Tag Archives: third trimester

Pregnancy Update: 40 Weeks+

Past my due date and ready to meet this baby boy!

5 to 39 weeks 2

Well, I made it to and past my due date. As you can see, it’s been quite a transformation of my body over the last nine months. I now think it’s hilarious that I was feeling “fat” around the time that I got pregnant. Ah what a difference some perspective makes.

37 to 39 weeks 2

The 39 week photo was taken on Sunday, just two days before I officially hit 40 weeks. Maybe I’ll get an “official’’ 40-week shot this weekend (more on timing below)…

Before I skip ahead to all of the updates, I thought I’d link to some of my bigger pregnancy posts here for those of you who are going through it now. Hopefully some of my posts will be helpful to you!

Links to previous pregnancy posts:

Like I said above, Tuesday was my due date. It ended up being a somewhat eventful day, actually (ironic since up until my appointment that afternoon I was going insane with boredom and overall wanting to just be done). Anyway, when I saw my doctor late that day, most things looked good. The baby’s heartbeat was still going strong, his head was still down, and I was measuring on track. Oh yeah, and no dilatation to be seen. Nada. However, during my ultrasound, she noticed that my fluid levels were a little low. Very long story short, I headed straight to the hospital for a few hours of IVs and some monitoring. It actually wasn’t that bad; my doctor assured us that this was really nothing to worry about at the moment, and Matt and I were overall pretty calm and cool about it. The rehydration seemed to go smoothly and my fluid levels were back on track by the time we finished. Oh yes, and the baby kicks were back to crazy during that time too (maybe they were slightly more mild that afternoon?). So other than the two of us being starrrrrrrving by the time that all ended (don’t make a pregnant woman skip dinner), it was all really okay. And thanks to a couple giant slices of late-night pizza, I didn’t hurt anyone.

For now, I’m supposed to just keep counting kicks and I’m actually going back in this afternoon to check the fluid levels again and get an updated baby measurement. Hopefully everything will still look good, but if my levels are low again, there is a chance they will need to induce me. As long as the baby as healthy I’m completely fine with that. And really at this point I’m dying to meet him and kiss his little face. If everything looks good and I’m still pregnant, then we will schedule an induction for the end of next week. We are certainly getting there! Okay, now for all the regular details…

How far along: 40 weeks as of Tuesday

Total weight gain: 35 pounds

Maternity clothes:  Only. Well, I did hunt down a big t-shirt of Matt’s to wear when i was dying to wear something that just wasn’t skin tight.

Stretch marks:  Luckily still a no, thanks genetics.

Sleep:  Everyone says to get as much sleep as you can before the baby comes. That’s great advice I guess, but my insanely frequent trips to the bathroom make that just a little bit challenging. I’ve also had a harder time falling back asleep lately. That, combined with a nasty cold over the last few days, has me missing regular old non-pregnancy sleep. What sleep I do get is completely due to blasting the air conditioning and this pillow.

Best moment of this week: Our good friends came over with dinner Saturday night. Oh yes, and crumb cake. What a treat!

Miss anything:  I miss feeling normal (body-wise). Anything physical these days can be challenging and I’d love to be able to just get up from the bed without a baby foot stuck in-between my ribs.

Movement: Baby kicks are still mostly crazy but I’m keeping an eye on things to make sure there aren’t any slow downs as a sign of low fluid again.

Food cravings:  No specific cravings lately but in the last week my appetite has gone crazy. I’ve been so, so hungry! Oh yeah, and I pretty much decided that I can eat whatever I want. So if I’m hungry, and I want ice cream, that’s what I get. Take that, 40 weeks;-)

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Nope.

Have you started to show yet:  Ha! Everyone I see just wants to know when I’m due and what I’m having. I think that my waddle attracts even more attention than the belly itself.

Gender: BOY!

Labor signs:  Almost two weeks ago I did start to feel occasional cramps (more like period cramps than anything else). I also had ONE contraction while I was on IV the other night. It was actually really weird and out of the blue. For about two and a half minutes it was like someone was trying to squeeze all of the air out of my body.

Belly button in or out:  Kind of out.

Wedding rings on or off:  On.

Happy or moody most of the time:  Hormonally I’m still pretty fine but I’ve definitely started to lose my sanity a little bit. I’m just ready to have this baby.

Looking forward to:  I’m dying to meet/see/hold/kiss/snuggle this baby. I also am excited to share his name with everyone. I can’t believe Matt and I were able to keep it to ourselves this entire time.

Fun Facts: If you are nice to the nurses at the hospital they will be nice to you! 

Latest Symptoms:  I’m just big, pregnant and crampy.

Any last minute advice for my big pregnant self? Got some fun tips on what to eat over on my Facebook page.

Note: This post contains affiliate links.

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 10/11/14

No baby yet! Well, at least not as of Friday afternoon when I put this post together:-) Based on how I was feeling then, though, I’m really not counting on anything happening any time soon. Tuesday is the official due date but who knows when this baby boy will decide he is ready! In the mean time, I’m eating pineapple, bouncing on the ball, walking and just hoping for something to happen soon. Every morning, Matt asks “is today the day?” and every day is a no. Friends are starting to text and email asking for updates or to warn me that they accidentally left their phone at home (love you, Rach). I’ve also gotten requests for certain birth days. Hey guys, I’ll do my best.

So for now, I’m just trying to keep as busy as possible. Every day this past week I gave myself an activity (like a mall return, cooking or baking) and that helped a little with the antsy-ness. Tonight we have friends coming over with dinner that they cooked (seriously, they are the best) and tomorrow we are having brunch to celebrate my father-in-law’s birthday. His birthday is actually the 14th (my due date) so wouldn’t it be nice if I could get him his grandson in time? Oh yes, and my sister told me to to read Delirium which so far I am really enjoying. It’s made my long afternoons pass by a bit more quickly. I even downloaded the sequel last night since I finished it so quickly. Any other suggestions on what to read?

Now for this week’s updates:

Most popular recipe/blog post: Easy Low Fat Pumpkin Sheet Cake

Easy Low Fat Pumpkin Sheet Cake from Keep It Sweet Desserts

Five favorite things I pinned all week:

Gooey Pumpkin Spice Latte Chocolate Pudding Cake from Oh She Glows

Pumpkin Bavarian Crepe Cake from Sprinkle Bakes

Pumpkin Kahlua Toasted Marshmallow Brownie Bars from We Are Not Martha

Apple Harvest Bread from Cake Duchess

Salted Caramel Crunch Brownies from Confessions of a Chocoholic

hope that you are all having a wonderful weekend!

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 10/4/14

I’m officially starting to get antsy! You can see my full pregnancy update here, but generally for the last few days I just keep thinking, man, I am bored, but I am way too tired to do anything about it! Do you know that feeling? Like, after I do my morning workout and get some other stuff done, I find myself pretty wiped out. Sometimes I get a little bit of afternoon energy but not all that much. My big belly just is tiring me out I guess!

Other than my boredom complaint, this was a good week overall. Like I mentioned in the pregnancy update, my doctor’s appointment on Tuesday went well and Matt and I had an impromptu dinner date afterwards. Then Wednesday, I had a fun lunch with Kris and later that day went for a pedicure with my sister (the perfect activity for when you lack energy!). I also got some KISD-related work done and had a few consulting calls so at least I was productive. Tonight we are going over to my sister’s to break the fast (well, I’ll just be eating since I can’t fast this year). It will be nice to spend the evening with my family. I’m sure they are all secretly hoping that I go into labor tonight while they are conveniently in town. Ha, I wish! (Sidenote: to stay the most up-to-date on the baby status, follow along on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook)

Any suggestions for how I can kill some time for the next week or two (or three??)? Really what I need to do is get myself into a good book…

Now for this week’s updates:

Most popular recipe/blog post: Easy Low Fat Pumpkin Sheet Cake

Easy Low Fat Pumpkin Sheet Cake from Keep It Sweet Desserts

Five favorite things I pinned all week:

Spiced Pumpkin Macarons from Bakers Royale

Baked Pumpkin Donuts with Coffee Cake Streusel & Maple Glaze from Yes to Yolks

Chocolate Lover’s Cheesecake from Brown Eyed Baker

Baked Apples Stuffed with Spiced Butternut Squash from Heartbeet Kitchen

Brown Butter Sugar Cookie Bars with Cinnamon Bourbon Buttercream from Baker by Nature

I hope that you are all having a wonderful weekend!

Pregnancy Update: 38 Weeks+

Counting down to baby! Less than two weeks until my due date!!

 5 to 37 weeks pregnant, a full-term update

Not sure if I look any different from the 32 weeks picture (when I was coincidentally wearing the same outfit) even though I definitely FEEL heavier and bigger.

So I’m officially at full term and less than two weeks are left until my due date! We went to my 38-week appointment on Tuesday and confirmed that the baby is still head down (YAY!) so that was great news. The chance of him flipping at this point is pretty low so I’m a lot less worried about that now.

For most of the pregnancy I had a feeling I’d deliver early (or maybe was just hoping?), but now I’m thinking otherwise. I’m not showing any signs of labor (not dialated, etc.) and haven’t even had braxton hicks contractions for a few weeks. My doctor said that if I go full-term, we would talk induction between 41 and 42 weeks. Crossing my fingers that it doesn’t go that far but I guess it is safe to say we will be meeting this baby in less than four weeks…hmm, that kind of feels far.

How far along: 38 weeks as of Tuesday

Total weight gain: 33.5 pounds

Maternity clothes:  Is that really a question? I’ve started staring longingly at the regular clothes hanging in my closet.

Stretch marks:  Luckily still a no, thanks genetics.

Sleep:  I’ve been sleeping pretty okay (knock on wood!), though my bathroom trips are definitely preparing me for the newborn nighttime feedings. If I sleep much more than two hours at a time it’s a miracle and then I’ll wake up with serious bladder pain. This pillow was for sure my favorite maternity investment! 

Best moment of this week: I’ve really been enjoying my prenatal yoga classes. Previously I had been doing this video and this one, but I signed up for an unlimited month at a nearby yoga studio so I’ve been taking advantage of that for the last few weeks. The instructors are really knowledgeable and it’s nice being around other women going through a similar experience. 

Miss anything:  I miss not worrying about every little ingredient that I consume. My eating habits have generally improved from before being pregnant and I’m definitely going to stick with some of them going forward (more intuitive eating, being selective about which processed foods…), but it will be nice when I don’t have to ask if a cheese is pasteurized and I can eat some medium-rare salmon. A glass of wine will be VERY nice too.

Movement: I’ve heard that the baby’s kicks slow down towards the end of pregnancy but that doesn’t seem to be happening here. The other night Matt put his cheek down against my belly and enjoyed getting continuously kicked in the face. This kid has some impressive strength and energy. 

Food cravings:  Maybe chocolate and ice cream? Not sure those qualify as cravings at this point. Comfort food and carbs are becoming very appealing with the weather changes.

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Not at all since my minimal issues in the first trimester. The heartburn also hasn’t been bad for a while.

Have you started to show yet:  I don’t think this question is relevant anymore. I really ought to wear a sign with my due date on it.

Gender: BOY!

Labor signs:  Nada.

Belly button in or out:  Maybe it’s half out now?

Wedding rings on or off:  On.

Happy or moody most of the time:  My moods have been pretty good lately. I feel like when the baby comes I”m in for a hormonal craze to make up for that, though.

Looking forward to:  Meeting the baby! I can’t wait to see what he looks like and just get to have him in real life. I’m also ready not to be pregnant anymore.

Fun Facts:  Hmm, Matt took a video of me bouncing on a ball the other night and let’s just say I deleted it from my phone as soon as he sent it to me (um, NOT flattering).

Latest Symptoms:  The physical exhaustion is the biggest symptom at this point. Also, my pelvic muscles and legs get tired from holding up my big belly!

Current Baby Prep: We have the few necessary items to get started (crib, car seat, stroller, minimal clothes, diapers…) and everything else is on my registries. I’ve also made the following items and stuck them in the freezer:

I’m still thinking about making a lean meat sauce, oatmeal cups and maybe another freezable snack. Notice the veggie-heavy healthy theme? Any other foods you would suggest? Not that there is much room left in the freezer at this point…!

Note: This post contains affiliate links.

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 9/27/14

This was really a good week in my world! First of all, I woke up to the nicest treat on Monday morning… some of my best blogger friends threw me a surprise virtual baby shower! Since I didn’t have an actual shower this was even more special. The posts were so nice and the recipes all sounded pretty darn amazing. If somehow we could make this a real life thing it would be even better.

LaurensShower

*Scroll down for the baby shower posts.*

The second really great thing was that the baby moved all by himself! Now, I realize that if he moved once, he can move again, but the fact that I didn’t have to go for a version on Friday ended up being a big relief. I know that the procedure is really not too big of a deal but there is a super small risk that during that the baby can go into distress and you end up with an emergency c-section. I was mildly panicked that this was my last week to get anything done pre-baby. Not that I don’t feel ready, but that just made it overwhelming. Anyway, it could have been the ice pack trick and / or the yoga moves. Whatever it was, I’m just happy that as of Tuesday’s 37-week appointment his head was down. Cross your fingers that we see the same thing at the next doctor visit! I actually have a big pregnancy update coming Thursday so I’ll be sure to give you the update. Thanks for all of the nice comments and suggestions you made.

Finally, we got to enjoy a nice holiday with family on Wednesday. Normally we go somewhere but I wasn’t up for much travelling this year so our parents both came to be with us that afternoon. Not only that, but they also brought most of the food…. and did almost all of the cleanup. I think I might miss this pregnancy thing after all;-) Next weekend my sister is hosting Break the Fast nearby so that will be nice too. Can’t say I’ll miss the fasting this year!

Now for this week’s updates and the baby shower details:

Mini Pumpkin Layer Cakes from The Baker Chick

Mini Apple Spice Cupcakes from Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts

Mini Nutella Brownies from The Cooking Actress

Mini Iced Oatmeal Cookie Apple Pies from Girl Versus Dough

Pickles in a Blanket from The Lemon Bowl

Mini No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecakes from Bake or Break

Mini Cookie Milkshakes from We Are Not Martha

Mini Chocolate and Peanut Butter Fondant Cakes from London Bakes

Double Decker Birthday Cake Blondie Bites from Baker By Nature

Mini Brown Butter Pumpkin Cupcakes from Eats Well With Others

Roasted Caprese Stack with Peaches from Warm Vanilla Sugar

Crunchy Cookie Butter M&M Bars from The Avid Appetite

Mini Pumpkin Streusel Pies from Espresso and Cream

Most popular recipe/blog post:  Pumpkin Blondies with Caramelized White Chocolate Swirl

Pumpkin Blondies w Caramelized White Chocolate Swirl - the most popular KISD recipe of the week!

Five favorite things I pinned all week:

Homemade Pumpkin Monkey Bread from The Law Student’s Wife

Siracha Chocolate & Dulce de Leche Tart from Sift and Whisk

Salted Caramel Apple Cake from Brown Eyed Baker

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Waffles from The Lemon Bowl

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Swirl Challah from Little Ferraro Kitchen

I hope that you are all having a wonderful weekend!

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 9/20/14

Anyone else extra happy that it’s the weekend? I think now that we are a couple of weeks into September it’s more like real life during the week and the weekends are becoming more precious. A lot of people tell us to enjoy the time just the two of us that we have left and we are… but you know what? Matt and I have had about 11 years just the two of us and I think we are ready to be three. All the time now Matt looks over at me and says, “You know what would be awesome? If there was a baby right here with us.”  And no, this furiously kicking baby in my belly just doesn’t quite count. But mentally I really do think we are ready. In terms of logistics, we are pretty much there too. The necessary furniture is here, I have about a week’s worth of outfits, we have some diapers (what?!) and wipes, our car seat is officially secure (thanks to a free safety check) and we even went to a newborn CPR class this past week.  On top of that I’ve started stocking the freezer with a few healthy snacks and meals that will be perfect for when cooking is my last priority.  If you have any favorite recipes I need to try for this, definitely let me know.

The biggest baby update I have is from my 36-week appointment.  It turns out that while the baby was head down about a month ago, he decided that his current favorite cozy position is sideways. Basically his head hits my left side, his butt sticks out mid-belly (like really sticks out when he is moving), and one of his feet loves to get stuck on my upper right ribs. Oh, and somehow he manages to use my bladder as a punching bag. This boy sure knows how to stretch out! Anyway, the current plan is to go in on Friday for a version. In the mean time, I’ve been trying some recommended yoga moves and an ice pack / heading pad trick every night (the theory is that the baby will move towards the warmth). When I do this he usually kicks like crazy but in place so who knows if anything will work. Honestly, though, as long as this boy is healthy, that is really all that matters. If he doesn’t want to move at all, we will likely schedule a c-section. At least at that point I’ll know what’s going on. I’m so bad at all of the uncertainty. That’s definitely the hardest part for me mentally. For someone who plans out everything, the mystery of when the baby comes (and then when there will be a bris, etc.) drives me a little crazy. Did you or anyone you know have any experience with the transverse lie issue?

Now for this week’s updates:

Most popular recipe/blog post:  Pumpkin Cinnamon Bun Ice Cream (no machine required)

Pumpkin Cinnamon Bun Ice Cream (no machine required)

Five favorite things I pinned all week:

Apple Crisp with Salter Coffee Caramel Sauce from Yes to Yolks

Apple Crisp Ice Cream from Fabtastic Eats

Caramel Apple Layer Cake from Stephie Cooks

Dulce de Leche Snickerdoodle Bars from Eats Well With Others

Quick Cinnamon Rolls for Two from Dessert for Two

I hope that you are all having a wonderful weekend!

Pregnancy Update: 33 Weeks+

Serious third trimester progress and a pregnancy update

My 33+ Week Pregnancy Update

Man, my belly is BIG

Yeah, this third trimester thing is no joke.  My first trimester I was super exhausted but still physically capable, but now I’m getting exhausted again and not so physically capable.  Generally I feel good but I get more and more tired on days that I have a lot going on.  All the extra weight is starting to take a toll and while I can still do all of my workouts (barre, yoga, walks), they are definitely getting challenging and need to be modified a bit.

How far along: 33 weeks (I hit 34 weeks tomorrow)

Total weight gain: 28.5 pounds

Maternity clothes:  The only non-maternity clothes I can wear are low-rise yoga pants, some PJs and a couple pairs of sweatpants. I just have to wear all of the bottoms below my belly. Even my maternity tops are starting to get short on me!

Stretch marks:  Luckily still a no, thanks genetics.  The linea nigra (that dark line that goes down from your belly button) is getting darker, though.

Sleep:  It’s been off and on over the last few weeks.  We luckily got a new and stronger A/C installed which definitely helps (even so I still get SO hot).  And if I get up less than three times a night to go to the bathroom it’s some sort of miracle.  Most times I can go back to sleep right away, but some nights I’m up reading CNN on my phone for a while to knock myself out. This pillow is still a complete lifesaver!  In fact, we almost left it in the Hamptons and I had to stop myself from going into a panic!

Best moment of this week:  Matt and I took a prenatal class on Saturday and boy was that long.  Neither of us do all that well sitting for hours listening / paying attention.  Well, at one point, we were watching a birthing video and my super mature (read: 12-year old sense of humor) husband made a slightly inappropriate joke to me about the position the woman was in.  He was cracking up so much it was contagious… I completely lost it.  The two of us were laughing uncontrollably and crying for several minutes in the middle of this class.  While it was slightly embarrassing, that laughing session felt GOOD.  Later on someone asked a question about giving birth and used a phrase that hit another funny bone with Matt.  He started laughing so hard that he actually had to walk outside and cool off for a few minutes.  I think I’m fully prepared for little boy humor.

Miss anything:  I finally hit the point where I’m starting to miss my regular body. Every once and a while I need Matt to help me tie/buckle my shoes and at night he has to give me a little push to help me roll out of bed.  My size is just starting to become a little bit of a hindrance.  I’ll be very happy when I can start wearing “normal” clothes again, too.

Movement: The kicking has been amazing.  They tell you to count kicks, but I often joke that I lose track within minutes because he is just so active.  When we went to my 32-week appointment, even the doctor commented that he seemed to be running a marathon in there.  It’s pretty much the best thing in the world.

Food cravings:  Nothing significant lately.  I’m trying so hard to eat healthy but I just don’t love eating vegetables as much as I do when I’m not pregnant.  Occasionally I substitute a smoothie made with a half of a bag of spinach for a meal to make sure I’m  getting in my greens.

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Not at all since my minimal issues in the first trimester.  I sure do eat a lot, though.

Have you started to show yet:  Ha! I’m huge.

Gender: BOY!

Labor signs:  Nothing yet.  I have been dealing with Braxton Hicks contractions a bit over the last few weeks but that is perfectly normal. They are slightly uncomfortable but certainly not painful.

Belly button in or out:  It’s fighting to stay in but it’s only a matter of time…

Wedding rings on or off:  On.

Happy or moody most of the time:  Matt and I actually joked that I’m calmer now than I was before pregnancy.  But really, I think I’m just generally less stressed out (no “real” job + making an effort to not be stressed).

Looking forward to:  I get excited for each upcoming doctor’s appointment and the chance to see the baby.  We go every two weeks now!

Fun Facts:  People really are nicer when you are pregnant, especially when you are very large and pregnant.  It’s nice to be spoiled now because I know that when the baby comes the focus will all be on him.

Latest Symptoms:  Like I’ve mentioned before, my energy has taken a hit in the last few weeks.  My workouts feel harder and I just feel BIG.

Current Baby Prep: We held off on most things as long as possible (and are still holding off on any purchases that don’t seem necessary right away) but we are getting the crib and changing table delivered tomorrow!  Also, this weekend I’ll be going Layette shopping with my mom and mother-in-law. I’m SO excited!  If you have any suggestions on things that you think I NEED to have by the time the baby gets home from the hospital, please let me know!

Is there anything else that you want to know? 

Note: This post contains affiliate links.

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 8/9/14

First of all, I have to stop and say Happy Blog Birthday to me!  Apparently I published my first post FOUR years ago today (I’d link to it but after a couple of site moves it’s disappeared…).  I started the blog when I was a little lost with direction and needed something outside of work for myself.  I still remember the conversations I had with my husband that summer about really not knowing what I wanted to do in life and I very distinctly remember my sister convincing me that I just had to start a blog.  Four years later and so much has happened.  While I certainly don’t have it all figured out, especially since I don’t know exactly what I’ll be doing post-baby, I’m a lot more content with myself and who I am now.  Having this place on the internet to share something I love has been such a wonderful opportunity.  I may not be running a bakery anymore, but that doesn’t mean that my dreams and aspirations have come to a close.  Thank you so much for following along through all of it and supporting me every step of the way!

Holy cow, I realized earlier this week that we are busy almost every weekend up until my due date.  Weddings, birthdays, High Holidays… Honestly, I almost started to panic when I figured that out, but considering I don’t exactly have a “real” job right now, I really have no right to freak out or complain.  I’m lucky that if there are miscellaneous things I want to get done pre-baby, I can do it during the week.  I’ve been working so hard in the kitchen to get my blog ready for a little maternity leave of sorts, but in a couple of weeks I should be done with most of that.  And in reality, I’m actually happy that I’m so busy.  Some of these third trimester days are very long and the structure and to-do lists help to keep me sane and pass the time.  Plus, most of the calendar is booked with fun things.  I did just block out one day to make sure we get some apple picking in before I pop, though.  Priorities:-)

Speaking of the third trimester, I’ll give you an official update in a few weeks, but I feel like things changed quickly since this second trimester recap.  First of all, I already feel SO much bigger than I was when I wrote that post (and according to my doctor’s appointment on Thursday, the baby is in fact measuring a bit big!).  I met a lovely lady who thought it was appropriate to tell me that I am bigger than she was right before she had her baby.  How sweet of her.  Second, along with feeling big, I’m just feeling pregnant in a very different way.  Workouts are getting more difficult (I actually had to skip one the other day because I got dizzy and nauseous), my bladder is practically non-existent, and I’m finding my belly gets in the way (reaching for something in a high cabinet is hilarious).  Oh and can I tell you how much fall fashion makes me miss regular people clothes?  I’m sure it will be some time before my body is in a place where it makes sense to go on a shopping spree, but I hope that I’ll at least feel good going through my closet of clothes that do fancy things like button at the waist.  I don’t mean to sound like a huge complainer because generally I really do still feel good.  I just feel pregnant whereas before, I could have forgotten from time to time.  To those of you who have been there before, can you relate?  Did your third trimester fly or did it feel forever?

Now for this week’s updates:

Most popular recipe/blog post:  No Churn Chocolate Ice Cream with Salty Candied Peanuts

This week's most popular recipe!  No Churn Chocolate Ice Cream with Salty Candied Peanuts

Five favorite things I pinned all week:

S’mores Baked Alaska for Two from Chocolate Moosey

Strawberry Pop-Tart Pie from Willow Bird Baking

Chocolate Meringue Cake with Fresh Berries from  Artful Desperado

Blueberry Power Pancakes from The Pomegranate Bandit

Chocolate Chia Ice Cream from Top With Cinnamon

I hope that you are all having a wonderful weekend! 

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 8/2/14

So, TV.  Thanks to the exhaustion I mentioned, I’ve probably been watching a bit more than my fair share lately.  It doesn’t help that I’m in the middle of reading a super boring book (please give me a suck-you-right-in recommendation!), but most evenings have turned into a few hours of relaxing with Matt and watching our latest show(s). 

Thanks to Netflix, I’ve finally jumped onto the Scandal bandwagon, while simultaneously catching the 15-year old show, Freaks and Geeks.  Now that we are in the second season of Scandal (the first season was only 7 episodes), I definitely understand how people get sucked in.  It’s definitely the Shonda Rhimes style that made me love Grey’s Anatomy so it’s addicting when you have alllll the episodes at your fingertips.   However, watching this after an intense political show like House of Cards is so strange.  I think I’ve learned to overthink regular shows and sometimes don’t know how to just enjoy the slightly less complex plots!  I mean, I don’t know if I’ll ever recover from a show like Breaking Bad where you learn that nothing, I mean nothing, gets left unfinished. 

As for Freaks and Geeks, I don’t know how I never watched it before.  We decided that since James Franco and Jason Segel are in it we kind of had to check it out.  Maybe it’s because I’m old enough to be completely removed from the discomfort and insecurities of high school but young enough to still remember, but I find the show pretty hilarious and enjoyable to watch. 

Oh yeah, and real life.  I am pretty sure that my baby registry is finally finished.  I’ll probably review what I did just to make sure (between Buy Buy Baby, Pottery Barn and Baby List I feel a little all over the place), but that is a huge weight off my shoulders.  And speaking of babies, I got to sneak in a visit with my best friend and her adorable almost-five month old yesterday.  I haven’t seen her since May and won’t see her again until after I have a baby (what?!?!?!) so it was a real treat.  I love having friends to visit in Florida but I sure miss all of them!  This weekend’s plans were kind of crushed by the weather which is kind of a bummer, but that’s okay.  We have so much going on for the next month (three weddings and a weekend to celebrate my birthday) that there is still plenty of summer to look forward to.

Now for this week’s updates:

Most popular recipe/blog post:  (Fresh) Blueberry White Chocolate Brown Butter Cookies

(Fresh) Blueberry White Chocolate Brown Butter Cookies - basically cookie perfection

Five favorite things I pinned all week:

Chocolate Cookie Dough Ice Cream from Crème de la Crumb

Frappe Oreo Ice Cream from Figs & Feta

Grilled Peach & Halloumi Skewers with Basil-Jalapeno Sauce from Naturally Ella

Lightened Up Nectarine Cobbler from Baker by Nature

Salted Chocolate & Ritz Nougat No-Bake Bars from Lauren’s Latest

I hope that you are all having a wonderful weekend!  Stay tuned this week for ice creammmmmmm.

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 7/26/14

Happy, happy weekend!  Despite the fact that the baby now likes to push on my bladder in a way that brings on an indescribable amount of discomfort (especially when I try to go for a walk), I am in a very good mood.  Besides, considering how lucky I’ve been throughout my pregnancy, a little bladder pressure is really nothing to complain about.  Even if I did have to ask a Whole Foods employee to watch my cart so that I could run to the bathroom before finishing food shopping.  Nope, not embarrassing at all. 

Anyway, a few things that are keeping my spirits up:  1) I passed my glucose test!  Thank you all for the nice notes and comments.  My doctor was nice enough to call me the night my blood was drawn to give me the good news.  Questionable PCOS take that;-) 2)  I got to visit with a few of my favorite bloggers this week (Liz, Ashley, Joanne, Audra and even Kathryn!)  3)  My sister got one of the jobs she was hoping for (though I’m not surprised at all!).  Oh, and she is moving 15 minutes away from me in early September!!! 4)  We got to see some amazing close-up shots of the baby’s face on Thursday via ultrasound.  We aren’t doing a 3-D (they kind of freak me out), but you really can see what he is starting to look like.  It makes me so much more excited to meet the baby in a few months.  5)  My birthday is in less than a month and I’m actually not freaked out over turning 30.  I’ll just miss being able to tell Matt how “old” he is.

In terms of my daily life, I’m still using my energy to get a lot of baking done.  This coming week I should finish getting my baby registry together.  I think that will be a big relief.  Once that is done I’ll make a list of the items I think we need to have in advance for the first few days of parenthood.  It’s all still a bit overwhelming, but we are getting there.  We even found a pediatrician this past week that we both liked.  The fact that his office has weekend hours pretty much sold me!  Oh, and for any of you other soon-to-be or new moms, I highly recommend checking out Lindsay’s list of 100 relevant posts.

Now for this week’s updates:

Most popular recipe/blog post:  (Fresh) Blueberry White Chocolate Brown Butter Cookies

(Fresh) Blueberry White Chocolate Brown Butter Cookies - basically cookie perfection

Five favorite things I pinned all week:

Cinnamon Roll Frosting from Oh Sweet Basil

Flourless Smoked Sea Salt & Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies from Delicious Every Day

Chocolate & Crunchy Peanut Butter Molten Lava Cake from The Gastronomic Bong

Soft & Chewy S’mores Crumble Bars from American Heritage Cooking

Cinnamon Graham S’mores Cupcakes from Baked by Rachel

I hope that you are all having a wonderful weekend!  Stay tuned this week for pie and cupcake recipes.

Keep It Sweet Desserts Weekly Wrap-up 7/19/14

Whew, I’m so glad we don’t have a ton of plans here this weekend because I’m still recovering from last weekend and Tuesday night’s concert.  I’ll blame the pregnancy but I sure do feel old with the super exhaustion.  At least I’m still not as tired as I was throughout my first trimester!

Speaking of pregnancy, in case you missed it, I posted an update on Thursday.  I kind of left out a few things… namely, the stress.  Well, I don’t know if stress is the right word.  More like a big feeling of being overwhelmed with all that has to get done in the next three months.  I just read that you should have 600 diapers for the first month with a baby.  For some reason, that one little piece of information put me into super-overwhelmed mode.  I since have calmed down and reminded myself to take everything one step at a time, but wow is there a lot to do. 

Also,  I know I never gave you the update on the glucose test I was so nervous about.  Well, it’s a long story, but I’m going to take the same test again this week.  Luckily I’m still taking the 1-hour test (which was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be) and I think that the doctor is being ultra conservative.  However, I’m still nervous, again!  I’d say that I’ll cut back on carbs this week but who am I kidding?  I am not good with restrictions, especially while pregnant. 

Other than that, there is still a ton of baking happening in my kitchen.  My goal is to have plenty of recipes ready for you while I’m on some sort of maternity leave!  It’s a little weird doing all of this fall and holiday baking now, but kind of fun.  I think Matt’s co-workers will probably be the most confused because they’ll be eating all sorts of out-of-season treats this summer.  I also plan on getting some guest posts together from friends.  If you have any other advice on prepping for life with the baby (work, mental, anything at all), I’m more than happy to hear it!

Now for this week’s updates:

Most popular recipe/blog post:  No-Churn Cookie Butter Ice Cream

Super Creamy Cookie Butter Ice Cream - NO ice cream maker needed!  So easy and so delicious!

Five favorite things I pinned all week:

Peanut Butter & Banana Ice Cream Sandwiches (gluten-free and vegan) from She Likes Food

Homemade Drumsticks from Crazy for Crust

Chocolate S’mores Skillet Cake from Foodness Gracious

Chocolate Mousse and Marshmallow Icing S’mores Cake from Serious Eats

Roasted Peach Cinnamon Swirl Bread from Running to the Kitchen

I hope that you are all having a wonderful weekend!