Happy Halloween!

Here's to a goulishly fun Halloween full of lots of treats and few tricks!

The Wednesday Links from Around The Web 10.30.2013

An Apple A Day Does A Hell Of A Lot More Than Keep The Doctor Away So Eat UP!

Russell Brand may have started a revolution

Never Say Goodbye A Love Story kept vivid

26 Slogans That Frankly Make More Sense Than the Real Ones So true, especially the Pepsi one!

The Important Winter Car Seat Safety Rule You're Probably Breaking & Why You Must Stop Now Seriously! 

Birthday Planning!

In just over three weeks, Molly will be turning two years old which boggles my mind. I'm not really sure how this is possible but according to the calendar, it is. I've started planning her birthday party after much angst over where to have the celebration and I'm getting excited!

At first, Scott and I thought we'd host the party at a community center or a play center but after looking at the fees for such things, they seemed expensive especially for someone who probably won't remember her party at all. We decided to host a smaller gathering at our house and I'm going with a Zoo theme since that is Molly's happy place.

I've decided that all of November's Pinterest Thursdays will be around planning Molly's Zoo Birthday Celebration. I need to figure out decorations, party games, favors and snack food! I have so many ideas floating around in my head and I can't wait to throw this party. Let's be honest here, the party is more for me than for Molly so I might as well enjoy it. 

Do you have any great Zoo party ideas, favors, decorations? Please share them! I'd love to hear your thoughts. 

23 Months with Molly Pop!

Molly! You are so close to being 2 years old and boy, can we tell! You have a huge passion for life which also means that you can have some epic temper tantrums. You are so inquisitive though and ask all day long, "What's That?" I'm fully expecting to hear, "Why?" out of you shortly.

We have been visiting the zoo a lot as you often ask to see the, "Monnnnekeys" and I am more than happy to take you to see the gorillas. The zoo is also a great place to wear you out. You can run, run, run and explore, explore, explore. You also have a deep love for Curious George and I probably let you watch too much of that show but you LOVE him!

You are really enjoying Co-Op Preschool and get so upset if I say that today is not a school day. You want everyday to be a school day. I'm so happy we signed you up for this. The school recently had Pumpkin Night with painting pumpkins, pancakes and lots of play time. Grandma and Grandpa came along with Pop Pop to check out your school. You loved having them there and showed them all the crazy things you get up to. You also painted a pumpkin with your Dad along with painting your hands!

We bought you a big girl bed this month but have not yet set it up. I am hoping the transition goes well. You sleep in a big girl bed at Grandma and Grandpa's and when we travel but this might just be new enough to disrupt your usually great sleep. Fingers crossed it goes well!

I'm feeling a bit bittersweet about you growing up and that soon you will no longer be an only child. As your Dad says, I know that your sister is going to be both your greatest enemy and your best friend but it is still a bit emotional to know that soon I will be saying goodbye to our little team of two and expanding it to a larger team of three. In the end this is going to be awesome! Two little girls giggling in my house will be the stuff of dreams but right now, I'm cherishing our cuddles together and fun times because we've really had some good times together. You, my child, are pretty awesome and I'm so glad that I've gotten to spend so much one-on-one time with you.

Molly Pop! Never forget how much your Pop Pop and I love you. We have been so blessed to have such an awesome little girl enter our lives and I do hope you can be a great guide to your little sister when she arrives. You have so much to teach her. She is not going to know much, other than the fact that you are wonderful, so use that power gently. Be kind to her but not too kind. The two of you will have so much fun together.

Here is a little video that you and your Pop Pop made while I was at one of my many pregnancy appointments. Do I spy a little Curious George on the TV? 

Sunday Favorites

People's photos are getting more colorful as Fall settles in and I love it! Check out my favorites for the week. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

1. shouty, 2. Greetings from Gilligan's Island. Guánica, Puerto Rico., 3. Relaxing after our breakfast. The view from here. #Suntorytime, 4. apple slab pie, 5. Day 2458, 6. Reunited with my @kristinamoto and oh so happy!, 7. most appropriate Halloween costume EVER., 8. Aldri for gammel til å plukke kastanjer | Never too old for conkers, 9. Whit's Knits: Line Weight Hats for Newborns, 10. 7. HICCUP, 11. jonagolds, 12. Untitled, 13. allonge, 14. cider donuts, 15. Day 2454, 16. UK update: I cannot stop buying Kinder Surprise eggs. This is not a problem, do not send help., 17. Mija, Pioneer Square, 18. Hosta, 19. kitten 2, 20. Definitely fall, 21. Jacked and Pumped, 22. Space Needle, 23. Ledge Harbour slouch, 24. Lazy LA afternoons in the @laurenlemon & @caitran household..., 25. Oh god!  Tell them to stop staring at me!!!!!

Chicken Nugget - 30 weeks

It's really sinking in. I'm in my THIRD trimester and in 9 very short weeks, I'll have a baby in my arms. I feel like I have so much to do but really I don't. We bought Molly a Big Girl bed this weekend and are getting the crib ready for Chicken Nugget. I need to wash the baby clothing but I'll wait until I am closer. I've finished knitting two sweaters, a pair of booties and pants. I just have one more sweater to finish (maybe, I'm not in love with it and am considering my options). Chicken Nugget's Monster for her weekly photos is almost done. I just need to buy more stuffing so it is properly full. My freezer meal project is going well so we won't go hungry along with the amazing meal train that my friends are putting together. My weekly U/S and NSTs are getting to be routine and boring which is a very good thing. I'm seeing the doctor every other week for a few more weeks. Then I'll switch to weekly at 36 weeks. 

My weekly photos have been a source of entertainment for Molly. Here she is, peeking in on me!

I found a picture that Scott took of me at 30 weeks last time and thought it would be fun to show the side-by-side comparison. 

I'm definitely bigger this time around but the funny thing is that I weigh almost 20 lbs less! Maybe the lower weight makes the baby stick out further. All in all though, things are going well. I just feel like I have so much to do before my deadline comes up!

Quick Bread - Banana Bread

Banana Bread is such a great way to use up all those bananas that you buy but for some reason or another never eat before they start to over-ripen. And then if you are like me, you throw them in your freezer and never think of them again until your freezer is too full to close. Then you dig around and find your stash of frozen bananas which are perfect for smoothies or for a sweet treat! 

I made my favorite banana bread with Molly today and decided to bake it in mini loaves so I could freeze them. Let's be honest, banana bread isn't gestational diabetes friendly but I am so going to thank my past self in January when I'm jonesing for a sweet treat and remember that I froze mini loaves of banana bread!

Favorite Banana Bread

Makes 2 loaves

Ingredients

1/2 lb unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cup sugar
4 eggs
3 cups flour
2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoon salt
2 cups mashed very ripe banana
1 cup sour cream
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and butter two - 9x5x3-inch loaf pan.
2. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, using your stand mixer.
3. Slowly add the eggs and beat well. 
4. Sift the dry ingredients together and add to the butter mixture.
5. Add in the bananas, sour cream, and vanilla and stir well. 
6. Stir  in the chocolate chips before pouring batter evenly into two pans. 
7. Bake 1 hour until a cake tester comes out clean.
8. Turn out onto rack to cool and enjoy!

Pinterest Thursday - Pumpkin Garland

With Halloween just around the corner, I thought it would be fun to a do more holiday related pin this week.  I saw this adorable pumpkin garland pin on the site and had to make some pumpkins of my very own. Another bonus was that it was a project involving yarn and yarn is something I have plenty of in my house. 

This is a seriously easy pin. I think it took me all of three minutes to complete while also texting with my two favorite text buddies. 

I grabbed some orange yarn and decided to use green yarn for the stem instead of a pipe cleaner because I didn't want to go to the store. I wrapped the yarn around my hand and then tied off the "pom-pom" when I had a big enough poof (I didn't count like the pin suggested because I was distracted with texting). Then I tied on the green yarn for a stem and ta-da! I had a pumpkin! If my cats and kid weren't so interested in yarn, I'd make the whole garland and hang it up by my fireplace but that path only leads to disaster. Instead my pumpkin shall keep me company by my computer (far out of reach of the cats and child).

The Wednesday Links from Around The Web 10.23.2013

First Children are smarter, but why? Does this mean Chicken Nugget is going to be less intelligent than Molly? I kinda doubt this but I do wonder if Scott and I understand her second child struggles as first born children ourselves? This should be interesting!

Dear Martha Stewart Martha Stewart might be the only celebrity I've ever worked with that made my knees shake! Her words here though make me scoff at her. There are some really talented food bloggers out there, making amazing food and changing the food scene. Don't discount them!

Salsa or ketchup? Changing demographics mean changing tastes Very interesting data in this story!

Christmas Cross Stitching! These are just the cutest!

New Study sheds light on SIDS

Christmas Knitting: A Hat in an Evening

Last night, I sat down for my usual bout of television watching with Scott. As we sat mesmerized by The Walking Dead, I knit a hat. I have a few hats that I'm making for both new baby gifts and Christmas presents. I admit that I am sometimes worried that I have bitten off more than I can handle but after last night, I'm feeling pretty confident in my knitting plans.

This is a quick and fun pattern from Purl Soho, a yarn store I dream of visiting. This pattern has a ton of sizes and allows for quick customization. I think it might be the perfect gift knitting. You can quickly whip up one of these and present the recipient with a cloud of warmth for a cold head. 

What are your quick gift knits? Are your knitting ambitions (like mine) bigger than your abilities? 

Top 10 Pregancy Must-Haves

I'm deep in the throes of pregnancy which got me thinking about things that get me through these final weeks. With my first pregnancy, I felt like I needed ALL the things but this time around, I've gone back to a few staples that got me through last time.

Without further adieu, here are my Top 10 Pregnancy Must-Haves!

1.

The Leachco Snoogle Total Body Pillow

This is my TOP pregnancy item pick. I wouldn't be able to sleep without it. My husband hates it because it takes up a lot of the bed but I love it so much that I refuse to sleep without it. My hips are no longer achy when I wake-up and it helps me sleep through the night.

2.

Soft Form Maternity Support Belt, Universal Medium

I didn't have pelvic pain the first time around but I've had a ton this time. I mentioned it to my doctor who suggested a Maternity Support Belt and this has changed my life. I can exercise again and get all my day to day things done without being in pain and I really like that. 

3.

Erin O'Brien's Prenatal Fitness Fix

Along with walking, I've done this video a few times and I love it. Exercise is so important even when I'd rather just lie on the couch and watch television. It actually gives me more energy which is something I desperately need at almost 30 weeks. 

4.

The Prenatal Yoga Deck: 50 Poses and Meditations

If you can't make it to a prenatal yoga class, this deck is awesome! 

5.

Burt's Bees The Mama Bee Collection Mama Bee Belly Butter 6.5 oz.

Full Disclosure: Belly Butter did not prevent stretch marks either time for me BUT I love how it feels and there is nothing wrong with rubbing some nice lotion on one's belly and feeling better. 

6.

Earth Mama Angel Baby Pregnancy Pampering Kit

Speaking of pampering, this kit is awesome! It's full of all the little things that make you feel good and they are all safe to use while pregnant. 

7.

Belli Complexion Protection Duo

Early pregnancy does bad things to my skin but then I'm limited to what I can use. This stuff is awesome! It clears up my face and makes my skin smooth. 

8. & 9.

Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy: From Doctors Who Are Parents, Too!

Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn (4th Edition): The Complete Guide

These two books are my pregnancy go-tos! They are concise, well-written and health oriented. I like books that aren't cutesy about pregnancy but just tell me the facts. I like the facts. 

10.

Arriva Travel-Tec- SCT Travel Legwear (Mens, Black, Large)

Compression Socks are not just for old people! They are the very best thing when pregnant. And if you have to fly somewhere, like I do soon, they are even better. They make your legs feel less tired and help keep them from swelling. 

What are your pregnancy must-haves?