Dreambaby #2 Pregnancy BUMP PHOTO! (week 31)

31 weeks. 9 weeks left. 9 – that’s a single digit, folks!

Also, this post is a day late, this photo was taken a day late, I’m basically a day late in life right now:

31 weeks (and one day)!

I’d like to title this series of photos: “Self portrait of huge pregnant lady, who is also mom of a toddler who took a break from practicing rhythmic gymnastics to show us, ‘Where’s the baby?’ resulting in awkward shot of him lifting up his mom’s shirt but she put it on the Internet anyway.” Or, something like that.

You already know that I can’t believe how fast this pregnancy is going, I’m tired, I’m treasuring these few weeks alone with Kenton, I need more energy, I’m (still) working on getting the Dream ready for this baby, yadayadayada… Really there’s nothing else to add about this pregnancy right now.

So, I thought I’d an offer an update on how I’m doing in general.

Honestly, I’m in the best spot I’ve been in in years – possibly ever. I’m so enjoying the time I’m spending with Kenton. I’m still working through some emotions regarding my job loss a few months ago – but am incredibly grateful (increasingly so) that I’m no longer exposed to a toxic environment every day. My home is a very happy place these days and I love it.

I also love that I’m going back to work in just a couple of weeks! Yep. I’ll be teaching a class at Arizona State University this fall: Television Reporting. I’ve taught that class a few times before (I’ve been a Faculty Associate at ASU since 2008). However, I’ve never taught it during the day and I’ve never had a baby in the middle of the semester. INTERESTING. I hope my little future reporters are flexible and understanding!

I must admit, my water breaking mid-lecture is a growing fear. Wouldn’t that be… “memorable.” (…Sigh…)

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Pinterest, it’s what’s for dinner

I don’t post about cooking very much – if ever. I like to cook, but don’t consider myself at the level where I should be sharing tips with anyone. However, I just have to tell you about our dinners this week.

First, do you ever find yourself in a rut when it comes to planning meals? That was me on Monday morning. I sat down to make my grocery list and could not think of one thing I wanted to cook. Jason had no requests – so that wasn’t too helpful either. So, I did what most women in that situation do, I went to Pinterest.

I perused my recipe board for meals that I had pinned but never tried and looked at my friend Stephanie’s recipe board. She’s constantly trying new Pinterest recipes and was a great resource.

Each meal was AMAZING… here’s what our week looked like…

MONDAY

Skinny Broccoli and Chicken Alfredo, via Celebrations.com

Oh my, this dish has the triple threat – easy, healthy and YUMMY. Even the leftovers were great. Seriously, make it tonight.

TUESDAY

Brown Sugar and Balsamic Glazed Pork Loin, via C&C Marriage Factory

Healthy Sweet Potato Skins, via Pinch of Yum

Tuesday was my day to be ambitious. I broke out the ol’ crock pot for the first time in ages (why don’t I use that thing more?!). The pork loin was really easy – simple ingredients and basically impossible to screw up. The glaze has soy sauce, brown sugar and balsamic vinegar – which results in a really great flavor. The potatoes were a bit more challenging. I’ve never made twice-baked potatoes before, which is essentially what these are. I didn’t earn any presentation points, but OH.MY.GOODNESS were these amazing. I still dream about the flavor – and garbanzo beans? Yeah, who knew? Okay, make this meal tonight too.

WEDNESDAY – I let my mommy cook! Wednesdays are my days “off.” My mom watches Kenton for the day AND cooks dinner for all of us. I know! I’m the luckiest daughter on the planet.

THURSDAY

Ziti with Portobello Mushrooms, Caramelized Onions, and Goat Cheese, via Food & Wine

This was a Stephanie-recommendation and it lived up to the hype. Caramelized onions? Check. Portobello mushrooms? Check. Goat cheese? Check. (Yes, just as the name suggests! Imagine that.) If I need to say more, your palate is seriously lacking. Make this NOW – don’t wait for dinner.

FRIDAY – Yep, that’s tonight and tonight is DATE NIGHT. I’m off the hook. However, I think I earned a night out after three AMAZING new meals this week – all of which Jason loved and begged me to add to our regular rotation.

How about you? Do you have a favorite Pinterest-inspired meal? Please share the link in the comments below. I’d love to try even more amazing dishes!

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Dreambaby #2 Pregnancy BUMP PHOTO! (week 28)

Wow… I am really late with this week’s bump pic – and only have a lame picture to show for it…

28 weeks!

See? I wasn’t kidding.

Sorry. All you get this week is a self-portrait-iPhone-bathroom-mirror-shot. That is how crazy this week’s been.

But, it’s a good crazy. Here’s why:

• I’m speaking at a conference in the EST next week and am busy getting ready for that – Powerpoints, handouts, four days of time by myself (including 12 hours of flying/uninterrupted reading time)… yeah, I’m EXCITED.
• I’ve been working this pregnant toosh OFF. We joined a gym and I’ve been there nearly every day. Water aerobics is my new thing – me and the grandmas. It’s good times.
• Due to my lack of a “real” job – I’ve had the free time to indulge in some activities that I deem as fun. Not everyone may agree… but I like volunteering for committees and leading projects – so, I’ve been doing that for the MOPS group at my church. Have you heard of MOPS? Google it. It’s awesome. I went to two meetings last year before they took a break for the summer – and somehow managed to sign up for the publicity team and am now in the throws of promoting it. Speaking of, here’s what I’ve spent the last few days working on…

Oh, gosh, I hope you laughed. If not, I’m really embarrassed. If you live in the Phoenix-area, please come! It’s going to be EPIC.

In other news, I’m 28 weeks pregnant this week. This baby is coming in 12 weeks. Cue: screams of terror.

(Perhaps the filling up my schedule with non-baby-related things and ignoring the fact that we’ve done nothing – NOT.ONE.THING – to prep for the impending arrival of this child is a clue that I may be in denial about just how far off my delivery date is.)

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Don’t be sad, it’s Dreamday!

You know, when I was working, I dreaded Mondays. Sometimes, I would forget that Monday was coming. I would be so involved in enjoying life with my little family, I would forget that I would have to leave it all behind and trudge into the office. That moment when I would remember, “Tomorrow is MONDAY!” was maddening. Looking back, I think that is also a sign that the environment I was heading into was not right for me. Now, there’s a twinge of disappointment that Jason won’t be around, but JOY over the fact I don’t have to go anywhere I don’t want to be. Ahh… I am basking in that right now. So grateful.

I’m counting the blessings in my new situation. Perhaps the most amazing one yet… witnessing Kenton take his FIRST STEPS!

Unfortunately, no photos or video of the actual event. 😦

The great “first steps” happened in our new music class Friday morning. We switched from our Saturday class since I have the time now during the week. I was excited to meet some other (presumably) SAHM’s and some new friends for K-man. About half-way through the class, he took two-three steps away from me – toward the teacher – then realized what he was doing and crumbled to the floor. I half-screamed, not wanting to embarass myself in front of the other mommies – and smothered him with kisses. One other mom pointed at Kenton and mouthed “Was that… first?!” I nodded enthusiastically.  Then, he did it again and I full-on screamed this time. The other mommies looked at me and I said, “I’m sorry, I don’t know any of you, but this is SO EXCITING!” Then, he did it THIRD time and everyone clapped and cheered for him. It was amazing! He was really excited – although I’m sure he had no idea why. I kept trying the rest of the class to get him to do it again with my iPhone video running, but no dice.

However, he still earned himself some ice cream to celebrate.

Friday, May 4, 2012 – 11 months and 3 days old – that was the moment. My mom and I were chatting about this pivotal moment over the weekend and she recounted the story of my first steps. Guess how old I was? 11 months and 3 days.  CRAZY, RIGHT?!

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