Pumpkin overload!

I ended up with enough pumpkin to make two pies and still had some leftover!!!  My dogs will enjoy the bits of pumpkin mixed in their food over the next few days, and I really only made one pie...so what to do with the extra....I have one bag that will be destined for a Thanksgiving pie in a few weeks and I have one cup of puree that I have decided will become Pumpkin Pie Cookies

The recipe is simple!  Mix up the butter and sugar, then add the egg, pumpkin and vanilla...

Add the flour and spices and get it all mixed up and then after it's mixed, plop it on greased cookie sheets, or baking mats by the rounded table spoon and bake for 15-18 minutes

When the yummy cookies come out of the oven let them sit for 2 minutes.

Then move them to a wire rack to continue to cool!

Then you can glaze them with a little frosting drizzle!  It's part of the recipe so I guess I should do it!

Enjoy! And Happy Halloween!

Week 17!

The weeks are flying by!  And every day my little Guppy is moving more and more.  Not enough for the outside world to feel him but Mama can, especially when Dad puts his hand on my belly when I'm laying down!  This week Baby Fish is about the size of my hand at this point, and weighs over 5 ounces!  So before long anyone lucky enough to get to rub my belly may be able to feel him kick!  During this week my little one will start to develop the cute baby fat that everyone loves.

Pic from Pregnology

Continuing this week, limbs are growing longer and soon baby will be the proportions he will be at birth!  Still a while longer till we find out if Baby Fish is a boy or a girl, but we are getting closer!

Cold and rainy day, let's make pie!

It's 53° and rainy here today, perfect baking weather!  So while we were out and about today I picked up a nice sized pie pumpkin, or sugar pumpkin, so I could make some scratch pumpkin pie today!  Scratch refers to the filling, I cheated and bought a frozen crust...

Start off by cutting the pumpkin in half, removing the stem and all of the guts. I hang onto the seeds cause I love roasting them for a snack!

Then place them cut side down on a pan...

Cover with foil, and bake at 375° for an hour and a half!

While it was cooking I rinsed the pumpkin seeds...

The pumpkin is out of the oven and cooling

So I'm gonna roast the seeds while I wait for it to cool completely!  300° for 45 minutes stirring occasionally....and beg the hubbs to run to the store again, because while I was gathering the spices for the pie I realized I was OUT of Cloves AND Brown Sugar....how does this happen?!?!

It's time to scoop the flesh out of the skin and run it through a press, I have two options, a lever press or a, or a mortar and pestle type press (also known as a ricer).  Both will work, it's up to you and whatever you have on hand, and what you prefer!  You can also throw the cooked pumpkin in a food processor.  Ricing it just gives it a very smooth texture.

Then it's time to make pie!!!  I use a typical pumpkin pie recipe, like the one found on the can of Evaporated Milk....I'm sure I will "oops" the amounts of spices, cause I LOVE extra spices in my pie!!!  And I never follow a recipe exactly....

Mix it all together, pour into the pie shell...and I like to grind a bit of fresh cinnamon on top before I bake it...

Bake 425° for 15 minutes, then lower the temperature to 350° and bake for an additional 40-50 minutes.  Then it needs to cool for 2 hours, oh the torture!!  I had enough to fill the deep dish pie crust, and some for a plain bowl...which is why I love my Fiesta dishes!  I can put it directly in the oven and bake in it!!!

ENJOY!!!  We know we will!!!

Week 16!

This week I have been thinking more and more about my infertility sisters.  I know waiting sucks and being able to write this blog every week and document the changes I'm going through makes me feel so blessed yet seems so unfair, and I wish with all of my might that everyone that wants a child, and a chance at a family could have one.

Check in after my check up!

Well today was my appointment with the Doctor!   Just a standard checkup, the once a month variety.   Everything looks great!  Baby's heart rate is steady at 143, my blood pressure is normal, no proteins in my system...

The Dr. said that even though I'm in the AMA (advanced maternal age) category, everything is measuring on track and there really isn't anything to worry about.  Our next appointment is in November and we will be doing the anatomy scan and will hopefully be able to determine the gender of baby Fish!  So get your guesses in now!!!

And here are some bump pics!

front view

side view

Week 15!

My next appointment is scheduled later this week.  During that appointment, or just after we will be scheduling the big ultrasound where we will hopefully find out what we are having!!!  That is if Baby Fish will cooperate!  Some ultrasounds done this week might be able to determine the sex, but I have a feeling my Dr will want to wait till they can be sure.

This week we I found an awesome used glider, on a Facebook Swap, that goes perfectly in the nursery!  I don't need to do a thing to it! It was a fraction of the price of a new set, literally, these things go for $499 for just the glider, and tack on another $199 for the foot stool, this set only cost us $50 and the drive time to meet up and get it!

Right now Baby Fish is about 4 inches long, and I finally felt my little Guppy move this morning!!!

Photo from Pregnology

He is about the size of an apple at 2.5 ounces. And now is the time when some say you should start talking to the baby.  I know some or most of my friends and their kids won't have a problem doing that!!  As you can see by the pictures below...

My neighbor Bo asking, "Baby in there?" - Pictures by Ruth Hardin used with permission!

14 weeks down!

By now according to ANY source I'm firmly in the second trimester.  Baby fish is about the size of a peach 3-1/2 inches long and 1.5 ounces, and can do one of many facial expressions, and even suck his thumb!

Picture from BabyCenter

There is no mistaking my bump now, at least I don't think so!  Very few of my pre-pregnancy clothes fit, well the pants don't and a good portion of my shirts, some things are stretchy and long enough that I can probably wear them throughout the whole pregnancy!

Official Start to the SECOND TRIMESTER!!! Otherwise known as week 13

Wow!  I made it!  What a milestone!  The chance of loss is now greatly reduced, 3% -ish, it varies due to my age..but I have faith!  I am definitely showing now, and elastic bands are my friend.  The heartbeat is strong, and easy to find now.  If you could see my little guppie is about 3 inches long and he would look something like this...

Almost all of my symptoms have disappeared, although now I get heartburn almost every night, and pickles are my friend.  I have started having more energy during the day, which is nice.  And I'm ready for bed very early in the evening, can't sleep past 8-8:30.  It will still be a few weeks yet before my wee-one is big enough for me to feel the first flutters, at least that is what the books say.  We shall see!