I need to get this baking/nesting thing under control!
The house is immaculate (for the 4th time in the last week)....and the cleaners are coming today anyway! Every scrap of laundry in the house has been done. The sheets have been changed. The nursery has been set up (including the diaper genie, mobile, furniture, etc).
And the list of baked goods over the last few weeks:
Earl grey shortbread cookies
Sour cream chocolate bundt cake
Flaxseed banana bread w/chocolate chips
2nd batch of dark hazelnut chocolate, toffee, cranberry oatmeal cookies
Pumpkin cheesecake bars
Whole wheat banana muffins w/berries
Pumpkin chocolate chip scones with spiced maple glaze
Homemade granola
If Jellybean doesn't make it out, then another set of scones are in order -- like cream scones with dried cranberries or crystallized ginger, or lemon-blueberry scones, or....hrm, the possibilities are endless!
3.08.2010
3.05.2010
37 6/7.
Another long lag-time between posts. Lots of happenings, but still no baby!
I'm home from work on "medical leave" due to high blood pressures. I'm fine, baby's fine....but I discovered, not surprisingly, that residency and pregnancy don't mix. It's only been a few days at home, and my blood pressure has improved, but my sanity is what I'm worried about now -- I'm bored out of my mind! I've cleaned, cooked, baked, set up the nursery, written thank you cards....and now I'm just stewing in my own juices. Sigh.
Jellybean -- it's getting warmer out now, don't you want to meet the rest of the world?!
See, I'm going nuts.
On a totally different note, did you ever notice how satisfying it is to drink out of a straw -- especially if it's colorful and flexible -- at home? I mean, at a restaurant it's not a big deal, but at home, it's so unexpected. For me, it brings me back to childhood days. Plus drinks with straws are usually a treat -- smoothies, fizzy colored concoctions, root beer floats or anything else with ice cream in them. Right now, I'm enjoying an orangina/sprite mix. It's so refreshing, fizzy and suits my mood - so full of anticipation, excitedly waiting for Jellybean and spring to get here!! Yum!
I'm home from work on "medical leave" due to high blood pressures. I'm fine, baby's fine....but I discovered, not surprisingly, that residency and pregnancy don't mix. It's only been a few days at home, and my blood pressure has improved, but my sanity is what I'm worried about now -- I'm bored out of my mind! I've cleaned, cooked, baked, set up the nursery, written thank you cards....and now I'm just stewing in my own juices. Sigh.
Jellybean -- it's getting warmer out now, don't you want to meet the rest of the world?!
See, I'm going nuts.
On a totally different note, did you ever notice how satisfying it is to drink out of a straw -- especially if it's colorful and flexible -- at home? I mean, at a restaurant it's not a big deal, but at home, it's so unexpected. For me, it brings me back to childhood days. Plus drinks with straws are usually a treat -- smoothies, fizzy colored concoctions, root beer floats or anything else with ice cream in them. Right now, I'm enjoying an orangina/sprite mix. It's so refreshing, fizzy and suits my mood - so full of anticipation, excitedly waiting for Jellybean and spring to get here!! Yum!
1.28.2010
Sweet + tart = Deliciousness.
I've had a good number of days off this month...and have spent most of them loafing, wanting to bake, but feeling too lazy to do anything but watch our new TV. :)
A few days ago, however, with the hubs home and it being so cold outside, I finally decided to fill the house with some warmth. Going off of a recipe that I found on one of my new fave easy food blogs, and using whatever I had at home, we ended up with cookies filled with dark hazelnut chocolate, bits of toffee, dried cranberries and oatmeal. After his first bite, the hubs claimed that these were the best cookies I had ever baked. I don't know that I can really take his word for it since he tends to say that whenever I make something new (he's a very good, smart man who never EVER complains when I make anything)....but I have to admit, they were pretty yummy.
I don't know if this is a preview of the "nesting" that will apparently be happening sometime soon....but I am planning either a sour cream chocolate cake...or a flaxseed banana bread...or perhaps some cupcakes soon. I think maybe JB has a sweet tooth in the making!
A few days ago, however, with the hubs home and it being so cold outside, I finally decided to fill the house with some warmth. Going off of a recipe that I found on one of my new fave easy food blogs, and using whatever I had at home, we ended up with cookies filled with dark hazelnut chocolate, bits of toffee, dried cranberries and oatmeal. After his first bite, the hubs claimed that these were the best cookies I had ever baked. I don't know that I can really take his word for it since he tends to say that whenever I make something new (he's a very good, smart man who never EVER complains when I make anything)....but I have to admit, they were pretty yummy.
I don't know if this is a preview of the "nesting" that will apparently be happening sometime soon....but I am planning either a sour cream chocolate cake...or a flaxseed banana bread...or perhaps some cupcakes soon. I think maybe JB has a sweet tooth in the making!
32.
Again, it's been a long time...but apparently residency and Jellybean keep me busier than I thought. I can't even imagine how much harder it will be when he's actually here!
32 weeks. It's been eventful. Lots of kicking and squirming by the lil guy, concern for early contractions (pray that he stays in for a few more weeks!), overall exhaustion from working in the SICU being on call every 3rd night...but we've made it this far, so hopefully, we'll be able to make it for just a few more weeks (at least).
The anticipation is starting to kick in now -- friends left and right here have been hatching out their lil ones...and so the excitement and anxiety is really starting to weigh in these days. I don't really feel "momish" at all...I've never been very motherly in general, I suppose, but maybe it'll happen here soon.
On call in the SICU the other night, exhausted and overwhelmed, I crawled into my call room for just a few precious minutes of sleep. As I was trying to get comfortable, Jellybean started kicking like crazy -- as if reminding me that no matter how tired I get or how much other stuff is going on, he's going to be there....and I guess I'm going to be a mother (and wife) first, and everything else second...and you know, instead of being a scary and doom-filled reminder, it actually gave me some perspective - I just wish it had come at a slightly different time. Heh. I will admit, I didn't smile at the time. Instead, I started talk to my belly, begging JB to quiet down so I could sleep -- omen of what's to come, I think. :)
32 weeks. It's been eventful. Lots of kicking and squirming by the lil guy, concern for early contractions (pray that he stays in for a few more weeks!), overall exhaustion from working in the SICU being on call every 3rd night...but we've made it this far, so hopefully, we'll be able to make it for just a few more weeks (at least).
The anticipation is starting to kick in now -- friends left and right here have been hatching out their lil ones...and so the excitement and anxiety is really starting to weigh in these days. I don't really feel "momish" at all...I've never been very motherly in general, I suppose, but maybe it'll happen here soon.
On call in the SICU the other night, exhausted and overwhelmed, I crawled into my call room for just a few precious minutes of sleep. As I was trying to get comfortable, Jellybean started kicking like crazy -- as if reminding me that no matter how tired I get or how much other stuff is going on, he's going to be there....and I guess I'm going to be a mother (and wife) first, and everything else second...and you know, instead of being a scary and doom-filled reminder, it actually gave me some perspective - I just wish it had come at a slightly different time. Heh. I will admit, I didn't smile at the time. Instead, I started talk to my belly, begging JB to quiet down so I could sleep -- omen of what's to come, I think. :)
11.16.2009
monsters.
It's been a while...but hey, I'm preggers and tired, so give me a break! Heh.
It's been a nice fall here in IC. Had a few more guests after S came and left...the Kims and Chois in September...and then some high school friends just a couple of weekends ago. Sadly, that visit marked the end of the Hawkeyes' Cinderella season, but oh well, I don't really care that much.
One of the friends that came to visit is the same friend who gave me my nickname (see first post)...upon arrival, he hands me a present. Woohoo! I opened it...and looked at it very strangely. It was an odd-looking green stuffed doll with a miniature duplicate in its front pocket/pouch. As I stared and it and tried to be excited as I said thank you, my friend explains, "it's a monster carrying a mini-monster in its belly!" Needless to say, I love it.
I WILL post pictures. I just haven't had the patience to sit and upload them. And along with that promise is one for more updates....when I find the time and energy. *Sigh*
It's been a nice fall here in IC. Had a few more guests after S came and left...the Kims and Chois in September...and then some high school friends just a couple of weekends ago. Sadly, that visit marked the end of the Hawkeyes' Cinderella season, but oh well, I don't really care that much.
One of the friends that came to visit is the same friend who gave me my nickname (see first post)...upon arrival, he hands me a present. Woohoo! I opened it...and looked at it very strangely. It was an odd-looking green stuffed doll with a miniature duplicate in its front pocket/pouch. As I stared and it and tried to be excited as I said thank you, my friend explains, "it's a monster carrying a mini-monster in its belly!" Needless to say, I love it.
I WILL post pictures. I just haven't had the patience to sit and upload them. And along with that promise is one for more updates....when I find the time and energy. *Sigh*
10.20.2009
The Big Easy.
Ahhh, New Orleans.
It's been a good trip. I got a chance to spend time with the hubs and my big bro. Took in some interesting (and some not-so-interesting) panels/lectures at the ASA, enjoyed the (unexpectedly chilly) New Orleans weather, did some shopping...and ate.....a lot.
My brother and I are planners. Big time. I suppose that's why we both went into anesthesiology. So when we decided to go to this conference together, we took the time to research the food/restaurants in New Orleans...and we made plenty of reservations. Here's a quick recap of what I ate:
Sat night:
late dinner at Cafe Adelaide - Crab & leek bisque, louisiana black drum, some kind of buttermilk-white chocolate bread pudding
Sunday:
Jazz brunch at Commander's Palace - garlic toast, duck and wild mushroom gumbo, eggs couchon de lait (like an eggs benedict over pork), creole bread pudding souffle
Afternoon Tea at the Windsor Court Hotel - this was the absolute highlight of the trip gastronomically for me - tea sandwiches, strawberry walnut scones served with raspberry preserves/lemon curd/clotted cream/vanilla whipped cream, chocolate truffles, dark chocolate dipped strawberries, pecan tarts, fruit tarts, and earl grey tea
Dinner at GW Fins - lobster dumplings, golden beet and arugula salad, chilean sea bass with enoki mushrooms & baby bok choy in hot/sour broth, warm apple pie with vanilla bean ice cream
Monday:
Breakfast buffet at Cafe Adelaide - pretty standard fare
Lunch at Subway - nice change of pace
Dinner at Cochon - fried alligator in chili aioli sauce, paneed pork cheeks, arugula salad with pumpkin calas, ham hock, cochon (that was in a broth with cabbage that made it taste like kimchee-chigae), pineapple upside down cake (cornmeal cake) with coconut-lime sorbet, root beer float (we shared all of that)
Tuesday:
Breakfast at conference
Lunch at August - absolutely amazing. Seriously. Warm bread, heirloom tomato and mozz salad over sweet pea pesto (the mozz was infused with the tomato -- it was unreal), potato gnocchi, louisiana sushi (which I didn't eat, but it looked amazing), jumbo gulf shrimp and okra stew over parmesan risotto, filet of beef with beets, soft shell crab tempura dish, dark chocolate pastry fritters (so yummy) served over plum/blackberry sauce, some sort of orange marmelade and apple butter, trio of sorbets (blood orange, plum and blueberry)
Snack - Beignets and cafe au lait from Cafe du Monde
Dinner - Chicken sandwiches and burgers at Gordon Biersch, which was a welcome change after tons of buttery, heavenly Creole-influenced food
Being pregnant for this trip has had its ups and downs. Ups include eating whatever I want and as much as I want and having an excuse for it. Downs include running to the bathroom every 10 minutes and watching wistfully as everyone else enjoys wonderfully, refreshing looking cocktails.
And now it's back to reality. Sigh.
It's been a good trip. I got a chance to spend time with the hubs and my big bro. Took in some interesting (and some not-so-interesting) panels/lectures at the ASA, enjoyed the (unexpectedly chilly) New Orleans weather, did some shopping...and ate.....a lot.
My brother and I are planners. Big time. I suppose that's why we both went into anesthesiology. So when we decided to go to this conference together, we took the time to research the food/restaurants in New Orleans...and we made plenty of reservations. Here's a quick recap of what I ate:
Sat night:
late dinner at Cafe Adelaide - Crab & leek bisque, louisiana black drum, some kind of buttermilk-white chocolate bread pudding
Sunday:
Jazz brunch at Commander's Palace - garlic toast, duck and wild mushroom gumbo, eggs couchon de lait (like an eggs benedict over pork), creole bread pudding souffle
Afternoon Tea at the Windsor Court Hotel - this was the absolute highlight of the trip gastronomically for me - tea sandwiches, strawberry walnut scones served with raspberry preserves/lemon curd/clotted cream/vanilla whipped cream, chocolate truffles, dark chocolate dipped strawberries, pecan tarts, fruit tarts, and earl grey tea
Dinner at GW Fins - lobster dumplings, golden beet and arugula salad, chilean sea bass with enoki mushrooms & baby bok choy in hot/sour broth, warm apple pie with vanilla bean ice cream
Monday:
Breakfast buffet at Cafe Adelaide - pretty standard fare
Lunch at Subway - nice change of pace
Dinner at Cochon - fried alligator in chili aioli sauce, paneed pork cheeks, arugula salad with pumpkin calas, ham hock, cochon (that was in a broth with cabbage that made it taste like kimchee-chigae), pineapple upside down cake (cornmeal cake) with coconut-lime sorbet, root beer float (we shared all of that)
Tuesday:
Breakfast at conference
Lunch at August - absolutely amazing. Seriously. Warm bread, heirloom tomato and mozz salad over sweet pea pesto (the mozz was infused with the tomato -- it was unreal), potato gnocchi, louisiana sushi (which I didn't eat, but it looked amazing), jumbo gulf shrimp and okra stew over parmesan risotto, filet of beef with beets, soft shell crab tempura dish, dark chocolate pastry fritters (so yummy) served over plum/blackberry sauce, some sort of orange marmelade and apple butter, trio of sorbets (blood orange, plum and blueberry)
Snack - Beignets and cafe au lait from Cafe du Monde
Dinner - Chicken sandwiches and burgers at Gordon Biersch, which was a welcome change after tons of buttery, heavenly Creole-influenced food
Being pregnant for this trip has had its ups and downs. Ups include eating whatever I want and as much as I want and having an excuse for it. Downs include running to the bathroom every 10 minutes and watching wistfully as everyone else enjoys wonderfully, refreshing looking cocktails.
And now it's back to reality. Sigh.
10.10.2009
Snow!
The first snow has come upon Iowa City....in October...early October. *Sigh*
In other random tidbits, while I've been recuperating at home, I've been sustaining myself on tea, soups and soft, bland foods...though I must admit that my loving, attentive hubs did bring me lunch during the day as often as he could. After a few days of that, I did make some super yummy, melt-in-your-mouth espresso-chocolate-shortbread, adapted from a recipe I found on one of my favorite food blogs. I've been meaning to make this for a long time, and since I've been cooped up, craving some dark chocolate yumminess, I went for it. I'm not sure how safe it is to eat due to my illness -- or maybe I'm just using that as an excuse to eat them all up for myself!
We've also decided on a room for the nursery. As much as I love cutesiness and design, we're going to try and keep the room very simple and functional. No paint...no crazy wall decorations....minimal rearranging...and minimal spending. But I am starting to look at bedding, furniture, gliders and other baby goods. It's never-ending.
Hope everyone stays warm today!
In other random tidbits, while I've been recuperating at home, I've been sustaining myself on tea, soups and soft, bland foods...though I must admit that my loving, attentive hubs did bring me lunch during the day as often as he could. After a few days of that, I did make some super yummy, melt-in-your-mouth espresso-chocolate-shortbread, adapted from a recipe I found on one of my favorite food blogs. I've been meaning to make this for a long time, and since I've been cooped up, craving some dark chocolate yumminess, I went for it. I'm not sure how safe it is to eat due to my illness -- or maybe I'm just using that as an excuse to eat them all up for myself!
We've also decided on a room for the nursery. As much as I love cutesiness and design, we're going to try and keep the room very simple and functional. No paint...no crazy wall decorations....minimal rearranging...and minimal spending. But I am starting to look at bedding, furniture, gliders and other baby goods. It's never-ending.
Hope everyone stays warm today!
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