A Sure Sign of Spring

We are ready for the Easter Bunny....

BUT

Until then we'll make due

with our own.

Life at 30 weeks and Counting

I have felt amazing this pregnancy.

No sickness

A little minor craziness (but seriously who doesn't go a little nuts while in this state)

Fairly good energy levels

seriously no complaints.

Well, that is until now.

I have felt so great that I almost felt like I wasn't pregnant

BUT

whaBAMo

all of a sudden you realize that you can no longer roll over in bed.

I go to roll, wake up when I find myself high-centered, I heave myself back over, and begin the process all over again, only I remember to roll on my back and not on my stomach.

At 30 weeks,

I find myself "nesting"-which actually doesn't involve ME doing anything... it is a lot of lists.... and mostly stuff Dusty needs to do. I'm sure it's annoying. I shall let that fall into the category of "craziness I am allowed to do because I am bringing forth a child into this world".

At 30 weeks,

I have begun to worry.

Until this point the "birth process" has seemed so distant

BUT

now I actually would like to start going back in time.

At this point I would like a sedative to calm myself.

I would like to just breeze into the hospital, looking radiant (and while I'm at it I would like long brunette locks that swing and bounce as I am breezing), I would like to calmly walk into labour and delivery and in moments be holding a beautiful baby. And I would like to walk away hours later looking like i had been at a spa.....

Is that really too much to ask?

Instead,

I will loose countless hours of sleep the night before, worrying about being sliced open. I will waddle into the hospital jittery and nervous with giant bags under my eyes. I will be terrified but forcing myself to smile so I make Dusty feel a little better and a little less nervous than I am. I will spend the greater part of the morning being poked by various nurses TRYING to get an IV in. I will then be wheeled into the O.R. where I will be cold and white and sweaty. I will have to sit up and get an spinal. I will then spend the next half hour numb and feeling like I'm out of breath till finally the moment comes that I hear that cry. The sound of success. They show me the child and in seconds he/she will be whisked out of the room, along with my husband and I will be alone. I will be alone for the next 1 hour (at least) with the only sounds being the nurses feet padding around me, checking vitals, and murmuring quietly. I will finally be wheeled out of the recovery room and put in my room.

I know this must sound like I'm whining.

I'm not.

I'm just scared. I've been through this twice. It's really not that bad (that's what I keep reassuring myself with). It honestly isn't (that bad).

BUT

at 30 weeks

I get nervous.

I begin to panic.

I really need a sedative.....

Tex-Mex Dip

Tex-Mex Dip

Ingredients
1 block of Velveeta cheese
1 jar of salsa (about 750 ml.... I use Hot salsa but use whatever heat your want)
1-2 lbs of hamburger (depending on how chunky you want it. I use 2lbs)

Directions
Cook ground beef. I lightly season it.
layer cheese, beef, salsa, cheese, beef, and salsa into a casserole dish.
bake at 350 for 20 minutes.
take it out and stir.
bake for another 20 minutes or so. Adjust the temperature for how long it's going to be in the oven. It's best served hot.

Serve with chips, pitas, bread, a spoon.... whatever you want...

Candied Meat

This is the EASIEST appetizer ever. It's very unisex and not very calorie wise.

Ingredients
Bacon- for a big cookie sheet full I use 1 and 1/2 packages
cocktail wienies- a bag (you're going to need about 100)
Brown Sugar- 1/2 cup to 1 cup (I used about 3/4)
Toothpicks
** freezer bag
** maple syrup

Directions
cut bacon into 3rds
roll around wienies
toothpick it
place on pan
cover in brown sugar
bake at 400 until desired crispiness.
eat.

** I usually make them the night before and throw them into a freezer bag. I will squirt 1/4 cup or so of maple syrup into the bag and let it marinate over night.

Annual Superbowl Party- year 2

Dusty and I both like to stay home. We don't often go out on dates or over to friends houses or to church activities. We do travel to see our families a fair amount but that's really to extent of it. Yesterday, however, we actually invited people over to our house. It was fun, in fact, it was a LOT of fun. We invited 3 other couples and their children over for football and food. I am so glad that Dusty got enough of the basement done that there was a "man-cave". I forget that I actually DO like people. I like talking to them and listening to them (mostly talking though.... I'm trying to embrace the listening part.... it's coming.... slowly...). The girls had so much fun playing and were very excited to have a party. I may actually have another.

The food was good.

I wish I had taken pictures.

I'm going to try to post some of the recipes.

I made...

cocktail wienies wrapped in bacon and baked in brown sugar

Tex-Mex dip

Shauna made...

spinach artichoke dip

PW chocolate sheet cake

Kim made...

peanut butter cup cookies

white chocolate covered popcorn.

Did I mention how good the food was?

A party just isn't a party without food....

OH and it didn't hurt that the Saints won....

Go Saints!

On thin Ice

We had company last week. Dusty's mom and brother came and for a visit (and to help Dusty with the basement- Thanks Dillon) and then my dad came for a few days. While my dad was here we took the girls skating. It was the first time we've taken them. It was so much fun. I wish that I had taken my skates. I missed the smell and the cold and the sound skates make. It was so funny watching everyone out there. Dusty and my dad both haven't been on skates for about 10 years. It was priceless. Ellie and Lucy had a way better time than I thought they would. I can't wait to take them again.