13 & 14 weeks

12.25.2010

Today I am 14 weeks 1 day pregnant.  I can't believe how fast the past couple of weeks have gone.  My next appointment is at 16 weeks and I can't wait for it!

13 weeks.
14 weeks.
I was 14 weeks on Christmas.  And was obviously not feeling well - I look like a train wreck!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

I love Christmas, but I always get a little sad when it's over.  My husband and I had a wonderful and relaxing Christmas day, but I cannot say the same for Christmas Eve.  Unfortunately.  I've had a head & chest cold for the past couple days, and I woke up on Christmas Eve with a 101.8 temperature, the biggest migraine of my life, nausea, the chills, and still a head & chest cold.  The migraine was so bad that I could barely open my eyes.  I spent the better part of the day laying on the couch with my eyes closed, unable to sleep because I felt so horrible.  All the while my amazing husband took on the task of running my errands for me, cleaning up around the house, making me breakfast, and rubbing vicks on my chest and feet.  He's so sweet to me!

By about 6pm, I felt worse and the fever wasn't going down which is no good for my poor baby.  So I spent about 4 hours in the ER and they gave me an IV and 3 liters of fluid to rehydrate me, as well as medicine for the nausea and for the migraine.  The only good thing that came out of that night was that we were able to hear our baby's heartbeat for the first time!  It was the most beautiful whoosh whoosh sound I've ever heard.  I could have listened to it all night.  And the heartbeat was at 170bpm!  A little fast, but only because of the dehydration and fever.  By the time I left the ER, I felt loads better.  The fever was gone, and the headache was mostly gone.  Now I'm just stuck with a nasty cold.  My poor nose has been rubbed raw from all the tissues I've gone through.  :(

Christmas Day, although still with a nasty cold, was a bit better than Christmas Eve.  We had some amazing food and my sweet husband helped me with the cooking.  My mouth is watering just thinking about the leftovers!  We watching A Christmas Story while opening gifts, and just had a relaxing day.

I was definitely spoiled this year.. I got some things that I wanted, along with some gifts that were a surprise to me and I loved them!  My husband knows what I like!

I look so cute in the mornings.  lol.  Opening my new stand-up mixer!
My husband checkin' out his new Iron Gym bar.
FOOD! 

I also received a Coach wristlet purse, a few new kitchen items that I love, some jewelry, and a few other things.  Next week we'll have Christmas with my parents over skype!  Can't wait.. I really want to see my niece open her gifts.  :o)

What did everyone get for Christmas this year?  I love hearing what others got!

Red Velvet Cookies (the easy way)!

12.08.2010

Because sometimes it's okay to do things the easy way!  Especially when you're pregnant, exhausted, and grumpy... but still want to bake something.  ;o)  And when my cousin showed me this recipe, I had to make them because I love red velvet.  And I just couldn't get these cookies out of my head.  Then when I made a quick trip to the store to grab a few things, I passed some summer sausage and sweet & hot mustard.  After seeing that, that's all I wanted and could have cared less about the cookies.  Pregnancy brain = easily distracted.  But I knew I would regret it if I didn't make these cookies.. so, here they are.


Red Velvet Cookies
recipe from here
  • 1 pouch of Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
  • 1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened 
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon red food coloring
  • 1 egg
  • Betty Crocker cream cheese frosting (or you can make your own.. even better.  I'm lazy.  I did not.)
  • Your topping of choice (chopped nuts, sprinkles, etc)

Heat oven to 375 degrees F.


In a large bowl, stir cookie mix, cocoa, butter, sour cream, food coloring, and egg until soft dough forms.  It is a very sticky dough, and I ended up using my hands to mix it.  It will get messy... and you may or may not get your hands tinted red.  If you want to use gloved to protect your hands, you can.

Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.  The dough does not spread, so I actually formed my cookies into the shape that I wanted them... flattened them out a bit.


The recipe says to bake 8-9 minutes, but I baked mine for 6 minutes and they were perfect.  Let them cool for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to let them cool completely before frosting.  After frosted, store tightly covered at room temperature.


Before baking... I pressed them into the shape I wanted them.
Cooling!
I made some with green frosting, too.. but my husband inhaled them before I could take a picture!
MMM... the husband approved!


I think they turned out well and were very delicious.  I had about 3 of them and then I let my husband take the rest to work so  the guys could have at'em.. and they ate them all!  So happy they liked them.  :)


Now.. what to make next?  Hmm.. guess you'll just have to wait and see.  :o)  Love Christmas baking!