Pregnancy: Week 15

So far everything is going well! I made it through the first trimester, and really can't complain about my pregnancy so far in comparison to many women out there. My biggest symptoms were fatigue and some stomach uneasiness (typically after eating). Even though I'm through the first trimester, some of those symptoms have been lingering through these first few weeks of the second.

We had an appointment 2 weeks ago with a doctor here. The baby is growing great! We had some beautiful views with the ultrasounds, though they didn't come out quite as nice in the pictures we took home with us. Our first view, we saw the baby with its hands by its face and then it moved them really quickly. It also turned on its back and we got a great view of the spine. We got to hear its heartbeat too. It was moving around quite a bit! We might have our hands full!! =)

Next month's appointment will be in Lima with the doctor I've chosen to deliver there. We may be able to find out the gender if little bit lays just right! =)

Sorry...no baby bump pictures yet....I'm not showing much, its pretty much only slightly noticable to Marshall and I....baby's just pushing some fat out is all! =)  We'll post some when its postable! =)

Adventures in a Jungle Kitchen

When we got married, I was working full-time (nights) at the hospital, and Marshall was working part-time for SAM. He insisted (and I was SUPER grateful) to do most of the cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc because of my work schedule. Between that and our support raising travels on the other weeks, I could probably count on 1 hand the times I got to cook for him in our first 18months of marriage. Well the times have changed. He does love to cook, so I haven't completely dominated the kitchen, but I have been doing a bit more than I used to in a US kitchen. 

Its quite easy to spend the entire day in the kitchen...between cleaning your vegetables and fruit properly, de-boning and prepping your meat and chicken from the market, and prepping most things from scratch.

Of course we've had the normal casseroles, lasagnas, spaghetti, baked chicken, grilled chicken, tacos, banana bread, brownies, and cookies, etc....those are normal to me and not worth writing home about (or blogging in this case....even if it does take longer to prep). Pinterest and friends here with a lot of experience have been quite helpful as well with some of these "from scratch" recipes. Back home, a lot of the following I'd just get at the store, but here, its not as available, and if it is, it's imported price is ridiculous, and its just better if you make if from scratch anyways....and in the end, it's probably more healthy!

Since we've been here, I've made:

- several batches of white and white/wheat bread

- pizza dough....and pizza sauce

- pickles

- pesto

- tortillas (with the help of a tortilla press)

- ricotta cheese

- (I've learned how to make mozzarella....I just don't have the ingredients here to make it)

- camucamu juice drink (Camucamu is a jungle fruit SUPER high in Vitamin C)...to me its like a slightly tart tropical punch drink

- oh and our new fun breakfast concoction.....banana bread french toast....you have to try it!! 

I've got a lot more on my mental list I want to make, but am pumped that the above turned out well and edible....they'll probably be made the most! More kitchen adventures to come! =)

Yesterday's white/wheat loaves

Marshall was super excited and proud of this pizza...insisting on a picture of me with it! =)

Indoor Baking

We got to an all new indoor record high today....98 degrees! The even more amusing bit is the weather website Marshall loves (www.wunderground.com) had posted that it was 95 degrees, but "feels like" 124 degrees! 

Yea....just a little toasty!