34 weeks! and nursery progress!

i've been taken to task for not updating the old blog lately - sorry, folks! i don't really have a good excuse, other than the past few weeks have been crazy at work (they're really making me work for this maternity leave - haha) and i've been preoccupied with all things nursery related. seriously, who knew you could become obsessed with curtains and valances, neither of which are hung up yet, but we're getting there. so...here i am at 34 weeks - 34 weeks!! holy mackeral, we're in the final stretch. i can't even believe it. sam's doing great - we went to the doctor yesterday and he is head down, ready to go. well, he's got at least 3 more weeks of baking to do, but at least he's locked and loaded in position. that's not to say he doesn't spin around on his head - i think he's been doing exactly that, as i can sometimes see little ball-like forms move around my belly that could only be knees or feet. it doesn't freak me out at all - i love it! and i'm thinking we may have a tiny break-dancer on our hands...

and note to self: under-eye concealor, look into it. seriously, though, i just ran to the bathroom to see if i really looked that tired and i don't. i'm blaming the lighting in the photo. so there.

and here's a shot of one side of our wee nursery. totally not near complete yet, so it's just a work in progress. i haven't put sheets on the mattress yet - those are pages of wall decals that we're thinking about putting up on the wall, above the crib. i really wanted to do wooden letters spelling out his name above the crib, but quickly got that little idea out of my head when i had a mental picture of those wooden letters falling and hitting tiny sammy boy in the face. we live in an earthquake zone, y'all - we have to think of these things. so....decals it is. just figuring out how to best incorporate them. anyway.....we are getting there. i hope to have the nursery totally done by the first weekend in october, if not, the second. alex is going to build shelves to put above the changing table, so that may take a couple of weeks. i'll post more pics as we get our stuff together.

11 weeks to go!

ah, 28 weeks and 5 days down. little sammy could be here in 2 months! that is blowing my mind...we went to our first childbirth class on saturday. it was 4 hours of helpful/confusing/gross info. the helpful part being general info around when you should go to the hospital. the confusing part being when the loopy instructor told us that every time the baby moves, that means you've had a contraction. well, then, i guess i've been in active labor for two months now...and the gross part, well, the video. THE video. they broke it out into clips based on the stage of labor. let me tell you something, i was not really traumatized by the actual birth -i was traumatized by the labor part. three women, no drugs, lots of moaning and squating and rolling around on exercise balls. all i can say is, sign me up for the epidural! more power to you if you can do it au natural, but i'm not down with it. i just want for sammy to be born safe and healthy, and i'd rather not turn into a crazed banshee (which i will do if not given drugs. i know my own tolerance for pain and it's fairly minimal) while i'm at it. again, mad respect for anyone that can do it, but i'm weak, i'm weak i tell you!! ah...can't wait.. oh, and check the new haircut. one of my co-workers told me today that i looked like michelle obama. i am taking that as a compliment, thankyouverymuch.

Cake Time!

Okay, this turned out pretty darn good, if I may say so myself. As noted in a previous posting, I used Smitten Kitchen's recipe (http://smittenkitchen.com/2009/07/best-birthday-cake/). I did not; however, use her frosting recipe, as it called for sour cream, and I didn't think that it would taste right after a day or two of sitting out on the counter. And, oh yeah, it might make us totally sick. Totally fine if you're having a party and you know the cake will be eaten quickly, but not when you're having a party of 3 like we did (that's right, I'm including you, little Sammy). So, I used this recipe from America's Test Kitchen (using Ghiradelli milk chocolate chips):

Foolproof Chocolate Frosting from the Episode: Everyone's Favorite CakeThis frosting may be made with milk, semisweet, or bittersweet chocolate. Cool the chocolate to between 85 and 100 degrees before adding it to the butter mixture. The frosting can be made 3 hours in advance. For longer storage, refrigerate the frosting, covered, and let it stand at room temperature for 1 hour before using.Makes 3 cups to frost one 9-inch 2-layer cake

20tablespoons (2 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter , softened (60 to 65 degrees)
1 cup confectioners' sugar (4 ounces)
3/4 cup Dutch-processed cocoa
Pinch table salt
3/4 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 ounces milk chocolate , melted and cooled slightly

In food processor, process butter, sugar, cocoa, and salt until smooth, about 30 seconds, scraping sides of bowl as needed. Add corn syrup and vanilla and process until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds. Scrape sides of bowl, then add chocolate and pulse until smooth and creamy, 10 to 15 seconds. Frosting can be used immediately or held.

I didn't use a food processor b/c, well, I don't have one. I used my precious, my Kitchen Aid stand mixer and it turned out just fine. The key is to not overbeat it. Same goes for kids I hear - don't beat them too much or they'll turn against you. I'm going to be a good mom.... Anyway, Alex brought out his inner cake boss and helped frost it, and by helped, I mean he frosted the whole thing b/c I started making a mess of it. All in all, it turned out pretty lovely. The cake is really light in texture and not at all too sweet, which is a good counter to the *very rich* frosting.

Bon appetit!

I'm 30 and Huge!

Woah..this is me at 25 weeks, 1 day. I was really taken aback by how big I'm getting - lawsie! Maybe it's the dress, but really, I'm getting quite large. But it's all good because it's all little Sammy. Well, maybe a few dessert treats here and there, but it's mostly Sammy boy. He enjoyed the birthday today - kicked around a bit today at work - I think he was practicing his scissor kicking, b/c that's what it felt like. And hopping around after I had some birthday cake. The little guy is tuckered out now, though. We have a doctor's appt tomorrow morning, so we should get to hear his heart beating, which is definitely something to look forward to! I love hearing that thump thump - it's honestly the best sound in the world -dare I say better than the sound of a champagne bottle being uncorked. Yeah, definitely better than that. Cake post to follow shortly...