Special Days

Howdy Humble Readers... 

Well, I'm officially 39.  The year when no one will believe me when I tell them my age.  *sigh*  I'm not one to put a lot of emphasis on my age.  30 didn't bother me, I don't see why 40 should.  And besides, I've still got a year to get there. 

Am I where I thought I'd be at this age? 

In some respects, yes.  I'm married, with two adorable wee-lings.  I have a mortgage and car payments.  I've travelled some.  I'm still 'fluffy', just not as fluffy as I was a year ago. 

In other respects, I'm not.  I'm not a published author.  And I had thought that my children would be older by the time I reached the end of my thirties (I mean, when my bio-mom was 39, I was 21).  I don't have a brilliant career, never have had.  But I love being a stay at home mom, and heck, Julia Child didn't even start to cook until she was 37, so I still have plenty of time to make my mark somewhere. 

Yesterday was a nice mellow day.  The wee-lings and I just hung out, playing and reading books.  My Beloved brought me flowers, take-out Chinese food (terrible for my blood sugars but oh so yummy), and a double chocolate cupcake from a super awesome cupcakery here in town. 

I ended the day by diving into a new book.  Finally getting to start the Cuckoo's Calling.  I've been looking forward to this since July. 

*****
Today is also a special day.  It's my fifth blogoversary.  Five years ago I set up this little corner of the internet in hopes of using it to share the joy of our growing family with my friends and relations.  Sadly, the day after I set it up was the day I lost Emily. 

This virtual hobbit-hole has been my place of solace.  You all have become my friends, my consolation, and my cheerleaders.  Through the spectacularly painful to the giddy mountain tops of joy to the mundane day to day, you all have walked with me, sharing my tears and laughter.

Thank you all for joining me on this journey.  I wonder where I'll be in another year. 

Food of Love: My Beloved's Birthday Dinner

Hey Humble Readers...

Well, we are home from our trip, and it was a great time.  I loved the time away, and I loved coming home.  I'll tell you all about our adventures tomorrow. 

Today's post is dedicated to food po.rn.  :)

Every special occasion, even if we go out to a restaurant for dinner, I ensure that I make a special dinner for us to enjoy at home together as a family.  Putting together the menu is always fun... I look for things that are outside our normal rotation, things that maybe require a little bit more effort or a few luxury ingredients. 

This year, for my Beloved's birthday dinner, I started looking for ideas about a month ago.  I wanted it to be different.  Maybe something I hadn't made in a long time, or ever, for my Beloved. 

First, I found the cake... but you'll have to wait for more on that. 

Then, I found one of the sides.  Prosciutto wrapped asparagus.  I don't know why, but asparagus is always a special occasion food in my mind.  And of course, prosciutto is just a treat.  I wrapped about half of a bunch of asparagus, and then roasted them in the oven laid on top of the rest of the bunch, so that any drippings would flavour the rest.  Turned out very well. 

After I decided on the side, I started thinking Italian.  And then, I started thinking, braciola... super thin steak stuffed with whatever, rolled and braised in a tomato sauce.  I used to make it for my parents a long time ago, but I don't think I've ever made it for my Beloved. 

My Beloved's plate.  He practically licked it clean.

I bought inside round steaks, already sliced and pounded thin (my grocery store calls them rouladen).  I toasted off some pine nuts, and then some panko breadcrumbs.  Then I sautéed up some onions and spinach, and combined all of them together.  Then I spread the stuffing out on the steaks, rolled and tied them (with kitchen string).  I browned them off in a pan before transferring them to the slow cooker.  Then I made my favourite tomato sauce and poured that over the top.  I cooked it on high for two hours in the slow cooker, but ideally, I would have preferred to do it on low for four.  Served it up with some whole wheat spaghetti and lots of the tomato sauce.  The only thing I forgot to add was basil. 

And then there was the cake...

Doesn't look very pretty. 

Ginny 'helped', which of course meant that ingredients ended up all over the place.  Here's the original recipe I found.  I am going to state right up front, mine did NOT turn out as pretty as hers did.  I think I used a lot more of the filling between each layer than she did. 

Here is my Chocolate Irish Coffee Crepe Cake. 

Twenty-three layers!

Where the original recipe called for amaretto, I used Bailey's.  I also added a couple of teaspoons of instant espresso powder into the whipped cream. 

My Beloved's piece, with a  couple of the truffles.

Basically, it was crepe, chocolate ganache, whipped cream, crepe, chocolate ganache, whipped cream... over and over and over.  Twenty-three times.  It was a lot of work, and as I said, mine didn't turn out very pretty.  I was able to make a few truffles out of the left over ganache to use for decoration.  One big added bonus of this cake was that I didn't have to turn on the oven.  Oh, and I used lactose-free whipping cream (no carbs!!!) and that worked out just fine. 

Overall, I'm pleased with how it all turned out.  It was enjoyed by my Beloved and Ginny... I really liked it too.  (Pip was being a stinker and not wanting to eat tonight, so no cake for him.) 

Ginny, post-cake.  She's covered in chocolate. 

What's your favourite special occasion meal?

Hobbit-ish Potpurri: Oh My Aching...

Hey Humble Readers...

Thank you so much for your words of encouragement on my last post.  I managed to get out for my walk yesterday (bigger bandage on my blisters) and actually got 6km in, plus I did my squats and abs & arms workout.  And by bedtime last night I could hardly walk.  LOL.  My... well, my glutes were aching.  Still are today, so I skipped my walk this morning and did a bunch of housework and grocery shopping instead.  Didn't get all my steps in, but I'm okay with that.  I also found a tip for stretching my new shoes, which I did today.  Tomorrow will be the test. 

*****
I meant to post this yesterday, but the day got away from me.  The winner in my giveaway associated with my interview with J.R. Vikse is Good Timing!  (Had my Beloved do the 'pick a number' thing.)  I'll be in touch soon GT, to arrange for you to get your copy of The Lazy Postman.  The second part of my interview with J.R. will be posted during September's ICLW. 

*****
So, other than a to do list a mile long for tomorrow morning (including packing), I'm feeling very ready for this trip.  I know it's just a couple of hours down the highway and only for the weekend, but I'm almost as excited as I was when we went to NYC.  Almost.  We agreed that we are only going to eat at restaurants that we don't have at home... little local places mostly.  Actually, most of the ones we've chosen have been featured on You Gotta Eat Here (the Canadian version of Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives).  And we have a few fun adventures planned that I'm looking forward to telling you all about next week.  My MIL will get here in the early afternoon tomorrow and then we are off!  Hooray!

*****
Pinterest find of the week:  Ok, actually I found this one a while ago, but I only implemented it about a month ago.  Instead of using shaving foam or soap when you shave your legs, use baby oil.  This is genius!  My legs feel so soft!  I add a step, using a sugar scrub on my legs first, then the baby oil.  I find that I don't have to shave as often, and the baby oil is also supposed to make your blade last longer. 

*****
Tomorrow, Friday, is my Beloved's birthday.  I am so very blessed to have him in my life.  He's a wonderful husband, an amazing father, and my best friend.  This trip is partly to celebrate his birthday, and I also have a big dinner planned for next week, the menu for which is a surprise for him so I'll have to tell you all about it later, just in case he pops on here. 

*****
Well, I'm off to bed.  I want to get a walk in tomorrow morning, and it's going to be a busy day.  Have a great long weekend everyone!

Pippin Update: A Whole Year

Hey Humble Readers...

Well, better late than never, right?  I'm finally getting things together to tell you about Pippin's first birthday party.  I still can't get over the fact that he's a full year old now.  How has it been a year since that crazy nightmare C-section, since my crazy-lady roommate in the hospital, since bringing him home on Mother's day? 

Spent a couple of hours the night before blowing up a ridiculous
number of balloons.

 For his birthday, I had decided ages ago that we were going with a beach/surf theme and I wanted to use royal blue and orange for the main colours (totally not even thinking about the fact that those are Oilers colours, and we are a Flames household... my sister and BIL thought this was hilarious as they are big Oilers fans). 

Food!

 On the menu were spicy grilled shrimp skewers, fruit kabobs, chips (sea salt and vinegar of course!), gold fish crackers (for Ginny), cake, and a cocktail called a pineapple smash (pineapple juice, white cranberry juice, and vermouth) for the grown ups. 

Graham crumb sand, and blue sprinkles for the water

Took forever to find the little umbrellas

 I'm really happy with how the cake turned out, as I am not a baker or a great cake decorator.  Of course I got the idea off Pinterest, and with surrounding the outside with kitkat bars, it made it soooo easy.  The cake was chocolate raspberry, with raspberry jam (low sugar of course) in the middle.  Pippin totally went to town on his piece, ending up with cake up his nose and in his ear. 

"Happy Birthday to you!"

Ginny loves the Happy Birthday song so much that she's been singing happy birthday to Pip since April.  And yes, she's still singing it, more than two weeks after his birthday.

mmmmm... cake!

more please?

He was spoiled rotten.  I had told most of the family that what he really needed was summer clothes, and they came through.  He got a ton of tshirts, shorts, and muscle shirts.  And couple toys and books thrown in there too. 

opening gifts with Daddy

Lookin' like a little old farmer

of course he wanted to play with the paper

It was a relatively small gathering, just the four of us, Gramma (Beloved's mom), Mama (my mom), my sister and her husband and kids.  Still we had fun celebrating our little man.   By four o'clock our hobbit hole was ours again, he was bathed, redressed, and we were all resting.  I can't imagine what it's going to be like when we start having birthday parties with tons of kids.  I'll be a mess.  :)

official 1 year portrait

how can you not love this face?

Hobbit-ish Potpurri: Spring in the Shire

Howdy Humble Readers...

I'm hoping that you're all doing well, wherever you are.  I haven't been commenting much lately, but I do promise to improve that, and please know that I am reading and following what's up in your parts of the world!

*****
Spring has sprung in the Shire.  Finally!!  Warmer temps are here most days, and it feels good to be able to have the windows and doors open on the hobbit-hole.  I confess, I did have to turn the furnace back on yesterday (if it had just been me, I would have just put on a couple of sweaters and sucked it up, but the wee-lings were cold and that changes everything).  Another sign of spring... my snow mold allergy has kicked in.  Oh well.  It means that summer will get here eventually. 

*****
I have had a miniscule interlude of single parenting.  My Beloved had to go out of town for work (to be on-site at the part of the company that he does the accounting for... does that make sense?).  He has been gone one night, but I sure do miss him.  He should be home in the next hour or so, and I'm very glad.  I really don't know how the multitude of single parents out there do it, and do it well. 

*****
For the last couple of days, my morning workout has consisted of doing workout videos (can't go for my walk and leave the wee-lings at home alone, and if I don't do it early in the morning, it just doesn't happen).  I've realized just what it is about workout videos that I don't like.  The host/trainer.  The fake cheerleading/encouragement/patronizing commentary.  It gets on my nerves and makes me want to spew a string of expletives at the screen.  I'm going to have to get past it, though.  Because once there's snow on the ground again in the fall, I'm not going to be able to go for walks.  Any good recommendations?

*****
INPUT NEEDED: Plans for wee little Pip's birthday party are coming together.  I'm struggling with the menu though.  We are doing a beach/surf's up theme party, and for the life of me I can't decide on what to serve.  I have the cake figured out, but other than that, I'm hooped.  I've been toying with the idea of shrimp or fish mini-tacos, but I'm not sure.  It's an afternoon party, so it doesn't need to be too much in the way of food, but I still want something yummy and beachy.  Any thoughts?

*****
Something I'm pondering today... can diabetes have an affect on my cycle?  And vice-versa?  For the last few months, AF has been, well, odd.  I start getting cramps about 3 days before she actually shows up.  I was fully expecting her to show up on Sunday, because I had wicked cramps for a few hours (needed my heating pad).  The cramps died down a bit, but she didn't actually make an appearance until today.  Odd.  And my sugars, which had been going in the right direction, yesterday jumped up for no apparent reason.  Hmmmm...

*****
Well, I have to go get to work on supper.  Crock pot beef with broccoli on brown rice, with broccoli slaw.  Yummy!

Ginevra @ Two Years

Howdy Humble Readers...

Whew... How can she be two??? 

I meant to post this yesterday, but some stuff got in the way of me having computer time (nothing serious, just busy-ness) and since today is her actual birthday, and right about now, two years ago she was taking her first breaths, this feels appropriate.  So much has changed...

My favourite pic from in the hospital two years ago.
She looks so much like Pip here.

Ginny's birthday party, as I mentioned on Sunday, was fun.  I kept the food relatively simple, and the only thing that gave me any sort of frustration was the cake (a chocolate-chocolate pudding poke cake with crushed oreos and whipped cream)... or rather trying to decorate it.  I had intened to use gel icing to write "Once Upon A Time There Was A Girl Named ..." but that crashed and burned pretty quickly.  Hence we just had her name spelled out in chocolate chips and a sprinkle border.  I'm just thankful I had the chocolate chips to use. 

The Cake!

Fruit tray

Mini Corn-dog Muffins

She got spoiled rotten with a lot of books, a couple of toys, and a new outfit.  Her favourite item just now is a denim purse given to her by her Unca D, and some rubber bracelets.  Poor little Pippin was so tired during the party that he fell asleep sitting on Unca D's knee while Ginny was opening presents. 

the loot

Ginny's got such a personality.  I'm afraid that she's got my tendancy toward being easily frustrated.  Whenever she can't get one of her toys to do what she wants, she expresses herself loud and long.  She is showing some awareness of her brother's interest in her toys, and she usually responds in a good way.  So far. 

Every day she adds new words to her vocabulary.  It's hard to believe that I was so worried about her not talking a year ago.  One of her newest acquisition: delishush (that would be delicious).  She's also started to understand that she can request certain foods for meals, or decide between a couple of options.  Ginny loves pancakes, ham & cheese, grapes, oranges, chicken fried rice, yoghurt, toast with jam, french toast, soup & buns, and any kind of pasta.  Other than that little blip when she was sick earlier this month, she's a great little eater.  She's getting better with her spoon, but still has problems with remembering to hold it straight so that it doesn't dump down her front. 

She's grown again, I swear.  Almost all her pants are too short.  And her shirts are showing off too much tummy for my liking.  Still waiting on those rotten 2-year molars to make an appearance, although they seem to have settled down again and aren't hurting her too much right now. 

Ginny recognizes almost all her letters and numbers, and can sing most of the alphabet song, just not in one long stretch.  She's still struggling with colours.  Everything is yellow, brown, or purple when we ask.  My Beloved is helping her learn to use her toothbrush on her own every night as a part of her bedtime routine.  We'll give potty training another go in the new year.  Napping has recently become a challenge, with her not wanting to nap at all.  It makes for long evenings. 

wearing the bumbo seat as a helmet

She is adventurous, sometimes too adventurous for Mummy's liking.  She climbs, she bounces on the furniture, and reaches for things that she shouldn't. 

She certainly keeps us on our toes.  And I wouldn't have it any other way!

Hobbit-ish Potpurri: Mid-November Blahs

Howdy Humble Readers!

I'm sorry for my absence, especially right at the beginning of ICLW.  I can blame part of it on a two-day migraine, and part of it on sheer lethargy after the fact.  I'm beginning to wonder how much of my headaches are triggered by the weather (there have been a lot of ups and downs in the temperature lately).  Fun times!

*****
I hope that all my friends south of the 49th parallel (and those in Alaska too) have had a great Thanksgiving.  I was seriously craving turkey today... we had pork schnitzel instead.  Ginny and I watched the Macy's parade on tv (which translates to her playing and climbing all over me and trying to comb my hair until a balloon or the Sesame Street float showed up).  It was fun in a demented kind of way.

*****
Plans for Ginny's birthday party are coming together.  Sadly, it's going to be a very small group at her party.  Just us, Gramma, an uncle, and maybe one of her little friends from church.  I know that she won't notice or miss anything, but is it okay for me to be a little bummed that no one else is coming?  I wish she had a few cousins her age. 

*****
I had a dream last night that freaked me out.  I dreamed that I was pregnant.  As in, I just found out, watched the line change colour.  And I was PANICKING!!!  Who'da thunk that a dream about being pregnant would ever be almost a nightmare?  And in the dream, I was particularly freaked out because I had just sold a bunch of baby stuff on Kijiji (which reminded me that I had to post a bunch of stuff on Kijiji today). 

*****
Ginny is fully recovered from the roseola.  No more spots, and she's eating almost normally again.  I think she may be starting to develop some pickiness which makes me sad.  Hopefully, it's a short lived phase. 

*****
Still haven't taken our Christmas card photo, as I've been waiting for everyone to be healthy and happy enough to take it.  It also doesn't help that I want to take the pic outside, but it's dark when my Beloved leaves for work and when he comes home.  Hopefully we'll be able to get it done on the weekend. 

*****
Speaking of my Beloved... still haven't heard anything about the interview, but they said they'd call by the end of the week.  Keep those fingers crossed for us please. 

Random Parenting Ponderings

Hey Humble Readers...

I hope you're all well, cozy in your homes.  It snowed here in the Shire for more than 24 hours and we are hanging out at around -5C for a daytime high.  I finally caved yesterday and turned on the furnace.  Last year I made it until November 5th.  *sigh*  Oh well... at least we have a furnace to turn on, right?

So, I've had some parenting stuff wander through my head recently, and I'm wondering where you all stand on these things.

Potty Training - When did the word training become verboten?  Bathroom education... toilet learning... heck I've even read the term 'personal waste management' used.  Why is 'training' a bad word?  We hire personal trainers, train for marathons, and we even play games to train our brains to keep them sharp.  Why is it wrong to call learning to use the toilet potty training?  It really is training... Ginny is having to train her brain to recognize the messages her body is sending.  Is this just a case of political correctness run amok, or am I completely missing the boat?

Sleep - I hesitate to bring this up, simply because I know we have gotten off sooooooo easy in this department.  Many of my friends have gone for months, even years without a complete night's sleep on account of wee-lings that won't sleep when the rest of the world does.  We have a situation with two wee-lings who go to bed at different times, in the same room.  Ginny goes to bed at 7:30pm and Pippin is adjusting to sleeping through the night without his 11pm feeding.  It's time for him to be sleeping in the nursery all night rather than starting the night in the living room and then being moved to his crib much later.  Ginny is a good sleeper, but she's a light sleeper, and I don't want to wreck her great sleep routine by introducing a squawking little man into the situation.  How do those of you with twins or more than one wee-ling handle them sleeping in the same room?  Any advice to share?

Ginny's Birthday - Our wee sweet girl will be two sooner rather than I care to admit, and I'm having some difficulties with my plans for her birthday party.  First, I decided back in the summer that I wanted to do a "Build Her Library" birthday party (using library cards as invitations, and encouraging her guests to bring books rather than toys because her birthday is so close to Christmas).  My MIL has questioned this idea whenever I bring it up, implying that Ginny is too young to be given a lot of 'nice' storybooks.  Yes, Ginny has recently been hard on some of her books, loving them to death as some little ones do with their stuffies or blankies.  But she so loves having stories read to her, and I want to increase the variety of stories she has to choose from.  Second, I'm struggling with who to invite to the party.  Ginny only has one real little friend, from church.  I want to invite the aunts and uncles, but I don't want it to seem like a gift grab kind of situation.  A second birthday doesn't strike me as much of a milestone birthday as the first... or rather I'm afraid they won't see it as such.  I want her to have a nice celebration of her, but I don't want anyone to feel obligated.  Does that make any sense at all?? 

I have other things rattling around in my brain, but I think I'll stop here for now.  Looking forward to hearing your input... :)

On This Day...

Hey Humble Readers...

On September 18th...

14 – Tiberius is confirmed as Roman Emperor by the Roman Senate following the natural death of Augustus
324 – Constantine the Great decisively defeats Licinius in the Battle of Chrysopolis, establishing Constantine's sole control over the Roman Empire.
1180 – Philip Augustus becomes king of France.
1679 – New Hampshire becomes a county of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
1809 – The Royal Opera House in London opens.
1851 – First publication of The New-York Daily Times, which later becomes The New York Times.
1919 – The Netherlands gives women the right to vote.
1934 – The USSR is admitted to League of Nations.
1975 – Patty Hearst is arrested after a year on the FBI Most Wanted List.
1984 – Joe Kittinger completes the first solo balloon crossing of the Atlantic.
1998 – ICANN is formed.
2009 – The 72 year run of the soap opera The Guiding Light ends as its final episode is broadcast.

(all info/links above respectfully borrowed from Wikipedia)

 



And in 1974, at 6:30 in the morning, your friendly neighbourhood wanna-be hobbit took her first breath.  :)

I share my birthday with a bio-aunt (she was 12 when I was born) and she got married on her birthday 8 years later.  I was a flower-girl.

My bio-sister's birthday was yesterday.  I had a step-cousin, whose birthday is tomorrow.

I started college on my 19th birthday. 

The first day of our NYC trip 3 years ago was my birthday.

My Beloved got me the Rachael Ray pasta pot that I have been longing for FOREVER, and 'from the wee-lings' I got a giftcard for my favourite clothing store (where I will be buying my much longed for new bras!).  I know that my Beloved has arranged for a sitter tonight, and that we're going out.

Happy Birthday to me!!!

****
Sleep Update - last night was better, but not spectacular.  Master Pippin got laid down in his crib just before midnight... and Miss Ginny woke up.  But she was able to settle fairly quickly.  Over the next half hour I was in and out of the nursery a couple of times, just to re-settle Ginny.  Pip was dead to the world.  I woke up at about 3:15 to Ginny squawking.  Got her settled again, and Pip was awake, so I fed him, and then he and I slept in the living room again until 6.  I think once we get past the 3am feedings again, we might be in a pretty good place.  I just feel bad that Ginny, who has always been a great sleeper, is having to be put through this. 

Ginevra @ 1 Year

Good Evening Humble Readers...

I know that I have made much of Ginny's impending birthday, but it is a huge moment in time for us, and I want to capture it as completely as possible. 

Outta my way, Daddy... I got places to go!

As of 8:42 tonight, our girl has been with us for a full year.  Sadly, she wasn't able to mark the moment with us because she crashed very early due to a lack of napping and a lot of teething pain (doctored with a bit of tylenol).

She loves squeezing into little spaces.

This month has been another busy month for our wee sweet girl.  Discovering that she could stand up on her own, without having to pull herself up on a piece of furniture, was a big thing.  She walks all over the place when she's at home or somewhere where she's comfortable.  She HATES her shoes, and isn't a big fan of the pseudo ski-mask (covers her whole head and neck, but the face is open).  Mittens are also an interesting experience. 

Did I do that?

Cutting her third tooth (her first on the top) led to some angst and a lot of snot.  But she's very proud of her new tooth and loves to show it off.  Its next door neighbour is going to be showing up soon. 

Look at my teeth!!

Ginny loves her food.  New favourites are grilled cheese sandwiches and peanut butter sandwiches (both cut up into managable pieces).  She also loves macaroni with meat sauce, and of course her mashed potatoes.  She's completely done with the bottle, and loves her sippy/straw cups.  She's been off formula for almost a full month now, and made the transition to milk easily.  She also really loves to drink out of my water bottle. 

She's been super snuggly this month... cuddling with Daddy

Her favourite animal has changed from 'puppeeee' to 'beh' (bear).  She still adores her favourite celebrity german shepherd (The Littlest Hobo), but more than anything she lurves bears, polar bears especially.  It's to the point where she calls all four legged animals bears, even the elephants in her nursery.  Her best moment of this past week was catching a glimpse of the National Dog Show on tv, and seeing the old english sheepdog... she was actually a little confused.  Is it a bear?  Is it a puppy?  It was quite amusing.

Whoa... things look funny from down here!

She's also becoming very aware of herself as a person.  She's obsessed with the little photoalbums we have around the house with pics of her.  She will point to a pic of herself, and then pound on her chest.  'Baby' is her clearest word, and when we ask her where the baby is, she immediately looks around for the pics of herself and then points to her chest. 

I don't need no stinking toys!  Boxes are where it's at!

I don't have her stats, but she has gained a little bit of weight, and judging by how her pants are fitting, she's getting taller too.  She's got huge feet... she's already outgrowing the size three shoes we got for her this fall.  Methinks she is going to be more entish than hobbitish. 

Two days old... We've come a long way baby!

Coming tomorrow... only a year late... the birth story.

Fun Was Had By All

Good Evening Humble Readers...

Whew... what a day!  We were running from the moment we woke up, until about 4:30 this afternoon.  And then the Ginny and I just crashed. 

Ginny woke up tot he surprise of the dining room being decorated with balloons ans treamers.  The look on her face was priceless. 



The party was a blast, and I managed to get through it all without getting weepy.  The food went over very well (I forgot to take a pic of the most popular item, the Buffalo Chicken Dip), and our wee sweet girl was spoiled with an entire new wardrobe and some wonderful toys.  She enjoyed her cupcake greatly, once she got into it.  At first, she just didn't know what to make of this thing on her tray.  But as soon as she got her hands into it, she was having a blast. 

Tomoorow, Ginny's actual birthday, will be a quiet day, for just the three of us.  Well, church in the morning, but other than that we're going to just celebrate in a mellow way.  I'm looking forward to it.

*****
As an aside, can someone who is familiar with Picasa help me figure out how to embed a slide show/movie without having to go through youtube?  This was a bit of a trial. 

Not Ready

Good Evening Humble Readers...

The cake is baked. 

The ganache glaze is cooling. 

The wings are marinating. 

The house is clean (mostly... our bedroom needs to be dusted and vaccuumed). 

The balloons are hung, and so are the streamers. 

The present has been wrapped, and the card has been signed. 

All the other food is set to be assembled tomorrow morning.




And yet...

I'm not ready.  I'm not ready for our wee sweet girl to be a year old.  Someone please tell me this gets easier.  Lie to me if you have to.

Party Plans!

Howdy Humble Readers!

I hope that you've had a great, restful weekend.  Ours has been busy (Ginny's photoshoot, grocery shopping, a trip to see MIL in the Wee Little Town Down South, church, and Costco... yikes, busy and expensive). 

Part of what I accomplished this weekend was planning Ginny's birthday party.  It's not going to be a big ridiculous blowout or anything.  Just a small gathering of some family and friends, maybe 10 people plus us. 

I did up the invite (and a super huge thank you to everyone who offered advice and assistance!!  I really appreciate all your help).  It's pretty simple, but I think it's cute.

And I decided on the menu... These yummy ham & swiss sammies,


Going to do them on those little butter pan rolls... YUM!

 cilantro lime chicken wings,

It's a cilantro lime pesto - Yum Oh La!

veggies & dip, and baked goat cheese with herbs. 

Ginny's going to have a cupcake from a local cupcake bakery, and I'm going to bake this chocolate wonder for the grown ups.

This is how I'm planning on decorating our dining room, but I'm going to use pistachio green balloons mixed with a few pink. 

As you can tell, Pinterest has been hugely helpful in planning.  I'm still trying to think of a way that our family and friends from far away can participate in the day... I'm thinking of something like everyone sending her a wish for the next year or maybe a favourite storybook quote.  Any thoughts?

Happy Birthday to Me!

Hey Humble Readers...

Meet me at the Party Tree out in the field, and we'll have a great time!  I may not be eleventy-one, but I think I can still throw a good party!  :) 

Ok, in all seriousness... I'm having a nice mellow day, and tonight my Beloved is taking me out for dinner and a movie.  Yay!  I hope we're going someplace fun...

Now, who's going to drink a margarita for me?

Very Merry Birthday, My Beloved!

Hey Humble Readers!

Today is a special day in my little hobbit-hole.  Today my Beloved celebrates his 40th birthday! 

My wonderful, patient, sweet, ent-ish, unflappable Beloved...

He puts up with my mercurial moods and is amazing with our wee sweet girl.  He cheers me on in whatever I attempt, and quietly, humbly makes our world work. 

I love him so much.  How did I get so blessed?

*****
The sunburn is getting better, slowly.  That itchy crawly stage has set it... Ugh!

Bloggity Summer Camp: My Birthday

Howdy Humble Readers...

It's been a long sunshiny day here on the flatland.  And I'm not complaining!  Tomorrow it's supposed to get into the upper 20s or maybe even low 30s for us here.  (That would be the upper 80s for you fahrenheit folks).  That's a bit warm for my taste, but I'll take it!

Today at our awesome Bloggity Summer Camp, Camp Director Calliope has asked...

"What do you prefer to do on your birthday?"

Hmmm... Honestly, I don't really have a particular preference.  I don't have a favourite restaurant or something that I simply must do on my birthday.  I do like to have a quiet day, with family and a few friends.  Sleeping in is a nice thing, and a nice dinner, maybe at somewhere new.  But really, so long as I have someone to say 'Happy Birthday' to me, someone who recognizes that this is a special day for me, that's all I need.

My birthdays haven't always been fun days for me.  There's a history of angst and turmoil around my birthday (My half birthday has always been so much better).  My birthday is in September, and it always seems to be a time of transition and change.  Some of these changes haven't been the easiest to get through, so if I can have a mellow day I am super thankful. 

If I can just have a quiet day, and maybe a little chocolate cake... that's all I need.

Week 30: Where Has The Time Gone?

Greetings Humble Readers...

I'm sorry that I wasn't around over the weekend.  It was a tad busy, even though I wasn't at work, and well, I think it's okay to take your birthday off from everything... just my humble opinion.  :)

So, yeah, I missed a birthday post... again.  And yeah, I missed my blogoversary post too.  I can't believe I've been at this for two years now.  Amazing.  I spent some time re-reading some of my posts from the beginning and it's amazing how far we have come in the last two years. 

We had a great weekend (farmer's market, dinner out, window shopping for baby stuff), with some not so great moments interspersed (doing battle with our cell phone service provider, realizing that our finances took an even bigger hit than we thought last month). 

So, the point of this post?  Here we go...

How far along? 29w0d

Maternity clothes? Of course, but only having 3 pairs of pants that are suitable for work is getting a little old.

Body Oddities?  Where to begin?  Ummm... let's see... there's the ridiculous amount of hair on my belly, the gassiness, constipation, dry itchy skin, Braxton Hicks contractions... oh, and the 'girls' have officially begun leaking (not much but enough to freak me out!).  One thing I'm thankful for though, I realized last week that it's been months since I've had a real zit.  My rosacea has gotten worse, but no zits!  And I have discovered that baby brain has a directly affects my dyslexia... I've forgotten how to spell, and I get things backwards constantly, EVERYTHING, not just my usual suspects. 

Sleep? Still hit and miss.  I think the fatigue is just really starting to get to me.

Best moment this week?  The dessert I had with my birthday dinner.  I let myself be a very bad girl and had a slice of cookies and cream cake (chocolate brownie layers with oreo cream and chocolate mousse).  It was to die for!

Worst moment?  Working out just how broke we are going to be soon.  First victim of the belt tightening?  The groovy diaper bag.  There are more important things we need.  I'll find something cheaper that will work. 

Movement? The Halfling is active at more random times of the day.  He/She moves around when I wake up to go pee in the middle of the night, whenever I eat, whenever I take my insulin, when I'm just sitting around, when I'm walking... all. the. time!

Food cravings?  What I wouldn't give for a tall glass of ice cold milk!  I want it all the time.  I've never been a milk drinker, but now that it messes with my blood sugar it's all I want.

Rings? I think they just might stay on for the duration.

Gender? Not going to find out, but I think it's a boy.

Intense Dreams?  None that I remember this week.  I know I've been dreaming a lot, because I wake up with that weird feeling that I have just been dreaming, but they disappear too quick to recall.

Medical Concerns? High blood pressure (on 50mg Trandate/Lobetalol, 3 times a day... bp was a little higher than normal this past week, but work has been super stressful), Gestational Diabetes (closer to getting it under control), on prescription Zan.tac for heartburn.

What I miss?  This is going to sound weird, but I miss being able to weigh myself.  I admit I am a scale junky, and weigh myself far more often than I should.  But I can't now, because I can't see the numbers on the scale.  It's so strange.

What I look forward to? Meeting this little person who's been kicking the tar out of my insides, MATERNITY LEAVE!

Emotional State?  Better, I think.  Don't get me wrong, I can still cry at the drop of a hat, but it's been less related to the numbers on my glucometer. 

Ok, I really need to go get caught up with all of you...