My First Encounter with Baby Einstein

I bought baby's fisrt board book today. I figure it will serve two purposes. I can read it early as a regular picture book and baby might get a kick out of the reflective pages and then later I can use it as a real board book. We'll see how that goes. I think everything I know about children's lit has pretty much been replaced by what I know about riparian law.

Thanks Huggies

Huggies has sent to me what appears to be the world's tiniest diaper. I thought that the number ones I got at my shower and at Thanksgiving were tiny but these really take the cake.

It's My Birthday Today

I got a package! Makes being 27 all that much more palatable.

My Huge Giant Orb

So something's definetely going on in there. I don't know if the baby's turning or dropping or if I ate something particularly offensive but I have been experiencing violent pushing and shoving for at least the last 12 hours or so. Anyway, I took some pictures of me at 34 weeks and counting. less than 6 weeks left folks.

You're Making Stuffin Muffins Too?

I'll do my best to hit the highlights of yesterday's festivities but I can't promise that it will be terribly interesting. I'm a little off my game today I think and I feel really down. Basically it broke down like this... I started making desserts two weeks ago. Tuesday my brother in law arrived with his family which was lucky because his wife (and daughter) really helped me a lot.

So Tuesday night I finalized my plans and made the last of the dips. Wednesday when I got home from work we baked off all of the cookies.

Later I picked up Danielle from the train station. I used the pie crust i made and froze last week to do the apple pie. Then we brined the turkey sat around and watched the pie bake and then finally hit the sack.

Thursday morning I was up at 7. I guess we started working around 8:30 or so. I took all the desserts out of the freezer. Prepped the mulled cider got the turkey ready to roast. Set out breakfast for the guests that had arrived the night before and got ready to really buckle down. I put the turkey in at noon and started setting out the appetizers. I heated the crab dip etc. in the oven and then used the mini chocolate fondue pots to keep them warm.
Once the apps were out and there was space in the fridge we were able to prep the stuffing. Apparently everyone and their uncle watches Rachael Ray because my BIL's wife suggests making stuffing muffins which was not a bad idea but even funnier still was when my SIL's boyfriend comes into the kitchen, looks in the oven and says oh, you're making stuffing muffins too? Everyone in the kitchen got a big kick out of that.

By some miracle and with a lot of help from my two sous chefs I was able to get everything ready at the same time.

The menu ended up being roast turkey, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, salad, gravy, rolls, and stuffing. Shitty Chef Stef..? I think not! The turkey was really good.

Turkey Day '06

It went well, I think everyone was happy. Would I do it again?? Probably. I'll post more later.

Have You Ever...

Have you ever tried really hard to make a pie. Spend weeks finding a recipe... and then thinking about ways to modify the one you choose to make it sugar free from your diabetic guests. Then you make it, figure out how to get the custard to thicken without using actual sugar, pre-bake your crumb crust and assemble the pie. You spend 5 minutes smoothing the top after you pour the filling into the shell and go to put it in the fridge. You open the fridge and move the olives and before you know it... the sour cream falls into your pie.

I tried not to yell and fixed is as best I could. Can I still serve it??

I Love it Better Than I Ever Imagined

Well the crib finally came and Ben finally put it together for me. I love it, it's awesome. I just spent the last hour putting sheets and crap on it. So now all that's left to do is to put something on the walls.


I brought home the highchair from work today too. I didn't manage to get all the wrapping off but I love it too. You can't really tell when you're in the room that all the woods are a little different. I'm surprised how obvious it is in the picture. Oh well.
Here's one last pic of the art projects I've been working on. The hooks have baby and chase spelled out on them in little alphabet blocks.
I have to say I'm really pleased with the outcome. We ok Ben worked really hard tonight he put together the furniture and replaced the light fixture in the bathroom and put up the mirror and hung those hooks and put the transom hardware back up. I don't know where he caught his second wind but don't look a gift horse in the mouth right??

More Loot

So Ben gave me my birthday present early. We're probably the two most pathetic people at keeping secrets and not succumbing to our desires for instant gratification. Needless to say, I am typing this post on my new laptop. He says it will facilitate sharing these special moments with friends and family but we shall see what this baby (the computer that is) is capable of when I get a chance to open her up (not literally of course).


The crib and changing table came today! Finally! Not much to see just a giant crate and some boxes. Ben is too busy tonight to put it together and I'm really trying to not pout about it.
Finally, I ended the night by making a batch of mini pumpkin swirl cheesecakes for T-day. They look good enough to eat.

Probably the Most Unflattering Picture Ever..

..but I'll share it with you anyway because it amuses me. Can you tell which is the frontside and which is the backside? Sad and hilarious at the same time.

Here's me at 32 Weeks

31 1/2 Weeks

Just got back from the Dr. We're onto two week appointments now! She says I'm measuring right on 32 weeks so that's good and the baby's heartbeat sounds good too. Although, everytime she tried to catch it the baby moved away. As soon as baby felt that little microphone thing she was like never! and scooted away.... like a goldfish when you put your finger on the bowl.

60 days people!!

Progress

Ok so Costco swears the manufacturer is shipping the crib today. Their story is that they were holding it because they didn't have any of the full size rails it's supposed to come with. I was like no, really, I can wait for those just send the rest. So we'll see if it ever gets here. As for painting we're done! I can hardly believe it. We put together the glider which is fabulous and I spent the better part of last night putting clothes away and organizing the closet. It's actually all nice and neat in there now but I'll hold off on more boring pics until the furniture gets here :)

Another Great Shower

Finally, finally, I got some pictures to post. Saturday my friends threw another shower for me! I'll let the photo montage speak for itself. I have to say, I truly don't believe that those are everyday facial gestures for me although Ben says they're pretty typical. I thought I only reserved the really expressive ones for parties and such... appararently not. A good time was had by all... ok, maybe some more than others (read: men for some unknown reason don't seem to enjoy showers). Oh my god the food was delicious, some of the best crab dip ever.

What Happens When Your Head is Smaller Than the Tub of Cream Cheese

I Know I shouldn't Put Bibs on My Dogs.. But

You may be cute.. but I'm the boss

My Pictures!!

Halloween

So for the first time ever we got trick or treaters! There were hordes of kids. Surprisingly not that many older ones and most in costume. In my opinion, the police officer was the best costume of the night... very, very funny such a short guy. Anyway, I handed out all the candy in less than 30 minutes which isn't a bad thing because I really didn't have time to be out there all night.

Apparently in Baltimore you don't really neeeed to have a pumpkin because everyone who hands out candy sits on their porch and wathces the kids go by so they can see who's handing out candy and who is not. Interesting huh? It's a good opportunity to catch up with your neighbors too. Next year I'll have to invest in more than two puny bags.