Vacation, cooking, and bump!

We just got back from a very relaxing trip to Arkansas with my parents and brother! They rented a house on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs...the lake was so beautiful! The first day we went to Lake Quachita and had a picnic lunch and went for a swim. (Let me just say...Hot Springs National Park is not at all what you would think. It consists of two roads in town, one leading to a lookout tower and one leading up a hill.) Luckily, Lake Quachita's park was much more like a national park!

The second day we went shopping and looked around town. On the third day mom and I went to one the of bath houses. She had a mineral bath and I had a wonderful facial!

 The vacation was just what we needed. Every morning I would wake up around 7am-to a very hungry baby- and sit and read on the deck overlooking the lake until someone else woke up. The boys (dad, brandon, and nate) were lazy on the trip- we had to drag them out of bed every morning!!

Yesterday was Brandon's first day at work and my first official day as a stay at home "mom"! Although I have been done working for two weeks now, we have been moving and on vacation so the reality of my new life hadn't really sat in. Let me just say how excited I am to be able to have a clean apartment and supper made so that when B gets home we can spend time together. Luckily, he gets a 3 hr lunch break and we live 2 miles away from the practice so we get lunch together everyday! I have always known that I wanted to be a stay at home mom, I just never knew if it was a realistic dream. Not only do I get to be a SAHM, I also get plenty of time to rest, relax, and focus on staying healthy during the last half of my pregnancy. I think that people forget how important rest is during pregnancy. Of course your baby is going to be fine! It gets first dibs on everything you eat, drink, and all your energy, but have you ever thought about the stress that puts on your body on top of a crazy schedule?? Your body could become malnourished and not to mention how exhausting it can be. I know all this rest is not an option for everyone, but I thank Brandon and the Lord everyday for this opportunity!

The first thing I did yesterday was to find a recipe for peach cobbler. The only thing I have craved during my pregnancy are peaches. It was so bad that I would eat them out of a CAN- no syrup-just juice! On our vacation we found some fresh peaches and I was in heaven. I have been telling B that I cannot wait for Fredericksburg peaches to be in season because we will have to make a pilgrimage to get some. To my surprise, as we were shopping at Market Street on Sunday, I spotted a sign that said, " Texas Grown Fredericksburg Peaches." I was beyond excited! The first day I ate 4 and decided I had to go back and get some more for a cobbler.

This is the first time I have really baked since culinary school...5 years ago! I just haven't had to space!! I am loving my new spacious kitchen!!

I haven't ever been a huge fan of cobbler... I have always thought it had too much fruit and not enough crust.  I solved the problem and doubled the dough! It was wonderful, even though I only had a few bites. For some reason if I spend 4 hrs making something it take a day or so for it to be appetizing. Brandon was so excited when he walked in the door and was greeted by the smell of cobbler and yummy chicken tortilla soup!

19 week bump!

I am loving being pregnant! Once I got past the first trimester I was so happy! Brandon was such a trooper throughout my first few months. He would cook, clean, and accompany me to the restroom, hold my hand, give me tissue and a rag and help me off the floor! I know this might seem a bit ridiculous to some, but I HATE to throw up more than anything. It had been about 6 years since I was last sick, which was then accompanied by my wonderful mother doing the same thing. I am so happy to be past all that!  (I actually told B that I wanted to marry my second trimester).  Sometimes I wish I could just stay the way I am, because I am sure at some point it will get uncomfortable...but for now I am loving every minute of it! I love the way I feel and the transformation of my body it so amazing. This morning I officially felt little cashew kick! I was laying in bed and woke up @ 6 to a hungry baby. I knew B would be up @ 7 so I was going to go back to sleep and wait another hr. I had my had on my stomach and I felt two kicks...unfortunately Cashew stopped before B got to feel, but I sure he will very soon!