20 Weeks and a Baby Girl

On Monday, we had "the big ultrasound". The best news is that the baby is developing beautifully! AND we no longer have to say "it", or "he or she", or even just "the baby", because now we know that our baby is a little girl. We can't wait to meet her!

The Ultrasound


Celebration Lunch at Chili's (the same place we ate after our wedding )

20 week pic

Tonight I tried a new recipe from my Vegetarian magazine. Rusty and I LOVE falafel, so when I saw this recipe for homemade falafel, I had to try it. It didn't quite live up to the pita we shared on the banks of the Seine (pictured above) or even Denver's yummy Garbanzo, but it was pretty good, and we'll definitely be having it again. We stuffed ours in warm wheat pita with rice, lettuce, tomato, hummus, yogurt sauce, and tahini dip. Rusty added olives and a side of fries. Next time I'll skip the yogurt sauce, but otherwise, it was perfect.

Homemade Falafel

Vegetarian Times Issue: September 8, 2008 p.73

If you like the deep-fried chickpea patties in Mediterranean restaurants, you’ll love this lighter version.

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ingredient list

Serves 8

Falafel

• 1 15-oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• 3 Tbs. tahini
• 1 large egg
• 2 Tbs. grated lemon zest
• 1½ tsp. ground cumin
• 1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp.)
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• 1 tsp. ground coriander
• ½ tsp. chili powder
• ¼ tsp. salt (or to taste)
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 Tbs. finely chopped onion
• 2 Tbs. chopped parsley
• ½ tsp. baking powder
• Olive oil, for frying

Yogurt Sauce

• 2 cups plain nonfat yogurt
• 3 Tbs. chopped cilantro
• 2 Tbs. lemon juice
• 2 Tbs. grated lemon zest
• 1 Tbs. ground cumin

Directions

1. To make Falafel: Pulse chickpeas, tahini, egg, lemon zest, cumin, garlic, lemon juice, coriander, chili powder, and salt in blender or food processor until mostly smooth, but still chunky. Transfer to bowl, and stir in flour, onion, parsley, and baking powder.
2. Shape 1/4 cup chickpea mixture into 1-inch-thick patty, and place on platter. Repeat with remaining chickpea mixture. (Falafel patties can be made ahead and refrigerated overnight.)
3. Pour enough olive oil into large skillet to have 1/4 inch in bottom. Heat over medium-high heat. Place patties in pan, making sure patties don’t touch. Cook 3 minutes per side, or until golden brown. Transfer to paper-towel-lined platter to drain. Repeat with remaining patties.
4. To make Yogurt Sauce: Combine all ingredients in serving bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with warm Falafel.

18 Weeks

It's really hard to believe that I'm 18 weeks pregnant, but nevertheless...Here's what this week's email had to say about Baby Bronco:

At 18 weeks pregnant, your baby is hitting the height chart at five and a half inches long (remember, that's crown to rump) and weighs about five ounces (the weight of that boneless chicken breast you're making for dinner).

And now for the skill of the week (drum roll please…): The art of the yawn has been mastered by your baby (someone's sleepy!). In fact, you might catch a glimpse of that adorable yawn if you're getting an ultrasound this month. You'll also catch a glimpse of all the fetal movement your baby's doing — twists, rolls, kicks, and punches. And would you believe your baby is finally big enough for you to start feeling those movements now (or anytime in the next few weeks). So get ready!

Something you won't see on the ultrasound, but you'll know is in working order, is your baby's nervous system, which is maturing rapidly at this time. Nerves, now covered with a substance called myelin (which speeds messages from nerve cell to nerve cell), are forming more complex connections. And those in the brain are further specializing into the ones that serve the senses of touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing. Talking about hearing, your baby's is growing more acute, making your little one more conscious of sounds that come from inside your body (which means you could both be listening to each other hiccup — a skill that your baby has by now).

The best parts of my pregnancy right now? The little flutters in my tummy. AND the 8 day countdown until we learn if it's a baby girl or a baby boy in there!