Weekend Wrap-Up

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Did you have a nice weekend?  Ours was easy breezy.  I’ve gotten really good at mentally ‘checking out’ for the weekend, and I have to say – it’s so nice.  We just spend the days relaxing and soaking up our family time (and watching Parenthood marathon-style).

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On Saturday, we hit the lake.  We joined Julie and Ryan + Brittany and David for some fun in the sun.  Brittany lives off the beautiful Lake Norman.  Henry has recently decided that he is a Lake Boy, and I truly cannot keep him out of the water!  He’s getting much more confident with ‘swimming’ and has zero fear of the muddy bottom and the fish zipping between our legs.  We even paddled out 30 or 40 feet to get a closer look at a parked jet ski and two ducks.  I was impressed.  Future open water swimmer!

 

My Sunday included some family visits and some baking.

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I had an idea to make an almond butter + Greek yogurt freezer pie.  Lo and behold, after some Googling, I found that I wasn’t the first one to hit upon this idea.  But I wanted something that was basically added sugar free, I wanted a gluten-free crust, and I was searching for a chance to try some stevia baking ‘sugar.’  So this pie was born.

pie

I’m doing a review of the SweetLeaf stevia drops (which I love in my tea!) on Wednesday, and the company tossed a bag of the baking crystals in their shipment.

 

This pie turned out pretty good.  The flavor was awesome, the consistency rocked, and I liked the SweetLeaf ‘sugar’ (there was a bit of that tell-tale stevia aftertaste, so in the recipe below, I reduced the amount I used by half… a little goes a long way).  But the almond meal crust didn’t work after baking and then freezing it – it fell apart!  I followed a recipe intended for hot pies, so I think this was just effect of chilling it.  Still – the pie overall was really good, and I bet you could use a traditional premade or homemade graham cracker crust with much success!

 

Almond Butter + Greek Yogurt Freezer Pie Filling

 

  • 16 ounces plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 cup creamy almond butter
  • 3/4 tablespoon SweetLeaf Sugar Leaf (or about 3 tablespoons regular sugar)
  • 1/16 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

  • Directions:  In a blender, combine all ingredients.  Pour into crust and freeze for two hours.

 

What else?  Oh, we started to do family tea parties at night.  We all drink a non-caf tea together (Henry’s is room temp).  Gotta instill some British traditions in the kid.  It’s super cute to watch Henry navigate a tea cup – and I swear, he sleeps better at night!

tea time

And last, but CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, this weekend, I hit the “OMG I feel pregnant” marker.  We went on a 2 mile walk and I was huffing and puffing by the end.  And my thighs were BURNING. 

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I’m almost totally in maternity gear. None of my bras wrap around my ribcage. All my ‘normal’ workout gear has been pushed to the back of the drawer. Even my undies look dubiously small. I know I have so much farther to go, but… OOF! Let it be known – 18 weeks was “THAT” week.  Hooray! It’s getting uncomfortable, but it sure is exciting. Grow, baby, grow! <3 <3 <3

 

Thought of the Day:

 

“Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.” – Norman Vincent Peale

{ 16 comments }

 

  • Maryea {happy healthy mama} June 30, 2014, 8:38 am

    How cute that Henry is drinking tea. 🙂

  • Melissa @ Mel's Miles June 30, 2014, 8:47 am

    You look so cute pregnant! Cuteness must run in the family; Henry’s smile is priceless 🙂 Maybe he’ll be a triathlete like you someday!

  • Kelsey @ Ramblings of Change June 30, 2014, 9:20 am

    I love that he gets his own tea – its quite adorable! =)

  • Michelle G. June 30, 2014, 9:21 am

    What kind of tea do you drink while pregnant? I am 27 weeks along now and have avoided all herbal teas but still have a cup of regular, caffeinated black tea in the morning. I just couldn’t give that up. I really miss my evening chamomile though! And rosehip and mint!

  • Laura@SneakersandSpatulas June 30, 2014, 9:45 am

    Henry is so cute! Can he swim at all yet or does he just wear floaties and kind of kick around?

    • Caitlin June 30, 2014, 10:49 am

      Just kicks 🙂

  • Audrey @ In Shape Cupcake June 30, 2014, 10:08 am

    Mmmmm that pie looks yum!

  • amelia June 30, 2014, 10:52 am

    Great weekend! We had a fun one too. Now I’m just excited for this week, not only for the 4th, but for our next ultrasound on Thursday. Woop, 18 weeks this week too.
    Other people are starting to notice, but I swear I havent popped as much as you have. Maybe because its the first for me? I feel ya on the clothes and underwear. Especially certain workout bottoms and I’ve already purchased maternity bras. Way more comfortable!!
    Have you ever though to try Terry Walters gf almond oat crust recipe? I think that would hold up perfectly with your cheesecake, which sounds amazing!

    • Caitlin June 30, 2014, 11:29 am

      I have not tried that recipe! You will pop soon. My muscles are all like BLAH and yours as FTM right 🙂

  • Sarah @ Sweet Miles June 30, 2014, 11:05 am

    I LOVE that quote. Needed to hear that today 🙂 You look so adorable too!

  • Julie June 30, 2014, 11:18 am

    I’m also 18 weeks (although baby has consistently measured almost a week ahead, I like to go by my own calculations) and am definitely starting to feel myself dragging. I never got that burst of energy that I read about in the second tri, but I’m hoping maybe soon?

  • Nicole June 30, 2014, 12:01 pm

    How cute you guys have family tea time!
    Also, that frozen pie looks amazing. I think I’m going to try making it, but with peanut butter instead!

  • Ali June 30, 2014, 12:27 pm

    I love that you do tea time with Henry! That’s so cute.

  • Laura @ She Eats Well June 30, 2014, 1:07 pm

    Love your bump! You look great.

    I agree, a little Stevia goes a long way. I find that the liquid stevia (when I use it in coffee, tea, smoothies) doesn’t have a funny aftertaste. But some of the powdered Stevia’s I’ve used do.

  • Kristy June 30, 2014, 1:50 pm

    Does Henry just have floaties on or what is he using? Mine turns 2 next month and I was wanting something that would make it safer to be in the water, he hates his old baby float.
    Thanks!

    • Caitlin June 30, 2014, 2:07 pm

      He wears those puddle jumpers – you definitely still have to stay close but I like it because it holds him upright.

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