I had another restless night last night. I just can't sleep well unless Brian catches me right as I fall asleep on the sofa and sends me to bed. Otherwise, he can't wake me up. I wake up around 2 am, move to the bed, and toss and turn for about an hour before giving up and getting up. Two new episodes of "Tori & Dean" from onDemand later, I was still awake. The sandman found me around 6. Brian woke up (late) around 8, which means I did, too. I sincerely hope this is a pregnancy thing. Probably more like a getting-ready-for-baby thing. I'm afraid sound sleep is out of my reach for the better part of eight months. Siiiiiiiiiiiiigh.

This weekend's weather was a vast improvement over the previous week. It was in the 70's for four days, and Brian and I took advantage of it Sunday. We went to Pony Pasture for a hike/walk. I've been wanting to get out for walks to get some more activity. We lead a pretty sedentary lifestyle, and I certainly want to change that before the baby gets here. We want to be a good example for our little girl! Back to the subject....we weren't the only one's in Richmond looking for ways to enjoy the weather. The parking lot was packed. It felt really great to be outside, listening to birds and the river. With the pregnancy and the cold weather, I've been cooped up for months.

Brian and I have started playing with the idea of a small vacation this summer to Chincoteague. I'm hesitant for several reasons. First and foremost, I'm not fond of the bathing suit idea so soon after giving birth. I'm also not sure Virginia will be ready for such a trip. Then, there's the dog situation. I think of these things, then think of how desparately I need a vacation. We still haven't had our honeymoon. Money and work schedules were too tight after our wedding. Still, I'm worried this summer is too soon. I have secretly been scouting tropical vacations for December. Virginia should be sleeping through the night by then (I hope). I think I'll also be more comfortable leaving her with grandparents by then. Who knows? This warm weather sure is giving me the travel bug, though!

More to come later. Hope all is well with all of you!

The new nest

Well, we're finally in our new place. For those of you who don't know, we've moved to a new apartment in the same building. It's slightly bigger, a little cheaper, and much quieter. My wall-o-windows is gone forever, and hopefully the heating bill that went with it!

Mom came up on Saturday to help us clean. I'm so glad she did, because I completely underestimated how difficult it is to move five and a half months pregnant. Brian's friend Ted also stopped by to help my husband move the last of the furniture. We were finished with everything in the old place in the late afternoon, just as I was getting my second wind. Brian was a good sport about it. He moved the sofa twice before telling me to sit my pregnant butt on the sofa and relax! We unpacked and organized on Sunday amid talk of snow. Snow in Richmond? It doesn't snow in Richmond! (Sometimes I'm wrong....)

The snow started around five-ish Sunday evening, and immediately began to stick. We took the girls out for walks and enjoyed watching them play. We flipped back and forth between The Amazing Race and the Weather Channel all evening, listening to the forecasts. The local weather called for 3-6" and we ended up with around four or five Monday morning. It was beautiful when I woke up! Snow was still falling, and VDOT had yet to plow any off the streets. Everything was just white and silent. I desperately wanted to get pictures while it was still snowing, but was unable to find the camera. Brian got his wish and had the day off. I spent the morning pulling out all the accumulated baby stuff and organizing Virginia's room. After that, I made chocolate chip cookies and we watched movies all day! I'm just wondering if Brian will have to work today.

That's all the news from our end of the world. Virginia Lynn is kicking up a storm in my belly. Brian can finally feel her move. I'm two weeks away from my third trimester. The end is in sight! Hope all is well for everyone!

"In the wee small hours of the morning.."

It's 4:30 am, and I've been awake for two hours. I end up falling asleep on the sofa after dinner, usually around 8. Wake up call is anywhere between 2 and 3:30. If I'm lucky, I fall back to sleep around 5. It's extremely obnoxious. I've tried hot tea and a book. My husband is beginning to think I don't like him very much since I rarely make it into the bedroom. Advice on this is much appreciated.

This strange sleep schedule does have one advantage...hours and hours of daydreaming on babiesrus.com. I've started my registry, but can't really do much more until I know who is growing inside of me. Are you Virginia Lynn or Grant Christopher? I'll just have to learn to be patient until the ultrasound, for which I still don't have a date. I called my new doctor yesterday to see if they could tell me. "Once we schedule it, we send you the information in the mail. You should have it by the end of this week." Grrrrrrr. Pregnant wants to know! Pregnant is losing patience!

I can finally feel some movement. It's pretty cool. Sometimes when I'm bored, I talk to it, willing it to move around and entertain me. My child already has a stubborn streak, as this rarely works. "I move when I want, Mom!" Brian isn't able to feel anything yet. I told him it will probably be a few weeks before that happens. Right now, I'm kind of enjoying having it all to myself. It's just me and Baby E!

I'm happy to be back at work. Lunch today was NUTS-O with the inauguration. Lots of parties and long ticket times. Never thought I'd say this...it was actually fun. It's good to be back around people I've known for a while. Everyone knows about the baby, now, and they rub my belly and talk baby things with me. It's nice. I guess all I needed to get out of my little funk was some attention. A little love always goes a long way, though.

I'm going to try some more hot tea and Jane Austen. Hopefully I can get in a few more hours before Brian gets up and the dogs start going crazy. Baby kicks and tummy tickles....Haute Momma

How long has it been??

I think it's about time I sat down to keep whoever reads this thing posted....For those of you who don't know, I was very unhappy with my first OB choice. I went with MCV and hated it. Lots of reasons, and I won't go into to much detail. Let's just say that when I go to the emergency room and am told I have a "threatened miscarriage," and to follow up with my doctor, I expect to get in to see my doctor. Within 24 hours. All is well... I have found Dr. Lucas! He is the nicest, kindest doctor on the planet, I think! He explained everything to me, including the reason I was having spotting. He's assured me that everything is fine, that I'm growing the way I should be, and we'll have THE ultrasound in the next 10 days or so.

On the ultrasound note....I'm thinking boy. Don't ask me why. I can't explain it. I just do. However, one bored Wednesday, I gave in to the Ancient Chinese Gender Predictor. It claims 90% accuracy, and showed me a picture of baby in a pink blanket. Well, that got me excited, so I decided to look into all the wives' tales I promised myself I wouldn't buy into. My wedding ring on a chain suspended over my belly moved in a circular motion....girl. I crave sweets....girl. I have a wicked case of teen-age acne...girl. Apparently even my breasts can indicate the gender of this tiny being inside me! All old wives' tales point to girl. I'm not getting my hopes up. I still think it's a boy. I'm stuck on sailboats for some reason every time I look at nursery stuff.

It's almost nine, which means it's almost past my bedtime. ;-p I will TRY to be better at this blogging thing. TRY. Love to all!

What a difference two months makes

What's happened since my last post? There's a baby in the belly, I'm unemployed, Brian finally got his bonus, my GI Bill finally came in, and I've started Christmas shopping!

We found out I'm pregnant in the middle of last month. I think I'm about 9-10 weeks. My first ultrasound is Friday, and we'll know more then. I'm really looking forward to it. I think it will make this feel "real" to see something on a screen. I had morning sickness pretty bad for about three weeks. I'm almost afraid to say it, but I think it's going away. Or, I've learned what to eat to keep it from rearing it's ugly head. Food cravings hit me like a ton of bricks, and need to be fulfilled immediately. Current obsessions include salad, peanut butter sandwiches, grapefruit, and bean burritos from Taco Bell. I think I'm over the pizza kick. Things I refuse to put in my mouth that I loved in a former life: GARLIC, coffee, and poultry. Speaking of poultry....

Thanksgiving is at our place this year. Mom is coming up. I've invited Daddy, as well as Rhonda. I put this plan together pre-pregnancy, when the thought of roasting and basting a bird for hours sounded like fun. It's quite possible that mom will have to handle the turkey. I get really excited when I think about all the other yummies that go along with Thanksgiving dinner. Fresh green beans, mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn! Is my baby a vegetarian???

On the job front, Brian and I have talked. I'm not going to look for a job until after the new year. We're much better financially now that he got his bonus and my GI Bill is coming in. Here's my logic...I have two HUGE projects I need to do for school (one involving 32 recipes, cost analysis for each one, and development of 4 restaurants). More than that, the reality that our lives are getting ready to change in a big way has hit me pretty hard. We've only been married for a couple of months. I want to take this time to get closer to my husband (not that there's a problem there in any way). I'm also looking forward to having a significant amount of time off around the holidays, something I haven't had since I joined the military. Basically, I want some "me" time before it becomes a bit harder to do so. I'd been kicking the idea around in my head. I'm just lucky enough to have a husband who agrees with me!

I started my Christmas shopping today. Bought some cute decorations for the apartment that I'm dying to put up. I actually contemplated it, the decided I didn't want to hear my husband poke fun at me for decorating before Thanksgiving. Soooo....I will decorate on Black Friday. I'm totally looking forward to it.

I think that's all the news from Richmond today. I have class all day tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed for me...I'm hoping we don't have to use garlic in any recipes. Hope all is well in your neck of the woods.

It is said that the present is pregnant with the future. ~Voltaire

Oysters

This week has been interesting to say the least. Let's start with Monday evening. Chelsea wanted to work, so I gladly gave up my p.m. shift to her. It would have been my fourth double in a row. Yuck. Brian and I decided to have a cheap date night and headed to The Hard Shell (nice to work in a restaurant...cheap food and wine). All was going well. Brian enjoyed his crab legs. I did a tasting of some of our wines so that I could explain them to customers. And then came the plate from the kitchen.

A pristine white, square appetizer plate beautifully garnished with micro greens and a lemon wedge. And a raw Chesapeake oyster.

Brian looks at me in disgust. I look at the guys in the kitchen, who are smiling with anticipation at me. I think Brian says something like, "You aren't really going to eat that, are you?" Yes. Yes, I am.

All the guys in the kitchen know I'm in culinary school. We talk about it all the time. Sunday, I asked Andre to show me how to shuck an oyster. It's difficult, by the way. We got it open, and he asked me if I had ever eaten a raw oyster. I walked away. Monday morning, I told him that I really did want to try oysters. I'm going to be a chef. I need to stop being afraid of food. That's how the single oyster ended up in front of me.

I take it over to the kitchen so they can give me a pep talk. One. Two. Three. Slimy. Funky. Yuck. The guys are laughing. And then I told them that I wanted to try a Blue Point oyster. I mean, let's just get this oyster tasting business out of the way all at once. That was my theory. The guys couldn't believe I actually wanted to eat another one. I go into the kitchen and help Cory shuck it. I didn't put lemon on it, or cocktail sauce, or anything else.

One. Two. Three.

Delicious!

It tasted like sea water. Like summers in Ocean City. Like vacationing at Chincoteague. Like warm, lazy days. I'm hooked. And proud of myself for trying something so repulsive looking. The key is to not chew. Just drink it.

The sharper your knife, the less you cry

That's the name of the book I finished two minutes ago. It's by Kathleen Flinn, who got fired from her job at 36 and decided to go to Le Cordon Bleu. I cried. I can't remember the last book that reduced me to tears.

I've been reading it between work and studying for the past week. It has me dreaming of Paris, eating at little cafes, and shopping for baguettes every day. Sigh. Is that something I will ever get to do? I thought I'd gotten all my wanderlust out of the way. It appears I have not.

I loved the book for more than the Paris brain candy. She went through a (much tougher) version of what I'm doing. It's nice to know I'm not the only culinary student to get lost in knife cuts. I can do it all day. Peel, square, trim, slice, julienne, brunoise, repeat. Very cheap therapy. It's also nice to know that not everyone starts culinary school with a clear goal in mind.

Because honestly, I don't know what I want to do with all this learning. Ask the majority of my class what they want to do, and you will get one answer. "I want to own my own restaurant." I've managed one, and I've got to tell you...It's a TON of work. Kiss the family life good bye. Be prepared to work 60-80 hours a week. And by the way, it will take you at least six months to start making money. If you're any good.

I've become increasingly interested in the farm-to-table movement. I grew up blissfully unaware of fois gras and duck confit, and I really don't feel I've missed anything. Isn't the beauty of cooking making something fantastic out of something simple? And does fantastic have to be elaborate? Why not let the green beans speak for themselves? My husband requests my meat loaf more than anything else I make. I think I want to make the food that people really eat.

But, all that is two years down the road. I mentioned moving after graduation to Brian last night. He was tentative, but not opposed. He said he'll need to know where I want to go so he can find a job. He instantly said, "The valley!" No. I'm not taking my cooking skills to Harrisonburg to cook for students and townies who don't know sea salt from kosher. (That's awfully snarky of me. I apologize.)

Off to read about eggs for school.