I Heart NYC...

Bear with me. I am seven months pregnant. I found myself looking up the websites to some favorites of ours in New York City. Won't you indulge with me?

Desserts. In general. Desserts. Delicous, divine, delectable desserts. Yum. Banana cream pie. Strawberry rhubarb pie. Once, I had blueberry pie with vanilla ice cream. It was the best blueberry pie I've ever had. Clinton Street Bakery killed me because it is just down the street from one of our favorite sushi places that we'd go to because you can bring your own wine and there's no corking fee. After eating more sushi than you can imagine, we had to walk by the Bakery to get back to the subway. The couple of times that we indulged ourselves, we wished we hadn't. I literally thought I was going to explode. But I didn't. And that's what counts.

Then, there's cupcakes. Everyone always talks about Magnolia's Bakery for cupcakes, but I always thought they were a little dry and the frosting was too thick and sweet for me. But these? Yes, please. My favorite is the Snickerdoodle. When we were living in the City, my BFF, Katrina, was really good at organizing Crumbs stops. We would actually plan on where to go to dinner, based on if there was a Crumbs within a few blocks of the restaurant. Like I've said before, she is pregnant, like me, but expecting two little bugaboos, so I can only expect that her Crumbs need is twice as great as mine. My suspicion is that if we were still living in NYC, Katrina and I would be horribly influencing each other and gaining way more pregnancy weight than we should.

We'll stick to just sweets for now. Because that is what I'm craving. Okay, so you can go for a nice walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and on the Brooklyn side, there's this place. It's just good ice cream, I'm telling you!

And then, there's creme brulee, which you can get just about anywhere. The night we got engaged, we went to Bar Americain for dinner before we went to see Wicked. I think I got pork chops. I know we got creme brulee for dessert. However, when we had it, it wasn't pistachio creme brulee because if it had been, Huzz would've probably stopped breathing and we wouldn't have made it to Wicked.

That's about all I can think of for sweets. I'm typically not the biggest sweet eater, and neither is Huzz. Unless it's Key Lime Pie. Then, he'll order it, just to order it because he loves it oh so dearly.

Did you enjoy this sweet walk to a few places in NYC? No? Now, you're just angry with me for helping you crave something fattening?

You're welcome.

28 Weeks...

As usual, I am late in posting this. What's new?

I look especially lovely in the picture because it's post-walk-in-the-park-with-Huzz-and-Riley-and-it's-hot-outside-time.

When we got back from the park, Huzz decided it was "beer o'clock" and I couldn't have agreed more. But, I had to stick with my water. When it's a beautiful afternoon, sometimes, a nice cold one just sounds so refreshing!

I'm doing great! I'm starting to not sleep very great, but that's part of pregnancy, right?

I'm officially in my third trimester! Wow...that just seems so crazy to me. SEVEN MONTHS pregnant, people!

Twelve weeks left (or there abouts) until we meet our little monkey!

What to Expect.... says,

"This week, your amazing baby has reached 2 1/2 pounds and may be almost 16 inches long. Baby's skill of the week: blinking. Yes, along with the other tricks in a growing repertoire that already includes coughing, sucking, hiccupping, and taking practice breaths, your baby can now blink those sweet little eyes. Dreaming about your baby? Baby may be dreaming about you, too, courtesy of the REM (rapid eye movement) sleep he or she has started getting. But this little dreamer isn't ready for birth day just yet. Though his or her lungs are nearly fully mature by now (making it easier for your baby - and you - to breathe a little easier if he or she were born now), your baby still has a lot of growing to do."

And, to tease those of you who are really wanting to know, we are finalizing our baby name choices! We have a definite girl name picked out and last night, I proposed a boy name to Huzz and he said, "I thought of that one earlier today!" Finally, we both really agreed on a boy name!

But no, we're not telling anyone what we've decided...at least not until the little peanut is here and has a use for the name we have chosen.

We have been going to Rockies night games lately. Both of us just love the Rockies, and we're really enjoying that they're doing so well this season!

Please continue to keep my Dad in your prayers. The last few days have been really rough for him and he was experiencing extreme pain on his left side, which my mom and I were thinking might be from him overusing it to compensate for his lack of movement on his right side, due to his broken scapula. Until last night. His pain was just so bad and he was saying he felt like he might have some broken ribs. Mom took him to the doctor this morning and they x-rayed the area and found that yes, he has two cracked ribs. Poor guy!

Personally, I'm in disbelief that after the fall that he had, the ER didn't x-ray his whole back, just to be safe. They only x-rayed the shoulder, which obviously hurt the most at the time.

So, Dad, just take it easy and let your body heal. I love you!

27 Weeks...

I know. I am now 27 weeks, 4 days pregnant and am just now posting for 27 weeks. It seems to be just what happens when you've had the four days that I have had!

My belly is getting bigger on a daily basis, it seems like! This picture is actually from last Thursday, when I officially turned 27 weeks, so at least I'm staying somewhat consistent with taking my picture on the right day.

Friday was a "growing day." I felt stretched, to the max, and all of a sudden felt much bigger than even the day before.

It has been incredibly hot here in the Mile High city. Yesterday, we set a record at 98 degrees. And trust me, I was feeling all 98 of them. I am so grateful the heat is almost over (hopefully) and I'm not full term pregnant at this time of year.

Things are getting more and more exciting for me! I am feeling Baby Bruce kicking pretty much all the time. I had said earlier in the pregnancy that when I feel the baby move all the time, it'd all be so much more real to me. And, it's true! I love feeling all of the kicks and rolls and punches. It's extra special at about 3:30 in the morning, when Baby has decided that my bladder is fun to play with, and that his foot fits just perfectly underneath my ribs. But seriously, I am so truly thankful.

Here's what What to Expect When You're Expecting says for 27 Weeks:

"Your baby graduates onto a new growth chart this week. No longer will he or she be measured crown to rump, but rather from head to toe. And this week that head-to-toe length is a full 15 inches (more than a foot long)! Your baby's weight is creeping up the charts as well, coming in at just over 2 pounds this week. And here's an interesting fetal factoid: Your baby has more taste buds now than he or she will have at birth (and beyond). Which means that not only is your baby able to taste the difference in the amniotic fluid when you eat different foods, he or she might even react to it. For instance, some babies respond to spicy foods by hiccupping. Or by kicking when they get that spicy kick."

I am still loving me some ice cream (any time, day or night), and Mexican food always sounds like a treat. A couple of days ago, I had some ice cream in the afternoon, which really helped to cool me down from the heat. A couple of hours later, our friends Chris & Karina came over and brought me a Snickers blizzard and I ate the whole thing. It was delicious. And did the double duty of cooling me down again!

Today was much cooler, only got into the low 80's, thank goodness. But after cooking stir-fry for dinner over a hot stove, I was overheated again, so I'm blogging from the patio in our backyard. Much better out here! Riley is always happy to keep me company, too.

Now, the reason why I haven't posted until now is because on Thursday, I had to take Huzz to the airport. He needed to go to Omaha for a quick 24-hour business trip. That's not why I didn't blog. But before we left for the airport, my mom had left me a voicemail while I was in the shower. In the message, she said in a frantic voice, "Beth, call me back!"

So I did. My dad had fallen off a ladder in the backyard while sanding these timbers over their patio. The ladder went one way and he went the other, landing on the jagged rock walkway. He landed on his shoulder and hit his head. I drove down to my parents' in the afternoon to help my mom until Friday night.

Long story short, he shattered his scapula (shoulder blade) into four distinct pieces and jolted his sciatic nerve in his lower back pretty badly. Thankfully, he doesn't seem to be showing any signs of head injury, though.

He is in a sling and probably will be for another 8 weeks, at least. There's nothing the doctors can do. Dad just has to wait for it to heal ~ much like when you break a rib or your collarbone.

Apparently, the scapula is the strongest bone in your body and in order to build up enough force to break it, you're lucky to be alive afterwards. I am so thankful my Daddy didn't get hurt worse. I appreciate your prayers, those of you who knew this was going on on Thursday, and I know my dad appreciates prayers for his healing bones.

Hopefully, I'll be back on Thursday, on time, ready to report on my 28 Weeks!

Here's to the Strict Parents...

One of the blogs I like to read is Rocks In My Dryer, and she occasionally writes for Parents Magazine.

Her topic today is called "Here's to the Strict Parents" and I think she puts her belief in effective parenting into powerful words.

What do you think about what she says?

Weeks 25-26...

It has been a crazy couple of weeks! I went to two baby showers (not my own yet) and had my 10 year high school class reunion in one weekend. Then, we moved into our house. We have been very busy unpacking and buying furniture and organizing things.

I am exhausted. That could partly be due to me starting up my third trimester exhaustion phase, too.

I will be posting pictures of the past few weeks soon, but for this post, it's all things baby.

Baby Bruce is the size of a large eggplant now!

The picture above is last week. The picture below is me, today, at 26 weeks.

This week, I have been really surprised at all the movement Baby Bruce is making! I can now feel Baby moving, no matter what position I am in, even when I'm walking around. Also, the little peanut is clearly very acrobatic, as I can see and feel that he/she is rolling and flipping around in there. It's a weird feeling, and my belly looks even weirder! Sometimes, Baby makes my tummy kind of lopsided when i'm sitting or laying down.

Also, I think I may be starting mild Braxton Hicks contractions, as sometimes, my belly gets very hard and tight for a minute or two. And yesterday and today, my stomach muscles are spasming like crazy! It just means that I'm growing, I guess.

What to Expect When You're Expecting tells me that Baby's eyes are beginning to open. Also, he might respond when I put a flashlight up to my belly, so I'll have to try that!

I have noticed the Baby kicking a lot when I eat spicy food. I love spicy food. Do you think Baby likes it, or kicks me because he's mad? I think it's because he likes it. Haha!

We are enjoying living back in the Mile High City. When the Rockies score 7 or more runs, we can "Run to the border", if you will, and get 4 tacos for $1.00. That's right. One dollar. (With the purchase of a drink.) I love the Bell's hot sauce. We are watching the Rockies on t.v. right now, as they're playing the Pirates again, and fortunately, we are winning 7-1, in the bottom of the 7th.

Tonight is Taco Night!

On a very serious note, please, please, please say prayers for our dear friends, the Stroups. Amy is pregnant with twins and due about a week and a half before me. They found out yesterday that they lost one of their precious girls. I am just heartbroken and distraught for her. I saw her blog entry before I went to sleep last night and just could not stop thinking and praying for her all night. Most of you readers know them, so I hope you'll feel led to pray.

I will be back soon with more updates. I promise they will be more frequent, now that we finally got my laptop to work on the wireless network!

Lookin' for some Cookin?...

I've been meaning to post this link for a few weeks now, but am now just getting the chance.

One of the websites I love to read, The Pioneer Woman, has launched another site, called Tasty Kitchen.

If you like to use allrecipes or the foodnetwork, you'll probably really like this website, too. It is organized and easy to use.

Just thought I'd share!