Yosemite

 My baby dear checking out the baby deer in Yosemite. Just this one second of cuteness makes up for hours upon hours of pure stinker behavior.

The Birthday Surprise

You may recall me touting my decision to wait until delivery day to find out the gender of this baby. Well, Dave really wanted to know and ultimately I realized it wasn't that big of a deal to me. I didn't tell him I had changed my mind and I went and got a secret ultrasound yesterday morning. I had the tech put the picture in the envelope so I wouldn't know either. My big plan was to take a box to Party City and have them blow up pink or blue balloons and seal it. I was then going to wrap the box as a present so Dave had no idea. Have you heard that there is a national helium shortage? In short, no one in town has helium and thus the balloons were not going to happen. I ended up blowing up pink and blue balloons myself and purchasing one it's a girl banner and one it's a boy. I asked a coworker to bury the correct one at the bottom of the box and seal it. I then wrapped the box and stuck a big bow on it. It worked splendidly! Dave had to dig for the answer and I was honestly so shocked when he pulled out the sign below. I am over the moon!!!!

Ralphers Goes Posh Spice

Until Ralphie I had never owned a dog that needed to be groomed. We always had dachshunds or labs who required very little, if any, beauty treatments. Ralphers is not that kind of dog. He gets straight up wild if we don't tend to his locks every few months.

Before we take him we always ask what celebrity he wants his hair cut like and it has ranged from Justin Bieber to Gary Busey. This time we forgot to ask Ralphie so I told the groomer to trim him up short but leave his eyelashes. I don't know why I forget but it never fails that they don't trim the hair on his ears and I always make a mental note to fix that next time. When I picked Ralphers up on Friday, I berated myself again once I saw his ear hair but I thought he still looked pretty cute.

On Saturday we took a family bike ride to our favorite bagel shop. I left Ralphie outside with Dave and Rivers while I ran in to fix my coffee. While pouring the creamer I overheard a group of college age friends talking about Ralphers and laughing. I strained to hear exactly what was so funny just in time to hear "that dog has an A-frame haircut". GASP. My Mr. Bud Bud got the Posh Spice. I was hoping he wouldn't notice but he's been extra clingy lately so I know he's feeling self conscious. I feel so bad because I keep laughing to myself every time I see him. My poor, sweet boy. Next time I won't forget to ask him what celebrity he wants to look like and he can tell me what he wants, what he really really wants.

A Toddler in Action: Foot Flare

I think Rivers is on to a new trend. A little bit of foot flare that felt oddly awesome. It's a great little game for me. She goes into the other room to get a new rubberband, places it on my foot and repeat. In the meantime, I lay on the couch the whole time snuggled with Ralphadoo.

The Most Delicious Chicken

With no hesitation, I will tell you this is the most delicious tasting chicken I have ever had the honor of placing between my molars. It is so good that on nights I make it I don't even eat dessert because I am too busy in the kitchen eating little pieces left in the pan with all the remaining juices. I can't take credit for it, I found it on this blog: http://healthyeasyrecipes.blogspot.com
But every time I make it (so easy) and every time I eat it (so yummy) I am overcome with the need to share this treasure. So if anyone reads this anymore, this is for YOU.

Without further ado, may I present the honorable Lemon Honey Chicken.

2 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp honey
1/8 cup grape seed oil (I never have
this and just use olive oil)
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 large chicken breasts sliced in half
and half again

Put everything in a large ziplock bag and mix together. Let refrigerate for an hour or longer but no more than two hours. Pour the whole bag into a skillet and brown chicken by cooking four minutes on each side. Put all contents into Pyrex dish and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

I've served this with veggies and potatoes or rice and just recently with pasta and homemade pesto. It is delicious in pita wraps too. This chicken can do no wrong! Enjoy!!!

13 weeks.

The second trimester is here and I can hardly believe it. This pregnancy in many ways has felt slow as molasses and quick as lightning. It is an interesting dichotomy. I am feeling really good. Energetic, no nausea, less bloating but the scale is definitely starting to tip. I have been trying very hard to be active this pregnancy and go to the gym at least three times a week and so far I think I have gained less than I did with Rivers, which is my goal. It is really a silly goal. Ultimately I know my body will do what it wants to (and it is already starting to show me that) but I just want to be in better shape this go around.

I have been wearing maternity clothes for a few weeks now, mostly because they are the new clothes hanging in my closet and therefore the ones I gravitate to each morning but today I squeezed into a pair of regular jeans and they still button up. I don't think I'm showing quite as much as I hoped I would be at this point but apparently people are starting to notice.

I cannot believe this little human will be here in approximately six months. I had to be induced last time due to gestational diabetes and as I don't have it this time, it will be interesting to experience the natural process of going into labor (if my body does so on it's own). This really is a crazy waiting game but overall I think I am much less consumed with this pregnancy than I was with Rivers. I have my plate full of activities for the next few months so I'm just trying to keep my head above water at this point. Did I tell you that my book club chose a book that is 980 pages!!!!!!!!! We spread it across two months but even then it is still a lot of reading. I've got about 60 pages left and I cannot wait. I am going to slam this book in some cupboard as soon as I'm done and not lift it ever again. Forever Amber. Have you heard of it? It really is a good book but I'm sick of it at this point. I haven't cared for the main character from the beginning and I'm just over her antics. Do you have any good suggestions for books for my book club?

It may not mean much to anyone else....but we be gestational diabetes free up in here!!!!!!


Apparently I am so excited I have forgotten proper English.