The Pregnant Cook

Today I have energy, and it's all been directed at cooking and cleaning.  Last week was not very productive; I've had a cold and felt pretty crummy until yesterday.  I still sound awful, but at least I do feel better.  For breakfast I made blueberry pancakes using biscuit mix Mamaw gave me.  (Thanks, Mamaw!)  I also made cheese eggs, which are a favorite around here.

I bought bananas last weekend that we never ate, so today they were nice and soft and brown - perfect for banana bread!  I found a recipe from JoyofBaking.com, which you can view here.  I substituted wheat germ for 1/2 cup of the all-purpose flour.  It is nutty, hardy and a lot better for you than the refined flour.  I used my silicone baking cups for the first time, so these muffins are tasty AND cute!

Moist and yummy banana muffins

I've been working on a crocheted baby cocoon.  There are a lot of patterns out there, but I took my own pattern for soda can coozies and baby-sized it!  I think these cocoons will come in handy, so I'd like to have a few more.  They don't fit as tightly as a swaddling blanket so are not safe for sleeping, but they'll be convenient for bundling Baby G in the stroller or while I'm nursing.  This one is "furry."  I used fuzzy yarn that is very soft.  I'm going to do a few more rounds on the length, but here is my progress so far:

Not a robber's mask - a baby cocoon

I'm also working on a matching blanket and hat.  Between baby gear and Christmas presents, I should have plenty of crochet and knitting to keep me busy.  Look for more pictures!

Baby G and I had our 13 week appointment last Tuesday.  His or her heartbeat is very strong.  It was a relief to hear because I'm still not showing and my symptoms are better - sometimes I don't feel very pregnant.  I know that will change, just not when.  Baby G is still very low in my tummy, so right now I am sans bump.

This week I am going to schedule a hair appointment.  I haven't been taking great care of my appearance because I've been so tired and sick for the past two months.  Now that things are improving, I'd like to look presentable again.

The adventure continues!

11 Weeks - A Figlet

This post will be a short one due to a new and exciting symptom:  the all-day headache!  I am happy to report that my nausea seems to be slowly subsiding.  I spent the weekend with Dad and felt pretty great the whole time.  I got tired in the afternoons but had plenty of time for a catnap.

Baby G. hit the 11 week mark on Saturday and is roughly the size of a fig.  I'm anxious for my next appointment so I can see just how much has changed.

Right now I am off to bed.  It's hard to believe that just a few months ago I routinely stayed up until midnight.  Now I'm lucky to hit 10pm!

I've had a tough three weeks in pregnancy land.  Yes, I'm feeling very sorry for myself and I'm going to list all of the reasons here.  If I don't then they might get dumped somewhere less appropriate.

1.  My sense of smell has become extremely sensitive...and not in a good way.  Nothing smells nice anymore.  Brandon was boiling black beans today and it made my stomach turn. The smells at my office are the worst.  I've discovered that people eats all sorts of things at all times of day.  Yuck.

2.  I don't get hungry, just nauseous.  I've tried indulging in junk foods thinking it might satisfy me, but no luck.  A philly cheesesteak might as well be a pb&j.  

3.  My husband thinks the severity of my symptoms is controlled by the size of the baby.  When I mentioned all the little ways my body is rebelling, he reminded me that the baby is only an inch long.  He really does mean well and has been trying hard to make me feel loved and comfortable, but I wish he could be in my shoes for a couple days.

4.  I've dealt with fevers and a case of pleurisy.  The fevers seem to pop up out of nowhere.  The pleurisy was exhausting, painful, and magnified by my normal pregnancy complaints.  I still get a twinge in my left lung every now and then, especially at night and in the morning.  It has been a week over a week since my last fever, so I hope that is behind me now.

5.  I don't know when I've spent so much time in bed and on the couch.  Everything I read says to exercise, but I get so tired, and moving around makes my nausea worse.  Even so, I haven't gained any weight.  In fact, I've lost a few pounds.  Dr. Rees told me not to lose more than 5 lbs, so I'm drinking Ensure to take the place of some of the real food I can't eat.

I complain, but it isn't all bad.  It's exciting to be growing a human.  Brandon and I are as close as we've been in a long time, and I feel so happy when he reaches over to touch my tummy during the night.  I don't want to rush through any of this, but I can't help wishing this phase were over.

We are now 10 weeks along.  Here is the last ultrasound, taken between 8 and 9 weeks.

Six Weeks and Counting

I am approximately six weeks pregnant and boy can I tell.  Today I feasted on:

• Fiber cereal
• Saltines
• Half turkey sandwich
• Three bites of pork chop
• Two spoonfuls each of corn and butter beans
• Ginger ale

Real Me loves food, but Pregnant Me could care less.  I've lost my taste buds and, with them, my desire to eat.  My stomach is a tiny ball of queasiness with a No Vacancy sign out front.

Baby Gallatin is less than cute this week, consisting of wrinkles and a tail.  Our main focus is construction of the placenta, a task that requires nutrients and energy which, of course, come from food.  In her infinite wisdom, or perhaps as a cruel joke, Mother Nature chooses this time to make eating impossible.  Essential, yet impossible.

A mutant sesame seed

In a few weeks I should be in the "pickles and ice cream" phase.  Seems revolting right now, but then again I gag at the smell of popcorn, so I'll wait to pass judgement.