Belly Pic- 28 weeks

Here I am, 28 weeks down and 25lbs up!

Kitchen Success

Blame it on pregnancy-brain, poor planning, or just bad luck, but I have been having a string of failures in the kitchen. I've managed to mangle brown and serve soy sausage, baked potatoes, pancakes, and pre-made frozen enchiladas among other things. It isn't like I am attempting and failing at souffle or meringue- I can barely make a decent bowl of cereal lately.

But after a conversation about panini sandwiches with my friend Sarah a few days ago (and some of her yummy guacamole), I was inspired to try avocado panini. So tonight I braved two new dishes for which I only kinda-sorta had the ingredients listed on the actual recipe. I used the skins of my failed baked potatoes to make cheesy baked potato skins. And then I used a recipe from Vegetarian Times as a rough guide and layered avocado slices, mozzarella, and dried tomato on some whole wheat English muffins spread with pesto to make panini!

It was a success!!! Jonathan even tried and liked the sandwiches. (Here he is sneaking more after he left the table).

I think his eating bravery is strongly tied to how much he helps me in the kitchen on any given night. So helping to spread pesto, and stuff the sandwiches and then squish them with the cast-iron pan made him willing to try a bite and then then a few more! Here is to more cooking success! And the cutest kitchen helper ever!

dinner conversation

Last night as we were winding down dinner, Jonathan swung his skinny little legs over the side of his booster seat and started to climb out. As he was climbing down we had the following conversation:

Jonathan: I'm all done. I need to get down now.

Mommy: What are you going to do?

Jonathan: Mmm, I need to go to the store.

Mommy: Which store are you going to?

Jonathan: The grocery store. I need a bag.

Mommy: Oh, what are you going to put in your bag.

Jonathan: Umm, ice cream.

nesting

Maybe its the end of the school year and my itching to be doing something creative and different with soon-to-be free time this summer. Or maybe it is the pregnancy, but I have been having huge nesting instincts over the past few weeks. I've really, really tried to limit myself to what my brain and free time can handle project wise right now, but with only limited success. But I have finished one project for the new little one, that I am super happy with.

There was a painting I fell in love with when I was pregnant with Jonathan, but when we found out he was a boy, it was obviously not going to work. Plus we don't really have room for Pottery Barn in our budget!

But the idea of making something similar never really left my brain and so now that we are expecting a little princess, I finished my own version that is all ready to hang above her crib!

I actually think I like mine better than the original- and at WAY under the cost of the original!!

Now its on to baby blankets, a new quilt for Jonathan, curtains for our sunroom.....

Belly Pic- 25 weeks

Here it is! I am up 20 pounds and starting to be a smidge uncomfortable while sitting. Also I am starting to find myself blithely assuming I will fit through openings that I will not (between desks when navigating my classroom- for instance). BUT I went swimming today for the first time in while and was still able to do a flip-turn!