"Its a Boy.....or girl" Cabbage Salad

This time last year I was peeing on cabbage.   Errr, more like cabbage water.

I gave in to Old Wives Tales and decided to do my own gender test using cabbage water.  Last time, it came up boy 3 times and girl once.  This time, after hiding the cabbage from my husband, it came up the same.  3 times a boy, 1 time a girl.

To do this test, you boil half a head of red cabbage for 10 minutes.  Strain and reserve the water and let it cool to room temperature. Add 1 oz cabbage water and 1 oz of firts morning urine that has also cooled to room temperature.  If it turns redish/pink its a boy.  If it turns bluish/dark purple its a girl.

With Kannon most of our gender tests proved correct.  I also knew the moment I tested positive that he would be a boy.  I have no "gut" feeling with this pregnancy, lets just hope it is not both!  So until the 20- week ultrasound, I will continue to test every Old Wives Tale in the book.

In the meantime, I had a surplus of red cabbage and decided I needed to fess up or make something delicious to hide my guilt.  (Really, who buys cabbage just to pee on??)  I had been having cravings for a delicious spicy red cabbage salad that we have had before at Papaluci's in Belmont Shore, CA and I decided to try my hand at replicating such.

It turned out pretty good.  Not quite the same as Papaluci's, but it satisfied my craving, one that would be otherwise hard to fulfill from 2,000 miles away.  Better yet, it gave me another reason to buy cabbage.


Not-Quite Papaluci's Spicy Red Cabbage Salad
Ingredients:
1/2 head of Red Cabbage, thinly sliced
5-7 cloves of minced garlic
Red Wine Vinegar
Olive Oil
Salt
Pepper

1.)  Toss cabbage, garlic, a dash of salt & pepper, and equal parts of red wine vinegar & olive oil.  (I used a cup of each).

2.) Place your salad in a shallow dish--a casserole or baking dish works perfectly. Cover and refrigerate for a few hours, tossing every so often to really flavor the cabbage.

3.) Serve yourself a huge bowl and wish you were at Papaluci's.  Go for seconds, thirds, and maybe even fourths.  Then hide the evidence from anyone who likes red cabbage, because it is purely divine. 

and....history repeats itself

Sit down, relax, and remember to breathe because.......



We are pregnant...AGAIN!

That's right folks. After 4 pregnancy tests (because the first simply wasn't good enough) weeks of denial, shock, and disbelief we finally went to our doctor. We walked the hall of shame, embarrassed that we were returning so soon after Kannon was born only be greeted with smiles, congratulations, and humor.

Kannon is going to be a big brother.

We saw the heartbeat, took measurements and found out that we are due with baby #2 October 1, 2010. That means I am almost 9 weeks pregnant and Kannon and this little bean will be less than a year apart.....irish twins anyone????


Baby#2 at 8 weeks 6 days


Baby#2 at 8 weks 6 days....thank god there is only one in there!

We are thrilled. We have know idea how this happened as we were using every precaution possible but we couldn't be more excited for this happy little accident.

The best part. On this day last year, we woke up at 4 am to pee on stick and we found out we were pregnant with Kannon. Today is good day. January is a fertile month and October is quite possibly the best month of the year.


Last year's little surprise


Our 8 week ultrasound with Kannon

So here comes trouble because we are going to be parents.....all over again!

Empty-Womb Syndrome

Delivery Day....40 Weeks 1 Day

Last night I rolled over on my stomach and thought "oh, shi*, I crushed the baby" and then I remembered....I am NOT pregnant anymore.

Last week, Dale caught me rubbing my belly. Today, I found myself staring at the mirror baffled at the return of my nearly flat stomach. I almost cried.

I loved being pregnant so much. I felt great. I had an appetite and ate great. My skin was glowing, my hair thick, and my nails incredible. It was the best I have ever felt in my entire life, so full of energy and happiness.

Now, I am tired. My nails are splitting. My hair starting to thin. My face looks like the ring of fire, covered with zits ready to blow. I am having night sweats. The stretchmarks are no longer a sign of my growing belly. I don't feel like eating--everything looks so unappetizing, including me.

At 39 weeks, I never thought I would say "I miss being pregnant", but I do. I miss it terribly. I loved feeling my belly when Kannon kicked and imagining what he looked like. I loved daydreaming his arrival. I loved that every day was like a science project, analyzing every little symptom and daily change. Don't get me wrong, I love that Kannon is here. I want to cuddle with him every moment of the day. The smell of his skin gets me high. I can stare at him for hours, daydreaming about his growing up. But I want another one.

While my heart feels bigger and more full of love than ever, I am suffering from a little empty womb syndrome. Dale and I do plan on having more kids and I thought that I would be able to wait at least a few years but let's be honest, we are already talking about the next one. (Don't have a heart attack, its not like its happening tomorrow) Funny, how easily you can forget the pain of labor, the backaches, the hourly trips to the bathroom, in favor of another child.

I guess I had such an amazing pregnancy and childbirth experience that I am eager to go through the process again. Kannon has been such an amazing baby that I want to do all over again....of course, if the rumors are true, the second one is always a hellion...I suppose I should tattoo that to my forehead in attempts to keep any more children at bay. Or does anyone know of a cure for empty-womb syndrome?

Its the FINAL coutdown!!!

The last two weeks I have been pacing around the house wondering when this baby will be born--waking up each day questioning whether those pesky contractions would die down or lead to labor. I have cleaned the house daily, washed sheets twice weekly, packed and repacked my hospital bag hoping that all the cleaning would send me to L&D.

I was really hoping for labor to start spontaneously. I envisioned my water breaking, heading to the hospital in hurried excitement, and walking the hallways and doing pelvic rocks a top a yoga ball to handle contractions instead of using drugs. For months I have dreamed the perfect birth, as I imagine every woman does, and now I sit here staring at the clock waiting for our 5am departure for our hospital induction.

I have tried all the home-induction techniques (everything short of castor oil) and have been walking for hours on end each day hoping that labor would occur. Now that my blood pressure is elevated, fluid retention high, and my due date passed, we are waiting no longer. I had hoped to avoid making this decision and have so many fears for tomorrow, all compounded by feelings of guilt for agreeing to induction. However, I understand the serious nature of childbirth and want to ensure the safety and health of my soon-to-be son, so sometime tomorrow, I will be a new mom.

There is a huge sense of relief in knowing that tomorrow is the day. I feel like a weight has been lifted and rather than questioning whether each day is the "day" I can focus on my birth experience, relaxing, meditating, and anticipating our son's arrival. I still intend to keep our birth natural and am confident that with the strength of myself, Dale, and family, I will be able to accomplish this.

So, today, is my last day pregnant and while I am excited to count 10 fingers and toes, I am going to miss my beautiful belly, my glowing skin, and long nails (a first for me!) and eating 6 times a day! I look forward to sharing an intimate night with my husband, dinner with my family, and getting what will be my last night of sleep for quite a few days!!

We will keep you posted in every adventure along the way, however, please understand if our blogs are not as consistent as they have been! I cant guarantee when our birth announcement will be made but please check our hospital's website: http://www.newbabynews.net/hospitals/com28/public/ at some point this week to see if our little one has made the headlines!

Playing Hooky!

We realized on Wednesday with the upcoming arrival of family and baby that it was our last day to truly enjoy "just the two of us"--so we played hooky! Dale and I both took the day off, slept in, cleaned the house, went for a walk and enjoyed what will be our last movie for awhile by attending "Where the Wild Things Are". It was such a relaxing day and gave us a chance to celebrate each others company before the real party begins!

Thursday, my grandparents arrived giving me a few more days to get spoiled before this little one steals my thunder! We have enjoyed showing them Missoula, dining out, and of course shopping! And of course, we celebrated Dale's 28th b-day by first enjoying an afternoon happy hour riverside at Finn&Porter and then feasting ourselves on steak and potatoes (true Montana food!) at the Depot Restaurant!

Today marked the beginning of my maternity leave, as I packed up my office, changed my voicemail and announced to the world that I will be gone until December 1st!

Now that our bellies are full, our to-do lists accomplished, and our final moments together savored, we are ready for this little one to arrive!!!! Until then, we will take it easy, and celebrate the arrival of my mom (tomorrow!) who will surely help us get the party started!

Dear Work...

I am tired of coming into my office everyday. Tired of hauling my very pregnant self into my husband's explorer, tired of searching for the seat belt clip, tired of circling for parking and then walking the precarious slippery hallways only to be asked "you are still here????" or "still no baby???".

I do not want to stop working but at the same time I can't handle another person asking me "where's the baby???". Don't you think that if I had the baby, I would relay that information??? Seriously, I am getting embarrassed and feeling like everyday is a walk of shame because I am still pregnant. My due-date is next week and yet you have been asking me these questions since September 1st!!!!

For the record, I plan on showing up everyday until this baby pops and until then please refrain from opening your mouth!

Thank You,
A Seriously Aggravated Pregnant Lady

39 Weeks....Its almost time!!!

We just returned from our 39 week appointment. So far in this pregnancy I have gained 19 pounds and have been textbook from the start. Our baby has always measured on target, so I shouldn't be at all surprised if our baby makes his grand entrance on his due date.....however, I am losing patience as the 8-pound bowling ball sitting on my bladder is getting uncomfortable as is the daily bought of false labor contractions.

This week, I am still 2 cm dilated, 50% effaced, and the baby's head is still "right there". My doctor has given me permission to have this baby any day now (I hope the baby heard him!) However, if we have not had the baby by Monday the 26th our doctor would like to schedule an induction for that week...most likely the 28th, when I will be 40 weeks 1 day. He said we could wait until November 3rd to schedule an induction but realistically, it's easier to do before the baby gets too big and that a lot more complications can arise when the baby is overdue by too long. I have mixed feelings!!!! I hope that the baby will get here before I have to make a decision. I really don't agree with inductions but at the same time, I feel I will be able to sleep easier at night knowing that if this baby doesn't come by Monday, then he will come Wednesday, happy and healthy (YIKES!!!). (Our family has a history of GIANT babies....so lets hope this one is still the 6 1/2 pounds the doctor was predicting!)

So until then, I am doing everything short of shaking this baby out!!! I have continued with my walking and am now bouncing on a yoga ball playing "Katamari" (its an amazing game, I am hoping the visualization of growing my katamari from 1-10cm will be enough to make my cervix do the same!) and am headed in search of some spicy spicy food!!!

Anniversary and Eggplant Baby!!

Today marks our 1-year wedding anniversary but we celebrated early (on Thursday) I think hoping that the baby would come early! We shared an intimate evening, first stopping in at our favorite watering hole, James Bar, for some cheap drinks and eats to set the mood. Then we headed to RedBird, which ended with us walking out on account of poor service and bad vibes and strutted our heels down to Scotty's Table instead. Our last fancy meal out was on my birthday and we went to Pearl for what I thought was the most amazing meal of my life--truth is, I had another amazing meal (don't hate me Pearl!)

We brought our own wine, which Dale picked out, a beautiful and smooth malbec from Argentina, and pared it with braised beef with a marscapone polenta and sherry demi-glace, a pork confit with tomato-bacon remoulade with brioche and a delightful over-easy egg, and topped the whole night off with a flourless chocolate-raspberry torte. Needless to say, we walked away happy and full, enjoying what will probably be our last night out for a while!

So Friday morning, I woke up having these horrible stomach cramps...I thought it may have just been the rich meal we consumed the night before, but these cramps did not go away! We ran a few errands, walked around, took a nap, and the cramps kept coming back! I was running around trying to decide whether I should get my bags packed or sleep it off. Of course, Dale and I were super excited that this might be the start of labor only to be disappointed when the cramps slowly faded away--2 days later and I get a cramp maybe once every hour. Now, I realize that it was probably false labor!

I know every one says "you will know" when its labor but for all the women I have spoken with (my family included) none have known until the baby popped out 45 minutes after arriving to the hospital! In fact, most of them thought it was a stomach ache! We have a doctor's appointment in the morning and we will find out if any of these contractions were productive!

In all the hullabaloo, Dale and I were doing everything in our power to continue contractions. I walked, drank raspberry leaf tea, ate spicy Wasabi sauce over my burrito, walked more, and finally decided to distract ourselves by preparing what is believed to be a "guaranteed" labor inducer: Scalini's Famous Eggplant Parmigiana (http://www.scalinis.com/Bambino.htm) 24 hours later and I am still sitting here (there is still hope, as they guarantee labor within 48 hours) so I am not convinced of any of these tales but at least I am fat, happy and full with a belly full of eggplant! The recipe was easy and soooooo delicious it had our cat begging for more!!! You can follow the recipe on the link, which makes a ridiculous amount of food, so I would suggest cutting it in 3rds.

Pregnancy Resources

Now that I am nearing the end of my pregnancy I have been thinking a lot about how I felt earlier in my pregnancy. These last three weeks are almost as long and painful as it was waiting for the home pregnancy test to turn pink--it could be any day and the anxiety is killing me!!!

However, I have been able to relax and enjoy what little free time I have myself. I have been re-reading and re-watching movies and pregnancy guides that I read in those initial weeks. I thought I would share some of those resources not only for my memory but also to see if my opinions change post-baby!

Books:

1.) What to Expect When You Are Expecting

2.) Dr. Miriam Stoppard's Guide to Pregnancy

3.) Ina May's Guide to Childbirth--I wish this had been the ONLY book I read while I was pregnant, it was inspiring and positive and really explain pregnancy and childbirth well, especially if you are aiming for a natural childbirth experience.

4.) Belly Laughs-Jenny McCarthy. This bitch is hilarious, enough said.

5.) Feed the Belly--Frances Largeman-Roth. This was a nutrition guide that had lots of easy recipes and natural food cures for pregnancy ailments. It also explained our cravings!

6.) The Happiest Baby on the Block--Dr. Harvey Karp. He explained the idea of our 'fourth trimester' and how to calm a baby using the 5 S' (Swaddling, Stomach lying, Shhhing, Swinging, Sucking).

7.) How to Make a Pregnant Woman Happy--Uzzi Reiss. This was a great help to Dale as it explained a partner's role in pregnancy and offered great tips on pleasing pregnant women.

8.) The Essential Guide to Breastfeeding--Marianne Neiffert.

9.) Unbuttoned--Maureen Connelly. In this one, women share stories about the pain and pleasures of breastfeeding.

10.) Marley & Me--John Grogan. Okay, so its not your typical pregnancy book, but dont dismiss it! It was way better than the movie as it captured the story of a growing family and challenges and rewards that accompany it. During half of the book, his wife is pregnant and it is about his struggles trying to adapt to becoming a father and a better husband. It really opened my eyes to what my husband is experiencing plus it gave me plenty of laughs and tears.

Movies:

Fiction:
10. For Keeps?
Yes, there were teen pregnancies before Juno. Back in 1988, when Molly Ringwald was still an ‘80s It girl and John Hughes’ muse, she shocked everyone by playing a high school senior named Darcy who gets pregnant, gets married and tries to make it. Such drama.

Best line: “I'm pregnant. Can you pass the turnips?”--Darcy
9. Junior
Oh, Arnold, what possessed you? As scientist Dr. Alex Hesse who, as part of a fertility research project, agrees to carry a pregnancy in his own body, the Schwarzenegger mostly pulls it off. Still, what a bold career move.

Best line: “Does my body disgust you?”--Alex
8. Father of the Bride 2
In the delightful Father of the Bride, Steve Martin’s George Banks has to reluctantly give away his darling daughter in marriage, so the logical step for Bride 2 would be for said daughter to get pregnant thrust George into grandfather-hood. Except in this scenario, Banks’ lovely wife (Diane Keaton) also gets pregnant at the same time. Oy vey!

Best line: “Now, going to the movies, that'll be economical: one child, two seniors, thanks.”--George
7. Nine Months
The whole nine yards from the male perspective--in this case a selfish commitment-phobe, played by Hugh Grant, who realizes he might have to change his lifestyle for better or much, much worse when he finds out his longtime girlfriend (Julianne Moore) is pregnant. Sound familiar?

Best line:
“I'm ten days late.”--Rebecca
“And there's no way you could have had it and just not noticed?”--Samuel

6. Waitress
Keri Russell plays a very unhappily married waitress/pie-maker extraordinaire who is none too pleased to find out she’s pregnant. Of course, things happen for a reason and her mind starts to change, especially when she starts an affair with her obstetrician (Nathan Fillion).

Best line: “Dear Baby, I hope someday somebody wants to hold you for 20 minutes straight and that's all they do. They don't pull away. They don't look at your face. They don't try to kiss you. All they do is wrap you up in their arms and hold on tight, without an ounce of selfishness in it.”--Jenna

5. She's Having a Baby
This is John Hughes’ take on the whole concept of parenthood, as experienced by a yuppie couple, Jake and Kristy Briggs (Kevin Bacon and Elizabeth McGovern). Being young, they are perhaps a bit unprepared for the full reality of it all--but that’s when it gets fun.

Best line: “And in the end, I realized that I took more than I gave, I was trusted more than I trusted, and I was loved more than I loved. And what I was looking for was not to be found but to be made.”--Jake Briggs

4. Baby Mama
Tina Fey hits the nail on the head, playing a single, successful women, who is told her uterus is too hostile to have a child, and so goes the surrogacy route--except she doesn’t expect to be saddled with working class moocher Angie Ostrowski (Amy Poehler) as her baby mama. Ah well, it all turns out OK in the end.

Best line: “Can I just spray a little PAM down there right before the baby comes out?”--Angie.

3. Knocked UpA classic case of the “Ooops!” When total slacker Ben (Seth Rogen) inadvertently hooks up with hottie Alison (Katherine Heigl) for one night of drunken pleasure, they don’t expect the results of a misused (or NOT used) condom. Yep, knocked up indeed.

Best line: “You know how they say to never drink and drive? Well, never drink and bone.”--Ben


2. Rosemary's Baby
OK, probably not the most enlightening or happy view of pregnancy but nonetheless important to note for this feature since poor Mia Farrow goes through hell, quite literally, during her first pregnancy--carrying the child of SATAN, that is.

Best line: “He chose you, honey! From all the women in the world to be the mother of his only living son!”--Minnie Castevet (Ruth Gordon)
1. Juno
As unwanted teenage pregnancies go, Juno (Ellen Page) proves it doesn't have to be a totally unhappy experience. She knows she can’t keep the baby, so she finds the right set of parents (Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman), and although things don’t necessarily go as planned, Juno handles it with a fair amount of wit, charm and warmth.

Best line: “Yea, if I could just have the thing and give it to you now, I totally would. But I'm guessing it looks probably like a sea monkey right now and we should let it get a little cuter.”
Some other faves:
Where The Heart Is, 2000
Saved, 2004
How to Deal, 2003
Fool's Rush In (MY FAVORITE!)

Non-Fiction:

1.) Business of Being Born-Although this movie was a little one sided it presented a lot of information regarding our health care and maternity system and really just asks that women remain informed and in control in their birth process.

Internet Resources:

1.) http://community.babycenter.com--This site allows you to connect with pregnant women around the world, exchanging information, frustrations, tips and tools and much more!

2.) http://www.youtube.com/user/lifebodyfit--This woman created video logs for each week of her pregnancy and uploaded them on youtube. These videos were interesting, informative, and absolutely necessary during those lonely days of thinking nobody understands your pregnant frustrations!

3.) http://www.pregtastic.com/--Online radio full of pregnant women experiences.

4.) http://www.youtube.com/user/DadLabs#play/all-- My husband died of laughter watching these clips! Especially check out Daditudes/Preg-o Man when Owen gets pregnant!

Crisp for Crisp Days....

A few months ago, I escorted my family to Jerry Johnson hot springs a mere 67 miles from Missoula. The hot springs are technically in Idaho but Missoulians claim them for Montana fame. On that trip, it was 90 degrees and the river flowing nearby was more relaxing then the rock lined hot springs. Nonetheless, we had a great time and after witnessing a very pregnant women soaking in those pools I vowed to go back on a crisp fall day with Dale in tow. Let me just say, it was well worth the 67 mile trip, 1.5 mile hike, and jeans I ripped on the way to hear my back and hips crack and pop like a bowl of rice crispies, submerged with relaxation.



After devouring some delicious pork sandwiches that Dale made, we packed up some goldfish, homemade peach-apple crisp (recipe to follow), and a bottle of wine that we have been saving since May. The road was long and windy but beautifully lined with amber, orange, and red trees, and snow capped mountains in the distance. The parking lot, as usual, had a few cars, all hinting of nature's magical powers. We started our ascent up the 1.5 mile trail, that was admittedly easier when I wasn't nine months pregnant.



Our way up the trail, Dale and I held hands and quietly observed our surroundings: mushrooms, ferns, babbling creek, broken logs all lined the way. After a few stops to catch my breath and adjust my now ripped jeans we arrived at the luxurious site free of other people and quickly stripped to our swimsuits and jumped in.



The pools were hot but not too hot and were deep enough to sit in fully submerged with only our heads sticking out. Emma even enjoyed the hot springs, swimming around and panting in an attempt to stay by our sides. We enjoyed our bottle of wine, a dessert wine from Mission Mountain Winery (one that we had been saving for a special occasion), and pared it with our delicious crisp. All in all, it was the perfect way to celebrate the beginning of October, being full-term, and appreciating the last few weeks we have to ourselves. All this time, I have been so anxious to meet our baby, but now, after such a relaxing day, I am wishing I had just a few more months to enjoy our twosome-life together as a couple.



We made our way back to Missoula, with soft hands and feet slightly effervescent of sulphur, hand in hand as we drove over the pass, knowing that this was a special day, one to remember between midnight feedings and diaper changes when we become 3.

Peach-Apple Crisp

You can make this crisp with almost any fruit you have lying around--in fact its a great way to use any over-ripening fruits that may be lying around your counter. I used a few apples and 2 cans of peaches, drained and rinsed, totaling about 4 cups of fruit.

Ingredients

For the filling:

• 2 cans of sliced peaches, drained, rinsed, and patted dry
• 2 apples, sliced
  
• 1 lemon, zested and juiced
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup tightly packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch kosher salt

For the topping:

• 1 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup rolled oats
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 stick cold unsalted butter, cut into pea sized pieces
• Pinch kosher salt
• 1 to 2 tablespoons cold water

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

For the filling:

Toss the fruit in a large bowl with the zest and lemon juice. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir to combine. Evenly fill a pie-plate or baking dish with filling.

For the topping:

Combine all of the ingredients in a food processor except the water. Pulse until combined, this will take about 30 seconds. Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time until mixture is clumpy but crumbly.

Top the filling with the topping.

Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the filling is hot and bubbly and the topping, brown and crispy.

This was delicious served warm with vanilla ice cream!

Fall, Summer, Winter, Fall is Here

Whew, these last two weeks have been a whirlwind as Dale and I have traveled to and from Big Sky, MT, worked 8-day work weeks, and shuffled between wearing flip-flops and heavy sweaters as, in typical Montana fashion, the weather varies between wintry chills and summer heat!

First, for all those who were wondering, Dale passed his Introductory Sommelier Course and Exam in Big Sky, MT last week! We stayed at a colleague's house, where I relaxed in a hot tub with majestic views, and Dale and co-workers studied hard for two long days. I knew Dale was a whiz when it came to wine but after two days surrounded by cork dorks I realized how extensive his knowledge is! To top it all off, he nailed a few blind tastings, identifying even grape varietal, region, and VINTAGE! I am confident that Dale will be able to pass the next level which is the Certified Sommelier Exam when the next opportunity comes around.


A very proud Dale!!

It was beautiful in Big Sky. The air was crisp and cool and the skies blue. I enjoyed my time relaxing, enjoying my last opportunity to cart around my Nikon without a baby strapped to me. I spent a few hours in Bozeman and caught up with an old friend and took a little hike with Emma to get some fresh air and see some waterfalls. Usually, leaving Bozeman always saddens me as it is my home, but this time, I was excited to return to Missoula and the home I share with my husband and family. I know many Bozeman trips are in the future but for now, I have decided that I can live in Missoula (however, I still refuse to become a Griz Fan!).



We had tons to do when we returned to prepare not only for baby's arrival but for winter's arrival as well! So between more laundry duty and house cleaning, I was out in my garden planting one last batch of radishes and covering my not-quite-ripe pumpkins with hay. I am hoping this last batch of radishes will have some time to mature before the ground freezes, but no one can predict Montana weather. It was 75 one day with nighttime temps of 35 and the next it was 46 with a 30% chance of snow!

Just as no one can predict winter's exact arrival, our little one's arrival also appears to be a mystery! As of Monday, the doctor said I am already progressing and preparing for labor, so it could be any day! It is only October 1st and technically I still have 27 days till D-Day, nonetheless, many of our family members are already starting to make early predictions! If you want in on the game go to: http://www.expectnet.com/games/PittmanBabyPool to make your prediction. Winners will get bragging rights unless Dale and I can come up with a more generous prize!



Today, the weather forecast is 55 with sun so Dale and I are headed to Jerry Johnson hot springs to celebrate October's arrival and enjoy fall before it quickly becomes winter!

Cherishing Clothing

I normally don't give a damn about clothes. I wear whatever is (mostly) clean, usually the first thing I reach in my closet after a long night's sleep. Sometimes, if I am lucky, I match but usually, I look rather un-styled (according to my brother) sporting the same pair of jeans and a shirt from my early college days. However, I find myself going to the baby's newly set-up nursery to fondle and match outfits for any and every occasion.

Already, I have discovered favorites--the adorable baby items that will undoubtedly only be worn a few times and held on for years for their memory. Some include some hand-made items from friends and relatives, others include gifts that tell or story, and some are straight hand-me downs but nonetheless adorable. Of course, it is a little hard to imagine them on a baby, but you get the idea.



Hopefully, our baby will be wearing this home from the hospital (assuming I don't change my mind or forget to pack the hospital bag!) The hat was the first gift we received for the baby way back in April. My friend, Hanna, had the hat specially made by an older woman while backpacking through Argentina. The onesie was from Dale's parents and the booties are just truly adorable!



This is the only item I have purchased for the baby--we have been given so many clothes! However, I couldn't resist these soft-soled shoes for my little monkey!



After I refreshed Hanna's memory for crocheting, she sent me this little tiger cap she made. She tells me she has more on the way--seriously, this baby is going to be one well dressed little man!



At our baby shower, people painted onesies and bibs, these are just a few of the creations and my personal favorites



With the exception of a few, this basket is filled with all hand-made blankets. Some are crocheted, while others are knitted or quilted. Each blanket is warm and soft and perfect for cuddling on those cold Montana days.

The $38 "Green" Nursery

After two baby showers and very generous family Dale and I had baby stuff coming out of our ears. Our living room was a mine field trying to navigate the way from the bedroom to the bathroom during the night. Originally we weren't going to set up the baby's room until later but after too many stubbed toes, cursing, and more stuff we decided enough was enough and turned our spare room into an awesome little nursery for $38. Crazy, I know!

I had the perfect nursery pictured in my mind but Dale and I are limited in funds and really against buying new stuff only to fill our garbage with more packaging and waste. We aren't super "green" people but we are eco-conscious remembering to recycle, use reusable bags, and live a close to waste-free lifestyle. So imagine my excitement when I found two gallons of low-voc paint downstairs that had been left behind by a former tenant. The creamy latte and olive green paint inspired my nesting instinct and by the end of the day, our formerly wood-paneled spare bedroom was colored and ready for set-up!



Dale spent 4 hours one morning cursing from the bedroom as he set up the crib, but in a matter of time and patience the crib was settled into its final spot. We had a dresser that fits a changing pad perfectly, a rocking chair and ottoman that we bought for $10 at Goodwill, and a rug that came from my office. All that was needed was some wall art and a few shelves.



Dale suggested putting maps up and after all those years of collecting travel maps and post-cards I found a use for them! Maps of Italy, Germany, France, and Amsterdam fulfill our travel-bugs and post-cards that line the crown-molding will hopefully someday inspire our little one!



I found a shelf in the garage and added a coat of paint and with one trip to Target we found our nursery complete. We found a garbage can, mesh laundry bags (perfect for cloth diapers!) and organizational baskets (in addition to a few other items) for $28.



With a little creativity and some extra paint, we were able to turn our formally drab spare-room into a comfortable room that truly feels like a vacation within our home...and all for the low price of $38. The best part, it was all recycled, gifted, and (almost) waste-free. And of course, when I realize that I am changing a diaper full of shi* all I have to do is look up at the map of Paris and reminisce my days of parading the Champs d'Elysee.

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Did I mention that we also scored a free bassinet from our neighbors to keep at our bedside for those early weeks??? Amazing.

Little Laundry Love

I hate laundry. Before I met Dale my laundry habits were far from sanitary as I let it pile up in my closet, only forcing myself to wash my clothes when I was either out of underwear, or out of money to buy new underwear. I confess I wore the same pair of jeans for 3 weeks when I was in college--hey, it was finals and there was no time for laundry!

The process of putting clothes in the washer and the dryer is fine, its the putting them away part that I hate. I cant stand the way freshly laundered clothes feel...staticky, warm, ugh. Lucky for me, Dale is my laundry god as somehow, he manages to make all my dirty laundry disappear and reappear clean in my closet, folded, hanged, and dry. However, as much I as I hate doing laundry, I did 3 loads yesterday, each with love and excitement as I was washing BABY CLOTHES.

It seems like a simple task, but to me, a first-time mom and laundry virgin, I was clueless. I actually googled "how to wash newborn clothes" because I didn't want to screw anything up. I wanted to make sure the clothes are clean, free of any dyes and germs, and sensitive for my baby's rump. So I dove straight in, using 1/8 cup of Bio-Pac Free & Clear detergent, on a hot wash and cold rinse. I even put the baby socks in a sock bag to ensure the sock monster would leave them alone. Then, I dried them without fabric softener on medium heat. A few hours later, I found myself pacing around the dryer waiting for the buzzer so I could sort through all my goodies.

Baby hats, booties, and onesies quickly filled the table I converted into a laundry area. I lovingly stared at the tiny socks, dreaming of little baby toes and fingers. I found sleep sacks, pants, and shirts adorable. I sorted clothes between "newborn", "0-3 months", "3-6" months and beyond. I imagined dressing our little peanut up in swim shorts for the summer, a fleece jacket for the winter, and even a chili pepper costume for Halloween. And, I admit, I picked out that perfect outfit to bring the baby home from the hospital in. I swore I wouldn't do it but I couldn't resist the lime green onesie that says "little guy" beneath an embroidered moose (I promise, pictures soon!). I pared it navy blue pants, a little blue knitted hat, and blue slipper socks. My little guy is better dressed than I am! And, he is certainly coming home in style!

After a few more loads of laundry and delicately folded sheets and blankets, I turned off the nursery light, and went to bed dreaming about my soon-to-be little boy in that adorable little outfit. Laundry wasn't so bad after all--now if only I felt the same way about my clothes.

Its STILL September????@!@#?

As usual, my pregnancy is progressing perfectly. Aside from the back ache, hip pain, night sweats, and a cramped stomach, I still love being pregnant (especially when our little one makes his nightly round of belly theater!). Nonetheless, I am tired, cranky, and so excited to get rewarded with a new bundle of joy come October! On our way out of the doctor's this morning, I made another 2 week appointment, hoping that it would be October.....but no, it is STILL September!!!! I am still cursing as September seems like its going to drag on forever!!!!

We had our 34 week appointment today and everything is going great. Baby is looking good, healthy, and on-schedule. Of course, we already knew that! Our doctor reported to us that the baby is head-down (still) and is looking like he will be a good size, about 6 pounds 5 ounces....for the sake of my labor, let's hope he's right! Our due date is still October 27th, so let the countdown begin: 43 days!!!!!!!

I have been digesting almost every video, book, and magazine that I can get my hands on regarding childbirth and pregnancy. I am pretty sure I have wiped the library clean on their selection--I have an addiction. I love learning about the process! I am seriously considering going back to school for nursing, midwifery, or becoming a doula because I cant stop learning....however, I recognize that this is a common phase for many pregnant women so no worries, I haven't sent those school applications out yet! Anyways, despite my library collection of videos I still wanted to take a birthing class, so Dale (dragging his feet behind me) and I headed to a birthing class on Saturday.

All in all, the class was interesting. I didn't feel I learned anything new but it was good to connect with Dale and actually practice labor positions, pain management, and talk about a birth plan. We felt really confident after leaving the class especially as so many of the other couples we so unprepared! Our instructor thanked us after the class and told us that she wished she could have a couple like us in every class because we were so relaxed! Now, that the class is over, I am ready for the fun to begin!

We also got a tour of the hospital, which was superb. We were surprised to find that our hospital encourages natural childbirth, the use of showers and tubs during delivery, has 100% rooming-in with baby (all of which are private!), and has a strict quiet hours policy so mom and dad can bond with a new baby! After hearing horror stories of some folks experiences, I was really nervous but feel great now.

I painted the baby's room yesterday with some leftover paint I found in the basement. We have a crib, dresser, changing table, and clothes, now all we need is a carseat!!! I keep kicking myself to order it, because it will take a few days with shipping....

Dale and I are headed to Bozeman/Big Sky next weekend for his wine class and exam. We are very much looking forward to the little road trip and are going to make a vacation out of it!! Until then, Dale is studying hard for the class and I am finishing up the baby's room. I promise I will post photos soon!

Third Trimester Tantrums

Pregnant women are already a force to be reckoned with but if you encounter an almost 8-month pregnant woman, sweltering in the 100 degree weather, with 20 pounds of baby weight and swollen ankles--RUN AWAY AS FAST AS YOU CAN!!!!

I have been very grateful to have had such an easy pregnancy- free of any major problems, symptoms, or the emotional roller coaster that many complain about. However, the last three weeks have made me feel like I belong in a mental institution because in one minute I not only suffer from multiple personality disorder, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, but I have also become the Queen of Passive Agressiva!

I am hot, cranky, angry at my husband for not getting me ice cream and then angry that he did bring me ice cream because my ankles are already swollen enough. I don't want to be touched but two seconds later I am mad because Dale is sitting three feet away from me. One minute I want to nap, the next I am roaring to clean the house. I am mad at Dale for having a beer, but the next I am encouraging it. I am a basket case! All this compounded with the slurry of visitors that we've had, the 100 degree days, and the mere thought that I am back to work full-time next week is enough to make me cry or laugh or scream, depending on the mood.

Poor Dale has to suffer through every tantrum and he does so graciously and patiently. His favorite phrases: "Yes, dear" "You were right, I was wrong. " "I don't know honey, what do you want to do?" and my personal favorite "Its all about you, you are the pregnant one."

But even he sometimes loses his cool after a million "yes, dears" which only perpetuates my hysteria. A typical night for us goes like this:

me: "What can I do for you?"
Dale: "Nothing." He knows that the real question is what can HE do for me!
me: "I want to make you happy, you always do stuff for me."
Dale: "I am fine." Still pondering the real question.
me: "No really, what do you want? Do you want to watch a movie? TV?"
Dale: "Yeah, whatever, we can watch a movie." Knowing that we will not watch a movie now that he has said this.
me: "I am too tired to watch a movie, maybe I will just go to bed." Thinking Dale will come and lay down with me to.
Dale: "I am not ready to lay down, go on without me."
me: "Hummmph." Heads to bed angry. Dale follows a few seconds later and lays down next to his now sobbing wife.
Dale: "What can I do for you?" Realizing he should have just asked in the beginning and saved himself the trouble.

I recognize the illogical nature of this episode and yet it still happens, every night! I don't even want to be friends with my pregnant self right now, let alone be married to me! So bless you Dale, for all the hard work you put in to this. I am sorry for all the tantrums, confusing conversations, and selfish moments that you endure from me. You are the true hero in this relationship and clearly deserving of one of those coffee mugs that reads "world's best dad".

The Unwanted House Guest....

Hosting out of town visitors also inevitably means you are hosting their house guests as well....of course, I am referring to GERMS! I have somehow managed to avoid getting sick this entire pregnancy by taking vitamins religiously and slurping down tea any time my throat tickles, however, Monday morning after all our visitors had left, that throat tickle wouldn't go away!

I slept. I chugged orange juice. I drank tea. I took extra vitamin C. The next day the tickle was still there. I wasn't running a fever, so I decided to hold off calling the doc. I chugged more water and went to bed and woke up with my eyes sealed shut! I had PINK EYE!

On top of the throat tickle, which turned out to be a sinus infection which I guess migrated to my eyes. For those of you who have had pink eye I am sympathetic for I didn't know you could actually have SNOT coming out your eyes!

I called my doctor who didn't even want to see me and instead called in a prescription to our nearest pharmacy. A couple hours later, a few medicated eye drops and some heavy duty antibiotic, I was breathing a little easy and able to see--although somewhat fuzzy.

Today, I am tired but feeling better and looking forward to relaxing this weekend with the armload of movies that line our shelf and my favorite pint of Ben & Jerrie's.

In the future, visitors staying at Hotel Pittman will be asked to check their germs at the door.

28 Weeks--Update

We had our 28 week appointment today and as usual, everything was perfect, we have so much to be thankful for!! I have gained a total of 16 pounds so far, passed my glucose screen with 104 (its supposed to be under 140), and my bp was its usual 117/80. The baby measured exactly on target at 28 weeks and 2 days and had a heartbeat of 150 bpm. My doctor wants us to come back in a month (32 weeks) and then we will start having appointments every 2 weeks. October seems so far away because it is a completely different season, but it is approaching so quickly!!! Our homework for this week: find a pediatrician and register for childbirth classes!!!

I completed the survey way back when I was 8 weeks along and again at 20 weeks, I thought it would be cool to update it again!
PREGNANCY:
Mother Name: Kat
Age: 23
Birthday: January 28
Height: 5’3"

Father Name: Dale
Age: 27
Birthday: October 23
Height: 5'6"

FIRSTS:
Is this your first pregnancy?: Yes
How did you find out you were pregnant?: We werent actively trying, we just stopped using birth control in December. I woke up at 4am and realized I was late. I told my husband that I would wait a couple more days just in case. Sure enough, at 5weeks1day, I couldnt stand waiting and got a BIG FAT POSITIVE at 4am. We cant believe it happened so quickly!

What kind of pregnancy test did you take?: First Response

How many?: Just one. And then, a week before my first doctor's appt I took another, just to make sure I wasnt crazy.

What were your first symptoms?: 4am thirst, starving, cravings for kale & swiss chard, headache and general achiness.
Who did you tell first?: Husband and then a few friends and SIL.
Who was with you when you found out? Myself and of course, my dog who follows me everywhere, even into the bathroom.
Was baby planned?: Yes.. We were completely surprised that it happened so fast!
When was baby conceived?: Between Jan 30 and Feb 3. (Birthday baby!!!)
How far were you when you found out?: 5 weeks 1 day

My BABY:
Due date:: October 27th
Do you want to know the sex?: I always thought it was going to be a boy (all the old wives tales were right!!!) and then we thought maybe it was a girl, but it turns out our original thoughts were right!

Do you know the sex?: Yeppers!
If so, boy or girl?: BOY!
Any names?: We are not telling!!!

Any ultrasounds?: One at 8 weeks 2 days, one at 12 weeks 2 days, one at 20 weeks 2 days, one at 24 weeks, and another at 26 weeks. (He's a bit camera shy!)

Have you heard the heartbeat?: Yep, many times now, strong and fast! (154bpm)
Who do you think baby will look like?: I have no idea. I hope my dark hair and skin and DH's greenish/greyish eyes.
Will baby have any siblings?: OMG, yes. We want 3-4.
Have you and dad felt baby move?: Moves like crazy, especially at night, Dale is constantly amazed at how hard the baby kicks!

MISCELLANEOUS:
Did you have any cravings?: At first, I had major Taco Bell cravings! As well as, cravings for fried pickles with mustard, navajo tacos, and stuffed red bell peppers. Now I crave anything with coconut and of course, lasagna.

Did you have any mood swings?: Unfortunately! My DH thinks I have multiple personality disorder!

Are you a high risk pregnancy?: Nope, everything is perfect.
Any complications?: None so far. Keeping my fingers crossed to stay that way.
Formula or breastfeeding?: breastfeeding, in fact I have had several dreams where I was breastfeeding with ease.
Have you bought anything for baby yet?: I have knit 2 blankets, several hats, and we have a mountain of gifts in our living room.

When did you start to show?: Around 12 weeks.
How long could you wear your regular clothes?:I started wearing maternity jeans at 20 weeks but I am still wearing most of my shirts and dresses.

Are you excited?: Ecstatic!
Who will help with baby after their born?: Hubby and BUNCHES of family, I swear we are going to have over 20 relatives here!
What is your favorite thing about being pregnant?: Having an excuse to rest and sleep all day and the awesome hair and nails!
What is the worst thing about being pregnant?: Feeling lazy and bloated. Most days I feel like the Goodyear blimp.
What’s one thing do you miss doing since being pregnant?: Margaritas on an especially stressful day.
Any days you wish you weren't pregnant?: Not days, just nights when I curse waking up 4 times to waddle across the house to go pee in sweltering 100 degree weather.
Are you ready for baby?: As ready as you can be.
Do you have insurance?: 100% maternity coverage!
How many kids do you want?: I would love 4! 2 girls and 2 boys.
Do you talk to your baby?: A little, my hubby talks to the baby more than I do! I sing to it in the car and the baby kicks back!
Do you still feel attractive?: Most days.
Have you had your baby shower yet?: We have had two!!

Do you like kids?: Absolutely! I used to teach pre-school but now I work in a high school...I love them at all ages.
How far along are you now?: 28 weeks
Did you have morning sickness?: None!
What kind of birth are you hoping for?: We would really like to have a natural childbirth. I have a lot of trust in my body and no that it will be hard but I will be focusing on breathing, meditation, and relaxation to manage my pain.

Cloth or Disposable: Cloth!!!

Kat & Dale's Baby....Downpour???

The infamous Guinness Cupcakes...with blue frosting of course (Recipe is at the bottom)

Our baby shower on Sunday was more of a downpour as our house was filled with all of our friends and family who came heavy handed with gifts, advice, congratulations and warm hugs! We had guests coming and going between 10 am and 2 am the next morning and we spent an hour opening gifts! Clearly, this was not a shower, but a clear downpour of love and excitement.

My aunt Renee hosted the event and was truly in the spirit of it all as she arrived with a keg, tons of food, baby onesies and bib decorating, a matching game, and energy to put it all together! We are blessed to have so many wonderful friends and family to have helped!

After it was all over, Dale and I stared at a mountain of gifts in our living room, joking that once we set up all the baby stuff there will be no room for the baby! Despite all the gifts and advice we received Dale and I still have TONS of stuff we need to do before October.

• Purchase a carseat and install it!
  
• Take childbirth class and tour the hospital
• Start our cloth diaper stash
• Get a baby sling or Ergo baby carrier
• Purchase a breast pump
• Get crib sheets and bumper
• Set our baby's room up (we have been holding off because of all the visitors!)
• Pack a hospital bag
• Send out thank you's for baby showers (sorry!!)
• Finish my scrapbook, from LAST year!
• Start saving money....we really suck at saving!

Okay, so the list isn't that bad, but to a nesting mother I feel like I have sooooo much to do!!! Anyways, here is the recipe for these delicious stout cupcakes!

Guinness Chocolate Stout Cupcakes

• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa, plus more for dusting finished cupcakes
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups all-purposeflour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• Pinch fine salt
• 1 bottle stout beer (recommended: Guinness, room temperature)
• 1 stick butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 3 large eggs
• 3/4 cup sour cream (room temperature)
  

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cocoa, sugar, flour, baking soda, and salt.
In another medium mixing bowl, combine the stout, melted butter, and vanilla. Beat in eggs, 1 at time. Mix in sour cream until thoroughly combined and smooth. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet mixture.
Lightly grease muffin tins, and fill each 3/4 full. Bake for about 12 minutes and then rotate the pan. Bake another 12 to 13 minutes until risen, nicely domed, and set in the middle but still soft and tender. Cool before turning out. Use any icing you like to top these, I prefer packaged Dr. Oetker frosting, which I buy at the Good Food Store, but any will do! (http://www.oetker.us /en/product/organics/organic-icing-mixes) Enjoy!!!

The Great Outdoors

Our first family portrait...hehe

As you may have guessed my Internet time reserved for blogging, facebook stalking, and baby shopping has been interrupted by our rotating door of visitors, as a result I haven't been able to keep you posted on all of our Montana wanderings.


Flathead Lake Campsite

We started last week, driving to Flathead Lake to set up camp and begin our journey into Glacier National Park. Our plans were somewhat stalled as we found ourselves running late, our favorite brewery closed (forever!??!) and without a campsite! We made do in the end and were able to snag a beautiful marine site, hiking 1000 feet into some brush to camp with Flathead Lake practically lapping into our tent. In the end it was worth the hassle as we took a chilly late night dive into the pristine water and warmed ourselves around the fire with creamy mushroom chicken and wild rice for sustenance.


After everyone headed to bed, Dale and I stayed up looking at the stars from the beach. I will confess, even though I live in Montana where light pollution isn't a concern, I still rarely take time to appreciate the vastness of the sky. Laying on the beach staring at the stars was surreal as you can actually see the depth of the sky; the galaxies behind galaxies, the real Milky Way, and endless constellations. Just as we were headed up to our tent Dale and I both saw what was most likely a small rock or something crashing into the atmosphere as the sky was briefly brightened by an greenish plume quickly fading into orange and disappeared as quickly as it entered the sky. Dale grabbed my hand, kissed my face and my belly and we went to bed still dreaming about those stars.


They are clearly not morning people

We had hopes of leaving our campsite early in order to get to Glacier early in the morning. However, those plans were a little derailed as not everyone in our group was an early riser. We didn't leave until 10 am and still had an hour to go. At this point, Dale was beyond irritated but was distracted when we passed a MYSTERY SPOT! Dale is obsessed with mystery spots. I mean OBSESSED! He practically made me pull a 180 on the highway. I had never had an experience with Mystery Spots and will admit that it was a pretty cool adventure as there are only 8 mystery spots in the US that demonstrate the awesome and weird power of nature that is unexplainable. I will post photos later to demonstrate this but for now, just use your imagination.


Mystery Spot, MT

After our slight detour at the Mystery Spot, we finally made it to Glacier. I have never driven the full length of the Going-to-the-Sun Road as it has always been closed due to landslides, fire, or construction. It was incredible. The mountains journeyed as far as the eye could see, casting their magnitude against our infinitely small bodies. We saw mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and deer in addition to the variety of birds and insects that frequented the area. After a long day of driving, we ventured separate ways and Dale, Sam, and I headed back to Flathead Lake to meet our friend Jarred for another night of camping.


Logan Pass, Glacier National Park

Saturday, with the arrival of my friend, Hilary, we decided to venture to the river and attempt a quiet, easy float down the Clark Fork River. Again, our plans were stalled as we got a late start, our communal intertubes taken by our neighbors friends, and credit card deposits on rental tubes. We finally made it to the river, which was flowing slowly and beautifully through the valley. Jarred, being allergic to bees, distracted us when we thought a bee had landed in his intertube and failed to notice the HUGE rock aimed towards our tube.

We didn't have time to navigate around and instead plunged in the rock, Sam flipping first, then me, then Jarred, only to get sucked into the water and struggle to find our way up. What felt like minutes under water (but was really only a few seconds) we emerged on opposite sides of the river, drenched like river rats, and scrambling to rescue the beer, sunglasses, and shoes that floated by. Alas, we managed to settle back on to our tubes and enjoy the rest of the float unscathed by any damage. My heart raced the whole time and my little one kicked me hard to let me know he was a little pissed.

The great outdoors have provided us with many opportunities and adventures and will continue to do so. For now, I am tired, sunburned, and looking forward to a relaxing few days in the comfort of my own home.