We’re 23 weeks now, and I’m happily resting in the middle of my second trimester. As I thought about the past few weeks, I found myself categorizing. Good and bad. Love and hate. Why the mind tends towards binaries, I don’t fully know. But I thought I’d share my list with you.
Loves:
Feeling Lucy move. At about 13 weeks, I felt a few random pops in my lower abdomen. If anyone asked, I would say it felt like popcorn popping. But now that we’re ten weeks further along, I can actually feel AND see the jolts that her growing limbs produce. Her favorite time to move is around nine in the evening (right after I eat my most recent pregnancy craving–a slightly underripe banana) and Ryan rests his hand on my belly so he too can feel our daughter.
Kindness of strangers. I finally look unmistakingly pregnant, which means that strangers are now wishing me good luck and their heartiest of congratulations. I’m sure that the belly touching and due-date asking will grow old, but right now I’m happy to share my good news with anyone who might be interested.
Hynobirthing. Ryan and I started our hynobirthing class in early February, and we’ve already learned so much. We’re hoping for a natural birth, and I’m learning tools to help my body and mind relax during the labor process. Our instructor is interesting, engaging, and knowledgable. If anyone in Colorado Springs is looking for a birthing class or a doula, I’d be happy to pass along her information!
Appetite. I’m hungry. All the time. And I’m finally craving food that I know is good for me and baby. Whole grains, fresh veggies and fruit, lean protein, and cheese (lots and lots of cheese).
Hates (or as my father would admonish me to say instead–Strong Dislikes):
Lack of sleep. I’m already not sleeping well, which I hear only gets worse. I’m able to fall asleep easily, but I wake several times during the night, and I no longer can sleep in past 6:30 am. This is fine, mostly, but Ryan and I are trying to catch up on all the Oscar nominated films for 2013 (which means our bed-time has been pushed back and hour or two later).
Bleeding gums and nose. Progesterone is making the vessels in my nose and mouth more susceptible to bleeding. Couple that hormone with a dry climate, and I have had my fair share of bloody tissues.
Nesting. Normally, nesting would be fun. Not so much when all of your belongings are still in boxes.
Pregnancy brain. I’ve heard that pregnancy brain is a myth, but I think otherwise. I’ve definitely noticed an increase in forgetfulness, which isn’t ideal considering that this is my last semester of graduate school and I have a hefty thesis to defend in a few weeks.
So there’s my list at 23 weeks. What I love and dislike about being pregnant. But at the end of the day, I’m so grateful for this little life inside of me, and I’ve felt a deeper connection to my family, Ryan, and God because of this gift. There is purpose in both our joys and our struggles, and I’m learning to embrace both each day.
Before I leave, I want to share one of my family favorite recipes. Spicy Pear Cake. We make this every fall and winter, and it always receives rave reviews from both veteran eaters (my parents, sisters, Ryan) and those that are trying it for the first time. This bread is chock-full of pears. In fact, pears are the weightiest ingredient in this recipe so each bite is moist and sweet.
Because this cake calls for so many pears, it does have a tendency to be more difficult during pan removal. For that reason, I often recommend first-time bakers to pour this into a loaf pan instead of a bundt pan. My family eats our spicy pear cake without any extra additions, but I recently tried the Pioneer Woman’s maple cream sauce on a straggler slice and found it to be even more decadent and delicious. So if you have a sweet tooth, I’d definitely recommend you give her recipe a try along with this one.
Spicy Pear Cake
1 cup raisins (dark or golden)
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon each ground cloves and ground allspice
2 cups peeled pear chunks (from about 2 large pears)
1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 10-inch bundt pan OR a standard loaf pan. Dust with flour. Place the raisins in a bowl and toss them with 2 tablespoons of the flour until lightly coated (this will prevent them from sinking in the cake).
2. Beat your eggs and sugar in a mixer until fluffy. While the mixer runs on low, slowly pour in the vanilla and the oil. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice. Blend into the egg mixture. Stir in the pears and the raisins by hand, distributing them evenly in the batter.
3. Spoon into prepared pan and bake for around 45 to 60 minutes, until springy and dry in the center. Let cool COMPLETELY in the pan on a wire rack, then turn it out. Freeze until ready to use or just wrap and store for up to 2 days.
HAHAHA! Well, I’m glad you are feeling alright at least. But, yeah, from what I’ve heard from my sister and other pregnant friends and family members, it can be rough. Just get used to the lack of sleep. You probably won’t get much the first few years. :-/ I’m not sure if you have an iPhone, but I got my sister a subscription to the New Yorker and she reads it at night when she can’t sleep (she’s due at the end of March).
Loving everything about this pear cake. I love all of the spices, and might even add in some ginger too.
You are such a beautiful pregnant person!
And this cake is gorgeous as well!
You are the cutest pregnant woman ever!!!
Wow, you are just glowing. And that pear cake is making me hungry (despite my just having eating an impressive stack of pancakes).
Sorry about the bleeding gums, pregnancy brain, stuff in boxes. I had a friend who was 39 weeks pregnant when she defended her thesis. Her water broke just as she finished! You will rock your thesis, but it’s OK if you misplace your keys! The brain is smart like that.
Good luck and I look forward to more updates!
I will be making this soon and sharing it in the shop 🙂 You look so happy Mama Monet!!
This cake looks really good and I will test it soon. It is nice to hear that everythign is going well with the pregnancy. And I am sure you will do very well at your exam! Good luck!
Ciao.
You look so beautiful and happy – enjoy every minute! This also looks like a seriously delicious cake & I can’t wait to give it a try. take care
Never made (or had) a pear cake, but wow, that seems like a must-make and must-have treat
You look wonderful!
Monet, this pear cake looks irresistible! I’d love to try it sometime soon for Mark and our friends. Thanks so much for sharing it, and also your updates along the way. You’re absolutely aglow!
Yes pregnancy brain is quite true. 🙂 I am so happy for you, enjoying this time to love and connect with your little one! Quite literally a life changing experience that goes way deeper than all the lovey dovey stuff that I assumed before I actually had my own little one.
Congratulations beautiful mama! And by the way, your pear cake looks beautiful!
Enjoy it all: the loves and dislikes!! Oh, and the pear cake. You look beautiful.
Best,
Bonnie
Hypnobirthing? I have never even heard of this before! It sounds like you guys are really doing your homework and taking care of yourselves. This pear cake looks so packed with fruit–tasty treats definitely help combat lack of sleep, right? 🙂
I enjoyed this post a lot! I read it with my husband’s hand on my belly:) We are 26 weeks now and it’s great to watch and feel our son’s movements inside!
I love pear as a fruit, but never tried it in a cake. This one sounds great with the spices inside! Thanks for sharing it here!
Oh my goodness, I now have a very strong craving for this cake, and I’m not the pregnant one! 🙂 This looks delicious and I loved reading your pregnancy updates – gives me something to look forward to one day (well from the loves section anyway, not the strong dislikes)!
You are looking great!
Glad that you are eating well!
The pear cake looks wonderful, sounds so flavourful with all the spices!
Thanks for sharing, take care!
Monet, I can certainly identify with all that cravings! I was also hungry all day long and love cakes. This pear cake looks like a great snack to have.
Monet, I can certainly identify with all that cravings!
I was also hungry all day long and love cakes. This pear cake looks like a great snack to have.
you are looking absolutely beautiful! And this pear cake doesn’t look half bad either!
Feeling your baby wiggle around inside of you has got to feel so rewarding (probably physically uncomfortable at times, but joyous nonetheless)! So happy to hear all the support you’re getting and hopefully you start getting some good night’s rest. At least if you’re tossing and turning, you can enjoy a piece of spicy pear cake as a midnight snack! Looks delicious!
You look like you’re absolutely glowing. What a gorgeous blue dress. I’m glad to hear the pregnancy is going well. And what a beautiful pear cake. I hope the nose bleeding and gum situ settles down – it did for me in the 2nd trimester xx
Awww, I wish I could feel Lucy kicking. I can’t even imagine what it would be like to have that little person growing inside you. Not to depress you or anything, but your list of ‘strong dislikes’ sounds an awful lot like what I’m going through as I get older. Something to look forward to. 🙂
Your cake looks fantastic, Monet. I love cakes with winter fruit in them; so moist and satisfying.
Monet, you look and sound so very happy! I love pear tea cakes, I often make them myself and this recipe for your Spicy Pear Cake looks just perfect for this time of year, it has lots of fruit and warming spices and I can just imagine that the Maple Cream Sauce would be great with a slightly warm slice of this cake.
Take good care of yourself!
Awww…I’m so happy for you. You looks amazing. Feeling baby moving in the belly is such wonderful feeling. I hope you keeping well and have a smooth pregnancy and birth. 🙂
You look so happy and healthy, Monet and it’s been so fun to follow along with your pregnancy journey so far. I’m delighting in your good news and peaceful state of mind.
Monet you look gorgeous! The cake sounds amazing and something easy enough for non-bakers like myself. Thanks for sharing. xx
I used hypnobirthing with both my pregnancies. I absolutely loved it and highly recommend it. It’s so empowering!
Such a pretty mommy to be!
Your cake looks fantastic!
You look so beautiful! You mentioning pregnancy brain brings back memories. For a while I was forgetting my purse which is really unlike me. Sending love!
You look gorgeous, Monet! I’m sorry to hear you haven’t been sleeping well, and I hope you’ve been able to get a little more rest during the day. I know you’ll ace your thesis defense and be done with it!
This spicy pear cake looks amazing! Thanks for sharing with all of us 🙂
I love that picture Monet. You just look so happy. 🙂
And I fully believe pregnancy brain is a real thing. I’ve never been pregnant, but a friend of mine just had a baby, and if I dared to interrupt her while she was talking to me, she would never remember what it was she had been talking about.
I’m curious about hypnobirthing. I’ve heard great things and will consider it when we have children. Like you, I am craving cheese but not pregnant…I think. Ha! That sounds like a sweet evening with Ryan and Baby Lucy. I hope you get more sleep and some well-deserved nesting soon. I’m loving this spicy pear cake. It sounds like the perfect culmination of ingredients and super moist.
I have been through pregnancy thrice so I know how you feel…happy pregnancy:D Meantime, eat lots of healthy food and that pear cake definitely looks delicious with lots of fibre which help in bowel movement:)
I think the sleeplessness and forgetfulness would be trouble for me. Good thing you have a good man to help out. Your cake looks delicious. I hope you can sit down and enjoy some.
Not at all surprised to see that you make an adorable mommy-to-be!
What a lucky baby…great parents and lots of baked goodies in her future, including this wonderful spicy pear cake!
I can’t get over how gorgeous you look. Your baby must be really enjoying all the delicious treats you make.
Just look at your cute belly! Your sweet Lucy is growing beautifully.
PS…yeah, pregnancy brain is so real. I tapped the fenders of a couple cars at stop lights with my last pregnancy…and haven’t done it since. Crazy. I didn’t even try to explain my rationale to the men…but at least it was just a tap!
YOu look so adorable!!
I live in binaries also, but I’m SO loving your list of loves!!!
ANd this cake. The spices are heavenly!
Hang in there. Little Lucy will come out soon enough. 🙂 Pear cake sounds amazing!!
what a great list! I bet you’ll love rereading it in the future and remembering this magical time! and WOW this cake sounds incredible! I love the idea of moist spicy pears it sounds like heaven!
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