7 Months

I had my 28-week check up on Wednesday and it was another good one.  I haven’t heard back regarding my blood work for the diabetes screen, which doesn’t mean anything yet, as they told me 3-5 days.  I went in with a list of questions this week, one of which is how big is this kid?  I am starting to wonder if all of these people are right and I am packing a little line backer in there.  Dr measured and my fundus height was exactly 28 centimeters, which is right on, it should be equal to my number of weeks.  He said that I’m just going to look farther along because of my short torso, everyone carries differently, just deal with it and “stop listening to all of those idiots.”   I should, I already knew that was true, will try.

Nugget was stubborn for the nurse.  Clearly wanting to sleep and be left alone, he squirmed like mad when she went for his heart rate but stayed patient and followed him around.  Finally he stayed put, she began her count and BAM- he kicked the doppler right off my belly.  ”Okay, okay your in there and your obviously fine” she said and moved on.  We were both laughing, little stinker.  I assume he could hear the machine as it was on the counter right next to my belly.  He has been reacting to loud noise for about a week now, jumping when the dog barks and once when a co-worker sneezed close to me.     So everything else is fine, B/P, etc.   I signed up for birthing classes and was told it’s time to schedule the hospital tour and start looking into a pediatrician.  The end, it is near!

I hope everyone is wrong and the next 11.5 weeks don’t slow to a snails pace.  I say that for a few reasons, one being my comfort level is declining and I know that the worst is yet to come.  The other is I just can’t wait for him to be here.  Mike and I have lots of weekend activities planned so that should help time pass a bit and also allow us to spend some really good time together while we are still a party of 2.  We were talking on the way into work one day this week and I was expressing my excitement and he told me that we are not ready.  ”We don’t have a car seat or a stroller or diapers or sheets. When are we going to get all of that stuff?”  I laughed, since when was he keeping track of supplies? I assured him that 11 weeks is ample time to get the other things we need and not to worry.  He still seems worried.  Sounds a little like a shopping permission slip to me, he should worry more about that.

I am trying to enjoy every bit of this time before October arrives, with Mike and with Nugget inside safe and sound.  Trying not to wish my life away and fast forward to the day he is ready to come out and meet us.  Even so, I can’t help but imagine our new life with him.  I know most everything will be different but the best kind of different we can hope for.  The kind of different that fills your day dreams for 10 months, the kind that wets your eyes with fear, anticipation and joy.

82 days baby, please don’t make me wait longer than 82 days.  You hear that? He’s laughing at me right now, he’s in charge and he already knows it.  We’re doomed, and we love it!  He knows that too.

Here we are, enjoying our favorite seat in the house.

Without Words

Alright,  so tell me.  Who here has a parent or really anyone they know that would go this far to be funny?

I told you all I fell down a few days ago and that it was both hysterical and painful.  Okay no big deal,  baby is fine no harm done. 

 I come home from the gym tonight to find a package on my door step, from Dad.  Next day air?  Why, what could be so important?   Ya’ll look what he sent me!

Yeah, it’s a try of freshly made rice krispy treats!  How freaking funny is he?  And sweet is my Step Mom who had to have made them in a hurry as soon as he realized his genius?  I swear, I laughed SO hard when I opened these.  I can hardly take it…. then I calmed down and ate one.

Thanks Dad and Sue, aside from side splitting it was really thoughtful.  Love you both!

Ass over Tea Kettle

Well, you all knew it had to happen sooner or later.  I bit it, I bit it HARD!   Before I get into today’s accident let me first tell you that I had a minor one a couple weeks ago at work. I wear flip-flops everyday, OSHA be damned.  I kicked a 40 lb recovery unit (you don’t need to know what that is except for heavy and has sharp things on it to hurt you) that was in the doorway of the “candy room” at work.  It cut 3 of my toes open and broke a nail.  It hurt, it was all in the name of Laffy Taffy.   Injury was not covered by workers comp, yes I asked with that sour apple taffy in my cheek, blood dripping in my shoe.

Today’s episode is brought to you by a Kellogg Rice Krispy Treat.  I’ve been in a pair of flip-flops that I don’t wear often and had been catching the toe all day.  I knew today would break my 7 month streak of vertical living.  I could feel it people!
I retrieve my treat and as I turned to head back to my desk it started, toe caught on carpet.  I tried to catch myself with each passing step but I kept getting closer to the ground gaining momentum with each stumbling step.  Ultimately, I crashed boob first, then face into the copy machine, then in slow motion my check slid down the copy machine until I was laying on the floor.  All this time NOT dropping the rice krispy treat.  I never put my hands down.  I did not attempt to protect my unborn, rather I saved the RKT!  Could be that my boob broke the fall?  I don’t know.  I do know that the treat did not come out unscathed, it was smashed all to bits I must have held onto it for dear life.  The tops of my feet are rug burned and the skin is broken , as are my purple knees one of which bleed thru my pants.   I eased my pain with its ooey-gooey goodness.  My pride?  Well, Kellogg’s not that good

Me in 10 Seconds

Zoot did this today and invited others to join her.  This will probably only be interesting to my friends inside the box but I’m doing it anyway cause’ I like my box’d  peeps!  You all can do it too, in the comments or at you own herhangout digs.  I am going to try and do only things you don’t already know.  Like, husband, baby, dog, suburbs.  Blah- am boring!  Also, typically long winded I’m sure this will be more than 10 seconds which blows the whole idea out of the water, doesn’t it?
Have a great weekend everyone!

My neighbors may think we are squatters.  Our lawn is kept but my flowerbeds are a mess. Everything is either dead or overgrown.  Its so overwhelming I don’t know where to begin so I just weed, and weed.  It needs color!

I thought I was totally into DIY but I’m learning in this house that if I can’t fix it with a drill, a paintbrush or a lawn mower I need the yellow pages.

I believe if you do not do politics, they will do you!  

I’m the oldest of 4 girls, our age difference and my parents divorce pretty much make Nugget my 3rd child.  I hope he likes me more than my first two kids.

I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up.  I hope my Mommy shoes are a good fit.

I’m into being as healthy as I can be.  If there are 3 doughnuts in the house, I eat them.  I work at balance it does not come naturally.  Pregnancy has thrown a very large wrench at this balance.

Last year I completed training for a 10 K but chickened out and didn’t run the race.  Favorite training music, Beastie Boys.

I was bridezilla!  I choose my BM dresses and purchased them without the girls even seeing them in person, much less try them on.   I can’t believe I did that! It was an out of body experience, I am so sorry.

I have a stomach condition called Acid Peptic Disease.  My OB’s have never heard of it, every day I hope my med’s are not deep fat frying my Nugget.

I wore braces for 3 years; I got them off 18 years ago and still wear my retainers.

I spoon with a bulldog during prime-time TV.  I’m not sure who enjoys it more.

My junk drawer is organized.

I make chains when a vacation or big event is approaching. Okay, so no earth shattering confessions or anything… your turn.

Sad excuse for an Update

I’ve been sleeping a lot in the evening this week so this is all I have! 

Today is the day I have been holding my breath for.  July 19th!  Mike’s summer obligation is complete today.  I get my husband back.
   
My dining room decorating project is well underway.  There is some work remaining and it needs a few accessories to complete but it is going to be fantastic! 

My friends in NC have set the date for my shower, now I’m trying to decide how to deal with the time off at work.  I’m out of vacay but I have plenty of sick time, do you tell your boss your using sick in advance or just call in the day of??  Oh I’m so not good with lying about being ill but this boss of mine will deny time off like you asked for a bite of her sandwich.

Looking very forward to the trip to NC, the 7 hr drive in this pregnant shell of myself, not so much. 

  
Still worried about my Dr appointment next week.  I have this gestational diabetes cloud over my head…. Is it the fear of giving up chocolate cake or is it because my sister is diabetic?  Both, I think. 
The list of stuff to do before Nugget is here is not getting much shorter. I have to get cracking on the physical labor stuff ASAP; some of it is going to be a lot harder on me now.  I wish I had done more of the big jobs first.   

I want a Scooba, the Roomba for hard floors that sweeps AND mops all by itself.   The dog/cat hair tumbleweeds that form 37 seconds after I sweep the floors are maddening.  I can think of no less than 5 other things I could buy with that $300.  I’m already over it.   

We are finally getting rain!  The grass is coming back to life; we may actually get to mow it this month.  It’s been about 7 weeks since it has needed it. ’ realized this morning while looking out on the deck watching the rain, that fall is the perfect time to have this baby.  The weather will be crummy and I will probably just want to stay in anyway.  I actually get to and I will have the sweetest little cuddle partner to keep me company! It’s time to sign up for birthing class and find a pediatrician.  Any opinions on lactation classes?

 I might have gone into the nursery the other night and put baby lotion on my hands and then spent the rest of the night smelling them.

Another jerk at work asked how much longer and when I said 3 months had the pair to ask if it’s twins and then added, “You’re huge!”  Dude, don’t you think I would have mentioned that if it were?  And thanks by the way, how sweet of you to notice.

Uncovered

I typically do the belly shot the first day of the new month, so this is a week in advance.  I decided to post it today because, it’s got its own zip code now, I don’t have any streach marks (yet) and it’s been a few weeks since I mentioned how we are doing.   So here I am tonight, 26wks 6 days.  My sincere apologies for not cleaning the mirror first, I considered re-taking them but I’d have to go all the way back upstairs and get dressed.

I’m definitely over the honeymoon phase in many ways.  I have one week until I am officially in my 3rd trimester so I suppose it’s “time” to come to an end.

I’m back to needing a nap now and then on the weekends after being busy, my feet and back are both pretty intolerant of much shopping, cleaning, cooking etc.  My tailbone pain never goes away now, it used to be fine until mid morning after recovering over night but no longer.  My hips are doing okay for now, knock on wood.  My newest issue is my ribs.  My uterus is now high enough that they have started to spread and that is really  uncomfortable, by the end of the work day I’m squeezing them back in toward each other.  Thankfully he’s not kicking under them yet.   Nugget seems to be most comfortable laying across my belly rather than head up/down so I get lots of action on my sides which is sort of funny when he kicks me in the arm.  I’m feeling pregnant all the time, as in I am constantly aware of my shape and size.  No activity goes unaffected, I have had to rearrange some things on my desk so I can reach them.  The bowls on the 3rd shelf have been moved to the 2nd.  This is all sort of funny to me, squatting to pick things up with my knees apart to make room for the belly. The biggest challenge of late is adapting my favorite pain relieving yoga poses but I am getting the hang of that too.  It all becomes second nature so quickly.  I can hardly remember what life was like with a flat stomach.  Don’t get me wrong, I still want it back! For now though, I just love the “bump” and having him with me all day long.

I bought a new pillow this weekend that is literally the size of my husband but its really  helping me sleep!   I wish I had done that a few weeks ago when I started sleeping with a folded up towel propped under my belly.  Actually now that I mention that it could be the reason my hips are not currently bothering me? 

Last Thursday I started having braxton hicks!  I was very doubtful that’s what was actually going on so I asked a co-worker with a 3 year old, “I thought they came toward the end” I said.  “You are toward the end.”  She’s right!  13 weeks to go, I can hardly believe it and I can hardly wait!

Weekly Menu

 This week we’re having,

Spicy Asian Noodle and Chicken Salad- Strawberry Citrus Chicken Salad- Seared Shrimp with Cucumber Salad- Spiced Nectarine Cake.

Enjoy!

Spicy Asian Noodle and Chicken Salad

1/3 cup creamy peanut butter

1/4 cup soy sauce

2 tbs unseasoned rice vinegar

2 tbs chili-garlic sauce

1 tbl (packed) brown sugar

1 tbl minced peeled fresh ginger

3 tbl low salt chicken broth

3/4 lb linguine ( I use Plus which is whole grain)

4 cups thinly sliced cooked chicken cut into strips

2 lg carrots coarsely grated

6 green onions chopped

1 red bell pepper cut into matchstick size strips

1/2 cup fresh cilantro

 combine peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, chili-garlic sauce, brown sugar, ginger, and 3 tbls broth in processor; blend until smooth.  Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper.

Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until al dente.  Drain pasta; rinse with cold water to cool and drain again, Transfer pasta to large bowl.  Add chicken, carrots, green onions, bell pepper, and cilantro; toss to blend.  Pour dressing over and toss to coat, adding more broth by tablespoonfuls if dressing is to thick.  Season salad to taste with salt and pepper.

Strawberry Citrus Chicken Salad

This isn’t really a recipe, its just some stuff tossed together.  My measurements are approximations.  The dressing is exact.

1 lb cooked chicken breasts, cut into strips

1 pack strawberries, sliced

2 navel oranges

1/2 thinly sliced red onion

1 lg bag hearts of romaine

Dressing- Strawberry-Balsamic Vinaigrette

1 1/2 cups strawberry preserves
1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 teaspoon crushed rosemary

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Pulse all ingredients in a blender until smooth.

Seared Shrimp with Cucumber Salad

1/2 cucumber peeled, quartered length wise, and thinly sliced

1/2 small red onion, minced

1 jalapeno chili, ribs and seeds removed, minced

1 can (15oz) hearts of palm, drained and thinly sliced

1/4  cup fresh orange juice

2 tbls red wine vinegar

coarse salt and ground pepper

1 lb medium shrimp, peeled, devined and tails removed

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/4 ground coriander

1/4 dried oregano

4 tsp olive oil

In a large mixing bowl, toss together cucumber, red onion. jalapeno, hearts of palm, orange juice, and vinegar.  Season with salt and pepper, set aside

Dust shrimp with cumin, coriander and oregano; season with salt and pepper. In a large non-stick skillet heat 2 tsp oil over high heat.

Add half shrimp, cook until browned on both sides and opaque in the center, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate, repeat with remaining 2 tsp oil and shrimp.

To serve, spoon shrimp over cucumber salad.

 Spiced Nectarine Cake

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temp

3/4 cup plus 3 tbl sugar

2 large eggs

1 tbl fresh lemon juice

1 1/2 tsp finely grated lemon peel

1 1/4 cups self raising flour

 5 medium nectarines, halved and sliced

3/4 ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350′. Generously butter 9-inch springform pan. Using an electric mixer, beat 1/2 cup butter in large bowl until fluffy.  Add 3/4 cup sugar and beat until blended. Beat in eggs 1 at a time, then lemon juice and peel. beat in flour until smooth. Spread evenly in prepared pan. (batter will be very thick)

Arrange enough nectarine slices atop batter in concentric circles to cover completely; press lightly to adhere. Mix cinnamon and remaining 3 tbls sugar in small bowl. Sprinkle over cake.

Bake until cake is golden brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 1 hour.  Cut around cake to loosen; remove pan sides.  Serve cake slightly warm or at room temp.

The big 3-Ohh

7-11-77 

Well today is the day.  I’m 30 years old.  I have been thinking about this for a while now, what does it mean, how do I feel?  The answer is surprisingly simple.  I’m fine with it, I am happy with where my life has taken me, what I’ve accomplished and I think I feel my age which is quite fantastic (ignore pregnancy symptoms).  Prior to this pregnancy business I was in good shape, comfortable with myself  and getting better at excepting everything I see in the mirror.  ”They” say it’s all down hill from here (both age 30 and pregnancy) but I believe I can get most of what I had back after the baby arrives and can accept what I can’t and move on.   I don’t know, maybe 30 is the new 20?    Past years were harder, 28 in particular.  I remember so clearly feeling past my prime.  Now I say piss on society’s prime, I’m not a babe on Laguna Beach, big deal.   I’ve never even seen that show, that alone cracks me up.  I’ve grown out of my own  old demographic!  I’m a 30 year old working, married, knocked up suburbanite with the beginnings of crows feet and an alarming amount of grey hair.  Take me or leave me.   That right there, the take me or leave me is what has changed over the years.  I am living my life feeling comfortable and doing what I can to create my own happiness, that’s an accomplishment and one I am glad to say only took me 30 years to achieve.  

 Happy Birthday Me. 

 Speaking of age, is anyone else in love with Dove these days and their Pro-age line and the campaign for real beauty?  I love what they are trying to do.  Check this out…

This week’s menu

Back in the beginning of this blogging deal I created the “what’s cooking” category.  It’s since turned into a pile THIS high of recipes cut outs right here on my desk.  Never coming to fruition, tons of amazing food that sits here mocking me begging me to share with you.  So, I have an idea.  Clearly this pile system is failing us both so I think I will try to post what I’m cooking for the week in one go. I will include nutrition facts when they are available and will aim for Sunday postings.  Sound good?  Here’s your first installment.  Yes, I’m well aware that it is Tuesday. 

 Grilled Curry Chicken Salad and Pita

 4 sandwiches (1 half pita =’s 1 sandwich)

1 whole boneless skinless chicken breast halved

2 tbsp light mayo

2 tbsp nonfat plain yogurt

1/3 cup peeled, cored and diced apple

1/4 cup seedless grapes, quartered

3 tbsp diced red onion

2 tsp apple juice

1 tsp chopped fresh parsley

1 tbsp curry powder

1/4 tsp salt

2 whole wheat pita rounds cut in half

4 lettuce leaves

8 slices tomato

 Cut chicken into 1/2 inch cubes season with salt and pepper and a pinch of curry,  heat cooking oil (i love enova if you haven’t tried it yet) cook until no longer pink, stove top.   Place in bowl.  Add mayo, yogurt, apple, grapes, onion, juice, parsley, curry, salt and a pinch of black pepper. Mix. Heat pita in warm oven and serve with salad, lettuce and tomato slices.

 287 calories per half : 7 g fat: 6g fiber: 25 g carbs: 21g protein

Adobo-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin with Black Bean Pico de Gallo

serves 4 – approx 30 minutes

Pork:

6 tbsp paprika

2 tbsp freshly ground black pepper

2 tbsp coarse salt

1 tbsp chili powder

2 tbsp brown sugar

3 pinches cayenne pepper

24 oz pork tenderloin, trimmed, cut into 3-4 oz pieces

1/2 cup arugula, loosely packed

Pico de Gallo

2 cups cooked black beans ( I didn’t cook mine, didn’t want to wait for them to cool)

4 medium tomatoes, diced

1/2 cup diced red onion

1/2 cup chopped green onion

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

2 tbsp minced jalapeno pepper

2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

1 tbsp chili powder

1/4 tsp salt

 Pork- Heat oven to 350.  Mix paprika, black pepper, salt, chili powder, sugar and cayenne in a bowl.  Thoroughly rub both sides of each piece of pork with spice mixture.  heat an oven safe skillet over medium high heat and pan sear each piece of pork on both sides until golden brown (turn on your exhaust fan for this) Transfer pan to oven until pork is completely done.  * let your pork rest for a about 5 minutes before you cut into it, it keeps the juices in*

Pico de Gallo.  Combine all ingredients.  Garnish plates with arugula, add pork in equal portions and sprinkle 1/2 cup pico de gallo over the top.

246 Calories: 9 g fat: 5 g fiber: 17 g carbs: 26 g protein

Shrimp and Vegetable Salad with Roast-Tomato Vinaigrette

serves 6

4 large tomatoes (heirloom if available)

1/4 cup olive oil

6 cups fresh arugula (or salad green of your choice)

3 cups yellow and green wax beans. blanched and cut into 1/2 pieces

3 cups fresh corn, shaved from the cob

3 cups diced red bell peppers

3 cups cherry tomatoes halved

2 cups cooked shrimp

2 tbs champagne vinegar

1 tbsp finely diced shallot

1 tsp fresh parsley, chopped

Heat oven to 350. Place (large)tomatoes on a cookie sheet and brush lightly with oil. Roast 20 minutes (if your shrimp is raw add to oven in the last few minutes of roasting), then puree in a blender and strain. Cool puree. Combine next 6 ingredients in a chilled bowl and toss.  Add vinegar to tomato puree and wisk in remaining oil, shallot and parsley.  Drip 1/2 cup of vinaigrette on the inside rim of bowl and toss again.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

 191 Calories: 4.7 g fat: 7.2 g fiber: 29.2 carbs: 13.3 protein

 If you make any of these please let me know if you liked them!  All 3 of these are repeats for us so I did.   This week is all farily low carb as Im trying to stay on track with my weight gain.  Some weeks will have desserts and breakfasts so stay tuned.  And really, tell me if you like any of this.  I really love cooking and sharing!

The “t” word

I’m over it.  If one more person follows up “when are you due”  with “are you sure its not twins?” I’m going to cry.  I realize that my belly is large, and maybe even larger than the average woman for this stage?  I cannot control this people; I’m a small woman with a very short torso.  The only place for this baby to go is out.   Sure, I have my own concerns pertaining to his size and how long this little guy is going to be stuck in there after he runs out of room but I am not the first short woman ever to gestate.  Okay?  I need a t-shirt that reads “Just One” and maybe the back could read. “ DON’T touch my belly!”  What is with that? I don’t mind true friends and family, in fact I welcome it but strangers?  NO!  It happened for the first time on the plane out to Washington last week.  I hope the woman felt me flinch and took note.  Then at work this week a (male) customer came up to me in my office while I was at my desk, reached under my arm as I was typing to give it a rub.  You’re are turning me into that pregnant lady. I do understand why people want to touch it, miracle of life blah, blah, blah… but is not your permission slip to touch someone when you otherwise couldn’t get away with it.    Maybe I could just get one shirt that would cover all of this?   Moody!  
p.s. Nugget is measuring right on target, so far.   I’m sort of terrified by how big he could get by d-day… Mike is 5’7″ but was 10 lbs at birth.