Baby Bump

This week will be a weird one, but I am oddly excited for it.  I guess this plays into "living in the moment" and every moment can be a date day or a special day.  Paul just left on a 6 day hunting trip with two of his buddies.  They will be in Wenatchee/Leavenworth area, lots of time without cell phone service.  He has been so excited for this hunting trip, even packing 4 days ahead of time so he would have a few days to remember if he forgot any little stuff.  His excitement makes me excited.  I am so glad we have a stable, happy relationship that allows us to be separated for 6 days, yet feel like we are falling more in love as we do it.  Guys need guy time.  And as for me? I am excited to clean the house and have it stay clean. I am excited to only have to make my lunch.  I am excited to never cook dinner (I prepped a bunch of food yesterday). I am excited to pick up extra shifts and not feel like I am missing out on time with my love.  And all my excitement stems from his, because all those little tasks, I love doing for him, but everyone loves a little break now and then! 

And now for self timer, DSLR shots. :)  

Baby seems to be moving so much more these days. My belly feels more toned as I have been working out more in this 2 weeks than the rest of the pregnancy.  Little papaya and soon to be grapefruit (then a cantaloupe at 24 weeks!) I love you so much! 

The lighting was perfect in baby's bedroom for these shots.  I often forget to use my "nice camera" as Paul and I both call it because of the convenience of our phone cameras, but I love how clear, crisp, and bright everything is with the ds

Paul had to work 11-8 yesterday and I really wanted to have breakfast sandwiches, but we didn't have english muffins.  So Paul said if I went to the store he would make breakfast.  Best deal ever.  I got myself a donut and caramel macchiato while I was there and came home for a wonderful (yet quite unhealthy) breakfast cooked by my love. 

After he went to work I laid down on the couch for what was supposed to be a few minutes.  Then Eleanor came along and convinced me to take a nap.  Two hours later I finally got my booty off the couch and did some food prep in the kitchen.  I never got hungry after that crazy big breakfast but was so glad I had made a smoothie and put it in the fridge because I know the importance of eating small healthy meals for the baby's sake.  Over the next few hours in the kitchen I cut up watermelon, peaches, papaya, grapefruit, cucumbers, and lettuce and zucchini that I made multiple salads from.  Then I made sandwiches for Sundays lunch because I knew I would want to hang out and enjoy my last few hours with Paul instead of doing stuff in the kitchen.  Then I decided I wanted to make some split pea soup for the week and realized I had no split peas, but I had red lentils so I made this recipe. I read some of the reviews before making the soup so I made a few changes.  I used 1lb 4oz of red lentils (all that I had), 2 tbsp of cumin, no cayanne (I would have used some if Paul was going to be home this week to eat it with me), no cilantro (I can tolerate it but def not my favorite flavor), and only 1/4 cup of lemon juice.  I also adjusted the chicken stock accordingly for my extra lentils. I told Paul what I made and he said "yuck", then I told him it was for dinner and he said "oh, I hope it tastes good then!).  The first words out of his mouth after his first bite were Yum!!  So I would say it was a success.  Then to top off my hours of work in the kitchen I made and froze 12 burritos that contained homemade pinto beans, taco meat, cheese, and sauteed peppers.  I love having food prepped, especially because I never know how tired I will be come the evening when dinner time and lunch packing time rolls around. Also, it is my goal to use as much food as I can from our freezers until I know if we are going to have to move for Paul's job or not.  We have quite a bit of food stocked up and I figure I will have give away what I can and throw out the rest if I don't start using it now and we end up moving!  Plus, you wouldn't believe how small our grocery bills have been these last two months!  

Oh and that random picture of Eleanor glaring?  Paul and I were laying on the couch (hours before he had to leave) and the baby was bumping around like crazy so he had his hand on my belly to feel little one.  Then Eleanor jumps on my belly and crawls under his arm to lay on his chest.  I started laughing at her and she stared at me all creepy like while I was taking pictures. 

I just hung the ultrasound pictures in the nursery with some of the awesome ribbon Becca sent me for my birthday and some mini clothes pins.  I love how it turned out!  Oh, and Eric follows me EVERYWHERE these days.  Don't know what he is going to do when there is a baby in that crib! 

That's all for now! I pray you ladies are having a blessed week.