Content at Home

The other day I had a partial can of pumpkin puree sitting in my fridge that I needed to use up so I looked online for a festive pumpkin muffin recipe that I could try. I came across this recipe on Food.com and was not disappointed! It came out yummy and moist! 

Link to the original recipe here.

2 1/2 cups Gluten Free Pantry All Purpose Flour
3/4 cup coconut flour
1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin puree
1 tsp. salt
1 cup oil (can mix half butter / half oil)

2 tsp. baking soda
1 cup brown sugar or sucanat
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup milk (I used Almond Milk)
2 Tbps. Pumpkin pie spice
4 eggs

Topping:
1/2 cup chopped nuts (I used pecans and almonds)
1/2 cup brown sugar or sucanat


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together all dry ingredients in large bowl. Mix together wet ingredients in separate bowl, then combine both bowls. Mix until smooth. Line 12 muffin tins with papers.* Pour batter into muffin tins. Sprinkle topping on muffins; pat down into batter. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

*This recipe makes a bunch of batter. I actually had enough left over after the 12 muffins to make two small loaves!

Even though it's just the end of October, my mind is already racing on our preparation and celebration of Christmas this year. Granted, I love Christmas and the whole upcoming holiday season, but this year, we get to celebrate our baby girl's first Christmas! I understand that she won't remember a thing about it, being only about 4 weeks old, but we will remember it and I want it to be a great celebration for us as a family; a new family... the Kyle Roland Family. :-)

However, as I prepare our Christmas gift list, begin to think about decorations, compile our Christmas card addresses, etc... I find myself getting so caught up into the business of Christmas that I realize I am at risk of forgetting the whole reason behind Christmas. More than the presents, the family memories, the lights and sounds, the smells and warmth of Christmas, I want to impact our daughter with the Gospel message of Christ coming to our earth as our Savior and the valuable gift that He offers to us! This far outweighs any other thing we can give her this year. So, even if that comes in the form of reading to her little ears about the Christmas story and telling her of the wonders of our Savior as we sit around our tree, or describing to her the manger scene on our table, or looking at our lights and explaining to her that Christ is the light of the world, I want to be intentional this Christmas season!

Here is a video I ran across on the GirlTalk blog that they posted a couple years ago. It's a helpful reminder to focus on Christ at Christmas. Enjoy!

How far along: 36 Weeks

Baby Size: 6 pounds! 

Baby Changes: She is continuing to practice her breathing rhythms by inhaling and exhaling the amniotic fluids around her. This is preparing her little lungs to handle air in just a few short weeks! She is still head down, praise the Lord, and she is riding low! My midwife, doula, and chiropractor (who is also a doula) are all very pleased with our baby's progression, position, and overall health. 

Baby Movements: Have you ever sat down and bent over, with a full stomach, and felt your ribs dig into something? You know, that bony feeling if you rub over your ribs with your hands? Well, that's kinda what it feels like when our little girl moves. She's so big and bony now. haha! I can feel her little bottom and legs moving about in my tummy as she turns from side to side. Not to mention her little head as it turns and adjusts! It's fun to watch one side of my tummy be all "puffed up" and be able to feel her little back lying on that side. Then a few minutes later, her back is on the other side of my tummy. haha!

Food Cravings: Slightly burnt toast! Yup! I do not know why it tastes better with a little black on it... but that's how I've been making my gluten free toast this week! Add a little butter and raw honey on top... mmmmmmmmmm... so good!

Sleep: With the exception of multiple trips to the bathroom some nights, sleep has been decent this week. Some nights better than others, but overall, it's not been too bad! Yay!

Symptoms: This past week it's been exciting to notice new changes as my body continues to prepare for our little girl's arrival! Her head is low into my pelvis, but not engaged yet. I've had increased pains in my legs and increased Braxton Hicks. Not just the crampy ones now, but also the kind that tighten your stomach up into a rock! I can really tell a difference in my contractions when I've "over done it" that day. My feet have be swollen a little bit this week, but I've been quick to try to lie down and add more protein to my diet. I've also noticed that I've been really thirsty this week.

 
Highlight: Ok, so my whole pregnancy I've been waiting to get an "outie" belly button. However, I have been disappointed that my belly has not cooperated with me! This past week though, I've noticed that my little "half-outie" has started showing some. haha... So, I was pretty excited about that!

What I'm looking forward to: Having this little girl!!!!!

Fall has been peaking its head in off and on over the last month but we're hoping it's finally here to stay! I absolutely LOVE the fall season! It brings on cool weather, beautiful foliage, yummy baking, fall flavored coffee, and the excitement of the upcoming holidays!

I wanted to capture some of the trees before they lost their color so the other day, as I drove around town, I snapped pictures. Here are a few...

 Can I live on this street? Ah... simply gorgeous!

The ladies from our church community group were so sweet and threw us a fantastic baby shower for little Miss Roland. We were so very blessed by everyone's generosity and encouragement towards us. We feel so supported and loved!

Here are a few pictures from the shower:

 The lovely food and table that the hostesses prepared for us. Everything was so yummy and girly! Loved it!
 The sweet women who showered us with love and gifts!
 Miss Roland's first piggy bank! Such a cute idea!
 Enjoying opening the gifts...
 A beautiful blanket that a friend from Eastman, Georgia made for our baby girl.
 One of the blankets and the hats that Mama Roland made for Baby Girl! She did such an amazing job on them and the colors are perfect!
 Another adorable hat that a sweet friend made for our baby. I love the colors and the cute little flower on the front!
 Jenny, one of my lovely hostesses!
 Becky, a sweet friend and precious hostesses...
Karen opened her home for my shower and was a terrific hostess!

Also, there was a fourth hostess, Lydia Kiddy, who is not pictured. All four of these ladies were such a blessing to me and I'm so thankful for all of their hard work and time that they put into my shower! Thank you so much sweet friends!




I'm one excited and happy Mama! Can't wait to meet this little treasure who is growing inside of me!

Kyle's parents came in town this past weekend to spend some time with us and hang out. His Mama was able to attend my baby shower with me that my church community group threw for us. We were so blessed to have his parents with us for a couple days!

 I love this picture of Kyle and his parents! It's so good of all three of them!
Kyle and I with Baby Roland at almost 35 weeks!
Mama and I
The Roland men showing some love to sweet little Miss Roland!
Great family shot! So cute!

 
How far along: 35 Weeks

Baby Size: Approximately 5 1/2 pounds! 

Baby Changes: She's still working hard to gain weight as her brain and lungs continue their development.

Baby Movements: She's not moving around much these days, however she still makes her presence know with little nudges and pressure on Mama's bladder!

Food Cravings: Still craving chicken, which is odd because I couldn't hardly stand it for most of my pregnancy! Now beef tends to turn my stomach. So funny how we change!

Sleep: Most nights I have been able to get a decent amount of sleep this past week, however, the last two nights I've been up at least 4-5 times each night to go to the bathroom. (I'm wondering if she's dropped? I need to ask next time I'm at my Midwife's appointment.)

Symptoms: Definitely still having crampy Braxton Hicks and yesterday I had one that was pretty intense. I've also begun to get shooting pains in my legs; mainly in my upper thighs which makes me wonder if she is hitting some nerve. I think it's ligament pain though.

Highlight: This week a highlight was definitely getting to be blessed by a wonderful baby shower that my church community group threw for me. It's such a blessing to be supported by friends and family and to get to rejoice in the birth of our little girl with them!

What I'm looking forward to: Watching Kyle hold his baby girl! He's so tall and handsome and will be so precious holding our wee little one! :-)