20 Weeks

20 weeks down, 20 weeks to go - it is hard for me believe to how fast this going. Cory has his written comprehensive exam this weekend. This is the first hurdle on the way to completing his Ph.D. I am staying with my parents this weekend, so Cory can write. My mom and I are going baby shopping - way more fun than writing a paper. Prayers and good thoughts for Cory are appreciated!

Apple Cheesecake

Wednesdays at work we take turns making soup or dessert for our office lunch. Tomorrow is my turn for dessert and I made apple cheesecake. It is the perfect dessert for the beginning of my favorite season, fall.

Apple Cheesecake

Crumb Base
1 cup graham cracker crumbs, softened
½ cup finely chopped pecans
3 tablespoons white sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ cup unsalted butter, melted

Filling
2 (8 ounce) packages cream, softened
½ cup white sugar
2 eggs
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups apples -peeled, cored, thinly sliced- about 3 large apples (microwave the sliced apples for two minutes to remove moisture)
¼ cup white sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ cup chopped pecans
½ cup of caramel topping- optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, stir together the graham cracker crumbs, 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans, 3 tablespoons sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and melted butter; press into the bottom of a 9 inch springform pan. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes.

In a large bowl, combine cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar. Mix at medium speed until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Blend in vanilla; pour filling into the baked crust.

In a small bowl, stir together 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Toss the cinnamon-sugar with the apples to coat. Spoon apple mixture over cream cheese layer and sprinkle with 1/4 cup chopped pecans.

Bake at 350 in middle of oven for 60 minutes. Turn off oven and leave cheesecake in oven additional 15 minutes. With a knife, loosen cake from rim of pan. Let cool, then remove the rim of pan. Chill cake before serving.

Optional ***Drizzle warmed caramel over top of slightly cooled cheesecake.

19 Weeks

Elastic waistbands, where have you been all my life? I don't why I held out so long, but yesterday I started wearing maternity jeans and OMG so much more comfortable. I may never take these off. Starting to feel some movement, a random flutter or kick, but nothing consistent.

Matt and Dan are coming down on tonight, on Sunday the boys are going on a fishing charter for walleye. I am meeting Linda and my mom for lunch and a trip to the Quaker Arts Festival.

Doctor's appointment

Everything looks great - heartbeat in the high 140's, lots of movement, measuring exactly 18 weeks. The doctor diagnosed my rib pain as costochondritis, which is an inflammation of the cartilage where the top of your rib cage meets the breastbone. It is not serious, but as pregnancy expands your rib cage it can definitely be uncomfortable. She is a little concerned that I am experiencing this type of pain so early in my pregnancy. I have to see my general practitioner and possibly a specialist to rule out any other causes and discuss pain management options. Next appointment is Tuesday, October 5, aka the "big ultrasound", we will be finding out if Baby B is a girl or a boy.

Pictures from this weekend

More pictures here

18 Weeks

Birthdays - that pretty much sums up our weekend. Today is Cory's birthday, tomorrow is our nephew Dexter's 2nd birthday, Sunday we celebrate Anthony's 1st birthday (son of friends Rick and Erin), and Monday is Linda's birthday (Cory's mom). One weekend + 4 birthday celebrations = lots of cake eating.

I am feeling pretty good, my body is making room for the baby and my rib cage is not pleased. I have been experiencing some shooting pains in my ribs, I'm hoping this is just a phase that passes quickly. Next doctor's appointment is this Tuesday.

30

Happy 30th Birthday Cory!

Cory's Birthday Surprise
#1 Decorate Cory's office: Cory threw a monkey-wrench into my plans. He leaves for class at 3:30pm on Thursdays, leaving me ample time to decorate before his office closes at 5:00pm. Of course this week his class is canceled, I had to be at a 5:00pm meeting, so no time to decorate before Friday. Thankfully awesome friends stepped in and stayed late and to make this happen.

#2 Surprise lunch and ice cream cake. I was hoping that decorating his office would make him think all birthday surprises were done. Ice cream cake is Cory's favorite; I had it hiding in our downstairs freezer since Wednesday, hoping he wouldn't accidentally find it. I think he was pretty surprised.

Thanks!

Hey Everybody,
Thanks everybody for the decorations and the well wishes. This is a photo from my office when i came to work this morning! Thank to everybody who helped.
-Cory

Molasses Crisps

Cory's birthday is Friday, so I made his favorite cookie - molasses crisps. They taste like a gingersnap, only sweeter and moister. I never had them until we met and now they are one of my favorites as well.

Molasses Crisps Recipe:
1 1/2 cups butter
4 cups flour
4 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. ginger
2 large eggs
2 1/2 cups sugar (divided)
1/2 cup molasses

Melt butter in a large bowl in microwave. Let cool. Sift flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger together in a separate bowl. To melted, cooled butter add 2 cups of sugar, molasses, eggs and beat well. When smooth and thick, stir in flour mixture (1 cup at a time). When dough is well mixed, cover and chill for at least 2 hours (or longer).

Heat oven to 375. Roll dough into small balls (about 1 1/2 tsp for each). Roll dough balls in 1/2 cup sugar and place 2" apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, until cookies are golden brown. Let cookies cool on baking sheet for 2 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool.

17 Weeks

Happy labor day weekend, we are enjoying the long weekend with a bbq, a campfire with smores and do lots of nothing. Both of us had crazy weeks, the first few weeks of students back on campus is always hectic. Cory started classes this week; thankfully this is the last semester of classes! I am feeling really good, the heartburn of the last few weeks seems to be decreasing. Enjoy your weekend!