Cravings

{Meet my new boyfriend, Mr. Canada Dry}

They say all pregnancies are different, and at first with Pie #2 I thought it wasn't different at all but now I completely agree.

This pregnancy has been more nausea, more acne, and more cravings. INTENSE cravings.

And the problem with me being pregnant, something that makes me constantly grumpy, is that I am {most days} in a state of constant hunger. But with absolutely no appetite.

Hunger pangs hit me at least every 30 minutes, no matter how much I had to eat at my last meal. Eating is usually something I enjoy very much {too much}, but when pregnant, it becomes an absolute chore. A chore that I dread. About every thirty minutes I have to stop what I'm doing {because pregnancy hunger pangs are at least 10 times more intense than they are for non-preggos, trust me} and head off to the kitchen. "Ugh, I have to eat - again!" Not only that, but I have to find something to eat that won't make me vomit, and that is not always an easy task... I'm talking to you, Cheerios.

The good news is, since I have entered into pregnancy both times now a full figured woman, that my typical cravings for things like chocolate & junk food are replaced during pregnancy with cravings for healthy stuff {mostly}.

Fruit sounds better than baked goods.

A smoothie sounds better than a milkshake.

A salad sounds WAY better than a hamburger.

This is a good problem. This is how I managed to gain only 15 lbs when I was pregnant with Eisley, and dropped a whopping 45 after giving birth {here's to hoping I can pull that miracle off again, and perhaps keep it off this time? This time, I'm prepared, having been enlightened by one Ms. Geneen Roth.}

But then there are the weird cravings. Things that make me feel freakish. My husband still teases me about my habit during gestation #1 - soaking apple slices in Fresca before eating them. {It was soooo good!}

This pregnancy has brought on a passion for Canada Dry Cranberry-Lime Sparkling Water. I'm obsessed with Panera's French onion soup, and have it about 3 times a week on average. If my mister mentions grabbing fast food for lunch I scowl at him, "That's too greasy! Yuck!" {This is something I would not say were there no baby inside of me.}

But they're not all healthy cravings. Last night, 11:45pm, we had just crawled into bed when I sat up and announced, "Ooooh, pizza by the slice sounds SOOOO good right now!" He looked at me like I was crazy, and for a moment I did sincerely feel possessed. {Wait, what did I just say? That wasn't me!}

"Totino's?" He suggested.
I looked at him as if he'd just suggested I dye my hair green, "That's disgusting."

You see, very particular, pregnancy cravings are.

Yesterday also held in store for me an intense craving for Dr. Pepper, a drink which I have always loathed my entire life. Can't stand the stuff - but knock me up and Dr. Pepper is the new man in my life.

I mused during the first pregnancy at how you feel like a totally different person when you're pregnant, and I still stand by that belief.

All that said, sorry for another boring pregnancy rant/post. But - well - it is my blog. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go find something to eat...

A Harvest Soup Kinda Day - RECIPE!

Today was cold and drizzly and foggy... it was a harvest soup day! My mom made up this recipe when we were little and it's been a family favorite ever since. It's hearty and healthy and quite delightful after a long cold day.

So when I woke up to foggy cold weather today I knew: I had to make Mom's Harvest Soup. Eisley and I made a trip to the store and spent less than $6 on the ingredients, you can't beat that! And the pot of soup will get us a few days worth of meals, so it's incredibly cost efficient.

Justin and I goofed around before dinner:

There's more embarrassing pictures that were taken with this one, but I'll spare you:

Too bad pictures can't capture all the giggles and silly voices we were doing when these pictures were taken...
While Eisley slept and slept and slept. [Note from the next day: Eisley slept and slept all evening and was up pigging out all night! She ate 4 times during the night and was full of energy - growth spurt much?]

Here's the recipe to Mom's Harvest Soup!

Ingredients:

1.5 lbs ground beef
6 cups cold water
6 beef bullion cubes
2 cups sliced carrots
1.5 cups chopped onion
1.5 cups sliced celery
3/4 cups barley
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
4-6 bay leaves (this is my favorite ingredient, don't skip it!)
28 oz can crushed tomatoes
8 oz can tomato sauce

Directions:
1. In a large pot, brown ground beef, drain, and cool for 10 mins. Add cold water and ice cubes, skim off fat.
2. Add all remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.
3. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 hour.

- Remove bay leaves before eating. Also, feel free to add more water if the soup feels too thick after simmering for a while or reheating the next day.

Enjoy!