You know you're human when...

You find out someone you've lost touch with over a series of unfortunate circumstances is doing well...and you're really, truly happy for them.

miss, love, and hope it all happens for the best!

The Talented Mr. Verde

i heard they scream when you first put them in the pot, but i had to see for myself

awwww yeah

ironic...he was crying when i first tried to take the picture...

Game-Set-Match

Spinach, chevre cheese, pine nuts, grape tomatoes, lemon, olive oil, salt and pepper. DAMMIT, no artichoke hearts but still one of the most refreshing summer salads!

On The First Month of Parenting

I'm all salty and old at being a mom now that the babe is a whole month old, so I think I know everything. Just like since I've been through 9 months-give or take-of pregnancy, I also think I am the authority on all things pre and post natal.

Or not...

There are a lot of things that I was not expecting to happen that did. I'm not sure if I wish I had known either, because planning ahead either way probably would not have worked for me. Like, the pain I was having in my groin during pregnancy. Seriously, is it necessary to feel like I just fell onto the center bar of a man's bike for 24 hours a day? Maybe not so much. How could I have planned for that? Nothing you do makes it any better. Maybe an ice pack at night would have helped-that would have been super sexy, on top of the sexy waddle I developed in the last month. Yep, I had strangers asking for my number I was so hot. What I was expecting was insane cravings. That did not happen. Sure, I wanted comfort food but was I craving it so bad that I sent my husband out at 2am? Nope, and even if I had planned on cravings-how do you prepare ahead of time for that?

Hmmm, what else could have prepared me for: Being induced two weeks early; having my new son scare the hell out of my family and I when he didn't cry after he arrived; watching my child in the nursery the first night, monitored and on oxygen; an impossibly long, sleepless 2nd night in the hospital trying unsuccessfully to get my son to latch on; postpartum setting on a week after he was born and feeling so impossibly anxious and hopeless that I couldn't sleep; missing work and all the people around me as I'm stuck inside with this new little being I'm not sure I can take care of but so needs me to take care of him. I'm secretly wishing I could go back to work-where I'm sure of myself and good at what I do. Life around me was moving along as normal as I have to learn how to do something that can't be taught. I don't care how many books you've read-nothing can prepare you for it. Books, in my opinion are a generalization that can be helpful at times but do not focus on the needs of individual children. How can they? We are each completely different. Yes, all babies have similar, basic needs but just like each of us, they have teeny tiny personalities and need to be cared for accordingly.

It's work, and it's a learning curve, but it's worth it. As I type and pause to hold an itty bitty hand or rub a belly and listen to a little voice hum to himself or to me, this new little voice that has only been heard for a month in this great big world...oh boy is it worth it!

YUM!

Favorite splurges that I allow myself while I've been pregnant, just because...

1. NUMERO UNO is absolutely Haagen Daaz vanilla ice cream, I've decided that this has to be THE most perfect food ever created...well, this and Jefe's homemade strawberry ice cream, but he's only been able to make it once since I've been expecting our little man.

2. A loaf of sourdough bread from Henry's-HAS to be Henry's and their chicken tortilla soup, I couldn't come close to making it if I tried!

3. Udon Noodles from Samurai

4. Spaghetti and Meatballs

5. Sweet Potato fries with chipotle dressing from the Manhattan Brew Co.

6. Homemade chocolate chip cookies

7. Honey Bunches of Oats-2 bowls at a time, thank you very much!

8. Toast: either with butter and raspberry/blackberry preserves OR with peanut butter and honey

9. Yellow mustard and cheese sammiches-untoasted, mozzarella, on wheat

10. Grilled cheese sammich: havarti, swiss, gouda, sourdough or squaw grilled with a nice couple pats of butter and plenty of yellow mustard for dipping

Yep...this baby likes comfort food, not really sure what that's all about cos my theory was always you crave what you need. I think the baby was just HUNGRY but momma has only been willing to allow bebe these little treats once in a while for fear of both a giant baby and a giant-er belly!

My Thoughts in the Last Ten Minutes

Noodle issue: Just happened with some reheated rice. Remind me, why do I look at pictures of meal worms when I know they gross me out and only contribute to my phobias?

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Still haven't felt the baby kick. I'm thinking it either means I am going to have a stubborn child or will be one of the lucky moms who gets their infant to sleep through the night within a month. Hint: I'm not necessarily what you'd call a "lucky" person.

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Is a mortgage almost 2 grand higher than we pay for rent worth living on my favorite street in Fullerton?

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I feel like I see a belly, but everytime I mention it, I get shot down by husband. Either I've always looked this puffy or I'm eating the average person's weekly salt intake in one day.

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The Snuggie is BS and the "ultra soft fleece" is actually synthetic, nasty, staticky fleece. I cannot imagine something I'd rather have further away from my body.

Oh the Joys of Having a 17 Week Old Baby

dot dot dot In my BELLY dot dot dot

Actually, despite the sarcasm in the title, it's been closer to normal life than I expected. Sure...everybody has been staring at my tummy to see if it's grown anymore each day. Oh yeah, I've also become a giant crybaby-pretty disconcerting for people that know me well. Aaaand, I'm crazy-like hormonal, over the top, fly off the handle insane. I'm lucky I have a husband that is an emotional rock and friends that were anticipating this cossss-I'm CRAZY! Anyway, when I'm not crazy, I'm pretty happy and luckily, the "episodes" last about two seconds and then back to normal! Ooooh, I just read that and it looked even worse. Eh-whatevah.

Sooooo...did anyone else know that your pregnant belly gets bigger as the day goes on? Yeah, I didn't. Yesterday it got bigger earlier. Like, driving to work earlier. Like...had to unbotton my jeans in the car aaaand, unbottoned them everytime I sat down at my desk. I promptly bought a bella band and am tempted to buy the one pair of maternity jeans I am alotting myself for this whole thing. I'm not a fan of jeans anyway (constricting, tight, NOT comfortable, feeling like my belly is always hanging out no matter what size they are-you get the picture) but I have a feeling it might rain a few more times before this babe arrives so I am only buying out of necessity.

Maternity ANYTHING by the way, seems overly priced and to be honest, not my favorite type of clothing. Think schoolmarm, trying to hide a giant watermelon of a belly under a LOT of fabric and print. For instance:




REALLY? That top isn't even the worst one-they are BAD! Yeah, thanks for the awesome prints! I might as well just wear a shirt with some 2 inch thick horizontal stripes across it to just accentuate my growing selt. Those pants-ummmm, could you pick a more conspicuous and inconvenient place for a pocket? I really want to know-who thought this was going to be a good idea. I'm convinced that whoever designed this stuff has either never been pregnant or they think that a pregnant woman is not supposed to look all that attractive. I've been pretty frustrated looking for things to wear during the 2nd and inevitably larger half of my pregnancy so I've pretty much vowed that I will only buy when there is NO OTHER OPTION. Basically, I've just been stocking up extra long t-shirts from Urban Outfitters and the like. I've also acquired a tunic here and there plus, for all my tank tops and comfy days, I've got my eyes on a yummy pair of non-maternity cargo pants, I think they'll be a pretty good alternative what with the elastic waistband. Otherwise, I'm stoked that the majority of my uncomfortable last trimester is going to be spent in the warmer months. All I'm sayin' is-thank GOD I'm a floaty sundress and flip-flop girl because other than the extra staples I'm pretty set. Now...for a place to put the bebe. Aw geez, here we go again!

TOP CHEF SHENANIGANS!!!

So did anyone else watch Top Chef last week?

First off, I am a little disappointed at the elimination, but I guess it's no surprise since the team leader of the losing restaurant during the "Restaurant Wars" challenge usually goes home. But I really liked Radhika! I think she was innovative and much more talented than some of the chefs that are lucky enough to stay. I know the judges new "policy" is to consider how the chefs performed only at each individual challenge, but I think that overall performance should be taken into consideration.

Anyway, what really got me this week was freaking Leah and Hosea's little makeout sesh! I know, it's not about morals, it's about how you cook etc...etc...but the whole thing just left a bad taste in my mouth. I mean, who lays on the couch and cuddles with some "friend" like that when you have a significant other??? In a one-on-one interview, Hosea is saying, "I CAN'T let it happen". So, how about this...don't lay on the couch with some chick and maybe lay off on the excessive flirting. I'm just sayin', do they not realize there is a cameraman EVERYWHERE? I love it that Hosea described it as "Last night Leah and I did a little too much flirting." Really? This is what we're calling it now, Hosea? I would love to hear him try to phrase it that way to his girlfriend, I'm sure that would go over real well. Whatever, they've been bugging me the last couple weeks, but now I really want Leah to go away and feel sorry for herself off camera. Hosea just needs to get over Stefan's competitiveness. It's a COMPETITION.

Oh it's gotten me all flustery now! I can't wait 'til Wednesday, just one episode closer to one of them going home!

HMMMMMM....

I was just pouring the last of some leftover Udon down the drain and wondered to myself....

"What if that last little noodle started wiggling around in the sink and swam down the drain and I realized too late there was actually a worm in my yummy soup?"

Why do I think about things like this again??? I just made my belly button hurt.