Quiet (but productive) Weekends

This month has been unusual because, more weekends than not, Kenny and I have not had any big plans. We’ve been able to stay home and get things done around here, which is always nice. It’s even nicer because April is going to be mighty busy.

Kenny started off the month by brewing two more batches of beer, a Fat Tire-like ale and a blonde ale. Both are currently fermenting away in their containers in our back bathtub. And he’s going to finish it off a little differently this time: he’s going to keg it! Stay tuned……

We also came up with a game plan for our front gardens, and Kenny has been hard at work making that plan a reality. He wouldn’t let me help, so the first day I sat outside reading while he planted and promptly got sunburned on my face, arms, and legs. The second and third days I elected to stay inside and do laundry instead. The gardens aren’t quite finished yet since we couldn’t find everything we wanted, but they’re on their way!

As for me, I have started walking around my neighborhood every day. The weather has been too gorgeous to stay inside, so I’ve been getting out for about a half hour each day to get this pregnant body some healthy exercise. We’ll see how long I can keep it up once it starts to get really hot out there!

18 Weeks

From BabyCenter.com:

Head to rump, your baby is approximately 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and weighs almost 7 ounces. He’s busy flexing his arms and legs – movements that you’ll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead.

I have my big ultrasound coming up next week; Kenny and I are so excited! We’re still going to be surprised about the sex of the baby, but we’re anxious to see how much he’s grown and (hopefully) make sure everything is progressing the way it should be. Fingers crossed for a healthy result!

One thing I’m having trouble with lately is sleeping. I just can’t see to get comfortable at night, and I know it’s only going to get worse! My current setup is a pillow right up against me on one side and my big stuffed tiger that I’ve had since I was 10 on the other. Even though I know it’s better for me, I can’t stay on my left side for very long, so I tend to flip flop back and forth all night. I can still lay on my stomach for short stretches, but I’m sure that won’t last very much longer.

And I did have another strange dream that I can share:

I was on my way home from giving a lecture or speech at LSU (don’t ask what about, I have no idea). I was trying to navigate my way off campus, but the “interstate” system was nothing like I had ever seen before. Many many levels, huge spans of lanes, and just general confusion. When I finally found myself on “the bridge” I relaxed a little and knew I was headed in the right direction.

Then came the checkpoint. On the very top of the highrise, cops were checking vehicles for something. When it was my turn, they didn’t wave me through like most others. Instead, an officer told me to stop, walked around to the back of my car, and looked at my plate. I could tell something wasn’t right. Then he told me to please pull over so I could be checked.

I get in this long line (somehow magically on foot now, sans car), which is full of old men as far as my eye can see. I pull out my phone to call Ken to tell him I’ll be late for dinner. The last thing I remember is telling him, “See? I told you that thing in Florida would come back to bite me!”

What the heck did I do in Florida???

A Sudden Craving

There are two food items in this world that I don't think I could live without: chocolate and bread. I can safely say that I am pretty much addicted to both. Me and carbs? Yeah, we get along just fine. I always have some form of chocolate in the house, and since it is close to Easter (my favorite time of year for holiday candy) I'm all set in the sweets department.

But the other night Kenny and I were watching an episode of "Throwdown with Bobby Flay" (Side note: if you haven't ever seen it, watch it; it's a great show. Side note 2: I'm just remembering I had a dream about Bobby last night. He was sitting on my couch eating everything in the house and playing Wii, which we don't own. Strange.) and the theme was biscuits and jam. Suddenly I really, really, really wanted a good homemade biscuit. However, it was 10 o'clock at night and I elected to sleep instead of staying up to bake.

You better believe I woke up the next morning dreaming about biscuits, though. And I didn't want the kind out of the can. I wanted big ole, made-from-scratch, buttery, delicious biscuits. But I also had to work with what I had in the house. Thank goodness biscuits are really easy to make with Bisquick. Just add some milk and you've got a batter!

Ten minutes later I had 8 fresh, hot biscuits out of the oven and onto my plate. Crisis averted, craving satisfied.

And to further extend my bread obsession, I made a trip to Great Harvest Bread Company today, bakers of the best bread in all of Acadiana. The moment you step through the door the overwhelming and tantalizing smell hits and you have to restrain from buying everything in sight. Luckily, I made it out with just three selections: challah bread, chocolate brownie bread (two cravings satisfied at once…yes!), and gouda beer bread. Delish!

Date Night

I really can’t remember the last time Kenny and I had a date night, until this past Saturday. We’ve been plenty of places recently, but it’s always been in a group setting. So it was very nice to spend some time together this past weekend, just the two of us.

Both of us had been wanting to see Avatar, so we caught a late afternoon show and figured we’d do dinner somewhere after. The movie was really, really good. Unfortunately, it was no longer being shown in 3D, so we probably missed some of the effects. But the settings the moviemakers created were simply stunning. And the story was so interesting that it really didn’t seem like we were in the theater for almost 3 hours. I’ll definitely want to see it again when it comes out on DVD.

After the movie I decided I really wanted a salad and some corn grits from Zea, but upon getting there at 7:30 we discovered there was an hour and a half wait. I didn’t want to wait that long, so we drove around a bit and ended up downtown at a cute little place called Bonnie Bell’s Bistro. I had been once before with a co-worker for lunch but neither of us had been for dinner.

Appetites finally satiated with fancy quesadillas, we headed back home. Thanks for a great date, Ken! Love you!

Houston

I spent most of this past week in Houston visiting my parents. I hadn’t been to visit since early fall, and I figured this was a good time to go. Mom and I both had a free week, so into the car I went for the 3.5 hour trip. I got there on Tuesday afternoon and stayed until Friday afternoon.

As my regular clothes are getting a little too snug these days, the purpose of the trip was mostly to shop. Mom and I had a very successful (yet long and tiring) Wednesday at Target and the Galleria. We also went to IKEA the next day to scout out baby furniture options, of which there were (surprisingly) none. We did find a crib that we both really like at Target, though, so at least I have an idea of what I want. Kenny approves, too. :)

We also saw a movie since we were without Dad and Ken: Valentine’s Day. I went into it not expecting much, but it was actually really cute. And since Mom and Dad already had tickets to see a play at the Alley Theater on Thursday night, they were able to get an extra ticket for me to go with them. It was an Alfred Hitchcock movie adapted for the stage called The 39 Steps. Quite funny and entertaining.

As always, it was a great trip. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for everything!

So how successful were we in finding maternity clothes for me? You be the judge!

NORC at Arnaud’s

Last Friday night was the third meeting of the New Orleans Restaurant Club, this time in the French Quarter at Arnaud’s. Kenny and I had never been before, and we were excited to try this famous NOLA institution.

However, even though the atmosphere was nice and the company was fabulous (we were at a table of 6 with my brother and Erin and Kat and Ryan), Kenny and I agreed that we don’t need to go back. I’m glad we tried it, as I have always wondered how it was, but the food was just okay.

We were still very glad we went, especially because we were also celebrating Lizzie’s 29th birthday (which was on Saturday). I think she had a great time being surrounded by 43 of her closest friends!

Until the next meeting on May 21, 2010…..we’re all anxiously awaiting the word on where we’ll be eating!

15 Weeks

Well, everyone, I have officially survived the horrors of the first trimester. It was not at all fun, and it made me question why anyone would want to go through this more than once! But I know it will be worth it in the end.

I had another doctor’s appointment on Wednesday, and everything is looking good. Baby’s heartrate is slower than last time (in the 140s) but still very much within normal range. My blood pressure went up a bit more, but it’s still within normal as well. And now that I have no more nausea (yay!) I can actually eat again, which means I’ve started to gain a little weight. Only 4 pounds total, though, which my doc says is great.

I am also no longer tethered to the couch on account of the increase in energy that accompanied the second trimester. Small grocery trips, the occasional lunch out, runs to the bank, and even a leisurely afternoon browsing in Barnes and Noble are perfectly acceptable now.

I’m not really showing yet, but I can tell my belly is starting to stick out more than it normally does. I’m still in my normal clothes, but they are starting to get noticeably tighter. Thank goodness for my planned trip to Houston next week to go shopping with Mom!