Fresh Air

14 Weeks

Here it is, the much-anticipated three-month belly shot of the second Deterding child!

I'm planning on including Grace in these pictures as the pregnancy progresses, but this time around I had to do a self-portrait while Grace was napping. I didn't want to wait much longer, since I'll be four months along before too long. Time does fly when you're expecting...and already have another baby. I remember feeling like the weeks were draaaaaaaaagging by when we were expecting Grace. This is not the case anymore. I blinked and here I am in the second trimester! In case you need a refresher on what happens this week in utero, click on the colored letters here: week 14. It'll take you back to the post I wrote the last time I was 14 weeks pregnant! I'll be adding links like this with every pregnancy update post; for those of you who are less computer-savvy, I'll put it this way-- be on the watch for colored words to click on!

And just for fun, here's what I looked like when Grace Olivia was the size of a lemon:

'Nuff Said

Happy Valentine's Day, Dada

I love the way you come and pick me up early every morning when I wake up.

I love the way you tickle my belly with your head.

I love the way you read me stories.

I love the way you let me climb all over you.

I love slapping your forehead and pinching your nose.

I love it when you come home at the end of the day.

I love cuddling with you before bed.

I love being your Gracie-poo.

Happy Valentine's Day!!! xoxoxoxo

After the Bath

Feeling Adventurous?

Then make funnel cake for breakfast!

A couple weeks ago Steve and I hosted three of my middle-school aged cousins for a sleepover. Highlights of the sleepover included:

1. playing basketball in the next-door school's gym before dinner.

2. eating brownies, Doritos, Mountain Dews and pizza for dinner.

3. settling full stomachs with another Mountain Dew before playing some more basketball.

4. watching 5 movies while drinking more Mountain Dew and eating popcorn.

5. eating homemade funnel cake for breakfast!

I'll admit that my funnel cake experiment went very well. They're so super-easy to make and so delicious and nostalgic that I thought I'd share the recipe and the beautiful results.

Recipe

3 cups flour

1/4 cup sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

3 eggs

2 cups milk

oil heated to 350 degrees

Mix dry ingredients then whisk in the eggs and milk. Pour 1/2 cup batter through a funnel (while making circular, swilrling motions) into the hot oil. Fry for 2-3 minutes, flipping halfway through. Drain on a paper towel, coat with powdered sugar, and enjoy!

One is 12 Weeks; One is 10 Months

As of today I'm 12 weeks into my pregnancy! That was good news to hear, because that means I'll be getting some energy back soon. But then I find it hard to believe that I'm practically in the second trimester already, which means that I will be caring for TWO children before I know it. WHOA. WHOA!

Grace seems to have become more smiley recently, if that was even possible. What a little sweetheart. Her daddy taught her how to smile while scrunching up her nose and sniffing, and that is her new favorite thing to do. I'm still waiting for a discernable word (besides dada) to come out of her mouth amidst all the cute babbling she does. I do think that she says her own versions of "tickle, tickle" and "diaper", though.

Grace is an expert "cruiser" along the edge of furniture, and practically jogs rather than walks as long as someone is holding tight to BOTH of her hands. She loves to eat cheese, any kind of bread, spaghetti, fruit, and Gerber chicken sticks. Oh, and let's not forget the Cheerios.