Jul 03
Jul 02
Preoccupation
I am really starting to freak out. I am having trouble sleeping, and going back to sleep when I wake up in the middle of the night. I just can’t turn my brain off. For some reason, I keep thinking that I am going to go into labor early, so I should pack my bags and put the car seat in the car now. I told myself I wouldn’t do any of that until after July 4th weekend, so next week, I’m getting it done! Tonight, I am going to Melissa’s to see what early-babywear of hers I can borrow (pajamas, gowns, onesies, etc), then we’re making a trip to Babies R’ Us to get everything we don’t have yet. We’re also going to Wal-Mart to get all of the scary post-partum mom necessities (I’ll spare you the details). Anyway, I think that once the bags are packed, and the car seat is in place (and we’ve figured out how it works), I’ll feel a lot better. The nursery is basically finished, except for some trim work and minor adjustments, but if she came today, we have everything in there that we need. Q knows that he’s going to get a little pressure from me to get a move on after this weekend, so I’m sure he’ll get on it before I can say anything (or at least that’s what I’m hoping). We also have to clear out the guest room and get it ready for my mom to come and stay for a few days after the baby’s born. (It was set up, but then we took everything out of the baby’s room [which had previously been an office/butler’s pantry] so now we have to go through and organize it all/find new places for things. We also have two complete sets of bedroom furniture in there, so I need to get my mom to come and pick hers up). Anyway, I know this is a totally boring post, but I had to get it all out of my head…
Jul 01
Spicy Chicken Sushi (Fancy Popeyes Chicken)
Ingredients:
- 1 two-piece Popeyes Bonafide spicy fried chicken dinner (breast and wing), with a biscuit, a side of cole slaw, and a large Coke (no ice)
- 1 Loaded Chicken Wrap
- 1 large order of red beans and rice
- packets of Popeyes Louisiana hot sauce
- wasabi paste (for garnish)
This Fancy Fast Food dish requires the dark syrup from Coca-Cola, so first pour the Coke into a non-stick saucepan. Place on medium heat and let the water evaporate as you prepare the other items.
Unwrap the Loaded Chicken Wrap and remove the chicken tender. As best as you can, separate the rice from the red beans remaining in the wrap and place the two items into two separate bowls. Add to these bowls the rice from the red beans from the large side order as well. Rinse the rice in a colander and pick out the remaining red beans. Dry the rice in a paper towel and let it air out for a while. Rinse the tortilla wrap, and then cut off its rounded edges to make a rectangle.
Next, cut the tip off the chicken tender (about 2”), then skin and bone the rest, along with the chicken breast and wing. Using the biggest masses of white meat from the chicken tender and chicken breast, cut out four little slabs of chicken. Then take all the remaining chicken and chop it finely. Add the chopped chicken into the bowl of red beans; add hot sauce from the packets to your liking. Mix it all into a consistent paste.
Once the Coke has been evaporated to a thick syrup, place the wrap into the saucepan to dye it a darker brown. When enough of the syrup has infused with the wrap, place it face down on a bamboo sushi roller. Then add a layer of rice on top of that, followed by a strip of the chicken/bean mix in the center of the wrap. Roll the wrap into the shape of a maki roll, cut off the ends, and then cut the roll into six equal parts - you have just cut “mocki” rolls! A lot of the syrup coloring may have rubbed off during this process, so re-apply the coloring to each piece with a pastry brush.
Cut the edges off the buttermilk biscuit, then cut in half to make to rectangular pieces. Slice those two pieces laterally to make four rectangular pieces of about equal size. Place the four pieces of chicken on each of the four biscuit pieces. Drain and rinse the cole slaw in a colander.
Now assemble the presentation! Place the six cut “mocki” rolls on the platter. In one of them insert the tip of the chicken tender, like Japanese chefs do with the end of a shrimp tempura or spider roll. Accentuate the center of each roll piece with a bean and more hot sauce. Place the four chicken and biscuit “sushi” pieces onto the platter, then drizzle and glaze them with more of the Coke syrup. Garnish with a pile of cole slaw and a dab of wasabi paste, then serve it with chopsticks. Love that sushi from Popeyes!
Shawnblog approved! ;-)
Q would love this!
Jun 29
Breastfeeding Basics
That’s the name of the class I dragged Q to on Saturday. I initially booked the class thinking I’d go alone, but I heard from a few people that husbands go, so I called the hospital to check, and sure enough, they do!
Anyway, it was pretty interesting. I already knew a lot of the stuff from reading, and from personal experience with family, but I wanted to be sure I had the basics down in case I am too out of it in the hospital to pay attention to the lactation nurse, and I wanted Q there for the same reason.
I’m fairly certain that my husband was the only one in the class who drew a picture of a lighting bolt through the words “breastfeeding rocks” in bubble letters (with a note above saying “don’t believe the hype”), but I guess he needed something to distract himself from the overwhelming presence of all things breast. He has kind of a weak stomach, and I don’t think he was adequately prepared for all of the videos, animations, pictures, etc. Overall, I thought he did a great job - he paid attention, took notes, and didn’t crack up when the instructor put on a fake set and walked around the room showing positions (I have to admit, this made me chuckle a little).
I guess it’s all for the best. I’ve heard from other husbands of breasfeeding wives that they get so tired of seeing them during the first few months postpartum, they don’t care if they ever see them again. Ha!
Jun 27
Pregnant belly update (with a new addition):
Emily (scheduled July 2nd), Allison (due July 25th), Syd (due September 15), Aimee (due November 20), Kelley! (due in Feb)
Jun 26
Pregnancy Update
My friends and I do these occasionally, to compare notes. This is the one I sent on Tuesday. (I am trying to remember to put these on the blog for archival reasons. I also have a journal that I started [don’t worry, it’s in a moleskine], but I am a BIG slacker about writing often enough).
disclaimer: some of this stuff is a little TMI, but hey, whatevs, I’m pregnant.
28 weeks, 1 day. 3rd trimester!!! (today I am 28 weeks, 4 days)
Feeling: fine, just have this one stress point in my back that hurts really badly, especially at work and while driving. I think it’s from sitting crooked or something.
Cravings: Dr. Pepper (thanks to E for creating this monster), peanut butter, TCBY, pretty much something sweet after every meal.
Weight: I have stopped officially caring, but I did have a goal not to gain as much weight as I did last month (8lbs-yikes!) and I am doing well. I have only gained 4 – whew! I just don’t want to get in trouble with the doctor. I swear I am not stuffing my face y’all, I honestly don’t know where the 8lbs came from. Anyway, this month I have been swimming more, and limiting desserts to one a day (most of the time).
Sleep situation: It’s getting harder to sleep comfortably (mostly because of my back). I am also out of breath more, probably because I’m running out of room!
Bra size: still the same. Got a hand-me-down bra from E that I’m loving, but I didn’t check the size. All I know is that it fits, and it’s very comfortable. It’s also the first non-padded bra I’ve ever owned/been able to fill! Exciting!
Body developments: new booty stretch marks, but still none on my stomach. When I look in the mirror, I see all belly, although I know my butt and legs have gotten bigger because I can’t wear old pajama pants (and because of the stretch marks).
Super thankful for: E’s advice to start taking stool softener as soon as I started my iron pills. That stuff was $25, but TOTALLY worth it. Not to get too graphic, but I haven’t had ANY problems in that department, and I am really excited!
Excited about: Dr.’s appt this Friday morning, breastfeeding class this Saturday, and After Baby Comes class on Monday and Wednesday night.
Baby developments: I felt her first hiccups last week. At first I thought it was rhythmic kicking, but then I realized it had to be hiccups. I have felt them a few times since then. Cute!!
News
So, first, let me say that I am sad about Michael Jackson. However, I do agree with gratefulgeorge, that the real MJ has been gone for about 15 years. I am sure MJ would be delighted to know that I’ve been thoroughly enjoying all of the tributes on the radio today. I even got to hear some Jackson Five this morning.
My news is that Q switched jobs. Kind of scary in this economic climate (I try to use that in a sentence at least 3x/week [to fit in]), especially since he wasn’t 100% certain that he had another job when he left the old one, but lucky for us, it worked out. I am extremely thankful to the new firm, to Q (and all his talent and hard work in Law School), and to God for listening to the 8,000 prayers I’ve been sending his way about the job situation throughout the past few months. Anyway, he starts Monday, so I can’t wait to see how it goes. I am really happy for him, and I hope this will be the change he’s been looking for.
More news: my friend Kelley is pregnant with her FOURTH child! That means that now, FIVE of us are pregnant at once, which is pretty crazy. We will take another belly picture tonight (we have to, because Emily is having her baby next Thursday). I will post it tomorrow. (I’m sure you’re all on the edge of your seats)!
One last thing: I went to the Dr. today. I have only gained 4lbs since my last appointment, which is great, because I’d gained 8 in one month before the last visit, which is a LOT! She told me last time that she might have to order an ultrasound this time to check the size of the baby to see if she’d have to come early. When I went today, she measured my stomach, and she said it’s right on track (fundal height 28cm) for where I am, and my weight gain is normal, so she’s going to wait until 34 weeks to do the ultrasound. I am kind of sad that I didn’t get to have it early, but I guess I can hold out. The heart rate was 145bpm (pretty consistent with past heart rates). Anyway, I have 3 appointments scheduled at 2 week intervals, then after that, I’ll be there every week! I decided to donate the umbilical cord blood to LifeShare, because we can’t afford to bank it ourselves, and at least this way, someone can use it.
Other than that it’s H O T!!! As I type, I have a fan blowing right in my face to prevent melting…
Jun 24
Whether pumping iron at home, creating shareholder value at work, or bearing a parasitic organism amidst your entrails, RAYNOR-BRAND RINGS OF TECHNOMANTIC HYPERPOWER give you the edge. Choose between THREE EXCITING MODELS with specific powers suited to your needs:
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- THE “SYD” puts the future of the human race very, very close to your bowels, allowing you to FEED AN INTRUDER IN YOUR TRUNK until it has sufficient strength to BURST THROUGH YOU AND TAKE OVER YOUR LIFE.
Tired of getting beat up and having a naked upper-lip? Eager to micromanage employees until they weep tears of blood? Worried that the planet is running out of people? Get your RAYNOR-BRAND RING OF TECHNOMANTIC HYPERPOWER today!
Available through any found Ragbag or by slaying one of the wearers above in battle.
(GsPsOsYsWs, thanks to this).
Totally awesome GsPsOsYsWs courtesy of Mills. hahahahah
Jun 22
A mysterious package arrived at my house on Friday. I was already out of town with Q’s family, but he stopped at home before meeting me, and brought it in. He was in a hurry, so the only information I got was that we got a package including a stuffed animal, and something about Mills and Will. He assumed it was from nudawn (probably partially because he’d never seen a name as intriguing as Raynor Ganan, and he wasn’t quite sure to make of it, and partially because nudawn has already sent two awesome baby gifts). When I got home last night, I was delighted to see that the package was from the Ragbag, and that it included individual treats for me/baby, Mills, and Will, along with a group treat (which I still haven’t opened because I’d hate to do it without the Ills). Anyway, I am extremely touched at the thought of the whole thing, and excited to introduce Vera to the alligator that’s now lurking in her crib. Thank you Mr. Ganan; what a fun surprise! More to come later once the other items have been opened.
Jun 17
» How To Use The Best 40 Features of iPhone 3.0
Jun 15
» It's Comfort Wipe!
(via Sarah)
“For over 100 years we’ve been scrunching and folding toilet. Finally there’s a better way!”
O M G
I have not yet seen this infomercial, but I really want (and simultaneously don’t want) to see it. This is one of the craziest ideas ever. (Quick note: as crazy as I think it is, I am slightly (emphasis on slightly) sympathetic due to my current state. Being pregnant creates all kinds of interesting little access “situations” to deal with). I have some questions:
- Where do you keep this?
- What if there are two people living in your house? This doesn’t seem like the kind of thing one would want to share.
- I can’t imagine anyone ordering this. I really can’t. I want to know how many they’ve sold. Really…
Also, see this hilarious article linked to by Jeff Miller.
Today
is the first day of my 3rd trimester! (I am 27 weeks pregnant [or 6 3/4 mos]).
- Feeling great
- I’ve stopped wanting to know/caring about weight gain, so nothing to report there.
- My ankles swelled this weekend from lots of sitting/standing/heat, and they haven’t gone back down yet.
- I love dessert. A lot!
- I have one complaint: It’s no longer comfortable to sit at my desk, or any table/chair combo for that matter, because my stomach sticks out, and I can’t scoot in enough to make my back feel right. It’s pretty terrible.
- I’m getting really excited/anxious about delivery - I can’t believe it’s almost here!!
Jun 11
Syd is a kid magnet*
*not in a pedophile way
(picture stolen from her facebook after I creeped all in her baby shower album)
Thanks! (And thanks for the clarification). It’s true. I totally am. It’s probably because I babysat all these kids (and others) a bunch. That’s what I did in high school and college for extra money. And it’s ok that you creeped my FB, because I linked to these pics on tumblr anyway! ha ha.
My baby shower was last Saturday, and it was wonderful! Click here to see the pictures.
