Instagram Download / Upload / Photo Dump

If you don't follow me on Instagram (polkadotsouper), you're missing out. LOL. There's an awesome website called Instaport that allows you to export your Instagram photos to your computer using a variety of sorting methods. It's free and I've had great luck with it. Here are some recent shots from my Instagram feed for your viewing pleasure:

A fun day in class: we made our own cave drawings

Colourful cucumber, cheddar and tomato kabobs that I made for a baby shower

Fall leaves, bright tights, and comfy round-toe cowboy boots

Fall's the ideal time for cardigans and stripes. No, wait - anytime is perfect for that!

A local menu described bacon as "man candy" on my menu, but not Dan's

Cheery scarves and a new do for fall

Lovely original artwork from a classmate/friend

Lunch date with the hubs

Waiting for my car repair shuttle at the school's front doors

We had to say goodbye to my family's dog last week after twelve+ years

A simple new decor addition to the kitchen: our framed initials

Are you on Instagram? Have any favourite photo editing apps? Share your username in the comments and I'll follow along!

Happy Thursday!

Little Lentil : 17 Weeks

I'm just taking a quick break from school assignments (boy - there are tons at this time of year) to pop in and share my weekly pregnancy update. Here are the facts for this week:

Week: Seventeen - three weeks to halfway!

What's going on inside: The baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord is growing stronger and thicker. They can move their joints, is developing some body fat, and their sweat glands are starting to develop. The baby is also practicing swallowing and sucking. Amazing!

What's going on outside: It took me a little longer than normal to recover from a weekend away this time. I'm dreaming like crazy, but still enjoying my sleeps. If I stand up too quickly or awkwardly, I get sharp pains below my stomach, due to the round ligaments growing and stretching (so happy it's not something to worry about!) I'm starting to get some back pain, but nothing that I can't tolerate.

Oh, hey baby! You look a little like an onion.

How big is that lentil? The baby weighs about as much as a turnip (5 oz) and is 5 inches long from head to bum. They're about the size of an onion, or the palm of your hand.

Total weight loss/gain: No weight gain - at my doctor's appointment this afternoon I was down another pound. I'm down about 20 pounds since the early weeks.

Food cravings: None so far - I did enjoy several delicious meals while in Halifax over the weekend. They were foods and restaurants that I'd crave anytime, preggo or not :)

Best moment this week: So many great moments this week! I spent the weekend in Halifax for my birthday and got to see some special friends that I miss dearly. Today, I had my doctor's appointment and heard the baby's heartbeat, loud and strong (so much louder than my last appointment!). The doctor was giggling at how active the baby is - and she said that I should be able to feel it any day!

Happy Wednesday!

Multitude Always

I know that it isn't Monday, and I'm not sharing ten things that I'm thankful for, so this isn't a Multitude Monday post. However, I did snap these photos on Monday of four little things that brighten up my day, and I think that's worth sharing here. 

This week, I'm thankful for:

Albums with lovely cover art and tunes to keep me company

Watching the fog slowly dissipate on my morning drive to school

Getting a parking spot in the paved parking lot at school (this is a rarity)

Carrying all of my extras in to school in the pretty Trader Joe's bag that Ashley gave to me

It was a dark, gloomy morning on Monday (heck, almost every morning has been lately!) and I needed to take my mind out of the mopey state that it was in. Taking a moment to take these photos worked like a charm :) It's so easy to slip into a daily routine and feel less than satisfied by the mundane tasks and easily irritated when things don't go according to plan. Sometimes, in order to turn a day around, you need to take a step back and look at the big picture; other times, you need to step in a little closer and examine those tiny things that make you smile. You can see God's love and mercies all around you - in the little and big things. It's so easy to lose focus of that fact.

I hope my few words help you to look at the little things in your day today that made you smile or gave you a moment of thankfulness. Have a lovely evening!

Scenic Cape Breton Adventures

When transferring some photos off of my phone to my laptop, I noticed that there were so many beautiful shots of Cape Breton and adventures that we took in the recent past. I thought that I'd share a few with you, straight from the camera phone. What a lovely place to call home!

Dan and I took a little drive after work/school in October and came across the most serene cove decked out in autumn colours and a hint of fog. I got him to turn around and pull over so I could capture the moment. While we were pulled over, a tour bus went by and I was envious of the passengers: what a great time of the year to tour through Cape Breton!

Back in October, Dan, Rachel and I took our friends to the Skyline Trail, as this is their first year living in Cape Breton and had never done the hike. We took a few photos and fought the wind. We forgot about the difference in temperature further north, so it was a bit chilly without a hat, mitts, or scarf. It was my first time doing anything very physical after being so sick, but I took it nice and slow and had a great time!

How about you? Go on any fun adventures over the past few months? Do share!

Happy Thursday!

Little Lentil : 16 Weeks

Time sure is flying by! Here's my week 16 pregnancy update on the little bean:

Week: Sixteen

What's going on inside: Big milestone this week: the baby can hear! It's toenails are growing, and their scalp hair patterns are starting to form. The baby's little heart is pumping blood like crazy (about 25 quarts a day) and the facial features are getting more and more baby-like. 

What's going on outside: Feeling really good this week! I've decreased my medication, and even the evening sickness is getting a bit better. I'm loving leggings and stretchy waistbands... gotta love the fact that they're currently in style. I'm supposed to be transitioning to sleeping on my side, and it's a big adjustment (I'm normally a belly sleeper.)

How big is that lentil? The baby's the size of an avocado this week: about 4.5 inches long (from head to bum) and 3.5 oz.

Total weight loss/gain: No weight gain. I'm down about 20 pounds since the early weeks.

Food cravings: No cravings. I am hungry all the time, but as soon as I start eating, I lose my appetite. Trying to make my food choices positive ones.

Best moment this week: Learning that our baby can hear now! I'm ready to crank my favourite tunes so this kiddo comes out with a great taste in music ;) I took a glance through the baby section of our new Target this week and it felt really strange, but fun at the same time.

Guess what? I'm going to share a belly pic this week! Being conscious of my weight for as long as I can remember makes this part of pregnancy feel a little strange. Instead of belly chubs, having a baby belly is a bit mind-bending and is taking some serious mental work to get past. I wouldn't mind a prayer or two said on my behalf about those concerns, as selfish as it may seem be. Understandably, fitted stretchy shirts make the belly more prominent and I don't really have a loving relationship with that fit, lol. In the evenings my belly seems to grow exponentially. I won't be sharing weekly photos, but here and there I'll give a glimpse at my growing figure :) 

Happy Wednesday!

Little Lentil : 15 Weeks

I missed yesterday's weekly pregnancy update but a day late doesn't change the facts :) Each week, I've been sharing what stage of pregnancy I'm in so you can follow along on our baby's progress. Only five more weeks until we're halfway there! Here are a few of this week's facts:

Can you believe I've got a navel orange-sized baby inside me?!

Week: Fifteen

What's going on inside: The baby's legs are now longer than their arms, and all of their limbs have functioning joints. They're moving around like crazy in there, but I can't feel it yet. They can have hiccups now, as well. 

What's going on outside: I should be able to feel the baby between 16 and 20 weeks, so it's coming soon. I've had a few headaches over the past week, but an extra hour or two of sleep seems to be the solution. Since my energy levels have been back up a bit, I'm hoping to get outside for a few walks this week and enjoy the crisp fall air. Bit by bit, I'm gaining a baby belly instead of just regular belly chubs. :)

How big is that lentil? The baby's the size of an orange this week: about 4 inches long (from head to bum) and 2.5 oz.

Total weight loss/gain: No weight gain. I'm down about 20 pounds since the early weeks.

Food cravings: Not sure if it would be considered a craving, since I always love it, but I'm constantly wanting orange juice and any citrus flavours. I've been munching on clementines like nobody's business, and trying to keep my water intake up. My doctor recommended getting lots of protein, and that's something that I'm struggling with a bit.

Best moment this week: Having a moment to chat with another preggo chick about just how crazy this whole process is! Also, Dan and I are pretty close to deciding on our boy and girl name combinations for first and middle names. Exciting!

Happy Wednesday!

In the Kitchen : Dessert Inspiration

This upcoming long weekend is our church's annual Bible conference. This year, part of my responsibilities in the preparations is making three desserts to bring to one of the meals. I've been searching through my recipe books and various web sources to find the ideal dessert: eye-catching, economical, easily accessible ingredients, quick, and most of all - delicious! Here are a few recipes that have caught my eye. Be prepared to wipe the drool off of your keyboard.

(All images that are used in this post have been properly sourced and credited to their owner. Smart sharing matters!)

image via How Sweet Eats

Always a source of delicious goods and serious eye candy, How Sweet Eat's Cannoli Tart looks scrumptiously smooth with a hint of chocolate.

image via Smitten Kitchen

Another source of yummy recipes, Smitten Kitchen's Pear Cranberry and Gingersnap Crumble looks like it's a snap (hehe, get it? Snap? Gingersnap? Okay, I'll stop.) to make with tasty results.

image via Reluctant Entertainer

Sometimes a simple layer cake can be a showstopper. This Banana Walnut Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting from Reluctant Entertainer has my tastebuds tingling!

image via 101 Cookbooks

Switching things up a bit with this recipe, 101 Cookbook's Red Fruit Salad is simple, fresh, and easy. The vibrant fruit is eye-catching and the simple salad is a nice gluten-free dessert option.

I contacted the blogger at The Little Kitchen but didn't hear a response as to whether or not I could share her recipe's photo. Regardless, umm, hello? The Little Kitchen's Chocolate Chip Mocha Cookie Dough Brownies sound deadly! A few more steps in this recipe, but it looks well worth it.

Those are a few of the dessert options that I'm playing with for the weekend. Thankfully, I have Friday off from school, so I'll have the afternoon free to crank the tunes and get messy in the kitchen. Do you have any favourite dessert recipes? Do share!

Happy Thursday!

(P.S. I'm hungry this evening and decided to be adventurous with my supper menu, too. I have cream cheese, mushroom and thyme stuffed chicken breasts that I wrapped in bacon (I couldn't resist buying bacon at the grocery store - craving, perhaps?) baking in the oven and filling my kitchen with delicious goodness. Paired with a veggie-hearty pasta salad, I can't wait 'til suppertime!)

Little Lentil : 14 Weeks

The weeks are flying by! This week, I've hit the second trimester, which I only realized last night! I'm sharing each week of my pregnancy here on the blog, in an effort to keep track of weekly progression. Here are this week's fun facts:

Week: Fourteen

What's going on inside: The baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck their thumb!  Their liver and spleen are now in high gear, producing bile and red blood cells, respectively. The baby is also developing a fine covering of hair all over.

What's going on outside: My energy levels are slowly returning. I haven't had to have a nap the past few days, but when my head hits the pillow each night, I'm out cold. I've started to notice my mood changing - for the previous weeks, I've felt almost cool/indifferent most of the time, but the past three days I've been a little out of sorts. Having quiet time at home seems to help.

How big is that lentil? The baby's about the size of a lemon. That's crazy!

Total weight loss/gain: I've lost a few more pounds since my last weigh-in. Katie's Guide to Weight Loss, Step One: get preggo. LOL... 

Food cravings: None. I hope that my appetite starts increasing soon, I'm eager to start adding more fruits, veggies, and protein to my diet. For now, I'm trying to eat a balanced supper meal and keep my snacking healthy (minus yesterday's milkshake, which I immediately regretted!).

Best moment this week: It may sound funny, but last night it really hit me that Dan and I are having a baby. I'm so glad that he's the one I get to share this incredible life-changing experience with.

Happy Tuesday!

Multitude Monday

My, my, it's been a while since I did a Multitude Monday post! Time to get back into the swing of things. What is Multitude Monday, you may ask? Each week month Monday I remember, I try to document ten things that I'm currently thankful for. It's a great way to start the week, and to reflect on the positives of the week past. It's so easy to get bogged down with the daily grind, and Multitude Monday helps to combat the crankies.

Totally unrelated to this post. No apologies, I just love the angle I was able to capture this plane at. That is all. :)

Ready? Here we go! This week, I'm thankful for:

681 - getting to see my little nieces for a few minutes last week and celebrating Belle's 1st birthday!
682 - having a fun class potluck filled with lots of laughs and yummy food and a class trip to a local screenprint shop last week - lots of breaks from normal class time.
683 - hearing our baby's heartbeat for the very first time!
684 - slowly getting my head wrapped around the fact that we are indeed having a child. Mind-blowing.
685 - a visit to the hairdresser and a new do that's totally outside of my comfort zone - but I love it, it's growing on me!
686 - shopping at several local craft fairs and a community market with my friend Meghan and my mom all afternoon on Saturday.
687 - cozy evenings in, doing nothing but relaxing on the couch with a couple of candles burning (preferably with a clean kitchen, free of dirty dishes)
688 - a snuggly pair of flannel pajamas, fresh from the wash, on a stormy fall evening in.
689 - two gift certificates for supper out that I discovered when I cleaned off the top of the refrigerator!
690 - Dan hanging much-needed hooks beside our entrance. Now my purse has a place to go, and when company comes, they can feel free to hang their coats up themselves.

How about you? What are you currently thankful for? Anything that you're excited about for the upcoming week? Do share!

Happy Monday!