Guatemalan vs. Mexican

As many of you know, my side of the family is Guatemalan. Mark's side is mostly made up of two parts, Mexican and German, mainly Mexican. I have not had any crazy cravings, but what I've mainly been craving is Mexican food, Pozole, Huevos Rancheros, Menudo.... I don't want to eat Pozole or Menudo out, I'm afraid of getting sick. You never know how folks fix their stuff. So I asked my friend, Delia to teach me how to cook Pozole. She was gracious enough to assist with this project.

The pot in the back is the "stew" about ready for the chile that is cooking in the front.

After about 5 hours I was able to enjoy my hot bowl of Pozole....ahh!

What I have been craving from the Guatemalan side are tostadas. Now they are not anything like the Mexican kind, but they hit the spot!

I guess you can consider this the "poor man's" dish :)

I'm also craving platanos (fried bananas), black beans and white rice. This kiddo is a bit picky. It likes things made fresh, nothing from the can. I make my juices, black beans and chile at home. I think she/he gets that from his/her daddy.

Yay for the 2nd Trimester!

Month 3: I have started to enjoy the pregnancy and most things are back to normal. I'm back to cooking, the nausea has stopped, my energy is back and the evenings/nights of feeling sick are pretty much over, thankfully. I do find myself getting tired faster, going to bed earlier and most days having to wear maternity clothes . I'm not taking as many naps as in month 2 but every so often I get some shut eye. All in all, I feel like my old self plus the baby bump to show off.

This month's doctor's visit was a better one. I only gained 2 pounds, which is such an improvement. I have continued my "workout" routine. Mark and I usually walk 3-4 times a week for about an hour and once a week I swim for an hour. To my surprise swimming has been something I look forward to. Let's put aside the heat; I don't feel the baby weight while in the pool and I'm able to move like I use to. It has been very satisfying for me. I swim at the local city pool. Don't get me wrong, it's not an easy time. I do feel the workout and the hunger usually comes in right after, but while I'm under water it is very freeing.

This coming week will be the beginning of month 4. Within a few weeks we will hopefully find out the sex of the baby and see how much this "little" pea-pod has grown.

As you can see I'm in "full effect."

At 15 weeks (last week)

The baby has been pretty busy. Some days I feel him/her more than others. Last Friday my back was discovered for about an hour, but usually she/he likes to hang out at my lower left abdomen. This whole experience is such a miracle!

Houston, we have movement.

On Father's day, my sister-in-law (Judy) asked me if I had started feeling the baby move. Surprised by her question, I answered, "No, it's too early to feel that. That should be in my 4th to 5th month, right?" She explained that if I lay real still I may feel bubbles or butterfly-like movements. I had not heard that nor experienced it. The next day, June 22, 2009, mid morning I was laying on my bed, faced down. I believe I was reading a magazine or something. I turned to my side and then I felt a bubble come up from below my stomach line! I immediately thought of Judy and what she had told me the day before. I had never felt that before and knew that was the first time I felt any sort of movement from the baby.

The second time I've felt movement was a week after, June 29, 2009. I was in the same position, moved the same way and then I felt a wave-like feeling occurring below my stomach line. That again was a new experience for me. This time the movement/feeling was a lot stronger and undeniable.

Since then I've felt different things. Sometimes I just feel the weight of the baby and nothing more. Other times I feel my muscles working but with a different feel to them. It's almost as if I feel the baby "working." It's actually hard to explain the feeling, but it's obvious that it's a busy time for the pea-pod.

The couch and a good night's rest.

I'd never thought that the couch would be such a comfort for me during my pregnancy. There are times at night that I wake up and just feel uncomfortable in bed. I go to the couch and fall fast asleep and I can't understand why. There are times that I don't even wake up once while sleeping on the couch. I find it strange but at the same time I'm so glad it is there.

And of course my fearless companion at the foot of the "bed."