I loved food before I was pregnant. But, since making it through that first trimester I have realllllllly loved food. Every meal is just so good. I know it must sound like the goofiest thing! I'm just enjoying this whole new appreciation for all kinds of food!

I pack most of my cooking into weekends since weeknights seem to get so full with work, errands, and social commitments. Here are a few recipes I'm making this weekend (and one I made this past week!) that you might enjoy, too!

1. I'm making this carrot cake for Andrew's birthday. His actual birthday is Tuesday but we're celebrating a little early with my family tomorrow after church. I've made this cake a few times and it is hands down the winner of the most compliments from my husband. A few nights ago he asked if I might make make this for his birthday. Well, twist my arm! Yes, goodness! He asks for so little. And, if I'm honest, we BOTH love this cake. :)

2. This egg salad. Oh my heavens, you will love it (If you're into egg salad. Which I am.)! I made this earlier last week (doubled the recipe) and had egg salad sandwiches every day for lunch. I love the addition of the cherry tomatoes...so tasty.

3. Andrew and I are in a couples small group that meets twice a month at rotating houses. Earlier this month the couple that hosted served this chili. And my life has never been the same. I begged them for the recipe and they kindly shared the link with me. This is so easy to throw together...perfect for the Super Bowl weekend!

4. I've never made a pot roast, but I feel like Ree Drummond's Perfect Pot Roast might be the place to start. I'm serving it for Sunday lunch tomorrow...hoping it's as easy as Ree's photos make it look! (Don't you love picture tutorials?)

What are you cooking these days? I would love to hear some of your favorite recipes!

Letters to Baby Fossen // Volume 1

21 weeks pregnant! // Rifle Paper Co. iPhone case // Target Maternity sweater

Dear Baby Fossen,

You precious lamb! We can hardly wait to meet you! We're over the halfway point now! Soon it will be Maytime and we will be meeting you face to face. What an overwhelmingly happy moment that will be.

You are prayed for and loved and wanted far beyond anything we could express. Your Dad and I are SO excited to be your parents. We feel a bit daunted at the idea, too. We're going to be parents? Isn't that something that, like, older people do? :) This whole thing feels a bit surreal and wonderful.

Even feeling you move (which I've just started to feel...and recognize!) is surreal! Your movements are miraculous! There you are...still such a tiny creature...fashioned by the hand of a loving God...moving and flipping and stretching. You do your thing, Baby Fossen. Be all that He's made you to be!

We are filled with so much wonder about you. We wonder, will you be a boy or a girl? Will you like farming? Will you be mesmerized by the sound of the ocean the way we are? Will you enjoy music? And if you do, will you lean more toward Bruce Springsteen (that'll be your Dad's genes), or Bach (that will be mine)? We wonder what color your hair will be and if you'll have blue eyes or brown (or green?). We wonder whether you'll be introverted or extroverted, whether you'll like engineering or the arts, whether you'll feel more at home in the country or the city. We wonder and wonder and are filled with wonder.

We pray so many things for you. Your Dad prays for you and it melts my heart whenever he does. We pray that you'll be healthy and strong, and that you'll come to know God in a personal way. Our hearts are always restless until they find their rest in Him. We pray that you'll recognize that all of life points to the wonder and magnificence of a Creator God, and we hope that you'll come to know and love Jesus in a deeply personal way. 

We adore you. We can't wait to meet you! You are a gift from God and already we treasure you so immensely. Baby Fossen, we love you!

Hugs and kisses galore,

Your Mom (and your Dad, too!)

Baby Fossen!

Happy new year! I'm back after a few months of radio silence! I promise I have a good excuse...Andrew and I are expecting Baby Fossen!!! We are so over the moon excited...and elated...and happy...and thrilled! :) We're due in May! Yesterday I celebrated the halfway mark at 20 weeks. I've been feeling great (once I made it through that first trimester!). Honestly, I feel so thankful to be feeling as good as I do. The last few months have just flown by, and we're eagerly anticipating these next 20 weeks!

Baby Fossen, you are a gift from God and we can't wait to meet you!

Our Bermuda birth announcement! :) Celebrating the new year with an 18-week baby bump...

Our nursery chair! A Craigslist gem! I think Admiral Byrd is going to adjust to Baby Fossen just fine. :)

Sis took this photo of Andrew and I in October at our local Farmer's Market. We had told her we were pregnant (because it is impossible for me to keep a secret from my Sister!), but we hadn't shared the news with everyone else yet!