Creamy Garlic Pasta (aka Homemade Alfredo)

I made this pasta for dinner on Monday and it was just too good not to share or post on here so I would always remember.  I, of course, found the recipe on pinterest and it did not disappoint.  It was quick and easy too, which is always a bonus.  If I ever get to go to Italy and eat some real Italian food, I imagine that it would taste like this…

Creamy Garlic Pasta

2 tsp olive oil

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 tbsp butter

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

3 cups chicken stock

1/2 lb angel hair pasta

1 cup grated parmesan cheese

3/4 cup heavy cream

garnish with fresh parsley (optional)

 

In a pot, bring olive oil to medium-low heat.  Add the garlic and stir, allowing it to cook for 1-2 minutes.  Mix in the butter until melted.  Add salt, pepper, and chicken stock.  Raise the heat to high and let it come to a boil.

Once it is at a rolling boil, add the pasta and cook for as long as the box’s directions indicate.  Reduce the stove to medium heat and mix in the parmesan until completely melted.  Turn off the heat and stir in the cream and parsley.  Serve immediately.

Mmmm.  I’ll just go ahead and say, “you’re welcome!”

15 Weeks

June 13, 2012

How Far Along: 15 weeks

Size: Baby is the size of a navel orange… 4 in. and 2.5 oz.

New Baby Developments: Baby can move all her joints and limbs now.

Cravings: Hummus, Tacos

Aversions: Chicken

Movement: Sometimes I think I feel something, but probably not.

What I Miss: Advil

Looking Forward To: Going to the doctor next week!

Best Moment of the Week: Wearing maternity pants for the first time, and not feeling stupid!

14 Weeks

June 6, 2012

How Far Along: 14 weeks

Size: Baby is the size of lemon… 3.4 in. and 1.5 oz.

New Baby Developments: Baby is probably sucking his/her thumb and wiggling his toes.  His kidneys, liver, and spleen are doing their jobs now.

Cravings: Tacos, Beef

Aversions: Chicken

Movement: Not yet

What I Miss: Easily fitting into my jeans ;)

Looking Forward To: Feeling better everyday.

Best Moment of the Week: Telling our family and friends!  And starting the second trimester, where you are supposed to start feeling better!

Telling the BFFs

June 4, 2012

I was probably most excited to tell my two best friends about our baby.  They had been my confidants and helped keep me positive through the year of trying.  They were the only ones that knew, and it meant a lot to me that they prayed everyday for this baby.

I kept trying to get us together for ice cream or something so I could spill the beans, but there was always something going on.  So on June 4, 2012 we went to lunch.

I bought them cell phone cases and had this speech all planned to say when I gave them these:

We ate lunch and had some good old talks.  Melissa (who is having a baby in September) even gave me some pregnancy tests because she didn’t need them anymore (and they are super expensive), so I knew they didn’t suspect anything.

So after we finished eating… while we were waiting on our cheesecake… I told them I got them a present and just handed them their cases.  I totally forgot about my speech because I was so excited, and just let them figure it out for themselves.

First reactions:

Hollie even shed a little tear.  They were too cute!  It was a classic reaction and I will never forget it.  I am so super blessed to have such great friends.  Don’t know what I would do without them.

They continued to ask questions and couldn’t believe I waited so long to tell them.  Melissa even said she had just prayed over those pregnancy tests for ten minutes… ha.  It was a great lunch that I will never forget!  Makes me want to laugh and cry at the same time, even now.

Telling the Grandparents

June 1, 2012

We waited quite a while to tell anyone that we were expecting.  So, when we were ready, we definitely wanted to tell our parents first. 

My mom and dad have almost finished re-doing their entire house.  I mean they basically built a new one…. and my mom has been really stressed through the whole thing.  We didn’t get to help very much, but on Friday June 1, we headed down there to sort through some stuff.  Mom said that she would make us dinner so we came up with a plan.  Mu-ha-ha-ha

When we sat down to eat, Nate said I’ll pray and thanked God for our food before he said, “…and thank you for family and the new addition that Whitney is carrying right now. Amen”

First reactions:

They were completely shocked and it was great.  My mom threw her hands on the table and said, “No!”  Then she continued to laugh and ask questions.  My dad immediately started crying and kept saying, “wow.”

Needless to say, they were happy.  And we were happy to finally tell someone.

__________________________________________________

June 5, 2012

After we told my parents, we went over to tell Nate’s, but forgot they were at kid’s camp.  So, we knew they would be coming up close to our house to see Nate’s sister’s new baby…. and we were hoping they may want to go to dinner and we could pull the same prayer thing.  It didn’t really work out like we had hoped, but it worked out in the end.

We ended up going to Nate’s sister’s house.  We still wanted to pull the prayer thing, but Nate’s mom was busy with the baby while we prayed for the food.

I had bought a couple “Grandkids” frames.  The one for my mom had three spaces and I put pictures of Brendan, Landry, and our ultrasound.  The one for Nate’s mom had two spaces and I put pictures of Aubrey and our ultrasound.

So Nate waited basically all night to tell them, and I had no idea what he was going to do.  He ended up just giving his mom the frame.  She held Aubrey the whole time so it took a while to open it.  Then she didn’t have her glasses on, so she read the frame and didn’t get it.  She thought we were giving her the frame because of Aubrey and that the ultrasound was just an old one of her (she couldn’t see that it said “Coming 12.5.12).  There was an awkward silence (where I’m sure Nate’s family was wondering why I would frame an old ultrasound) before Nate had to say, “Actually, the ultrasound is of our baby that will be here in December.”

Then things got cleared up and Nate’s mom shed a tear, while Nate’s dad immediately called Nate’s grandparents and aunts and uncles.  I didn’t have my camera handy but managed to get this one before we headed out.  (Nate’s mom still has the baby. ha)

13 Weeks

May 30, 2012

How Far Along: 13 weeks

Size: Baby is the size of peach… 2.9 in. and .81 oz.

New Baby Developments: Baby is forming vocal cords and teeth!  Baby already has fingerprints!  And Baby’s intestines are moving from the umbilical cord to their more permanent place in the tummy.

Cravings: Tacos, Cheese Dip, Beef

Aversions: Chicken, Cereal, Sandwiches

Movement: Not yet

What I Miss: Sleeping on my stomach.

Looking Forward To: Telling our family and friends!

Best Moment of the Week: Getting to spend a lot of time with Nate at the Big Twelve Baseball Tournament!

12 Week Ultrasound

May 21, 2012

Journal Entry May 21, 2012:

Today we got to have our first ultrasound. It was an experience we will never forget. We saw the obvious outline of our baby and heard the strong heartbeat. Dr. Beeson said our baby was “text book perfect.” I was very anxious and kept having what if thoughts. Like what if we are making all this up, and I’m not really pregnant? What if they can’t find a heartbeat? It was a wonderful relief to see our healthy baby moving like crazy. I have dreamed about hanging up ultrasound pictures on our fridge for some time now, and today they are hanging there with much excitement and love!

We also didn’t have a due date nailed down, so it was great to finally have a measurement that told us I am 11 weeks and 5 days pregnant and our due date is 12.5.12. Nate was hoping for a November baby so we could all have matching birthdays, but you never know. This means that I was pregnant on our mission trip to Nicaragua. No wonder I couldn’t stop crying all week… I was also pregnant during the Ladies Retreat when I was begging God to answer my prayer for a child of my own. What a different focus that weekend would have had had I known. And lastly, I was pregnant during my attempt to run a 5K. That will always be my excuse about why I couldn’t train and run like I wanted to ;)

Nate and I are talking about when we will tell our family and friends. We think we are close to being ready to do that. I am not big on attention, so it will be hard for me to put myself out there. Nate’s sister also just had a baby on May 13, so I don’t want to take any attention away from her. Mostly, I am looking forward to telling my mom and my best friends, Hollie and Melissa. It is super hard to keep secrets from them. Especially when I know that Melissa and Hollie have been praying for this baby for over 15 months.

I already have the nursery completely done in my head. I’m ready for either boy or girl. I know that my heart longs for a daughter, but we also need a boy to carry on the McConathy name. We will have at least one more kido if the Lord allows. This time around I will be ecstatic and elated with either boy or girl.

On the clothes front, I can’t really comfortably fit into most of my pants. I bought two pairs of shorts with a stretchy band, so I have been living in those and loose fitting dresses. My plan is to only buy when I absolutely have to, but then again I have been cruising the maternity clothes on Target.com. Going to Target online or in person is always dangerous. When my bump starts getting even bigger, I will be happy to not worry about it poking out ;)

I see the doctor again in four weeks! I don’t know what that visit will entail, but I’m already excited about it.

12 Weeks

May 23, 2012

Yep, I’m gonna do the take-a-pic-every-week thing.  I think it is super neat to be able to look back and see the growth.  It truly is a miracle!  Then after the baby comes, maybe I will get motivated to shrink. ha

This is the first week where I have felt like there was even a hint of a bump, so let the pictures commence.

 How Far Along:  12 weeks

Size:  Baby is the size of plum… 2.1 in. and .49 oz.

New Baby Developments:  Most of Baby’s critical systems are fully formed!  Baby is now developing her reflexes, opening and closing their fingers and toes.

Cravings:  Tacos, Cheese Dip

Aversions:  Eggs

Movement:  Not yet

What I Miss:  Not being tired.

Looking Forward To:  Telling our family and friends!

Best Moment of the Week:  Having our first ultrasound and hearing our baby’s heartbeat for the first time.  There really is a little baby in there :)

April 23, 2012

Positive Pregnancy Test/Telling Nate Our Good News!

Journal Entry from April 23, 2012:

My heart is overwhelmed with joy! Today we found out that we will be parents! After 14 long months of trying for a baby, our dreams will finally come true. I haven’t been feeling very well the last few weeks, and after taking so many pregnancy tests with a negative result I promised myself I wouldn’t take one without signs of a pregnancy. As I thought more about my symptoms I thought it would be okay to splurge and take a test… but telling myself the whole time not to get to excited. Every time I would get a negative result I would feel so defeated, so when two pink lines popped up, I was in disbelief!

I spent my time with God that morning praising Him for His providential timing and for this precious life now growing inside of me. I am completely humbled and extremely grateful. After fearing the word “infertility” my whole adult life and getting a small taste of what it would be like to never conceive, I am more appreciative and excited than I ever thought I would be.

What a joy! What a blessing! Nate and I thank God for giving us the desires of our heart and so look forward to this next chapter of our lives. We know our lives will never be the same and can’t wait to meet our little one.

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I waited all day to tell Nate the good news.  I knew he would be just as excited as I was.  We were together all day at work and even took a trip to Target together, so it was hard not to tell him… but I wanted to do something special when he got home.

So, as I waited (not so patiently) at home, I came up with a plan.  I stopped by Homeland and got a big bun and put it in our oven.  I also made this card and sat it in the oven.

When he got home, he immediately put on his work clothes (or gym shorts and no shirt) to go mow the yard.  Before he could make it outside, I told him I made something for him and it’s in the oven.  He was like whatever and went to open the oven.  When he saw the giant bun, he understood right away that we had a “bun in the oven” and his face turned bright red and his smile filled up his whole face.  All he could say was, “really?”

After I caught this first reaction, I made him go put on a shirt. ha

 

  (I still didn’t have a camera so these were taken with Nate’s phone.) After that, he forgot about the mowing, and we abandoned our diet to eat at Johnny Carinos.  We went crazy with Italian food and even sprung for the chocolate cake!  That was one great dinner with the love of my life!

Humbled and Happy

I haven’t been able to blog lately because one thing has been on my mind.  One BIG thing!  We let the news out to the entire world today…. and we are super excited.

Nate and I have been together for over 12 years now.  In August we will have been married for 7 years.  It is a perfect time to finally add to our family.

What most people don’t know, is that we started trying in February 2011.  It was a long year of waiting for God to bless.  All of my friends got pregnant very quickly, so it was a shock when we didn’t get that positive pregnancy test right away.  We went through months of sadness, but overall we were positive and as patient as we could be.

It paid off because we have been blessed with this miracle and couldn’t be more happy!  After thinking that it may never happen for us, I am completely humbled to be able to fulfill my life’s goal of being a mother.  Waiting it out this last year has made me even more thankful and ready to face those sleepless nights.

From the beginning of this blog, I have had my future children in mind.  So get ready for lots of updates and “Baby Bliss!”  As of today, I am 14 weeks along.  Our due date is 12.5.12!