Movie trailer

Does this movie look SO GREAT or is it just all my mothering hormones??

Here's the belly! It's baby space from about the belly button down. The upper part is where my organs/intestines are since they've been crowded out by womb. And my tricep is bulging with pride! (Those arm muscles were hard won over nearly 19 months of lifting ever increasing weight in the form of the most adorable little boy, currently 26 lbs (47th percentile) and quite tall (89th percentile.))

Scott's new riding spot atop the babybelly (it's okay, he's only squishing my organs and not his little brother or sister right now)

Me: I wonder what kind of baby (s)he will be. /I wonder if that bird over there is a mockingbird./I wonder if Luke should be practicing his trapeze skills up there while it's so windy.
Scott: Mine. (new favorite word)

18.5 weeks

About a week ago, I started feeling the baby move about. Last night, Luke could feel the kicks. When Scott was in my womb (in utero? which do you prefer?), we shone a flashlight at my belly and he kicked against it HARD. Toward the end, he'd kick against my waistband if I wore pants that were too tight, or against the pew if I tried to kneel at church.

Someone told me that at some point in history babies weren't considered alive until the mother felt the quickening. But that's silly, because this baby has been moving about for WEEKS and I'm just starting to feel him now because my abs aren't as tight as they were in the first pregnancy (when I felt Scott at 14 or 15 weeks). Very thin women also tend to feel movement earlier.

Now you are probably wanting to see pictures of my round, wiggling belly. Maybe I'll get Luke to snap one tonight.

5-minute cornbread

Today I have to tell you about a little microwave magic for busy folks and college students. True, oven-baked cornbread does taste a little better, but this is still pretty delicious. 2 minutes to combine your ingredients and 3 minutes in the microwave? Yes please.

From Sylvia Moestl Vasilik on Allrecipes.com

* 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
* 1/2 cup cornmeal
* 2 tablespoons white sugar
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1 egg
* 1/2 cup milk
* 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Combine all ingredients in a glass or ceramic microwave-safe dish (a small one). Microwave on high for 3 minutes. The batter will grow very tall and fluffy. Serves 6. Yay!

It reminds me of the mug cake recipe Shannon sent and Kelly made us last year:

4 tbs flour
4 tbs sugar
2 tbs cocoa
1/8 tsp. baking powder
1 egg
3 tbs milk
3 tbs oil (or butter)
3 tbs chocolate chips (optonal) - I think it taste better with them
A small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly(<-- very important!). Pour in the milk and oil (or butter) and mix well.
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 2 minutes at 1000 watts.
The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!
Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired. Serves 2.

Birthing hips

Yesterday the midwife, hearing how quickly my/Scott's labor went, complimented me on my birthing hips, which was the first time it actually sounded like a compliment. Thank you, midwife!

The first time I was told I had birthing hips, I was 14 and one of the cool triplet boys in my grade was doing the talking. I've been kind of embarrassed about them ever since. But now? It's really sinking in that they are a gift. All you lovely narrow-hipped ladies out there, enjoy fitting into the skinny jeans. As for me, I will enjoy the 4-hour labors. And salsa dancing! And occasionally being told I remind someone of Shakira, which I thing Agnes was just saying to flatter me.


Shakira - Estoy Aqui
Uploaded by regaeton38.



(Shakira must have a very good mother to let her play in the mud like that.)

ilyhb

[EDIT: just kidding, he got fired a month ago for showing up at work naked. i told him to stop, but he just yelled 'weeee' and pranced out the door. now we live under a bridge and scott dances on street corners for money]

My man got a promotion today. He is now a Software Engineer of High Regard (soft.,ehr?). (I made up that title because Mozilla is all free-form about job titles.) He's quite a guy!


I don't know if he minds me bragging on him here, but we will find out!

Happy Easter

Happy Easter from us and Scott!

Taken by "Cap" in San Antonio last week

He's getting better every year.