Released!

I had double drs appts on Friday and saw both the maternal fetal specialist and the OB. I'm down to every week now with the OB- gulp! Can't believe we're so close! My blood pressure was slightly up at the OBs office, so I'm going to have to keep an eye on that. No other signs of pre-eclampsia, so we'll chalk it up to some not so comfy contractions in the waiting room. Everything else was normal, we tested for Group B strep and next week we'll start the cervix checks.

The second appt was much more fun, growth scan for Scooter! Our little girl is measuring 6lbs 4oz, which is the 52nd percentile. I've never been so happy to see average in my life! If I make it to my due date and she gains one ounce a day as is typical, she'll weight 7lbs 12oz, which is right in between where her daddy and I were. She also apparently has long arms, all of her measurements were right on date, or within a day or so, except her arms. They were measuring 38 weeks! Maybe a future swimmer? We also got a couple of face shots and any worries I had about my baby not being cute are gone. So in love already, I can't wait to chew on her chubby cheeks!

The bestest shower eva!

So surprise on me, my parents didn't come in for my brother's birthday, they came in for my shower! It was a truly excellent rouse and everyone got me, and got me good! My dearest Jackie even convinced me that she had to go on bedrest so she needed me to help her register that weekend. Now that I'm looking back and putting it all together, there were lies everywhere! It was all in good sport though, and I'm so lucky to have so many people conspire against me.

So Jackie's had me come pick her up and then we needed to run by Becky's to return something for her. I was in a FOUL mood, but was trying to buck up so I wouldn't ruin her registering experience. I actually said the words "I'm not going to say anything til I've had something to eat because it won't be nice". Yeah, I was a peach! So we get to Becky's and Jackie asks me to come in for a second cause she ate too much cheese and has to poop (so incredibly something Jackie would say). I grumbled out of the car thinking at least there would be a cute baby for me to snuggle for a minute. So I open the door, looking all sorts of scroungy mind you, and "SURPRISE!!" All of my nearest and dearest in one place to celebrate my little girl. I was completely shocked, the first words out of my mouth were "Well Done" and then I started tearing up and hugging everyone. Folks came from near and far, aunts, cousins, friends, co-workers, I was so incredibly touched. Still am, as a matter of fact! There was just so much love in that room, it was amazing.

Not to mention, all of my favorite foods, fun party games and so many presents. Holy snikes I've never seen a pile of presents like that. It took me well over an hour to get through them and I felt like I was rushing. Amazing, amazing folks I'm blessed with in my life. This is the luckiest baby on the planet.

After the shower, we met up at a Japanese steak house to celebrate my brother's birthday and hang out with some of the out of town relatives. We talked and laughed and my brother and hubs got lit on sake. It was a blast, and I had such a good day!

My favorite show

is watching my belly move every night. Its so funny to see it move of its own accord, I find myself getting distracted every time I lay down!

We're 32 weeks along now (33 tomorrow, eek!) and things are moving along just as they're supposed to. My little overachiever remains head down and to add to her accomplishments is facing rear. So she's exactly where she's supposed to be for entry! I'm sure she'll wait awhile longer but hopefully that positioning will help her make her entrance sometime before 42 weeks :o) I'm definitely getting to the point where I'm ready to not be pregnant. I can wait another 50 days or so though!

Hubs and I have birthing class this weekend and I'm excited to get the tour of the hospital and hear more about their policies and the such. As far as the class itself, meh, not sure how much I'll learn. But I feel its one of those things that needs to be done as a first time mom and that's me.

Other things I'm looking forward to:

• Girl Scout Cookies mmm tagalongs. I ordered as soon as I passed the gestational diabetes test LOL
• My rents coming into town next weekend. Love them, miss them. However I do wish my house would clean itself in anticipation of their arrival!
• Hubs 35th birthday! 
• My shower, whenever that may be. I made the mistake of asking for a surprise since I've never had one. I underestimated my freak out because of the unknown quotient :o) I'm doing better now though and am trying to just go with the flow. 

Sorry I've been absentee so long, apparently I only like to post on days with 3's. I'll try to be better promise :o)

Dear Scooter

Although Mommy loves that you're already an overachiever, really, its okay to not be head down yet! Mommy's pelvis would really appreciate not feeling like its splitting in two :o)

Love,
Me

Twice-baked Mashed Potatoes

I created this recipe after a Thanksgiving where we were waiting on the mashed potatoes in order to eat. (You know, mashed pots cool so quickly and are not nearly as tasty that way!) After that I year, I said I was finding a way to bake the potatoes so I could just pull them out of the oven and be done with it. The results are quite tasty if I do say so myself. I usually make as below, but this Thanksgiving I didn't have time to bake them (I know, the irony!), so I just added the cheese on top and the potatoes melted it. Still darn good!

Twice baked mashed potatoes

3 pounds of russet or yukon gold (recommend) potatoes

1 cup of cream

4oz cream cheese

.5 stick of butter

4-5 sprigs of thyme

3-4 cloves of garlic

Salt and pepper

Sour cream if you like (adds a nice tang, sometimes I use sometimes I don’t)

Bunch of scallions, chopped

1-2 cups of shredded cheddar

Crumbled bacon ( you can cook 3-4 pieces or you can get the bag from costco like I do :o)

Peel potatoes and cut into small, similarly sized pieces. Cook the potatoes in very salty boiling water (like the ocean) until fork tender

While potatoes are cooking, place cream into a small pot with thyme, peeled garlic, cream cheese and butter and heat on low. If you like creamier potatoes add more cream or milk. Once potatoes are done remove thyme stems and garlic pieces

Combine cooked potatoes and cream mixture (as well as sourcream if using) in a large bowl and use a hand mixer to blend, or a potato masher if you’re a glutton for punishment :o) Add salt and some pepper to taste.  (as well as milk and butter to taste if necessary, this isn’t science after all LOL!)

Spoon mashed potatoes into a corning ware dish and cover with shredded cheese.

Refrigerate until 30 minutes before ready to eat, the bake in 350 degree oven for 20-30 minutes (top will be bubbly, possibly slightly brown, your call!) Serve with small dishes of scallions and bacon pieces. Alternate: If everyone likes bacon, go ahead and mix it into the potatoes after mashing.

I love it when I'm smarter than Doctors :o)

I think I've mentioned on here before that the first OB I went to and I didn't exactly jive. It was the practice I've been limping along with since I was in my early 20s. I LOVED my first doctor there, but she left to have her own babies and I haven't been happy with them since. But, I was already a patient there and I thought I would give them a whirl and see how they would be with obstetric care. After my first meeting with the Dr, I was 100% sure they were not the doctors for me. She basically gave me the impression that I was going to have a horrible pregnancy with all sorts of problems because I have approximately one crapload of risk factors. She was telling me things like they would induce early because I wouldn't be allowed to go past my due date. (Umm...why? NOTHING is actually wrong with me!)

Well today, despite my LONG list of risk factors, I get to mark one more problem off the list. I passed my glucose test, which means no gestational diabetes for me!Take that Dr. Doom and Gloom! Well looky here, guess who knows her body? Guess who was absolutely right to look for doctors who would take the risk factors as a reason to monitor, but not to make hasty plans. I am over the moon right now in my smugness. Which probably means something is about to go wrong, but for right now, I'm loving this.

Vacation and Other Holidays

Hi World,

So its been approximately 10 years since I posted and I apologize for my sucking. Now that we have that out of the way, what's been going on?

Hubs and I went on vacation for a week and half with his family. We all headed down to Orlando and stayed at Orange Lake resort and it was mahvelous! The weather was insanely beautiful every. single. day. We're talking lower 80s, upper 70s sunshiney and bee-you-ti-full. I'd say I want to go back right now, but FL is having a cold spell so I think it might take some of the oomph out of the swimming. We were there the week of Thanksgiving and in addition to spending time at the resort, we also got to eat turkey with my family (Mom's Thanksgiving, is there anything better on this earth?!). We also hit Disney and SeaWorld both of which we fun, but left me wanting to go again when I'm not baking a small person. I would have loved to ride some more rides and my back was YURTING hardcore by the end of those days. Who knew pregnancy slowed you down LOL.

Since we've been back, the focus has been on getting ready for the holidays. The bestie and I had our annual cookie baking day on Sunday and boy howdy do I have some cookies in my house now! Christmas shopping is almost done, just the brother and the husband left. Both of them seem to just buy what they want and there's nothing left to gift them!


In Scooter news, she's moving constantly. Last week my belly moved of its own accord for the first time and that was quite the sight! Scott's felt her twice now, although she still tries to play shy on us and won't move on command. Sooo my daughter :o) We saw the Maternal Fetal specialist at the end of November and he kept using the word "perfect" and really, is there anything more you want to hear about your baby and pregnancy? I think not! I only have to see them once a month now, and no more internal exams! Woo flippin hoo! I go see my OB on Friday and have my glucose screen so prayers please that that goes well. I just passed the early screen so today is my last day of carbs until my exam to clean my blood up for the test. The thought of insulin shots doesn't really scare me but the thought of pricking my finger 4 times a day is terrifying! Otherwise I've been feeling good. Starting to feel larger, have a few braxton hicks and my joints feel looser, but all that is par for the course at this point. Ohhhh, and we painted the nursery! So excited to get everything organized.

I think that about does it! Again, apologies for being a slacker, I'll try to be better.