I'll Try to Make It Up to You

Bad blogger. I've been awful. Although I know yall don't wake up every morning thinking, "did she post did she post" I do like my little corner of the internet and appreciate the community here.

Thus, I feel remiss.


{it's snowy and this is what we're doing tonight}

But you see, this has been pretty much the only thing on my mind recently:



{look at his/her foot kicking! future soccer player like their old man}

Yep. We're having a baby. A little Jerkins. We are so humbled & thrilled!

And boy howdy, has it made me feel sick. The morning-that-really-lasts-all-day sickness otherwise known as constant nausea, actual throwing up, and fatigue different from any other I've known.

{Hence the radio silence on ye ole blog. I've been thankful for the sickness as it's a reminder things are going well in there, but sheesh I have felt awful.}

While I have had very few cravings, the story of the day has been more in the food aversion variety.

The thought of going to the grocery store? Gross. Going to a grocery store that is next door to a Pei Wei (ie, my regular Kroger)? Unimaginable.

I'll cook something that sounds so good, really enjoy eating it, but once I put the leftovers in the fridge cringe at the thought of having to deal with them again. {This even happened with the blessed hummus.} Weird.

One thing I have really wanted a couple of times:



You'll notice that this is a photo of an almost-empty bag.

Quick shout-out: I am so lucky that my sister lives about two streets away from my office.

At least once a week (or more), I will go take a nap during my lunch break, lay on the couch, or she will feed me lunch (or buy me Sour Patch Watermelons!). Thank you, Marthie. Your geography and hospitality have been indispensable to me + Baby J.


Another food item/recipe that hasn't grossed me out at all thus far (I've probably eaten it four times at least over the past couple of months):

Laura's Crock Pot Lasagna, via Martha

Behold the-worst-photo-ever-that-accomplishes-nothing-and-you'd-be-better-off-using-your-imagination:



Jonny likes it because there are no crunchy corners like the baked kind has (I kinda like those, but whatev).

Slow-Cooker/Crock Pot Lasagna
(thanks Laura & Marth, it's been a lifesaver!)

1 lb ground turkey (or ground beef, whatever your preference)
2 (29-oz.) cans tomato sauce (or already made spaghetti sauce)
8-oz. package lasagna noodles, uncooked
4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1-1/2 cups cottage cheese
1/2 diced onion
3-5 cloves garlic (i do 4)
1/2 tsp Oregano
1/2 tsp Basil

* Spray the interior of the cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
* In a large nonstick skillet, brown the ground beef (or turkey). Stir in the tomato sauce (and onion, garlic, oregano and basil) and stir well.
* Spread 1/4 of the meat sauce on the bottom of the slow cooker. Arrange one-third of the uncooked noodles over the sauce, breaking them up as necessary to fit better.
* Combine the cheeses in a bowl. Spoon 1/3 of the cheese mixture over the noodles.
* Repeat these layers twice more; top with remaining meat sauce; cook on low for 4 hours. Serves 6 - 8.

Yum!


Oh, p.s. For those readers who have been around this blog a while, you'll know that I absolutely hate summer and hot weather. When's the due date, you may ask? August 13. Joke's on me!!!

p.p.s. That will probably be the only ultrasound photo you will see. (I just couldn't resist it with the little foot and plus, I have nothing else to show you yet.)