On my way.....

...to have a baby!

Nothing to report

Waiting for Christmas

I feel like a 5 year old waiting for Christmas. Except it's worse, I don't know when Christmas will be. I just can't wait to hold and snuggle and kiss this baby. I can't wait to feel his little toes. I can't wait for him to wrap his tiny fingers around my pinky. Today is my due date and I can't possibly think that this baby is comfortable doing his acrobatics in there. He still moves A LOT! ALL THE TIME! I keep telling him that there's more room on the outside.

I want my body back

Last week Jared looked at me, rubbed my belly and said, "I'm going to miss your pregnant body." I've found it strange and unusual that he has found me way more attractive pregnant. What planet is he from? Anyhow, it is comforting and he tells me I'm beautiful all the time which really lifts a girls self esteem when she feels like a roly poly in bed.

I can't wait to run freely and ride my bike in Tahoe and do flip turns without somebody's feet in my ribs, this summer.

Most importantly I just can't wait to meet the little guy. Will he come out already and play with us!

Sunday Cooking

For Sunday breakfast I made Dutch Babies/Oven pancakes/Puffed pancakes (whatever you want to call them.) Topped with delicious strawberries from the Thursday farmers market and fresh squeezed orange juice from the oranges from my mother's tree.

Before church I got the blackberry ice cream started. Jared wondered when we first got married why I needed so many bowls. Well for things like this.

Oh it's yummy. Thanks to Cooks Illustrated.

Strawberry Ice Cream (which I made with blackberries)
from: Cooks Illustrated

Makes 1 quart. Published July 1, 1993.

Though the frozen ice cream will keep in the freezer for up to 2 days, its flavor and texture are best when it is eaten the day it is made.

Ingredients

16	ounces fresh strawberries (about 3 cups), hulled and sliced
	Pinch Salt
1 1/4	cups granulated sugar (8 3/4 ounces)
1 1/4	cups whole milk
1 1/3	cups heavy cream
6	large egg yolks
1	teaspoon fresh lemon juice
3	tablespoons vodka (I omitted this.)
1	teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. 1. Toss the strawberries, salt, and 1/2 cup of the sugar together in a medium nonreactive saucepan. Mash the berries gently with a potato masher until slightly broken down. Let stand, stirring occasionally, until the berries have released their juices and the sugar has dissolved, 40 to 45 minutes.

2. 2. Meanwhile, position a strainer over a medium bowl set in a larger bowl containing ice water. Heat the milk, cream, 1/2 cup of the sugar, and the salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until steam appears and the milk is warm (about 175 degrees), about 5 minutes. While the milk is heating, whisk the yolks and remaining 1/4 cup sugar in a medium bowl until combined and pale yellow. Whisk about half the warm milk mixture into the beaten yolks, 1/2 cup at a time, until combined. Whisk the milk-yolk mixture into the warm milk in the saucepan; set the saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until steam appears, foam subsides, and the mixture is slightly thickened or an instant-read thermometer registers 180 to 185 degrees. (Do not boil the mixture, or the eggs will curdle.) Immediately strain the custard into the bowl set in the ice-water bath; cool the custard to room temperature, stirring it occasionally to help it cool.

3. 3. While the custard is cooling, set the saucepan containing the berries over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally, until the berries are softened and broken down, about 3 minutes total. Strain the berries, reserving the juices. Transfer the berries to a small bowl; stir in the lemon juice and vodka, then cool to room temperature, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until cold. Stir the vanilla and the reserved juices into the cooled custard, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until an instant-read thermometer registers 40 degrees or lower, at least 3 hours or up to 24 hours.

4. 4. Pour the custard into the ice cream machine canister and churn, following the manufacturer’s instructions, until the mixture resembles soft-serve ice cream. Add the strawberries and any accumulated juices; continue to churn the ice cream until the berries are fully incorporated and slightly broken down, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the ice cream to an airtight container, press plastic wrap flush against the surface, cover the container, and freeze the ice cream until firm, at least 2 hours.

Lemon/Goat Cheese pasta

I sauteed an orange pepper and lots of whole garlic cloves.
Whisked together 1/2 log of goat cheese with the zest and juice from a large lemon, a few dashes of s/p, tarragon and several leaves of chopped up fresh basil. After pasta is cooked, mix it all together.

Hanging by a thread

My maternity swim suit is WORN OUT. It used to be the color of my swim cap there. It's practically see through, and I bet the next time I swim it might just disintegrate. This is yet another reason why the baby needs to come. It just didn't hold up the 3x per week swims I've been doing.

9 More days until due date!

I got this idea to do a profile shot of me pregnant from my friend Kristen who just had her 4th child and is also a photographer. I contacted my friend Rob Bradshaw and asked him if he could take some shots of me. He's an amazing photographer. If you're local you should definitely use him.

So today I walked over to his place, since he lives just a few blocks away, and he got some memorable shots of me pregnant with our FIRST!

Here I am...ready to POP!

All photography by Robert Bradshaw
http://www.robertbradshawphotography.com/

Baby's Dresser!

I finally finished the baby's dresser. We bought it off craigslist last summer for $40 and I've been using it. I thought it was the perfect height to double as a changing table. I had to fix the tracks, fill in the holes and drill more because I wanted to put on my own knobs.

BEFORE

AFTER

I few highlights include Alice in Wonderland knobs that Jared bought for me off of etsy, and some turtle knobs.

I used the leftover paper from the art shelf.

Here's the baby's corner of the room. I'll get something on the walls eventually and am going to make a mobile someday. I also might paint some dodo birds on the front to go along with the Alice in Wonderland theme.

You can come out now!

I gave the baby an eviction notice today. We'll see how well he obeys his mother.

The countdown is 14 days until due date, but I'm ready.

Brunch with Friends

My friend Emily hosted a brunch for me and some of our close friends. It was great to see them before I go into hiding for a couple of weeks when the baby arrives.

I love Emily's glass rain drops and her blue bubble cups and pitcher!

The Gang:
Amanda S, Emily, Me, Rechele, Amanda H.

Thanks guys, it was fun to see everyone and hang out!

Sunday Picnic in the Park

After church on Sunday it was too beautiful to be inside. For the first time in many weeks Jared didn't need to work so I whipped up some salads and we headed up the windy path to Foothill Park.
I have many fond memories of going here since it was my father's favorite park. A couple of weeks after he died I wanted to go camp in the park and couldn't get anyone to go with me. I was about to go by myself when I tried Jared, (before we started dating and were good friends.) He said yes and we packed up the car and spent a night under the stars. We chatted until we fell asleep.

Jared has an incredible mind. He told me about all of the things that he reads and learns about and just concepts that not a lot of people think about. I remember thinking that night, "who in the world is this guy going to marry, he needs someone who can captivate him and keep him mentally stimulated." Little did I know it would be me:)

Jared doesn't like beets....unless I roast them:)

Beet salad:
roasted beets
green onions
roasted cherry tomatoes
yellow/orange peppers
basil
grapefruit olive oil
s/p to taste
goat cheese

It turned out to be delicious. I think we'll eat the leftovers tonight!

There were quite a few deer.

Breakfast in Bed!

Whenever my sister had a birthday or it was Mother's Day she would always get breakfast in bed from her husband and children.  I was secretly hoping that one day I would get that:)

Well, this morning Jared brought me breakfast in bed for Mother's Day (I'm almost there, just 19 more days until the due date.)  He brought me the perfectly cooked scrambled eggs with lots of swiss cheese, just how I like them, juice, milk, toast with honey, and strawberries and bananas.  I scarfed it all down and the baby hasn't stopped moving since!

I look forward to little ones getting into bed with me wishing me a Happy Mother's Day in the future with their handmade goods!

Notice the salt and pepper...I love it!

I love summer produce!

I love summer fruit. Fortunately in California our Strawberries are grown less than 2 hours away. Jared and I are trying to eat as locally as possible. Not possible with pineapple and bananas though. Anyhow, a 1/2 flat of strawberries were just $4.50 at the Milk Pail the other day. I'm going through them fast. The first of the season are always the best. YUM!

I can't wait for California Plums. None of this Chile business.

Here's a great site where you can enter your state and month and it'll tell you what's in season in the area. Food miles.

Heirloom Tomatoes

We are on the cusp of summer and all things yummy. I saw these at the Milk Pail yesterday and was hesitant to buy them since we haven't had any real heat to produce delicious tomatoes but I couldn't resist. Just added a bit of orange olive oil, salt/pepper, 2 dashes of balsamic vinegar and basil flakes (saved the fresh stuff for the pasta.)
OH YUM! I just ate some as my afternoon snack. Savory and mouth watering. I sure hope my mom planted some in her garden this year.

Baby Girl Clothes

I have a cousin who makes cute girl clothes that you can buy from her.

Check our the blog here.

Just a peak.

Babyfying

I'm trying to make the room look somewhat pleasant for a baby to live in. I found this bear rug at Target on clearance for $11 from their DwellStudio collection. Not too bad eh?

Buttons and Ribbons

I have all of these buttons and ribbons and I thought it would be great to display their beautiful colors rather than keep them hidden away in a box.

27 more days....

Hopefully sooner....but not too much sooner I still have things to do!