Crack Pie

What...you think it's odd to come to a blog about pregnancy and babies and you see a title of a post with the word "crack" in it? Not in my world.

You see, this pie is absolutely like crack. OMG. It is the most amazing thing I've had in the last 8 months. It's every bit as terrible for you as the title eludes. In fact, I've never felt so guilty even just buying the ingredients. It is made of everything you shouldn't be eating. But let me tell you, it is so worth it in the end! It could also be made to be lighter. But I was making it for Emily's Memorial Day weekend BBQ and since I can't drink, this is going to be my guilty pleasure. So for this version, it is 100% fat.

I also have to note that I had this pie for the first time at Laura's house, back when I was around 16 weeks. Laura passed on the recipe to me, but I haven't made it since. I remembered it around Thursday of last week and I am not kidding when I say I've been thinking about and dreaming of it since then. It is a pregnant ladies' heaven. I knew I couldn't be trusted to have so much amazingness sitting in my freezer for more than a day as it would have magically disappeared. Right into my belly.

So my friends, here it is! I even took some pictures along the way to test out my foodie pic taking abilities. I'm still an amateur. Also, as a note, I made mine in a baking pan. The original recipe is designed to be made into 2 pies. Here we go.

Ingredients:
-2 packaged Oreo pie crusts. (I couldn't find these, so I bought Oreos and put them in the food processor. Even fatter=even better).
-1 8oz package of cream cheese
-1-1/2 cups of confectioners sugar
-1 cup of peanut butter
-1 cup of milk
-1 16oz package of cool whip (unthawed)

If you didn't buy the prepackaged crusts, process a handful of Oreos until crumb consistency. Pour the crumbs into the pan of your choosing and pack down. Or just pull out your pre-made crusts.

In a mixer, combine the powdered sugar and cream cheese. Beat until smooth. 

Next, pour in milk and peanut butter. It will be runny at first. Mix until combined and smooth. 

Then gently fold in the whipped cream into the mixture until combined. You don't have to use the whole tub if you don't want to. I did. 

Meanwhile, in your food processor, chop a handful of Reese's peanut butter cups. I chose to use the dark chocolate ones. Because they're healthier. Riiiiiight. 

Pour the mixture from your mixing bowl over the crust. Smooth over with a spatula. Then top with chopped Reese's and drizzle with fudge. Cover and place in freezer overnight. 

There you have it, crack in a pan! Enjoy every last sinful bite. I promise, you won't regret it. 

Finally, a HUGE thank you to all of the men and women who have fought for our country, especially my brother, Christopher Johnson. Without your sacrifices, we would not be able to live freely as we do. I love you, brother and am so very proud of you!!

Wide Load...

A and I had our monthly checkup at the doctor today. I always love these visits for the opportunity to hear little Baby B's heartbeat. I also love getting the chance to check in with our awesome doctor and ask every question under the sun. In my first trimester, I lost weight. While I'd love to say it was because of all the healthy eating and yoga I was doing, it was largely because of the absence of wine in my life. But either way, I was happy to be losing and not gaining.

Then came the second trimester. As of the last appointment, I had gained back to my original weight before pregnancy. Great! I thought. I'm going to totally be one of those skinny ladies who hardly even  look pregnant. Better yet, I clearly won't even have to watch what I eat! This is fun!

Then came the cravings. And thanks to this blog, many loving people in my life wanted to cater to my gummy craving needs and before I knew it I had a kitchen stocked full of Starbursts and Sour Patch Kids. Then came the "I'm pregnant.... if there was ever a time to eat what I want, its now!" thoughts. So eat I did. Everything in sight. Pssshhh...I'm pregnant. Pants aren't supposed to zip!

Today at the doctor, I was expecting a gain. I mean, I'm pregnant, duh. I'm supposed to gain weight. Unfortunately, I blew past my old weight and began entering into freshman year of college territory within one month. You know its not a good thing when the doctor raises her eyebrows and says, "11 pounds since last visit? Yeah, we might want to start watching that."

To which I scoffed, "Well, what am I supposed to gain??" The answer was terrifying. Half a pound per week. Meaning, I should have only gained 2 pounds in the last month. Yep, there it is.

Any of you who know me well enough or have known me for years know about my experience freshman year in college. I went in skinny as a pole and I left large and in charge, unaware of my 30 pound weight gain. I ate, drank, ate, and drank some more. Funny thing was, despite going up a few sizes, I never noticed how big I had gotten until I came home and my lovely little sister said, "Oh my god!! You got FAT!" Since I love nothing more than making fun of myself, I'm even providing proof from that year. Fortunately, I was back to my fighting weight by the start of sophomore year, thanks to not having whole pizzas delivered to me nightly.

Can you tell which one is me? Apparently the weight gain scared my eyebrows away. 

I tell that story because I'm clearly good at gaining weight and eating lots of food--and not recognizing the effects. Today's visit was a good slap in the face to make me realize I need to watch what I'm taking in, as it all has to come off again in a few months....and I'm definitely not 19 years old anymore. So while I'd love to use Baby B as an opportunity to eat everything bad in sight, its time to get myself back onto the healthy bandwagon I rode into this pregnancy on.

Gummies Galore

Cravings. They're finally starting....A is SO excited!! The day has come!! Time for him to swoop into action catering to my every craving need.

To start, its only been gummies. For a while, I didn't classify them as a "craving" necessarily...more like they just kept sounding good. That was, until, I went to Trader Joe's over xmas with my mother in law to pick up a few last minute items for a Christmas party. I got my items, checked out, paid and then we walked over to wait for A to drive around with the car.

That was when it hit me. "NOOOO!! I forgot the Gummy Tummies!!" I dropped my bags and ran like a mad woman through TJ's having no qualms about asking a grown man TJ worker where the Gummy Tummies were. He calmly led me to them (not fast enough for my liking). I grabbed a bag paid for them and ripped into them before I was out the door. Now THAT is unlike me. I don't like sweets. I'm much more of a salt fiend. If I had done that with a bag of Doritos, I would have thought nothing of it.

Then, I get home to Saginaw only to receive a box of Sour Patch Kids from my dad as kind of an afterthought, stocking stuffer gift. The whole box was gone in a matter of minutes. That is when I had the craving epiphany. IT'S GUMMIES!!

Anyways, guess what has happened to show up three times on our kitchen counter in the last 3 days? You guessed it.

I love my husband!

Morning Sickness: you evil B.

Morning sickness. The term itself is quite deceiving. In fact, one of the most interesting things about pregnancy is no single pregnant woman or pregnancy for that matter is alike. Everyone is different. When it comes to morning sickness, it can mean many things. Nausea, throwing up, gagging, sweats, chills, headaches and I'm sure countless other symptoms. Sounds fun, doesn't it?

In my case, I still feel as though I've been quite lucky. Being that I was 7 weeks along before I even had an inkling I could be pregnant, my symptoms just weren't that strong besides sore boobs. Alright, there may have been other signs but we all know by now I'm clearly not the sharpest pencil when it comes to this stuff. Anyways, morning sickness for me does not come in the mornings. In fact, I feel great every morning. No, my time of desperation and despair comes in the evenings, randomly. It hits me like a ton of bricks and knocks me down square. I'll admit, I'm a sensitive Sally when it comes to being sick. I don't handle it well. At all.

I'll be feeling just fine...then comes the nausea out of nowhere. Everything smells awful, everything looks awful, everything sounds awful. I lay down. Then it feels like I'm going to vomit all over. Only I don't. I lay moaning and groaning with the constant pressure of almost feeling like puking in my throat. Then come the chills and the sweats. Thats when I'm sure its over. Death is upon me. I'm not going to make it. I start saying my goodbyes in my head, preparing for the worst. And then, its all over. Just like that....and I fall asleep. At 8pm.

A has been amazing through all of this. He's begun last second runs for Sprite or saltines, whichever I'm in desperation for at the moment. Although, this is clearly not what he strives for. What A can't wait for are the cravings. Which he's absolutely positive are going to be in line with his cravings. Last night while I was on the brink of a sure morning sickness death, he so sweetly ran out to get Sprite for me. As he came in, he excitedly pulled out a box of Skinny Cow peanut butter and chocolate ice cream sandwiches too. "Look what I got!" A said excitedly. "You probably really have a craving for these, don't you!!?? These will be SO good!"

My insides were churning and "Uggghhh" was all I could muster. After the shadow of death had passed over me, he brought up the sandwiches again. And thats also when we (I) were able to have a good laugh about how excited he is for cravings...and how so far only his cravings have been present. But thats OK, right? Future dad's get to feel some of the pregnancy...and if thats the part he gets to feel, I couldn't be more excited for him.

In other news, here is our first belly pic. Its just barely starting to pop out in the evenings. Just enough to make me unbutton my pants like I do on Thanksgiving...every night of the week. This was taken right before A took us out for a nice Christmas dinner downtown and shopping...all of which was stopped short by another bout of morning sickness. Oh the joys!!

Week 10: