mmmmm'mmmmm good

Food is good. Wait, let's rephrase that... good food is great!


I've always been food conscious, and preferred the natural healthy snacks to the packaged preservative stuffed junk food. Working at Trader Joe's for a few years really helped to educate me and solidify both how and why I choose to fuel my body the way I do. Don't get me wrong though... a sugary breakfast and decadent dessert is still my favorite!

Entering the 3rd trimester, the books tell me Omega 3's are the most critical now and the first month that little Peanut is here - as that is when his brain is developing the most. So tonight, I challenged Rachel Ray to my own 30 minute meal: Salmon, Kale, Mashers, and Tomatoes.

The wild Alaskan salmon was seasoned with some delicious bar-b-q spices (ok, i cheated at this part - Costco sells these individually wrapped in the frozen section and it is AWESOME! From freezer to table, you're only 28-32 mins max!). Line a small baking dish with foil for easy clean up (this is a must learn trick, I was late in the game in getting this down, but it is HUGE timesaver later on. hee hee). Plop it in the oven for 28 mins and start the next project...

Next, cut up some baby red potatoes (I love these for many reasons: you don't have to peel them, they look pretty with colors, and it just feels like home), boil'em up, mash'em down with some milk, a little butter, and some pressed garlic.

While the salmon was baking, I de-bibbed the Kale. I have no idea if that is even a culinary technique, let alone a word, but Rachel makes up her own words on her show all the time so I figured all was fair in this game. De-bibbing in my kitchen is simply cutting the dark green leaf away from the bitter spine. You DEFINATELY do not want to eat that part. :X Toss the leafy strips into a skillet, pour 1/4 cup of water over it, top it with the lid and let it simmer... Oh, and just in case you were wondering why it is important to wash each leaf individually before cooking it (rather than just rinsing a fist-full at a time) is because little critters sometimes live in the leaves, in your fridge, and survive, for up to 4 days... I patiently waited for the little, and I'm sure very cold, lady bug crawl onto my hand so I could carefully release him (he was big - and HAD to be a grandpa for sure!) onto my garden on the balcony.

Potatoes boiling, Kale steaming, Salmon Baking... time to assemble the finishing touches. Chop up a tomato, roll a lemon, grind the salt and grind the pepper. The kale finished first, so I drained the water and sprinkled it with the salt, pepper, lemon juice, and tossed in a few tomato cubes. mmmmm.

Made for a super yummy, full of nutrients, and easy dinner. Oh, and clean up - 3 mins (and that included adding the soap to the dishwasher). If I can pull this off, anyone can. :)   (Sorry for the pic, meal had started to be gobbled down before it dawned on me... this was totally blog worthy and i should take a pic).

The Crib!

Tonight was awesome. We picked out a crib. A CRIB. I cannot believe it. Reality is hitting stronger and stronger everyday now. My belly is, well, full. And it moves all the time with little bumps and shakes that make it contort into strange shapes even when I'm relaxed. I stare at it and try to comprehend there is a little boy inside me making all of this happen. And I am in awe.

Between now and June, Rich is only going to be "home" for a few days so we're trying to make the most of it by getting the nest ready. After work, we ventured off to Babies R Us to check out the options and do the research on car seats, strollers, cribs, etc... and start the registry. Holy overwhelming!!!  There is SOOOOO much in that store, we were super lucky the girl getting us set up was honest  with "don't really bother to go into that section, you don't need any of it. Definitely select a few of these, you'll use 3 a day. Start here, and don't even think of going into this section without help" type comments. She was great. :)

So we started in the nursery section... looking for the "underwater sea beach" theme. We came upon one set that we both loved. It was fresh, soft pastel colors of blues, greens, tans, and simply adorable. Very white too. Seeing it set up as one of the displays, I asked Rich if he could see his son in there. He teared up. I smiled. We thought we had it picked out until we got to the next row. Then there it was!!! The best of everything! Boats, underwater creatures, monkeys, and dark colors! After looking at it for a while, we came to the conclusion this would adapt better into toddler years. 

and even better... is was displayed on the crib we wanted so we could "see what it looked like on" :D

What makes this crib so great (besides it's beautifulness and sleekness), is it converts to the toddler bed (with the bar so he can't roll out), then a day bed, and eventually a full size bed. Now, in all attempts to be realistic, will it make it that far? Probably not without dents and scratches and stickers and markers... but it will be his art work, that he'll get to live with for many years to come. :)

Feeling rather accomplished, we moved into more of the necessities to go with the bed... the mattresses. Rich was a sport to make sure it was good and strong.

We didn't get much done after the bedding as the store was closing... so when he finally gets home again our "date night" will be to finish selecting the items to build our little man's castle. I can't wait. :)

But even more... I can't wait to get into our new home so we can start putting the nursery together.

It will be here so quickly!

A Working Mom and Sadie's Adjustment

This is my view today.

This is what I see all day - my belly and my laptop.

And my adorable little Sadie.

I don't know what is going on with her beard here... perhaps she's attempting to grow a combover? Or just trying to tell me it is time to visit the salon :)

She is funny. She knows something is going on, but has no idea what. But she already has some sense and understanding of "off limits". This began a few months ago when I brought home fabric to sew baby blankets. Even laid out on the floor, she would not walk on the fabric, but would only curiously look at it, and then walk around it. :)

She always used to just jump up on the sofa and snuggle next to me. Now she waits for me to say it's ok. I didn't teach her this, she is doing it on her own. :)  Last night was hilarious though. I've been spending most of my "sitting" time on the long sofa where she has plenty of room to stretch out next to me. Last night I was sitting in the chair. The last time we snuggled in the chair my belly was only just a bump. So when I encouraged her to jump up with me, she eagerly took flight... but mid-air (I kid you not) she saw the belly and literally tried to slow down. It was the most hilarious image! And when she landed, she slid, trying to turn and not crash into this object that was now occupying where she usually sat. Once she arrived, she looked so puzzled as she looked at me, then at my belly, then at me, as if to say "Where is that from, and what is it doing in MY seat?" I laughed, hard. She eventually settled down in the now small space between me and the arm and was content to lay her head on my leg. I'll take any Sadie snuggle I can get, and I think she feels the same.

I treasure the time I can take her to the dog park. I know it's going to be a lot harder once Peanut arrives, and not knowing where we'll be living I'm not sure if we'll go to her beloved San Elijo Hills dog park. She knows the route and when we make the first right turn to head in that direction she gets very excited. And so do I.

St Partrick's Day Tradition

Corned beef, cabbage, carrots, and potatoes.

Mmmmmm.

While wearing green, I started my day putting the beef in the crock pot. That is a new gadget to me, but one that will soon become my new best friend I think. Rich had been gone on a business trip (shocker) and was coming home at 7pm so I wanted to surprise him with a fun traditional meal! I had no idea how it would turn out... or if he'd like it, but I was excited to give it a try.

The meat simmered all day, and filled this little home with the most yummy smell! I loved it!!! Knowing I need to practice having meals at a routine time, I've been making a valiant effort to do this. So after I closed up work for the day, I tossed in the potatoes and set the table. Just before I left for the airport to get Rich, I added the carrots, and cabbage.

And it turned out fabulously!!! As soon as we walked in the door, everything was ready to go!

While Rich unloaded his bags, I plated up the super tender meat (drool).

All in all, I was pretty pleased with how it turned out and was super happy for the leftovers... :)

The Trailer of Peanut!

I had no idea my insides were ticklish. My outside skin is not too bad... I might squirm with the occasional pedicure when they "buff" the arches... but oh my - i have a little pogo stick inside me that cracks me up and makes me physically shift positions when I can't stand it anymore. I think he's playing with me... he knows that soon i will be tickling him and will have the advantage. Yep, he's a smarty already (i like to think!).

This last week, while I as in Denver, it was late and the Olympics were on in the background in my hotel room, and I was getting caught up on work emails and he was super active - more than usual. I looked away from the glowing screen on my propped-up legs and looked down and my belly. Just to the right of my belly button (which seems to get smaller, or shallower, everyday now) I watched this pulsing movement as it paired with the tickle inside. I was watching him move on the outside. Here it was, for others to see the results of his movement within me. And I laid my hand across that spot to feel it. FINALLY. Others can finally feel this little miracle inside me. It is so funny how this confirmation "makes it real."

When I got to Phoenix for the weekend, Tyia was the first to feel him, but it was so soft and gentle. Nothing like that night in the hotel. Mom got to feel on little poke the next night, but again, nothing strong like it had been.

My bladder seems to get the majority of the targets these days. It doesn't hurt - but it is such an awkward and distracting feeling. I don't hold a poker face very well, so everyone seems to know when he's on the trampoline. :)

I am loving being pregnant. Every single minute of it.

Last night, Rich got to feel his son move for the first time. He was stronger and consistent. Multiple ninja kicks were proudly delivered right into his daddy's fingers. It was so fun. Rich got to feel him wiggle again this morning. I'm so glad!

This afternoon we had our monthly prenatal visit and got a little surprise. The ultrasound machine we used earlier this month to "witness" his manliness was broken and unable to print. So our Dr. today gave me a wink and took us back into the magic room. The machine started out in the 3-d mode. Instantly, on this big flat screen was my son and his perfectly round little face with eyes and ears and a nose and lips and a hand that kept brushing under his nose and fat little arms and the umbilical cord. There are no words to describe this moment! The first time you see your 22 week old son, the size of an 8 inch spaghetti squash and weighing 1 pound, in a real people suit with real people features and movements - there are no words in this earthly language. I was blown away. 

He made his debut on You Tube though. Even though he won't be here for another 4 months... click the link for the TRAILER of what is coming. I simply have no words for this... only a grin a mile wide.

Watch Peanut Here

To celebrate these milestones, we went to our favorite Thai restaurant and I ordered extra spicy, just to see how he'd do. Let's just say he's not stopped moving in the last 20 minutes. :)  Orange juice, Grapefruits off his Grandpa and Grandma's tree, and Nattiya's delicious soups are his favorites. Rest assured, we're going to get along just fine. :)

My belly continues to grow, and so much faster than I expected! I've only gained 2 pounds since my 8 week visit... so I can't figure out where this expansion is coming from... but I am loving this.

Even though I can't wait to meet him, I treasure every second of this miraculous experience while he grows inside me. It's our own special time, and we have our own special secrets. I honestly do not ever remember being so happy. I have such a peace, and a never ending smile within my soul.  I saw a quote by Elizabeth Stone today: "Making the decision to have a child is momentous... it is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside of your body." What a wise woman.