be laughing even harder 14 weeks from now.

Cravings: This has been one of the biggest surprises of my pregnancy after hearing years of stereotypes like pickles and ice cream. I just don’t crave anything out of the ordinary. I have gotten on a hot chocolate kick since it got cold-ish here in Arizona, and now I crave its warmth in the morning. But that’s about it!

Aversions: There’s nothing that is off limits, although I’d choose shrimp over fish when it comes to seafood. I still don’t love overpowering scents like beer or, as Bobby found out the other day, salt and vinegar chips.

Missing: Not really missing, but I am now looking forward to a celebratory glass of wine.

Maternity clothes: I still wear some baggy t-shirts or sweatshirts from pre-pregnancy days, but am otherwise completely in maternity clothes and I love them. I can’t recommend LOFT jeans and corduroys enough. So comfy.

Movement: We’ve gone from those first few flutters to real kicks to visible movement over the past six weeks. It is the most surreal sensation to both feel and see our baby’s arms, legs and sometimes – I swear – what must be his entire body bumping up against my belly. As crazy as the feeling is (and as close as he comes to my ribs on occasion), I am admittedly obsessed with his movements. I like to give him a little nudge back and pretend we are having a two-way conversation through pokes and punches.

Looking forward to: The holidays! It’s our last Christmas as a family of two. Although in many ways it feels like our little dude is already a huge part of our traditions, I’m looking forward to soaking up these next couple of weeks.

Best moment of this week: Getting to hear Spidey’s heartbeat at our latest appointment and later, getting a brief tour of the hospital. We’re going back for a more detailed tour in the third trimester, but it was an unexpected bonus to have the chance to see where it’s all going down in just three short months. I have always liked to visualize. “If I can see it, then I can do it.” Yes, thank you, R. Kelly. I’ll have to put that song on our labor mix.

***

I hope to be back at least once before the new year to talk about 2014. I’m excited because I’ve already met my page number goal, and have so many amazing book suggestions for you.

In the meantime, wishing you a wonderful holiday season with family and friends!

What are you most excited about for the holidays this year?

Abrazos,

P.S. It’s snowing on my blog! Some traditions will never change.

I didn’t plan to take almost an entire month off from blogging, but the semi-break has been helpful in finding time to cross off at least some of the to-dos in the four months we have left as a family of two. Baby Bender’s nursery is starting to look pretty spiffy, and I am starting to look like I’m basting my own Thanksgiving turkey. But I am loving every minute – the bigger my belly gets, the more I get to feel our little dude practicing his karate. At this rate, he’ll be a black belt by Christmas.

We’re looking forward to a Thanksgiving similar to those we’ve been enjoying over the past several years, with an abundance of family, food and feelings of gratitude for the many people and things we have to be thankful for. If you’re celebrating tomorrow, I hope you enjoy every minute.

And just in case your menu isn’t quite set in stone, I thought it would be timely to share the results of our fall Pinterest party, which happened during my trip to Chicago last month. It was amazing to have the chance to plan and prep with Lauren, Kelli and Monica (who flew in from her new home in California!) at least once more before any pint-sized additions are added to our group.

I would recommend any of the dishes and drinks we made for your table tomorrow.

Fa-la-la-la Fall Pinterest Party Menu

Beverages: Apple-Pie Spiced Cider and Mock Champagne (pinned here and here)

Appetizer: Apple and Cheddar Cheese Soup (pinned here)

Main Course: Pumpkin and Ricotta Stuffed Shells (pinned here)

Side Dish: Baked Tomatoes, Squash and Potatoes (pinned here)

Dessert: Apple Pie Pull-Apart Bread with Vanilla Glaze (pinned here)

Note: The majority of the delicious food pictures below are courtesy of Monica.

As usual, we divided the tasks and responsibilities. I started out by chopping up the ingredients for our Apple and Cheddar Cheese Soup.

This soup was truly awesome – my favorite part was the blending at the end.

While Lauren was cooking the soup’s onions and carrots, Kelli was hard at work on our first drink: the Apple-Pie Spiced Cider.

It was a perfect blend of sugar and spice. We skipped the brandy, but I bet that’d add a real kick.

As our true culinary professional, Monica helped with a little of everything, including prep for the Baked Tomatoes, Squash and Potatoes, which Lauren then artfully placed in the pan (her favorite job).

Monica also got the Pumpkin and Ricotta Stuffed Shells ready for Lauren to stuff. Check out the master hard at work. Such an intense look of concentration.

Annnnd she sliced the apples and biscuits for our Apple Pie Pull-Apart Bread with Vanilla Glaze!

Finally, all that was left was to fill our mason jar glasses with Mock Champagne…

…and set the table for a fall-themed feast.

So, how did it all turn out, you ask?

I’d say Pinterest perfect. The mocktails were deliciously fruity and the soup, shells and baked tomatoes, squash and potatoes were the right amount of flavor and heartiness for an autumn day.

But the pull-apart bread…oh, the pull-apart bread.

I made another batch as soon as I got back to Arizona. It was quick, easy and amazing!

Big thanks to Kelli for hosting, to Monica for flying all the way from California and to Lauren for just being herself (and hosting me!). I miss you ladies already, but am grateful that we’ve created an abundance of tasty memories to treasure forever – and now a party for every season!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Abrazos,

We are feeling blue this week, for all the best reasons. Last Friday, we had our 18-week ultrasound and found out that Baby Bender is healthy, super flexible and most definitely…

Our little BOY!!!!

I was so nervous the morning of the appointment, and the waiting room made me even more anxious. Fortunately, our ultrasound technician was really nice and told us what we were looking at as we moved from his hands to his feet to his heart to his kidneys, and beyond. My family was also there for the beginning of the ultrasound, so it was extra special to watch their faces light up as they saw the baby for the first time.

When the time came to learn the sex, we had them leave the room so that we could surprise them later. The technician asked Bobby and me if we had a guess, and we got it right on the first try. There was a hint on screen, so that helped. Bobby told me afterward that he’d had a feeling it was a boy. I was more unsure and leaning toward girl in recent weeks, but as it turns out, my initial instincts – calling the baby “he” and dreaming about a boy – were right! It was amazing to share that moment together and realize that in less than five months, we’ll be meeting our SON.

We had my family open a box that we’d filled with blue candy and a little penguin with blue feet (our other option was a pink monkey). I was absolutely certain my mom had accidentally overheard me say “him” at the end of the appointment. She had turned and given me a funny look when I did, but as it turns out at another point she had thought I said “her,” so she assumed I was trying to cover up that slip instead! It was hilarious, but in the end she was surprised so it worked out!

We spread the news to more family and friends over the weekend and can’t stop smiling! Here’s a look at some of the other excitement that has been going on lately…

Boy or girl? BOY!

How far along: 19 weeks, 3 days.

Baby is the size of: A mango! He is six inches long and weighs about 10 ounces.

Feeling: Awesome! These last few weeks have been really great. My energy levels are pretty much back to normal (still with the occasional midday nap) and I’m officially hungry all the time.

Total weight gained: Nine pounds.

Exercising: Yes! I started pre-natal yoga a couple of weeks ago and am loving it so far. It’s fun to get some exercise while also preparing my body mentally and physically for labor. Plus, it gives me the chance to interact with other pregnant women (like Nicole, who is the reason I heard about this place!) and hear some of their symptoms, questions and advice. Additionally, I’m doing some workout DVDs with Bobby for arm and leg exercises, and using the elliptical almost every day. I am still walking and running, but haven’t been as much lately with everything else going on.

Sleep: Still going well! I pretty much always wake up at least once now, but no trouble as far as getting to sleep. I can’t get enough of it, so that probably helps.

Showing: Yes! Unless I’m wearing a big t-shirt, there’s pretty much no doubt that there’s a human in there now. I still haven’t been asked by a stranger in public, but definitely think I’m getting some “is she…?” looks.

Cravings: I’m really surprised that I haven’t had anything crazy come up yet. I’ve been pretty monotonous in my breakfasts, lunches and snacks. We switch up dinners a little bit but are still sticking to staples. Just give me carbs, cheese and fruit every day and I’m happy.

Aversions: Still not the biggest fan of seafood or red meat right now, although the latter is improving. Just give me all the chicken and I will be a happy camper.

Missing: An occasional glass of wine now and then, but not a big deal. I am also being a little more careful about Halloween candy this year (avoiding food dyes), so I’m missing some of my favorite sugary goodness. But I’ve made up for it by buying this bulk package of pomegranate lollipops. They are amazing. Trust me. I’ve already been through one bag…

Maternity clothes: I wore my new LOFT maternity jeans during my trip to Chicago last weekend (can’t wait to share more about our latest Pinterest party soon!), and I loved them. So comfortable and besides the waistband, they feel and look like my normal jeans. Still wearing my pre-pregnancy shirts but they are reaching their stretching point, so the official switch is coming!

Movement: Another highlight during our Chicago weekend was that I felt my first kick on the outside! Baby boy was squirming like crazy one night (I’m thinking it was because he was enjoying Lou Malnati’s deep dish pizza). I put my hand on my stomach and felt a little poke right below my belly button. Cue squeals of happiness. I’ve been feeling them more and more since then, but we’re still trying to get him to perform for Dad. Hopefully Bobby will be able to feel it soon!

Looking forward to: Starting to put the pieces together on the nursery. We have our theme and some ideas for furniture, but still have to decide on a paint color and other small stuff.

Best moment of this week: Telling friends and family our news. Also, a special moment during the ultrasound last week when Baby Bender was flexing his fingers and raised just his thumb, index finger and pinky. Uncle Eric said, “Hey, he’s doing my Spider-Man move,” which Eric did ALL. THE. TIME. when he was younger. We’ve been calling the baby Spidey ever since. He’s already reached superhero status. He also likes to stretch his legs a lot, as evidenced by the third photo.

***

It’s crazy to think we’re nearly halfway through this journey. We’ve got one big surprise left: we’ll be keeping Baby Bender’s name a secret until he is born. Can’t wait for that final reveal, as it means he will be in my arms! But for now, I’m soaking up every moment of this mother-son time.

We love you, Spider-Man.

Abrazos,

This year, Bobby and I decided to combine an anniversary and babymoon trip into one fall weekend getaway. After our adventures in Sedona toward the end of the season last year, we thought it would be fun to head north even earlier in hopes of catching a glimpse of the leaves as they’re just beginning to change.

Well, turns out we were a few weeks too early in Sedona, but we got our wish in Flagstaff, and the overall beauty of both locations made for a refreshing and relaxing weekend, just the two of us (and, of course, our little navel orange … who is now the size of an onion!).

We hopped in the car on Friday after work, arriving at the Inn On Oak Creek a little before 8:00. I am pretty sure this place has nothing but positive reviews, and after staying there, we can see why. More on that in a second.

(Note: The above pictures were taken the next morning!)

We picked up our keys and got back in the car in order to make our dinner reservation at Javelina Cantina, which turned out to be just down the street. For a little backstory, Bobby and I took our first road trip to the Grand Canyon way back in September 2007 (before I started ye olde blog). On our way home, we drove through Sedona and stopped at a Mexican restaurant, where Bobby ordered his first beer (a Corona), having just turned 21. The food was amazing, but we neglected to remember the name of said restaurant and have been searching for it ever since!

All we have to go on is a picture that was taken of us with the restaurant view of Sedona’s red rocks in the background. We still aren’t sure whether Javelina Cantina was the place because as soon as we got there, we realized that it being dark outside made it kind of hard to see that same view … haha. So the mystery restaurant is still a mystery, but in the meantime we enjoyed some delicious Mexican fare.

We started out with chips and salsa, then added some guacamole to the mix.

Bobby ordered a margarita for the occasion.

For dinner, we shared the chicken fajitas, which were perfectly seasoned and came with a plethora of veggies and side options. It was a super delicious way to kick off the weekend.

Once our bellies were stuffed, we made our way back to the inn. The downstairs area where they serve breakfast was cute and cozy.

They were packed with guests for the weekend, so we were given two different king rooms on Friday and Saturday night (there are 13 rooms total). Although our rooms did not have the much sought after creekside balconies, they were clean, comfortable and beautifully renovated. The inn used to be a bed and breakfast and still has that vibe even though it has been converted into a hotel. (By the way, they didn’t ask me to say any of this – we just really enjoyed our stay.)

We had mentioned to the manager, Katie, that we were celebrating our anniversary, and were delighted to find a bottle of wine and a nice note when we entered the room. Katie apologized that they didn’t have a non-alcoholic option, but it didn’t matter – the gesture was still very sweet!

The inn continued to amaze us the next morning when we came downstairs for breakfast. They offer continental options such as orange juice, coffee, bagels, and muffins – perfect fuel for a day of hiking. But what really wowed us was the view from their main floor balcony.

Now we know why those creekside balcony rooms are popular! It was incredibly peaceful to sit outside and enjoy the sights and sounds of Sedona while eating. The temperature was also pretty perfect, which didn’t hurt.

After breakfast, we winded our way along the main road in search of none other than the West Fork Trail! This past spring and summer was a rough one for the Oak Creek Canyon area, as the Slide Fire burned more than 21,000 acres. Trails and parks have been closed ever since, but we were fortunate enough to arrive the same week that the West Fork Trail was reopened.

It was just as gorgeous as we remembered – albeit a lot greener this time around.

Although the leaves hadn’t really changed yet, we enjoyed walking along the familiar trail and stepping from stone to stone across the creek. We didn’t venture too far in, but it was a cool and shady walk that got the day started off right.

On the way back into town, we made a pit stop to see if our Sedona vortex was still hanging around near the small waterfall. And it was! These mini whirlpools are so cool to look at.

We made our way into the heart of town for a quick stop at one of my favorite stores: Earthbound Trading Company. Annnnnnd we ended up finding something that sealed the deal for how we’re going to decorate Baby Bender’s nursery! I’m excited to share more once everything comes together.

Next up: lunch at PJ’s Pub & Grille, where we hoped to catch the Northwestern game!

I decided to eat exactly what I was craving: a cup of chili and a basket of chicken tenders. Luckily, the NU vs. Wisconsin game was on, and we were thrilled to see our Cats come away with a victory!

The rest of the afternoon was spent hiking the Broken Arrow trail, which we found for the first time back in March. What can I say? We’re creatures of habit. But how could you not be when you have this view while walking?

Once our shoes were sufficiently coated in red dust, we made our way back to the hotel, checked into our new room and got ready for dinner at Cucina Rustica.

This was a great choice (thanks, TripAdvisor!) if I do say so myself. They knew it was our anniversary and as a result, the host spread fresh rose petals across our table. Our server started by bringing us a warm bread and olive oil basket.

We decided to start with the Caprese salad, made fresh with whole milk mozzarella, vine ripe organic campari tomatoes, organic basil and organic extra virgin olive oil.

For my entrée I chose Chef Lisa’s Luscious Lasagna, a classic lasagna layered with homemade bolognese sauce, Italian sausage, ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. So good!

For our anniversary dessert, the waitress brought a complimentary cake. I don’t remember exactly what it was called but it was sweet and spongy with raspberry sauce, whipped cream and chocolate shavings. The perfect end to a tasty meal.

The next morning, we packed up and drove a bit farther north to see the Oak Creek Canyon Vista.

This particular spot also has sentimental value. We snapped a picture here seven years ago and managed to recreate it again in 2014! Mother Nature hasn’t changed much, and I still apparently wear two hair elastics spread out on my wrist, haha. But the biggest difference is the third addition in the second picture.

We continued north to Flagstaff, where I hoped we could catch some early signs of fall. I’d seen pictures of Lockett Meadow in Arizona Highways magazine and thought it would be a great idea. Well, turns out, it might have been a better idea if we owned a truck. My failure to read the directions closely led to our definitely-not-an-SUV making a three-mile climb up a mountain just to reach the clearing. (To be fair, you’d think a meadow would be at the base of the mountains, right? Right.) It was a lot like accidentally driving on the Appian Way, except 20 times longer and scarier.

Thankfully, our car made it up in one piece, and we were rewarded with this stunning view of the San Francisco Peaks. Totally worth it, I exclaimed. Yeah I suppose so, Bobby (the driver) said. 

Although I don’t think we’d attempt the drive again in our car, we were able to relax among the yellow aspen trees. The air was crisp and everything smelled amazing. We left feeling peaceful and ready to rock the drive back down.

To cap off a wonderful weekend of adventures, many of which were revisited favorites, we made our way to Diablo Burger in downtown Flagstaff for lunch, a burger joint we fell in love with nearly three years ago. I started out with a beer – Sioux City root beer, that is.

And I went with the build-your-own burger, topping it with caramelized onions, pepper jack cheese and Diablo’s secret sauce. It really hit the spot and served as the perfect send off.

In many ways, our wedding seems like it was just yesterday. Then I think about all of the incredible things that have happened these past four years, and I realize that it’s been a jam-packed journey so far! I have a feeling year five is going to be the most exciting one yet.

Happy anniversary, Bobby! I love you!

Abrazos,

I’m excited to share what I’ve been doing to track Baby Bender’s week-by-week progress! I got the idea from combining this post and this post on Pinterest and thought it would be a lot of fun, not just for me and Bobby but also for the little one to be able to look at someday.

I get weekly updates comparing the baby’s size to a food through the pregnancy apps I have downloaded (What to Expect, BabyCenter and The Bump, to name a few – I’m kind of obsessed), and although my chalk drawing skills are far from perfect – can’t seem to get the spacing down or the “k” and “s” to look right on “weeks,” haha – it has been something I look forward to at the start of every new week of pregnancy. Plus, coming up with props has been pretty cool, too.

So here’s an update on where we’re at!

How far along: 15 weeks, 2 days.

Baby is the size of: A navel orange! He or she is four inches long and weighs 2.5 ounces.

Feeling: Pretty darn great. About a week and a half ago was when I finally noticed I hadn’t felt nauseous for several days. Hurray! Apart from still getting tired early and wanting the occasional daytime nap, my energy levels have been back to normal.

Total weight gained: Five pounds. So happy about this one, since the nausea of the first trimester combined with (let’s be honest) the fact that I was no longer imbibing in my fair share of wine and beer each week was actually making it difficult to gain. I’ve made up for it these past three weeks!

Exercising: I’ve been able to keep up with at least one run each week. Typically they’re about three miles long and nowhere near my pre-pregnancy pace, but it feels really good to be able to continue an exercise I enjoy, at least for now – especially as it starts to cool down here and I can finally run outside again! Other than that, I do a lot of walking, elliptical-ing and lifting light weights. I am hoping to start pre-natal yoga soon, too.

Sleep: So far, so good! Sometimes I wake up once or twice, sometimes I can sleep through the whole night. I’m making the most of it while I still can and aiming to get at least eight hours.

Showing: Yes! I’ve felt like I’ve been bumpin’ since week 12 but now other people can see it noticeably, too. I am pretty sure watching the bump grow is going to be one of my favorite parts of pregnancy. It’s just so cool to think, “I’m growing a tiny human in there!”

Cravings: Nothing too outrageous. Still loving carbs but I’ve been able to work certain veggies back into the rotation by sticking them into soups, pastas, etc. I’ve also been on a plain yogurt kick, which I didn’t really eat much of prior to being pregnant. I love topping it with granola and a big spoonful of peanut butter. And I eat at least one apple a day, often pairing it with gouda cheese. Yum!

Aversions: I am not a huge fan of seafood or red meat right now. It’s funny that I’ve always heard about pregnant women hating the sight of chicken, but for me it has been the opposite. I love it!

Missing: Pumpkin beer! But I think it’s only because of fall. The smell of alcohol still doesn’t really appeal to me, which has actually been GREAT. Beyond that, I just miss soft cheese.

Maternity clothes: I’m not wearing any just yet but I recently took advantage of a 40% off everything sale at LOFT to get some maternity jeans and fall/winter sweaters.

Movement: I’ve been feeling a lot of butterfly flutters and bubbles (not to be confused with digestion, haha), both of which I’ve read can be some early signs of movement. I’m excited that I’ll hopefully be able to feel my first real kick in a few weeks.

Looking forward to: Our next doctor appointment in two weeks. We had the chance to hear the baby’s heartbeat on the doppler last time and I’ve proceeded to listen to my recording of it over and over ever since. I’m looking forward to hearing it again and while we’re there, scheduling our next ultrasound where we hope to find out…

Boy or girl: …the gender! The closer we get to the 18-week mark, the more sure I am that finding out is the right move for us. I’m excited to reveal it to friends and family, though we are going to keep the name a secret so that there is still a final surprise to look forward to.

Best moment of this week: Having my first vivid dream about the baby. I’ve been having wild and wacky ones lately, but a couple of nights ago was the first time our baby was there, too! I’m keeping it to myself as to whether it was a he or she. Only time will tell!

***

I’ll be interested to see how these answers evolve and change over the next 25 weeks.

(Ah! I can’t believe there are just 25 weeks to go!)

Abrazos,

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish!

I am ridiculously excited to participate in my first “Top Ten Tuesday.” It probably comes as no surprise that I am a voracious reader of book blogs, and I’ve been wanting to join in on the fun for quite some time (learn more about the weekly meme here). I figured this week would be a good one to start on because the topic discusses books and kicks off my favorite season.

That’s right. It’s fall y’all! Our house has been taken over by pumpkins and scarecrows, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. With just about three months left to wrap up the year, I need a good 10 books to reach my page number goal.

Top 10 Books On My Fall To-Read List

These books are in no particular order and they come from a variety of genres, so hopefully there will be something that piques your interest, too!

1. Rooms by Lauren Oliver: This is our book club pick for October, and I’m really intrigued! Having read several of Lauren Oliver’s young adult books this year (the Delirium trilogy and Before I Fall), it ought to be interesting to see the differences in her writing style for her adult debut. Plus, the novel is narrated by two ghosts. That sounds pretty amazing.

2. The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling): Having been thoroughly entertained by Cormoran Strike in The Cuckoo’s Calling, I’m excited to see where one of my all-time favorite authors takes him next in this latest installment.

3. The Traitor’s Wife by Allison Pataki: I first heard about this book via theSkimm newsletter (by the way, if you haven’t subscribed to that already, I highly recommend it – super witty and fresh way to get top news headlines). I love historical fiction and have particularly enjoyed reading novels based on real-life females (such as The Paris Wife), so am excited to to see what Peggy Shippen Arnold’s life was like during the Revolutionary War era – especially given her marriage to a rather controversial general whose first name rhymes with Schmenedict.

4. Matched by Ally Condie: My friend Nicole recently alerted me that this trilogy was on sale for $2.99 each in the Kindle store. I’ve been wanting to read these books for awhile now, especially after Delirium, and started the first one a couple of days ago. So far, so good! It’s yet another dystopian series that I hope to become addicted to this year.

5. The Fortune Hunter by Daisy Goodwin: I read Daisy Goodwin’s first book, The American Heiress, last year, and have had my eye on this one ever since I heard it was coming out. Once again I love that it is loosely based on a true historical story.

6. Dark Places by Gillian Flynn: Having read Gone Girl and Sharp Objects, I can’t help but want to pick up this third and I’m sure equally creepy book from Gillian Flynn. It’s also going to be a movie, so I’m looking forward to seeing two of her novels on the big screen.

7. The Children Act by Ian McEwan: I still get goosebumps when I remember how long Atonement stuck with me after I finished it. Ian McEwan has a way with words, and I have no doubt his newest novel will be just as gripping.

8. The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian: This was a recommendation from my mother-in-law, who knew I might like something that has The Great Gatsby tied into the narrative. Yep, I’m sold!

9. The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas: My friend Sheena recommended checking out the first book in this series, calling it a cross between Harry Potter and The Infernal Devices trilogy. I mean…enough said.

10. The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert: I’ve had this one waiting for me on my Kindle since the beginning of the year when my sister-in-law, Cara, recommended it to me. I’ve let new releases and book club books pile up in front of it but am excited to finally check it off my list.

***

There you have it! And, as a bonus in honor of my first ever Top Ten Tuesday, I wanted to share 10 additional books that I have already read this year and think should be on your to-read lists this fall! Some of these I’ve blogged about, some I haven’t. All were captivating reads.

1. Landline by Rainbow Rowell
2. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
3. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
4. Under the Never Sky trilogy by Veronica Rossi
5. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
6. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
7. Legend trilogy by Marie Lu
8. If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Forman
9. Looking for Alaska by John Green
10. The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty

What’s on your to-read list for fall? Have you read any of the books in this post?

Abrazos,

I feel like there is now so much I want to say! Reading pregnancy updates from blog friends over the years has been such a treat for me, and I look forward to the chance to do the same – especially now that I am feeling (relatively) more normal than I have in weeks.* I’ve loved reading about baby bumps (!!), birth plans, diapering decisions – you name it.

That said, the blog won’t become all baby all the time. Beyond the book reviews and travel recaps that have been making a consistent appearance lately, I do really want to get back to talking about food! This first trimester has been about eating what I can stomach (cheese! carbs! waffles? chicken tenders?), but as my appetite slowly returns, I am looking forward to finding new ways to nourish the three of us – yep, Bobby included. And what better time for that to happen than my favorite season? Yay, fall!

So all that is to say that I hope you’ll be hearing a lot more from me on all fronts. I’ve also created a Family page to house all pregnancy- and baby-related posts.

And now, without further ado, a few more details on Baby Bender.

*Famous last words.

***

Baby is the size of…

Today I am officially 13 weeks pregnant, and our baby is the size of a peach! This puts our due date at right around the first day of spring in March 2015. It makes me smile to think that he or she will be arriving at the start of a season celebrating new life.

How we found out/how I told Bobby

I found out right after the Fourth of July. I had been feeling a little off while Lauren was visiting, but didn’t want to get everyone’s hopes up (mine included). I secretly took a test that Sunday and it was negative, so I decided to wait three days before taking another one.

On Wednesday, July 9, I had to wake up early for a 5 a.m. work call. At 4:45 a.m., I decided hey, let me take a test in the dark right before I talk to these people. Not my smartest move, but definitely one of the greatest decisions I’ve ever made. A few minutes later, I shined my phone flashlight on the test window and there it was: a (very) faint pink line next to the test line. I did a double take and immediately thought my phone was playing tricks on me, so I grabbed the test and practically sprinted to the kitchen to get a better look using the overhead lighting.

There was no denying it – the pink line was there, and it could only mean one thing. I promptly burst into happy tears and began an endless chorus of “Oh my Gods” and “Thank yous” and “I promise I’m going to take such good care of yous.”

Then I realized it was 4:59 a.m. and I hadn’t even turned my computer on.

I logged in and joined the conference. It was by far the longest call of my life! Fortunately Bobby was still sleeping soundly, and when the call wrapped up – I can remember speaking during it but honestly couldn’t tell you anything I said – I still had enough time to set up my big reveal.

A few months prior, I bought this adorable “house divided” onesie from Annalie’s Baby Boutique.

As you may know, Bobby and I are big Vikings and Packers (and football) fans, so it seemed appropriate that I would combine two of our three favorite teams to tell him our news. I set up a hidden video camera to document his reaction. I’m so glad I did because it has been such a treat to look back on the moment and remember how shocked and excited he was!

I may or may not have proceeded to take about 10 more tests over the next two weeks…

How we told our family

I consider myself a trustworthy person, but when it comes to my own secrets, I’m no good! It was incredibly hard not to instantly tell our family and friends, but at the same time we both knew we’d feel better if we gave it a little time.

When that time finally did come, however, their reactions were the best! We told my family by giving Uncle Eric a new “Northwestern shirt,” which was actually from Etsy and not Northwestern at all beyond its purple color. It said, “Only the best brothers get promoted to UNCLE.”

Eric read the t-shirt out loud and then said, “Uncle? Wait…what?”

To which Mama Bender replied, “Really? REALLY?!” before making this amazing face. She also let out a scream that was a few octaves higher than anything I’d ever heard from her!

Papa Bender (who had briefly left the room, not knowing what was happening) was called back in by Uncle Eric, who told him that he had received a Northwestern shirt. “You’re not going to believe what it says…” A Papa Bender-worthy yell soon followed.

Just looking at these pictures puts such a huge grin on my face. We also gave my parents a couple mementos. As first-time grandparents, I thought this plaque (also from Etsy) was appropriate.

I also found a duck-themed outfit for our last name and wrote a little poem to go with it.

Soon after, it was time to tell Bobby’s side of the family! Hats off to Etsy yet again for having these awesome week-by-week food-themed announcements. We ordered a blueberry for ours, knowing that was the size our baby would be when we told them in week seven.

I should add that the tag said “Open me on Skype!” rather than just “Open me.” In fact, I think I wrote, “Wait to open me on Skype” at least five different ways when I sent them their packages, haha. Clearly I didn’t want the surprise to be spoiled.

When we told Bobby’s parents, his dad wrote down his guess as to what this big surprise might be on a sheet of paper. Wouldn’t you know that he guessed right?

Cara, Jim, Kelly and Caroline were surprised! We particularly enjoyed the girls’ name suggestions: pencil, marker and “choo-ku” courtesy of Kelly, blueberry and “lalalalapfffft” courtesy of Caroline.

And Adam and Susan were surprised, too! Claire and Molly were sleeping when we told them, but we were able to relay the news again to the ladies the next day. It was so much fun – telling people has definitely been one of my favorite parts so far!

A few more fun facts from the first weeks:

Early symptoms

The funniest one came before I knew I was pregnant. When we walked into my family’s house during Fourth of July weekend, I was overcome with the sense that I had stepped into a fish market! I immediately asked if they were cooking seafood. They looked at me strangely and said they hadn’t even had fish in the house that day. No one else could smell any trace of it. (It turned out they’d bought some the day before and it was still lingering!)

My heightened sense of smell definitely did not go away. The top two symptoms I’ve experienced this first trimester are fatigue – prescription: daily naps – and nausea. Fortunately just nausea and nothing more – although it has been “all day sickness,” not “morning sickness.” One other strange one: my eyesight has turned into that of a camera lens trying to focus. I don’t wear glasses, but lately when I do things like read a book or look down at a golf ball the image goes in and out. That said, I have no complaints about any of it! Every day I grow this baby is a huge blessing.

Will we find out the sex?

We spent the first several weeks set on the idea that we would be surprised. I love the concept of waiting, especially for your first child. But the more we talked about it, the more we started realizing that there are a lot of benefits to finding out, too. For us, it’s a personality thing – I’ve always been a planner who likes to think about things far in advance, and Bobby thinks he’d be happier knowing, too. We both don’t have a preference – we’ll be amazingly happy whether it’s a he or a she! Right now, I have no hunches, either – although I do accidentally keep referring to the baby as “he.” Only time will tell if that’s mother’s intuition or not.

Exercise, food…cravings?

I’d like to say that I’ve been exercising daily and devouring leafy green salads, but the truth is I’m lucky to squeeze in one workout a week and vegetables have pretty much been off the table since week six. I’ve loved going on walks and finding less intense ways to get movin’ (it also helps with the “all day” sickness) and have been cutting myself some slack and simply eating what sounds good. Smoothies and pre-natal vitamins have helped me get in key nutrients, but beyond that it has been a steady diet of string cheese, apples, peanut butter, potato chips, macaroni and cheese…and pretty much anything else in the carb or cheese family. The strangest cravings I’ve had to date have been for waffles and chicken tenders (though not necessarily together).

Bobby has been absolutely amazing, cooking many of our meals and acting like it’s totally delicious to eat said macaroni and cheese multiple nights a week. I hope to repay him with many a tasty new meal in the second trimester.

Biggest surprise and best moment?

My biggest surprise so far has been how calm I feel. Maybe it’s because it hasn’t fully hit me yet how much life is going to change – or maybe it’s because after spending a lot of time around new parents, I’m already semi-aware of just how much it will! What I do know is that I’ve never felt more ready in my life – or more in the love with the guy who is going down this new road with me.

Our best moment was by far when we got to see our little peach on the ultrasound for the first time. At nine weeks, five days, he or she was technically the size of a grape. I will always remember the joy of seeing the heartbeat flickering on screen.

Becoming parents is the most terrifyingly wonderful thing we’ll ever do. There are going to be hard days and easy days, happy days and overwhelmingly emotional days, too. But I can’t wait to meet the tiny someone who will make it all worth it.

Abrazos,

We interrupt this period of relative radio silence on the blog to bring you…the reason for said radio silence on the blog! Yep, it’s a good one.

I’ve been baking cinnamon buns!

Okay, not really.  I did make cinnamon buns a few weeks ago, but this particular bun has been baking for a little longer than that. Twelve weeks, to be more specific. And as a result, life as we know it is about to get a little wilder…

I’m thrilled to share that Bobby and I are expecting a baby in March 2015!

It’s going to be a wild journey these next six and a half months, but we can’t wait to meet the little lady or gent who will change our lives in the best way possible.

Abrazos,