Bump Pics & Transitioning Home...

Well folks, I'm settling back into life here in Missouri... it's been an interesting transition so far! Don't get me wrong... I'm so very happy to be HOME! Home is just a little different than where I've been living for the last 2 years. The fact that I have to drive a pretty little distance to Starbucks, a trip to get any organic grocery store involves crossing the state line, and my parents called six cars at a four way stop on a country road, "traffic"... different. Staying with your parents after having run your own household for the last 2 years and the weather going from 90 degrees and 100% humidity last Saturday to 50 degrees this Saturday... different. It's just been a lot of change for this little Mama and at 33 weeks, change is very hard. I honestly believe that "home" is where ever I am with Bri. Cheesy, but true. When he gets here and we we're cuddled up on our couch... I'll feel "home" again.

I know life's new "normal" is going to continue to look differnt for a while especially in 7 weeks when our baby girl arrives! At least Lovebug will have a nursery! (I'm jumping up and down with excitement at the thought of this) I signed a lease on an apartment this week and my wonderful hubby will be here in 7 days with all of our stuff to move in and get settled! We'll be house hunting eventually, but we figure... baby steps is best right now. We just need to breathe for a bit.

I've just been trying to keep myself busy while Bri finishes up things in San Diego. Three weeks apart and and I miss him soo much... I'll be so relieved when he gets here! Then we'll be putting together all the pieces of the nursery! I can NOT wait to post pictures!

Until then... here's the Bump Update!

A Bittersweet Farewell to SoCal...

This little Mama is currently sitting in Missouri writing this post. Surprised? I'm still a little shocked myself. It seems insane--all of what has happened during these last few months.... I know I've been vague with ya'll, but I just wasn't sure where to start!

Brian carrying me over the threashold in our first apartment in SD



Last December we were just planning our usual Christmas visit home... but when we got there, we heard about a possible opening for a virtual position within his company. When we found about about Baby Lovebug, we were perfectly content to be in SoCal, but the farther along I got... the more I wanted to be surrounded by family! So Bri quickly put in for the position when we got back to San Diego in January and then the waiting and praying began... I was getting more and more pregnant and time was flying by!

La Jolla Cove... one of my favorite spots in San Diego

Finally in March, we heard that they had filled that position, but that there was another, better position opening. I was disappointed, but trying very hard to remain optimistic. He applied for that position and within a few weeks had an interview. Then... MORE waiting!

At the beach with my Love!

After another few weeks, as I was hitting my 31st week of pregnancy... and feeling like a ticking time bomb, we got good news! He got the new position! I already had a one way ticket home, mostly on faith. Bri was very certain that this would work out, and that we'd be home before Lovebug's arrival. So we'd been packing up all the breakables, and saying our goodbyes to friends. Another one-way ticket back to San Diego could always be bought. So the DAY BEFORE my flight, we were out to dinner celebrating the new job, and saying goodbye to each other for a few weeks until he can drive cross country with all of our stuff!

Sunset over Torrey Pines Beach!

So there you have it ya'll. We've got 9 weeks left till Lovebug's arrival and I'm now searching for apartments here in Missouri! I'm spending lots of time with my family and friends, trying to process the fact that I'm not going back to Cali, and missing my Hubby dearly! It's a bit of an emotional roller coaster, but I thank God for the blessing to be here with family when our little one arrives and soon we'll be looking for a house and settling in as a Midwest family of three!



Our "family" in San Diego... such sweet friends that we'll miss dearly!

So if you could offer up a little prayer to get this pregnant lady's husband home soon, and for peace of mind and calmness while we get settled in during these last weeks of pregnancy!

Enjoying a romantic walk along the cove!

I'll keep you folks updated!

A Delicious Spring Recipe!

Need an amazing dessert recipe for a Spring get together? This recipe is so delicious. A classic taken to a whole different level thanks to the lovely Pioneer Woman! I whipped it up for our Easter brunch and then quickly gobbled up the left overs! Here's what you need...

Carrot Cake

with Pecan Cream Cheese Icing!            Ree Drummond via Sigrid 

For the Cake:

2 cups sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs
2 cups flour
Pinch of salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
2 cups grated carrots

For the Icing:
Stick of butter (at room temp)

1 8oz package of cream cheese (at room temp)

1 lb powdered sugar

2 tsp vanilla

1 cup pecans (chopped)

First you'll wanna preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Then grab your box grater and GRATE THOSE CARROTS!

Now grab your mixer and beat the sugar, oil & eggs together.

In a seperate bowl, whisk together your flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda & cinnamon. Slowly add the the mixer. 

Add carrots & mix it well!

Pour into a greased & floured bundt pan... because it looks so pretty that way! (PW made hers a sheet cake) and bake for 45-50 minutes!

Meanwhile... beat the butter & cream cheese until smooth. Slowly add the powdered sugar and the vanilla. Stir in the pecans. Try not to eat the entire bowl with a spoon while the cake is baking!

Cool completely in the bundt pan before turning out. Then grab your icing and pour/spread it all over that cake!

Enjoy!

Bump Pics & an Update!

30 WEEKS! That's how far along I am! I can NOT believe how fast time is flying! Although our future whereabouts are still in a bit of limbo... this girl is heading home to Missouri to spend some MUCH needed time with family & friends to celebrate Lovebug & get all excited about her quickly approaching due date! I can't wait to blog all about the amazing shower that Case & Nae are working on!

I had a wonderful time with two hilarious ladies this week who flew out to enjoy San Diego with me! It was a lovely distraction from the fact that I'd soon be leaving without any real news about Bri's job situation. I loved eating ice cream almost every night & all the girl-talk. FYI... going to the beach while pregnant = feeling like a beached whale.

So far, I'm still feeling pretty good... I've had some swelling issues when the weather gets hot, or I spend too much time on my feet, but that's to be expected. Sleeping is a sad situation. I either get up to pee ten times a night or I can't get comfortable, or I'm wide awake at ungodly hours. Oh well... preparation for long nights with a newborn! One thing's for sure, Lovebug is one active little baby! She particularly likes to have dance parties at night, which keeps Bri & I entertained!

I'll try to blog as much as possible during all the craziness, but for now...here's the latest bump pics!

Happy Monday!

Whatcha Got Wednesday #16... Oh Goodness!

Sweets, Sweets and more Sweets... that's what this pregnant lady is craving! I've been bookmarking ridiculous recipes all over the blogosphere this past week and instead of baking EVERY SINGLE ONE, and gaining an ungodly amount of pregnancy weight (although I'm sure Lovebug would enjoy it), I'm going to share them all with YOU! Try not to drool too much!

Salted Carmel Cupcakes @ Joy's Hope

Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies @ My Sweet Savanah

 Cake Cookies with Sprinkles @ V and Co

 Cookie Dough Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies @ Lovin' From the Oven

 Cinnamon Bubble Buns @ Sprinkled with Flour

Maple Pecan Bars @ City Baked

Cookie Dough Stuffed Cupcakes @ The Girl who Ate Everything

 Triple Layer Cookies and Cream Crunch Bars @ How Sweet It Is

Happy Wednesday!

A Sweet Toy for our Baby Girl!

Remember a while back when I said that I wanted to make THIS adorable pattern for Lovebug? Well I'm FINALLY finished! Let me tell y'all now... it's not an easy pattern, but I think the result was worth all the hard work! Here's what you need...

I used more of the Wee Woodland fabric by Moda, since I wanted it to match the nursery. You just need the pattern, 5 colors of fabric, muslin, heavy weight interfacing, thread, poly-fil (not pictured,) and a chopstick for stuffing.

The only advice I have for completing this project is to take it SLOW & follow the pattern exactly. You might wanna brush up on your hand stitching skills too! I ended up doing a few steps each night and taking my time with all the hand stitching. I really love how it turned out!

I'm so excited to see it in the nursery! I'm sure it will just be a decoration for quite a while, but it's still fun to handmake things for our little Lovebug!

Have a great weekend!







P.S. I'm linking up to the parties on my sidebar!

A Favorite Family Recipe... Two Ways!

Mmm Mm do I love my Great Grandma Hale's Banana Bread! This is one of the very first recipes I learned how to bake with my Mama, and I've been using up brown bananas to whip some up ever since! I've been keeping plenty of fresh fruit in the house for me to snack on when I've go the pregnancy munchies... but the fact that the last 2 bananas always brown too fast... that means I've been baking wayyy to much. I made this recipe 2 ways in the last few weeks. Let me know which way y'all like it best!

The Cast...

Banana Bread                                                                          Great Grandma Hale
2 ripe bananas
2 eggs
1 stick butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 heaping tsp baking soda

This is seriously simple folks. First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grab a large bowl (or your handy mixer) and add the bananas, butter, sugar and eggs. Beat until well mixed. Then add the flour, baking powder & baking soda. Beat again for a few minutes. Butter & flour two small bread pans and pour the batter evenly into them. Bake for 25-35 minutes depending on your oven. They're done when they spring back a bit when touched.

Here's the secret... take them straight out of the pans and wrap them up in plastic wrap. It keeps the bread nice and moist! You should also spread each slice with some butter... it's goooood.

Well we couldn't run poor Grandma's Banana Bread into the ground could we? (Not that it's really possible to do that.) But being me, I decided to change it up a bit...

Banana Nut Muffins
ADD:
1 cup chopped pecans (YUM!)
1 tsp cinnamon

Pour batter into 24 muffins cups and bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Enjoy!