Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Let Us Eat Cake!

When did birthday parties for one-year-olds become such a big deal? I don't know many one-year-olds but the two that I do know both had birthday parties that involved purchased printed invitations, one with a photo of the child. One of the parties was very elaborate, with a monkey theme and gift bags for the children who attended. B and I felt very out of place at this party, since it was mainly other parents and their very small children. We felt as though we had forgotten one very important accessory. No one really wanted to talk to the couple that was standing around awkwardly, eyeing all the children nervously.
We just went to the second one-year-old's birthday party recently and this one was much more relaxed, just a bunch of food and a beautiful birthday cake set up in the backyard. Again, there were parents and children, but there were also a few adults without children. Not many, mind you, and I felt that the other childless couple we got stuck talking to were there because the husband was sucking up to his boss, the father of the birthday boy.
The party started at 2pm and we arrived at 2:20 or so, gift for the birthday boy in hand (I purchased a few board books). I surveyed the food and realized that non of it was pregnancy safe, so I went ahead and indulged in soft cheese and cured meat on a baguette. Then I stood around with B and waited for the cake to be cut. Time passed, I talked to the birthday boy's grandmother, his godmother, some other random people. We oohed and aahed over baby's we really weren't that interested in and were totally charmed by another baby wearing the best cable knit sweater ever. I had serious sweater envy. Yet, still no cake.
We ended up leaving almost two hours after we arrived and they had still not cut the cake. I left the birthday party without one bit of cake or cookies or cupcakes. That is just wrong. Isn't that why most people go to a birthday party? Or is that just me? I think if you are throwing a party for a tiny kid, you cut the cake within an hour or two of the start of the party. Or you have some sort of dessert ready for guests and then you can save the cake for whenever you are ready with the camera to record baby smashing cake into his face.
I think when our baby is one, we'll just invite family and close friends who have been really involved with the baby to come over and eat cake and watch the baby smash cake into his or her face. No invitations, no forced small talk with other parents, just pure old fashioned birthday cake enjoyment.

Week 26

I've gotten a lot of comments on how I've really "popped" this week.

Week 25

Definitely getting bigger

Mixed Emotions

I was so happy after the election. I was almost in a state of shock that we had finally gotten the candidate that I wanted in the White House after 8 years. I have so much hope for Obama and what this country can be.
But then the results for Prop 8 in California came in and I was so disappointed. It made me extremely sad and almost unable to celebrate Obama's victory. There was a proposition here in California to allow more walking room for farmed chickens and that was passed, but not the proposition to allow gays to marry. Plus, that awful law was passed in Arkansas that does not allow adoption by nonmarried people. That is just so ridiculous. There are so many children who need loving homes and instead there is a law passed that excludes from the adoptive parent pool potentially wonderful homes? Just awful.
We went for gelato the other night and there was an anti Prop 8 rally happening nearby and a gay couple with their two adopted sons came in with protest signs and you could see that they were clearly a loving, happy family. I almost started crying, I was so full of emotion.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Vote!

I got up at 6:30 this morning so I could walk down to our polling place with B and vote for Barack Obama, along with various measures and propositions, including a big NO on Prop 8 - against gay marriage and Prop 4 - requiring parental notification for abortions.
I have not allowed myself to get too overly optimistic about this election, but today I am allowing myself to hope that things will go our way and tomorrow I will wake up with hope and pride in my country.
Meanwhile, I am making spaghetti sauce and pumpkin spice cookies because we are having people over tonight to watch the election results come in. I need to run out and buy a bunch of stuff now.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Baby Movements

I keep forgetting to write that I can finally feel the baby moving. About two or three weeks ago I started feeling the slightest odd feelings that I thought was either the baby moving or gas. Now I realize that it was the baby because I am feeling them all the time now and can see my stomach move from time to time when the feeling occurs. It's a rather odd sensation. Kind of as if I have a fish flopping around inside of me. I feel it all over my belly, from low down to the top.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Cold

Ugh, I've had this cold since Friday and I really thought I'd be better today. I even kept my appointment at the gym, thinking I'd wake up today and feel refreshed and ready to work out. Did not happen. I woke up and realized that I'd have to cancel. Then I got back in bed and stayed there until 1 pm. So lazy! But I really do feel better now. Tomorrow I have a list of all the things to do that I didn't get done while I was congested and coughing and feeling crappy.
I did some research online and read that it is okay to take Sudafed when you have a cold while pregnant, but only the Sudafed behind the pharmacy counter, not the Sudafed PE available on the shelf. Apparently it has something to do with the new formulas that had to be created because of the meth cookers who were buying Sudafed to make methamphetamine. Interesting. I managed to not take any medication. I told myself it really wasn't that bad and I'd survive, which I did, of course. I treated myself to tons of Snapple Diet Peach Iced Tea to keep hydrated. I figure that can't be too bad for the baby.
Speaking of the baby, and when am I not, really, no one seems to be satisfied with the size of my pregnant belly. That doesn't help my feelings considering that I've gained so much weight. But a few mom friends of mine pointed out that it is really to my advantage, since my body won't go through as much stress if I'm not stretching out in all directions. So I try to focus on that. Also, I spoke to my pregnant friend and she too had a large weight gain last month. Not as much as me, but enough that she was shocked. I go back to the doctor in two weeks and I am worried that I will have gained a lot again since I have been unable to work out while sick. I'm going to make an effort to get to the pool everyday as soon as I feel 100% well. I don't want to push myself.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Week 24

I am behind on so many things that I want to write about: strollers, car seats, cribs, registering, nursery decor, etc, etc! But I have a terrible cold and am in no mood. So I will just post a photo from last week and go take a nap.
Tomorrow I will write something better.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Trip!


We went on a great trip to Sedona and The Grand Canyon last week. I did tire myself out a bit hiking and walking a lot, but we just went to bed early each night. I had my first stranger acknowledgement of my pregnancy on the trip, but I have to add the caveat that I was rubbing my belly at the time. I still think that I am carrying in such a way that people are not sure if I am pregnant or just chubby - at this point I am both! My friend, who is pregnant and about three weeks behind me, sent pictures of herself and she looks so pregnant. Her belly sticks straight out from her belly button, whereas mine has not gotten that high yet - I am not sure that it will.


Smoke Tree Resort - A great little motel in the Scottsdale area. We drove there and stayed over on our first leg of the trip. The motel as been completely redone and the rooms are very nice and the staff could not be friendlier.

El Portal - We stayed at this inn in Sedona. The owners were very nice and helpful and we just loved the inn. Our room, #11, was decorated in an arts and crafts style and had a balcony that looked over the inn's pretty courtyard and had views of the Red Rocks.

Yavapai Lodge - This is where we stayed at the Grand Canyon. It was the only hotel within the part that had availability when we made our reservations. It is not at the rim, which we really didn't have a problem with, since it is minutes away. I had some concerns about what we would find upon arrival, but I was very happy with our room. It was basic, but very clean. We had an issue with the heat not working, but they brought us a space heater and we had no problems after that.

23 Weeks

I went to the Dr. this week and stepped on the scale. I then asked the nurse how much I'd gained since the last time I was there. She consulted my chart and gave me an enormous number without any editorial comment or anything. I was left sitting on the chair in shock as she handed me my glucose test drink for my next appointment and began giving me directions on what to do for the test. I barely heard anything. I just stared at her. Luckily, the directions are also written on the bottle.
I don't weigh myself at home. I just eat well and exercise and wait until my appointments to find out how much I've gained. They don't comment on your weight gain at my Dr.'s office. They just take your weight and tell you not to worry about it, just eat healthy. So that's what I've been doing. I can't figure out how I managed to gain so much weight. I talked to the Dr. about it and he said just to watch my carbs. So I've been trying to be extra careful. I am also going to weigh myself Monday morning, just in case the nurse misunderstood me and told me my total weight gain as opposed to my monthly gain.



Thursday, October 2, 2008

Body Image

I've noticed that pregnancy has completely changed the way I feel about my body. Normally I'm really self conscious about it and would rather die that show anyone my body between my knees and my shoulders. I avoided tight clothing and drawing attention to my body in general. Now that I'm pregnant, I couldn't care less about who sees my stomach and I have been wearing tight fitting tshirts without a care in the world. This is all rather recent in my pregnancy - once I decided that I actually looked pregnant and not just chubby. I still have yet to be asked by a stranger if I am expecting, but I think that will be coming up soon.
The other day I went out to eat with a friend who hadn't seen me in a while and I was wearing a bigger tshirt, so I stopped in the parking lot of the restaurant and lifted up my shirt so she could see my belly. I didn't care if anyone else saw because I'm pregnant and who cares? This is something I would have never done in a million years before. Same thing goes for touching my stomach in public. I have been doing it all over the place. I can't help it.
It is all rather liberating.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

20 Weeks

I had my 20 week scan this week. Apparently is is a high tech scan that lets the Dr. see how the baby's organs are developing and take measurements. I had to go to a different Dr. than my regular OB and instead of a picture, this time I received a DVD of the entire scan to take home.
It was fun to see the baby again. The best moment was when the technician scanned over the baby's face and it moved its mouth. So cute! Made it seem very real all of a sudden. But other times the scan made the baby's face look like those scary Halloween masks of a skull with the eyeballs still in the sockets. A total demon baby.
I made sure to tell the Dr. and everyone else I came into contact with that we were not finding out the sex of the baby. They still checked to see what it was, but I looked away and they paused the DVD so it didn't record that part.
No picture of the baby this time, but here I am at 20 weeks. The baby has moved up higher, closer to my belly button and I am beginning to lose my waist.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Musings

I am loving my local public pool. I usually go during the adult swim in the afternoon and I always have a whole lane to myself. I've been swimming for a half and hour and it is just perfect. My heartbeat goes up and I feel as though I have had a good work out, yet I'm not dead tired the next day.
In other news, my job situation has recently changed and that concerns me. I am going from a very lucky situation, ideal in fact, to an unemployed type of situation. It is just bad timing, but things will be ok. I am trying to be very good with money in preparation for the possibility of not making a salary for a year or so. I still got sucked into the Gap Maternity sale, however, and am now the proud owner of two pairs of maternity corduroys. I couldn't help myself. I walked by the Gap this weekend and saw the mannequins dressed for fall in just my type of clothes and colors, including corduroys and v-neck sweaters. I haven't seen clothes that were so my taste since the late nineties. I was momentarily overcome by sadness that I wouldn't be able to wear them this fall and winter. So when I got to Gap Maternity to by long sleeve t-shirts on sale, I swear!, and I saw the cords, I was done for and gave in and bought two pairs. Now I am done with maternity clothes until I am much, much bigger. I swear!
I was talking to my mother the other day and she said that in two of her labor experiences she didn't even feel the contractions at all, yet she was fully dilated and ready to go. Interesting. Maybe this will happen to me? She said it just felt like menstrual cramps and she didn't realize that it was time to give birth at at all. I'll have to tell my doula about that.
Speaking of doulas, I think we found one! She seems very down to earth and I think she will work with my personality type. I really like the idea of a doula now, which is funny because when I first heard of what one was, I had no interest whatsoever.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

I'm Gross

I have the pregnancy symptom leukorrhea. It is not fun. It is gross, but manageable. I don't like how the books make it seem as if it might be just a little more than normal. It is way more than normal and caused me to go out and buy my first box of thong panty liners (yes I wear thongs, sometimes). Those things are genius.
Also, I have turned into a sweaty beast. In the most inappropriate places. It doesn't help that my thighs have gotten bigger. I am afraid to move even the slightest bit in warm weather when I am wearing pants, for fear that the sweat stain that looks like a pee stain between my legs is spreading and becoming big enough for others to notice.
Thank God it is almost fall. I am beginning to hate the warm weather.
I am trying to eat healthy to curb the growth of body parts other than baby related expansion and I have a new commitment to getting to the pool. I went yesterday. Today I went out for a turkey sandwich and ice cream. Oh well.

Monday, September 15, 2008

17 Week Picture


Everything went very well at our last Dr.'s visit. The baby has all his/her parts and they all seem to be in working order. There was the usual discussion of how far along I am. This time the scan showed that I am due even earlier than last time, and if I stay with my old delivery date, the baby is in the 95% for size. So the doctor compromised and moved my due date back 3 days. I'm glad that the baby is healthy, but nervous about the large size in terms of delivery!
The baby was very active during the ultrasound and I am getting more and more eager to feel him/her move. According to the books it is supposed to happen by the end of next week.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

17 weeks

I think I'm at 17 weeks. I'm really not sure. I've lost track. Luckily I go to the Dr. tomorrow, so he can clear that up for me. I am also going to have to ask him about the weird, unpleasant dreams I've been having. No, not the fun sex ones that I've been told about, just borderline disturbing dreams that have nothing to do with the baby or anyone I know really. I looked this up and apparently I'm not falling into deep enough sleep so I am dreaming more and remembering more. It stinks. Also unpleasant is the weird thing that happened to the skin on my nipples. TMI, I'm sure, but it was gross. I sloughed it off with a washcloth and things seem to be back to normal now. I thought that the second trimester was going to be so great but, after a week of feeling better, I felt really crappy over the three-day weekend. And all this I've heard about the second trimester and a raging libido? I still have a whole bunch of time in the second trimester, so who knows what will happen, but I'm kind of sick of hearing how great the second trimester is. And is it true that I shouldn't be sleeping on my back?
Anyway, in non pregnancy news we went to see Radiohead at the Hollywood Bowl and it was the best show I've ever seen them perform. I'm very glad that I went, since I'd been kind of on the fence about it. Also during that show, B put his hand inside my sweatshirt pocket and said, "Oh, wow!" because over the past week or so, my stomach has really popped out. I'm very happy that I bought those maternity items.
Speaking of, those Bella Bands that I bought are the greatest things ever! Even if they don't continue to work throughout the pregnancy, making it possible for me to wear my prepregnancy clothes during this part of my pregnancy makes them totally worth it.
Here is my belly from this week. The first is how it looks normally and the second one is what it looks like when I suck everything in and the baby part just sticks out. Makes me laugh every time.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Maternity Clothes

I am now at 15 weeks and my body is definitely beginning to change. I can still fit into my favorite pair of jeans, but my belly pushes at the fabric in a whole new way. After my last doctor's appointment I went to Target and purchased a pair of maternity jeans. The jeans are very comfortable, but they are not the most fashionable - looking a bit like the dreaded "mom jeans." I will still wear them, possibly with a long maternity top, since it's really just at the hips that the jeans don't quite look right.
It's really been too hot for jeans and I found myself uncomfortable in my shorts a few weekends ago, so B and I stopped into Target and I bought a pair of Liz Lange gaucho pants in black.


They are extremely comfortable, just like sweats, but with a better look for everyday wear. There are some complaints on the Target website about them and I agree with the color transfer complaint - don't wash anything light colored with them. I turned a white tank top brown. They aren't the greatest quality, but I'm quite fond of mine. In fact, I'm wearing them right now.
I wasn't going to purchase any more maternity clothes after that. I told myself to wait until I got bigger, but then I was emailed a coupon to the Gap. So off I went to a GapBaby that had GapMaternity in the back and I purchased a pair of Long and Lean jeans with a full belly panel.
These jeans are great looking and comfortable. They are a bit big on me, so I had to keep pulling them up, but everyone agreed that they wouldn't know that I was wearing maternity jeans if I hadn't told them.
I returned to the GapMaternity store to purchase these no panel cropped cargo pants because I needed light weight pants and they were on sale for $22. They are twice that much online for some reason. These are my new favorite pants and I might wear them every day if allowed.
I might not have purchased any of these items if I had heard about the BellaBand sooner. A friend told me about them and they sound amazing. I ordered two from Amazon.com and hope that they will keep me from having (or wanting) to purchase any more maternity pants for a while. Although, I have my eye on these beauties from Babystyle.com. I think I'll wait for a day in my sixth or seventh month where I'm much bigger and needing a pick me up.

Friday, August 8, 2008

13 Weeks


Had my first ultrasound that did not involve taking my underwear off - yay! I can't believe how much the baby has developed in this short amount of time. I was very relieved to see the baby and its heartbeat, since I found the lessening of symptoms to be a bit worrisome. I still tire easily, but I am much better than a few weeks ago and I am much less nauseous than before. After my appointment I bought my first pair of maternity jeans. The Dr. said I'd only gained 3 lbs, but that was since my 8 week appointment and I don't know how much total I've gained since becoming pregnant. I definitely feel my clothes getting tighter, but that may be because of my somewhat uncooperative digestive system. Some days I'm big, others not so much. So I went to Target and bought a pair of Liz Lange maternity jeans and I am kind of excited to wear them, once the weather gets cooler. It is freaking hot out!

Telling the Parents

So now all future grandparents know. We managed to tell everyone in a three day period and, happily, everyone is thrilled. We already have an offer to purchase a glider for us (I am thinking this one) and the baby has its first outfit and blanket.
Shopping for this outfit brought something to my attention - finding gender neutral clothes for infants is next to impossible and our society is still pretty sexist in how it assigns certain imagery to infants. Male babies have trucks, planes, sports, boats, space, and blue animals. Anything blue, for that matter, is for boys. Female babies have flowers and pink. It's maddening. I got a bit upset about it and voiced my unhappiness to my in laws. Unfortunately this lead to a lecture about gender roles and teaching your children who they are that came from such a conservative place that it truly boggled my mind.

Vancouver



We took a lovely trip to Vancouver. The weather was incredible, not too hot but still plenty of sunshine, the city is completely walkable and there is a lot of great food. We walked through Stanley Park, where I snapped a few photos of a raccoon wandering along the bank of a pond, across Robson Street and then hopped in a cab and headed over to Vij's Rangoli. It was so good! Then we walked back over the bridge to our hotel, The Sandman Suites on Davie. The room we booked had a kitchen and a washer/dryer, which was fantastic. It wasn't the most upscale hotel, but its location and price were perfect.


Friday, July 18, 2008

Good Deed for the Day

Coming home just now I saw a dog alone in my street. I slowed down to see if he was wearing a collar and he started running after my car once I'd passed. He followed me into my garage and waited for me to get out of the car. At first I was hesitant, seeing how it was a strange dog and all, but then I saw that he was wearing a color and was clearly lost. I got out of the car and started talking to the dog to calm it down. Once I was out of the car, the dog didn't seem so interested in me and headed next door. I debated whether or not I had the ability to keep this dog for his owner - I have a very anti social cat who would not appreciate a dog being in the apartment. But I do have a balcony and this dog seemed so sweet. I followed the dog calmly, making sure not to chase him off and finally managed to get a hold of his collar and called the number on it. No one answered, but just when I was going to leave a message a large white car pulled up and shouted out, "Do you have a dog?" The women in the car were so relieved to have their dog back, I was very happy for them and the dog.
This is why I don't have a dog. They can be so much trouble. At the same time, however, my cat is not without issues. Last night I was woken up by the sound of said cat eating a mouse very loudly. He eats them bones and all and apparently they are quite crunchy. This is the second mouse meal in a week.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Nothing New

I am about four days away from being ten weeks and continue to feel tired and nauseous. The nauseousness has calmed down a bit, but I am still not that interested in food until I have to put something into my stomach. I am convinced that I have a really fat stomach, but others tell me that I look the same and today my trainer asked it I had lost weight! Maybe next time at the Dr's I'll actually find out how much I weigh so I will be able to keep track of that on my own. I'm still fitting into my regular clothes.
I did, however, go out and buy four of these sport bras from the Gap because I had to start wearing a bra when I slept. I wore one for the first time last night and my comfort level was dramatically increased. It kept my poor breasts from hurting so much everytime I got up to use the bathroom.

Monday, July 7, 2008

All is Well

I didn't exercise for a week and I headed to my new obstetrician's office last Thursday. He is really great, I'll call him Dr. K. I asked him all of my questions and he answered thoroughly and kindly. He is open to anything I want, as long as the baby and I are healthy. He says he rarely does episiotomies, which is great, and I just liked him in general. So we are not going to interview any more and I've gotten over my midwife consideration. Same for the idea of a waterbirth. Maybe for the next one. Dr. K said that I probably don't even need a doula, which are quite popular here in Los Angeles.
I had an ultrasound and Dr. K said things looked excellent and that I had a little bleed area, which would explain the spotting, but which is completely normal. I am okay'd to exercise, which I did today and man, do I not have the same stamina as before!
I asked the doctor if it was ok to start telling people and he said that once you see the heart beat and all looks good, then your chance of miscarriage drops to 2%. I can't remember what the original risk percentage was. I told my sister and then we told some friend at a 4th of July BBQ. I'm going to slowly start telling people, but I don't really want to come right out with it until after I tell my mom, which will be in about three weeks.
Meanwhile, I am feeling fat, tired and nauseaus. I haven't thrown up at all, but I need to keep food in my stomach or I get really queasy. I cried a bit yesterday because I was feeling sorry for myself. It is hard to be sick and tired for a while and also not be able to tell anyone about it.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Small Scare

Sunday was a rough day. I was totally nauseous when I woke up, so we hurried out of the house to get something to eat. It was also about a billion degrees and we don't have air conditioning. We made plans to do two things: visit an open house in Eagle Rock and buy a portable air conditioner. Even though B had called and knew exactly where to buy said air conditioner, the day turned into a horrific march through several Costcos, Targets, and Lowe's, "Just to see" if they had what we were looking for. Of course they didn't. Every store was sold out. Finally, after traipsing across many an asphalt desert, we headed to Fry's, where we hit the mother load. We picked out our beauty and brought her home. With B's back problems and my current condition, getting the air conditioner out of the car and up the stairs, one at a time, was quite the feat.
We didn't get to try it out right then either, because we had to go and look at the open house. It was adorable and well priced and I would buy it. But apparently we're not quite to that point yet and I understand, so we're not buying it. Yay.
So Monday I get up and head to the bathroom, of course, and think I see a little brown, but convince myself that I'm just paranoid. The day passes without incident and right before bed I pee again, of course, and this time there is bright red blood. Not sure what to do, I tell B that it may be bad news and try to go to sleep.
The next morning there is more brown and I spend a lot of time online trying to figure out what is going on. I find that I am either fine, or I am miscarrying. Hmm. I was kind of embarrassed about my feelings because I felt most annoyed that I would have to start over and lose seven weeks, plus recovery time. I realize that I haven't attached to this "baby" yet. The idea of it is exciting and all that, but I haven't developed feelings for it yet. I feel kind of like the ice queen, but whatever. I spend the day very tense and the only symptom I have is sore boobs.
When B gets home from work he does some online reading and tries to convince me that I am fine. I try to believe him, but then start feeling a lot of pain in my abdomen. The dreaded cramps. I tell B as I am getting into bed. A few moments later I realize that the pain has shifted to below my rib cage. Then I realize that I don't have cramps, just really bad gas. Oops. So I spend the night quietly relieving the problem and being thankful for every little release of gas.
B convinced me to call my doctor yesterday and she said to come in. She used a vaginal scanner (? don't know the real term for it) to show me that the baby was still there, still had a heartbeat and all was well. She said everything looked good, that my cervix was blue, which apparently is a good thing, and that she couldn't find any blood.
Back to the scan - the baby is 9mm and based on that, I am 6.6 weeks along. She gave me a photo, in which you can't really see anything except for a mass that is the baby and the yolk sac. She said that bleeding is normal at this point because of hormones and something about the placenta taking over for something else.
So I am fine and so is the baby and I'm very happy. Still not feeling so much attached to the baby, but hoping that is normal. Also, I can't exercise until I'm 8 weeks and she gave me a referral to an obstetrician who I am supposed to see before 9 weeks.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Swimming!

I finally dragged myself off the couch (boss is on vacation, so it is a very slow time workwise) and headed to the Echo Park Pool (don't believe the website, it is definitely open). I had read about the newly remodeled facility and then stopped by to check it out a week ago. It looked great, with lap lanes set up, and it's free with a library card - which I have.
It has a great locker room set up, you can put all of your belongings in a bag and hand it over to the lady behind the counter to be checked for you. Then you shower and are free to "enjoy your swim!" as the lady behind the counter told me.
The pool is really nice and I think it is olympic sized. I shared a lane with a guy and swam for 30 minutes. I figured I'd start slow and work up to an hour eventually. There was a bit more debris and hair in the water than I would have liked to see, but it's a public pool, and free, so I can't really complain. I think I will quit my gym membership and stick to swimming and walking to maintain my weight and health for awhile.

February 14th

That is my supposed due date. I went into the Dr's yesterday, but all she did was confirm that I was pregnant using a urine test - which I had already done at home. I am about five weeks along, so she said that I should come back in a week and a half and she'll be able to do a scan and find a heartbeat. So that is what I'm going to do.
Meanwhile, I am feeling kind of crappy. I get tremendously tired mid day and wake up early having to pee. I woke up very early this morning and have been feeling cruddy ever since. I am trying to motivate to go to the pool, but I am so damned fuzzy headed and tired. Maybe I need a nap. Part of me is worried that I am making this all up and am actually fine.
Boobs still hurt!

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Double Lines!

On Sunday we finally broke down and bought a pregnancy test. Then I said that we were going to wait until Wednesday before I left, so that I would know if I was pregnant and not sit through a wedding without drinking for no reason. But then B didn't want to wait and read on the box that the test was pretty accurate even before a missed period, so I went ahead and peed on that little stick.
I was very surprised at how quickly both lines appeared. I was prepared for those agonizing minutes that they make you wait through on tv and in the movies.
So I am currently, supposedly, pregnant. Yay. My boobs feel like lead balloons and I have taken to wearing supportive, lined bras instead of the very flimsy ones I used to wear. I get randomly hungry and feel bloated, but that's about it.
I was thinking that I was on my third week, since I think we conceived around May 25th, but after reading a bit I think we may be on our fifth week of pregnancy, but the fetus is only on it's third week. It's odd how they count it like that.
Anyway, still haven't told anyone except my friend in Europe and my gym trainer. I had to tell my trainer so she could modify my workouts. I work out with my sister, so I hope she doesn't pick up on things. Wouldn't be the end of the world if she did, but I'd like to be able to keep it a secret until we are at 12 weeks and I've thought of some fun way to surprise her with the news.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Waiting...T minus 4 days

So am I pregnant or not? I don't feel particularly pregnant. But... I do have unusual feelings in my boobs. Or am I imagining that? And I have been tired. But aren't I always? I usually get my period on the 9th or 10th of each month, so I have four or five days before I've missed. If I don't get my period, then I am going to wait at least seven days before taking a test.
B is convinced that I am pregnant, but I keep telling him not to think about it because I don't want him to be disappointed. We went to see Sex and the City on Saturday (I thought it was ok - it raised my feminist hackles up a bit too much. I miss the sentiment of the original series in its early days) and went for dinner afterward and B and I got to the restaurant early so I asked the waitress to bring me a lemonade, but to put it in a drink glass. She looked confused first, but then got it and asked me "Are you going to tell your friends tonight?" I was embarrassed but told her that it was way to early, that I wasn't even sure, but just playing it safe and didn't want to talk about it with my friends.
I hadn't really thought that I was pregnant, but then I was having odd feelings in my boobs and thinking, well, maybe? and then I started thinking about everything that I've been eating and drinking since I may have conceived and whether or not that is going to have an impact on my maybe baby. I think I've been ok. I've been taking sips of alcohol here and there to not raise any suspicions, which is stupid. I've been taking extra vitamin C with my prenatals to prevent constipation, which I'll stop doing. And I drank some diet soda. I've switched to full sugar drinks (mainly juice) for now. I'm sure I'll switch to water if I find out I'm pregnant. It is so weird not to know. But that makes me feel that I'm not. Wouldn't I know?

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

UTI!

Somehow (I know how exactly) I got a UTI over the weekend. Now I am burning in unfortunate places and my pee is kind of pink. The first time this happened, both my sister and I thought I was dying. A call to the doctor informed me that I was going to live and that some people's UTI's involve blood. Gross.
Since this week has been a trying to conceive week, I was concerned about what I could take for the UTI that wouldn't interfere with conception or life, if there was already a little fetus involved. But turns out that I can take an antibiotic, micosomething, that will not hurt our efforts. Yay.
Right now I am guzzling cranberry juice (actually, it's cranberry and grape, but 100% juice, which is all I could find at Vons).
I have been following the Taking Charge of Your Fertility charting (albeit not religiously) and using the First Response Ovulation test sticks and it seems that yesterday and today are my two ovulation days. We have been having sex daily for about five days now, and will try again tonight, UTI be damned. I ran out of sticks and didn't buy anymore today, so I suppose we'll just try a few more times and then I should know if I'm pregnant by June 11th or so.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Match and My Mother

My mother is 64 and has been divorced since 1993. In the years between then and now, she has not dated. Not at all. In 1997 she signed up for Match.com or something like that and had a few phone calls, maybe one coffee meet up, but they all went no where. She had a single friend her age who would drag her to singles parties and my mother would come home and say things like, "Ugh, I'm never going to one of those again. The men are old and some even had comb-overs!" So she remained dateless and seemed happy about it. She has her dog to keep her company.
Recently, my mother's financial situation has changed and she has been forced to tighten the purse strings. She does not like this. It has pushed her to start trying to date again, in hopes that she may find a wealthy friend. It is not really the right reason to be doing this, but I am used to my mother and can't really see any harm in it. In fact, I predicted that this is what she would decide to do - find someone to take care of her.
My mother has been emailing me with questions about her Match profile. First she wanted to know what username she should use. I suggested she use her initials and some numbers, instead of trying to be cutesy with a name like, "lookingforman$." Not really that name, but something less honest. So she sent me a list of potential names and I almost died laughing when I read them. The problem is that my mother's initials are SM. You don't really want those in your Match username.
She came up with a suitable alternative. Then she emailed me a list of people who had apparently looked at her profile, with the message, "This is frighting!" Another charming thing about my mother is that she can't spell. That does not bode well for online chatting. I asked her what her profile said and she sent me her username and password so I could check it out.
I don't think my mother saved whatever she had written because her profile was blank. All it said was "Woman looking for a man 25-45." My mother is 64.
I am hoping that this is a mistake.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

New Loves

I went shopping yesterday for a jersey knit skirt. I don't have a flowy, cotton, casual summer skirt that I can wear instead of shorts. Unfortunately, I didn't find one. But I think they have what I am looking for at American Apparel. I am also going to check out Target.
I did, however, make two other purchases that are making me very happy right now.

First is this dress from BCBG that was on sale. It is perfect for two of the weddings that I am going to be attending this summer. I did not buy it in yellow, I bought it in a dusty rose color. This photo of the dress does not do it justice. It is very pretty and very comfortable.

Next is this dress, also from BCBG, also on sale! But I bought it in black and I think that I will wear it all the time. I already wore it last night. We went to a birthday party at a swanky bar down town and I didn't want to worry about being under dressed, and this was perfect. It will also be perfect for business meetings. Again, I am not so happy about how the dress looks in this photo. It is sleeker and more sophisticated in black.

And I didn't buy these yesterday, but I wore them last night for the first time and I love them. They are soft leather flats from Boden USA. They were a bit of a splurge, but so comfortable! It was as if they were my favorite shoes that I've been wearing forever, sigh.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Doing it Wrong

I went to my orthodontist the other day (I had braces as an adult, after having them for 6 years as a child/adolescent) and he asked how married life was. He was married two months before I was and we would discuss wedding planning when I would come into my appointments. His fiancee seemed to be a bit of a bridezilla, so he would frequently ask me if B and I fought about wedding plans and what I thought of his fiancee's ideas about their wedding. The best story he told was how he was in a fight with his fiancee because she wanted to give out little tins of mints that said "Mint to Be" on them as favors. I told him he was absolutely right to insist that that did not happen. Anyway, this time he asked how married life was and I said fine and asked him how he was enjoying being married and he whipped out his IPhone and showed me a picture of a new born. He and his wife had just had a baby.
He asked me if I was going to have kids and I said that we were talking about it and he told me that he and his wife had been trying for a year without result, so they went to see a specialist. Turns out his wife had been counting wrong and they were missing her ovulation time. The doctor told them that his wife was ovulating that day, they went home and got pregnant.
I left the office feeling smug, thinking, "Who can't figure out when they are ovulating?" (or at least narrow down the time frame).
Guess who else was "counting wrong?" Yeah, I was counting 10 days from the last day of my period, not from the first. I'm very glad that I figured this out early on in the game. Another "trying" period is coming up.

Friday, May 9, 2008

Sayulita

Hmm, I seem to have uploaded these in the opposite order than what I had in my head, but whatever:
The view from our terrace


Just after sunset


The sun will actually set over the water if you wander further down the beach, but we were enjoying our beers at Bar Playa and too lazy to stroll too far


Ah, surfers


Beach, daytime


Town, road to beach


Town square


Town square, local art for sale


More town


View from our terrace, daytime

Sayulita is about an hour north of Puerto Vallarta, but it is completely different. It is a laid back little town with incredible local restaurants and not too many people. Many tourists come to Sayulita to surf and you can take lessons from nice people who set up shop on the beach. B took a lesson and he loved it. It was very warm when we were there and I spent most of the day in the shade reading. When it was not so hot, I'd wander down to the beach and swim for a while. The water is not too cold and the surf not too rough. Sun block is a must!
Sayulita recommendations:
Rent a house on the beach if you can - it seems to be very affordable and most come with daily cleaning people.
Eat at Burrito Revolution - I could eat one of their chicken burritos every day. I wish I had one right now. Make sure to try the green salsa - it's heaven!
Other restaurants:
Sayulita Cafe - good food, friendly staff.
Rollie's for breakfast - the pancakes are really good.
Sayulita Fish Tacos - self explanatory.
Don Pedro's - nice restaurant on the beach, good food, a little more expensive.

Monday, April 28, 2008

Pulling the Goalie

It is on. We tried our hand at conception for the first time last night. B was more relaxed about it than I was. I kept joking about how my anxiety was going to cause my cervix to expel anything that tried to get through.
Also, I am back on the prenatals.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Feeling Better

I was depressed for the past couple of days and B thinks it is because I got nervous about having a baby and that might be true. I was having a terrible time getting anything done. But today was better and I did almost everything that I needed to do today and I have a list of things that I am going to get done tomorrow. I have grand plans to make Ina Garten's Coq au Vin for dinner tonight.
I talked to RS today and I didn't tell her that I was depressed, but she managed to cheer me up all the same. There is nothing better than a great friend to make a person feel better. I'm sure antidepressants are fantastic too, but I don't have any of those at the moment and, since I'm thinking of having a baby, I don't think now is the time to start taking them. But I do think now might be the time to actually call one of the doctor referrals that I've gotten and make sure that I'm up to the mental/emotional challenges of having a baby.
We leave for Mexico this weekend and I'm going to start packing tomorrow. Of course, I had all these ideas that I'd lose a ton of weight before this trip so I'd feel fabulous in a bathing suit, but alas, this has not happened. So now I have to spend the week feeling a bit large while lying on a beach chair next to my friend who is literally anorexic. Not that I envy her that problem.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Friday

Even though both my home phone and my cell phone show the number and even the name of who is calling me, I still answer the phone with, "Hello?" as if I don't know who it is going to be. I can't get the hang of just saying, "Hey" or "Hey, what's up?" as a few of my friends do.

Successful recipes that I found on the internet and made this week:
Spring Panzanella
Vodka Sauce
Chicken and Rice with Black Bean Salsa

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Apparently, Most of Us Are Diseased

I went to Barnes and Noble today to buy a book on fertility. I first searched for it in the Pregnancy and Childbirth section before heading to ask at the Customer Service desk. The man who was helping me also headed to the Pregnancy and Childbirth section to find the book, "Taking Charge of Your Fertility." After we still couldn't find it, he said he'd go and check the computer again. He returned to tell me that the book was in the health section, so we walked over there. We didn't see it under Health, which actually seemed to be taken over by the Diet section, so he moved over to the next row of bookshelves, and there the book was, right under the sign that read "Diseases." I laughed and said, "I didn't realize fertility was a disease." To which he replied, "I guess it all depends on how you feel about children."

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

I Survived Yoga

I have been wanting to go to this yoga class at a nearby community center for about a year now. It is inexpensive and welcomes all levels, so it is perfect for me. But I have anxiety issues, which makes it really difficult for me to do things that may involve new experiences, where I may not know what to do or where to go, etc. For some reason, these situations cause me to panic and blush and sweat and feel like a complete moron. So I avoid these situations.
I have been trying to work on my anxiety, with and without medication, so I decided to go to the yoga class. My heart is racing right now, just remembering how I felt when I was getting ready to leave my apartment. It turned out okay, though. I found a place to park without giving up and driving home and then walked from the car to the community center, with lots of traffic driving by and people witnessing my yoga outfit and everything, and made it into the yoga class without too much sweating. My cheeks, however, were flushed.
The instructor was very nice and assured me that where I put my mat was okay and I didn't die right there on the spot or run from the room crying when she said, after we had been doing poses (is that what you call it?) for a while and I was totally sweaty and red faced, that there would be partner work (Thank God a friend had mentioned that this sometimes happens in yoga classes or I would have most likely turned a horrific shade of purple and lost my ability to speak). Luckily, the girl next to me decided to be my partner and saved me from the dreaded "looking around the room hoping desperately to be picked by someone but not wanting to look too desperate" thing. She was very nice and didn't mind that I was a complete novice and I didn't mind that she put her feet on my shoulders and I tried not to think about what she thought about my feet touching her and then it was over and I was surprised to find that I was still alive and no one was pointing at me and laughing and my partner didn't suggest that I might not want to come back to the class again.
The actual yoga part was fantastic and I felt stretched and strong and I will definitely be going back next week. I might even go tomorrow for a gentle yoga class because I really do need to work on my flexibility.
I have been thinking today of starting the prenatal vitamins, but I really do enjoy having a fully functional digestive system. My poor hypothetical baby. I am thinking of only myself already.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

I Am Scared of My Prenatal Vitamins

I am not pregnant, but when I went to my last gynecologist appointment in November, she told me that I should start on prenatal vitamins, since we were going to start trying in the Spring. She gave me a few sample boxes and I figured that I would try them in January.
I have never been so constipated in my life. I asked my friend who already has kids and she said that this tends to happen, but that I should get one with a stool softener and that would fix the problem. I was too embarrassed to tell her that the one I was taking did have a stool softener. I suffered through all fifteen pills and then stopped taking them. That fixed the problem. I got my prescription filled and said I'd start them up again the next month.
It is now April and I have not taken another one of them. I am scared of them.
But I am going to have to start taking them because B and I said that we'd start trying in May and it is now early April. I'm having second thoughts about starting in May because I have to be in my friend's wedding in June. I don't want to be sick or fat and in my friend's wedding.
Or am I just scared of getting pregnant? And do I have to take these prenatals, or can I just wait until I get pregnant and start taking them?

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Mexico Cruise

I survived a three day cruise to Ensenada, Mexico on Royal Caribbean's Monarch of the Seas. We left from San Pedro on Friday at 5:30 pm and returned on Monday very early. We were in line to disembark at 6:30 am.
It was not as bad as I thought it might be. The rooms were small, but not terribly so, and very clean. The service on board was outstanding. The food was not bad. Meals in the main dining room were on par with wedding food at any hotel or country club. Pricing was very reasonable, considering that all food (except for room service, Ben and Jerry's and Seattle's Best Coffee) was included. You also had to pay for soft drinks, but we bought a package for $18 that allowed us to have unlimited fountain drinks all weekend.
Ensenada was a bust. It is not a destination that I ever need to see again. Thankfully I've been to Mexico before, or I would have been horrified. I thought it was going to be like Puerto Vallarta, but it was not. At all. But we found a cute little bar and settled in for a few drinks. That made me excited for our upcoming trip to Sayulita.
It was too cold to sit out by the pool on the ship, but we managed to do it a bit anyway. I can't sit for too long, so I used the track that ran around the boat and wandered through the different bars and the casino. We partied in the main dance club and watched a comedy show there on Sunday night. The comedian was actually quite funny.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Trip

I forgot my camera! So I have no photos. None. Oh well. I kind of didn't mind that I didn't have my camera because it is big and bulky and a pain to carry on a hike. But I don't have any photos. we need to buy a smaller camera.
We spent two nights at the Deer Haven Inn and Suites in Pacific Grove, CA. It was a very basic motel and if anyone was standing near the front door you could hear everything he said, but it had a fireplace and was pretty much clean and cheap, so it did the trick. Pacific Grove is between Monterey and Carmel, which was a perfect location.
We arrived on Sunday night and went to eat at the Monterey Fish House. We had been there before on our first trip to Monterey and B remembered the oak grilled oysters very fondly. Unfortunately they were out of oysters on Sunday night, so B ordered the baby octupi special and cioppino, both of which he loved. I had the special tuna steak, prepared blackened, which was excellent. B still wanted oysters, so we decided to come back then next night as well. The Monterey Fish House is small and always crowded. It is also understaffed, but the people are really nice and you can eat at the bar. I highly recommend it.
Monday morning we got up, ate the free breakfast at the hotel and then headed to Andrew Molera State Park for the eight mile hike loop. We had to cross the river on foot because the bridge doesn't go in until late Spring. It wasn't too bad and B had a towel, which made things easier. The hike was beautiful and not too strenuous, but still an excellent work out.
After the hike we tried to have burgers at the Big Sur Bakery, but it doesn't serve food on Mondays. So we headed to the Big Sur River Inn. The location was scenic, right along the river, and the weather was perfect for sitting out on the deck and eating. The food, however, was just okay and I couldn't use the lettuce they gave me with my burger because it had bugs on it! Yuck.
That night we ate again at the Monterey Fish House and B finally got his oysters. I had the tuna again. Yum.
We spent the next day wondering around Carmel. I love that town and would love to rent a place for the week there some Summer. That area is really one of my favorite places in the world. I love the hills, the cliffs, the ocean and the Cypress trees. Just gorgeous. I wonder how crowded it gets in the Summer.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Things I Was Supposed to Do

Order Tastebook - done! And I found a coupon for $10 off. Excellent!
Order 150 prints from Kodak Gallery while they are having a sale (use coupon GETPRINTS) - done! I have so many pictures that I need to order and then put into albums. This offer comes around every so often and I have yet to take advantage of it.
Going to Uncle Bill's Pancake House tomorrow for the first time. Then we are off to Carmel/Monterey/Big Sur for a few days. Yay!

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Annoyed

I do not have a thyroid problem. Or so says my blood test. This is good news. But I am bothered by it because I read all of the symptoms of having hypothyroidism and decided that I had it. Being medicated for it was going to solve all of my problems.
But no. I do not have it and I am just going to have to try harder to loose weight and have more energy and all that other stuff. Which sucks.
In other news, why do the wives of idiot politicians have to stand up there with their husbands? Can't they just stay home or go out of town? We would all understand. I know other people are talking about this, but I haven't heard any good explanation for it. They don't make their husbands look good. They make women look bad.

Friday, March 7, 2008

Little Bird Bandwagon


I jumped on the bandwagon and purchased a bird from Ann Wood Handmade. I signed up to be notified by email when new birds went on sale and then kind of forgot about it, so I was very excited when I received an email letting me know new birds were available. I bought one right away because they sell out pretty quickly. Then I had some buyer's remorse because it is kind of a lot to spend on a little bird.
I received my bird today. Her name is Louise. I am very happy with my purchase and I might have to make another one when I get a chance.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Small Veins

I went to have a blood sample taken today because apparently I might have something wrong with my thyroid. I didn't really think too much about it because I've had blood taken before and it is no big deal. My doctor sent me a form to present to the people at the Quest Diagnostics Center, I found the closest location and off I went.
When I got there, the lobby was very full. It was mostly elderly Spanish speaking and Asian people, with a few children and then about three people my age. A very nice man offered me his seat, but I refused and sat down on the floor to wait. He wouldn't go back to his seat, so another woman took it.
I waited for about twenty minutes when they called the name of a boy who looked about 9-years-old. Soon after he entered and the door shut behind him, all sorts of yelling and screaming began. You could hear clearly everything that was happening. The nurse was telling him that he had to calm down or they were going to have to tie him down. I felt really bad for the boy, but I felt even worse for the poor little kids who were waiting their turns in the lobby. I can only imagine what they thought they were in for!
They must have tied the poor boy down, because he started yelling at the nurse and calling her stupid. Then he claimed he couldn't breathe. Then, finally, he yelled out, "Oh Lady, what are you doing to me? What have you done to me?" It was so plaintive and sad. Everyone in the lobby looked at each other and burst into laughter. We all felt so bad for the boy and also for the kids in the lobby.
Soon the boy came out from the office and was walked out with his mother. The nurse called the next patient, who happened to be a five-year-old boy, and, of course, the boy started to freak out. He came back out quickly enough, however, his face was tear stained, but he didn't put up half the fight as the first boy.
When it was my turn, I was told that I had tiny veins and, after the first nurse stuck me twice and had no success finding a vein, I had to wait for the other nurse to do it because she apparently was better at finding veins. This is the same thing that happened when the doctor was trying to find a vein to put me under for my wisdom teeth removal. How come the lady at the doctor's office has no problem? I come from a long line of small veined, low blood pressure, poor circulation ladies.
So now I have to wait and see if my thyroid is under active. I kind of hope it is, because that would explain a lot. At the same time, I am concerned because my aunt has this problem and she also developed MS when she was older.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Rory!

I went to Subway today and as I was pulling into the parking lot I saw a girl getting out of her car and I thought to myself, "That girl looks like Rory Gilmore." I parked and got on line for my sandwich and a couple of people got in line behind me. I took some time debating whether or not to drink a soda, I've been trying to give up soda all together, caved and took a Coke Zero out of the refrigerator. The girl behind me reached into the refrigerator and pulled out a juice, saying "I'm trying not to drink soda." I had to do everything I could to keep myself from turning around to take a look because I knew from the voice that it was Alexis Bledel.


I live in Los Angeles and I see actors quite frequently and I'm sort of jaded about it and I rarely get excited about it, but I was so thrilled to be standing in line in front of Ms. Bledel because I loved the Gilmore Girls and I loved Rory. I don't really want to talk about the last season, or how bad it got after that guy took over from the original creator, but at least Rory didn't marry that awful boyfriend.
Anyway, it was fun to see her. She is adorable and was very nice to the staff at Subway and was dressed a little hipstery, but not too much so. It was a good sighting. Oh, and she drives a Volvo. I love her even more for that.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Things I've Been Up To


I have been very busy recently making a TasteBook for my friend , O, who is getting married in June. She really wants to be a better cook and make an effort to cook more when she is married, so I asked the other bridesmaids to submit recipes and am compiling them into a TasteBook. So far, only one bridesmaid has submitted her recipes, but I have high hopes that I will get at least one recipe from each girl into this book. TasteBook is really easy to use and I love the photo options. I am anxious to see the finished project.
Along those same lines, I think I will use Blurb when I make our wedding album. One would think that I would have already done that, seeing how I was married in 2006, but I still haven't gotten around to it yet. It's on my to do list, along with ordering all the other regular photos that I've taken and actually putting them into photo albums, which I've yet to purchase. Someday!
Lastly, I found another pair of jeans from The Gap (gasp, I know!) that I like even better than the last pair. These are not mom jeans at all. They are not the phenomenal in the butt area, but B said they looked good enough from behind, so I feel okay about them. They look great from the front and are $69! Crap, I can't find them on the website and the jeans don't have any markings that say what style they are.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Paris

I have been away on a last minute trip to Paris for work. It was quite nice. I didn't get to do too much because I was working, but I managed to get out of the hotel and walk around a bit. The best part was that our hotel was right near the Laduree on Champs D'Elysees. I have never eaten so many wonderful macaroons. I went there every day and ordered a small box. The line was very long on Valentine's Day, but I still braved it and managed to order in French and convince them that I was fluent in French - until the credit card machine stopped working. Credit card machines were not covered in my high school French class or my college French classes, so I had to admit that I spoke English much better than my French. It wasn't a problem and all was taken care of. My favorite flavor? Cassis violette. Yum!



Since I was away for Valentine's Day, B had to cancel the reservations he'd made at Comme Ca. I have been dying to go there, so he rescheduled for the Monday after my return, which was Presidents' Day and B had the day off. So we went and had a lovely lunch. I ordered the Steak Frites, which I really liked. I don't know if I would have liked the fries on their own, not enough salt for me, but they were perfect in the steak juice. B ordered the Cheeseburger and it was divine. I made him give me one quarter of it. I will definitely be back. Besides the food being fantastic, the decor is quite nice too. I am going to keep it in mind when I have a kitchen to decorate some day.
Speaking of a kitchen and some day, after lunch B and I went driving a bit. We checked out Montrose, which I suppose is part of Glendale. It was cute, but quite far away. Then we went to Eagle Rock, which is quickly becoming my favorite neighborhood. We have seen a number of houses that we would be happy living in and the blocks above Colorado have peaked B's interest greatly. Would I feel isolated out there? It's not that far, really, but it feels like another world. Oh, but how would I love a yard and available street parking and quiet! Hmm.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Vote!

As soon as the man comes to measure the wall for the new screen door, I am heading out to vote. I am voting for Barack Obama and will be anxious to see the results of this Super Tuesday.



On a completely different subject, I love Buffalo Chicken - Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches and Salads being my favorite. I am not a fan of wings, but I just love the sauce. The other day I saw Frank's Hot Wing sauce at the grocery store, so I bought it along with some Chunky Blue Cheese dressing. I played around with a few variables before coming up with my new favorite food:

Buffalo Chicken Salad
Coat your chicken breast(s) in a mixture that is 2:1 chili powder and paprika. Then put a little bit of oil into a pan and cook the breast(s) over medium heat about five minutes per side (may take longer depending on your stove's heat and the thickness of the breast(s)).
When the chicken is done remove it from heat and set aside. In a saucepan melt 1 tbsp of butter (this is kind of optional, but it does make it taste extra good) and add the hot sauce (you decide how much). Remove from heat.
Slice the chicken into thin strips and put them into the pot with the hot sauce to coat the strips.
To make the salad part, I use spinach but most recipes call for iceberg. I chop carrots and celery and add frozen corn kernals that I warm up in the microwave.
I add the blue cheese dressing (about 1.5 tbsp per serving) and toss the salad components together, then add the chicken strips on the top.
Tada! Buffalo Chicken Salad! You can put it in a tortilla and you have a Buffalo Chicken Wrap, also delicious.
While it is my new favorite food, I may not be eating it for a while because I have overdosed on it this past week. I brought it with me to my sister's for the Super Bowl because she was serving hot dogs and I am trying to watch what I eat and if you control the amount of blue cheese dressing that you use, it's not a bad meal. Hello run on sentence.