12.31.02

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Posted in Uncategorized at 12:08 pm by Anne

Now I am not what you would call an ‘eggnog-fan’ but for some reason this intrigues me.

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86754000

Posted in Uncategorized at 11:25 am by Anne

My bed used to be the most comfortable place in the house but as of last night this is no longer the case. It wouldn’t have mattered if I had ALL the pillows (I was very close to that), my gargantuan belly made reading comfortably next to impossible. I had all manner of pillow behind my head, under my back, a few beneath my knees, neck rolls here and there and believe you me, it was no small task arranging them to begin with. Shan thought I was being melodramatic with various gruntings but then, he’s a man and there is no human being cramped up inside of him. We are both re-reading “The Fellowship of the Ring” for the 5th time and for some inexplicable reason left the tv muted last night while it was playing on cable. weirdness. After seeing ‘The Two Towers’ again over the weekend, this time in a really nice theatre, we wanted to re-read the series again. Previously I wouldn’t pay much attention to the battle scenes, being drawn more to dialogue and history but since there was so much fighting in the movie, I want to compare how it played out with the book.

Oh yes, and I think my bladder is offically the size of a walnut. It’s a wonder I got any sleep at all last night what with all the back and forth trips. I have to push off the window ledge with my right hand to get up now, it’s really a plus side to being pregnant. The same goes for getting up off the commode, the sofa, chairs, and especially the floor. I did happen upon an easier way to tie my own shoes this morning. (Getting Shan to do it for me is kind of a pain even though he is really good about it, for the most part…he ties the laces a bit tight.) Anyway, I hoist a leg onto one of the sitting chairs in the bedroom, while I’m standing, and tying the laces is almost a cinch! So Yay on that front.

In the meantime, I’m still experiencing random contractions. Someone suggested I toss the football around to stimulate labor.

yeahh.

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12.27.02

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Posted in Uncategorized at 5:01 pm by Anne

Went to the Dr. today and experienced another lovely pelvic exam. yowtch. Still no dilation but the cervix has begun to ’soften’ so things are progressing as they should be. I started packing my ‘delivery’ bag and besides some very basic sundry items (contact case, eye solution, toothbrush etc) am including 3 different baby outfits. You just can’t forsee Texas weather so there’s a nice little plain white onesie, than a long sleeved and pants onesie with Classic Pooh motif (from Cecily and Sam), and then this ultra thick and plush pink more wintrified little outfit from babygap. That store is out to get me with cuteness. Also packing a thin flannel receiving blanket in adition to a thicker flannel more plushy receiving blanket. Still need to get a dang carseat, maybe this weekend.

Shan and I just finished taking down the Christmas lights from the front of the house. This year’s display was another neighborhood success story; no one can compete with the vigor and creativity of a few engineers who used to live on infamous 34th Street in Austin (The Christmas Light mecca). We took the tree down on Christmas Day, definitely earlier than normal but just in the interest of the baby. No one will want to do any of that once she’s here and who knows when that will happen?!

It just feels like a Monday night to me! I keep having to remind myself that it’s friday. There is still a lot to do. Darwin tracked in all kinds of mud from our walk yesterday and I think a bath may be in her future.

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12.26.02

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Posted in Uncategorized at 12:35 pm by Anne

So we got to a rather late start, rather, I did, with preparing the Christmas supper. Shan’s folks had everybody over for Christmas Eve leftovers and we didn’t leave their home until a little after 5PM. Then I called my parents and my sister while poking garlic shards into the prime rib and searing it in a little olive oil prior to roasting. Suffice to say, the beef wasn’t done until around 8:30 PM and the belle’s of the ball (the popovers) required an additional 25 minutes of uninterrupted baking which made it around 9PM when we finally dug in. The plans for the balsamic spinach changed into a salad with mandarin oranges, toasted almonds, and poppyseed dressing as first course, which was just perfect. After all the fuss, we agreed it was the best Chrsitmas supper either of us have ever eaten. Here is the pumpkin pie we didn’t have any room left to bust into last night.

We both fell asleep watching ‘Never Say Never Again’ and instead of leaving the warmth and comfort of the fire, we brought in the comforter and pillows and slept on the futon. Darwin too but she had to sleep on the sheet near our feet and it was just very comfycozy. Except for my waking up multiple times to tramp down the hall to the bathroom.

This morning I re-alphabetized my spices and organized the pantry (again) and took out a few things I never use but have never thrown out. I think I’m going to mail them to my sister; she gets all my re-runs. I also strip[ped the crib to wash all the bumpers and linens, infant clothing and receiving blankets, incold water and a detergent with no perfumes, dyes, or color. As much as I love Tide and Bounce dryer sheets, I don’t think I’ll subject Lily to them. Speaking of which I need to go on a walk and try to talk her into making her trip out of there.

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12.24.02

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Posted in Uncategorized at 11:38 pm by Anne

It’s better than bad, it’s good! Various pics of the festive yule log: 1, 2, 3. And here are the pecan tassies that Shan loves.

Christmas Eve supper was perfect. Lots of food, Shan’s father’s side of the family, and a few kids to get really excited about opening presents. It was awesome and we full well know how lucky we are to have each other.

coolest gift: Shan’s sister got Lily the NEATEST Peter Rabbit tea set. Cecily is going to freak it is so cool; I have never seen anything like it and it even comes in its own leather hatbox-looking case. Unbelieveable. I’m afraid Lily won’t get to play with it ever. Especially if she’s as clumsy as her mother.

Merry Christmas to all.

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86489062

Posted in Uncategorized at 1:32 pm by Anne

While I look for some more decorating ideas (all I have so far are the meringue mushrooms) I found this nice definition of the Buche de Noel but alas no pictures to be found yet. Once I get the mushrooms set on the tray, I’ll snap a few and see about getting them up here. mmmmm. dark chocolate ganache. What’s not to love?

An old friend called and we chatted for well over an hour. He has twin boys (around 2) and a little girl (9 months) and volunteered all kinds of advice about labor and delivery and accepting help and making people wash theior hands before picking up baby, etcetcetc. I was just glad to hear from him.
I am still in my pj’s but am going to get motivated. soon. I still have to bake some pecan tassies. Meanwhile, my husband is doing all the good. He just unloaded a rick of firewood so that we can have some nice fires in the fireplace. I guess it’s time for lunch.

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86481793

Posted in Uncategorized at 9:53 am by Anne

The Buche de Noel is coming along swimmingly. I baked and filled and rolled it last night and made the dark chocolate ganache before bed and this morning I frosted the cake. It is so beautiful and purely festive, I can’t wait to cut into it. The cake itself is a flourless, lightly sweetened softly chocolated, cloud-like confection. Prior to rolling it up, I made a light whipped cream (ultra-pasteurized for stability) and spread it all over the cake. Now the whole thing is in the refrigerator chilling while I make the decorating accoutrements, the idea of cocoa-dusted meringue mushrooms fascinates me to no end. I had an epiphany last night: the flavor and texture of real whipped cream is one of those essential flavor experiences…like real good chocolate, perfect hot earl grey tea, fried shrimp from the s&d oyster bar in dallas…etcetcetc, someday I will compile a complete list.

Dr. No is on TV (again).

Here is a perfect example of how the wrong people get put in charge of things. Cecily sent it to me and since a pregnant woman is in the story, I think it is very appropriate to this blog.

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12.23.02

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Posted in Uncategorized at 4:51 pm by Anne

Sunday, yesterday, was spent with Shan’s maternal side of the family. A huge group of extended family meets every Christmas for catching up, gift exchange, and way too much food. The night before I had asked the women in charge of food (Shan’s Mom and sisters) if I could bake anything for dessert, because I almost always bring a pie of some kind. “Oh no…” they insisted, ” …the pregnant woman musn’t bring a thing!” Well, okay. But you know what?! There were more people this year than they had expected and the single pecan pie and single pumpkin pie were completely polished off by the end of the day. I believe an extra pie or dessert would have been much appreciated. Ah well. It was really nice visiting with everyone, as usual, with the added bonus of being grotesquely huge and waddling. All the little kids were a real pleasure, what with their gifts and smiling faces.

Today I spent the morning in the office, paying bills and compiling a list for baby announcements. Cecily would be proud. I’m still missing a few addresses but hope to fix that in the next week or so.

Congratulations again to TheGirl, I’m so glad it worked out as it did and such a beautiful child!

I spent entirely too long at the grocery store but had a good conversation with the butcher. His son was born last year on January 8th so with Lily’s due date of the 7th, we had a nice bit of commonality. He cut me a perfect piece of Prime Rib for our Christmas supper. Since this will be our last Christmas alone together, we are having a nice toned down private dinner on Christmas evening.

Christmas 2002 Menu:

Roasted Prime Rib
Popovers
Mashed potatoes
au jus
steamed spinach with balsamic flourishes
baked herbed tomatoes

I gave the Shan the option of pecan pie or pecan tassies for dessert and he chose the tassies, just as I had hoped. Those are some nice little cookie-type pastries of sheer divine goodness.

For Christmas Eve over at his parents I am going to bring a ‘Buche de Noel’. Pictures to follow!

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12.20.02

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Posted in Uncategorized at 4:00 pm by Anne

So the Dr. checked me out. Yes, Lily has dropped further into my pelvis but there is no dilation. I’m glad I was correct about her movement but am hoping there won’t be 4 more weeks of these sporadic though intense aches and pains. yikes! I figured out that Christmas Day would nearly be two weeks early and although it would be lovely, I’m not even looking at it as a possibility at this point. Maybe I’ll take the dog out for another walk.

sigh.

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86325403

Posted in Uncategorized at 11:23 am by Anne

Finally there is some pain. and not just the little flicker that shoots across my belly when I bend down to pick something up incorrectly, but a piercing, sharp, make you want to slap your mother pain. I don’t imagine it’s anything more than pre-labor but this initial taste is a little freaky and I’m glad we have an appointment with the Dr this afternoon. It started yesterday after work. I decided to take Darwin for a walk through the neighborhood and after about 15 minutes had to turn around because I had misjudged the severity of the wind. I started getting such a terrible headache that I was inches away from calling Shan to pick me up. Finally we shambled up the driveway, I dropped Darwin’s leash, and made straight for the living room couch where I promptly fell asleep. Later that night, while we made a nourishing supper of buttermilk waffles, canadian bacon, and fried eggs (I had fruit salad instead of the eggs), I started feeling a constant lowerback kind of menstrual-cramping pain. This increased in severity by time midnight rolled in and the pain changed to pulses every 5-10 minutes. Shan fell right asleep but at 2AM I grabbed my pillows and the dog and we went back to the living room to watch tv since there was no way in hell I’d be able to sleep. so wah wah wah. I hope tonight works out better.

Meanwhile, I am still experiencing sporadic lower belly pain. It feels like she’s dropped in the pelvis since I’ve got this new pressure down there. We’ll see what the dr. says.

The office is a virtual wasteland. I am going to take off within the hour so I can pick up Shan’s last Christmas gift south of here at the potter’s house. I ordered a few wineglasses and they are finally done. sighhhh.

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