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Pregnancy Prison…Ok, it’s not that bad!

July 13, 2011 By Jenna 5 Comments

My doctor told me I need to stay inside on days that are particularly hot because my fluid levels are fluctuating too much. Since it’s been above 88 F here everyday day for the past three weeks, I’m not getting out much. Really, I’m going stir crazy. When I do go out, I feel like a dried up prune by the time I get back home despite drinking 60+ oz of water each and every day.

Today was another one of those days where I was not supposed to leave the house, and I followed directions today. I spent the day trying to find a few things that made me happy so I wouldn’t go nutso-boingo. So, here’s my list:

1. Mike coming home for lunch: I love when my hubby comes home for lunch. He usually works right through lunch, and I hate that he does that. He deserves a break! So, today, he came home and we had some leftovers and homemade peach sorbet that I made last night. It was an experiment, but it turned out pretty yummy! Recipe: 4 peaches, few good glugs of grapefruit juice, a shot or two of campari, 4 spoonfuls of sugar. Blend, freeze and eat. Yum.

2. This video made me smile today. I don’t just want that kitty, I want to BE that kitty. So content!

3. Finding a new craft: I made this bracelet today with some extra beads I had lying around. Now that I know how easy it is, I think I might have to go get some more beads and make another. Now who should I give it to?

4. This video also made me smile today. My cousin posted it. It’s a video of my aunt and uncle’s wedding years ago. I just love it!

5. Reading At Home in Mitford: I love this book! It reminds me of Gilmore Girls, and I just want to live in this town. Anyone know a place like this? I would like to move.

Well, there you go. Just keeping myself sane while I wait for this little punkin to come out. Yesterday I thought I was going to lose it after I went to the doctor. The woman who was in the room just minutes before me came out and my nurse says, “Oh, she just found out she is dilated 6cm and didn’t even know it! She’s on her way to deliver! Maybe it’s your lucky day, too!” It wasn’t and I was jealous. I know Ellen will come in her own time, but it’s hot out and I’m running out of things to do!

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Childhood Fears

July 12, 2011 By Jenna 3 Comments

I promise you a nursery post is coming, but until then, laughing at my childhood fears will have to do. Let me start this off by saying that these fears were absolutely real and legitimate to me. I could not be talked out of them with reason or comfort. Instead, I just had to grow up and realize how incredibly neurotic I was (and am)…even as a child.

Ok, my first fear was that I would become pregnant with the next coming of Jesus Christ. I’m not kidding. I was so afraid that I would have to tell my parents that I was pregnant and no one would believe that I had not had sex out of wedlock. With a Catholic family, this idea was enough to make you sweat. I would sit my mom down and explain to her that she had to believe me if I ever told her that I was pregnant with Jesus. Realizing I could not be talked out of this, my mom would just agree to believe me to shut me up.

My second fear was that I would wake up one day and have grown out of all of my clothes. My thoughts went like this: clothes fit certain-sized people. People grow. When you grow, you grow out of your clothes, but not gradually. Instead, you must grow overnight and then have nothing to wear the next day. I had this image of me waking up with nothing to wear. So, I’d have to yell for my mom who would have to call my dad to come watch us while she went shopping. I would always tell her that I wanted her to cover me in a bath towel while she went shopping, but I only wanted her to pick out one outfit. That way I could get out of the house and pick out the rest of my clothes with her. Much to my mom’s dismay, I passed this fear on to my kid brother who also would freak out about this. (Check out this commercial. How is this kid ok with this???)

Well, you either laughed at that or you are worried about me. Either reaction is appropriate. I really hope that illegitimate fears are not genetic…for Ellen’s sake.

37 weeks, 4 days and July 4th

July 6, 2011 By Jenna 1 Comment

We had a great 4th of July weekend complete with a family reunion, fireworks and time in the pool. Mike’s mom is one of 17 children, and they all got together this weekend to celebrate their brother’s ordination into the priesthood. I’ve met most of them, but like I say, they are like trading cards. Some are more rare than others. I finally completed my collection this weekend, and every aunt and uncle was just as awesome as the next.

Here is a photo of the whole family. In age order from left to right: Ann, Mike, Mary, Bill, Matt, Joe, Lucy, Peter, Theresa, John, Patty, Liz, Cat, Jimmy, Mark and Jeanette. Parents: Tom and Jane.

My hubby’s immediate family plus a couple. Left to right: Fr. Mark, Mary, Catie, John, Will, Liz, Emma, Pat, Mike, Jenna, Joe, Matt, Jane, Lucy, Larry.

Our long weekend ended with Ellen’s final ultrasound on Tuesday. They measured her and told us she is looking perfect. She is head down, and like I suspected, her butt is right in my ribs. Such a cute butt! According to their calculations, she is weighing in at 6.71 lbs and is on schedule to be here between July 23 and July 29. I thought she may have come on July 4th with all of the fireworks; she did NOT like them at first but got used to them after a few minutes. Here are a few images from her ultrasound…the machines in our new doctor’s office are not that great. After looking at them, I am unsure if we are having a baby or a severe thunderstorm…

Ok, so this one is sideways, but does it really matter in this case?!?

And here is her beautiful face?

Ya know, even though we couldn’t make out a thing on their ancient machine, I can still tell that I am going to love the daylights out of her!

And, because Ellen’s arrival is fast approaching, we have finally got the nursery in order. Check back soon to hear (and see) all about it!

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Breastfeeding in Public

July 5, 2011 By Jenna 3 Comments

You may have seen this around the web the past couple of days, but if you have not, I suggest giving it a read. It’s really short, but it still resonates.

Breastfeeding in Public by Analytical Armadillo

She followed up with this one (which is hilarious):

Breastfeeding Mums Should Use Bottle in Public

And even funnier:
Complicated Rules of Breast Coverage

I thought this would be appropriate in light of Afrykayn Moon’s recent run-in with the SMART Bus company. I’m working on a baby update/4th of July post, so hopefully this will tide you over :)

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Summer Dinners

June 30, 2011 By Jenna Leave a Comment

Being pregnant and tired makes me want to be in a hot kitchen less and less. I struggle with this because I still love to cook, I just don’t always have the energy or temperature threshold to do so in the summer. Lately, I have been compiling a few recipes from around the web that can get me in and out of the kitchen in 15 minutes or less and require little to no oven or stove time. Bonus: they are really easy to multiply and they are super cost effective. I thought I would share these gems with you:

1. Artichoke and Olive Tuna Salad

2. Tuna Pomodoro

3. Chicken, Corn, Tomato Pasta Salad

4. 6 Minute Eggs with Asparagus: Make six-minute eggs: simmer gently, run under cold water until cool, then peel. Serve over steamed asparagus.

5. White Beans and Shrimp: Open a can of white beans and combine with olive oil, salt, small or chopped shrimp, minced garlic and thyme leaves in a pan. Cook, stirring, until the shrimp are done; garnish with more olive oil.

6. Paninis: Grilled cheese with prosciutto, tomatoes, thyme or basil leaves.

7. Broiled Eggplant: Cut eggplant into half-inch slices. Broil with lots of olive oil, turning once, until tender and browned. Top with crumbled goat or feta cheese and broil another 20 seconds.

8. Migas with Eggs: Sauté chopped stale bread with olive oil, mushrooms, onions and spinach. Stir in a couple of eggs.

9. Avocados and Hummus: Top your favorite cracker with hummus. Place sliced avocados atop hummus.

10. Pasta Fresca: Cook pasta. Add olive oil, S&P, fresh garlic, fresh mozzarella, chopped tomatoes and fresh basil

11. Stuffed Portobellos: Brush portobello caps with olive oil; sprinkle with salt and pepper and broil until tender. Briefly sweat chopped onions, then scramble eggs with them. Put eggs in mushrooms.

12. Stuffed Tomatoes: Cut the top off four big tomatoes; scoop out the interiors and mix them with toasted stale baguette or pita, olive oil, salt, pepper and herbs (basil, tarragon, and/or parsley). Stuff into tomatoes.

13. Green Pepper Sandwiches

14. Gazpacho

15. Fish Tacos with Fresh Salsa

So, think about it: 15 meals to add to your arsenal that are cheap, easy, mostly meat-free (which is great to do a few times a week anyway) and won’t make you sweat. You’re welcome!

Oh, and don’t forget: hot dogs are always a great choice.

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Utensil Creatures

June 27, 2011 By Jenna 2 Comments

I had way more fun than I should with utensils on Saturday. Mike and I have a set of wooden spoons and utensils that are starting to lose their purpose. We are dishwasher people, and the wood isn’t standing up to it. In fact, it is splitting and making them useless. Go figure.

What to do with them? I didn’t want to throw them away (Pinterest has made me into a trash collector), so I stashed them in the cupboard until I could think of something. Then I stumbled across this! “Perfect for Ellen!” I said to myself. And on Saturday, I amused myself all night making all kinds of cool creatures for her.

I skipped the feathers, glitter and googly eyes and just went with non-toxic paint. I thought the former things would probably end up in Ellen’s mouth (probably means definitely), and paint was fun enough. None of it had to do with laziness.

So, take a look at the before and afters. Hopefully you can find a little trash in your house to make some fun toys with. Bonus: if your kids are old enough, they can do it themselves. My fetus is not old enough.

Scrabble Snack

June 26, 2011 By Jenna Leave a Comment

Mike and I had a great Saturday. We played Scrabble (as we often do). This game was so much more tasty than usual though. And I won.

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Fountain Ear

June 21, 2011 By Jenna 3 Comments

Fountain Ear (n.): A condition in which the sufferer either cannot hear normal everyday sounds (TV, husband, phone) or falsely hears various sounds due to an obnoxiously loud fountain outside of the window.

Example: “Honey, can you turn on the bathroom fan while I’m in the shower?”

“It is on. You just can’t hear it because you have fountain ear.”

Seriously, people. This fountain is on everyday from 6:45 am until 12 am. I cannot fall asleep until it goes off. I cannot sleep once it is on. We can’t have the windows open if we want to watch a movie or listen to music. When it’s off, we hear birds and frogs and bugs and summer. We have the woods right to our back. Magical summer sounds. Instead, all we hear is CRSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH all hours of the day and night. It’s not the nice kind of water sound like when it rains. I would love to hear the rain.

One time it broke. I was so happy for a week. Then they fixed it. Thinking about leaving an anonymous note. Either that, or I might have to sue claiming that I have permanent fountain ear.

My Life in France

June 20, 2011 By Jenna 3 Comments

Nope. I didn’t go to France, but I read about it..in a book.

Last week I finished reading Julia Child’s My Life in France, and I absolutely loved it! I picked it up at Borders not too long ago because it was on sale for $4. I know I could have picked it up at the library, but I’m the kind of person who reads, no kidding, five or six books at once. I never know how long it will take to read something, so I’d rather have my own copy.

Besides, then I can write in it. Mike thinks this is so weird, but it’s a habit I picked up in my life that grew as I became and English major in college. How else am I supposed to remember my favorite quotes, recipes, anecdotes and life lessons?

Writing in books and not using the library to my full advantage means that we have a large collection of books laying around. This may seem like a problem because those of you who know me know I am quite the minimalist. But not when it comes to books. I just like to have them, hold them, flip through them (one of the reasons I don’t have a Kindle…sorry to my brother Alex who engineers them…).

I’m hoping having a collection of books laying around will also encourage Ellen to be a reader. Of course, I plan on reading to her all the time, but I think that her seeing my collection and watching me do the same will lead by example as well.

Enough of my reading rambles. The point I was trying to make way back in the beginning is: if you’re looking for a light, summer read, try Julia Child’s book. I was surprised at how much I truly enjoyed it!

p.s. I was having fun taking pictures of the book in my mixer even though it’s a bit dorky. My pregnant brain forgot to take it out, and I didn’t realize it until Mike got home and held it up and said, “Is this what we’re having for dinner…dork.”

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Rosette Hairpieces

June 16, 2011 By Jenna 4 Comments

I love going to Michaels and Joann’s to get craft ideas. The best things they have there are those “Take me, I’m free!” project sheets. I always do, thank you. This subject of this post can also be found here, so I won’t post very detailed instructions; just click on the link.

Now, I combined this project with another thing I have been “fascinated” with lately: fascinators! These hats are so cool, I just wish I had an occasion where one would be appropriate. Since I do not, I decided to make my own subdued version for our baby shower.

Using the idea from Michaels, I made a hairpiece/corsage for myself. Here is a little photo journey through my new accessory!