38 Weeks

And no signs of baby moving out. Hmmmm ...

I fully though Peanut was going to be late (just assumed that would be the case with Baby #1), but ever since P started going on about how he though they would be early that is all I can think of.

Staring at my Evening Primrose Oil bottle and wondering if I should start trying to force the eviction or just try to be patient and wait it out ...

Crocheting

Over the last few months I have become the nester of all nesters. I have been cooking and baking to stock my freezer, cleaning and prepping all rooms and items related to Peanut. I have also taken up crocheting, something that is clearly more in my blood more than I realized. I say this because I come from a long line of yarn artists (you could always find a knitting and crochet needles in the hands of my Mother and Grandmothers), but as a young gal, every time I attempted knitting but was left with twisted, gnarly work and the desire to hurt people with the needles, rather than create with them. I was forever frustrated and after numerous tries I vowed to toss the knitting fantasy aside.

But a few months ago the urge returned to me, clearly engaged by the pending birth of my first child. I wanted to make something for them, something that was full of love and warmth. Knitting came to mind and visions of beautiful blankets, afghans, sweaters and caps flooded my visions. So I wandered the isles of Michaels one day, looking for inspirations. The knitting needles make my blood boil as soon as I saw them, but the crochet hooks caught my interest. Hmmmmm, maybe all this time I had just been forcing the wrong method and that there was some yarn artist in me after all …

So off with a massive ball yarn, a shiny new set of crochet hooks and patterns I went. I read through the patterns trying to make sense of the shorthand and was almost immediately frustrated and convinced I has just made a mistake and had visions of my frustrated breakdowns of years past. But damnit, I was determined to at least try. And over the next few weeks and with the wonders of youtube I did and I was able to make up my first ever baby blanket, complete with contrasting edging. While it is far from perfect, it is filled with love and devotion, and that means more to me than extract gauge and stich counts. This is something that I made with my own hands and heart, that my child will use to keep warm and safe, help them feel secure and loved.

I have also found serenity and joy in my new hobby and catch myself eagerly looking forward to the times when I can crawl onto the couch and curl up with my hooks and yarn. P was shocked to see just how fast I progressed and expressed his encouragement in my new adventure. He jokes that there may be more potential in my hooking (ha!) than I give it credit and wonders if there is not a new career on the horizon - I see relaxation and unwinding and nothing more. I envision years of gifts for family and friends made with love, not potential income, but hey we can let the man dream right.

I have now progressed beyond blankets and onto baby caps and booties, with adult beanies and other clothing items on the horizon. I have a few goodies set aside for friends that I am keen to see their response to and plan on making my little Peanut loads of fun and creative bits and bobs over the years to come.

Peanut's first Mommy Made Blankie

Blankie # 2 in the works

Blankie #2 Finished! 

Baby Bear Beanie

Itty-bitty Baby Beanie

Bright and fun Afghan #1 in the works ...

 

Freaking Delish Stuffed Pepper

The only way to describe these is Freaking Delish!

Stuffed Peppers

• 1 tbs olive oil

• 2 onions, diced

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 tsp oregano

• 1 tsp basil

• 1 tsp dried green onions

• pinch of salt

• 1 pkg Yves Ground Round

• 1 can diced tomatoes, w liquid

• 4 cups cooked rice

• 6 medium peppers, any colour

1. Pre-heat oven to 350

1. In a large pan, over low heat, sweat out onions and garlic until soft and transparent

1. Add in ground round, oregano, basil, and green onions, cook  about 3 minutes

1. Add in rice and cook until warm

1. Add in tomatoes, simmer for about 10 minutes or until liquid is mostly gone

1. Cut tops off peppers and remove seeds and veins

1. Stuff each pepper with warm rice mixture and place in shallow baking dish

1. Bake for 20 minutes, or until peppers are cooked but still firm and tops of stuffing are golden brown

1. Let sit for a few minutes to cool and dig in!

36w

More of the same this week, but at least that much closer to the end:

• swollen feet and legs
• sleeplessness
• heartburn
• waddling
• serious vag pain (like someome is jbbing y in the cooter with a knitting needle - ya, awesome)\
• minor contractions - just strong braxton hicks
• lots of rolling and pushing from Peanut.

Had my weekly appointent today and damnit the GBS test came back positive.

Ugh.

Also Peanut was being a pain and it took forever to find the HB. Freaked me right out of course. Doc again not sure which way they are positioned so we are gonna go for a scan after my appointment next week if she is still not sure.

So ready to be done with pregnancy and just want to meet my babes already.

As of Sunday this Momma to Be will be doing whatever she can to get this part started ...

Hoppy Easter

Well here it is, the last Easter as Two ... this time next year there will be a 11 month old roaming the grounds, being filled with tales of the Easter Bunny and a few goodies I am sure.

So, while I am in super nester-mode and in realizing this will most likely be the last holiday meal I prepare for a while I decided to whip up a classic meal: Tofurkey, Rosemary Roast Potatoes, Sweet Roasted Carrots, Buttery Peas and a giant Apple-Blueberry Pie (my first attempt at a lattice top, meh, but I am sure it will taste good!)

Tomorrow is Adventures in Cooking Part #2 as I begin to prepare all my freezer meal for when Peanut makes their grand appearance. On the list:

• Chickpea Cutlets
• Rice & Lentil Casserole
• Sheppard's Pie
• Tofu Balls
• Chili