Diverting Thoughts

I read an article yesterday about a couple that had just found out that they were pregnant and the pregnancy had already taken over their entire lives. All they could manage to talk about and think about was the baby. I have to admit I have put a whole lot of thought into what our lives are going to be like with a little one, and yes, I have thought about the nursery and admired baby stuff in stores. I want to make an effort though to not let baby stuff and motherhood consume me. So I have been trying to divert my brain into thinking about other stuff. Today I did some research on the best herb gardening techniques and I even learned about how to grow potatoes in a plastic trash can. I think I might just give that a try this year! I know it is a little early to buy any plants just yet, but the peeking through tulips and daffodils are really getting me excited about the upcoming growing season. I just love flowers and I especially love how much money growing your own herbs saves. If I had really known what I was doing last year, I would have brought them in before they all died at the end of the season, but I guess you live and learn. I am not sure what kind of flowers I am going to pick this year for the beds because I usually mix and match any beautiful flowers I see that can grow in morning sun and afternoon shade. In hopes of staying semi-nonpregnancy-thinking, I am going to envision herbs and flowers. I get almost giddy thinking about them and I am looking forward to that wonderful day when I get to fill my shopping cart with my soon-to-be garden.

I did find some wonderful resources at Organic Gardening today, but I would love to know if anyone has found any great gardening blogs.

Olive

Our baby is supposed to be about the size of an olive right now. :)

Photo taken by Bryan Tillery

Mixed-Up

Today I left school a few minutes early so that I could arrive at my big prenatal visit at 3:30. I arrived in the parking lot with plenty of time to spare so I sat in my car and listened to music for a few minutes. Then I decided I should check-in a little early so I headed inside. When I arrived at the registration area, I had to wait behind a few other people. The registration area is for all different specialties in the complex so there were people of all ages. There was one man that was in front of me that apparently got mixed up on his appointment date. He was supposed to see his doctor next Thursday and not today. He had his appointment reminder in his hand that said it, too! I couldn't help but feel a little sorry for the guy, but at the same time I was thinking that not only is that very embarrassing but I was glad that had never happened to me. How hard is it to remember an appointment when they print out those appointment reminders for you? The receptionist was really sweet and she called the office to see if they could fit him in today and so everything worked out fine in the end.
I walked up to the receptionist next. I tell her my name, my doctor's name, and the appointment time. She looks in the computer for a second, verifies my address, and then tells me that my appointment was scheduled for tomorrow!!! I felt like an idiot. First, I thought there had to be a mistake on their end. Second, I thought how could I have done this. Third, I thought I cannot take out my calendar to confirm this humiliating fact right now. I simply said, I can come back tomorrow. She was very sweet to me and tried calling my office to see if they could fit me in today, but my doctor wasn't there. I thanked her for her time, hung my head in shame, and walked to the elevator. On my way out to the parking lot, I peeked at my calendar and sure enough, I had written in "Drexel, 3:30" in purple ink in tomorrow's box.
I learned a valuable lesson today. I learned that I am no better than that elderly gentleman at remembering appointment dates (that's my little bit of humble pie for the day), and I should always check my calendar to confirm appointments before I actually go to them. :)

Collecting Recipes

One of my favorite things to do is hunt for recipes in magazines. I only subscribe to one magazine, but I love picking up food magazines in the checkout lines every now and again. A few years ago the magazines were really piling up so I decided I would tear out the recipes I thought I would try and throw the rest of the magazine away. Well, when my recipe pile got too high to manage easily I decided I would start a recipe collection. First, I went through and typed up all of my favorites that I knew by heart. Then, I started sorting the recipes that I had found in magazines. I could throw together a portfolio in minutes thanks to all those useless projects in undergrad so I decided I would do what I knew best.

My recipe collection is sorted into the following categories: Breakfast, Appetizers, Main Dishes, Side Dishes, Breads, Desserts, Drinks, and Other.

In the front pocket of the binder I keep any new recipes that I would like to try but just haven't had the time or energy to try. If I am not careful it can get pretty thick quick so I make an effort to try at least one every so often. If the recipe is wonderful, I immediately add it into a plastic sleeve in the appropriate category. If the recipe was just alright, I keep it in the pocket to give it a try again later, just in case I goofed it up somehow. If Bryan or I hated the meal the recipe goes in the trash.

I had added a recipe for Cheesy Meatballs in the front pocket and after trying them the first time I knew they were a definite keeper. I whipped some up last night and thought I would share in case you would like to try them too.

Cheesy Meatballs
by Anna Boiardi

From Every Day with Rachael Ray

November 2008

Ingredients

1 pound ground chuck ( prefer ground turkey.)
1 small onion grated (I use a shallot)
3/4 cup breadcrumbs
3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons grated pecorino-romano cheese
3 tablespoons ketchup
4 fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 large egg, beaten
extra virgin olive oil

Directions
1. In a large mixing bowl, gently break apart the beef with a fork. Add the onion, breadcrumbs, parmesan, pecorino-romano, ketchup, parsley, basil, salt, Worcestershire sauce and garlic powder and stir gently to combine. Stir in the egg until just incorporated.
2. Using your hands, shape the meat into 1-inch balls, to make about 60 meatballs.
3. In a large nonstick skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add the meatballs and cook, turning, until lightly browned, about 10 minutes, adding more oil when necessary. Drain on paper towels.

This recipe makes about 25 1-inch diameter meatballs or about 50 half inch diameter meatballs. I serve them with angel hair pasta and spaghetti sauce. I add a little extra basil and parmesan on top just because I love those ingredients so much. :)

Menu Planning

All weekend I have been trying to motivate myself to get back into cooking. The love of cooking comes and goes with me. After doing some budgeting and realizing that if I am truly going to be able to stay home with our little one when it comes, then I need to get back into the cooking groove. We eat out all the time and that has to end now. I started searching for ideas on the Internet and stumbled on some very cool blogs along the way. I made a game plan for almost two weeks on a simple blank calendar that I printed out. I figured out what ingredients I needed and headed to the store today. I am hoping that if my meals are already planned out and I have all the ingredients on hand then I will be able to stick to cooking. I have also been searching for coupons and have found a few free websites that provide printable coupons. I think the trick to that is going to be only printing out coupons that are actually on my ingredient list. Today I was able to use two. I think I am off to at least a hopeful start.

*I have added the links to some of the new blogs that I stumbled upon on the right.

Build-A-Bear

I have always wanted to Build-A-Bear. I always felt silly wanting to do what is intended for most children but I made a vow that as soon as I found out that I was pregnant that I would make a bear for my coming little one. So last Saturday, Bryan and I picked out a cute and cuddly bear and filled it with love. I even got to make a special wish before putting a little red heart inside.

Revealing the News

We decided that we would share the news with my parents in person. We met them at Opry Mills for a day of what they thought would only include shopping and lunch. We had something else in mind for the purpose of the trip. We greeted them in the food court with gifts. I gave mom a bag full of baby goodies and dad and Michael a "Tools of the Trade" Diaper Changing Tool belt. Here were some of their reactions:

Here were the gifts:


(My focus was a little off.) Mom's bag includes all kinds of baby stuff and the picture of the ultrasound.


This tool belt includes:
diapers, baby powder, baby wipes, diaper rash cream,
clothespin, goggles, disposable diaper bags,
and hand sanitizer wipes.

148 Beats per Minute

The day had finally come. We were going to find out if our little one or two had a heartbeat and when we could expect the little bundle of joy. The news had sunk in a little and we were actually accepting the idea that we might be parents. I had been a huge bundle of nerves for the past 10 days and I just wanted to know something for sure. Immediately, a quick flutter was present on the screen. One very strong heartbeat was beating away in what looked to be like a little lima bean or possibly a tiny fish. It was the most amazing thing that I think I have ever seen. I was relieved that there was only one, not that I would have been disappointed with two, but that would have just been a little overwhelming. The presence of any additional sac was not there so only God knows what that initial ultrasound had shown. The baby's heartbeat was beating at a steady 148 beats per minute and measured exactly 7 weeks which made our due date September 24th. We have a long road ahead of us and one long hot summer to go through, but we are super excited!!

The Unexpected News

I've been quiet lately because it has taken everything inside me to keep our secret. Two and half weeks ago, right after we returned from Chicago I came down with a stomach bug. I didn't go to school one day and the next day I went, but I had to leave right after I got there. I knew something was not right so I went straight to the Quick Care Clinic. After discussing several of my symptoms, it was recommended that I take a pregnancy test just to be on the safe side. I said that was fine but it was not that. I was sure I was not pregnant because I had not been ovulating since October. I already had an appointment concerning this scheduled for Feb. 10th and I had taken several home pregnancy tests since November (all of them negative). I wasn't sure if I was even going to be able to have children that is why I had the appointment scheduled. So when she recommended the test I just shrugged it off as nothing. She put a few drops on the test, turned around took my temperature, pulse, etc. Then she took a look at the test, turned around again, and said "Yep, you're pregnant." I almost fell off of the table that I was sitting on. I was completely blown away. She reassured me that everything was going to be alright and then she offered to call my doctor to see if I could get in for an appointment that day since I was already off work. It's funny how quick you can get in when your not actually the person calling. I was told to come right on over. Now, this did not leave me many options of telling Bryan the news. I had to call him on my way over to the OB! Boy, he wasn't expecting that phone call at work. :)
My doctor thought I could have been as much as 14 weeks along so he decided that we needed to do an ultrasound. Within a few seconds they figured out it was more like 5 weeks (thank goodness) but that there was possibly not one gestational sac but two. One had a yolk sac in it but the other didn't. This could have meant that one tried to develop but didn't, it might not have been anything, or it could mean fraternal twins. They decided they could find out more in about 10 days when the heartbeat should be present by then and they could estimate a more accurate due date. So they didn't congratulate me because I think they thought it was too early (most people don't get a ultrasound that early anyway they said) and they didn't want to get my hopes up. I left feeling overwhelmed and I had a feeling the next 10 days were going to be the longest of my life.