Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Preggo

Well, since the news hit Facebook this weekend I suppose I'm safe to post it on here: I'm pregnant! 13 weeks pregnant actually. And yes, I am blaming that fact on my lack of posts lately! It's incredibly hard not to write things like, "I was so sick today I could barely get off the couch," or, "I just found out that my stomach won't tolerate oranges when I'm pregnant!" So I decided I was safer writing just when I had something specific that I could talk about. So, blame the baby for the boring blog.
As it currently stands, I am showing, I'm getting healthier (slowly) and I felt the baby kick already (super early). It turns out that I don't really have an immune system when I'm pregnant (stupid hormones) so that at least explains my sinus colds and other illnesses over the past few weeks. And while this pregnancy has so far been much, much better than my first pregnancy as far as sickness goes, I'm still not at the point where I can eat whatever I want. Unless, of course, I happen to want theatre popcorn, apples and sour patch kids. Which I do, alot :) We managed to hide the fact that I could hardly eat from most of our family, which was hard considering we eat with them nearly every week.
I've also had to alter my Christmas baking plans in light of this happy little news. Considering that I can only stand for 15 minutes at a time before I get dizzy I haven't been able to have any baking marathon days. Instead, I've been substituting out some faster and easier recipes. For example, in place of truffles I made chocolate covered peanut butter balls (much less finnicky and I could do them over a span of 2 days). I made Matt some Earl Grey Tea Shortbread and today I'm making Hazelnut-White Chocolate chunk cookies that need time in the fridge before I cut them and bake them. That gives me a nice little chunk of time to sit down and stop my head from spinning before I continue. Tomorrow, I'm planning on making Sweet Pepper Jelly. I've got a fantastic recipe for it and I decided it would be faster and easier for me to give everyone a jar of jelly than a tray of cookies.
Wish me luck!

Mrs. Vander Leek ;)

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Not a sinus infection!

Good news! I don't have sinus infection. I think I was starting to get one but last night I spent a good chunk of time with a hot cloth over my face and today I feel mucho better. I also had a doctor's appointment for Gabe today with my GP so I got her to check me out while I was in there and she said I wouldn't need antibiotics (yay!) Gabe is doing great, too. He was adorable today and awesome at the clinic. He showed off all his best tricks and the doctor was pleased with how much he talks and how aware of everything he is. He didn't like the fact that I was getting checked out - which is funny. He was totally cool when the doctor's tools were poking his ears and nose, but not when they were poking me.
It's been a bit of a slow day otherwise however. I spent most of the morning getting Gabe and I ready to go to the doctors and then it was about 3:30 when we got home and Gabe's been napping since.
Good to know I'm not too sick though, eh?

Mrs. Vander Leek ;)

Monday, December 6, 2010

Stupid Sewing Machine...

Well, I spent an hour fighting with my sewing machine tonight with the end result of one finished hat. It's a small hat, too. About 3/4 of that time was spent by me fiddling with the bobbin trying to get it into the machine. I hate when you forget how to use a sewing machine... Oh, and it was my first time sewing with fleece which is a bit interesting. Anyway, I did manage to work out a half decent pattern for a hat. Just two square pieces, with cuts in the middle of the tops which I sewed into themselves. I did make a brim too. So, now that I have the bobbin successfully in the machine, next time I go to sew something it will take a lot less time.
I never mentioned before, but I decorated my tree this weekend. It's candy cane themed - or rather, it would be if I thought it would be safe to hang candy canes on the tree. As it stands, my dog would probably eat them all. So, while I would still like to hang some candy canes to fill spots on the tree, we're calling it done :) Matt got the lights up on the house and wired them all to a light switch in our front entry way. So last year every night we had to bundle up and go outside to unplug the lights. This year with a flick of a switch all of the lights turn off, including the two entry-way trees that we got.
Anyway, my husband and baby are home so I can finally get ready for bed - which I've felt ready for for a while now.

Mrs. Vander Leek ;)

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Sick house

Well, Gabe's feeling better. He's done his antibiotics, his cough is gone, he hasn't had a fever in 5 days and except for throwing up on Saturday morning (too much crazy dutch food) he's mucho better. I, however, caught a cold. Saturday night I was sitting at home with Gabe and I got a fever. Sunday morning I woke up with a sore throat, a headache and a runny nose. By Sunday night I was feeling like death with another fever and even worse symptoms. I went to bed at 8, slept until 10 this morning and thanks to cold medicine I have hopes of being able to stay awake until 9 tonight! I was so sick last night I didn't even have energy to chew. I ended up eating a frozen yogurt pop and a SlimFast for dinner just from lack of energy. Anyway, a cold sucks, but I'd rather be sick than have Gabe sick anymore. Plus, being unable to stand means that I have a good excuse to sit on the couch and make my Christmas presents! Today I finished making my snowball decorations that a couple of family members are getting and they actually look quite good. I also managed to wrap Matt's presents and tonight I'm going to prep my fabric for sewing some gifts. I still don't have any patterns so I'm going to make my own :) Wish me luck!
My sister is way ahead of me on the Christmas baking score. Last night she made up a vat of Nuts and Bolts with the family recipe and she also made up a bunch of peanut butter balls - another family recipe. What she did that wasn't part of the family tradition was all the different toppings she put on the peanut butter balls. Our family usually did plain ones, coconut ones, chocolate ones or chocolate and coconut ones. She was creative enough to do candy cane pieces, nuts, white chocolate and a few other toppings. What a clever way to add some variety! I think I'll make up some peanut butter balls this year too. They're so yummy and so fast to make! Here's the Recipe:
Peanut Butter Balls:
2 c. smooth Peanut Butter
1 lbs Margarine
2 lbs Icing Sugar

Mix all together. Form little balls (ranging from 1 tsp - 1 tbsp in size, whichever you prefer) If using crushed, dry toppings (i.e. coconut, nuts, candy) roll balls in topping right away. Put balls on wax paper in covered container and freeze. If coating in chocolate, wait until balls are partially frozen before coating. Store in freezer!

I'm going to go drink another meal :) Ta Ta!

Mrs. Vander Leek ;)