Birthday and Pinterest

I used my mother's pinterest page to get inspiration for her birthday. I knew she already liked those things since she pinned them in the first place! First I decided to make her a homemade gift since she can be kinda hard for me to shop for. This site was my inspiration. Here are some pics of the finished project.

I'm not normally a crafty person but I really enjoyed making these. (which is good since I have to make these for all the grandbabies now!!) It can be hard to remember my own child's birth stats so it'll be nice to know all the babies stats. There are a few flaws but I had some difficulties with printing and font and by the time I figured everything out it was the day before her birthday. I'm overall pretty happy with them.

Next pinterest project was coconut creme pie. It's her favorite dessert but I wanted to do something different since it always seems to be runny and I didn't really want to heat up the house using the oven to cook the meringue. This recipe was my alternative.

Lawry's Coconut Banana Cream Pie

Active Work Time: 20 minutes * Total Preparation Time: 30 minutes plus 2 hours chilling

COCONUT PIE SHELL

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, plus more for pie plate

3 cups sweetened flake coconut

Lightly butter a 9-inch pie plate and set aside.

Melt the 1/2 cup butter in a large skillet over medium heat and brown the coconut flakes, stirring constantly, about 5 minutes. They should be golden brown. Press the coconut firmly and evenly in the pan to form a shell. Chill the crust 30 minutes before filling.

PIE FILLING

4 egg yolks

3/4 cup sugar, divided

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup flour

3 cups half-and-half, divided

Yellow food coloring

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 bananas

1 cup whipping cream

1 tablespoon powdered sugar

Combine the egg yolks, 1/4 cup of the sugar, the cornstarch, salt and flour in a small bowl. Gradually add 1 cup of the half-and-half.

Combine the remaining 2 cups half-and-half and 1/2 cup of the sugar in a 3-quart saucepan and bring just to boil over medium heat. Add the egg mixture and cook and stir until the mixture returns to a boil and thickens, about 1 minute.

Remove from the heat. Stir in 2 drops of food coloring and the vanilla. Cover the surface with plastic wrap to prevent a skin from forming. Let cool.

Slice the bananas into the pie shell. Pour the filling into the shell.

Whip the cream with the powdered sugar until stiff. Spoon in dollops or pipe with a pastry bag around the edge of the pie. Chill 2 hours before slicing.

Mine was still a little runny (I suppose I can't make a perfect pie) but it was SO delicious. I love that coconut crust. I want to use it for every pie! I was going to include the nutrition info but do you really wanna know that it's over 500 calories a slice? I didn't!

Overall I really enjoyed having some projects since I don't like to spend money on things just for the fun of it.  It was  nice to have a reason to try some new things.

Cute Mae Pic Overload

How can she be so big!? Mae loves to sleep with her head on her pillow and with her princess blanket. She looks so grown up.

 Snack time!

 Attempting to pour her cereal on the table.

 The day she discovered mud.

 She was covered!

 "Why, baby, do you have to smear mud all over your legs?"

 Mae's hair all brushed out. It's so long!

17 weeks

2 weeks from today we find out if we're having a boy or girl! So excited!

Good news! My morning sickness or maybe should I call it the occasional pukes seems to be dissipating. I'm very happy about that. I do feel like I just jinxed myself though.

I have been feeling the little one kick since 8/21 which was last Tuesday. I feel this baby so much sooner than I did with Mae. This is probably my absolute favorite part of pregnancy. I remember missing feeling her kick right after she was born. It's just so miraculous! I'm excited for those big sweeping movements that I could just watch forever. Remind me how much I love it when in 10 weeks I'll be waking up at 3am for a in-womb kung fu class the baby will appear to be doing.

Mae likes to run up and slap my stomach really hard (which results in a "No, Mae, be nice!") so I'm not sure she's a big fan of the baby yet.

No other big news. I feel great and the baby seems to be doing great. I'm excited to have a newborn to hold this winter. (although even if I wasn't having a baby I'd have about 4 other newborns to hold since a lot of our friends are pregnant and due within 2 or 3 months of each other )

Here is me yesterday at 17 weeks. I'm LOVING these cool mornings. They seriously put me in an amazing mood instantly. This picture was taken right before going to starbucks and getting a caramel apple cider!! YUM

Mae wanted in on the photo action

15 Weeks Pregnant

As the title implies, I am 15 weeks pregnant. So far it's been another smooth, easy pregnancy. The one major difference that I've been experiencing the last week or so is pregnancy related vomiting. haha I never threw up once with Mae and with this baby I have half a dozen times. I'm not complaining because I know so many who deal with this much worse than I. I think it's strange that I started getting sick at 14 weeks, that I'm never nauseous, and that it's only around 9am. haha My body is strange I guess. Maybe 22 is just to old to have another baby. JUST KIDDING!

Today I had an appointment and I hate waiting 30 min for a 90 meeting with the doctor. I mean they're making like $175 for those 90 seconds so I should at least be in and out on time. Rant over... It didn't matter much since Shawn was with me and Mae was in the good hands of Aunt Emily. Baby's heart beat is good. I still have only gained maybe a pound. I eat so much and my clothes are very tight so I don't know how this is possible but I'm just going to pop open a sugary sprite and not complain!

September 10th is my gender ultrasound!!!! Well I guess they're also gonna check out the rest of the baby but I just wanna see one part. haha Just kidding, I'm excited so see our sweet little one! I think we have a name for a boy or girl and I'll reveal when we're 100%.

 Here I am at 14 weeks right before going to Ben's 1st Birthday Party!

 Daddy and Mae having a tea Party!