Kicking it

I am so awed and thankful to be preparing to welcome another child into my family in just a few months. Life really is a miracle.

One of the things I've been doing during this pregnancy that I didn't do (but should have done) when I was pregnant with Levi is counting kicks. The baby is supposed to move at least 10 times in an hour (after you're far enough along), so you pick a time and count the movements. This baby (let's call him Stevi for now, since we don't have a name for him yet) usually gets the 10 kicks in five minutes or less, and keeps kicking after I've counted 10 kicks. Granted, I do wait to start counting until I feel him moving first. I remember Levi kicking, but I don't remember the frequency or the quantity of kicks. I'm glad I'm doing counting and that I've written about it here. So at 30 weeks, little Stevi likes to move!

One thing that happened yesterday is that Stevi pushed on me with his hand (or foot, but I think it was his hand), so much so that I was able to push back and feel the knob of his little hand under my skin. It was like he gave me a high five! It was pretty sweet.

Other things that are different this time around are: 1) I've experienced heartburn (blech!), 2) I've experienced a lot more physical discomfort, and 3) people ask me how far along I am before I mention that I'm pregnant (I'm not sure if this is a location thing or if it's because I'm showing more this time).

Kielbasa and pasta quick dinner

I was incredibly hungry today when I set out to make dinner, so I was pretty motivated to make something quick and easy. We had some kielbasa in the freezer, so I decided to do a pasta dish with it. I ended up making a thin red sauce to go with it as well, and it turned out really well! Levi ate everything, too; he usually only likes the sausage in the sausage dishes I make. The recipe is very simple:

1 box angel hair pasta
1 kielbasa sausage (14-16 oz)
1-2 tsp cooking oil (I used canola)
1/2 small can (8 oz) tomato paste
1 C water
Garlic to taste
Pepper to taste
salt to taste 

Cook angel hair pasta according to package directions; drain. 

Meanwhile, slice sausage and brown with oil in a large frying pan on the stove. After sausage is browned, add the 1/2 can of tomato paste and 1 C water. Stir together until smooth. Add seasonings; let simmer for 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir into pasta. All done!

I served baked beans with the meal as well as a side of vegetables. The beans went really well with this dish. I've been thinking that a few additions might make this dish a little more interesting, such as sauteing sliced onions, bell peppers, or mushrooms along with the sausage.