Long-awaited arrival

Today, a young girl delivered these precious packages.

Thank you Girl Scouts for making such yummy treats.

When I grow up

I want to be a lovely, funny, brightly dressed grandma. 

My style icon:  Iris

Image by Chester Higgins Jr/NY Times and taken from here

Landmark!

Since starting this blog in October, I've now gotten 2,000 page views!  Whoa.  

Thanks for visiting. 

Yum, muffins.

This week it looks like I have a very large muffin top.

Eating New Orleans food  has increased my tummy by 1/2 an inch.

Vacajun sounds

Some lighthearted music to ease us back to reality...


New Orleans musicians from Pink Stripey Socks on Vimeo.

Funny N'awlins signs

Today we're flying back to that great mitten state.  We miss New Orleans already.  Here are some funny signs from our trip down south.

If only my failures were edible too

Hello fat?  It's me.  We have to talk...

Hubby's dream ride

Shhh...no drunken revelry here

Where can I get a sign like this for Charlie?

I'll make a note of that

Last day on vacay

Today's our last day on vacation.  Here are 5 photos that show what we did:

Special po-boy from Johnny's Po-boys

Art sold on Jackson Square

Silver street performer

Bright interior at Croissant D'or

Talented street performers

Day two in Bead Town

Here are six photos from today's adventures:

Leftover Mardi Gras decorations dangle off balconies

Nicholas Cage's future tomb

St. Louis Cathedral's quiet interior

Chargrilled oysters from Acme Oyster House

Deep fried soft-shell crab from Acme Oyster House

Shrimp Etouffee, Jumbalaya, and Shrimp Creole from Gumbo House

We're in N'awlins y'all

Greetings!  Hubby and I are currently enjoying Spring break in New Orleans.  Here are five photos that capture what we did today:

Large mustached soldier guarding tiny toy store

Beautiful French building decorated with lacy iron work

Battered and fried pickles with ranch and honey mustard dipping sauces

Reclined statue near the great Mississippi

Airy beignets covered with mountains of powdered sugar

Belly graph

This past week I found myself eating my meal and a portion of hubby's meal too. 

Appetite:  Increased, Belly size: Also increased

Sandwich meat

To celebrate St. Patrick's day, hubby made corned beef, cabbage, and mashed potatoes earlier this week.  We've finally finished the pounds of cabbage and mountain of mash. Now, what to do with such tasty salty beef slices?   

Oooh.  It's sandwich time.

It's time

I think it's time that I get a haircut.  The last time I cut my hair was back in July.  Now it's grown past my shoulders and I'm beginning to look like a teenage boy.

Yup.  Insert my round face here.

Pot o'sushi

Happy St. Patrick's  Day!  

According to Irish legends, leprechauns store treasures at the end of rainbows.  If I were a leprechaun I would store sushi at the end of my rainbow.

I miss eating sushi and I've tried curbing my cravings with homemade attempts, but they never satisfy.

 Sad pseudo sushi

Once the baby pops out, I'm going to (1) hug baby and (2) eat a piece of sashimi.

Will my hospital will serve meals like this?

Chirashi image taken from here

Stamps

Yesterday a package from Poland arrived with these funny stamps: 

Maybe these stamps show what businessmen do in meetings?  Or maybe they show what politicians do in their spare time?

Brain workout

Hubby often holds office hours to help students understand the material.  One day, after working with a student for half an hour, the student seemed upset. Hubby asked, "What's wrong?" and she replied,

"I'm tired from thinking so hard.  My brain hurts."

belly graph

This week there was a small increase in belly circumference.

Yes!  I'm getting larger.

Dream appliance

I was poking around the NYTimes when I came across this image.  Suddenly the heavens opened before my eyes and I fell to my knees in awe.

I swoon for you, bike-o-worsher.

Apparently, volume 25 of Make magazine has directions.  Now all I need is a copy of that magazine, a house with a large garage, a lesson in welding, and an agreeable hubby.... easy.

Image taken from here c/o Tony Cenicola and The New York Times

And when he was good he was very very good....

Over time we've given Charlie quite a few names:

When he's sweet and calm, we call him

Charlie Cheese, Chucky Cheese, Charlie-Barley, Little one, Daddy's boy, or Charlie Bear

And when he's crazy and feisty, we call him

Little Monster, Charlie Christopher Bear, Little Crazy, and (recently added) Charlie Sheen

Almost here

Yesterday it was gray and rained all day.  At first I felt sad, but then hubby cheered me up.  At least it's not snowing! 

Oh Spring, I can't wait until you come back.

8:30 AM:  It's now snowing outside.Rats.

Boy or girl?

A friend of mine recently emailed me this old wives' tale:

Thread a needle or use a necklace with a charm and have hubby suspend it above your belly. If the needle (charm) swings back and forth, a boy is in your future; if it moves in a circle, count on a girl.

We tried it this morning two times and it moved in a circle both times.

Oh unscientific charm, are you telling us it's going to be a girl?

I love soup

Monday's meal:  A huge pot of Fiesta Chicken Soup

Ole!

Belly graph

Another week, another measurement. 

I don't look pregnant yet.  I just look like I ate too many donuts.

Two things

Here are two things that made me happy this week:

(1)  Charlie is not experiencing stomach problems.

Mom- do you have to write about this?

We recently found out that Petco stopped stocking Charlie's food.  Unsure what to do, we ended up choosing another type of dog food made by the same company.  We were so worried.  Charlie has a really sensitive stomach.  Last time we changed foods he had terrible diarrhea.  After one week of carefully observing his pooing habits, I'm glad to report that all seems well.  Phew!

(2)  Our girls made it to Round 2 of the NCAA tournament.

Yesterday we watched them win.

Who would have thought that I, a clumsy nerd and geek, would enjoy watching college basketball?  I love eating concession stand food, cheering for a team, and doing "the wave."  And, I especially love watching our girls play because they're so aggressive, tenacious, and scrappy.  Tonight they're playing against Wash U, so we'll see what happens... Go Hope!

Cycling baby

It's so exciting that hubby's sister is also pregnant too.  And guess what?  Her due date is just one day before mine! 

This morning she sent a text describing her second ultrasound:

"...the doctor was trying to measure the baby's legs

but it kept moving them like it was running.  

Nick says he wishes he could put a bike in there." 

So cute- like daddy, like baby.

This cute onesie was found here

The big 3-0

A momentous birthday is approaching and I will soon have to leave behind this fun experimental decade to join a more responsible one.  Eeek.

I'm sure hoping that Longfellow's onto something when he says:
"Age is opportunity no less
than youth itself, though in another dress,
And as the evening twilight fades away
the sky is filled with stars, invisible by day."

From farm to belly

Last night we ate baked potatoes.  

Here are some photos recording our cooking process.

(1) We selected the best looking potatoes.

(2) We washed and dried them.

(3)  We wrapped them in foil and baked them.

(4) We chopped them up and slathered them with toppings.

They were potatolicious.

*Note:  Several potatoes were harmed during this process. 

Belly Circumference

Today I looked down and saw that my stomach was protruding more than usual.  Curious, I pulled out my measuring tape.  At 13 weeks, my belly is now 33 3/4 inches.  Whoa.  I'm slowly becoming my own planet.

I'm now recording my circumference every week to make a lovely belly graph.  
First data point:  (13, 33.75)