30 weeks

How Far Along: 30 weeks

Size of Baby: squash- baby should weigh around 3 pounds, and she should be gaining 1/2 lb per week!
Total Weight Gain: 18 pounds-- I'm supposed to be gaining 1 pound per week now...yuck!
Maternity Clothes: for sure!
Gender: baby girl! Alexandria Rae Sulak
Movement: I've had less head butting in these last two weeks..I've been introduced to the rib kicks though =/
Sleep: Haven't been sleeping as well as I used to. So sad!!
What I Miss: Sleeping on my stomach....big time
Cravings: None really- so boring!!
Symptoms: hernia pain, back pain, BHs, pressure

Best Moment this Week: Knowing that our baby girl will be here in 10 weeks! SO excited to meet her!!

Caramel Apple Layer Cake with Apple cinnamon frosting

I made these cupcakes yesterday...didn't get a picture, but they are definitely worth making!

INGREDIENTS
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour-- i just used regular pastry flour
1¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1½ tsp. baking soda
1½ tsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp. salt
1½ cups light brown sugar
¾ cup canola oil
¾ cup unsweetened applesauce
¾ cup caramel sauce (homemade or jarred)
2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 eggs
1½ cups sour cream
1 small instant pudding packet

Apple Cider Frosting:
3 sticks of butter
1/4 cup apple juice or apple cider
1 tsp cinnamon
5 cups powdered sugar
pinch of salt
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 F.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together whole wheat pastry flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Set aside. In a second large bowl, beat sugar and oil together with an electric mixer until well combined, about 30 seconds. Add applesauce, caramel and vanilla, beat for 30 seconds, then add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the buttermilk, and continuing to beat until well combined.

3. Pour batter into cupcake liners- bake for 20-25 minutes, depending on your oven.

4. For the frosting, put sugar, butter, cider, cinnamon and salt into a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.

28 weeks

How Far Along: 28 weeks

Size of Baby: eggplant- Had a sono this week, and she was weighing in at 2.4 pounds, which is the 30th percentile.
Total Weight Gain: 15 pounds
Maternity Clothes: a mix of both..mostly maternity
Gender: baby girl! Alexandria Rae Sulak
Movement: movement has changed quite a bit- less big kicks. More head butting...:(
Sleep: Love it, but switching sides has become a chore. hah
What I Miss: Sleeping on my stomach....big time
Cravings: None really- so boring!!
Symptoms: hernia pain, back pain, BHs, pressure

Best Moment this Week: Getting to see our baby girl, and knowing she is growing!!

I had an unscheduled appt this past week- do to the amt of BHs I was having- up to 5-6 an hour. AND, I was feeling a change in pressure. They did the Fetal Fibronectin test (tests to see if you're at risk for going into labor in the next 2 weeks), and it came back negative- hooray! They also did a sono to measure my cervix, since I was feeling so much pressure. Turns out all is fine, baby's head is just ON my cervix- which is naturally creating pressure.
My dr is being very precautious, because of my past medical history, and due to how hard it was to get this sweet baby. She told me no more exercising:(, and no more substituting. Basically, I can be out of the house, but not for more than 3 hours at a time. I go back in 2 weeks to repeat the Fetal Fibronectin test.

carrot cake cupcakes

These were beyond yummy...Super moist...SUPER delicious!!
Original recipe is from allrecipes.com. I changed it a little bit...

Ingredients

• 3 eggs
• 3/4 cup sour cream
  
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 cups shredded carrots
• 1 cup flaked coconut
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple with juice --blended
  
• 1 vanilla pudding packet
  

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8x12 inch pan.
2. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, combine eggs, buttermilk, oil, sugar and vanilla. Mix well. Add flour mixture and mix well.
4. In a medium bowl, combine shredded carrots, coconut, walnuts, pineapple.
5. Using a large wooden spoon or a very heavy whisk, add carrot mixture to batter and fold in well.
6. Pour into cupcake liners- Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes. Toothpick should come out clean.
   
7. Allow to cool completely before icing. -- Ice with your favorite cream cheese icing.. nom nom
   

Shower for baby Allie Rae

With Melissa
Linds, Stacy, Steph, Me, Veronica, Holly- all my Springridge buddies!

The lovely Linds:)

Me, Sara, Mom, Sally, and Jennie- they came all the way from San Antonio- Love you guys!

Wishes for Alexandria, Ray, and I- love this...it's in the nursery now:)

Precious banner- made by Melissa

Me and my beautiful mama:) Just love her...and hope to be half the mom she has been to me!

My camera died pretty early on in the shower- Thanks to Allie, Melissa, Jen, and Linds for the beautiful shower!!!

Nursery Reveal

Her crib still needs a crib skirt, and some frames need filling... but it's mostly finished. Such a happy place to be- can't wait until she is in it!!

26 weeks

How Far Along: 26 weeks

Size of Baby: eggplant
Total Weight Gain: 15 pounds
Maternity Clothes: a mix of both..mostly maternity
Gender: baby girl! Alexandria Rae Sulak
Movement: all the time...She has started thumping my cervix more- not my favorite feeling
Sleep: I Love it!!
What I Miss: Sleeping on my stomach....big time
Cravings: None really- so boring!!
Symptoms: hernia pain and my back aches sometimes..that's about it

Best Moment this Week: We finished her nursery:) pics to come!