THOSE DARN ECKERSONS

"Oh my gosh, you're getting so BIG!"

2012-03-12T13:16:00.000-07:00

... and other stupid things you should never say to a pregnant woman

Look, I get it. Maybe you've never had a human being living inside your abdomen. Or perhaps you have, but it's been 25+ years and you've forgotten how hard it is to grapple with the increasing numbers on the scale every week. When you become pregnant, it's like everyone forgets that they can talk to you about other things besides your impending arrival. Or that you're an actual human being and not just an incubator. I'm sure I've made some of the cardinal pregnancy mistakes myself, but guess what - you don't have to! Here's a list of things you should refrain from saying to a pregnant woman, whether she's a stranger at the supermarket, a co-worker, a member of your church, or your cousin / sister-in-law / friend.

(Disclaimer: Don't worry, I'm not mad at anyone in particular. The comments are just so baffling sometimes that I had to share)

"You're finally starting to show!" or some other less polite way of saying you now look pregnant, instead of just fat. God only knows what they were saying before this point!
"Are you scared about the delivery?" I'm sorry, are there people who are totally comfortable with pushing an 8 lb human out of any of the holes in their body? It's gotta come out some how!
"Are you / your husband so excited?" If we weren't, do you think that's something we would be forthcoming about? Of course we're excited, but also scared shitless. And I think that's par for the course!
"WOW" or any other exclamation that is noticeably in response to your exponentially-increasing-waistline. My thoughts exactly, every time I see my reflection, thanks for reminding me.
"Be careful, because my friend had (insert horrible medical disaster) happen to her" As if you don't already have enough worry running through your mind every minute of every day. I'm really sorry that happened to your friend, but there's a 0.3% chance of it happening to me so I'd rather not dwell on the possibility.
"Enjoy it now" whether in reference to sleep, eating out, going to the movies, frivolous spending, vacations, etc. because your life will come to a screeching halt once the baby comes. And when you try to say otherwise, their knowing "we'll see" comments with a smirk - just adorable.
"I did that 20 years ago with my kids and they turned out fine" I am thrilled that your children didn't suffer any long-term damage (or worse) from a drop-side crib, being covered with a quilt, sleeping in your bed, sleeping on their stomach, etc. but infant fatality rates have dropped significantly since then and I'd like to keep it that way
"You can't eat that / do that / go there - it's bad for the baby!" It's amazing how many of your friends and family members come out of the woodwork with their medical degree once you're expecting. You're right, I should definitely trust you instead of my obstetrician!

Mommies-in-progress / current Mommies, please share some of the gems you've heard over the years!

Recipe: Lasagna Roll-Ups

2012-03-09T16:51:00.002-08:00

Like the good Italian girl I am (what, like you haven't noticed my incredible hair olive-toned arms?), I LOVE pasta. Penne or fettuccine, cream sauce or tomato, with meat or with vegetables - doesn't matter. I am always in the mood for pasta. It's in my blood. When we went to Italy, all my sister wanted from the trip was to walk into a restaurant and have them bring us food until we could eat no more (hint: check out Acqua al due if you're ever in Florence, and get the "assagio" - sampler). And my mother ... well, she doesn't cook much, but she makes the most wonderful lasagna ever. It's my great grandfather's recipe and she only ever makes it on New Year's Day - pans and pans of it, for anyone who wants to come, eat, and enjoy. I've only taken on this recipe once or twice, because it is quite the undertaking, and it takes two people a very long time to eat a whole pan of lasagna, so I was thrilled with this recipe. The best part of it is that you can make as much or as little as you want! Just keep in mind that this recipe makes 8 roll-ups, which was enough for a dinner and a lunch for both of us.

Ingredients

8 lasagna noodles
1/2 pound lean ground turkey
1 T olive oil
1-2 cloves garlic
1/2 onion
1 can crushed tomatoes, drained
1 egg
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 T fresh basil, chopped
1 1/2 T fresh oregano, chopped
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 cup (approx) of tomato sauce*

*The original recipe didn't call for tomato sauce, but I feel like it would've been very dry without it. This is especially good for reheating!

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Heat a large pot of boiling water over high heat and salt generously.
When it reaches a rolling boil, boil the lasagna noodles according to the directions on the box. What's that- there's no directions? Yeah, I had the same problem. For 8 noodles, 10 minutes seemed to work. You'll want them to cook to the point of al dente, stirring occasionally.
Drain the noodles whenever the appear to be maleable.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil.
Add garlic and onion, and saute for 2-3 minutes.
Add turkey and cook until almost completely brown.
Add tomatoes, 1/2 the basil, oregano & crushed red pepper flakes, and reduce heat to medium low. If you don't like spicy, be very cautious with the red pepper - a little bit goes a long way! If you want to add sauce, this is the time to do it. Then, simmer for about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile (now you're multi-tasking!), beat egg in a small bowl.
Add ricotta, parmesan and remaining basil & oregano, mixing all ingredients together well.
Spray a glass pan with cooking spray (I used an 11x7 baking dish).
Add enough of the meat mixture to lightly cover the bottom of the pain.
To assemble a roll, place one generous spoonful of ricotta mixture and an even-more-generous spoonful of meat mixture on top of a drained noodle.
Roll up, and place seem side down in pan. Repeat 7 more times, or however many noodles you have.
Top the rolls with the remaining meat sauce, mozzarella cheese and remaining crushed red pepper.
Bake 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Serve with some yummy, buttery garlic bread (OK, fine, this part is optional, too. But who doesn't like garlic bread?!)

Recipe: Crispy Chocolate Bars

2012-03-07T09:17:00.000-08:00

I was stuck at home this weekend (having car trouble + a husband who's working 80 hour weeks is not a good combination) and had the urge to bake, but my ingredients were limited. Hence, this delightful EASY recipe was born and ohmygosh what a treat. So easy, so quick, and so yummy. It's like the evil twin of the rice crispy treat.

Yes, I found this "recipe" on the side of the cereal box.
Don't you come to my blog and judge me!

Ingredients

5 cups corn flakes
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup white chocolate chips*
1/2 cup peanut butter
Optional: Shaved Coconut*

*Tips: The recipe called for 1 cup butterscotch chips instead of white chocolate, but I didn't have those. I'm sure they would be even more delicious. The recipe did NOT call for coconut, but my tummy did, so I put shavings on top of half the bars, because Ben doesn't like coconut. That man is crazy.

Directions

Melt peanut butter and all the chocolate chips in a medium saucepan over low heat, stirring continuously and being sure not to cook too long, as it'll get all crusty.
Combine corn flakes into pan - I recommend doing this in smaller portions to make stirring / combining the mixture a little bit easier
Once the corn flakes are totally coated in the pb/chocolate mixture, pour all of it into a greased baking pan. You could probably use an 8x8 square glass pan or a small rectangular pan, but a 9x13 is probably going to make them too thin.
If you want to add the coconut, top the bars with it now.
Press down with a sheet of wax or parchment paper to condense, and leave to cool.
Once completely cooled, cut into bars, and eat 17 of them with a glass of milk. It's cool, the milk makes it a healthy snack.

25 weeks already?!

2012-03-06T11:43:00.000-08:00

Repeat pic - it's not my fault they didn't change it!

How far along?: 25 weeks exactly
How big is baby?: According to What to Expect, she is still the size of an eggplant. The app says she is now 9.2 inches long and 2 lbs, getting big!
Weight gain?: I'm going to naively assume I haven't gained any more weight since last week, ha ha ha.
Stretch marks?: None, as far as I can see! Of course "as far as I can see" is getting smaller by the day.
Maternity clothes?: We had a clothes swap last night and I picked up at least one new top (that I'm wearing today) that can be worn with my belly & leggings. Hooray!
Sleep?: I'm able to function off less and less, but certainly made up for it this weekend. Thank you, L, for letting me sleep until almost 10 (off and on, of course).
Best moment last week?: Hmm, this is tough. No real highlights. I'm continuing to struggle with our bedding options, having now ordered 3 sets that ended up a completely different color than they were online, so the best moment this week will be if / when I finally decide on something. But best moment of the past week has probably been dinner at Kanki Friday night for a good friend's birthday, I ate so much and it was amazing. Also, my mom ordered the dresser for the nursery and it should be here next week!
Food cravings?: No changes on this one. A little bit of everything. Or a lot of bit - yikes! Also milkshakes, but those have been pretty consistent through the whole pregnancy.
Symptoms?: My soreness down there? It was a small infection due to a cut from shaving. Ouch! So ... be careful, mamas. Just sayin'. It's becoming more painful to cross my legs, especially for long periods of time. Also, I sneezed a couple days ago and peed a little - I know, I know, I need to do more kegels. Luckily I was at home, but I was still embarrassed. Getting increasingly harder to bend over, so fat
Exercise?: Yoga-ing. I'm debating about asking my doctor if I can play soccer, at least for the beginning of the season.
Gender?: Judging by the tulle crib skirt I'm about to buy her, still a girl.
Movement?: She is maintaining her schedule - sleep till 11am, party at 11pm. The movement seems to be less frequent or strong, maybe I'm just getting used to it.
Belly button?: Shallower by the day.
What I miss?: A good ol' sandwich!
Labor signs?: Nope.
What I'm looking forward to?: Doing some more work on her room this wknd. The closet is officially cleaned out, so hoping we can get a second bar put in there soon.

Holy belly, batman!

24 weeks

2012-03-02T12:11:00.002-08:00

I was going to make this a two-fer, and include a recap from my baby shower over the wknd, but since my craftiness / recipeness is at a minimum these days, I need to save all the posts I can. Besides, the baby shower was too much goodness to share with a weekly update!

How far along?: 24 weeks 3 days
How big is baby?: According to What to Expect, she is the size of an eggplant. The app says she is 9 inches long and 1.7 lbs, which makes perfect sense because on Friday they told us she weighed 1.6 lbs. Sweet girl is measuring just a few days ahead (so pretty much right on track) except for her big head (Ben says it's for her big brain) and she's in the 54th percentile - could she be more perfect?
Weight gain?: UGH 8 lbs. in 6 weeks. The doctor says it's fine but ... it's still hard to swallow (obviously not hard to swallow anything else, I'm eating everything in sight!)
Stretch marks?: None, as far as I can see! I'm starting to lose sight of certain areas, so Ben will have to be the new stretch mark watch dog. I was in such a rush this morning to get read for work that I didn't do my cocoa butter ritual, so I'm certain they'll be everywhere when I get home (just kidding)
Maternity clothes?: Bought even more. This really has to stop. But I've been purging old clothes, so that helps, right? Still loving (regular) leggings, but I bought some adorable red maternity jeggings - be on the lookout for those on the regular. And some more cute tops from Old Navy - ON Maternity FTW!
Sleep?: Not enough, that's for sure. Work is rough, but it's good to know I still have the ability to work until 1am and function off 4 hours of sleep.
Best moment last week?: The past week was amazing (minus 60+ hours of work), so this is a tough one. L has been kicking like crazy, and Ben gets to feel her pretty much every night before bed. We had our first baby shower and got to visit with all my girlfriends from HS. And we got to have an hour long ultrasound on Friday as part of the fetal echocardiogram. So much fun to just "hang out" with our girl for so long! They measured everything and said she is absolutely perfect (we already knew that)! They did a few shots with the 3D ultrasound machine and it was amazing to see that level of detail - I think she looks like Ben! Probably my absolute favorite moment was when the u/s tech tried to poke her to get her to move (she was sleeping, per usual) and she yawned and then snuggled up on her side. Cutest thing ever. I love that baby so much I can't stand it!
Food cravings?: Nothing in particular, but if I have something salty, I have to have something sweet to follow, and vise versa. Which basically means I'm eating a ton.
Symptoms?: My gums bleed at the slightest thing! It's so annoying / painful. And I've been having some tooth pain that they think may need a root canal :( Cross your fingers it's not that (I have a dentist appt Thursday). Not sure if I've mentioned this, but (sorry for TMI) my nipples get so swollen. Visibly swollen. It's awful. Aaaaand I have this weird pain / tenderness / swollen area down there that apparently came from a cut. So that's really fun.
Exercise?: Had to miss yoga again last week, this time to go see Portlandia (fun!) but I went this week and it was wonderful. We were never on our feet! Worked the arms and core the whole time, it was called "restorative yoga" and it was so relaxing.
Gender?: They reconfirmed for us on Friday - no question about it, she is very much a girl.

Good thing she's still a girl, we got so many cute girly outfits at the shower!
These are a few of my favorites (from my mom)
Movement?: All the time! She sleeps in until about 11, and is normally not too crazy during the day. She likes (or hates?) ice cold water and sugar. But she really gets going in the evenings, sometimes as late as 11pm. Girlfriend is not a morning person and that is all right with me.
Belly button?: Oh buddy, shallower by the day.
What I miss?: Kicking back with a beer. Bending over normally (and without pain).
Labor signs?: Nope.
What I'm looking forward to?: Doing some work on her room this wknd. My nesting has kicked in, I think, and the lack of organization in her room is making me crazy. We've just been dumping all her stuff in there and it's a DISASTER.

The second picture here is really embarrassing ...
but the first one is misleading, since the tank is not tight under my (giant) boobs
So you get both, so you have an idea of how big I really am!
No making fun ...

Better late than never

2012-02-28T15:09:00.001-08:00

I don't have my 24 week post ready for you yet, so I decided to post some videos that should've been posted awhile ago. These are both from our anatomy ultrasound on January 13. Pretty vulnerable stuff here, bloggies - baby girl's most intimate parts and me, blubbering like an idiot. Enjoy!

My baby is really cute

2012-02-24T11:24:00.000-08:00

SERIOUSLY? Seriously? Have you ever seen anything cuter?

Gosh I love this kid so much.

23 Week Update

2012-02-23T07:28:00.002-08:00

How far along?: 23 weeks 2 days
How big is baby?: According to What to Expect, she is the size of an ear of corn - now, that doesn't make any sense to me! She went from spaghetti squash, to papaya, to corn? Doesn't corn seem smaller? Anyway, L is approximately 8.5 inches long and weighs 1.5 lbs.
Weight gain?: I haven't weight myself this week, why bring that negativity upon myself?!
Stretch marks?: None, as far as I can see!
Maternity clothes?: Ordered a few more items (two shirts and a pair of RED pants!) from Old Navy this week - really hoping they come in today or tomorrow. Otherwise, I might be wearing yoga pants to my shower.
Sleep?: Never enough! I've been getting to work early this week because we're so busy, and neither one of us likes getting up early.
Best moment last week?: SHE IS MOVING! She is bouncing around like the little cheerleader she's destined to be. I have finally started feeling her move forreal, consistently, and Ben got to feel her, too. So freaking cool. It's a little uncomfortable at first, I thought maybe it was gas bubbles, but nope! It's definitely her. We went to a show last night and she was going nuts from the vibration of the music.
Food cravings?: Just eating a lot, still. Nothing really in particular. I had McDonald's over the weekend and it was just so-so, so that's disappointing but good be a positive thing ;)
Symptoms?: Pepcid AC is definitely helping the heartburn - Praise the Lord!
Exercise?: I had to skip yoga this week because of the show we went to last night - boo.
Gender?: Hyper little girl
Movement?: ALL OVER THE PLACE. And I'm so excited, because hopefully my girlfriends will get to feel her at my shower this weekend.
Belly button?: Much much shallower. I supposed it's only a matter of time now ... so long, sweet innie.
What I miss?: Hot tubbing without any care! I got in for a few minutes this weekend (BEFORE YOU OPEN YOUR MOUTH, MY DOCTOR SAID IT WAS FINE!) - just 10 minutes at a time, allowing myself to completely cool down before getting back in, and only from the butt / hips down. It was so nice, but it was hard to completely relax thanks to all the unsolicited "advice" from everyone beforehand.
Labor signs?: Gosh no. BUT, I read that, if she were to be born next week, she'd have a 50% chance of survival. That is so amazing!
What I'm looking forward to?: MY BABY SHOWER! It's Saturday, and I am so so so excited to see my friends & family and all the hard work my girlfriends have put into planning it. L & I are so blessed with such wonderful friends and family to love on us.

These pictures always seems to make me look much smaller than I feel!
Not complaining, just saying...
Also, mama looks tired because it was 7am - boo!

22 week update

2012-02-17T13:03:00.000-08:00

How far along?: 22 weeks 3 days
How big is baby?: According to What to Expect, she is the size of a papaya - yum! L is approximately 8 inches long and weighs 1.2lbs. My countdown screen also reminded me that there are only 17 weeks 4 days to go - that seems like nothing. I totally freaked out when I read that!
Weight gain?: Oh boy, 4 lbs as of Monday. I'm officially joining the ranks of "a pound a week" but the doctor seemed fine with that. Made the mistake of getting on the scale last night, after dinner and with all my clothes & shoes on. Won't do that again, scary stuff! I warned Ben that VERY soon, I'm going to weigh more than he does.
Stretch marks?: None, as far as I can see!
Maternity clothes?: I went shopping last weekend and bought a pair of black maternity pants (I think that means I now have three pairs total), a few tops and a dress, so I'm feeling much better about my wardrobe this week. Still have "nothing to wear" for my shower!
Sleep?: Not enough, that's for sure.
Best moment last week?: Honestly, this might sound weird, but I really love going to the doctor. There is no better sound than hearing that quick little heartbeat. She's still hovering in the 150s. I also met with a new doctor (new to me) for the first time and I LOVED him. He was so nice, and took so much time to answer all my questions.
Food cravings?: I made chili last weekend and went to Bull McCabe's for lunch Wednesday so I took care of both of those cravings (although I could always go for more fries). Currently craving warm brownies and milk mmmmmmm.
Symptoms?: The butt / hip pain is still giving me issues. Dr. Segal told me I could take Pepcid AC for my terrible heartburn so hopefully that starts to help!
Exercise?: Yoga makes me so happy, even though I had to limit a few of my stretches because of the hip / butt pain. We did 90 second squats on Wednesday and I felt like a badass.
Gender?: Hoping there has been no change.
Movement?: Still really faint.
Belly button?: Definitely getting noticeably (to me) shallower, but still in. The hole where I had my belly button pierced (7+ years ago) is getting a little ... weird.
What I miss?: A more comprehensive wardrobe.
Labor signs?: Nope.
What I'm looking forward to?: We have a fetal echocardiogram a week from today, and I'm looking forward to that piece of mind, and hopefully (selfishly) getting a glimpse of her sweet little face. Also looking forward to spending the weekend in the mountains and getting a prenatal massage on Sunday.

HOLY HUGE BELLY BATMAN!
Big change from last week, huh?

Pregnancy Confessions: Volume Six

2012-02-16T12:43:00.000-08:00

Another one from the vault. This one slightly less whiny / bitchy.

I don't remember ever seeing my parents kiss. They were together for the first 9 years of my life, and at least 4-5 of those years I have pretty vivid memories of, and I don't remember any affection between them. I remember the first time I heard one of them say a cuss word, and the first time I realized one of them was drunk, and even the first time one of them lied to me. But I don't remember a kiss or a hug or even holding hands. Granted, they later separated and eventually divorced, but that is a noticeable absence in my memories.

I pray that my daughter never has that absence.

I pray that she always knows her parents love her more than anything, except for how much they love the Lord and love each other. I pray that she sees the wonderful man her father is and never settles for anything less than that in a significant other. I pray that she sees her mama as a strong woman who has her own identity that is still magically and romantically intertwined with her one true love. I pray she's the daddy's girl I never was.

But I think one of my strongest desires is for her to always ALWAYS know that her parents are deeply in love, more that day than the day before, and more that year than we were the year we met. And I need to use this desire as motivation to speak a little more kindly, and say "I love you" a little bit more, and kiss a few more times, and just do a better job of taking care of him. Because pretty soon, she's going to see how we treat each other everyday, and I want that to be a good example for the many relationships she's going to have.

Ugh. Some day, someone's going to want to date my daughter.

Pregnancy Confessions: Volume Five

2012-02-15T11:56:00.000-08:00

I need to preface this by saying I started it a week ago, and am now coming back in a calmer, clearer, less hormonal state of mind. So it might be slightly watered down from its original form, but the sentiment is the same. And I think the sentiment, in general, could best be described with this:

I need to get this off my chest. And dammit, it's my blog, so I'm going to. And if you're offended, tough luck, don't read it. And if you make a comment on this post that I don't like, I might just delete it. BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT KIND OF MOOD I'M IN!

By the way, I do not need you to remind me that I'm only feeling this way because of the unGodly amount of hormones coursing through my body. I'm well-aware the effects that pregnancy is having on every. single. aspect. of my life.

Maybe this isn't so much a confession as it is a rant. But if I start a blog series of pregnancy rants, I might come across bitchy and unreasonable, which is not the sweet, life-supporting vision that people like to have in their mind of pregnant women. So I'm going to keep calling it a confession, because I'm confessing that I'm just about fed up.

What am I fed up with, you may ask? Oh, you must not have seen my Facebook or Twitter posts recently. That's ok, here's the abridged version:

Ben & I are going to the mountains of MD with my cousins and some of their friends next weekend, a trip we planned before we knew I was pregnant. The weekend will include skiing and/or snowboarding, drinking, eating, hot tubbing, spa visits, and who knows what else ... or any combination thereof, for any given attendee. We have a few unexpected openings in the house and my cousin asked me to see if any of our friends were interested, so I posted it on facebook.

big. freakin. mistake.

Within an hour, there were ten comments ~~nay-saying~~ questioning my ability to do any of the aforementioned activities. I know these comments are made by friends and family members who love me and are concerned for my well-being and that of the baby - I get it, I do. But here's how it comes across, at first glance, to a hormonal mom-to-be: you're insinuating that I don't know what I can and cannot do, just because I'm a first-time mom, and you're questioning my judgement or ability to research the exact same articles you've found, and you're basically telling me that I have no clue what I'm doing. That's how it comes across, that's all I'm saying.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now then (and this is from the clearer, calmer, less hormonal part of me, a later addition to the earlier-written original post), I really do know that people are just trying to help. I know there is nothing malicious in their intent and that similar advice (whatever was the medical / social standard at the time) was given to them during their pregnancy. I appreciate most of the advice and try to graciously listen to all of it and decide later what I will and will not put to use. I'm not trying to berate anyone or make them feel bad about the things they've said / continue to say to me. All I'm saying is that sometimes, it gets to be a little bit much. I guess this whole post is a confession after all, because here's the thing:

I don't know what I'm doing.

I research, I ask questions, I call my doctor's office, I read blogs and forums. But I have to figure it out on my own, just like every other first time mom did. I have to figure out what works for me during my pregnancy, and what works for us as a family once she's here. So I'm really trying not to get upset about it, and I'm trying to learn how to appropriately respond. But as much as I have to bear with all the people who feel the need to force feed me unsolicited advice about every topic under the sun, you'll have to bear with me while I find my balance. And for those of you who can do that, I genuinely appreciate you.

And in case you're wondering, you can give me whatever advice you want if you start with telling me how great I look :) Pregnant women eat that shit up.

Craft Corner: Easily Changeable Photo Frame

2012-02-14T07:35:00.000-08:00

I made this almost two months ago but just saw it on Pinterest again and was reminded I never posted it. So here you have it, a photo frame with an easily changeable picture. I made these for my mom and mother-in-law for Christmas with a picture of baby L's sonogram (at 12 weeks, tiny peanut!), knowing they'd want to update with actual pictures once she's born.

What You'll Need

Picture frame (I got mine for $5 at Michael's)
Clothespins or Magnetic Clips
Paint (depending on what you use as your clip, you'll either want paint that's suitable for wood or metal, like Rust-Oleum)
Exacto Knife (Scissors will work if you don't have an exacto knife)
Scrapbook Paper and Glue OR Adhesive-backed Fabric Paper*

This might be the coolest thing ever.
I found it by chance at A.C. Moore,
and I'm really hoping it wasn't a one-time thing

What You'll Do

Remove the glass from the frame
If you want to paint the frame, go ahead and do that and paint the clip to match. I used a white frame so I just painted the clothespin white, making sure to squeeze it open before it dried completely shut
Trace the glass onto the scrapbook paper and cut with an exacto knife
If using regular scrapbook paper, use acid-free glue (either spray adhesive or a glue stick would work); If using adhesive-backed paper, peel back off and press to glass
Replace glass in frame once all parts are dry
Measuring the center with a tape measure or ruler, use a hot glue gun (or super glue) to affix the clip to the paper-covered glass. Depending on what size picture you want to use, you can either do this vertically or horizontally, but I recommend doing it close to the top of the frame
Once EVERYTHING is dry and stable, clip in your picture and change it as many times as you want!

Recipe: Cheater's Potato Skins

2012-02-13T12:59:00.000-08:00

Can you tell I've been lazy lately? Not in the all-I-want-to-do-is-sleep, I'm-too-tired-to-think, someone-please-order-me-a-pizza way (OK, there have been a few of those nights), but more in the I-need-home-cooked-food-but-couldn't-possibly-stand-in-the-kitchen-for-an-hour way. Do you follow?

So, Super Bowl Sunday. I love potato skins, but have you ever tried to make them? They are so hard! I always end up slicing too much off and getting mangled skins, or ending up with really really thick ones, and it's just not worth the effort to me. PROBLEM SOLVED!

So the woman who originally posted the recipe calls them potato rounds, but they're pretty much cheater's 'tater skins to me. And they're really, really yummy. A couple tips:

You could cook potatoes this way without all the cheese and bacon, and have a yummy side dish for dinner
You should definitely start growing your own green onions. I have, and it's amazing how fast they grow. Next time you buy them, just save the white bulb and put it into a small glass of water in your window sill. You'll have growth in days, and a constant supply of green onions. Ah, nature!

Ingredients

4 large baking potatoes
1/4 cup melted butter
Salt and pepper to taste
5 cloves minced garlic
8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
8 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup chopped green onions
Sour cream

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Line cookie sheet(s) with aluminum foil - trust me on this one
Cut potatoes into 1/2 slices
Mix garlic, salt & pepper with melted butter
Brush both sides of each potato slice with butter mixture
Bake 30 minutes, turning once in the middle (make sure the potatoes don't start to brown too much)
Remove from oven, top with bacon, green onion and cheese
Bake for another 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly
Serve with a side of sour cream for dipping

21 weeks

2012-02-10T07:59:00.000-08:00

Despite the fact that I have two blog posts "in waiting" to be posted, I'm starting a third. Don't hate on me, bloggies, I do what I want. Besides, if you've seen any of the ~~bullshit~~ advice all over my facebook wall, you know this is NOT the week to mess with me. That's another story for another day (or possibly another blog post, I haven't decided if I'm going to post it or not), so we'll try to keep this positive, because - guess what y'all! Even if L decides to come at the latest possible moment they'll let her, I am still halfway there. We are just about 4 months away from meeting our little girl, how cool is that?!

How far along?: 21 weeks 3 days
How big is baby?: According to What to Expect, she is the size of a spaghetti squash (I actually had to google that, because I don't like squash and had no idea what one looked like). L is approximately 8 inches long and weighs 1 POUND! Can you believe that, a whole pound? She's so big now, getting adorable fat on her bones. I can't wait to squeeze her chubby cheeks!
Weight gain?: As of Monday, my doctor said I have gained 2 lbs. I thought I would be upset about finally gaining weight, but then I talk to all these women who have already gained 10 lbs or more and I am feeling ok about it. Just need to make sure it stays slow & steady, to avoid risk of retaining water, high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, etc.
Stretch marks?: None, as far as I can see! I just started using a new body butter from Bath and Body Works and it smells fantastic, I can smell it all day long.
Maternity clothes?: The time has finally come for me to invest in more maternity clothes. My clients were in the office this week so I was trying to a) dress professionally and b) disguise the bump. This task was WAY more difficult than I thought! I went through three pairs of dress pants before I finally rubber-banded the button closed, and the next day I gave up and wore a skirt with a wide belt. A lot of clothes got moved to the post-baby closet this week, so I'm hoping I can pick up a few more things this weekend, especially with my first shower happening in two weeks.
Sleep?: Feeling very grateful for the sleep I do get after talking to other pregnant women! L lets me sleep from about 12 or 1 until about 6 or 7 without any interruptions. Granted, I have to pee so bad when I wake up that it hurts, but I NEED that sleep. Still taking couch naps almost every single night.
Best moment last week?: Getting her nursery painted (thanks mom!)! It's a beautiful steel-gray and I think it's going to be so perfect with all the white furniture. We also got her quilt in the mail last night (thanks mom, again!) and the pink and white is just perfect. We had picked out some separates from Pottery Barn Kids but when we saw it in person, it was more taupe than gray - not what I wanted. So we started over with the bedding and picked a beautiful set from Land of Nod - I'm thrilled with it.
Food cravings?: Chili from Tyler's and fries from Bull McCabe's. Possibly together?
Symptoms?: I got an infection - yuck - but got some meds on Monday and everything appears to be good now. My nipples are still SO sensitive, and huge, and sometimes swollen. My hips / butt have been really bothering me, I've noticed that especially in yoga. I've yet to get that "pregnancy glow" or "second trimester energy" that everyone ~~lies~~ tells you about, but at least it's better than the first trimester!
Exercise?: Yoga makes me so happy.
Gender?: Someone mentioned that "they can make mistakes, you know", in regards to the gender, and Ben responded that - if it is a boy, he's going to have serious issues. Haha, Baby L had no problem showing us her girly parts.
Movement?: Still really faint, but my mom & sister both said they felt her last weekend. Ben hasn't yet :(
Belly button?: Definitely getting noticeably (to me) shallower, but still in.
What I miss?: Not having everyone tell me what I can and cannot do 24/7.
Labor signs?: Nope.
What I'm looking forward to?: Hopefully getting some more maternity clothes this weekend - specifically something to wear to my shower on the 25th. And working on some crafts for my two pregnant friends!

Recipe: Tuscan Pasta

2012-02-07T11:45:00.000-08:00

This is another "cheater's" recipe, but it was too good not to share. It was actually one of the very first things I pinned, but never got around to making it because Ben doesn't like alfredo sauce. Bad news? Ben played poker last night so I was alone for dinner. Good news? Mama gets alfredo. I only made half the recipe and had half of that portion for dinner and half for lunch.

Ingredients

20 oz package frozen or refrigerated cheese ravioli
16 oz jar alfredo sauce
2 tbsp white wine
Half-carton of cherry tomatoes, sliced length-wise or 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
2(?) tbsp dried basil leaves or 1/2 cup fresh chopped basil
1/3(?) cup grated parmesan cheese
Strips of fresh basil or additional dried basil for topping

Directions

Boil pasta according to directions on package
Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, heat alfredo sauce and wine until bubbling
Add tomatoes and basil; Cover and let simmer for 5 minutes or until heated through
Toss with cooked / drained pasta
Serve, topped with parmesan cheese and basil

Makes 4 servings

Recipe: Pigs in a Blanket

2012-02-06T15:19:00.000-08:00

This is just silly. But I'm posting it all the same because I am so behind on my recipe posts and because the Super Bowl was yesterday and, let's be honest, you can't have a super bowl party without pigs in a blanket. Have you ever bought them frozen from the store? Because I have, and those suckers are expensive. Why?! I don't get it! It's pastry & hot dog. Anyway, make your own, because they're cheap and because, really, who doesn't love pigs in a blanket?

Disclaimer: I only had one, since I'm not really supposed to have processed meat or whatever. Stupid pregnancy.

Ingredients

2 cans crescent rolls
1 pkg cocktail wieners

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 F - just follow the directions on the can of crescent rolls
Grease a cookie sheet with cooking spray - or, for easy clean-up, line with foil then spray
Roll out pre-cut crescents and cut length-wise so each can makes 16 half-crescents
Don't cut them width-wise or else your blankets will look special, like this

Don't worry, Ben ate the special ones
Wrap, starting with the wide end, one hot dog in each half-crescent
Line on cookie sheet, like a cute little army of pigs in blankets
Bake for 11 minutes or until golden brown
Serve warm (duh) with ketchup and/or mustard

Pregnancy Confessions: Volume Four

2012-02-02T10:26:00.000-08:00

If there's one food that's grossed me out the entire pregnancy, it's avocado. Guacamole is fine, but I can't do the real thing. Of course, I don't publicize this because I don't even want to talk about them. And because I thought morning sickness was behind me.

But I was wrong.

My co-workers and I were talking about grilled cheese sandwiches, because I decided that's what I needed for lunch today. Then one of them starts talking about making a grilled cheese this wknd with ... the "a" word on it. And it was just too much for me. So much so, that I had to RUN to the bathroom, with people darting out of my way in the hallway. Unfortunately I turned the corner just a little too quickly and ran - literally ran - into our COO. And then subsequently fell over. All the while trying not to vomit just yet.

Could I be any more embarrassed?

Don't worry, I didn't throw up anywhere I wasn't supposed to. I apologized to the COO and she thanked me for not doing it on her.

But seriously?

Pregnancy is so weird.

Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Soup

2012-02-02T07:44:00.000-08:00

I feel bad to even blog about this because I didn't make it, but obviously not bad enough to miss out on sharing this awesome recipe with y'all.

I was supposed to be at yoga until 7:15 last night, and Ben had left work early (4pm - to give you an idea of the timeline we're working from) so I asked him to start on dinner. I sent a very detailed email that went something like, "Here are things we have that need to go in the crock pot ON HIGH immediately. Here are things you need to get at the store that need to go in the crock pot as soon as you get home. Here are things you need to get at the store and don't do anything with them."

Pretty simple, right?

What's that saying, the road to hell is paved with good intentions?

I'm not saying my husband is going to hell - that's a terrible thing to say and 100% untrue - but I am saying that wherever he's going, he's going there very. very. slowly. God love him, he works off of what we now affectionately refer to as "Eckerson Time." Needless to say when I called him at 6:30 to say that I had been stuck in traffic for an hour and was not going to yoga, he was not yet even checking out from the store. I fell asleep on the couch, partially from exhaustion from the traffic and partially from frustration / hunger ... also, probably at least partially because I'm growing a human, let's be honest ... and when I woke up around 8, dinner was not even close to done. So I did what I normally do when Ben "makes dinner" and that is either instruct him step by step on what to do or just take over and do it myself. He transferred the ingredients to a pot on the stove and cut up the chicken, that was supposed to be shredded from cooking in the crock pot, into not-so-bite-sized pieces.

Whatever, you know what? It turned out great. Ben's good friend James, who is a chef, came over and even HE liked it.

So here's the recipe, I imagine it'll be even better when the chicken is all deliciously shredded from the crock pot, but ours was great and I'm super proud of the hus.

Ingredients for the crock pot

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 8-10 oz), thawed
2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp flour
32 ounces low-sodium chicken stock or broth (I can never find chicken stock!)
1/3 cup buffalo wing sauce
1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Ingredients for toppings

Sliced whole wheat baguettes
Sliced green onions
Crumbled gorgonzola cheese (this made a huge difference in the flavor, love it!)

Directions

Put all the crock pot ingredients in the crock pot, on High for 4 hours or on Low for 8 hours
Chicken should be fully cooked and easily shred with a fork once it's done
Serve in bowls, top with green onions & gorgonzola and serve with a side of baguette

I didn't take a picture, so here's this one from Pinterest.Ours were totally that pretty, don't worry.

20 Weeks, Hooray!

2012-01-31T09:53:00.000-08:00

To quote the great John Bon Jovi:

"We've got each other, and that's a lot for love. We'll give it a shot"

Oh, we're halfway there. Oh, livin' on a prayer.

Take my hand and we'll make it I swear..."

PS: for that little Tuesday pick-me-up, you're welcome. And if Bon Jovi doesn't pick you up, we're probably not friends.

But forreal, think about those words. Especially if you are, or ever have been, pregnant. Two people, trying to figure it out as they go... And that's enough. Enough to create life. Enough to RAISE A CHILD. It's insane, but incredibly awesome. I might get a little pregnancy-hormone-crazy on him ~~once in awhile~~ everyday but I could not imagine going through this journey / adventure / INSANE live change without my husband. And our sweet Lord who has been so good to us thus far, especially since embarking on this chapter of our lives together. He is so good, Amen?

Why are pictures of people holding bananas so phallic?
Am I just a 12-year old?

Anyway, onto the deets...

How far along?: 20 weeks, y'all! Hallelujah I am half-way through with cooking this kid.
How big is baby?: According to What to Expect, she'll be a banana tomorrow (I don't know why they start the new fruit on Xweeks and 1day). She's approximately 7 inches long and weighs 11 ounces. Wow, that is nuts.
Weight gain?: Ben bought a scale for the house, the purchase of which I was adamantly opposed to, but it's made me obsessive about checking my weight. And guess what - I'm holding strong at 0lbs gained. Awesome! And wearing pre-pregnancy Hudson jeans today.
Stretch marks?: None, as far as I can see! I'm scared to look too hard
Maternity clothes?: I have a few staples but mostly I'm wearing normal stuff, just lots of leggings. I need to get my maternity jeans hemmed so I can start rocking those more because gosh! they're comfy.
Sleep?: Still haven't invested in a pregnancy pillow (boo!) but I've found I've been sleeping a little bit better the past few days. I've just given into the fact that I'm going to wake up on my right side. The early mornings have become a very fun time, because she tends to visibly gravitate to my right side (even if I'm sleeping on my left side) and I've been able to coax a little reaction out of her. It's our quiet time together.
Best moment last week?: Finding out my dear friend who's due the day after me is (still) having a boy. They told her at 12 weeks it was a "he" but they confirmed and they even announced his name. So excited my little sweetheart has her first boyfriend!
Food cravings?: Sweets. I actually want chocolate, which I haven't really craved the whole pregnancy. I had a huge heated up brownie with ice cream & chocolate syrup at the bar last night. I'm sorry, if you all get to have your delicious beers, I'm having a brownie ... and I'm NOT sharing.
Symptoms?: I was sick all day Sunday - yuck. But feeling fine since then. I also think I'm having some drainage in the back of my throat, but it's probably unrelated to pregnancy.
Exercise?: I feel an extreme sense of accomplishment in going to yoga each week, until I see the girls in my class who are 36 weeks along and killin' it. Then I feel like a loser ... but I keep going and I'm enjoying it. Baby is too!
Gender?: Hopefully still a girl, haha.
Movement?: A little bit of faint movement both internally and externally. Of course, I'm just guessing on this, but how does anyone really know what a baby moving inside you feels like?!
Belly button?: Definitely getting noticeably (to me) shallower.
What I miss?: I get this weird taste in my mouth that lingers with me after I eat anything sweet ... I miss not having that. And also, winter beers.
Labor signs?: Nope
What I'm looking forward to?: My mom & her friend are coming down this wknd to paint her nursery! I'm so excited to pick out the paint and see the room begin to transform to being her space.

19 weeks and counting

2012-01-27T12:38:00.000-08:00

She's definitely longer than this mango

How far along?: 19 weeks 3 days
How big is baby?: According to What to Expect, still a mango (6.5 inches long, 10 oz in weight - baby girl is getting BIG!)
Weight gain?: as far as I know, still 0 lbs! So excited to be back even with my pregnancy weight and not gaining anything yet. Wearing my pre-preg skinny jeans today. However, my boobs are ginormous and I learned the hard way that there are a few tops no longer appropriate to be worn in public.
Stretch marks?: None, as far as I can see! I'm scared to look too hard
Maternity clothes?: I'm wearing one of my Gap maternity t-shirts today since the aforementioned incident with a button down this morning. I have a few staples but mostly I'm wearing normal stuff, just lots of leggings.
Sleep?: I fall asleep on the couch almost every night between 9:30 - 10:30, and sleep there for a few hours until Ben is ready for bed. I'm unable to sleep straight through from 1-7 anymore because I get uncomfortable and/or roll around ... seriously thinking about investing in a pregnancy pillow. Thoughts? Suggestions?
Best moment last week?: Buttoning my skinny jeans this morning. Also, everyone who tells me I'm still tiny - God bless you!
Food cravings?: McDonald's cheeseburger, fries - both dipped in sweet and sour sauce - and a Hi-C orange. Oh, and any kind of ice cream!
Symptoms?: Sorry if this is TMI - wait, no I'm not, this is my blog, if it's TMI then you can leave. My nipples are SO swollen and tender. Like, puffy. It's gross and awful and painful all at the same time. And the discharge ... really? REALLY?!
Exercise?: Taking a prenatal yoga class once a week still - mamaste!
Gender?: Baby L is a sweet little girl and we have the pictures (and pint-sized wardrobe) to prove it!
Movement?: This week in yoga, during our 10 minutes of savasana, I was "visualizing my baby" (as our instructor says in a soothing voice) and holding my belly, and I swear I felt her move - like, actually, with my hands felt it. Nuts!
Belly button?: Still in, but not as deep. It's like, shallow, but then the bottom part is elongating. Pregnancy is so weird.
What I miss?: Sleeping through the night
Labor signs?: Nope
What I'm looking forward to?: Officially being half-way through on Tuesday! It feels very monumental to me, I don't know why.

Not my cutest, but you get the drift.
Not much has changed!

I should mention, we got L's crib AND infant carseat last weekend. It was a huge accomplishment, because, even if we don't get her anything else, we can bring her home and we can put her to sleep in her bed! OK, so we probably have to get a mattress and sheets, but you know what I mean. The crib was a find from the Kids Exchange consignment expo at the fairgrounds. Talk about overwhelming! But it was one I had been eyeing from Babies R Us and was half the price of buying it new. So Ben will be giving it a good bleaching and a new coat of paint, and voila! She has a bed. It's exciting, even though it's still in pieces in my car. The other big purchase, her infant carseat, was from Buy Buy Baby. We were registering (oh my gosh, what an exhausting process!) and had decided on the Graco Snugride but were having a hard time deciding which colors. Going back and forth between red & gray, we went over to the pack & plays and there on the clearance rack was the exact same red carrier we'd been looking at - for way less! It was an "open box" special but was brand new and came with a base. They even let us use a 20% off coupon, so we walked away with our brand new Graco infant carrier for less than $100. Awesome productive weekend.

Oh yeah, and we did at least start the registering process. And what a process it is! We decided to go with Buy Buy Baby because it's so close to us, and Pottery Barn Kids because I just love their bedding. If you see anything we're missing, let me know!

Recipe: Garlic Shrimp Bake

2012-01-24T07:55:00.000-08:00

Another Pinterest find - you know you love it. I should note, in case I haven't already, that I have a phobia of under-cooked poultry and other proteins. Don't get me wrong, I love(d) a good medium rare filet, and I cannot wait for a seared ahi tuna steak (#pregnancyprobz) but when it comes to chicken, and apparently shrimp, I err on the side of paranoid over-cooking. I think this has rubbed off on Ben, judging by the "Are you sure those are done?" comments I normally get. Really boy? Have I ever served you even remotely under-cooked chicken? ;)

We had some shrimp in the freezer from God-knows-when and I thawed it Sunday thinking I would make it for dinner. Then woke up in a panic at 4am when I realized it was still sitting in the sink ... luckily, still partially frozen. So, into the fridge it went and then into our bellies it went last night.

This was a super simple recipe that I paired with some steamed french-cut green beans (Gosh I'm so glad I can eat vegetables again, thank you L for not making me throw them all up anymore) and mashed potatoes. Let me just tell you about these potatoes. I LOVE some good homemade mashed potatoes but really, who has time for that on a week night? Not this girl, that's for sure. So I resort to the box of instant fun - don't judge me.
a) I made them stove top, not in the microwave
b) I used heavy cream instead of milk and garlic salt instead of table salt
c) I added a pack of Papa John's garlic butter

Ahem, DID YOU HEAR ME BLOGGIES? Papa John's garlic butter. Is there anything better on Earth than that greasy butter garlicy goodness? Methinks not.

So whatever, here's the shrimp recipe:

Ingredients

1 lb raw shrimp, deveined and peeled and whatnot
4 cloves of garlic, minced
2 tbsp white wine
Salt & Pepper to tast
1/4 cup (4tbsp) melted butter
1/2 cup bread crumbs (you can use Panko but I never have those, so I used regular ones)
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Half a lemon (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F
In a medium bowl, combine shrimp, garlic & wine and stir
Pour evenly into a baking dish (I used a 9x9 glass dish) and season with salt & pepper
You can use the same bowl to mix the melted butter, bread crumbs & parsley.
Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the shrimp in the baking dish
Bake for 15-20 minutes or until shrimp are pink and opaque

18 weeks

2012-01-18T08:28:00.000-08:00

Did I really just skip 17 weeks altogether? Because I was too busy complaining about pregnancy or perhaps obsessing over the gender of our babe? My deepest apologies to you, bloggies, and to Baby L with whom I will one day share these weekly updates.

How far along?: 18 weeks 1 day
How big is baby?: According to What to Expect, a mango (6 inches long, 8 oz in weight - holy cow, half a pound?!)
Weight gain?: 0 lbs! So excited to be back even with my pregnancy weight and not gaining anything yet. Also, my skinny jeans still fit!
Stretch marks?: None. Using Body Butter religiously after showers
Maternity clothes?: I'm actually wearing maternity jeans for the first time today. Not because I need them, because I wanted to try them out. You should ALL invest in a pair. I returned my $200 designer ones (couldn't deal with the guilt, and there was a rivet digging into my hip) and got some from Gap on sale for $50 - awesome. Full panel is key, that's the stretchy part that comes all the way up to your boobs.
Sleep?: I fall asleep on the couch almost every night between 9:30 - 10:30, and sleep there for a few hours until Ben is ready for bed. It works out, because my bladder can hold it from 12:30 / 1am until 6:30 am so I'm not waking up in the middle of the night just to pee.
Best moment last week?: Finding out our sweet little one is a GIRL! And naming her :)
Food cravings?: McDonald's cheeseburgers (I know, awful). And popcorn! I've never cared for popcorn but the past two times someone's had it out, I can't stop eating it! I think I'm moving away from the fruits / sweets and into the salty cravings. Oh helloooooo water retention!
Symptoms?: Hips are killing me! I got a prenatal massage on Monday thanks to my amazing sister, and it helped some. The heartburn is still awful.
Exercise?: Taking a prenatal yoga class once a week and it's AWESOME.
Gender?: IT'S A GIRL! In case you missed that blog post. I'm so so so excited to be having a daughter. And by the way, it's so much weirder to say "I'm having a daughter" than "I'm having a baby".
Movement?: I'm pretty sure I've only felt her twice - once, laying flat on my back, and another time in church while I was singing. Other times I think I feel the "flutters" / rolling movement they talk about, but it's so faint I can't be sure.
Belly button?: Still in, but not as deep.
What I miss?: Sushi in general, especially tuna. Occasionally I miss coffee.
Labor signs?: Better not have these yet.
What I'm looking forward to?: Picking out her nursery bedding! And there's a huge consignment event at the fairgrounds next weekend that we're going to check out, so I am excited to possibly pick out some furniture.

Not a great one, but I took it just for the blog.
The belly is definitely getting rounder / more extended!

Y'all, Friday was awesome. I can't express to you just how awesome, but man ... it will go down in history as one of my favorite days. I couldn't sleep, it was like Christmas morning! Ben had an early doctor's appointment before our ultrasound, so we were both up and excited for the day. We arrived at the doctor's office at 9:15 and sat in the waiting room until almost 10:00 - agonizing! But Ben was playing with the camera, taking silly pics & video taping my thoughts (which, BTW, were boy. Ben thought girl). Finally we got called back, and the u/s tech (who is SO nice) did all the anatomy stuff first - kidneys, bladder, brain, heart, etc. Amazing to see all these working organs on our little one! Baby was standing on her head the whole time, not willing to move, so things took a little longer than expected but no complaints from me! Finally the u/s tech told us to get out the camera, and asked if we were ready - oh man, were we! Even though she was uncooperative about the overall anatomy scan, she had no problem showing us her girly parts, putting her butt right on the screen.

"It's a girl!" - commence to bawling. I cried for probably 15 minutes, I absolutely couldn't believe we're going to have a little girl. Still can't, I woke up Saturday thinking I had dreamed the whole thing. We spent the rest of the day Friday shopping, picking out her name, and getting ready for the "big reveal" with our families. What a blessed day to help us celebrate the arrival of our sweet little girl!!

TAG! You're it!

2012-01-15T11:35:00.000-08:00

Sweet Fran over at The Jenkins Family tagged me in this fun post, so what better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than telling you a little more about me? Especially now that there are actually a few "virtual strangers" that have started following my blog since the pregnancy. So thanks, Fran!

First Things First, The Rules:

You must post the rules.
Post eleven fun facts about yourself on the blog post.
Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then create eleven new questions to ask the people you've tagged.
Tag eleven people and link them on your post
Let them know you've tagged them!

Eleven Fun Facts About Me:

I was born with a dislocated hip and a dislocated elbow, so poor little baby Aubrey had to have a brace and a cast. To this day, I have a gigantic scar on my arm from the surgery that the elbow condition eventually resulted in, and if I'm sleepy or drunk my left foot turns in pigeon-footed from the hip thing. I'm going to demand that they check my baby girl for both of these when she's born.
I AM HAVING A BABY GIRL. In June. I don't know if I've ever been more excited about anything than being a mommy to a sweet baby girl.
My husband Ben & I are taking said baby girl to London next summer to go to the Olympics. We had already planned the trip with friends, and going to the Olympics is definitely on our bucket lists, so when we found out we were pregnant we decided that we'd try to make it work so as to not miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Hopefully it works out!
If I had been a boy, I would've been named Frank Edward Harris, Jr. YIKES! But my mom wanted to call me Teddy, I guess it could be worse. They had the same boy name picked out for my sister.
I had a lot of "best friends" at various points of my childhood, but I met my lifelong best friend (besides, of course, my husband. and then my sister) when I was 14. We became especially close when I got mono from sharing her Chapstick.
My favorite color has been pink since I was old enough to talk. I am the ultimate of girly girls, and baby will be too (at least until she's old enough to protest it, but I hope that never happens).
The one food I will not touch is sweet potatoes. My uncle made me eat them when I was four and I vomited all over the Thanksgiving table. Ben also cannot stand sweet potatoes - that's how I knew we were perfect for each other. The bad news? Baby is currently the size of a sweet potato. The good news? At least we know I won't eat her...
I can always always find something to buy in the Yankee Candle store. I love candles and am terrified of my house smelling bad / weird.
I'm a sympathetic vomiter. As is my best friend. This has made for some horribly painful hungover mornings for us.
I was proposed to in front of nearly 60,000 people. My husband is amazing.
I love falling asleep on the couch. I think our couches are so comfortable, even though I hate that they have couch covers on them (because they're from the Goodwill). I'm not sure if we'll ever find couches we love as much as these ... we've been looking, but so far, no dice.

Fran's Questions For Me

Favorite Blog you follow? Momastery - Glennon is amazing.
Favorite Pandora radio station? Wicked, I am a sucker for musicals.
Last thing you ate? A lamb gyro and some potato soup from this adorable little cafe in downtown Cary. It's like 3 minutes from our house and we just discovered it last weekend!
Last thing you bought? A really freaking cute outfit for the baby to wear while we're at the Olympics.
Favorite date spot? Any restaurant that's new to both of us. I love trying out new places and trying to find something delicious on the menu. It's always funny to me how adamant Ben is that we not order the same thing when we go out to dinner, even though normally our first choices are the same. Luckily he normally lets me order first.
Pets? Do you have any? If so, what are they? I firmly believe in adopting dogs and cats from the pound. Our sweet pup Lucy, who will be six on Valentine's Day, is a pound puppy that we rescued when she was about 6 weeks old. We named her Lucy because we had seen The Chronicles of Narnia that weekend. We think she's part pit bull and part border collie.
Favorite book you have read? Divine Secrets of the Yaya Sisterhood, I think. But I also love Summer Sisters, Fahrenheit 451, The Shack ... most books I've read in adulthood, I love, because if I don't love them after the first few pages I don't continue reading them.
Favorite kid friendly apps {if this applies} or favorite app in general? Not sure yet about kid friendly apps, but the apps I check most frequently are Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and What To Expect When You're Expecting.
Who is your favorite actor / actress? Why? I love Julia Roberts, she's so quirky and cute. I also really love Kristen Bell, but she reminds me of my husband's ex-girlfriend and that's slightly irritating, even though his ex is really sweet.
Favorite baby names? boy & girl? I would love to name a boy Benjamin Colt Eckerson, Jr and call him Colt. I'm not crazy about the idea of a "junior" but I think my husband's name is awesome. And for a girl, my favorite name will be forthcoming in an overly dramatic blog announcement ;) But second favorite is Eisleigh Grace.
Favorite Sunday afternoon activity? Falling asleep on the couch while watching football with Ben.

Who's Next?

Yaeli at Mummy in Progress
Page at It's Marvelous
Ginna at My Pretty Pennies
Megan at Wades of 108
Mary at The Rook Family
Megan at Los Dos Daubertos
Kelsey at Ode to Fetaus Dirte
Jessica at Who's That Girl...It's Jess
Caroline at Clumsy Crafty Happy
Brett at The Bakery
Kara at Burrell's Plus One

My Questions For You

What's your favorite color?
What's your favorite thing about your husband / significant other?
Do you have / want children? How many?
What would you choose as your last meal?
What's your favorite bible verse, if you read the bible?
Where is one place you'd like to visit before you die?
Which room of your house is your favorite and why?
What's your favorite day of the week and why?
Which store can you never go in without buying something?
What is your favorite physical quality about yourself? Emotional quality?
If you could be any animal, what would you choose?

Sugar & Spice

2012-01-14T07:26:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I heard some of the sweetest words ever spoken.

"It's a girl!"

I am over the moon to be having a sweet baby girl to spoil, and cannot wait to buy her tutus and headbands and ruffles and bows.

Thank you all for your congratulations and prayers, I'll post more soon!

Recipe: Zuppa Toscana

2012-01-10T09:09:00.000-08:00

I'm just gonna stop telling y'all that I got a recipe from Pinterest and let you assume that's where all my foodie inspiration comes from (hint: it does!).

This is an uncharacteristically involved crock-pot recipe, for me, as most of my selections are of the "dump-and-go" variety. However, I will say that it does make me feel better not to throw raw sausage in the pot.

This is supposed to be like Olive Garden's soup. Not sure how similar it actually is (or at least, how similar mine was), but it's good nonetheless, and hearty as all get out.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil (or vegetable oil, whatever you have)
1 lb. ground sausage (I used mild, but I bet hot sausage would be yummy, too!)
1 large onion, diced
3-4 cloves minced garlic (3-4 cloves)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon garlic powder
pinch of red pepper flakes (to taste)
1/2 teaspoon pepper
pinch of salt (to taste)
4 cups chicken stock or broth - low sodium if you can find it
1 chicken bouillon cube
6 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into one-inch chunks
1/2 bunch kale, washed, de-stemmed, slivered
1 cup cream
scant cup of instant mashed potato flakes (optional - I didn't use these in mine)

Directions

In a large skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil.
Brown sausage & diced onions until almost cooked through
Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes
Add all of the spices / seasonings and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes
Move sausage mixture from skillet to crockpot
Add chicken broth, bouillon cube and cubed potatoes
Cook on low for 4-5 hours (I did low for 8 hrs, because I don't have a crock-pot with a timer)
Add chopped kale & heavy cream (and potatoes, if you wish)
Cook on low for 1 additional hour

*Optional: top with parmesan cheese. Because what doesn't taste better with a little cheese?