26 weeks

I've worn red white and blue more than once this week, but this weather's gotten me all happy inside and wishing it were July- where every day is a sunny day!

I forgot I had the sunglasses on when I had Brandon snap this picture quick (he disagrees with me when I say 'quick' for a picture) :)
We were just about to head out to the backyard to soak in the rays and eat some lunch. Hello 80 degrees!!

How far along? 26 weeks

Total weight gain: 24 pounds

Maternity clothes? bottoms- yes. tops- no. but tops that are longer and stretchy of course :) I just went and bought myself a pair of maternity shorts now that it has been so warm outside. In the hot afternoon I've just been dying wearing jeans.

Stretch marks? nothing new here. so far! fingers crossed new ones won't come. but then again if they do, then they do.

Sleep: love it!

Best moment this week: my mama was here visiting so we had a fun few days spent with her :)

Worst moment this week: saying goodbye when my mom had to leave. the pregnancy hormones really do not help, but I'm generally a big teary mess at the airport!
Current symptoms: umm... I can't think of much. at least not much that I would consider much of a 'symptom'. I've noticed I'm a little congested again, but that's no fuss. my feet do get tired by the end of the day for sure! withe these nice days, we've been out doing more so I'm on my feet nearly the entire day.
Miss anything? right now, nope!

Movement: oh yes! I love how movements keep getting stronger. I sometimes wish I could peek into my belly to see him when he's moving around.

Food cravings: well... do I call it cravings or more 'I'm pregnant so I give myself a little more room for splurging' :) those macadamia clusters from costco... let's say I should not have bought them!

Looking forward to: I have a midwife checkup on Monday, so I'm certainly looking forward to that and hearing little baby's heartbeat!

These baby cousins don't know how great they're going to have it.

Growing up only 2 months apart!

xoxo

-Brittney

follow along on instagram @brittneyhjelseth

OUR TABLE || banana bread

banana bread. everyone has made it right?! well I hadn't e v e r made a loaf until just recently!

being that I am not a lover of bananas anyway, bread made with bananas certainly didn't sound like something I would ever want to make. so needless to say (since Brandon loves bananas), if they don't get eaten quick enough- they're an unappetizing brown color, and over time in our household many bananas have gone in the trash! 

but that all has changed now :)

there were a few brown bananas sitting on our counter a few weeks ago, so I decided to give it a whirl. and if I ended up not liking it, Brandon and Harper could enjoy all the bread they wanted!

while I was looking through recipes, I ran across one with a picture that showed an icing over the bread.

I was sold.

I settled on this recipe and followed it. for the most part :)

I have a delicious family zucchini recipe that I've made hundreds of times so decided to combine the two recipes a little.

bread ingredients:

5-6 ripe bananas

2/3 cup melted butter

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 tsp vanilla

2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp allspice

3 cups flour

icing ingredients:

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

3 tbsp milk

1 tsp vanilla

-preheat oven to 350 degrees

-peel and mash bananas. (I put them into the food processor- much quicker!)

-add all (bread) ingredients, except flour until well combined

-slowly add flour

-pour evenly into two 4x8 loaf pans

-bake for 1 hour

-while bread is baking, combine all icing ingredients. pour over bread once it is finished baking.

in some ways almost look forward to when the bananas turn brown now :) and if it's only one or two, I'll throw them in the freezer until I have enough to make bread.

Happy hump day! enjoy!

Xoxo

-Brittney

25 weeks

every week I say this to myself, but how, how, how!?? another week down and they are just flying by lately!

one evening this week, I found myself getting a little emotional about pregnancy ending (I mean I still have a few months, but still. I'm closer to the end, than to the beginning). I told Brandon, "I'm so sad that the pregnancy is almost over.. I just love this part.."

he thinks I'm crazy. and so does my sis-in-law when I told her.

but second trimester is bliss! and how I just love carrying my babies.

How far along? 25 weeks
Total weight gain: 21 pounds. it's shocking really! b u t  my midwife did tell me at my last appointment that these few weeks I may really notice some weight gain since it's the time that my body is working on doubling it's blood volume. and boy was she right!

Maternity clothes? no change here from last week. mainly just pants. but since we've been having such nice days I really need to get myself some maternity shorts! I don't want to be trapped to jeans when it's 70 degrees outside! but watch, the day I buy some, we'll lose this weather and be back to 50s and rain ;)

Stretch marks? still no new ones!

Best moment this week: definitely this great weather we've been having and all of the outside time we've gotten! soaking it up while it's here! zoo. park. walks. sidewalk chalk.

Worst moment this week: well... waiting for baby's crib and dresser to come.. since we've decided and now know what it will be, I just want it now! but the countdown continues... three weeks and it will should arrive... I need to work on my patience on this matter
Current symptoms: really feeling good! I can tell that the tiredness that I have been experiencing is starting to wear off and naps during the day aren't as mandatory ;) but this sunshine could be part of it too! and I figured out that the nausea I was having in the night was caused by my vitamins. I've always taken them right before bed with a snack, but for some reason they aren't settling well now. I'm taking them earlier in the day now, and the problem has been solved!
Miss anything? right now, nope!

Movement: yep! all throughout the day! and especially in the evenings

Food cravings: nothing new.

Wedding rings on or off? on. but then again, I never take my rings off anyways, so maybe they're just stuck on :) I haven't checked

Happy or moody most of the time: happy :) helps that I'm feeling well!
Looking forward to: my mama is coming to visit from Idaho for a long weekend (gets in today!). I am so excited to spend some time with her. a fun few days ahead for us!

Xoxo

-Brittney