Pasta with Garlic, Lemon and Parmesan

One of my favorite easy meals to make is Pasta with Garlic, Lemon and Parmesan.  I got the recipe from http://startcooking.com/blog/107/Pasta-with-Lemon-and-Garlic but adapt it a little each time depending on what I have on hand.

What you'll need:
I've found it best to use the freshest ingredients as possible!
Olive Oil
Lemon
Garlic Cloves
Parmesan Cheese
Pasta Noodles
Optional - fresh veggies (I've used asparagus, brocolli), parsley

Boil noodles.  While noodles are cooking, prep the remaining ingredients.  Remove the zest from the lemon. Juice the lemon.  Mince the garlic.
Once the noodles are cooked, drain and set aside.  (You can retain a cup of the water to add to the noodles later if needed, I typically do not need it)
Saute garlic in olive oil.  I've found you can use a little or as much of all of the ingredients as you like.  I prefer more garlic and olive oil to lemon juice and zest (but that's me ;-)  You don't want to brown the garlic, just saute for a minute or two on med heat.  Add the noodles, and mix to coat.  Turn off the heat.  Add lemon zest and juice (again, as much or as little to your tastes).  Toss to coat.
Serve up with grated Parmesan cheese.

 The pasta is good by itself, with bread or with a side salad or adding to a meat entree.  Below we served up some meatballs (thank you costco ;-) and a side salad!  Makes for an easy weeknight, light supper!

21 Weeks

How far along:  21 Weeks

Baby's size: About 8 inches, 1 lb!!! A pound!!!  The size of a spaghetti squash!

Sleep: no changes, still up several times a night!

Maternity Clothes: Still wearing my 'regular' clothes.  And by regular clothes, I mean skirts with elastic waists!!!  Definitely not wearing my skinny jeans these days!  

Food cravings: I'm doing pretty good the last couple weeks.   

Food aversions: Nothing at the moment 

Symptoms I have:  Feeling great!

Doctor’s Appointment: May 8th

Movement: Feeling flutters fairly consistently!  Baby seems to be most active in the morning (could be my half cup of coffee with lots of creamer ;-)

Belly Button: Innie, although it's getting pretty shallow

Gender: Unknown and keeping it that way!

What I’m looking forward to: We're starting to get the room cleared out for the nursery.  We've chosen a few sample colors to paint!  Can't wait to see it all come together!

What I miss: A few things here and there, but the excitement of feeling my little one fluttering around outweighs anything that I might be missing these days!!!

post-evening walk

20 weeks

How far along: 20 weeks Weeks

Baby's size: About 7 inches and 11 ounces... the length of a banana.

Sleep: still waking up multiple times a night, I think this is my life for a while... and I'm ok with that!  Weekend afternoon naps are a must right now though!

Maternity Clothes: Still wearing my regular clothes, mostly dresses and skirts.  I've bought one pair of maternity jeans, which have been a godsend on cooler days!

Food cravings: My appetite has curbed a little this past week.  

Food aversions: Doing good so far!

Symptoms I have:  Belly has been growing and I can feel some stretching here and there.

Doctor’s Appointment: Next month!

Movement: I felt little baby flutters for the first time this past Friday.  Z was running errands, and I was home alone lying on the couch and talking to my belly a little and out of nowhere I felt a little flutter, like a butterfly in my belly!!!  Been feeling flutters off and on since!  Z was excited to feel, but still too soon.  Our little one is very active though and I know it won't be long before Daddy can feel his baby too!

Belly Button: Innie.

Gender: Unknown and keeping it that way!

What I’m looking forward to: Being a mommy!  Everyday I get more excited about meeting my little boy/ girl!!!

What I miss: Nothing much these days, feeling pretty good and very blessed!  I have a wonderful husband and a healthy growing baby!  Yay!

Crossed legs and little feet

19 weeks

How far along: 19 Weeks

Baby's size: About 6.5 inches long and 10 oz. The size of a mango!  Follow up w/ Doc yesterday, told us the ultrasound estimated 9 oz!

Sleep: I only woke up once last night!  I could start to get used to this... at least a night or two a week!!!

Maternity Clothes: Skirts, Skirts and more Skirts!  Elastic elastic elastic!

Food cravings: Pasta, salads, fruit

Food aversions: still doing good, no aversions so far this trimester!

Symptoms I have:  Still have a few aches here and there, belly is really starting to expand these past few weeks.

Doctor’s Appointment: Follow up on the anatomy ultrasound shows everything looks perfect!  Yay!

Movement: Nothing definitive yet, sometimes I think I feel something... but am not positive.  Ultrasound showed that our little one is on the move quite a lot... thinking I'll know what I feel anyday now!

Belly Button: Innie.

Gender: Unknown and keeping it that way!

What I’m looking forward to: Still looking forward to feeling my little baby moving inside of me!

What I miss: Watched a movie the other night and they were drinking martinis... Mmmm Extra Dirty Martini with extra olives, please!

18 weeks

How far along: 18 Weeks

Baby's size: About 5.5 inches long and 7 oz. The length of a bell pepper!

Sleep: I only woke up once in the night on Saturday, but it didn't last.  Still up 2-3 times a night!

Maternity Clothes: Wearing lots of skirts with elastic waistbands, thankfully the weather is starting to warm up!

Food cravings: Mexican Food :-) always!  Fruit

Food aversions: Not much at this point!

Symptoms I have:  Tummy has had a few aches here and there, I think baby is stretching out!

Doctor’s Appointment: Had an ultrasound last Friday!  Baby was stubborn and wouldn't give us a profile shot!

Movement: Thinking I feel little flutters here and there, but am still unsure if it's baby

Belly Button: Innie.

Gender: We're still waiting for delivery!  Although I'm thinking boy pretty strongly at this point!

What I’m looking forward to: Still looking forward to feeling my little baby moving inside of me!

What I miss: Sushi, Microbrews, wine