17 weeks

This post is a little late, but I had a little bug this weekend and never really changed out of my pjs... Didn't think you'd want to see my bump pictures like that! So forgive me for being late!

The title of this post says 17 weeks, but truth is, I'll be 18 weeks along tomorrow. Just wanted to get this up while it's still week 17! It's so hard to believe that in two weeks, we'll be halfway there, and in just one week, we'll find out whether we're having a boy or girl! That's SEVEN days from now! Wow! These past four and a half months have really flown by!

Everything seems to be going okay now that I'm into my second trimester. I feel more energized, I'm eating healthier, and I haven't felt sick much lately. We are really trying to be healthier in our eating and exercising. Eli and I have started walking again, which feels so good since the weather is wonderful. We used to walk and run around UMHB all the time when we lived next to campus. But since we've moved out to Moody, the motivation just hasn't been there, especially because the only street light within a couple miles is next to our house at the church. Since the time change, though, we've been able to walk and get home before dark. I hope to continue this once Baby gets here as a way to lose pregnancy weight and stay healthy.

Well, without further delay, here are the pictures from this week!

Dear Love of Mine, 

You have grown so big recently! I read the other day that you are the size of an onion. Not my favorite vegetable, but this coming week you'll be the size of a sweet potato. I just love that! Can't wait to hold my little sweet potato in my arms! Keep growing big and strong Little One.

Want to go walking with me and Daddy when you get here? We would love to take you and show you all the animals and sights around here. Sasha has made friends with all of the goats, horses, ponies, and cows on our road. The donkeys aren't too friendly, but they're just protecting the baby goats, kind of like how we'll protect you. Maybe we'll even be able to get one of those fancy jogging strollers so you can have a comfy ride.

Guess what happens a week from today? We get to see if you are a boy or girl!! I can't tell you how excited your Daddy and I are!! Please cooperate for the ultrasound technician so we can know more about you.

We love you more and more every day, Baby. You are so precious to us and we are very blessed to be your Momma and Daddy. This is a wonderful adventure that God has allowed us to be a part of. You are our gift. And we love you.

Love always, Momma

Gluten Free Cheez-Its

Fourth post this week! Woohoo!

There are so many great gluten-free snacks out there these days (but watch out, some are not so great...). You can find everything from chips and crackers, to oreos and even pretzels. But one snack that I grew up with and LOVED but have yet to find in a gluten-free version is a good cheese cracker, like Cheez-Its or Goldfish. So I did a simple Pinterest search for a gluten free Cheez-It. Surprisingly, I had no luck. Then I turned to the ever-trusty Google. Everyone out there has their own recipe for these! I've seen recipes before from GF in the City and wanted to try them, so I decided to trust her recipe for Cheez-Its, or "Cheez Bits", as she calls them.

Wow is all I can say!! I am so glad I found this recipe! Forget waiting for gluten free cheese crackers to show up in the store. Just make a batch of these little cuties. And it's really so simple, just blend all the ingredients together in a food processor, chill the dough, roll it out, cut and bake. Yes I got cute with them and made them look like classic Cheez-Its by marking the edges with a fork and poking a hole in the middle with a toothpick. But hey, if I can't have the real thing, I might as well make them look good!

*edit: on the first batch, I didn't actually mark the sides and poke the hole... Eli did. And I am so thankful that he supports me even when I get on crazy tangents like making gluten free crackers. I love you, Eli!

After eating these all afternoon, we have decided that they taste as close to the real thing as you can possibly get. Yes, they are that good! The texture is a little cake-ier, but overall you couldn't get any better and still gluten free!

Cheez Bits
Makes 15 dozen crackers

½ cup sweet rice flour 
½ cup tapioca flour

¼ teaspoon xanthan gum
½ teaspoon Kosher salt, plus more for sprinkling
8 oz (1 cup) grated sharp cheddar cheese
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter, diced
3 tablespoons cold water 

  

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat.

Place the flours, xanthan gum, and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse a few times to combine.

Add the cheese and butter to the flour mixture and pulse until it resembles a coarse meal. Add the water, one tablespoon at a time, and pulse until the dough comes together into a ball. Divide the dough in two (it’s easier to work with in smaller batches) and shape into discs. Wrap each disc in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes.

Place a piece of parchment paper on a work surface. Remove one disc of dough from the refrigerator and roll out to 1/8-inch thick. If making squares, trim off the jagged edges of dough and use a serrated knife or pizza cutter to make vertical slices 1-inch apart. Then, make horizontal slices 1-inch apart to create the squares. If you want, use the tines of a fork to crimp the edges of the crackers and a toothpick to create a hole in the center. You could also cut out desired shapes using small cookie cutters. Transfer cut crackers to the prepared baking sheet, spacing them at least half an inch apart. 

Gather the remaining scraps of dough, re-roll, and cut additional crackers. If the dough has gotten very warm, re-wrap the scraps and place in the refrigerator for a few minutes to chill. Continue rolling and cutting until all the dough has been used. Sprinkle the cut squares with Kosher salt before baking, if desired.

Bake the crackers for 10-15 minutes, until the edges are golden. Allow to cool before eating.

While best on the first day, the finished crackers may be stored in an airtight container for several days. Because of their high cheese content and lack of preservatives to help them along, they can tend to get a little stale. They still taste great, though, and if you give them a couple minutes in a 250-degree oven, they should crisp right back up for you.


 
I guess if you non-gluten free people wanted, you could make your own with regular flour. But then you could also buy a box and have the same taste! This will be a snack I make over and over again, no doubt about it!

Soft Caramel Popcorn

There have been so many times I have made dinner or a dessert and I've wanted to put pictures and a recipe up on the blog. But my pictures just haven't been great, so I always put it off. Now that time is over, thanks to my new camera!

This popcorn is so soft, gooey, and addicting! And since it's so gooey, once you grab a handful...you're committed! The bad part is, it makes a lot. Better watch out if you're watching a movie and not paying attention, you'll eat the whole bowl before you know it! (At least that's what we did!)

 The original recipe says that a good heavy saucepan and a high quality rubber spatula really make a difference when making this recipe.

Soft Caramel Popcorn

3 bags microwave popcorn, popped

½ cup (1 stick) butter

1 cup light brown sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

1 can sweetened condensed milk

Pop popcorn according to package directions and make sure you get rid of any unpopped kernels. We prefer the movie theater popcorn, but it’s good with really any kind of popcorn. This seems like a lot of popcorn (and it is!) but trust me, it will get eaten! Place popcorn in a large bowl… larger that you think you will need.

In a large saucepan, melt together the butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup. Bring mixture to a boil. Once it comes to a boil, reduce to low/medium heat and add the can of sweetened condensed milk. With the rubber spatula, stir constantly for 5 minutes scraping the sides and especially the bottom of the pan to prevent any burning. The longer you cook it, the firmer the caramel will be. I like to cook it right around 5 minutes, so it’s still a little soft.

Pour caramel over popcorn and stir until it's coated. This will take a lot of stirring to get it all incorporated.

It's great warm or at room temperature. Feel free to add M&Ms, nuts, or drizzle it with chocolate. For an extra treat, grind coarse salt over the top while it's still hot to make a salted caramel treat. This is our favorite way, and oh so classic. Enjoy!

When we made it, I used all the popcorn, but not quite all the caramel. So we saved the extra for a special ice cream treat one of these days! Mmm, so good! Or you could also make soft, formed caramels, pressed into a pan lined with parchment paper - We are trying some like this too. They are in the fridge right now, firming up. We'll see how they turn out and I'll let you know!

Spring Break 2012 pt.1

As a Christmas present, Eli's parents took the whole family on a Spring Break vacation to Arizona, specifically to visit the Grand Canyon. We got to share this week with Eli's parents, his sister, his brother and sister-in-law. It really was a wonderful time away from work and school. We stayed in a cabin way out in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by God's incredible nature. To even attempt to describe what we saw last week doesn't do it justice. Here is one shot of the house:   (I'll show more of where we stayed in another post)

It took us two days (18 full hours of driving) to get to our cabin, but we really enjoyed our time once we got there. On Monday, we loaded the Suburban down and headed to see our main attraction: The Grand Canyon. Out of about 500 pictures that I took with my new camera, I managed to narrow my selection down to just under 30 to show you. I know that's still a lot, but trust me, you'll want to see the beautiful sights!

The whole gang!

 Eli's parents

One of my favorites

My absolute favorite part of this trip was spending it with this guy :)

Eli's brother, sister-in-law, and sister

Can you see the crazy guys standing on the edge of the world out there?

Just beautiful.

Hehe, Eli wouldn't let me go anywhere near the edge. He's going to be a sweet Daddy.

This sign was on a rock wall in front of the canyon. I just loved it

View of the Colorado River

 

Robyn sandwich! (Eli's brother married a Robyn too! How crazy is that!)

 

Heath and Robyn

 Eli's parents and sister, Kelci

 We were told there were so many great places to see a sunset on the Canyon. We decided to go to the watchtower (there's a picture above) and it was gorgeous! If only you could see it in person!

Well, if you made it to this point, I hope you enjoyed the nature and scenery. It really was hard to narrow it down to these pictures. God has such beautiful creations and I'm so glad we got to see this part of it.

I'll update with pictures from the other days of our trip this weekend! Check back soon!

16 weeks

Well we're back from Arizona, not completely rested up, but it's good to be home. Since I used my new camera and took almost 1,000 pictures on our trip (ah! I know!), it's going to take a little time to sort through them and pick out just the right ones to post. But don't worry, you'll be able to see them this week.

We are now 16 weeks into this incredible journey. Like I mentioned last week, I've really popped over the past week or so. My tummy is finally looking like there's a little person in there, not just cookies! I'm pretty sure I felt a little flutter this past week before I went to bed one night. I got really excited and told Eli, but then I didn't feel another one. There was something different about this little feeling. It had to have been our baby moving! I'm really looking forward to feeling more of those as our baby grows!

We have another short doctor's appointment this week where our doctor will check to make sure everything is going smoothly. But then, in two weeks, we get to find out if we are having a boy or girl! I'm SO excited for this appointment! I still have this feeling that our baby is a girl, but I will absolutely love to have either. Once we find out, my Pinterest boards will probably explode with nursery ideas! Just a fair warning!

Here are this week's baby pictures: (and yes, it was extremely windy when we took these pictures, but at least we got them before it started raining)

Dear Sweet Baby, 

I felt you move this week and it made my heart so happy! I know later, I'll be asking you to sit still, but for now, go ahead and move a little more if you want! I love knowing that you are growing strong and healthy inside of me. Your Daddy keeps talking to you and wanting to feel you move, but I guess it will have to be our own special thing until you get a little bigger.

I'm really trying to feed you better than I did in the first trimester. Yes, you'll still have plenty of grilled cheese sandwiches and cheese sticks, don't you worry there! But I'm also trying to eat more fruit, keep drinking plenty of water and love you by eating healthy. I want to do my very best to take care of you, always.

Don't stop growing, Baby. We can't wait to meet you and smother you with all kinds of love!

Love always, Momma

15 weeks

Hello from the Grand Canyon! This week, we are on vacation with Eli's family in Arizona. We've already been to the Grand Canyon, explored downtown Williams (the town we're staying by), and gone to Bearizona (a wildlife park - more pictures to come later). This post is a little late, but we have no internet access at our cabin, which by the way, is wonderful! So right now, we're sitting in the parking lot of the local grocery store, using their free internet!

I really feel like my tummy has had a growth spurt this week. Clothes are all of a sudden tighter and I find myself actually noticing my tummy in the mirror without even trying! I don't know if it's noticeable to anyone else yet, but I really hope I'm looking pregnant, not just chubby :)

Here are pictures from week 15, courtesy of the beauty that is the Grand Canyon:

Dear Little One, 

I really hope you love being outside as much as your Daddy and I do. We've been all over nature this week, exploring places in Arizona and getting our exercise. We can't wait to take you to the park, on walks, and on family vacations. Daddy can teach you to play catch. We can go fishing. We can even go camping. I think you'll love it!

Don't forget that we pray for you every night, that you'll grow strong and healthy in my tummy. I've read that you are the size of a navel orange, which seems so big compared to the sesame seed you were when we first heard about you!

I love you so much already, 

love Momma

new camera and spring break

Look what Mr. Mailman brought to our house earlier this week!!

I've had my eye on this camera for so long and I finally saved up my money to buy it!! I'm so excited to have it before Baby Jackson arrives. I got a small point and shoot camera a few years back and it has worked wonderfully. But now I get to learn to take even better pictures using my new one!

I've always had this little dream of starting a small photography business on the side. This has been a passion of mine since I was in high school. I have a really old Canon AE-1 that I used in college in my film photography classes, but film is becoming outdated and hard to process without your own dark room. Enter my new Canon t2i! I love it and I can't wait to learn everything there is to know!

Well we're on our way to the Grand Canyon for Spring Break. Eli's parents wanted us all to go together - this was our Christmas present from them. I'm excited to see all the beauty! Hopefully I'll get to share some great pictures with you when we get back!

Until then, have a great week!

14 weeks

This post is a little late - I've just been so busy this past week. My apologies. Tomorrow is actually my first day in week 15, so you'll hopefully see that update soon. As for now, we have successfully made it into the second trimester. It's hard to believe we've made it this far and I already almost 15 weeks along!

In the first trimester, I felt a little sick on occasion, but I never felt too bad. I have heard, though, that the days ahead are supposed to be the best days of pregnancy. I am so excited to see what is coming! I am very ready to have all my energy back, that's for sure. Eli and I try to get to bed at a decent time, but if we stay up past 10, I can be a pretty grumpy lady the next morning!

I've been reading and here are a few things I've learned about our baby: he/she is about the size of a lemon, is starting to stretch out from head to toe, can squint and make faces, and might even be sucking his or her thumb! Every week, I'm realizing how incredible it is that a tiny person is growing inside of me! And all of these new developments make it seem more real every day.

Here's our baby at 14 weeks!

Dear Little One,

It won't be long until you make your grand appearance. Only five and a half months to go! And in just a few short weeks, we'll know if you are a boy or girl. This just makes my heart jump! I don't know why, but I have this little feeling that you are a girl. Daddy doesn't want to spoil it, so he's not guessing! Either way, we can't wait to meet you and smother you with love!
Keep growing strong and healthy. Soak up all the nutrients you can, and I'll do my very best to take care of you inside of me. Daddy and I are praying for you every single day and we are more than excited to hold you and love you soon!

Love always, Momma

Questionnaire

Well I was tagged in one of those random-things-about-yourself questionnaires. I've never done one of these, but I'm excited to fill it out and then pass it on! Thanks Courtney for tagging me!

The Rules

1. You must post the rules.

2. Post 11 fun facts about yourself on the blog post.

3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then 

create 11 new questions to ask the people you've tagged.

4. Tag 4 people and link them on your post

5. Let them know you've tagged them!

11 fun facts about me:

1. Well, I'm sure you all know - Eli and I are expecting our first baby in August and couldn't be more excited! We both tell people we want a boy first, and most days I'm convinced of that. But the more I look at Pinterest, the more I secretly wish for a girl! And to tell you the truth, Eli just melts when we start talking about the what-ifs of having a girl! He'll be smitten for sure if we do!

2. Our DVR is full of Frasier and Golden Girls reruns! I'm a sucker for the '90s funnies. I can't lie. 

3. I'm really good at procrastinating. Or should I say I'm really bad at it? Whichever it is, I'm typically finishing things at the last minute, and more than once, I've been a little late to events/school/other activities... It's just a part of me. I've really tried to change, but no matter how early I try to be, I'm always running late. 

4. Taking out the trash is one of my least favorite chores. I don't like stinky trash, but that's when I sweetly ask Eli to take it out for me. And, like the wonderful husband he is, he does it without complaining. I love you Eli! 

5. A dream vacation of mine is to see New England in the fall. Just imagining the colors and beauty of it makes me so happy. 

6. I love anything with cheese on it! Macaroni and cheese. Grilled cheese sandwiches. Cheese sticks. Chicken and cheese enchiladas. You put cheese on it and I'll probably want to try it! (but not on things like cupcakes or cereal... please don't put cheese on those!)

7. I don't consider myself a master artist, but I love to waste days sitting on the floor painting on canvases, or at my sewing machine dreaming up a new project.

8. I love being outside with Eli, doing things that he enjoys. Some of our favorite adventures have been while fishing, camping, shooting his guns, working in the yard, taking walks with Sasha, hiking, and pretty much anything else outside. 

9. A couple years ago, before we even dated, Eli and I were adult sponsors for youth camp with our previous church. One afternoon while everyone was at free time, all the adults from our church decided to ride Trykes (basically a three-wheeled scooter) down the mountain in Glorieta, NM. Eli fell on one of the first runs, but only had minor scratches on his knee. I, on the other hand, fell on our last run of the day, bled from every limb of my body, and still have a pebble lodged in my elbow to prove it! And Eli hasn't taken his eyes off of me since! ... Hehe :)         p.s. Eli told me to write this.

10. I don't consider myself too "girly" but I always have to have nail polish on my toenails. I feel naked without it!

11. I am so in love with Eli Randall Jackson. He is an amazing example of grace and forgiveness. He gives me reasons to love him more every day.

And now, Courtney's questions for me:

1. What is your favorite thing to do on a rainy afternoon?

 I can't sit still for too long, but I do love to cuddle up on the couch with a warm blanket and my wonderful husband and watch a movie. And periodically, I will get up and bake something, like cookies or a loaf of bread. I just can't help it.

2. If you could do anything in the world for your career, not dependent on money, what would it be?

 Most days, I will say a teacher, because I truly do enjoy it. Then there are some days where I would absolutely love to travel for a living, tasting food from around the world, photographing everything in sight, and loving on God's people right where they are.

3. What is your favorite cereal?

 Nature's Path Organic Granola plus Flax. I know, I know. Sounds a little much, but it's SO good! Trust me!

4. Favorite pet?

 Definitely dogs, specifically Sasha. But I'm a little biased.

5. What is a Christmas tradition in your family?

 Ever since I was little, it was very important in my family to read the Christmas story out of Luke 2. We would always take a bath, put on our pjs, and sit in the living room while my dad read the story of Jesus' birth. As I got older, my dad let me read it to our family, and then the same with Renee, when she was able to read. This was such a special time for our family. Now that Eli and I have a family of our own, we have continued this tradition and hope to share it with our children as they grow up. It is very important to us to keep Christmas focused on Christ, and not on us.

6. Do you like beach or mountains?

 Mountains, hands down. For our honeymoon, we stayed in a little cabin in the mountains of North Carolina. We would definitely go back any day! I guess I enjoy the mountains more because I grew up in Florida, where both sets of my grandparents lived close to the beach. It was a pretty normal thing for us in the summer. But the mountains will always be a wonderful treat!

7. What is something you want to accomplish before this summer?

 Learn to be a mommy. 

I know I have a long way to go, but I want to soak up everything I can before this little babe gets here.

8. What is your favorite restaurant?

 For gluten-free pizza: BJ's

For Mexican: Taqueria in Belton

In Austin: Magnolia Cafe

Anniversary/Fancy Dinner: Chez Zee in Austin

I really don't have just one favorite. But there are a few!

9. Do you like sweet or sour things more?

I'll take sweet any day!

10. What is your guilty pleasure TV show?

Well, as I mentioned earlier, I do love some Golden Girls and Frasier! We also enjoy our weekly episodes of American Pickers, NCIS, Chopped, and Swamp People. 

I guess they're not really guilty pleasures... but I'm not really into the scandalous shows. I'll stick to the ones Eli and I enjoy together!

11. How is God working in your life?

I am constantly learning how to love unconditionally as a teacher in a rural, impoverished, and poorly-educated school district. I find myself judging my students on the basis of their upbringing, but it is then that God brings me back and shows me how much he loves them, regardless of their status. I am learning to see my students through His eyes. This translates to the calling God has placed on our lives, working in the mission field, loving His people wherever He calls us.

Next Up:

 Allye from "Welcome to Crosbyville"
Mikka from "Mikka Hill Photography"
Sarah from "A New Journey Begins"
Sarah form "The Crosby Show"




My questions for you:
 1. If you could go on a vacation tomorrow, price not important, where would you go?
2. What ridiculous fashion style have you embraced at one point? (hair style, tube socks, bright eyeshadow... you know there was something!)
3. Sweet or salty snacks?
4. What was your favorite childhood movie?
5. What is a food you could never give up?
6. Would you prefer to be inside or outside on your day off?
7. Do you have a favorite verse or Scripture passage?

8. Do you sing in the shower?
9. What is your ideal outfit for a date night?
10. What are three things you hope to accomplish over the next 10 years?
11. How have you seen God working in your life this past year?