Sunday Night Chit Chat: Turkey Day!

Howdy Humble Readers...

Here, north of the 49th parallel, it's Thanksgiving weekend.  While technically, Thanksgiving is tomorrow, most people I know celebrated today with their turkey and all the trimmings.  We are doing ours tomorrow, and I'm feeling pretty well prepared. 

Herbert the turkey is thawing in the fridge, the sweet potatoes (aka Sandy's Yams) have been prepared.  The cornbread for my stuffing is made and 'drying out', the veggies and sausage for the stuffing have been sautéed and ready for assembly tomorrow.  My maple pumpkin cheese cake is cooling (sadly, it cracked  pretty seriously, but there will be a pecan maple cream sauce to cover the boo-boos).  The breakfast casserole for brunch tomorrow is prepped and ready to go.  All I have to do tomorrow is the mashed potatoes, vegetables (roasted brussel sprouts and carrots), gravy, and of course cook Herbert.  The other things will reheat in the oven while the turkey is resting.  Yay!

In other news, you know how I've been stressed out about Pip's lack of talking?  Well, yeah, I still am, but man oh man, Ginny is sure making up for his silence.  My wee sweet girl WILL. NOT. STOP. TALKING.  She sings to her food, she talks to her shadow-girl, and holds conversations with all of her toys.  And when she's not doing any of those things, she's talking to me.  She gives me a running commentary on the leaves falling outside and all of Pip's movements.  More than once I've heard some of my words coming out of her mouth, and I cringe.  I swear she's going to be a lawyer or a politician when she grows up. 

On to this week's chit chat.  Here's what I'm...

Reading - "The Painted Girls" by Cathie Marie Buchanan.  I am ADORING this book!  My SIL recommended it to me, and it is so good.  It's set in late 19th century Paris.  The main characters are two sisters, one of whom was the model for Edgar Degas' statue "Little Dancer".  It's an interesting look at the culture of the lower classes in Paris (particularly those associated with the Opera), and how they got by day to day.  I'm loving it. 

Watching - Last week's episode of Scandal.  Later I'll watch Once Upon A Time. 

Listening To - My Beloved muttering to himself as he works on his next assignment for his course.

Cooking/Baking - Other than all my efforts for Thanksgiving, it's going to be a pretty tame week cooking-wise.  Nothing new or spectacular.  Hot turkey sandwiches, pork chops, and chili.  Oh, I did learn something cooking related this weekend... and I learned it the hard way.  Butternut squash can do a serious number on your skin.  It's never happened to me before, but after some research I found out that if a squash is picked before it's fully ripe (impossible to know of course, when you buy the squash at the grocery store) the sap/juices act as a defence mechanism for the fruit and it acts like a chemical peel.  My hands looked like I had contracted leprosy for several hours yesterday. 

Happy I Accomplished This Week - Managing to keep the wee-lings fed, clothed, while feeling like I'm getting kicked in the back repeatedly.  I've also managed to get within spitting distance of being 75lb down.  Only a month after my original target. 

Looking Forward To Next Week - Pulling out the Halloween decorations.  Finalizing the wee-lings' costumes. 

Thankful For - Antibiotics the size of horse tranquilizers, that Ginny made it through church this morning (even though Pip didn't), and that we are blessed enough to be able to give to the foodbank rather than need their services. 

***Bonus Question*** What is your favourite part of Thanksgiving food-wise?  Leftovers.  I could eat cold turkey sandwiches (with mayo, salt, and pepper, on those squishy little dinner rolls) every day for a month and not be sick of them.  I also really like my sweet potato recipe... it's got booze in it.  :) 

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This was posted as a part of Carla's Sunday Night Chit Chat.  Pop on over and check out what others are chatting about tonight. 

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!

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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.

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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. 

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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). 

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

Just To Let You Know...

Hey Humble Readers...

I just wanted to let you know how the new recipes worked out. 

The cornbread and sausage stuffing turned out pretty good.  It was different from what I'm used to (which I was expecting, but alongside the turkey and everything it still threw me a bit), and out of habit, I left the salt out of the recipe, which I think was a mistake.  Next time I would also up the sage/garlic powder/ground pepper just a bit.  My Beloved really really liked it, and is really excited that there is a ton left over for tomorrow night, and to freeze.

The maple pumpkin cheesecake was amazing!  I made it as low carb as I could, while still using the graham crust (which I made with Spl.enda) and the maple syrup.  It tasted absolutely divine!  I had some crust issues, but I think if I doubled the crust and baked it a bit longer before adding the cheesecake part, it would have turned out better.  I haven't made a lot of cheesecakes tho, so who knows.  Even with a soggy crust, it was still a lot better than every pumpkin pie I've ever had.

And for your viewing pleasure... here's what my dessert looked like.

 

Week 33: Thankfulness

Howdy Humble Readers!

I know that those of you south of the border (and in Alaska) are celebrating Columbus Day, but for us it's Thanksgiving.  My Beloved and I are having a quiet Turkey day, just the two of us (he's over on his computer gaming), kind of odd for us.  I'm used to cooking for a bunch of people...  I'm still cooking a ton of food today, but most of it is going into the freezer for next month.  If you've been reading this week, you know I'm trying  couple of new recipes today (Maple Pumpkin Cheesecake is in the fridge, and the Cornbread Sausage Dressing is just hanging out, ready to be warmed up while the turkey rests later). 

Sadly, my efforts in the kitchen today have been hampered by a combination of BH contractions and terrible bloating/gas/constipation.  My Beloved has really stepped up, tho, and he has done all my dishes.  He totally rocks.  The turkey (named George) is finally in the oven and can relax for a while before I have to start basting and making the sauce for the cheesecake. 

Today, I am thankful for so many things, for my Beloved and his presence in my life.  I'm thankful that he has a good stable job in the midst of this challenging economic time.  I'm thankful for our families, friends, and their influence in our lives.  But this year, I am particularly thankful for this little Halfling and the hope that he/she has brought to my life. 

How far along? 33w0d

Maternity clothes? Oh yeah... altho, I can still fit into one pair of my pre-pregnancy jeans.  I wore them all day yesterday.  Crazy!

Body Oddities? Let's see... bloating is back, as is the constipation.  I've had more than my usual share of headaches this week, but they have been mostly sinus/allergy related.  Dry skin is over the top too.  And the continued weight-loss (I've never lost weight this easily before!).

Sleep?  It seems like I'm in a pattern... two nights of crappy sleep, one good night.  I'm am getting better with managing my energy levels tho.  I make sure to take my naps when I need them, and then I get up and do a few things when I'm still fresh. 

Best moment this week?  The mailman was the source of a lot of fun this week.  The diaper bag I ordered arrived.  I can't wait to show you guys pics.  It's absolutely nothing like the one I had originally wanted to get, but I love it just the same.  And my Beloved is pretty stoked about it too.  And there was another package that arrived that I can't wait to show you... I'm planning on sharing it on Thursday for Show & Tell.

Worst moment? Go back and read Saturday's post.  That about sums it all up.  (I obviously found a corn bread mix tho... at a sugar free store of all places!)

Movement? Yup... I'm actually wondering when I'm going to experience the slow down that all the books and email updates keep telling me to expect.  The Halfling really likes to wake up and move around when I get up for my 2am pee.  It takes me forever to fall back to sleep when he/she is moving around like a monkey.

Food cravings?  I found the most incredible sugar-free, crustless chocolate cheesecake at a store that specializes in foods for people with allergies and special diets.  I have been obsessing about it every day, but I've been good and limited myself to one slice with dinner (it only has 13g of carbs!) so that it doesn't mess with my blood sugar numbers.  Yay!

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

Gender? Not going to find out, but I think it's a boy.  It looks like the poll is almost a tie!

Intense Dreams?  Not so many intense dreams, but every time I wake up, I have that feeling like I've just interupted a dream. 

Medical Concerns? High blood pressure (on 50mg Trandate/Lobetalol, 3 times a day... now getting my bp checked every week at the hospital before my OB appointment. They have the right size cuff for this plus size gal), Gestational Diabetes (all my numbers are good most of the time, except for my waking numbers), on prescription Zan.tac for heartburn. I will probably be induced in week 39... holy crap, that's soon!

What I miss?  I miss the social aspect of work.  I've never been a person who likes talking on the phone, so I'm feeling the lack of social interaction.

What I look forward to? Baby shower on Friday night, prenatal classes on Saturday!

Emotional State?  Really varies, depending on my energy level. 

Thoughts?

I'm back again, Humble Readers... twice in one day!  Shocking!

I want your opinions. 

I'm thinking of trying these two recipes for Thanksgiving.  Neither one is very diabetes friendly, but I am allowing myself a naughty day on Monday, and then freezing the leftovers for after the baby is born. 

Cornbread and Sausage Stuffing

Maple Pumpkin Cheesecake

I'm planning on using Sple.nda (and using evaporated milk with Spl.enda in place of the sweetened condensed milk) and light cream cheese.  I might even leave off the crust.  Maybe.  I'm also going to cut smaller pieces and send the leftovers to work with my Beloved.  The maple syrup is a problem, but I think I will just allow it and enjoy it. 

Any thoughts?  Suggestions? 

Hobbit-ish Potpurri: Making Progress

Hey Humble Readers!

Things here on the flatland are pretty quiet these days.  We've finally had a bit of a stretch of nice weather.  It feels like autumn should, and I have always loved this time of year.  (mental note: I must remember to clean up the balconey before the rain starts again)  I've been slowly making some progress on my to do lists.  Just a few things a day, but I'm getting there. 

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The ultrasound earlier this week went very well.  I know that these things are notoriously wrong, but the Halfling is measuring in the 90th percentile (I can't figure out what that means in practical terms).  At least I can stop worrying about the baby not gaining weight as I lose it.  I was nervous beforehand, but then I always am until I see that little heartbeat.  I know at this point it's silly, but I truly keep expecting the other shoe to drop.  I have this fear that one day there won't be movement, that I'll go see Dr. U and the baby will just not be there anymore.  He/she will just have vanished.  That this will all have been something I made up in my head. 

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Speaking of weight loss, I am starting to get a little concerned.  I'm dropping weight like mad.  I'm down 6 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight (according to my scale... the doc's scales weigh me a least three pounds lighter all the time), although I did go up about 6 pounds in the first trimester, so all totalled I've lost 12 pounds.  Dr. U isn't concerned, but this is just so unexpected.  I have always expected that I would gain at least a bit when pregnant.  I'm eating all the time (three meals and at least two snacks a day... way more than I normally would). 

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Thanksgiving is this weekend for those of us north of the 49th parallel.  I want to do something different this year, so I'm thinking about making a sausage stuffing.  Any suggestions?  I normally just do the usual bread, celery, onion mix.  I have also become obsessed with pumpkin desserts.  Well, desserts of any kind, but I really want to find a good pumpkin dessert that I can make with Sple.nda.   It's only going to be the two of us, so I'm planning on freezing a bunch of the leftovers for next month.

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I'm thinking that I might put up our outdoor Christmas lights next week.  I know it's early, but I think I want to do it while it's still nice out.  I won't plug them in of course, just get them out there.  One other piece of Christmas planning that has recently been taken care of... we are getting a free (artificial) Christmas tree!  Our last tree was a cheap-ie that we bought our first Christmas together, and it dropped more needles than a real tree would.  We tossed it last year after the holidays, fulling intending on buying a new one this year.  With the hit our finances took last month, we were thinking we were going to be going without a tree this year.  I mentioned it a couple of weeks ago at work, and one of the new girls told me that she and her husband had bought a new tree last year, and were wanting to get rid of their old one.  She wants to give it to me for free!  It's a 7' tree, only a few years old.  I'm stoked!