Baby Update

Baby measured great at my appointment today. It's amazing he's growing so well with me not gaining an ounce of weight. Don't be jealous though. I definitely have changed shape from carrying baby and also have some lovely markings to prove it. :) So much for all those cocoa-shea-whatever-butters. Lotion companies must make a killing off pregnant women!

White Chili

This has been a good fat free crock pot recipe. I even left out the onions cause of my weird diet rules, but it was still tasty.

3 15-oz. cans Great Northern beans, drained
8 oz. cooked chicken breast, shredded (I just about doubled this to make it more hearty)
1 cup chopped onions
1 1/2 cups chopped peppers (red, yellow or green)
2 garlic cloves, minced (or two spoons pre-minced jar garlic)
3 tsp. ground cummin
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
4 cups chicken broth
2 chili peppers, chopped and seeded (optional)

1. Combine all ingredients in clow cooker.
2. Cover. Cook on Low 8-10 hours or High 4-5 hours.
3. Serve over rice with shredded cheese, sour cream and tortilla chips.

Things to do at 6 AM

~ Post on your blog (then visit everyone else's)
~Try those "cook for 12 hours on low" recipes you've never had time to prepare before
~ Check over the budget from the past three months
~ Make a fattening, complicated dessert to surprise your husband with later
~ Wash and chop all vegetables in the fridge and figure out a way to use them
~ Iron

It seems this is the no-sleep phase of my pregnancy. Rather than sit in bed and be mad about it, I've been tring to do those tasks I've only been "meaning to do" for quite some time. By mid-morning, I'm fully prepared for a solid nap.

Helpmeet?

Ever feel like you can't do anything to lighten your man's load? Jarrod has so much to accomplish these days between his two jobs, full time school and a coming baby. It's amazing he's pleasant and kind as always. I could never handle what he does. It seems that all I do sometimes is feed him and send him back out again. I can't do his work or studying to help. Will it be like this 'til he graduates, retires, what? I often wonder what our life will look like in a year, after baby's born, Jarrod's near graduation, and (hopefully) we are living in Monroe. Oh wait, my new plan was to not make any plans!

Fat Free Favorite

After much trial and error, here is the best fat free brownie recipe I've tried. The sauce makes a gooey, fudgy layer on the bottom, yummy!

Heat oven to 350 degrees. In large mixing bowl combine:

1 cup flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt (optional)

Add

1/2 cup skim milk
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 tsp vanilla extract

Stir to blend. Spoon into an 8X8 inch baking pan sprayed with cooking spray.
In a medium-sized bowl, combine:

3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
3/4 to 1 3/4 cup hot water (see note)

Stir to blend and pour gently over batter in prepared pan. Bake for 40 minutes.

Note: A fudgy sauce forms on the bottom of the brownie as it bakes. The
consistency of the sauce depends on the amount of hot water you use in the
recipe. If you use the maximum amount, it's like a chocolate syrup; with the
minimum amount it's more like a pudding. I usually use about a cup of water max so it stays thick.

Apparently, a gallbladder attack can start up contractions. The reverse is not true though. Thank goodness or I'd be considering dates for a c-section. Good times, talk about a confusing rush of sensations! Attack number five came the other night along with some lovely tightening. This was my first time to feel contractions of any sort, so I wasn't sure if the event called for gallbladder pain meds or not. It did. Pain was gone after the meds wore off, so I'm good now. No more pork loin for me.

A Wedding Tomato

This is from a wedding (Will and Connie Smith's) I went to in January. I loved my maternity dress, though everyone said they had no trouble finding me in the crowd. I wore it again to a wedding last weekend and looked much more "ripe." :) It's great that BIG is cute when you're pregnant!