Dr. Blondie

20 years

2012-01-26T06:00:00.002-05:00

I received a facebook invitation recently to join the group planning my 20-year high school reunion. I almost croaked. Twenty years have passed since that milestone, more years than I had lived when I graduated in 1992. How is that possible?

36

2012-01-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

Happy, happy birthday to my sweetheart, who is an incredibly loving and patient husband to me and a caring and enthusiastic daddy to Mason.

Lord willing, Mason will cooperate and let the babysitter run night-night this Saturday so that we can enjoy your annual birthday trek to a steakhouse. Smith and Wollensky, here we come!

I love you!

what to freeze?

2012-01-23T06:00:00.002-05:00

Whether or not I continue working for the long term, Brad and I are still dealing with less disposable income now that Mason is here and will be in daycare. Trimming the budget can be depressing, but I also find it refreshing. It doesn't always happen, but I do strive to live simply.

One area of our budget in need of improvement is our food expenses. Because we rarely eat out, get carryout, or order food for delivery, I'm not as disciplined as I could be at the grocery store. Yes, I use my store's value card, and buy sale items and store brands when possible, but I'd never consider myself a financially savvy menu planner or grocery shopper. Our monthly $500 grocery bill for two adults is a testament to that, even though we both eat breakfast and dinner at home and take our lunches to work most days.

Now that I have a bit more freezer space, I hope to stockpile meats and other goodies when they go on sale. A couple years ago, a friend told me that she freezes nuts, which I had never thought to do. I've heard another friend mention freezing cheese, but I've never tried it. I do freeze bread.

What do you stockpile in your freezer?

deep freeze

2012-01-19T06:00:00.001-05:00

One thing that being a working mommy the past two weeks has taught me is that I need to find a new plan for weeknight dinners. I have an hour, or two at the most, between when I get home and Mason's bedtime. (Brad has about five minutes, if he's lucky. He normally strolls in and heads right upstairs to help with bedtime, all while still wearing his suit and dress shoes--that's dedication!)

I don't want to spend my son's limited awake time slaving over the stove, and I really can't because he usually fusses for at least a little attention. I don't mind eating at 8 PM after Mason falls asleep, but starting the whole cooking process at 8 is just too late for this early-to-bed girl. (I did that once last week. We ate at 9:30 PM.) We rarely order food for delivery or get take-out, and now, with the extra expenses of a baby and his daycare, is not the time to start.

My solution, at least for now, is to invest in a deep freezer to keep in our basement. I am ecstatic about my new appliance! It's the smallest one on the market--only five cubic feet--but it supposedly will hold 175 pounds of food. With breast milk taking over my regular freezer, I need some extra space anyway, for both the milk and food.

My plan is to make and stockpile some freezer meals that I can pop in the oven before putting Mason to bed. Although I'm sure these types of meals may get old, even taking this approach a couple times a week will save me precious time.

What are your favorite meals to make and freeze? I have a few ideas, but would love to hear more.

words

2012-01-18T06:00:00.002-05:00

Okay, I admit it. This is the real reason I'm not making much progress on Anna Karenina.

I'm late to this craze, and I've only played a handful of games, but I'm officially addicted. Anyone care to play?

four months

2012-01-17T06:00:00.003-05:00

Mason turns four months today! He rolls and smiles and giggles and laughs.

But when he means business, he means it.

Nobody messes with this little four-month-old, not even his mama!

back to work update

2012-01-13T06:00:00.002-05:00

Thanks very much for your encouragement and support as I returned to work on January 3rd. It's been a long two weeks, but Mason and I have survived. Actually, not much has changed for him yet. Two weeks before Christmas, his daycare arrangement fell through, which left me scrambling to find another spot. I secured one, and he starts on January 23rd. Until then, we're making do with grandparents visiting and caring for him at our home. I've learned that I can get myself up and ready, and Mason fed and dressed, without too many problems. It may be a different story once Brad or I have to get him (and all of his stuff) out the door at a decent time each morning.

Being back at work is strange. Work is exactly how I remember it, but my life has completely changed. Before Mason, I was busy and productive at work and my days flew by. Now, I'm still busy and fairly productive (even while pumping--thank goodness for these!), but each day feels like an eternity. I miss my baby! I never dreamed I could miss someone so much.

And the pumping, oh my goodness, the pumping. I love breastfeeding, but I abhor pumping. I could, and probably will, devote an entire blog post to pumping gaffes that have happened already. I'm committed, though, and will persevere during the coming months. It's amazing what you'll do for your child. Pumping is only the beginning. Fellow mamas, am I right?

I miss the new mommy/new baby bubble that's been my life since September 17th!

2011 reading analysis

2012-01-11T06:00:00.002-05:00

All of these statistics are down from last year, but I think I have a pretty good excuse as to why. I still met my reading goals for 2011.

Total # of Books Started and Finished = 22 read and 7 audio for a GRAND TOTAL of 29
Average # of Books Read Per Month = 1.83 (read) or 2.42 (read/listened to)
Best Reading Month = January (7)
Worst Reading Month = December (0)
Total Pages Read This Year = 7,805
Average Pages Per Book =354
Average Pages Read Per Day = 21
Average Pages Read Per Month = 650
Total # of Fiction Books Read = 15 (+7 listened to)
Total # of Nonfiction Books Read = 7
Total # of Classics = 8 (also included in the fiction tally)
Total # of Books Reread = 0
Total # of Chunksters (450+ pages) Read = 4
FAVORITE read of 2011: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Lesson learned: Don't select a tome for a married reading challenge and expect it to go smoothly!

2011 lacked a book craze like past years, probably because I didn't read enough. I need to work on that. I'm ready to get obsessed by a book and/or series again--I'm due! Any recommendations?

2012 goals

2012-01-09T06:00:00.002-05:00

I'm keeping it simple this year.

1. Finish January's book club selection by the end of 2012. It's already proving to be a challenge.
2. Complete the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler. Volunteering at last year's race guaranteed my entry into this year's race. Hooray! Now I just need to find the time to train for it.
3. Learn how to use Pinterest.
4. Kiss my precious son's sweet cheeks and tell him how much I love him each day.

2011 goals recap

2012-01-05T06:00:00.002-05:00

Let's see how I did with 2011's goals.

Cooking

Select and prepare one recipe per month that challenges me (i.e. involves an in-depth procedure or a technique or piece of equipment that is unfamiliar to me).

I am counting this category as a win. I did conduct and blog about a recipe challenge each month. Some of the recipes could have been more challenging, but I did the best I could with a big life change.

Running

400 miles
I'd like to work on speed this year. I'll never be a fast runner, but I slowed down a little in 2010, and I'm not happy about it. So, by July 1st, I hope to reduce my minutes/mile pace by 30 seconds/mile for my standard five-mile run before work. By December 31st, I hope to finish this standard run one minute per mile faster.

Okay, well, neither of these goals happened. BUT, I did run 167.3 miles this year (161.3 of them while pregnant), so that counts for something.

Reading

In addition to all selections for both book clubs I'm in, I will read the following books:

My tome/challenge for the year (and a fun endeavor with Brad--more on this later): The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Books I am embarrassed to admit I have never read: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
Loved the audio version so much that now I have to read it (and also another book I'm embarrassed to admit I've never read): Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
In my backyard (I grew up 70 miles from Hannibal, MO, the home of Mark Twain and Tom Sawyer Days every July, yet I've never read Twain's work.): The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

SUCCESS! My detailed reading analysis will be posted soon.

take your makeup to work day

2012-01-03T06:00:00.002-05:00

Have you ever had one of those days where you anticipate a breakdown? When we were going through fertility treatments, I often took my makeup to work with me in anticipation of my nurse calling around lunchtime with results and/or next steps. Whether those phone calls contained good or bad news, I usually needed to do a little midday repair to my face, at least enough to get me out of my office and to the car without completely alarming anyone.

I'm bringing my makeup with me to work today. It's January 3rd, and I'm heavyhearted.

December recipe challenge: Les Croquets Denison

2011-12-28T06:00:00.000-05:00

It took me three months, but I finally revisited Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking for the final recipe challenge of the year. I made a type of petits fours, Les Croquets Denison, also known as walnut and almond puffs.

For a Julia recipe, these puffs were rather easy. I'm not a huge fan of nuts, but these treats were delicious--the freshly grated lemon peel makes this delicacy.

Whew! I made it--twelve months and that many recipe challenges. This was a fun challenge, but in all honesty, I'm glad it's over.

Now that I have an infant, I wonder how long it will take me to voluntarily pull out Julia's cookbooks again.

merry christmas

2011-12-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

May you know and trust the Lord's goodness and faithfulness to you, and rejoice in his Son's birth and what it means for your salvation.

Merry Christmas, Gentle Readers!

Mason's room: DIY projects

2011-12-21T06:00:00.004-05:00

I'm not much of a do-it-yourself type of decorator. But, I refuse to pay ridiculous prices for simple things like window valances and lampshades. So, I attempted those two projects on my own.

I had made a window valance before. I whipped up this one during Mason's nap when he was about a month old.

I found a great video on You Tube that demonstrated how to cover a lamp shade with fabric. I had the toile fabric affixed before Mason arrived; I added the turquoise ribbon after we got home.

With the leftover material and ribbon, I followed this awesome gal's tutorial to make some burp cloths. Again, I sewed the toile material in advance and added the ribbon after Mason arrived.

What do-it-yourself projects are you not afraid of?

Mason's room

2011-12-19T06:00:00.004-05:00

Oh, how naive I was to think I would have all this time to finish the nursery after the baby arrived. And I'm an inexperienced seamstress, yet I genuinely believed I would not only have the time, but the talent to make some of the items for his room? Ha! Thank you, current mamas, for not laughing in my face after reading this post. Choosing a color scheme that I couldn't finalize until after the baby's arrival was a mistake I needed to make on my own.

If I had to do it all over again, I still would not find out the baby's sex, but I can totally understand now how that information would be helpful to get the room completed in advance. It's such a conundrum. But the joy of the surprise still trumps the stress of more work afterward, at least, for me it does.

Three months after Mason's arrival, his room is now as finished as it's going to get. It really has no rhyme or reason; it's a hodge podge of things I love, and hopefully he, one day, will too.

Had Mason been a girl, the room would have been accented in fuchsia. But look at that blue on the book festival poster hanging over the changing pad. Could it match the rest of his room any closer? I should have known I was having a boy--that poster, which I saw for the first time in probably July, was a hint!

Longtime readers know how much I love toile. So are you surprised that I was immediately drawn to the Central Park children's toile in cream and chocolate? The furniture and bedding (except the blue sheet) was all that I had purchased in advance of Mason's birth. Here's a closer look at the bedding.

And there's my little sweetheart, being very patient while I photographed his room.

These built-in bookshelves were already there. They are very narrow, but I found some skinny baskets to hold books and toys. I stupidly believed I could whip up the basket liners, never having even sewn three corners together in my life. My mom ended up doing them for me, and even being an experienced seamstress, it took her a long time.

And here's where we spend most of our time. Look at how the blue in the boppy cover perfectly matches the room. That boppy cover was on my registry--I chose it for its gender neutrality, but maybe way deep down inside, I knew I would have a boy.

No, I really had no idea what I was having.

One of my favorite pieces is the six-foot, round shag rug in the center of the room. Mason loves it, too. He clutches handfuls of shag and tries to eat it when doing tummy time.

Next up, a highlight of the (few) DIY projects I accomplished for this room.

overrun freezer

2011-12-15T06:00:00.005-05:00

In preparation for going back to work, I've been busy. People told me to pump, and now my freezer is being taken over by bags of breast milk.

I'm confused about how the frozen/fresh thing will work though. As I understand it, Mason will eat what I pump the day before, supplemented with frozen milk if necessary. But with different rules regarding the shelf lives of fresh and frozen milk, how will I keep things straight? The frozen milk must be used within 24 hours of defrosting, so he should drink the frozen bottle first each day, which means I should label it accordingly, correct? And then if he doesn't get to all the fresh milk, it can carry over until the next day?

Is it possible to have too much frozen milk?

And how much will he eat each day anyway?

Please share any tips you have for how to make the pumping, storing, freezing, defrosting, and serving process a little easier. I'm overwhelmed. And I'm worried about giving my baby food poisoning (is this possible?) with old milk.

good baby?

2011-12-13T06:00:00.002-05:00

People ask me if Mason is a good baby and I never know how to respond. What defines a good baby?

He's a great eater and sleeps well at night. He loves schedules and routines. He goes down easily for naps but has recently had a hard time staying asleep during them. The 45-minute intruder has become the 20-minute intruder. Some days, I feel like I spend his entire nap time soothing him and trying to get him to stay asleep.

Mason adores overhead lights, ceiling fans, and brightly colored artwork. If his belly's full and he's lying on the couch, kicking and flapping, life couldn't be better for him. But his exuberance can quickly turn into this:

My baby has a temper, and he can melt down in two seconds flat. He runs off visitors with his grumpiness; he makes clear when he's ready for company to leave. I'm tempted to dress him as Oscar the Grouch next year for Halloween--what costume could be more fitting?

Mason's the only baby I know who doesn't like to be snuggled or cuddled. He hates being cradled in my arms and he would never sit quietly on my lap for hours (or even minutes) just chilling. The word chill is not a part of his vocabulary. Why sit still and relax when he can kick and flail and talk and fuss? This kid has things to say and places to go. He loves being carried around the house up on my shoulder in the burping position so that he can see what's around him, until he tries to climb over my shoulder to get down. Even at two months old, he began arching his back and squawking to get me to put him down so he could kick and flap and play on his own. In his mind, he's no baby--he's a big boy!

So, is my little grump a "good" baby? He's good for me, and I love every bit of him, grouchiness and all.

the pull

2011-12-08T06:00:00.001-05:00

January 3rd, the day I will return to work, is looming. And I'm anything but ready.

My heart breaks just thinking about it, which I try not to do as I want to enjoy these last days at home with my baby. But I do think about it. And people ask me about it constantly, which brings tears to my eyes almost every time.

I've been blessed to have a nice, long, paid maternity leave and I have a wonderful job, colleagues, and students to return to. Yet, my heart feels like a brick at the thought of leaving my son in someone else's care. I'm his mommy! And selfishly, I don't want to miss out on any moments with him.

I never expected to feel this way. Back in March when Brad and I decided that he would return to work on Capitol Hill and I would return to work after the baby was born, I genuinely believed that we had made the right decision for our family. At that time, I couldn't imagine the pregnancy even working out, let alone quitting my job. (Colleagues who read this blog, rest assured that I won't bail on you! I committed to coming back and I will return on January 3rd, even if it's just for the short term to figure out my exit strategy.)

Now that Mason is here, my perspective has changed. The more days I spend with him the greater my longing to stay home with him. But becoming a stay-at-home mom would be a major change for all of us. I abhor change, and it's always been easier for me to stick with what is familiar and comfortable. But now the status quo no longer feels like the easy, or right, choice.

I chide myself for not trusting in the Lord's provision for our family. I know that he will care for us, financially and in every other way. He has shown himself faithful again and again. Yet, why do I still worry and doubt?

I'm struggling, Gentle Readers. Please pray that the Lord makes the path clear for us, and that Brad and I have wisdom in deciding what's best for our family.

December roses

2011-12-06T06:00:00.001-05:00

Is there any better bang for your buck than Knock Out rose bushes?

I've lost count of how many times they've bloomed this year. I see new buds, and it's December!

In two years, these bushes have outgrown my planting bed, and I need to do something about it. When is the best time to prune Knock Outs? And how much is safe to cut off?

evergreen upset

2011-12-01T06:00:00.002-05:00

The tree's up! And it's that time again.

Oh, Christmas tree, how faithful you are to me. And how wretched I am to you. Two years ago, I had an affair with another. I'm sorry to say, dear tree, that it's happened again, and it's much more serious this time.

You stand tall and proud, and you're perfectly proportioned. Once again, you are exquisite and elegant and make the house smell divine. Although you are perfect in every way you could be, you fall short this year. I can't help it--I'm just not that into you.

You see, I'm much more drawn to the gift beside you. Although he smells quite foul on occasion, much of the time, his baby lotion scent melts my heart in ways that pine needles never could. And you're beautiful, but you're also silent. The little bundle next to you can scream his bloody head off just because he feels like it, but he can also coo and giggle and make all sorts of silly noises. He smiles at and interacts with me in ways that you never could.

You need me to water you, but he needs me for pretty much everything. He's even more demanding than you are!

Once, I only had eyes for you, darling tree. Now, the gift that sits beside you has captured my heart and sucked up all the love inside it. I have nothing left for you this year. I am sorry.

The good news is that, Lord willing, next year you will have a new admirer. And I have a feeling that he will be much more smitten with you than I ever have been.

November recipe challenge: Thanksgiving dinner

2011-11-30T06:00:00.002-05:00

Okay, so the food wasn't challenging; I've made it all before, and I had help this year. But, I prepared the turkey, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce all on my own.

I even had a nicely set table (with china!) and fresh-cut flowers. This counts as a challenge, right? Especially considering my own little turkey kept interrupting my (minimal) preparations!

Hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving!

mama bear crazy

2011-11-28T06:00:00.004-05:00

My emotions will be the end of me. First, it was the weepies. Now, I've turned into a full-fledged mama bear: protective and possessive.

In some cases, this isn't such a bad thing. I feel an animal instinct to protect my young, including everything from where and how Mason sleeps to who he spends his time with. But I wonder when, if ever, this extreme protective nature will subside. For example, right now I can't imagine allowing Mason to ride in a car alone with someone other than Brad or me driving. I know it's only been two months, but it's still hard for me to leave Mason for any amount of time. (But, don't worry. I have and I do and I will continue to do so. It's important for both of us. I know.)

And on the possessive side of this complex, my heart tightens like an iron fist when anyone (except Brad) tries to snatch Mason from my arms (unsolicited) or hovers over him and tries to mother him to the extent of undermining me and my parenting practices. Those people--I call them baby hogs--make me crazy!

Yes, I am hormonal. But I can't be the only one, right? Does anyone else have any mama bear moments or pet peeves? Please share!

thankful

2011-11-24T06:00:00.001-05:00

Some years are chock full of blessings, others are characterized by heartaches, and most are a combination of both. No matter your perspective, time passes, too quickly in most cases, and each day provides a reason to give thanks to God for his faithfulness and providence.

Happy Thanksgiving, Gentle Readers!

romantic dinners

2011-11-21T06:00:00.001-05:00

Mason's birth has brought many changes to my life, but the most unexpected is the number of romantic dinners Brad and I have eaten in the past two months.

Because Mason's downstairs station is in our dining room, if he is napping there during dinner, we keep the lights up just high enough to see our plates. Thank goodness for dimmer switches! I can't imagine that any restaurant I choose for my birthday dinner in the future will be able to match the lovely, low-light atmosphere at home these days.

Low light and a soft serenade of lullabies and baby coos coming from the pack 'n play--a dinner at home doesn't get much better than that, especially on the rare nights that we can finish a meal uninterrupted.

breaking dawn

2011-11-18T02:30:00.002-05:00

Who says my life has to completely change by having a child?

It's 2:30 AM and I just got home from seeing this.

It was phenomenal, and that's all I'll say right now, as I know other Twihards have yet to see the movie and I don't want to ruin anything. Now, I'm off to catch a couple hours sleep before my new alarm clock awakes me. Recovering from attending a midnight premiere will certainly be different with an infant in the house.

babies don't keep

2011-11-17T06:00:00.000-05:00

My friend Allison sent me this fun and true poem about motherhood. I feel better about my dirty house now!

Mother, O' Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth.
Hang out the washing, make up the bed,
Sew on a button and butter the bread.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,
Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo.
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due,
Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek - peekaboo.

The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew,
And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo.
But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren't his eyes the most wonderful hue?
Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo.

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow,
But children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

~ Ruth Hulbert Hamilton

new Christmas traditions

2011-11-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

Gentle Readers, I would love to hear about Christmas traditions you began with your children. I have a few ideas, but would love to hear more.

Also, does anyone have a favorite line of Christmas tree ornaments, preferably something that would be appropriate for children? Maybe something on Etsy? I'd love to give Mason an ornament of his own each Christmas and build his collection over the years.

what my to-do list should look like

2011-11-14T06:00:00.002-05:00

Before becoming a parent, I remember friends talking about how one of their most difficult adjustments was feeling like they could never get anything done. Even my most organized friends bemoaned only being able to mark one or two items--instead of 20--from their to-do lists on a good day.

Oh, how I can now relate to this!

However, I think I need to change my perspective. It's not like I'm sitting around doing nothing all day. Ha! If anything, I'm more productive than I've ever been. I've never unloaded a dishwasher or showered so quickly in my life!

My to-do lists should reflect my day's activities. Then, I could mark every item off the list and fall into bed at night feeling productive and accomplished. This standard list pretty much sums up my daily life right now:

Feed Mason (x6 or 7)
Burp Mason (x6 or 7)
Change Mason (x7+)
Clean up at least one pee or poop accident
Dress Mason (possibly x2+ depending on above bullet)
Conduct Mason's exercises for left sternocleidomastoid (x5)
Apply Mason's cream for seborrhea (x2)
Give Mason a probiotic for gas
Make sure Mason gets 25-30 minutes of tummy time
Put Mason down for a nap (x4+)
Soothe Mason back to sleep ifwhen he wakes up early from nap (x4+)
Read/cuddle/snuggle/play in the few free "awake" minutes
Deal with evening fussiness
Bedtime routine

And these are just the Mason-related tasks that must be done each day. On days when I add on his baths, walks, pediatrician appointments, and the like, it's no wonder why my house is dirty and I can barely get dinner on the table!

my new car

2011-11-11T06:00:00.001-05:00

BOB Revolution SE

On September 9th, my last day of work, I filled my car's tank with gas. That tank of gas lasted exactly two months; I filled up again on Wednesday, November 9th.

It's not that I haven't been going anywhere, especially the last month. I just have a new type of car now.

on having a boy

2011-11-09T06:00:00.001-05:00

For years, I assumed I would have a daughter one day. Girlie girls had only daughters, correct? What would I do with a boy? I'm not into sports. I avoid getting dirty or sweaty. I could care less about cars or trucks or other large pieces of machinery that I can't name. I held this assumption back when I foolishly believed I could get pregnant whenever I chose to, and that I would have a May baby one day (always my preferred month to give birth, not sure why). I didn't understand the Lord's sovereignty then. I also had no appreciation for the miracle of or fragile nature of life.

Even with my first pregnancy, had it lasted longer, I probably would have secretly yearned for a daughter. But then my life and perspective changed with that loss, and our second loss reminded me that God creates life, and any life is a miracle.

When I became pregnant a third time, it never crossed my mind to hope for a daughter--it just didn't matter anymore. Hair bows and cute outfits and girlie chats suddenly became much less important when praying for a baby to be born alive and healthy. I knew better than to take the latter for granted.

That moment in the labor and delivery room when my eyes first landed on my baby and Brad exclaimed, "It's a boy!" was one of the best surprises of my life. We had a healthy son! He was alive and screaming and suddenly flailing about on my chest. He was the baby made for us. The Lord had prepared and intended for me to mother a son. I had never known such gratitude and joy. And the surprise of his sex made meeting him for the first time even sweeter. I loved him instantly and unconditionally.

And now, nearly eight weeks later, I can't imagine having a daughter. Pee on the wall keeps my days at home with him anything but mundane. Another sports fan under my roof? Go Vols! Cars and trucks and dirt and roughhousing . . . those days, Lord willing, will come, and I can't wait.

I can't imagine any other face but this sweet boy's.

I have a son--hooray! And may he always know and love his mama.

to run again

2011-11-07T06:00:00.003-05:00

I did it! Six weeks and six days after giving birth, I got back on the horse--I went for a run.

I ran two miles without walking, and I even ran up the hill at the start of my route. (After the first heat wave of late spring, I excused myself from running up hills while pregnant.) My legs wobbled a little. My time was slow, but not nearly as slow as when I ran at 40 weeks pregnant in the heat. What a difference it makes to run without a big belly!

Although I enjoyed the few minutes of alone time, the crisp November air in my lungs, and the feeling of accomplishment, I still missed my little running partner, the one who's accompanied me on every run of 2011. Suddenly, I was alone again, just how it used to be . . . and at the same time, nothing like it used to be.

jalapeno poppers

2011-11-03T06:00:00.005-04:00

Thanks for all of your suggestions regarding what I should do with my plethora of jalapeno peppers. I made a huge batch of Pioneer Woman's restaurant style salsa, as well as her jalapeno poppers. I ate plenty fresh out of the oven, but one of the best aspects of the poppers is that once cooked, they can be frozen and then quickly defrosted: perfect for unexpected company or a party.

Five Guys makes a phenomenal grilled cheese sandwich with fresh jalapeno peppers. Recreating that masterpiece at home will use approximately one pepper, which leaves me with about 15 to go.

professional photographs: how often?

2011-11-01T06:00:00.002-04:00

Before Mason was born, I researched photographers to take pictures of all three of us soon after we arrived home from the hospital. Amanda Gilley came to our home when Mason was six days old for his newborn shoot, and I absolutely love how the photos turned out. (More on this later.) Expecting moms, if you want professional photographs of your newborn, do the groundwork now to set this up. You won't have time or energy to do it once the baby is born.

My baby's looks are changing rapidly, and I want to preserve his various stages with professional photographs, but I'm torn about how often to have them taken. If "monthly" is the answer, I've already missed Mason's first month! Professional newborn photos were worth the splurge. What other ages are worth the splurge of hiring a professional?

Current mamas, please chime in. Should I call Amanda for Mason's six-month and/or one-year photos, and possibly go to a less expensive place for the three-month and nine-month marks? Or should I aim for photographing him more often using a cheaper venue, or less often with a more experienced photographer? What months during the first year are key to capture? If you've had your children's pictures taken at Target, Babies R Us, Picture People, or any of those types of operations, please let me know your thoughts on them. Thanks for your advice!

happy halloween

2011-10-31T06:00:00.001-04:00

Four years ago today, I added the title of Dr. to my name, and Brad and I have gone out to dinner to celebrate each Halloween night since then.

Tonight, I'll be passing out candy to trick-or-treaters with my little pumpkin. Life has changed!

Happy Halloween!

book club fail

2011-10-28T06:00:00.007-04:00

In over nine years of my book club, I've only missed three of our 97 meetings: June of 2005 for a stats class, January of 2008 because I was out of town, and September of 2011 because Mason was only 12 days old. However, nothing kept me from reading and finishing every book by the meeting, not even a PhD program or training for marathons.

But then Mason was born.

I missed September's meeting, but I still read the book. (I finished it before he was born, which now I understand, was key.) October's book selection, Juliet, Naked, sadly fell by the wayside, and I had only read a measly 123 of its 400+ pages by the meeting. I still went, and Mason made his debut at book club. When he started fussing (evenings are not his forte), the other members understood why I hadn't finished the book.

It's not like I haven't been reading since Mason was born. Children's books should count for something!

freedom!

2011-10-26T06:00:00.000-04:00

I love the SwaddleMe blankets. I don't know what we would do without them. But, sometimes I go into Mason's room, and I see this.

No matter how tightly I pull the material and how many times I check to make sure it's secure, my big, strong boy manages to break out. And he's been doing this since he was four days old.

holiday cards: planning ahead

2011-10-24T06:00:00.003-04:00

I strive to accomplish two tasks by December 1st: have the tree up and decorated and place my stack of Christmas cards in the mail. With a newborn this year, we'll see if either gets done at all, let alone by December 1st. However, it's only October and I already have the photo for our Christmas card, which is usually half the battle. There's still hope.

Hands down, my photo card designer of choice for any occasion is Tiny Prints. Their elegance, selection, and quality can't be beat. I already have Mason's birth announcements picked out, and I've had a ball browsing their holiday line recently.

I tend to be a new classic or a vintage type of girl. Here are some of my favorites.

I love this card's simple elegance.

Most Merry

I'm also a sucker for cards with multiple images that fold in neat ways.

Studio Shots

I can't resist the full bleed photo cards, though. The photo is the focus of the card, rather than the text, which I love.

Snow Blooms

Blessings Be Yours

How will I ever choose?

Disclosure: Tiny Prints provided me 50 free Christmas cards for writing this post, but all opinions are my own.

October recipe challenge: making dinner again

2011-10-21T06:00:00.002-04:00

It's been a lovely month off from cooking while getting to know Mason and adjusting to my new life. We've been blessed with baby meals; I've done little more than reheat a dish in the microwave since Mason arrived.

On Mason's four-week birthday, I cooked my first post-baby meal, which I am counting as my October challenge. It was an easy meal, but just getting any food on the table these days with a newborn and his constant demands is challenge enough. And, I made this meal on a Saturday, which meant Brad was home and watching Mason while I did the (minimal) prep work. My next challenge should involve making dinner on a weeknight when Brad isn't here to help me.

I made rare tuna with a slight sear, one of my favorite homemade meals that was off limits during pregnancy. Leftover tomato and basil made for some tasty bruschetta and nothing beats steamed, fresh green beans drizzled with a little olive oil and lemon and topped off with cracked black pepper and sea salt.

Simple, yet perfect.

budding blogger

2011-10-20T06:00:00.008-04:00

For years, I've tried to get Brad to write a guest post here on Dr. Blondie, but to no avail. But providing him a son and creating a blog for said son has motivated Brad to write a couple posts for Mason. Who knew that would be the trick?

Tennessee fans will get a kick out of Brad's latest post, and you'll probably understand it much better than I did.

what every formal dining room needs...

2011-10-19T06:00:00.001-04:00

... a napping and diaper changing station. And, oh yes, pee on the wall.

the weepies

2011-10-17T06:00:00.002-04:00

The exhaustion? Yes, I expected it. The physical discomforts associated with recovering from childbirth? Yes, to some extent, I knew what I was in for. The emotions? Well, I expected tears when the baby was born and maybe a few stress-induced breakdowns later on. But oh my goodness, I was not at all prepared for this emotional roller coaster I've been on for a month now. Will I ever stop weeping?

The tears began during my last week of pregnancy. Change was imminent. I wept during Mason's birth and I haven't stopped joyfully crying since then. I was a hot mess the day we came home from the hospital. The nurse who wheeled Mason and me to the car patted my shoulder and gently said, "It's okay, honey. We've all been there."

A nurse from my fertility doctor called me 10 days after Mason arrived. I hadn't communicated with them since they released me to my OB in early February, and she was calling to follow up. When she identified herself on the phone, I could barely choke out the words, "We have a son!"

Children's movies have always made me cry, and now I'm finding that children's books do, too. What new mother can keep her eyes dry when reading a book that begins like this:
"A mother held her new baby and very slowly rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she held him, she sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be."
Losing it while reading Love You Forever by Robert Munsch is understandable. But why do I weep when reading Big Red Barn?

Mason looks so different now than he did a month ago. His cheeks are fuller and his hair is thicker. He's bigger and more alert. He's a great eater and a pretty good sleeper. He likes a schedule. These are all good things. So why does his growing up twist my heart so painfully? I finally gave in last week and moved him from newborn to size 1 diapers, something I probably should have done the week before. Of course, afterward, I was thankful for fewer leaks, but guess what? I wept.

I knew it would, but it's all going by so fast. Too fast.

Do I have a case of the baby blues? I don't feel blue, though. I feel so happy and thankful and grateful. And, at times, so fragile, and like I still can't quite believe that this all worked out and Mason is really here.

Experienced mamas, do tell . . . is this just a stage? Or should I expect to weep for the rest of my life?

hot harvest

2011-10-14T06:00:00.001-04:00

I'm all for adding spice to my life (and my palate), but what on earth should I do with all of these jalapeno peppers, recently harvested from my one measly jalapeno plant? I picked at least 30 peppers, and there are still more to come.

I can try Pioneer Woman's jalapeno poppers recipe, which sounds delicious, but I'd need to throw a party to have enough people to consume all of these poppers in one sitting.

Any other ideas? Should I dice them up and freeze them?

why settle for one when you can do both?

2011-10-12T06:00:00.002-04:00

I'm all for running throughout pregnancy if one is able to and wants to, but this is a little crazy! My friend and I have debated whether running a marathon or giving birth is the more difficult endeavor, but I think this woman just trumped us both.

Mason's Moments

2011-10-10T06:00:00.003-04:00

I've launched Mason's digital baby album, which is essentially his blog. Many of you have asked for more pictures and stories, and even though his blog isn't quite caught up yet, I promise that I've already posted more there than you probably care to see. So, check it out if you wish. Or not. I totally understand that 95% of what's on his blog is probably only interesting to Brad and me.

There will be some crossover between Mason's Moments and Dr. Blondie, but I hope to keep it to a minimum. Regardless, Mason's blog will contain cute pictures and brief stories, but the majority of the writing (and all of the commentary, emotional breakdowns, and oversharing) will stay here.

homecoming outfit: FAIL

2011-10-06T06:00:00.000-04:00

Throughout pregnancy, I vowed that my child would not come home from the hospital in a gender-neutral outfit. I don't know why, but it was one menial detail that was very important to me. A few weeks before Mason was born, Brad and I went shopping for two homecoming outfits: one for a girl and another for a boy. Because our ultrasounds had predicted a big baby, we deliberated the size to buy. All of the newborn size outfits we found were clearly marked for babies weighing 5-8 pounds. The next size up, 0-3 months, was suggested for babies weighing 8-12 pounds. Perfect, we thought! This size should fit our anticipated 9-10 pound baby well. Even though the 0-3 months outfits looked large to us, we bought them anyway. And because we were already wasting money on one outfit that wouldn't be worn, which turned out to be the little girl's dress, we didn't want to waste more money by buying gender-specific outfits in multiple sizes.

We clipped the tags, washed both outfits, and stuck them in the suitcase. But then I started to have doubts. What if the ultrasounds were wrong? (They weren't.) What if the baby came early and therefore wasn't as big as we expected? (That didn't happen.) In a last-minute moment of panic, I washed a tiny, gender-neutral, newborn-size sleeper that I had received as a shower gift and stuck it in the suitcase, just in case.

When I pulled out our little boy outfit to dress Mason on the day we came home from the hospital, I realized that Brad and I had made our first parenting mistake.

The pants alone could have covered Mason's entire body. I sighed and pulled out the little gender-neutral ducky outfit, which fit him perfectly. It wasn't what I had dreamed of and it wasn't an outfit I had even chosen myself, but he still looked cute, and most importantly, he was here, healthy, and going home with us. At least we didn't have to take him home in only a diaper!

Mason's original homecoming outfit is now hanging in his closet, waiting for the day when, Lord willing, he's big enough to wear it, which will certainly occur long before I'm ready.

Mason's birth story

2011-10-03T06:00:00.001-04:00

Let's revisit my first week of maternity leave, before Mason was born, shall we?

I believe when I last updated this blog before Mason's birth, I was walking. And walking. And walking. I ran two miles and walked 16 miles from Monday through Friday of that week, bringing me to a grand total of 18 miles in five days. Not bad!

I had my 40-week appointment (well, 40 weeks and two days) that Friday morning, September 16th. My doctor said that everything looked good, and I had made a tiny bit of progress since the prior week's appointment, but I felt disappointed that my 18 miles didn't result in more noticeable progress. She said I could walk all I wanted to, but it was impossible to know what would send me into labor and when it would happen.

After my appointment, I drove to the grocery store to buy ingredients to make an eggplant parmigiana dish famous for sending women into labor. Supposedly, over 300 pregnant women have delivered babies within 48 hours of eating this Atlanta restaurant's eggplant parmigiana. A friend sent me the link and I figured, "Why not?"

I cut the recipe in half because I knew I'd be the only one eating it (Brad hates eggplant parmigiana), but it still took me 2.5 hours to make the dish. Now I know why women who make this recipe go into labor soon afterward--it's cumbersome and it takes forever! (Side note: It's too bad I had already completed September's recipe challenge because otherwise this eggplant parmigiana would have counted. Spending 2.5 hours making any meal when you're over 40 weeks pregnant classifies as a challenge in my book.)

I wasn't feeling great on Friday morning, but I blamed my tiredness and sore back on making the eggplant parmigiana. I ate a huge piece of it for lunch, and didn't feel well at all. I had planned to go out for another long walk on Friday afternoon, but soon decided that lounging on the couch was a better idea. My tummy felt crampy and my lower back ached. I couldn't even read my book because the words swam before my eyes, so I laid on the couch for three hours and watched TV instead--something I NEVER do. I should have known that something was up.

I tried to nap between 4-5 PM, but it was a wasted effort because my belly pains kept waking me. Brad came home from work and we began timing my "aches" and were startled to discover they were coming regularly every 5-6 minutes.

Brad and I launched into productive mode. In between contractions, we finished packing our hospital bags, ate dinner, ran the dishwasher, threw a load of towels in the washer and then the dryer, collected and took out the garbage, and finished writing a few thank you notes. Well, Brad actually did most of these tasks while I gave plenty of instructions from bed. Our little baby had already been so accommodating in allowing me to finish work and Brad to get through his Congressional hearing and finish out the work week, we were delighted that he let us get our chores around the house done before we left for the hospital. I'll say it again: what an obedient baby!

We left for the hospital just after midnight on Saturday, September 17th, and paused for a moment to take this picture with the timer on our camera. I'm so glad we did--it's the last picture we have before Mason arrived and took over our house!

Do I look like I'm in pain here? I was. Very much so.

On the way to the hospital, we swung by a mailbox to drop off those thank you notes we had finished that evening. Why wouldn't we? It was on our way to the hospital and we didn't want to forget to mail them.

We arrived at Sibley, thankfully, during a lull and were able to get a labor, delivery, and recovery room. Apparently, that evening had resulted in a crazy birth explosion and the hospital had run out of rooms, so women had to labor in the waiting room. We also heard that the rest of the weekend in labor and delivery was just crazy, so we're thankful that the Lord and our little guy timed things just right!

Brad and I walked the halls of Sibley as I labored, hoping to move things along a bit. At 3 AM, the nurse checked me and said I could have the epidural, which arrived around 4 AM. It was like pure magic coursing through my veins! Kudos to those of you who have a high threshold for pain and can birth babies without drugs. I could never do it, and now having had the epidural and experiencing its magic, I never want to try.

One other beautiful aspect of the epidural is that Brad and I were able to go to sleep pretty quickly and we rested until 7 AM, when they woke me to break my water, and then we slept again until 9 AM. I believe those five hours of sleep gave me the necessary energy to push, which took much more concentration and energy than I ever could have imagined.

Breaking my water moved things along fairly quickly, and I began pushing at 11:19 AM and Mason was born at 12:10 PM. I was so relieved that Mason, being a heavy, chubby baby with a big head, fit through my pelvis and I was able to push him out in under an hour. Praise God for that. As one of my friends reminded me a few weeks ago, after I told her what the ultrasounds were predicting in terms of the baby's size, "God made that baby for your pelvis." She was right!

My epidural began to wear off before pushing began, and a second dose of it didn't relieve my pain. But, amazingly enough, pushing did. I ended up doing a couple of things that I never imagined agreeing to pre-labor, such as checking Mason's arrival progress in a mirror and touching his head as it began to emerge. When these tips were suggested in our childbirth class, I squirmed and swore that I wasn't interested. And I'm not sure what changed my mind during labor, but I'm so glad that I did both of these things. It was incredibly motivating to see and feel progress. It made me push better and harder. And it made me more anxious and excited to get our baby out and to meet him.

The actual delivery is such a blur in my mind. I vaguely remember the nurse telling me to look down to see the baby coming out. Then I remember her calmly saying, "Wrapped cord. Wrapped cord." I remember hearing Brad exclaim, "It's a boy!" right as I looked down and saw that the baby was, in fact, a boy. Then the doctor whisked the baby away, presumably to unwrap the cord from around his neck and make sure he was okay. Then Mason cried, and I sobbed. Then they plopped this wet, writhing baby with fuzzy hair on my chest, and I wept with joy and gratitude. Brad was standing behind Mason, over my left shoulder, and Mason heard his daddy's voice, and looked back up at him. Our hearts have not been the same since that moment.

I wept throughout much of labor, especially the pushing stage, but it wasn't because of the pain. It was because I couldn't believe it was really happening. We were having a baby! It really could work out for us. God had answered our prayers. He does that, you know.

Mason's very first picture, moments after he was born

Mason's first picture with daddy

to tide you over

2011-09-29T06:00:00.001-04:00

Gentle Readers, I have pictures and Mason-related posts in the pipeline, but I've not yet resumed my normal level of productivity. (Will I ever?) I've started a digital baby book for Mason, which is essentially another blog, that will contain more pictures and details about our son than you could ever care about. Once I get some momentum going with the first few entries, which I hope will be within the next week, I'll share the link and you can follow that blog, too, if you wish.

I'm working on an entry that details Mason's birth story, which I will post here as soon as it's ready. Stay tuned.

So many of you have asked to see more pictures. Here are a few that I hope will tide you over for now.

I have yet to capture Mason's sweet smile on camera, but here's my best effort thus far. This picture was taken as we were leaving the hospital--his looks have already changed so much since then!

Here he is, several days later, with his eyes open. It's hard to see in the picture, but he has dark blue eyes, like his mama. We'll see if they stay that way.

Mason has more hair than what you can see in pictures. His hair is mostly blond, with some sandy brown pieces. In certain light, or when he's next to Brad, I sometimes think I see rust highlights, but that could be wishful thinking. He's definitely not a true redhead like his daddy is, but that's okay. We still think he's pretty cute anyway!

From the front, he looks rather bald, but notice the plethora of hair on the back of his head. In the picture below, I think the hair on the back of his head looks similar to Brad's hair color, but again, that could be wishful thinking.

More to come soon!

September recipe challenge: Tarte Aux Cerises, Flambee

2011-09-28T06:00:00.002-04:00

Don't worry, Gentle Readers. I completed this challenge and wrote this blog post long before Mason arrived. I'm ambitious, but not ambitious enough to attempt a recipe challenge with an eleven-day-old! I'm working on some Mason-related entries and pictures to post here soon. Stay tuned!

I went back to Julia this month and made the French version of cherries jubilee. The most time-consuming portion involved removing the stems and pits from the fresh cherries. Making the crust, custard, and filling, and assembling the dish weren't too bad. I made this dessert from start to finish in one afternoon--much faster than the typical two days these recipe challenges have been taking lately.

This challenge seemed to go smoothly, and I was excited...


straight from the broiler

until...

poised and ready to see a show

the warmed cognac carefully poured on top of the dessert failed to light! I was so disappointed. I longed to see this dish engulfed in flames. I had even turned off the lights in the kitchen to make the show seem even more spectacular.

I have no idea what I did wrong. Maybe I warmed to cognac too much and there was no alcohol left to burn?

To drown my sorrows, I piled on the vanilla ice cream, which is a must for any warm dessert.

still tasty, even without the flames

we made it!

2011-09-26T09:40:00.000-04:00

We celebrated Mason's one-week birthday by swinging by the National Book Festival on Saturday morning for about five minutes--long enough to take a picture and pick up a poster to frame and hang in his room. A very nice parking enforcement officer allowed us to park illegally right near the festivities after I told him that my one-week-old son needed to make a brief appearance at his first book festival.

Outings are still exhausting for us right now, so we all needed a nap after this trip.

When I first mentioned the book festival back in April, and whether I would be able to attend, a friend of mine commented that if I wasn't able to go, I probably wouldn't miss it at all. Diane, you were right! I didn't hear any authors speak this year and I definitely wasn't able to camp out there all day like I had done every other year. And I didn't care one bit. But, Lord willing, I am looking forward to attending the festival next year with a one-year-old in tow, even if it means I will spend my day in the children's area instead of visiting my favorite authors.

quick update

2011-09-21T18:51:00.000-04:00

Gentle Readers, thanks so much for your kind comments, emails, texts, phone calls, etc. since Mason's birth! I cannot believe four days have already passed and I have not responded to one person yet--that's not like me at all. Please know that I truly appreciate your prayers and well wishes. I'll come down to earth eventually, but right now I'm consumed with my baby's sweet, chubby cheeks.

I'm finding the physical recovery from giving birth much worse than labor and delivery itself. My days are consumed with Mason's needs first, and then attending to whichever part of my body is in the most agony at the moment. Brad is a very hands-on daddy and hubby, and he is my lifesaver and such a blessing to me. I knew he'd be an involved daddy from the beginning, but he's far surpassed my expectations. We're cherishing every moment of this week we have at home alone together with our baby before Brad returns to work soon. We're having so much fun learning how to be a family of three!

Emotionally, I am a complete wreck, but thus far, 100% of my tears thus far have been joyful ones. I have never cried this much in my life, for any reason, but especially not for happy ones. I know that the tiredness, physical discomfort, and stress will catch up with me eventually, and I'll shed plenty of non-joyful tears, but for now, Brad and I are happily weepy on a daily basis. God is so good. We have a baby! It really happened! Mason is the child that God intended for us, and we could not be more overjoyed or thankful for him.

happy birthday

2011-09-17T12:10:00.001-04:00

Our sweet chunky monkey has arrived and we adore every ounce of him! Mason McNeil was born at 12:10 p.m. today, Saturday, September 17th. He weighed nine pounds, six ounces, and is 21 inches long. He is healthy and adorable and such an obedient baby. It's been a long journey to become parents, but Brad and I are so grateful to God for carrying us through the many ups and downs and for giving us our beautiful son.

I can't wait to share more stories and pictures in the coming days! Stay tuned . . .

happy friday

2011-09-16T06:00:00.003-04:00

My fellow Twihards may have already seen this by now, but if not, here you go!

I can't wait for this midnight showing on November 18th! Who's with me?

fun times

2011-09-15T06:00:00.007-04:00

Nearly every day I take off work is consumed with errands, chores, appointments, house projects, etc. It's my own fault, but I rarely take a day off to just loaf around or do something fun. But maternity leave has been all fun thus far, and the baby's not even here yet! The uncertainty surrounding Baby's arrival forced us to complete most of the errands, chores, and household tasks in advance, leaving me with blissful, rare, free time to relax and enjoy myself before the chaos really begins.

On Monday, I went for a run/walk, toured a daycare (okay, kind of a chore/errand), and went to see The Help, which I loved!

I usually don't like the movie version of a book I enjoyed, but in this case, I thought the movie was very well done and true to the book.

On Tuesday, I went to the National Arboretum and walked 2-3 miles, but didn't even cover a third of the area. For years, my friend has been encouraging me to visit this hidden gem in DC, and I'm thrilled I finally did because I LOVED it! How could I resist this?

Or this?

I loved the Capitol Columns.

I walked through the azalea section to climb to the top of Mount Hamilton to glimpse the U.S. Capitol and the Washington Monument through the break in the trees. I can't wait to return in the spring to see the azaleas in full bloom!

Yesterday, I mostly walked and ran a tiny bit to the Washington Monument and back. But, I had forgotten that the monument was damaged in the earthquake, and I couldn't get anywhere near it, so I walked around it. Also, I saved the running portion for the end of the route so I would be near home, but running after walking five miles in the heat was grueling--I made it about six blocks (off and on) before I called it quits. Today's plan, assuming my legs have recovered, includes a seven-mile loop to the Lincoln Memorial. And this weekend, if Baby still hasn't arrived, I may walk the eight-mile loop to see the new Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial. All of this walking should pay off, right? Right??

I'm taking suggestions of activities for next week, preferably labor-inducing ones, should I need them...

happy due date!

2011-09-14T06:00:00.006-04:00

Praise the Lord that Baby and I made it to this day, Baby's due date, September 14th! Baby, you are allowed to come anytime after 2 p.m., after the congressional hearing that Daddy is in charge of today concludes. Thank you for being such an obedient baby thus far. Now that we're giving you the green light to come on, we'll see how obedient you really are!

I am celebrating this day with a long walk and possibly a little running that will hopefully spur on labor soon, now that we're officially ready for Baby to arrive. I've missed long runs on the National Mall these past nine months, and I plan to make the 5.5 mile loop from our house to the Washington Monument and back this morning. Don't worry. I'll take water and snacks with me, and even some cash in case I get too tired and need to catch a cab home (or to the hospital!).

I've run and walked regularly throughout this pregnancy, but I've kept the distances short, never farther than three miles at a time. Now, I will increase the distance each day in earnest. If today's outing doesn't send me into labor, tomorrow's plan involves seven miles to the Lincoln Memorial and back. It's like marathon training all over again, just on a condensed schedule. Let's hope Baby arrives before I feel compelled to repeat my 10+-mile routes.

the winner

2011-09-13T06:00:00.002-04:00

both copies, now well worn

Brad finished reading The Count of Monte Cristo on Saturday! He beat Baby. I have never seen my husband more thrilled (or relieved) than when he slapped the book shut, announced he had finished, and placed the book with the other "completed" (completed by me, that is) classics on our bookshelf. I'd forgotten how much Brad needs a major deadline in some situations.

We both enjoyed the book and are glad we read it. And now that we've both finished, we can say that. Brad has new appreciation for my reading War and Peace last year. The Count is the longest book he's ever read.

I don't know if we'll ever do another married reading challenge again, but if we do, we need to select a shorter book and make sure that a firm deadline is on the horizon.

chunky monkey

2011-09-12T06:00:00.006-04:00

Brad and I are expecting a huge baby with a chubby tummy and a big head. Almost every mama I know has told me how her 36-week ultrasound was way off (in either direction) regarding the baby's projected size and weight. And at first I expected the same thing. But I've had three ultrasounds in the past five weeks (34 weeks, 36 weeks, and 39 weeks) to check the baby's position (34 weeks) and size (all three, but especially the last two ultrasounds) and the findings have been consistent. Our baby's nearly off the charts for weight, head size, and thickness of abdomen.

My siblings and I were all heavy babies with big heads. My sister and I each weighed over nine pounds. My brother, two weeks late, weighed 11 pounds, 13 ounces. My OB said birth size and weight can be hereditary, so Brad's and my baby seems to be taking after my side of the family. The encouraging news is that my mom, who is built like me except slightly more petite, birthed us all vaginally (and I'm 99% sure she didn't have drugs). There is hope!

Strangely, I haven't gained an excess of weight. And although some people call me fat and my belly is round and solid, my OB tells me my tummy measures small. I may not have intuition about anything else, like the baby's sex, for example, but I just know that this baby is a chunky monkey (as I've affectionately called him/her the past few weeks). Baby feels gargantuan (and strong!) in my tummy.

Even expecting a large baby with a big head, I'm honestly not worried about the delivery. My goal is to get the baby out as safely for both of us as possible, and I trust that the Lord will provide in that way. Except for knowing I want an epidural, I don't have a birth plan, and my heart is not set on a particular approach, which I've heard is a good attitude to have as deliveries often don't go according to plan.

Instead of feeling frightened or horrified upon learning the baby's projected size, I found the news strangely endearing--my heart swelled upon hearing the estimates at week 34 and it's only exploded since then. I was a large baby, so I have an affinity for the chubby ones. And most importantly, once again, this baby is proving himself/herself to be obedient. Consistent and good growth and development is an answer to many prayers. Baby has grown the best he/she could and has supposedly done a great job at it! I've never really understood why some people treat huge newborns like freaks of nature. They're strong and healthy, and who can fault a babe, or the Lord, for that?

I haven't exchanged or given away any newborn-sized clothing yet, just in case all three ultrasounds are wrong, but I also haven't removed the tags. Something tells me that our sweet chunky monkey may bypass those teeny clothes and jump right into the next size up.

last day

2011-09-09T03:00:00.001-04:00

Today is my last day of work for 2011! Lord willing, Baby will arrive safe and sound and remain alive and healthy, and I'll return to work on January 3, 2012. I'm incredibly thankful for plenty of weeks of banked sick and annual leave--there are perks to working at the same institution for 11 years--and the generosity of my boss that allow me to take an extended leave.

I am thrilled that Baby has cooperated by allowing me to work through this day. Let's hope this obedience continues after he or she arrives!

author schedule

2011-09-08T03:00:00.001-04:00

The National Book Festival has officially exploded: two days of literary goodness and new pavilions. The festival already drew over 100,000 people annually--the crowds will be insane this year!

The author schedule is up. I am always humbled by how many authors I haven't read or have never heard of. I recognize fewer names on the list this year, and I have yet to study their bios, so I've probably read a few more of them than I think.

I doubt I'll make it to many, if any, author presentations this year, but, Lord willing, Baby will be here safe and sound by then, and maybe Brad can drive us down to the mall and we can hop out to take a quick picture and pick up the souvenir bag. The book festival's poster would make a great addition to the wall across from the bookshelves in Baby's room.

race to the finish

2011-09-07T09:23:00.000-04:00

Suddenly, Brad is making major progress on The Count of Monte Cristo! I have renewed hope that our married reading challenge will conclude this year after all. As of this morning, he only has 78 pages to go. He's trying to finish before the baby arrives.

We'll see who wins.

circus act

2011-09-06T06:00:00.002-04:00

I have never felt more like a circus act, or should I say a sideshow, than during the last two months of pregnancy. Especially recently, people's comments about my physical appearance have snowballed out of control. I can't walk down the street, check out at a store, or even interact with people I know without someone commenting on how I look these days. It's like they've never seen a pregnant person before and I am a freak of nature. I don't recall ever making comments like what's been said to me recently to other pregnant people, especially strangers, and it baffles me that so many people lack filters.

Many people fall all over themselves to tell me their opinion about whether they think I'm having a boy or a girl, even after I tell them I'm not interested in hearing their opinion. (Yes, I've grown bold and said that multiple times... it doesn't seem to deter people from telling me anyway.) What kills me though is how adamant most people are about it... like they really know, which of course they don't. And the count is about 50/50 thus far. For each person who insists we're having a boy, there's another person who is equally as adamant that the baby is a girl.

The clerks ringing up my purchases at stores have transitioned from asking, "When is the baby due?" to "How many days left?" Last week, one of my darling students told me I looked like I was about to burst. The winning comment of the week occurred this past Saturday as Brad and I walked home from lunch at a newish place in our neighborhood. An old woman sat in her wheelchair on the sidewalk in front of the building where she lived. Brad and I strolled by, and we both heard her say, "Looking fat today..." and then she hollered after us, "When's the baby coming?"

We ignored her.

And for the record, old woman, my chin and chest are fuller than normal and my ankles are slightly swollen (only as of week 38, but I'm not sporting cankles, yet). Other than those expansions, I am all belly--a round, firm, and compact one at that.

engageaversary

2011-09-01T06:00:00.003-04:00

Ten years ago today, Brad and I got engaged! It feels like a lifetime ago and just yesterday, all at the same time.

Do you remember the date you got engaged? If so, do you and your spouse celebrate it or even acknowledge it?

in or out?

2011-08-31T06:00:00.004-04:00

No, this is not a picture of me!

Until I read my friend's blog post about lessons learned during her pregnancy, I assumed every woman's belly button protruded at some point during pregnancy.

With two weeks to go until my due date, my belly button still hasn't completely popped* out yet--the top edge sticks out, and the rest of it is either flush with my stomach or depressed. I have to admit that I'm a little disappointed not to have a full-fledged outtie. I think they are hilarious and when else in my life will I ever have one? I was looking forward to to taping it down each day with a band-aid!

What about you? Did you end up with an outtie during pregnancy? And if so, how long did it take to return to normal after you gave birth?

*I hesitate to use this word after my recent rant, but I can tolerate it when describing a belly button.

wills and other important documents

2011-08-29T06:00:00.002-04:00

When I first blogged about when and how to obtain a will, I didn't expect this process to take six months, but at long last, Brad and I finally have wills, durable powers of attorney, and living wills. The process really doesn't take six months--it took some time to get going on this project, and then once I found a suitable attorney, summer had arrived and we had to plan meetings around multiple hectic schedules.

My goal was to have these documents, or at least the last will and testament, in place before the baby arrived. If something happens to both Brad and me, our child will NOT become a ward of the DC court!

Many people believe a last will and testament is solely for delegating assets, and if they don't have much, then a will is not necessary. However, delegating assets was the least of our concerns and that section of the document took us about five seconds to complete because we don't care about it that much. We don't have many assets and our lawyer kindly told us that if something happened to both of us in the near future, our estate would not support our child financially until he or she turns 18. We set up a will to make sure our child is cared for in our absence and would not become a ward of the court or end up with someone unsuitable.

Laws vary by state, but in DC, if both parents die and leave behind a minor, and don't have a last will and testament that names a guardian for the child, that child becomes a ward of the court. Most times, the court will work out an arrangement with family or close friends to house and care for the child during the court proceedings, but not always, and there's a chance that the child could end up in foster care. Also, family or friends must petition the court for guardianship of the child, which takes time and costs a fortune. The process takes even longer (which also means it will be more expensive) if multiple family members or friends seek guardianship of the child, and conflicts erupt.

Yes, this is a morbid topic. Yes, setting up these documents can be time consuming, confusing, and expensive. But only the Lord knows when our last day on this earth will be. And if something did happen to you and your spouse, would you want to put your family and friends, and most importantly, your child, through this unnecessary hassle and expense because you hadn't planned ahead?

bright idea

2011-08-25T06:00:00.000-04:00

A couple months ago, I decided to purchase several of those Living Social/Groupon/you name it housekeeping deals, intending to use them late in pregnancy or after the baby comes. The only time Brad and I have hired a professional housekeeper is when we moved into our new house and the hardwood floors had been sanded and redone, leaving a lovely orange, dusty film all over every inch of our new home.

I cashed in one of the housekeeping deals recently, now that I feel more uncomfortable each day and have trouble bending over or standing for extended periods. What a treat!!! I sat on the couch while two lovely women scrubbed my entire house from top to bottom in 90 minutes. And they cleaned much deeper than I do on a regular basis. For example, I mop the kitchen and bathroom floors as needed, but not every time I clean. These women mopped the floor in every room, even all the bedrooms!

Sometimes you can find these housekeeping deals for as cheap as $35 for a couple hours of cleaning (I paid $39 for three hours)--what a perfect gift for a friend or family member in need!

full term

2011-08-24T06:00:00.003-04:00

Please join me in praising God for reaching the full-term mark of pregnancy today!

Each day of this pregnancy, I have reminded myself how lucky I am. Whenever I want to complain about hemorrhoids, constipation, sleepless nights, soreness, nausea, fatigue, being hot, or other undesirable side effects, I think of couples I know still praying for God to make them pregnant or to help them sustain a pregnancy. I'd rather this baby NOT arrive before his or her due date, no matter how uncomfortable I feel, and I'd be delighted to deliver a few days late. But even if I were tempted to wish for the baby to be born now (and complain that he or she hasn't arrived yet), I think of mothers who deliver premature babies and would have loved to see their due dates come and go rather than have a child in the NICU.

I think of my colleague and friend, years ago, whose baby died in utero one day before her due date. Can you imagine? Yes, I am still grounded about my pregnancy. The Lord is in charge and only he knows how this will all turn out.

My heart is thankful for reaching today's milestone, and I pray I continue to be thankful each day, no matter how I am feeling, physically or emotionally. God is good. And he is faithful.

I don't plan to share my progress (or lack of) toward delivery here or anywhere else. But know that as soon as Brad and I have something to announce, Lord willing, and we can get our hands on a laptop, you'll read the news here. So stay tuned, Gentle Readers. And thanks for your continued prayers and encouragement during these coming weeks.

a must-read

2011-08-23T06:00:00.000-04:00

Whether you have or haven't experienced pregnancy loss, this piece is a must-read. And, I love that it's written by a man.

August recipe challenge: Oreo cheesecake

2011-08-22T06:00:00.000-04:00

Some of you will accuse me of cheating this month, but I've never made a cheesecake before (in spite of owning a springform pan for at least five years). Also, this recipe required the use of my monster Cuisinart food processor that I've, sadly, only used once since my in-laws gave it to me last Christmas. I had to read the instruction manual to assemble it, so that counts as a challenge in my book.

I took a break from Julia this month and followed this recipe, but like my previous challenges, this dish still took more than one day to complete from start to finish.

the ingredients and equipment

ready to go in the oven

The cheesecake was simple to assemble, but it had to bake for a total of two hours and 15 minutes: one hour and 15 minutes with the oven door closed and an additional hour with the oven door open! This recipe was not a smart choice for a hot August day; I should have saved it for December when we needed to heat the house anyway.

After baking and cooling on the counter, the cheesecake needed 24 hours in the refrigerator before I could release the springform pan's sides.

Success! The cake stood up when the sides came off!

first slice

While the crust of the cake stood tall and proud once the pan's sides were released, the middle did sink a little (see picture above), and I'm not sure why. These recipe challenges are teaching me that I am a consistent cook: the dishes taste just fine (even with low-fat ingredients!) but I have some work to do on my presentation.

the p word

2011-08-18T06:00:00.013-04:00

A colleague at work called me last week.

Colleague: "Hi! I've been meaning to call you for weeks now. When are you popping?"

Stunned silence.

Me: "Excuse me?"

Colleague: "When are you popping?"

Me: "Are you asking when my due date is?"

Colleague: "Yes."

Have I mentioned that I abhor the word pop or any form of it when it is associated with pregnancy? At least this colleague is a female. I might have croaked if a man uttered that word to me.

the eggplant thief

2011-08-16T06:00:00.001-04:00

Weeks ago, I had an eggplant in the making.

This beauty tripled in size. I went out to pick it and found a barren plant.

This is the THIRD TIME an eggplant has been snatched from under my nose this summer. I have yet to harvest anything from this plant. Which critter is stealing my eggplants? The produce is larger than the squirrels, so I doubt it's them. And they normally gnaw on and bat the goods around the yard and leave the remains for me to clean up, but I have yet to find a trace of each stolen eggplant. I'm beginning to think that someone is jumping over our fence and making off with my vegetables while Brad and I are at work!

My green peppers are looking good--I need to harvest them before someone or something else does!

a DC government service that works

2011-08-15T06:00:00.003-04:00

The DC government and its respective agencies and services make me want to cut off my arm and beat someone over the head with it most of the time. But after 11 years of living in our nation's capital, I've finally discovered a DC service that is easy, efficient, and free.

The Metropolitan Police Department offers free car seat checks and installations at three locations in the city: DDOT, DMV (Inspection Station), and Children's Hospital. Brad made an appointment online at the Inspection Station on Half Street SW, was allowed to cut to the front of the inspection line, and the marvelous Larry Walker installed the car seat in Brad's car in about five minutes. Brad was in and out of there in fewer than ten minutes! When has that ever happened at the DC DMV?

We now have a way to safely transport Baby home from the hospital, but that doesn't mean we're ready for him or her to come into the world yet. Please hold out for another month, little one!

one bump saves the other

2011-08-11T06:00:00.009-04:00

I have a love-hate relationship with Brad's and my GPS. I rarely use it because it usually sends me on a scenic route, but I took it with me on a recent excursion when I didn't know where I was going. I figured that listening to the GPS would be easier (and safer) than trying to read my printed directions while driving.

I printed off a copy of the directions to my final destination as insurance. And as I expected, the GPS went wacky on me at one point. As I sat at a red light and consulted my printed directions to figure out the correct way to go, I was startled by a firm bump, and then I realized, with horror, that my foot had slipped off the brake and my car rolled a foot or so downhill to bump the rear of the car in front of me.

The other driver and I both put on our hazards and got out of our respective cars to inspect the damage. My car didn't roll more than a foot, and I didn't hit her car hard at all, so I wasn't too worried, but I still apologized profusely because this incident was completely my fault.

This woman, who initially looked irritated, took one long look at my belly bump and said, "You know, I'm not going to worry about this at all. Are you okay? You have a good day." She smiled at me, hopped back in her car, and drove away.

There wasn't any damage, but this woman could have made this tougher on me than she did. My belly bump saved me a whole lot of hassle.

planting for fall

2011-08-09T06:00:00.002-04:00

Soon after I wrote this post, I chided myself for my arrogance. I never anticipated a problem with finding seeds to plant my fall crops, but all the big stores don't carry them after spring planting ends. After striking out at numerous places, I resigned myself to a barren garden this fall.

And then I went into beloved Frager's and voila: seeds for fall planting!

I've planted the first round of seeds, and I'm already looking forward to mesclun greens, romaine lettuce, spinach, and broccoli this fall.

11 years

2011-08-08T06:00:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, I celebrated my 11th anniversary of working at UMD. Eleven years! How can that be?

Last year, I shared the many reasons why I love my job, institution, and people I work with. All of those reasons still hold true. And regarding my weeks of accrued sick and annual leave over 11 years, I can't wait, Lord willing, to finally cash in on this benefit beginning September 12th. Having ample sick and vacation time left in the bank after taking an extended maternity leave is an added bonus.

Yes, there are definite perks to longevity at one institution.

parenting resources

2011-08-04T06:00:00.004-04:00

I've held true to my vow to not read any books about pregnancy. My doctor, friends, and Google have been more than sufficient to answer any questions I've had.

But since I finished The Count of Monte Cristo a few weeks ago (Side note: Brad still has 400 pages to go... will we survive this married reading challenge, Gentle Readers?) and Brad has been asking me an increasing number of baby-care-related questions--he's searching for the instruction manual--I have checked out a few parenting resources that friends have recommended. I thumbed through Baby Bargains as I set up my registries (all online, so quick and easy and I didn't have to troll through baby stores!). Brad and I spent a Friday night watching the DVD of The Happiest Baby on the Block and were amazed when we successfully soothed a few fussy infants at church during childcare based on Dr. Karp's tips--it was like magic! I just finished reading On Becoming Babywise, and the authors' approach to feeding and sleeping makes so much sense to me that it's hard to believe that it doesn't work for all babies. I just received the newest edition of Baby 411, which seemed to be the best instruction-manual-type book on the market to answer Brad's questions.

It's easy to focus solely on the baby's practical needs, but Brad and I need much more guidance in parenting biblically, which is most important anyway. One of our pastors is conveniently offering a first-time parenting workshop in a few weeks that we plan to attend. Later this year, Brad and I will take our church's 13-week core seminar on parenting. In the meantime, I have two books on my must-read list: Shepherding a Child's Heart and Loving the Little Years. Christian moms, any other recommendations?

summer saviors

2011-08-02T06:00:00.001-04:00

I don't know what I would do this summer without the following products.

I bought this fan back in May when I first noticed feeling hot most of the time. This fan is a great supplement to the AC and ceiling fan in our bedroom each night.

Remember how I mentioned spending an entire weekend covering our front and back planting beds with weed-control fabric? Well, I'm so thankful I did. Excessive squatting and bending over to pull weeds continues to grow more difficult for me each week. And thankfully, because of this fabric, I only pull about 5% of the weeds that I used to. (Isn't it amazing how weeds still manage to come through the fabric at the holes and edges? They always find a way!)

I know these OFF! clip-on mosquito repellents don't work for everyone, but they've been such a blessing to Brad and me this summer. We love to eat dinner on our deck, but we have to lather up with mosquito repellent each night or else we'll be miserable. When I bought these clips, I never expected them to work, but they do! For us, at least, they do. We even wear them when doing yard work and watering the yard and we've been bite-free thus far.

What are your summer saviors?

august anxiety

2011-08-01T06:00:00.002-04:00

Happy August! As of today, when people ask when I'm due, I can say, "Next month." Amazing! And praise God for carrying Baby and me this far.

Today is when my August dread usually begins. But, given the circumstances this year, my dread has turned to anxiety. I don't dread the fall semester at all. In fact, I look forward to it because, Lord willing, Baby will arrive safe and sound and I'll be on maternity leave most of the fall semester.

As long as Baby doesn't come early and I can work through the second week of classes, I won't return until the university reopens after the holidays: January 3, 2012. But I'm so nervous that Baby will come early and I won't be prepared, either at work or home.

I'm not worried so much about being unprepared at home other than if Baby arrives prematurely and I need to return to work before January--what will we do about childcare? On the work front, I've been toiling for months to not only accomplish my summer tasks, but to complete as much of my fall work as I can and to thoroughly prepare the rest of it to make life easier on those who will do my job for me. We have a small staff in my office, and I've covered for plenty of people during extended absences, so I don't take their time and generosity for granted.

Brad's and my decision to not find out the sex of our baby baffles most people. In truth, I still don't even wonder about it and we haven't once speculated about what we think we're having. For many reasons, this is the right decision for us and I'm glad we were never tempted to find out. But if I could have one question answered in advance, it's this: what day will the baby arrive? Tell me how much time I have to work with!

still running!

2011-07-28T06:00:00.018-04:00


Photo Credit: Steven White, Getty Images

Yep, at 33 weeks pregnant, I'm still running a little! And no, I do not look as toned and lithe as the woman in the picture. My belly's only a little larger than hers is though. A compact belly definitely makes running while pregnant easier.

Pre-pregnancy, a five-mile run was my standard exercise routine before work a few mornings a week and sometimes, definitely if training for a race, I'd run a farther distance on days off or the weekends. I haven't run farther than three miles since I've been pregnant. I probably could have early on, but I was scared to push myself, so I arbitrarily decided that three miles was my limit. If short on time, I only run two miles or even a mile and a half.

I now realize how much I relied on 10+ mile runs to help me catch up on miles when I lagged behind my goals. I can't do that now, and I won't come anywhere close to meeting my 2011 running goals. But at least I'm still out there, doing what I can.

I don't run up hills any longer, and I can't run for miles straight without taking breaks. It's too hot, even at 6 a.m., and I get side stitches so easily now that as soon as I feel the slightest bit of pain, I stop and walk until it subsides. So, I run a few blocks, walk a few blocks, and then run some more.

Running while pregnant is incredibly humbling. I used to pass other runners as I lapped Lincoln Park; now nearly everyone--except for my dear, 87-year-old park walking friend Ellis--passes me. I am out of breath in ways I never have been before. I run at a snail's pace, not just because I'm carrying extra weight, but to allow plenty of time to catch myself in case I stumble or lose my balance.

I don't know how much these walks/runs a couple mornings a week are doing for me physically, but mentally, they are huge. My runner's high has never been higher. Even though I run slowly and don't go far, it feels like a huge accomplishment to do it at all.

Hoping I can keep running through the end of pregnancy and beyond...

author preview

2011-07-27T06:00:00.002-04:00

The National Book Festival site has a tentative list of authors for this year's event on September 24th and 25th. I see the names of several authors I have read, but none of my favorites are listed yet. Maybe that's a good thing in case I'm in the hospital and can't make it.

Which authors stand out to you?

july jitters

2011-07-25T06:00:00.008-04:00

Have you ever had a bad day or month that made you leery of that particular day or month in future years? I've never considered myself a superstitious person, but when my recent 30- and 32-week OB appointments coincidentally fell on the same dates last summer that I found out I had miscarried twins and the D&C that followed, I felt a little freaked out and anxious.

Last year's weepiness, despair, and physical discomfort on that D&C day were countered by this year's uneventful 32-week check-up and accepting delivery of the nursery furniture. What a difference a year makes.

Although I'll never again be one of those pregnant women who is blissfully ignorant of the miracle and fragility of human life, I've learned more about the Lord's sovereignty and faithfulness over the past year than I ever would have had that first pregnancy gone perfectly. Praise God for healing, and for strengthening faith through sorrow.

weird symptoms

2011-07-21T06:00:00.002-04:00

When I had my annual eye exam in March, my doctor warned me that corneas can expand during pregnancy as other organs do. I've never heard any friends talk about their contacts being uncomfortable later in pregnancy, so I didn't pay much attention to his comments.

But I've now reached the point where my contacts feel too small, are overly dry, and I can't see very well most days. At least I have cute glasses as a back up!

The vertigo, another symptom no friend has mentioned to me, has hit. I have to lie down, sit up, and stand up slowly and carefully or the room spins like I've had too much to drink.

What unusual pregnancy symptoms did you experience?

July recipe challenge: creme brulee

2011-07-20T06:00:00.008-04:00

When I first started making this recipe, I felt like I was cheating. Only five ingredients? Only 20 minutes to make it? I should have learned from my bread-baking fiasco that few ingredients do not equal less stress.

I used Julia's recipe in the first volume of Mastering the Art of French Cooking (p. 589). No place, that I can see, does she state that you need to bake the creme brulee in the oven after combining the ingredients and chilling the mixture. (Am I right or am I having another pregnancy brain episode? I have re-read these pages several times after I realized that I was about to botch the batch of creme brulee and I still can't find a directive to bake.)

After sitting in the refrigerator overnight, the custard was still foamy, like this...

And runny, like this...

After consulting Google, I learned that I should have baked the custard, let it cool on the counter and then chill in the fridge, before broiling a brown and white sugar mixture on top to make the crust (and then cooling on the counter and chilling in the fridge again to "set" the custard). Thanks, Julia, for leaving out some key steps!

I finished the recipe per the instructions on Google, and it turned out great.

Brad and I ate our portions garnished with fresh strawberries (that I needed to use up).

So, a seemingly quick and easy recipe ended up taking me two days to complete it. Yep, that's typical for my recipe challenges!

bling

2011-07-18T06:00:00.001-04:00

My fingers plump up like sausages in hot weather (or when exercising) even when not pregnant. So, in anticipation of my wedding ring growing too tight to wear as the sweltering days linger, I swung by good old Claire's in Union Station for a temporary fix.

For $15, I bought two fake diamond rings with bands a size and a quarter larger than my wedding ring.

But the bands aren't the only thing that's larger.

I went BIG on these fake rocks, about twice the size of my real diamond. I mean, why not? I don't expect to ever own a real diamond that large, so why not have some fun this summer?

Brad said I'm asking to be mugged.

I went for the bling, but what did you do, current mamas? 'Fess up!

nosy and nice

2011-07-14T06:00:00.007-04:00

On our recent last hurrah trip, during lunch at the beach bar one day, an older gentleman took interest in my pregnancy. After a slew of increasingly personal questions about my health and physical condition (he was a stranger, mind you... I don't mind if friends ask me personal questions, but I draw the line with complete strangers) and my vague answers and attempts to change the subject failed to deter him, I almost launched into a detailed account of my visits to the colorectal specialist just to shut him up. But, being an older gentleman, he may have had his own experiences with colorectal specialists and I certainly didn't want to open that door. Ew.

My posts have focused on people's inappropriate behavior or unsolicited comments, but I'd be remiss if I failed to mention how nice others have been to me. Four people to date have offered me their seats on crowded Metro trains. One woman said I could go ahead of her in the Chick-fil-A bathroom line. Strangers help me load the car in store parking lots and open doors for me. Plenty of people make eye contact with and smile at me as we pass on the street. My next-door neighbor told me he didn't care if the baby's wailing kept him up all night, and he spoke with sincerity. Even the facilities guys at work, after they showed up to unlock the plastic box covering my office's thermostat--set at a sweltering temperature--took one look at me and didn't even question my request for access, but got straight to work.

Pregnancy, for better or worse, certainly invites attention. Although many people make me feel like a circus act, I can't overlook the small but mighty group of sweet souls who are nicer to me than I deserve.

gladioluses and dahlias

2011-07-13T06:00:00.002-04:00

More flowers are blooming!

I'm not sure why my gladioluses are bending over. The blossoms can't be that heavy, can they?

I planted them right next to the house thinking they would grow straight up the brick wall and frame my front window. But they insist on hiding behind the bushes.

The dahlia bulbs produced massive flowers.

Look! The blossom is larger than my hand!

I love this season.

a neverending quest

2011-07-11T06:00:00.001-04:00

This may be a weird quirk of mine, but I am slightly obsessed with my breath, and making sure it's as fresh as it can be. I'm the one who whips out the breath mints after a group lunch and passes the tin around the table. After brushing my teeth, my favorite breath freshener of choice is an Eclipse mint. These mints are sugar-free and effective without being overpowering like Altoids can be. The small metal tin is durable and fits easily in my purse. I much prefer mints to gum--I have no idea why.

These mints are perfect in every way, but I fear they're being discontinued because I've had a horrible time finding them in stores for the past year or so. I look for them at every check-out, anxious to build my stash at home for when the day comes when they truly are no more. Recently, a CVS employee made my day. She saw me scouring the mint and candy section at the cash register and asked what I was looking for. When I told her, she said, "I know exactly what you're talking about!" and pulled out an 8-pack of mints from behind the counter. "This is our last package, and I didn't even put them out because we no longer have a cash register code for them." When I happily told her I'd take the entire box of 8, she sold them to me at the clearance price!

After striking out at the previous ten stores I'd visited, what a joy to find them at all let alone at a bargain price. My fix continues . . . at least for 8 more packages.

our last hurrah

2011-07-07T06:00:00.010-04:00


sunset over the Currituck Sound

Brad and I traveled to Duck, North Carolina, for the July 4th weekend, and we had a great time: perfect beach weather, a nice hotel room with the most comfortable hotel bed I've ever slept in, and most importantly, good conversations and sweet time together. We both sense that change is imminent, and for two people who are somewhat set in our ways and therefore don't adjust to change quickly or well, it's scary. Even though we've wanted children for years, now that we're about to have one, Lord willing, it's an understatement to say that we're both terrified about the future.

This past weekend we laughed, we cried, we relaxed, we reminisced, and we tried to enjoy a last trip of just the two of us (for a while, at least) because we hear that once children are involved, vacations are never quite the same again.

Even though it's taken longer to have children than we had hoped, I'll never regret these nine plus years of marriage that Brad and I have had alone together. We've run marathons and dined at fine restaurants. We went to Europe and traveled to countless other places. We've been hermits, and on the flip side, too social at times for our taste. We've started a married book club (kind of) and bought a house. I've earned my Ph.D. and Brad has advanced in his career. We love each other more and communicate better than we did nine years ago.

Of course we are both thrilled to welcome a son or daughter in about ten weeks, Lord willing. Our structured and orderly lives (and home) will quickly become a distant memory, and that's just fine with us. I know that we'll be okay. But fear is clouding my perspective and I'm feeling a bit nostalgic. Why is it that when something new is on the horizon, even a fabulous something new, you just want to curl up and cling to what's familiar?

rugs and a runner

2011-07-05T06:00:00.001-04:00

As longtime readers have probably gathered, interior decorating terrifies me. Whether it's selecting and purchasing art, furniture, window treatments, or the like, I tend to shy away from these projects because the options are overwhelming, these items are expensive, and because of the expense, the decisions, once made, are final.

Rugs have been no different from the other categories, but I finally bit the bullet and some of our floors are no longer bare! My friend Allison told me about the jewel that is Georgetown Carpet's remnant selection. Located in a nondescript showroom on the opposite side of city from where I live, this store offers a huge selection of remnants at discount prices that can be made into rugs. You can get a high quality rug for a fraction of what you would pay at a regular store, especially if your space requires a custom size. Know that you may have to make several visits to Georgetown Carpet before you find something you like, but it's worth it to keep checking back as their selection turns over regularly.

I found two great remnants that turned into two rugs for Brad's and my bedroom as well as a runner for the stairs and an extra throw rug at the top of the stairs. I used every spare inch of both remnants, so I truly got my money's worth! Take a look.

Here's a picture of our bare bedroom floor. Yes, the original 1915 red pine is pretty, but the room doesn't really look lived in with bare floors.

And here is the "after" picture with our two new rugs, which have added a whole new level of comfort and coziness to our room.

Here's a closer picture of the weave. The carpet is thick, high quality, and soft on our feet, plus, it matches our bedding and decor perfectly!

My second rug-related project involved buying a runner for our stairs, which are treacherous. I've fallen down the entire flight twice now, both times while pregnant, and I knew I could never risk navigating them with a baby in my arms unless we had a runner and possibly a railing.

descend at your own risk

Did you know that stair runners are incredibly expensive? Well, I didn't, and I was shocked by the price quoted to me for a "traditional" runner (e.g. borders on both sides of the carpet). Instead, I chose a remnant to make a nontraditional runner (e.g. without the borders), and I think it turned out great. Plus, it saved me over $800! Take a look.

One other benefit of using a remnant for the runner is that I ended up with an extra piece of carpet that I had turned into a matching throw rug for the top of the steps.

After over two years here, this house is beginning to look a little more "lived in", one project at a time.

vacation, part 2

2011-07-01T06:00:00.002-04:00

Call it the second leg of our summer vacation, our Babymoon, our last hurrah, or all of the above, but Brad and I are off to the beach again this weekend. This time, we're excited to visit the Outer Banks!

Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

more finds, progress, and a vision

2011-06-29T06:00:00.005-04:00

I've lucked out on the MOTH list serv with two more baby items: a space-saving play mat that's in great shape and a Snap 'N Go that fits the car seat my friend gave us.

Looks like fun and takes up little space--a double win!

I am particularly excited about the Snap 'N Go because I would have registered for one if I hadn't found it for free. This system, which conveniently works with the car seat we already have, will get us through the first few months of transporting Baby around, and then we'll switch over to a high-end jogging stroller that is sturdy enough to survive treacherous Capitol Hill sidewalks.

Odd to see this foreign contraption on my deck...

In other news, Brad and I selected and ordered the nursery furniture and crib bedding, which is progress! We're now emptying our guest room and preparing to paint before the furniture and bedding are delivered in the next month or two. This baby's arrival is beginning to feel like more of a reality, although there is still plenty that can happen between now and then, so I'm continuing to stay grounded and to turn my fears over to the Lord. He's the only one who knows how this will all play out anyway.

Having the furniture and bedding selected and ordered is the first step in my vision for the nursery, which involves dark, cherry wood, and a palette of neutrals (cream, taupe, and chocolate) that we will accent after the baby is born (and we know the sex) with either fuchsia or a bright, turquoise-like blue. Know that I won't post pictures of the nursery until it's finished, which won't be until the baby is home and settled, Lord willing, and all accents are in place. So, it may be a while, but I'll post pictures of the final product eventually. Stay tuned!

June recipe challenge: crepes farcies et roulees with fondue de volaille

2011-06-27T06:00:00.002-04:00

Or, if you need a translation, June's recipe challenge involved making French crepes with a creamy, chicken filling. Because every recipe challenge thus far has come from Julia Child's cookbooks, I decided to continue the French theme, and what is more authentic to the French than crepes?

This recipe wasn't as difficult as others have been, but like all the others, it involved many steps and took hours to complete, so I think it still qualifies as my monthly challenge.

I made the crepe batter in the afternoon because it had to chill in the refrigerator for at least two hours. It was easy and I loved being able to use my blender to make dinner.

crepe batter

I cut the crepe recipe in half and I'm so glad I did because making the crepes took a while. Notice the clock in the photo below says "6:25". I think it was after 8 before Brad and I ate dinner.

crepe station in action

Assembling the dish reminded me of making Mexican enchiladas.


the French version of Mexican enchiladas

I served this dish with steamed broccoli and our favorite salad.

dinner

This recipe's a winner! I would make it again.

people and their comments

2011-06-23T06:00:00.005-04:00

I'm starting to look pregnant enough for strangers to make their infamous comments. (Side note: Praise God for 28 weeks and the third trimester as of Wednesday!) Recently, I had two run-ins on the same day, only a few hours apart. Walking home from the metro, I stopped to let a large delivery truck pass through the four-way stop. The driver waved me to cross the street in front of him and I immediately thought, "What a kind man!" until he hung out his truck window and shouted over and over, "Looks like you're having a XXX! Looks like you're having a XXX!"

People on the street stared at me, adding to my humiliation. But, after throwing one dirty glance back at the obnoxious truck driver, I pressed on toward home and tried to forget the incident.

Later that same day, I stopped by a maternity store to cash in some rewards certificates I earned on my previous shopping trip. I had the same sales woman helping me as before, and she didn't question my pregnancy this time, but she couldn't believe how far along I was. After I told her Brad and I didn't find out the sex because we wanted to be surprised, she said, "Oh, well you look like you're having a XXX." She shared the truck driver's opinion.

I was tempted to turn around and walk out, but I really wanted to use those reward certificates!

It must have been the outfit because I haven't had any incidents since that day.

constant harvest

2011-06-22T06:00:00.002-04:00

Three years into gardening, I finally feel as though I've gained a tiny bit of wisdom regarding it. For example, once my peas finished a few weeks ago, I pulled them up and replaced them with eggplant and green pepper plants, hoping to get two crops (of different vegetables) out of my containers this summer. My Mesclun greens are still going strong after two months, but I expect July's heat will zap them if June's doesn't. I recently learned that I can sow more lettuce seeds in September for a fall crop, so that's what I'll do. We are loving these greens (and are enjoying not paying ridiculous prices for them at the farmers market)!

My green beans are exploding right now. I have no idea how I'll find let alone pick them all before they rot.

How do people with large gardens have time to do it all? I can barely keep up with the two small boxes and six containers that I have.

praise God for colorectal specialists

2011-06-21T06:00:00.003-04:00

Thanks for the love yesterday, Gentle Readers. I am hanging in there. My OB referred me to see a colorectal surgeon and he got me in right away yesterday. After one glance at my sore bum, he declared that no amount of Preparation H (or any over-the-counter remedy) could have fixed my problems, an announcement that did wonders for my morale. I wasn't a sissy after all! And even though I thought I'd already experienced the most humiliating of all doctors' appointments by going through fertility treatments, this specialist had such a good sense of humor (a necessity for his field, I guess) that he took much of the embarrassment out of what would have normally been a mortifying procedure.

He's treating me now, and I'll see him again this Thursday. I know I still have a good amount of pain and discomfort in my immediate future, but I have hope that he can get my system back on track and help to prevent this horrific situation from happening again.

Now that I'm officially a blogger who addresses taboo topics (e.g. infertility, miscarriage, IVF, pregnancy after loss, hemorrhoids, constipation--what's next?), if anyone struggles with chronic constipation, whether you're pregnant or not, and you have questions, PLEASE be in touch. I learned a lot at this appointment that would have been helpful to know pre-pregnancy and that even could have kept me out of this mess that I'm in now.

down for the count

2011-06-20T02:24:00.001-04:00

It takes a lot to knock me out of commission. In nearly 11 years of working, I've only missed four or five days unexpectedly because of sickness that left me truly bedridden and feeling like I just could not work.

And yet here I am, for the fourth consecutive night, watching the minutes inch by on the clock because I am up and in pain, experiencing some ugly pregnancy side effects and knowing that there's no way I can go to work in the morning. I've learned the hard way (pun intended) that pregnancy exacerbates constipation and hemorrhoids--issues for me even when not pregnant. I'll spare you the gory details, but I've been horizontal and miserable since Thursday night. I can't sit or stand, or sleep for more than an hour or two at a time. I haven't left the house in days. I don't know how I'll ever ride in a car or run again. There is no relief on the horizon yet, and after my doctor's warning yesterday that this could be a chronic problem for me for the rest of the pregnancy, I just want to cry (which I've already done plenty of this weekend).

But, even though I am in agony, Baby's still doing fine as far as I can tell, praise God. And I am constantly reminded how lucky I am to have made it this far, or even to be pregnant at all. Perhaps these sleepless nights are preparing me for motherhood. So, I'll deal with these nasty 'roids, even it if means strapping an ice pack to my bum for the next 12 weeks.

losing my mind

2011-06-16T06:00:00.004-04:00

During lunch one day this week, I had the oil in my car changed. I went to the counter to pay and I panicked when I realized my wallet was missing. I ran to the car to see if it had fallen out of my purse there. It hadn't. I called my office and asked a co-worker to search--I hoped it had either fallen out of my purse onto the office floor or I had mistakenly placed it in my work bag instead of my purse.

After a long wait on hold (which I was certain meant bad news), my co-worker returned and said, "Well, I finally found it. It was in your lunch box!"

My lunch box?! Huh?

I drove back to my office, retrieved my wallet, and returned to Jiffy Lube to pay the bill. The guys working there, for lack of any other customers to service, had a heyday with my mistake. They were overly nice and escorted me back to my car to make sure I got in the right one.

Is this episode what people refer to as pregnancy brain?

What are your pregnancy brain stories? Please share. Make me feel better about my blunder!

open invitation

2011-06-14T06:00:00.002-04:00

My herb garden is dangerously out of control, so early in the growing season!

If you live in the DC area and would love free, fresh, delicious herbs, consider this post your open invitation to come over as often as you'd like this summer and pick to your heart's content. Or, if you know you'll see me, place your order in advance and I'll pick, wash, assemble, and deliver the herb bouquet of your choice. I have too much sage, oregano, parsley, peppermint, thyme, and chives right now, and basil and rosemary are quickly catching up.

lilies and daisies

2011-06-13T06:00:00.002-04:00

My lilies and daisies are blooming!

I am trying my best to keep everything alive. These 90+ degree days (and the 102 degree day last week) aren't helping.

So far, so good--I've had no casualties in the flower bed yet.

But summer hasn't even officially begun!

Back to watering...

the crack widens

2011-06-09T06:00:00.001-04:00

What began so innocently as this...

... has now turned into this.

Thanks to sweet friends, the church list serv, and the MOTH list serv, I have either acquired or am borrowing the following items: infant swing/seat, car seat and base, a Baby Bjorn, a Moby wrap, a brand-new SwaddleMe blanket, a Hooter Hider, several baby blankets, children's books, and maternity clothes.

I haven't spent a dime of my own money on Baby yet. Who knew that trolling list servs for goods could be so fun and fruitful?

Brad and I did take a big step last weekend; we braved a baby store on Saturday to look at cribs. I had done a little browsing online before we went, and even though it felt odd to walk into a baby store to shop for myself and not someone else, I am so glad we checked out the quality and sturdiness of some pieces I saw online before placing an order. I went into the store thinking I wanted one particular style and left the store with a completely different idea.

We browsed cribs and narrowed our options, but we didn't make a final decision or place an order yet. There's still time for that, right?

Key Biscayne

2011-06-07T06:00:00.002-04:00

When Brad went back to work on Capitol Hill and I realized that we wouldn't be able to take a week-long vacation this year because of his schedule, I admit I grumbled a little. But now I see the blessing of breaking our vacation into two parts: the first leg is over but I still have another trip to look forward to!

Key Biscayne was wonderful--beautiful, clean, ritzy, quiet, relaxing--and I highly recommend it for a long weekend. I scored a deal at the Ritz Carlton, and cashed in enough credit card points to cover one of our nights there. I've never stayed at a hotel of that caliber before, but all of their pampering and extra touches made for a great vacation in and of itself--it almost didn't matter where we were!

Ritz Carlton, Key Biscayne

We enjoyed a great view from our room.

The view

We did nothing except relax on the beach and at the pool with our books. Yes, we were those nerds hauling around our 1312-page tomes because of Brad's brilliant idea to read The Count of Monte Cristo together this year. He missed out on his typical spy/thriller, page-turner beach reads that he loves and believe me, he'll never suggest a married reading project again. He now holds greater appreciation for my reading of War and Peace last spring. (Status update: I'm on page 900+ of The Count and Brad's past page 500. At least he's making progress.:)

Not really beach reading

Six years ago, we took a brief trip to Miami to celebrate our third wedding anniversary. On that trip, we discovered a great restaurant in Coconut Grove that provided an intimate atmosphere, stunning views, and delicious food. Although the restaurant has changed hands and names in the past six years, we were delighted to return to celebrate our ninth anniversary and find it as enjoyable and beautiful as we did the first time. We scored a secluded table outdoors that was right on the water. Don't you love my giant mocktail in the photo below?

And now, back to reality, but I'm eagerly anticipating our second getaway, Lord willing, in just a few weeks.

Where will you be at midnight on 11/18/11?

2011-06-06T06:00:00.009-04:00

Lord willing, I'll be at the midnight premiere of Breaking Dawn! Who's with me?

What do you think of the first trailer, fellow Twihards?

I'm still squealing . . . and trying to figure out when I can squeeze in another read of the books before November.