Attention Preggies

This might totally be a first-time mom thing to do, but I found this podcast all about pregnancy and babies that I totally love.  When I found out I was pregnant I went on a book buying, web surfing, info gathering crusade (I am a nerd of the highest order sometimes.) and this is definitley the best thing I stumbled upon.  And when I think back on my pregnancy, I am glad that I spent so much time listening to it.  It's called Pregtastic.  I know, who though of that name?  But don't let the goofy name deter you!  If you are pregnant and want a fun listen, check it out.  There's a show about pretty much any topic you can think of.  I ended up listening to it at the gym or while I was working. . . or just when I was trying to pass the time since those first few months went by so slow.  So from one preggie to another, that's my recommendation!

Boiled Potatoes

If there is something that I have thoroughly enjoyed this pregnancy in the food department, it has been potatoes.  Mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, baked potatoes, funeral potatoes, sweet potatoes. . . you see my point.  Anyway, the other night I was feeling spent.  Totally and completely drained.  So Brad turned on Pride and Prejudice(2005 version) and nestled into the couch with me.  I was cured I tell you.  Then the scene where Mr. Collins comes to visit came on, and all of a sudden there was this bowl of potatoes on their table.  Immediately I wanted some; I just had to have them.  They were so good they prompted Mr. Collins to remark, "What most exellent boiled potatoes.  It's been many years since I had such an exemplary vegetable."  And with that I was left to thinking about enjoying boiled potatoes for days.  Every meal I would tell Brad that I wished we were having boiled potatoes.  Me and Mr. Collins, we are down like that.  So last night I came rushing home from Young Womens, starving out of my mind because I hadn't eaten since lunch and I was planning on just having something quick since Brad was at work, but I saw his car there when I pulled up.  And then when I came in the house I smelled the wonderful aroma of steak cooking, the kind only my husband can make (it's SO good), but that was not all. . . . 

I was greeted with boiled potatoes, just like in the movie. Brad had rushed home from work to make me some while I was still at Young Womens, knowing he would surprise me.  And surprise me he did.  That guy knows how to put a smile on my face that won't come off.  And may I recommend some comfort food and Pride and Prejudice next time you are feeling drained and at the end of your rope?  It will fix you right up.  Of course, a Mr. Darcy of your own doesn't hurt either. 

Showered

About a month ago, Brad's sister Mindy threw me a family baby shower.  It was so cute!  I kept walking around, not really grasping that this was my baby shower, that I would actually be putting my little baby in all those cute clothes, that this is my baby's family. Anyway, Mindy made it so cute I just have to show you all pictures.  



This was the cake.  Isn't it beautiful!




Here's one of the tables.  It was a 'bedtime breakfast brunch' so the tables were decorated like little beds, complete with teddy bears and story books.  And see those little candy pacifiers?  Everywhere I looked there was just more cuteness.




Mmmmm.  The food.  And a very good brunch it was.  This is me with family.  Can you tell we are related?




Gifts!  And check out that diaper cake!  Opening baby gifts is decidedly a very good time.


And. . . .the baby bump.  This is me about a month ago, so at almost 32 weeks.  I was trying to wear the shirt that makes me look the most pregnant:)  I am bigger now though!  Sidenote: The Dr. checked me for the first time yesterday and she said I am already 1 1/2 cent. dilated and 75% effaced, and I still have a month to go!  I went in totally expecting her to tell me I was nothing and nothing.  Brad about fell out of the chair.

Anyway, thank you everyone for making that day so wonderful!  I still can't believe this little thing squirming and kicking inside me will be a part of the family.

Project

Check it out. . . I've been busy making something.  You could say I'm in nesting overdrive.  I'll show as soon as I'm done.  I hope it turns out!

A Christmas Treat

Every year we make this little candied chex mix for Christmas.  We only make it at Christmastime because it is dangerous for us to have around the house.  At first glance, or even first few bites, it's just a regular chex party mix.  But somewhere after the third bite or so, you realize that you just might be unable to stop.  At least that's what happens at our house.  My husband, who's not well versed in subtlety, refers to it as Christmas Crack, because he just can't stop.  Not being much of a chex mix girl myself, I didn't think I would really enjoy it.  That is until sometime after the third or fourth bite, at which point I became enlightened in it's addictive properties.  Anyway, here's the recipe.

5 cups rice Chex cereal
5 cups corn Chex cereal (or HoneyNut Chex is awesome)
4 cups wheat Chex cereal
4 cups honey and oats granola (I use the Nature Valley brand)
3 cups Honey Teddy Grahams
4 1/2 cups pecans
3 sticks butter
1 1/3 cup light corn syrup
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 cup honey

Preheat oven to 250.  Combine first 6 ingredients in large roasting pan.  Combine butter and remaining ingredients in a saucepan.   Bring mixture to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes, stirring frequently.  Pour mixture over combined cereals, tossing to coat.  Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.  Pour onto wax paper to cool, gently separating with a spoon.  Store in airtight container.

Merry Christmas!

Prickly Eyes

I have had a very easy pregnancy, virtually symptom free.  I know.  How lucky am I?  I never got any nausea, have had heart burn like twice, not had any real cravings, and my extremeties have not taken to swelling.  In fact, my wedding ring is looser.  I do have this one symptom though that I fondly refer to as prickly eyes.  Brad will look over at me and see this certain look wash over my face and just laugh.  He knows my eyes are prickling.  Here's the skinny: the emotional part of pregnancy has not elluded me.  I feel very even keel most the time, but things just get to me more lately.  I am simply more touched by things, in a good way. And you know when you feel that little stirring in your emotions sometimes followed by a lump in your throat, or a prickly sensation in your eyes like your tear ducts are just giving you fair warning that they are revving up and ready to go?  That's what I get.  All the time.  My tear ducts are revving up right and left I tell you.  Usually, I can hold it to the prickly eye stage, but sometimes it turns to actual tears.  Things that make my eyes prickle lately:

-I looked at this the other day. . .at work.  BIG mistake.  I thought I was going to have to take myself and my hormones to the bathroom to regroup.
-Every episode of Baby Story.  Those slimy looking litte squirmy things come out, looking rather terrifying actually, and I just can't help it.  Why do I watch that show anyway?
-On So You Think You Can Dance the other night, when Ryan interrupted to tell everyone to vote for his wife instead of him because she had worked so hard and he loved her.  Ah!  Brad laughed really hard at me for that one.
-Any Christmas songs about Mary.  "Breath of Heaven" by Amy Grant.  FORGET ABOUT IT.  Total sobbs with that one.
-This picture that is currently at Costco.  Even though I don't think it is a fan favorite, it has always been my personal favorite.  Something about how he is struggling to hold up his foot, and the way Jesus is looking at him.  Anyway, yesterday the sales lady at Costco was standing there asking me which size I like while I am having a full on attack of prickly eyes and throat tightening.  I just couldn't answer her.  I think she thought I was being rude.
-Random TV shows.  The other night my eyes prickled during a rerun of Bones that I was sort of half watching.  My eyes prickled when Zev and Justin were eliminated on The Amazing Race, every time I see Stephanie Nielson (of The NieNie Dialogues) interviewed, and any news cast that involves children in any way shape or form. 
-Brad. He just knows how to get to me. He leaves me little love notes and just flat out adores me all the time (this is nothing new, I married a Romantic you see) and the prickles just come and come all the time around him.

I shall spare you any more.  But if you see me crinkle my nose all of a sudden and look away with a weird look on my face, you'll know what's going on there.

Baby Dreams

So the other night I had this dream.  I was in labor, at the hospital with Brad by my side, expecting to meet my sweet little baby girl and I was so happy that it was finally the day.  So there I was, in the hospital bed, laboring away, pushing just like I'd seen on the million episodes of Baby Story that I've seen when finally she was born!  I didn't see her though, and they took her and put her on one of those little cart thingys to clean her off and whatever else they do.  So I spring up from the bed to come get a peak at my baby. . . only that's not exactly what I saw.  I peered up over the top of the cart (it was really high in my dream for some reason), full of anticipation, and I saw, lying there on the cart. . . a pizza.  A steaming hot pepperoni pizza.  I had given birth to a pizza!  I look at the doctors, confused, wondering where my baby is, and they just tell me nonchalantly, "Oh, well it looks like it's just all mixed up.  Sometimes this happens."

And so it happens that I apparently have a pizza baking in my oven.

A Book Signing

Do you read The Pioneer Woman?  Well I do, it's such a bright and happy place, and I really like her recipes.  So when she announced her new cookbook and a book tour to go along with it, I was intrigued.  Then when I saw Salt Lake City as a stop on her book signing tour, I was excited.  I've never been to a book signing before, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect.  One very long line, and lots of women, is what to expect.  So when Brad and I got there and realized that we'd be waiting for hours, we thought we'd get a bite to eat and then see how it was going.  Then we realized we were right across from this little french restaurant that Brad took me to on our one year anniversary of dating.  Yes that's right, after a year of dating.  And we dated a few more before even becoming engaged.  We were just breaking Utah County stereotypes right and left!  So we headed in and had feast.



I had the salmon, of course.  And may I ask you, have you ever had gelato?  Because it's diviiiine!  This was a mix on honey, coffee, and vanilla gelato.  Oh my.



And back to the book signing, with the help of my very non-timid and, oh shall we say creative husband, we actually got in!  Proof:

Laguna Beach

I know it's been a little while since I posted anything, but I have been here. This, my friends, is Laguna Beach. Beautiful isn't it? Brad and I stayed a night here during the trip we took last week. We took a little "babymoon" of sorts. We're figured we'd better take advantage of what little time we have left just the two of us. That, and we have to stay true to our six month schedule of heading down to San Diego. We flew into Long Beach this time so we could meet up with some friends in Manhattan Beach, then we drove down to this little spot for the night before continuing down to San Diego the next day. We were so pampered here! I mean serious, serious pampering. We walked in the room to this:


I think many more places should greet you with some yummy chocolate covered strawberries. I think I might have saved one for Brad. Maybe.

Mushroom Artichoke Soup

It is now officially feeling like fall outside, so inside I think I should be doing things like cooking up lots of comfort food and assembling piles of pumpkins throughout my house.  But as far as my love of pumpkins goes, that's another post for another time.  I want to share my recipe for a delicious soup with any of you mushroom lovers out there.  This is Brad's favorite soup.  He thinks it should be modified and served as a sauce over everything.  So if you like mushrooms and you are feeling like some home-cooked soup give this one a try.


MUSHROOM ARTICHOKE SOUP

1/2 LB BROWN MUSHROOMS, SLICED

1/2 LB SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS, STEMMED, SLICED  

1 CUP THINLY SLICED SHALLOTS

2 LARGE CARROTS SLICED

1/4 CUP BUTTER

3 TBSP FLOUR

1/2 TSP THYME, CRUSHED

1/2 TSP GARLIC POWDER

1/4 TSP CRUSHED RED PEPPER (OPT)

2 14 OZ CANS CHICKEN BROTH

2 14 OZ CANS ARTICHOKES, DRAINED QUARTERED

1/4 CUP OIL PACKED DRIED TOMATOES, DRAINED AND CUT

1 BAY LEAF

1 CUP HALF AND HALF OR LIGHT CREAM

SAUTEE MUSHROOMS, SHALLOTS, CARROTS AND BUTTER FOR 15 MINUTES UNTIL MUSHROOMS ARE TENDER. ADD FLOUR, THYME, GARLIC, SALT, PEPPER

AND CRUSHED RED PEPPER IF DESIRED. ADD CHICKEN BROTH. COOK UNTIL

SLIGHTLY THICKENED AND BUBBLY. STIR IN ARTICHOKES AND TOMATOES AND

ADD BAY LEAF. COVER AND SIMMER FOR 15 MINUTES. STIR IN HALF AND HALF

AND HEAT THROUGH. DISCARD BAY LEAF AND SERVE.

Traveling List

I have been a serious list maker lately. Hormones maybe? Don't know, but I certainly like to sit down and make lists of just about anything. So I was constantly making this list in my head about the pros and cons of my last 'business trip.'

Pros
1) I like traveling, pretty much anywhere. If you're going somewhere, I wanna come too.
2) Kansas City is beautiful country. Rolling hills and lots of trees. Beautiful.
3) Having your very own rental car is sorta cool.
4) Navigational devices are equal parts miraculous and frustrating.
5) I felt my baby kick during every flight. She likes traveling too.
6) I got to kill some time before my flight left here. It's a whole new thing to experience it by yourself.


Cons
1) I MISSED BRAD
2) Hotel breakfast is nasty!
3) I hate smelling like airplane.
4) I thought we might die coming in with all that turbulence Tuesday night.  SCARY.  And we were in a little plane.
5) I was always a little nervous I would get lost and end up somewhere not so good.  All by myself.
6) I really wanted some of these.  Lately I can down a whole bag, no problem.  I didn't have any in my hotel room.

And once again. . . I MISSED BRAD.  I am very, very glad to be back home (well, for the next week at least) with my husband and my cheetos.  Life is good.

Traveling

We just got back from Bear Lake and now I am off to Kansas City! More later.

My Daughter

How is it possible? How? I have only seen her on a monitor for about fifteen minutes. I have not felt her, I have not kissed her. I have not hugged her. But some how I love her more than myself, and I love myself. Believe that. She is my Daughter, Mine. Born or unborn, and I am her dad. I am so wrapped around her finger and toes. I've heard about it but now feel it. It is amazing. When she is born I will be through, and I know it. I watched the DVD of the ultrasound five times today. How is this possible? She is mine and I am Hers.

It's a . . .

I am sorry it has taken me a little while to post our exciting news. The last 24 hours have been, well I don't really have the adequate words at the moment to tell you. But everything is good! Ten fingers and ten toes. Just perfect.

We wanted to tell my parents last night so we went over for dinner and I took a cake. Are you guessing where I'm heading with this? Once someone cut into the cake it would reveal either a blue or pink cake inside. Hey, this is the first grandchild for my family. I'm allowed to do cheesy stuff like this.

Wanna see what happened?

Just follow along. . .

The cake is. . .

PINK!! It's a GIRL!!! And her daddy knew it all along.

What's Your Guess?

It's almost time to find out if we are having a little boy or girl! Can you believe it? Because I can't. It will make it all so real. To think about boy or girl for me is one thing, but to think I am either having a son or daughter just freaks me out. People keep asking us what we think we are having. I really don't know. In the beginning I thought it was a boy, but now I go back and forth all the time. And Brad has taken to thinking it's a girl. So who knows! I could definitely not handle waiting to find out. I need to plan things in life. So what do you think. . . pink or blue?

To Brighten a Cubicle

My cubicle is a sorrowful kind of place sometimes. The decor leaves much to be desired. It's all gray, with a smattering of the usual work appliances. I sometimes think, "Gee, I should really spice this place up. I do spent most my waking hours here." It never happens. I just go through my work and try not to notice the amount of gray.

But not today. Today this is what awaited me when I returned from lunch:

I just love that guy.

.

Brad's Baby Pains

For those of you who know me, who have spent even one night out with Natalie and I, know that Brad Hoke has what one would call a rather large or loud mouth. You know that I say all kinds of things at times when things should probably not be said. I might make you laugh or, like Natalie, cringe from time to time, but the main point is there is never a quiet moment when I'm around.

So if you read Natalie's blog from yesterday saying that she was pregnant and that she has had a hard time not saying anything, just think of poor ol' Brad for a moment. I thought my head was going to blow. When we first found out on June 7th at 7:15 am( yes i know the exact moment ) we made a pact to not talk about it to anyone for a while. I would like to let you out there know that you did not make this easy on me. The next day my good friend Brian walks up to my wife and asked her what's new. AHHHHHH. It was almost over right then, the whole thing blown. The day after that my Dad tells me it is time to have a kid, A week later someone asked Natalie if she was pregnant.. I took my Dad to lunch and we talked about how Natalie and I were not going to try for a while. My wonderful Father in law on fathers day gave me the one over and asked when he could have a Grand Baby. He did not let up all afternoon. He has never said anything of the sort in the five years Natalie and I have been married, but now it is a full blitz. My poor head, how it hurt. I wanted the words to flow and be loud and excited. Funny enough we told them later that day so the pressure did ease a bit. After that we told more and more about our great news my head is almost back to normal size. Two to three months of living heaven and hell at the same time.

But as loud as I am and as much as I can say at times, I am left speechless of the beauty and the grace my Natalie has carried herself and this child for 18 weeks. She was put on this earth for two reasons, to take care of me and to be a mother. She is going to be a wonderful mother, one who has wanted a kid for years and deserves the happiness and love that befits her station as a women of god.

For that I am speechless. But for this I am not. I AM GOING TO BE A DAD. DO YOU HEAR THAT WORLD. ME, BRAD HOKE A DAD. AND WITH MY NATALIE.

+

It's time. It's time to come clean. It's time to let out a little something, a little something that is growing bigger and bigger by the day. It's time to tell you really why I haven't been the best of bloggers for the past few months. See, I was trying to keep this little thing a secret. I was trying to keep this little condition of mine under wraps, and that made blogging a little hard.

Everything I wanted to post about seemed like a risky subject, like I might let the cat out of the bag. I so desperately wanted to tell you all how wonderfully amazing and life changing the burritos and guacamole are at Los Hermanos. I wanted to tell you all about how I am so desperately tired and scatterbrained lately that I have done and said some of the most ridiculous things! Really, some are pretty bad. I wanted to tell you about the strangest dreams I've been having. I wanted to tell you about how the other night I HAD to have a cheeseburger at 10:30pm. Brad was on his way home from work and found his wife, sometime meat-avoider, on the couch in her pajamas, surrounded by the remnants of a most perfect and sublime All American Burger with Cheese and with a deliriously satisfied grin plastered on her face. I wanted to tell you how my clothes don't fit quite right and I am so uncomfortable. I wanted to tell you!

But you see, I was afraid to tell you any of this. I thought you'd be on to me in a second. But it's time to tell you what most of you have probably already guessed (Um, I'm not usually quite that enthusiastic about jam.). I am pregnant. The test had a perfect little + sign that early June morning. Never has a plus sign been so beautiful, and so surprising.

So there you have it. You all probably already knew anyway, as it's been trickling out for the last little while. I am 18 weeks and due February 5th, soon to find out if little baby in there is a boy or girl.

And we couldn't be happier.

Jam

Guess what I can do? Make freezer jam! This is very, very risky new development in my life as homemade freezer jam is the equivalent to soft liquid candy you can put directly on your food, and it's perfectly acceptable. I learned how to make the delicious stuff last week, and it is REALLY very easy. So look out neighbors. . . this might be a preview to your "Christmas Neighbor Treats." I personally like it with fresh whole wheat bread and some yummy almond butter. Mmmm. It is no longer, "Gosh, I need some jam with this toast." It has changed to, "Gosh, I need some TOAST with this JAM!" I may or may not have opened the fridge, dipped a spoon in, and licked it clean with no intention whatsoever of actually putting the jam on anything except directly into my mouth. But I'm not confessing to anything. If you like freezer jam, try it! It really is easy.

I'm Here

Okay. . . that was weird, hitting the 'new post' button after so long. I am still here!!! Still alive, not missing or kidnapped, we haven't moved to another country with no internet access (although we do have a new computer!), no tragedies or anything like that. I guess I just took a hiatus, if you will, from this here blog. It wasn't really planned, it just kind of happened. And you know once you don't do something for awhile, all of a sudden you don't really know how to begin again? And you almost feel a little bit guilty about it? Well that is how I feel. I feel like for some reason I haven't seen a friend for a REALLY long time, and it's time to break the ice again, but will they still like me? What do I say? What do I do? Anyway, I am back to the blog that I have sadly neglected. Promise.