36 weeks

This is the homestretch! Only one month to go and I can hardly believe it. Jeff is hovering around my tummy all the time begging our little bundle to come out already so we can hold him. I tell baby he can take all the time he needs, just as long as he comes out big enough to fit into all the clothes we have for him (so practical of me, really). We loved getting Christmas presents for the wee one, and my most favorite present, hands down, was the adorable soft lamb "Baby's 1st Christmas" ornament Jeffrey got to put on the tree. Since it's not quite his first Christmas yet, we decided to get technical and have changed the ornament to read "Baby's 1st Christmas in utero..."

Can you tell we're getting ridiculously excited?

33 weeks

Two things: cinnamon bears and swiss cheese. Not together, but something like swiss cheese for a snack, lunch, then dinner, and cinnamon bears for snacks and dessert and any random snatch in between.

I also had my first Non-Stress test this week, and everything was peachy. Our little baby's heart pumps perfectly and he has plenty of amniotic fluid to swim in so it looks like he's going to stay and grow! I almost wished they would tell me he was ready to come out so I could get out of my finals next week and so we could finally cuddle up to our little love bundle, but no such luck. The wait continues.

Coming up this week: a midwife visit, another Non-Stress test (I'll be getting them every week now until his birthday) and an ultrasound. And more cinnamon bears! I'm over swiss cheese, I think....

Homemade Apple Sauce

We returned from our Thanksgiving holiday with a peck of Melrose apples in tow (fun fact: Melrose are the official Ohio state apple). Though we easily could have eaten them all in a few days, I wanted to make something special with them. Their fruity aroma and excellent baking properties led me to decide on homemade chunky applesauce.


It's really simple, all you do is peel and core the apples, chop into chunks, place the apples in a crockpot set to Low, add 2 cups of water, then cover and cook for 6-8 hours. Every once in a while I would get up and crush some of the apples with a potato masher, or stir the sauce around. And that's it. With these apples no sugar was needed, they were perfectly sweet.

If this wasn't so delicious, I might have remembered to take a finished product photo, but it was really just too good for that.

Lately...

Between combating the end of the semester, trying to stay on top of management duties, and prepping our nest for an imminent arrival, the other day I stopped and realized that Christmas is coming. So perhaps I should have been doing other things, but since we needed a bit of holiday cheer I set to work creating some.

{self-made mercury glass for this year's Christmas decor}

{the first Christmas cookies of the season: pistachio sugar cookie swirls}

{oh, Christmas tree. we got the cutest little spruce tree this year, I'm very much in love with it}

I hope you're finding time to begin your celebration of Christmas, too.

32 weeks

Time is going by so quickly! I can't believe that in a mere 2 more months we'll have a mini us joining our family! We are both much too much excited to find out what he'll be like. Jeff likes to think that he's created a little monster, while I think that while it may be true that we'll have a rambunctious boy (you should feel how this guy kicks and squirms!), there will be some sweetness and sensitivity to him as well. I do know, however, that he doesn't like people messing with his space-any time I shift to one side or the other he'll wiggle wiggle wiggle, or if I put anything on my tummy he'll kick it, and don't even try to get him to hold still for an utlrasound! He loves orange juice and hot chocolate and cheese, or at least I assume so because these get big activity responses from him. He's so adorable already, and we're so in love.

Thanksgiving

We had the most wonderful time being home for Thanksgiving. It was great to sit by the fire, drink delicious hot chocolate (or grape juice or fresh cider or eggnog), read books, enjoy crisp autumn weather, and be with our family and friends. My mom and dad always take such good care of us and fill our vacations with excellent food, fun, and lots of laughs. My good friend also threw a baby shower for me (!!) and it was so amazing to share in baby joy with some of my oldest and dearest friends. It was a Thanksgiving were both Jeffrey and I were awestruck at how much we have to be thankful for, including all things past, present, and future.

{31 weeks!}

{hand crafted jams, jellies, and preserves at Sage's farm}

{apples, delicious apples}

{the most decked out house for the holidays ever! a traditional stop every year for our family-it's just too much to miss}

{we had so much good food, including two turkeys: one roasted and this baby was fried. we made Thanksgiving french fries once we pulled him out, and I think fresh fried french fries should make it to the table every year}

The Ohio

We made it safe and sound! No passing out, no swollen feet, and no getting sick-I can still hardly believe it! I forgot to pack tons of things, of course, but at least we're home and safe and thoroughly enjoying leaving our overly busy and stressful routine behind.

We'll be back soon to wrap up another semester and resume our regular work schedules, etc., but for now we're drinking way too much cider by a cozy fire in a comfortable home that smells of spice and baking pies.

30 weeks

We got an ultrasound today to be sure that everything is growing along great, and to be sure that I'll be safe to fly, because WE'RE GOING HOME FOR THANKSGIVING!! I'm so elated, I haven't been home for Thanksgiving since I started college, and I've been pining over the spread my family produces for Thanksgiving feasting and longing for something just a bit more familiar. I'm also so excited to show off my tummy and baby pictures to friends I've known and loved for years, and to enjoy the last crisp, beautiful tidbits of fall in Northeastern Ohio.

I'll be packing tons of snacks, compression socks, and a 5 pound baby for the flight. That's right. 5 pounds of 30-week old baby!! My baby chart says typically 30-week babies are just over 3 pounds. This little bundle is a tank!! The ultrasound tech was taking his measurements and she paused to ask each of us how big we were as infants, and then once she had everything measured and calculated she asked, "Ok, are you ready to hear this? 3 1/2 weeks ahead of schedule, 4 lbs, 15 oz!" We were shocked! Then we started giggling. And of course, the due date is still January 22nd-our doctor just smiled and shook her head and said the due date is accurate as can be, we must have big baby genes.

10 weeks to go and 5 pounds already, this is pretty exciting! My heart is at ease to hear that he is doing well and that my body is able to support him and help him to grow. Keep growing strong little miracle child!

Monster Cookies

If you had a rockin' Halloween like we did, you might still have lingering candy cluttering up your house and finding its way into your tummy day after day. I decided this had to stop. We had so many leftover treats from chocolate apples and from trick-or-treating (at the store, that is) I decided to round them up into one place: Monster Cookies.

These cookies are a "kitchen sink" variety. You can put basically anything you'd like into them, and the more variety the better. They helped us to eat up, and share, all that leftover candy in no time.

Since I'm thinking more and more about family traditions these days, I can't wait to make them with my babies after they trick-or-treat. They can select candy contributions from their hoard, and we can mix the cookies up together and share them with our neighbors and friends. See, Halloween can be such a giving, sharing, caring, holiday :)

These are seriously, ridiculously, and dare I say, monstrously good!

{get 'em before they're gone}

Monster Cookies
family recipe, courtesy my sister Krista

Ingredients:
2 Cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

1 Cup softened butter
1 Cup granulated sugar
1 Cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 2/3 Cups rolled oats

Add-ins: whatever you'd like to use, totaling 2-3 Cups
1/4 Cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 Cup milk chocolate chips
1/4 Cup currants (or raisins)
1/2 Cup toffee bits
1/2 Cup peanut butter chips
1 Cup mini M&Ms

Method:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. Combine add-ins and rolled oats in a small bowl and set aside. In large bowl, cream together butter and both sugars. Beat in eggs one at a time. Stir in vanilla. With a wooden spoon, gradually stir in sifted dry ingredients. Then stir in mixture of rolled oats and add-ins until evenly combined and distributed.

Drop in rounded spoonfuls onto parchment lined baking sheet-these have a tendency to stick with all that candy in them :) Bake 5-10 min (I did mine for 8 min). If you chill the batter first, or if you save it for later and pull it out of the fridge or freezer, pull the cookies out when they are halfway done and mash them down a bit.

Allow to cool 2-3 minutes before removing from tray.

Enjoy!

Weekend Mirths

I crafted my eyeballs out this weekend. I have no idea how many pillows I sewed, but I do know that this little pillow for the baby's nautical nook is most definitely my favorite.

It was also one of my more successful attempts. I'm in love with the red piping on the edges, and I'm certain that if I'm not careful, I may go piping crazy.

29 weeks

"Big and loving it!" is what my pregnancy book is calling this week, and this whole month for that matter (I've been reading and really liking "The Pregnancy Book" by Dr. Sears and his wife). I'm not sure yet if I'm loving it, but it is kind of cute to me to see my tummy rounding out so nicely. Things must be getting tight inside for our little darling because his kicks and squirms are getting stronger everyday and keeping me up most nights too!

We've started seriously gearing up for delivery. Both of us are big believers of the power of positive thinking, so we're planing on the most marvelous delivery ever...while still preparing and keeping an open mind about whatever path our baby decides to take to enter this world. Jeff makes an excellent dula/supportive labor partner. He is so calming and good at relaxing so we practice, practice, practice, because I'm lousy in both arenas unless I'm at a beach or secluded mountain lodge. Since we have 11 weeks to practice, I'm hoping to be a pro at just shutting down and relaxing by the time little guy is ready to come.

Make a Wish! 11-11-11

Today is the most perfect day for wish making.

Jeffrey and I will be celebrating this historical day by making wishes (lots and lots), having a number one themed dinner, and taking turns doing our number 1 things.

First up....favorite movies.
And then....Coldstone.


Enjoy the magical day!

28 weeks

A few days late on this week, but just look at how we've grown! We visited the midwives this week and everything is going great. I'm measuring perfectly on schedule for 28 weeks, our baby love's heart beats to the right rhythm, and we have finally made it to the last trimester. Hooray for the homestretch! We just can't wait to bring this baby home, we are so in love with him already.


This week I went to get Rhogam shot. Because I have O negative blood and our baby's blood type may be positive, this shot prevents my body from building up antibodies and attacking the baby should any of his body fluids mix with mine. I didn't realized how worried I had been about this until I noticed how relieved I felt after getting the shot. Falling or severe bleeding are always dangerous, and especially during pregnancy, but I would have nightmares about tripping down the stairs or sliding on ice and not being able to make it the ER in time to get the shot and save our baby from my body. I still cling to every railing and scour the sidewalk for potential dangers with every step, but I'm much happier knowing we took one more precaution to keep our sweet child safe.

Pumpkin Patch

Halloween is my favorite holiday (Christmas is given! Everyone has to pick a favorite other than Christmas....it's the rule). We made the most of the one-day, treat-filled holiday by celebrating all month long. I bedecked the house with cobwebs, spiders, glittering skills, my favorite mercury glass, and lots of candles. Then came to search for pumpkins.

We carved pumpkins twice this year and both times we selected our pumpkins from a cute little pumpkin patch. Obviously we just couldn't get enough of that pumpkin patch-we each carved three pumpkins in total.

{can you guess which are mine and which are Jefe's?}

{my witch face, Jeff's angry snake, Michelle's happiest ever pumpkins}

When Halloween weekend rolled around, we indulged in chocolate apple making with our cousins and some close friends. Chocolate apples instead caramel apples because the caramel didn't turn out so well:

{caramel apple disaster}

Next year I'll just do what I should have done and make the caramel from scratch. I tried to melt down caramels-like tons of people suggested-but once the caramel had set, it was so hard that it bounced! We're talking rock hard. It was pretty ridiculous, but in case you'd like to know, chocolate apples are really delicious.

We also drank copious amounts of spiced apple cider, with a spice mix I whipped up myself: star anise, cinnamon, and cloves.

{lovely spices}

Also, we may have had two Halloween themed dinners....
One with my wonderful friend, Michelle, where we delighted in eating monster eyes, troll fingers, caterpillar guts, ghosts and witche's pee (caprese bites, roasted turkey legs, green bean casserole, and spider cider, of course). And because I can't go a Halloween without them, we ate mummy dogs the next night.

And then to wrap it all up, we made a haunted gingerbread house on Halloween night (while also doing homework, because such is our life right now). Home sweet happy Halloween.

26 weeks

26 weeks, or 28 weeks? Or maybe even 29?! At our ultrasound today our little darling was measuring 28-29 weeks....approximately 3 weeks ahead of schedule! He's a whopping 2 lbs 12 oz, whereas my baby book said that babies are typically at 1 lb 13 oz at 26 weeks. Every time we measure this boy he's gotten bigger and bigger than the rest of the crowd. Ahead of the curve already! We're so proud :)

Still, despite my excitement at the possibility of having a deliciously chunky baby on my hands, I was worried that bigger is not better (or even just ok), and was concerned that something was wrong. I had to keep asking first the technician, then the perinatalogist, if baby was really doing ok, and all sources reported that he's just fine. Great even, because one of the concerns for our baby (because of all that radiation nastiness I had) was that he would be smaller than typical and developing behind schedule. Then I asked, as I always do, if anyone cared to change the due date, but no one wanted to because they used the most accurate method they could to predict it in the first place....so we could have one big baby on our hands. Or he could just come early-which would be lovely, as long as it isn't too early!

But to tell you the truth....I'm still a little bit nervous. Someone is going to have to deliver this child....

Weekend Mirths

With all of my busyness through the past week, I decided to have a quiet weekend. Actually, a quiet weekend descended upon me whether I wanted it or not-Jeff was away at work all Saturday and my generally fatigue and slight nausea meant that I wasn't going anywhere or doing anything.


So I baked. There were sweet potato biscuits for me and a layer cake for Jeff. And while the layer cake was positively, deliciously evil, you simply must try these sweet potato biscuits. Scrumptious! They have a nice balance of savory and sweet, which for me meant that I could eat them with honey drizzled all over them, or I could douse them with country gravy. Or eat them for breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner (and I may or may not have done that). Not too heavy, but substantially layered make me think of a good ole Bob Evans biscuit with a touch of sweet potato and spice.


Sweet Potato Biscuits
adapted from recipe found here
Ingredients:

1 medium – large sweet potato, cooked, mashed, and cooled
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for kneading and shaping
2 tablespoons light-brown sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp allspice
1/8 tsp nutmeg
6 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/3 cup buttermilk (or 1/3 cup milk plus a dash of distilled vinegar)
cinnamon butter or unsalted butter for brushing

Method:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

In a large bowl, or in a food processor (I have one now!), mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs ranging from bread crumb size to pea size (that took about 3, good 2-second l0ng pulses with my food processor). Pour into a deep and wide bowl.

In a 2-cup liquid measure, pour in buttermilk, then measure in sweet potatoes until total volume equals 1 1/3 C. Mix together, then add to dry ingredients.

Get in there with your hands and gently knead the sweet potato mixture into the flour mixture. Try to do this gently and efficiently- you don't want the heat of your hands to melt the butter, nor do you want to overwork the dough. Turn out onto a clean surface, shape into a round, then roll out to 1-in thickness. Cut with a biscuit cutter, a glass, or cut into rugged squares. Place on a greased cookie sheet, and bake for 15-20 minutes, until golden on top, puffed up, and flaky in the middle. Brush tops with butter immediately after removing from oven.

Enjoy!

Lamp Re-Vamp

As previously stated, I've been meaning to do this for a very long time. I love this old lamp shade. It's of a perfect barrel roundness, has great height and width, and diffuses a soft, glowing light. I once covered it in an adorable, shabby chic, delightfully frumpy floral fabric 3 years ago. With this being our third move, I've redecorated in a completely different way than ever before, trying to incorporate more masculine touches in with my love of feminine and antique. Sadly, I realized it was finally time for the shade to get a face-lift.

{my glorious old lamp shade}

What you'll need:
Lamp shade
Template (I got my quatrefoil one here)
Clear packing tape
Scissors
Paint: acrylic, fabric, or even craft paint
Sponge brush
Slightly firm paint brush (for touch-ups)

I'm slightly obsessed with quatrefoil patterns right now, so I searched about online and found a template. With a copy machine, I blew it up to a size relative to my shade (large-ish), then like that one time I made these, I covered both sides of the paper with clear packing tape and cut out the four-petaled design.

{getting everything ready; I thought to use contact paper, but I get angry at contact paper}

I then secured the template to the shade with tape (making sure the tape wouldn't block where I wanted any paint to go) and set my fingers to mixing up a lovely shade of red acrylic paint. I used acrylic paint because it's what I had around, but fabric or craft paint would work equally well. I sponged on the first layer, then removed all the templates and did a second layer and touch-ups with a brush. And....voila! A brand new (looking) lamp shade that bridges feminine and masculine design.


Added bonus: the soft, reddish-hued light now gives us a little bit of that cozy, romantic, "La vie en rose."

25 weeks

I'm loving my baby boy more and more. He's starting to get so big and I'm just certain he's a cutie, but his growth spurt is making me feel terrible, so though I love him I'm sure getting tired of feeling unwell. It doesn't matter if I eat, what I eat, how much I eat, or if I don't eat, I just never seem to feel good. Everyone told me the second trimester was the "honeymoon" trimester and when they felt the best, but at the end of this second set of 13 weeks I would avidly disagree. I think I handled the first round of sickness like a champ, but my heavily packed schedule combined with another bout of all-day-sickness is getting to be too much for me handle. I'm starting to think that in addition to a countdown to baby, I should really start counting down the days I have left in school.

On to the good part-little Jeff Jeff is growing marvelously and is hitting every developmental marker. All of his pieces and parts are in the right place and I'm following along behind him in good health (aside from aforementioned nastiness). He loves to have kicking fits at around 9:11am, 3:37pm and finish off the day with an 11:03pm show. We visited with our midwife last week and are working on finalizing our birthing plan and getting ready for the big day, and we can't wait to visit the perinatologist next week and get more baby pictures and have little Mr. measured. Just thinking about it makes me feel better :)

Weekend Mirths

Jeffrey took me out on the town Friday night for one of our dates that we always used to do when we were first married-dinner and a stroll around the mall. We visited all our old haunts, feeling giddy the whole time like we were sharing a special secret with every step and every minute together.

Sadly, Saturday was not nearly as pleasant. Three hours worth of cleaning checks, grimy hands from wiping my fingers over blinds and table tops, and dry mouth from explaining the recent internet issues to E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E, left me slightly grumpy and nearly exhausted for the rest of the day. Thankfully, we have nice tenants and one of the groups of girls brought Jeffrey and I delicious homemade apple pie-have I mentioned lately that I like appley things? Oh yes, I do very much.

Sunday brought us needed relaxation and family fun. My cousins Jeff and Dan came over for a hearty man-dinner of country fried steak and an evening full of games. Making country fried steak for a crowd made me realize: I need a deep fryer :) or maybe a healthier recipe for country fried steak....but I could do more with a deep fryer than I could with one measly recipe, so it's going on my "just because" wish list.


Finally, high on a mountain three years ago today, Mr. JM Klis asked me to marry him. The man gave me a big beautiful ring and s'mores all on the same night-but best of all was (and is) being able to call him mine.

It snowed!

Yes, it really did snow today. It's October and people are already driving around with snow-topped cars. Heaven help me. I need a drink- a warm, cozy drink that is. Chilly weather and the insatiable desire to nest in my home like a little bird are my excuses for making pipping hot chocolate from scratch, you can borrow them if you need to, but really, no excuse is needed to indulge in delights such as these.

Make one and get cozy!

{cookie dough hot chocolate}

{malted vanilla steamer}

{caramel hot chocolate float -in case where you live isn't quite so chilly yet}

{apple spice syrup- spice up cocoa or tea..... or anything}

{pumpkin spice white hot chocolate}

Weekend Mirths

Oh what a glorious weekend! I wish it had never ended.

Jeffrey attended his first ever college football game, thanks to my wonderful aunt Judi. BYU played Utah State, and since my cousin Travis plays for Utah State, we had a wonderful time rooting both ways. Not only was the game good to the last second, but we also got free BYU creamery ice cream! They must have known it Jeff's first time.

I loved showing the Jefe how to be a sideline participant in the whole affair, including how to "Rise and Shout" the Cougar fight song, how to roar along with Cosmo the cougar (our mascot), and how to defend your seats to the death when sneaky older persons are trying to steal them from you.

{free delicious LaVell Vanilla. thank you BYU, I needed something sweet}

{seats on the 40}

{this artsy fartsy is the only picture Jeff would let me take of us, and even then I had to sneak}

Jeffrey works all the live long day on Saturday, so in my spare time I've been slaving over creating a delicious new recipe: caramel apple pancakes! (to gratify my caramel apple obsession, no doubt). Maybe, and hopefully, I'll get it just right some day soon.

{caramel swirled pancakes}

{Sneak peak: crafting! I did something I should have done long ago...}

On Sunday, Jeffrey and I strolled through Rock Canyon Park, drinking in the crisp air and catching whiffs of Fall leaves. We tried and tried to pick out a name for baby, finally deciding that we simply cannot decide. This naming business is hard stuff. We had a name all planned out and in the bag and then one of us (ahem, it wasn't me) comes out and says he isn't so positive about what we were once so sure about, which left us with a lot of naming doubts-we're working through it. We both believe that names are really special but finding something that speaks to both of us has proven to be a challenge so far. That's what comes from wedding your opposite I suppose.