Tia's Wedding :: Cancun: part 1

Oh my gosh! 

 We were so excited to leave this:

to go to this!!!

After our plane delay 

{supposed to leave Thursday at midnight. Didn't take off until Saturday morning!}

We made it to warm weather!!

Nate and I started the vacation just the two of us in Cancun. Thankfully, we were able to get reimbursed for a missed night. We only stayed one night here, but it was enough sunshine for this pasty Seattle girl to turn into a lobster with sunscreen applied!

I stayed in this spot pretty much the entire day. My husband was being such a good husband and always offering to go get us drinks so I never had a chance to get some shade. Little did I know, every time he went back he chugged a beer or two! When am I going to remember that when he is being "good" and "quiet" he is being mischievous! It's funny that 'little boy Nate' is still in his mind but in a grown up way :)  

After I was lobstered up, we ventured on over to Tia's resort. 

Oh my! Was it just the most beautiful place ever! She picked the best place in Cancun to have her wedding. So peaceful, all inclusive, with excellent alcohol, great customer service, and just down right fun!

I also forgot to take photos most of the time. Lucky for us, my auntie Gwyn came along. She captures everything for us! 

Stay tuned. More to come...

Dessert :: Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Boy oh boy! These are just dangerously delicious! I've been wanting to make these for a few weeks. I researched a lot of different whoopie pie recipes and this one seemed to be the best.

I did use half whole wheat flour and half regular. I really wanted to do the entire batch with whole wheat but I was afraid. It also calls for a cup of oil. I thought about doing the 'ol switch-a-roo and use applesauce, but I chickened out. Since I made them this way once and they were awesome,  I will experiment with the applesauce next time. You have to try these! You won't be able to eat just one!

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Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Cream Cheese Filling {recipe copied from here}

Makes 12-14

3 cups AP Flour

1 Tablespoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground ginger

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

¼ teaspoon ground cloves

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup Splenda (use could white sugar if you like)

1 cup vegetable oil

1 - 15 oz. can of pumpkin

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat together brown sugar, Splenda, oil and pumpkin. Add eggs one at time, mixing well after each addition, followed by the vanilla. In a separate bowl, shift together the dry ingredients. Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined. 

Line cookie sheet with wax or parchment paper. Using a pastry bag with a round tip, or a big zip top plastic bag with one corner snipped, squeeze out concentric circles of batter, starting from the middle and working outward until the circles are about 2 inches in diameter. Bake for 11 minutes and cool on a rack.

Cream Cheese Filling

1 - 8 oz. package of cream cheese, softened

1 stick of unsalted butter, room temperature

1 - 16 oz. package of powdered sugar

about a capful of vanilla extract

a pinch of cinnamon (to taste)

Beat together cream cheese and butter. Add powdered sugar, vanilla and cinnamon. Frost flat side of half the pies and top with another piece. 

Enjoy right away or chill overnight.

Baby:: 37 Weeks

I made it to 37 weeks last week! 

I am ready for her to come out. I am now getting the sciatica pain which is not fun. I've been doing some stretches to avoid it thus far, but she has other plans. Or it could be the 4 hours I was standing/leaning over the counter tiling our bathroom backsplash; which looks great! Well worth the stupid aches I got. Nothing a heating pad can't fix and I am feeling better today!

I also had another pregnancy joy - cankles! Thankfully it lasted only two days. :) Maybe too much garlic salt on my bread, but it tasted so good!

We only have two weeks left until her due date and we are now ready. Bags packed and the necessities are purchased. She can come any day now and we won't be mad :)

Spoonin'

Not the best photo, but it just makes me smile when I take a break from working and see these two. Brotherly love ;)

Baby :: 36 weeks

Quick photo update!

Recipes

I cooked two meatless recipes this week that I found via Pinterest. Very delish! The leftovers are even yummy.  Definitely going to keep these recipes handy.

mexican stuffed peppers with quinoa & black beans

photo: via 

Garden-Style Lasagna

photo: via 

Baby :: 34 weeks

A week late, but the belly is still growing!

The last few weeks have been busy for us. We took our last trip back to Montana to watch the Bobcats, have a baby shower, and see if baby is still a girl; which no doubt- she is!! 

I had a feeling inside that I wanted to make sure she was a girl before I finished the baby room. When you are pregnant people say whatever comes to their mind. One of them being they tell you what they think you are having by the way you are carrying. A boy is what I was told numerous times. As well as stories of the the radiologist getting it wrong. Well, those are not good things to tell a pregnant woman. I would feel awful if a boy came out and all I had was pink and polka dots! So, I had a quick ultra sound. :)

Since she is so big she doesn't fit in the view finder like she used to, but I did find this interesting.

At 16wks she was doing a high kick

AND

At 33wks she was doing a high kick as well!

 

Maybe a dancer in the making? 

I will not force her into dance. I will let her decide what activities she wants to participate in. 

I can only hope dance is one of them. :) 

If I remember right, that foot is measuring 2.5" 

eek! Big foot!

Her estimated weight was also 4.9lbs. Which could be off by +/- half a pound.

So, if she continues to gain the average a baby does in the last part of pregnancy we are looking at an 8 pounder! 

She has always been measuring a week ahead and she is still measuring a week ahead. Must be a sign we have an intelligent, over achiever in the making ;)

Pear

My dad has a pear tree which I think he planted the year Nate and I got married. Tia remembered he picked one of his first pears the day we got married. Fast forward 4 years and now he has a lot of pears! {thriving like our marriage :)}

He sent a pear with my mom to Bozeman last weekend so his grand kid could have one of his pears :) He asked me everyday if I had eaten it yet. I finally cut into it today. Here is the proof. And it was VERY DELICIOUS!! Thanks Dad, we enjoyed it!

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With my cell phone case! How handy!

Baby :: 27 - 30 wks

Yes, I am a little behind. I will catch up someday.

Here are the updated belly photos. 

As you can see, my shirt is getting a little short ;)

Baby girl is growing like a weed, hanging out in my pelvis. Hiccups at least once a day. I feel them in my butt which confirms how low she it! I did find out laughter helps get rid of her hiccups. I was dying of laughter while reading this blog post. Oh my goodness, so hilarious!!!

Not too many pains yet. Just starting to feel the weight of the belly. The only back pain I get is middle to upper back pain from napping in weird positions. Practicing my pelvic tilts which seemed to have helped me thus far! I truly think dance has helped keep my posture in check. 

I am getting my appetite back. Everything sounds just delicious. I have to be careful and watch what I eat! 

 I read she can see light so we tried it the other night. Nate was freaked out that you could see her move so well! 

I think she may be like her mom. She gets claustrophobic- if I lean forward just a little bit, she kicks and moves until I lean back and give her more space. She also does not like low rider pants. Ok, she might be a little stubborn like her mom too! The Dr. said she might be a little sassy-- she kicked her while checking me. {Nate is going to go crazy :) } and ice cream is her favorite!

Here are the guard dogs:

Whenever we go into the nursery, at least one follows me in and the other is on the top of the stairs. 

Or both guarding the stairs :)

They are loving the rug we put in the room--- they think we bought it for them!

Progress shot-- Nate putting the nightstand together. Unfortunately, the manufacturer didn't drill holes on one of the panels so we had to order the piece, putting the nightstand on hold. :(

More to come!

Farm dog

One of my favorite pictures of the busy summer we have been having! I will update you all soon!

Jeter loving the farm life :)

baby :: 24 weeks

She is growing...

and kicking - ALOT!

Dancer in the making?!

It's a....

GIRL!!! Nate surprised me with her first onesies ;) He is so sweet! I love them!

Happy 5th Birthday, Jeter!

Hard to believe Jeter is 5 already. It was about this time five years ago Nate and I knew we were ready to be with each other forever! He said he had to surprise me with Jeter to make sure I had what it takes to be a good, responsible mom. So thoughtful. :)

Didn't want you guys to think I forgot... here are the birthday hat photos!

Tia's Wedding - Glendive

Tia and Jake had an intimate, little ceremony New Year's Eve to make their marriage official before going to Mexico! 

Quick {just how Tia has always wanted it} with delicious brunch afterwards. It was sweet :)

{Vinny photo-bombing in the background!}

No longer a legal Morasko :,(

Mr. and Mrs. Senner!!

Next up Mexico!!

baby :: 20 weeks

Had to show the cute Bridger licking his lips :)

Half way there!

A few things:

~ I can feel the babe from the outside! 

Ice cream really gets it moving.

~ I have terrible heartburn :(

No spicy, tomato based foods, salt and vinegar chips 

~ I am at more normal energy level; 

which is if you know the non-pregnant JJ, she always took naps and has half of Nate's energy level - So nothing new :)

~ My nails and hair are NOT growing like everyone says 

thin and brittle nails like always.

~ Craving sweets!

So there is the old wives tale that says if you get heartburn while pregnant your baby is going to have head of hair. If it takes after me, you all know it will be covered in hair! I feel so bad for Nate. He is a hair-a-phob 

(technical names:: Chaetophobia, Trichopathophobia, Trichophobia, or Hypertrichophobia) 

and he married probably one of the hairiest gals :) 

I told him the baby is more than likely going to have hair and his response was, "we can just shave it!"

Needless to say, he won't be alone with the baby :) {teasing!}

So far so good. We are excited for the Knutson family vacation at the cabin next week!! 

Sunshine, YES PLEASE!!!!!!

Food

Late night craving. Blueberry muffins from scratch. I'm sad most will go in the freezer so I don't eat them all in two days.

By the way.... They are delish!

Knutson Designs

Some news that I am not sure if everyone knows is that I quit my job in February. 
I quit on a Tuesday and found out I was pregnant that Saturday! I can tell you we were definitely worried, but the more we thought about it, it was the best blessing ever! I got rid of A LOT of unnecessary stress and heartache that would not have been a good environment for the baby. I tell myself that getting up enough courage to quit my job is what helped us finally get pregnant!


I am definitely at peace and happier. I am picking up a freelance jobs here and there. My website is almost done (my worst nightmare!) I also have an etsy shop started. My plan is to add new designs everyday or so.


The hardest problems I have are being my own worst critic and perfectionism. Everyday I battle with myself to get things done. If only I could say things look good when I design then I would be further along with my business. I'm working on it! Constantly coaching myself :) 

Here is my etsy site. 

I have a lot of ideas to add including some paintings and gift ideas, but website first!

Growing Baby

Quick update on the growing bambino so far!

Baby's first photo - 5 weeks (sideways)

the following pics I thank my sister for. I probably wouldn't have taken them if she didn't ask to see my belly grow. 

{don't mind the snowman pants---nate loves hates them!}

It is crazy how much it changes with what I eat and at night. Nate and I ate really healthy for three weeks and some of the hormone bloat disappeared. All I needed was one week back in MT and it came back...

or it could be because I am addicted to self serve fro yo!

Boy, is it expensive! Nate figured out how much half a gallon would cost -- $25ish!

 I am on the search for some half gallons of frozen yogurt. They say I should eat this instead of ice cream. Might as well go along with what they say ;)

So if anyone knows where I can buy a lot of frozen yogurt -- please tell!

Since I have a sweet tooth now (or always!)  I've been trying to keep up with working out. I started water aerobics with the arthritic elders at my gym. It is entertaining and they always know when I miss a day. :) 

Everything else has been such a great journey so far! The baby is such a blessing for Nate and I! We are trying to enjoy all the moments that come along with it as it is an answer to our 2 years of praying. (thankfully, I didn't have morning sickness!)

We find out the gender June 27th!

Golfin'

Out for a nice round of golf with Nate's parents in West Seattle.

(I just pared two holes in a row! Coming out of my high school retirement :) )