You know you're pregnant when:

I'm starting a new feature on this blog and while I'll try my darnedest not to turn this into a baby blog, I have to admit that I want to document every morsel of information and "goings on". I'll do my best not to ONLY post about babies and bellies so, in an effort to do that, I am going to add a new segment called, "You know you're pregnant when". I'll most likely post it on Wednesdays as part of "Oui," and because each Wednesday starts a new week of my pregnancy. (I'm 14 weeks today-- officially out of the first trimester!)

Here's the first edition:

Let me set the scene. It's after midnight. I went to bed at 7pm for my "first round" of sleeping. Now I'm up, I have energy and I'm HUNGRY. I'm eating red Doritos, in bed, and watching Hardcore Pawn on TruTV (perhaps a bit loudly because, well, I can't hear the TV over my Doritos)

Aaron: (sleepy and frustrated) What the HELL are you eating and what are all these crumbs?!
Jessi: Doritos! (Offended and pissy. Doesn't everyone eat Doritos in bed while watching TruTV?)
A:What time is it?!
J: 1 AM.
A: (loud exaggerated sigh)
J: (under my breath) Fine, I'll starve.

What'd I do? ;)

Menu Monday: Pumpkin Cake

Every Thanksgiving I usually make a pumpkin roll for my father-in-law. Honestly, this year I was just too tired (pumpkin rolls are SO MUCH WORK) so instead, I made a really easy pumpkin cake. It was absolutely delicious. I have to admit, I don't love the taste of pumpkin when it's all by itself and have a hard time eating straight pumpkin pie, so this cake is very mild and really reminds me of the consistency of carrot cake.

So, my friends, please enjoy a super easy pumpkin cake!

CAKE INGREDIENTS:

• 2C. Flour
• 2C. Sugar
• 2t. Baking Soda
• 1t Cinnamon
• 1/2t. Salt
• 4 eggs
• 1C. Vegetable Oil
• 15 oz. (can) Pure Pumpkin

Pour batter into a greased 9x13 baking pan and bake @ 350 for approximately 30 minutes (or until it springs to the touch and a toothpick comes out clean.)

ICING INGREDIENTS:

• 1 8oz. pkg. Cream Cheese
• 1 stick Butter
• Approx 2C. Confectioners Sugar (depending on consistency and taste you may need more)
• 2t. Vanilla extract

Frost cake once cooled and sprinkle top with cinnamon. Keep refrigerated! Very easy, tasty and pretty!

Oui're Expecting!

You read it right!

"I'm pregnant"

"With Child"

"Knocked up"

"Bun in the oven"

"Preggers"

"On stork watch"

"In the family way"

Aaron and I decided last year that after our Alaskan vacation we'd pull out all the stops on procreating. So, low and behold our very first month of trying, we conceived! It's funny, but I knew almost immediately I was pregnant. I know exactly when it happened and, at first, I was in complete denial about it. I didn't think it was possible that it could have happened so quickly. But, Aaron recently reminded me, "Do you ever not accomplish what you set out to do?" True, true.

Within a few days of when I suspect we conceived I started feeling some of the tell-tale symptoms starting with extreme fatigue and a few other nasty ones (I'll spare you the details of what those symptoms are; if you're supremely curious you can look them up here). When I took a pregnancy test and it came up negative I tried really hard not to be disappointed.

A few days later Aaron and I went for a hike and I said, "Aaron, I legit think I'm pregnant." He laughed at me and said, "There is no way you'd know already." What Aaron doesn't really understand is that I know my body. I live in it. When something is different, I know immediately.

So a few days after that I took another pregnancy test and it came up negative, AGAIN. I was baffled. Of course I was on the horn with my sister every second discussing every little symptom I had. She was convinced I was knocked up and kept telling me to take another test. I refused. I hated to see the words "not pregnant" pop up on the digital screen.

Finally, about 4 days after I missed what would have been my first "natural" (off the pill) period (in 15 years) I woke up around 3AM to pee (for the 2nd time that night) and sleepy-eyed I figured, "What the hell, I'll take another test, I have one left. If it's negative, clearly, I don't have a regular cycle." So, I peed on the little stick for the 3rd time that month and the word "Pregnant" appeared within seconds. It was like a movie. Immediately I rubbed my eyes because I wasn't wearing my contacts. Pregnant was still there. That beautiful little digital word staring back at me.

"Huh." I said out loud.
In a moment of pure confusion, I put the test in a drawer in the bathroom and went back to bed. It's typical Jessi to process it in my head before I told anyone, including Aaron.

The next morning I woke up and immediately thought, "was that a dream?" In the bathroom I opened the drawer and saw "pregnant" staring back at me.

I slinked downstairs and put the test on the counter... where Aaron was preparing breakfast. This is what happened next (pardon the profanity):

A:"SHUT THE FUCK UP!"
J: (sheepishly, like this was my personal accomplishment even though he helped) "Yep!"
A: "SHUT THE FUCK UP!"
J: "I know!!!"
A: "Seriously?"
J: "It appears so."
A: "Damn, I was liking all this practicing!!!"

Then, of course we had a nice little moment that I'll keep just for me.

I've had 3 doctors appointments including my first ultrasound where we saw Baby Molloy for the first time. It was one of the most precious moments of my entire life. We've heard the heartbeat. It's awesome to know there is a baby inside my body; hearing its little heart and seeing it moving around on the screen is a completely breath taking experience. (And yes, I am a nervous, paranoid first-time-pregnancy wreck!)

So there you have it. Coincidentally, every new week of my pregnancy starts on a Wednesday, our favorite day of the week. It's like fate. I'm exactly 13 weeks today. My expected due date is May 30th.  What I am really hoping for is a completely uneventful, healthy pregnancy. So, please keep your fingers crossed.

This year we have much to be thankful for, oui?

Wednesday, Oui? Happy Anniversary to Us!

October 7-10 we slipped away to a small cabin we rented just outside of North Conway, in Chocoura, New Hampshire to celebrate our second anniversary. We vowed to always go away on our anniversary, even when we have kids, so we're getting into the habit now.

North Conway will always hold a very special place in our hearts. It's where we went on our mini-moon and it's one of the first overnight trips we ever took together as a couple. While in hindsight it probably wasn't the best weekend to go (both the Fryeburg and Sandwich fairs were in town AND it was Columbus Day weekend) we still managed to avoid the crowds and traffic.

We did all of the typical North Conway things (a bit of shopping and a LOT of dining). If you remember it was unseasonably warm that weekend so it was quite a treat to only need a thin sweater all weekend!

 This is what we woke up to every morning. Tough life, huh?

Many walking trails at our cabin! Bing & Manny were in their glory!

This was the most romantic cabin. It fit all our needs and we will definitely go back!

We all caught up on some much need R&R.

(We also played some lengthy games of Monopoly when the sun when down)

In the 30 years I've been alive, I've never been to the top of Mt. Washington. We drove the autoroad (gulp!) to the top. It was a beautifully clear day. The winds were measuring at 70 mph. (Don't you LOVE the random dude striking a pose in the background?)

Yes, there was a shower outside. Good thing it was a warm weekend (there was also a bath inside)

25 Things: Because Amy said I had to do it.

1.       I love soup.

2.       Peeps terrify me and have since I was a wee lassie. 

3.       I’d love to punch Alan Alda or Alex Trebek in the nose.

4.       I watch Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy every night… like an old person.

5.       Clutter and/or a dirty house easily overwhelm me to where I become paralyzed.

6.       If it’s not in my schedule book… well in advance… it’s not happening.

7.       I can’t read a book in moderation. Once I pick it up, I’m likely to stay put until it’s done… Aaron fears any books that have more than one in its series (ie: Twilight, Harry Potter) because he won’t see me until they are done.

8.       I can’t stand the feeling of boogers in my nose. Because of this I’m often caught with my finger up one of my nostrils fishing out the crispy culprit.

9.       Facebook has become much less interesting to me as of late… I think I may be in remission to my earlier Facebook addiction.

10.   I think of Ashley every day and have yet to talk about her death with pretty much anyone.

11.   I LOVE the new schedule my current employment offers me. I don’t feel like I work 80 hours per week anymore… oh wait, I don’t!

12.   I love my Subaru Outback Wagon.

13.   I’m feeling the spirit of Christmas early this year!

14.   I’m one of the very few in my circle of people that can honestly say I love and adore my in-laws.

15.   I often wonder if I’m the only person in the free world that is disturbed by the amount of children that have been pushed from Michelle Duggar’s vagina. I would imagine her uterus is much like onion skin by now. Breaking news! She’s now 3 ½ months pregnant with baby #20

16.   Aaron and I decided on our future children’s names while we were in Alaska (yes, I have not blogged about Alaska yet. Sue me.)

17.   I friggen love dogs.

18.   I want to own an item worthy of Antiques Roadshow.

19.   I probably use too much salt.

20.   I hate raking but I love sweeping. Weird?

21.   I have to be very deliberate about table manners. In all reality, I have terrible manners.

22.   I dislike when the dentist tries to make conversation with me. I always think, “Really? Can you just clean my teeth?”

23.   I cut coupons (but not in a crazy way)

24.   I rarely forward emails.

25.   This list was really hard for me to do because I think this is the third time I’ve done one.