15 Weeks-Halloween

Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light.

No news to report really! I feel fine aside from the allergies/sinus/cold whatever is causing my runny nose and sneezing and overall congestion.

Happy Halloween! Rob and I are going to a party tonight but as of now we have no costumes. Anyone have any ideas for us?

14 Weeks and the (de)Evolution of my Waistline: Part 1

Your adorable little fetus is busy with thumb sucking, toe wiggling, and (not so cute but equally amazing) making urine and breathing amniotic fluid as the liver, kidneys and spleen continue to develop. Lanugo (thin, downy hair) is growing all over the body for warmth.

13 Weeks

Your baby has reached the size of a medium shrimp and weighs nearly an ounce. (Length: almost 3 inches, head to bottom). Your fetus is forming teeth and vocal cords... savor this, their non-functional phase. Baby is approaching normal proportions, with a head now only one third the size of the body. Intestines are in the process of moving from the umbilical cord to baby's tummy. (Much more convenient.)

Every week I listen to Rob complain about the vague size of our baby. "A lime?? That is ridiculous. Limes greatly vary in size" or "A blueberry? What size blueberry exactly?" and I have to explain to him that this is just for fun, to give you a general idea. But...a shrimp? And not even a prawn, a medium shrimp. I have seen a lot of shrimps in my life and I have seen a lot of limes...but I don't think I've ever seen a shrimp that is larger than a lime. Unless you're talking about a key lime, which it doesn't appear that way. So I'm going to go with another website this week, which is using a peach. Much better, don't you think?

Omnivore's 100

British blogger and food writer Andrew Wheeler came up with the Omnivore's 100: 100 foods he believes everyone should try at least once in their life.

Hmmm, I think I need to get out more!!!

Here’s what I want you to do:

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold (italicize) all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.

The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred:

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush

11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream

21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda

31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O (jell-o shots???)
39. Gumbo

40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat's milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth $60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut

50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald's Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine

60. Carob chips
61. S'mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs' legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain

70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini

81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate

91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

http://www.verygoodtaste.co.uk/uncategorised/the-omnivores-hundred/

Show and Tell

Back at work today after a nice 3-day weekend! Despite the obvious disappointment on Saturday, it was otherwise good! Lynn and Drew put us up for the weekend. We got to meet the newest addition to the Brown family: Ethan. He is cute as a button.See? Told you he was cute. And his brother is adorable too. Caiden and Rob chillin' on the porch.We had a wonderful anniversary yesterday. We left the house for our spa treatments and noticed a gift on our front porch. My mom had made us a "Year Two Survival Package" complete with several baby and parenting books including What to Expect the First Year, Happiest Baby on the Block, The Expectant Father, The New Father, and Baby 411. Great reading over the next several months and reference tools for the future not to mention very thoughtful. And a cute basket that can be used for diapers or something in the baby's room.
Later when we arrived at dinner there was a card waiting on the table for us. Bob and Terri had gotten us a generous Fleming's gift card. Again, so thoughtful and the meal was wonderful. Because it was our anniversary they gave us these to take home:
The meal was wonderful and I would tell you all we ate but that would be embarrassing. Let's just say we were so full we couldn't even eat these strawberries.
We couldn't believe how our family went out of their way to make our first anniversary so special. We great appreciate the generosity and thoughtfulness. Thanks for all the anniversary wishes too.

1 Year

One year ago today. My how time flies! It doesn't seem like a year at all to me. We took the day off work and we're going to get a massage (Rob) and a manicure (me) and later we're going to dinner.

12 Weeks & Doctor

As you move into the second trimester, baby shifts into the growth and maturation stage. After weeks in the critical development stage, almost all of baby's systems are fully formed. The most dramatic development this week: reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements.

We went to the doctor this morning for a quick checkup. We heard the heartbeat again. 171 bpm. In about six weeks we'll be finding out if this little lime is a boy or a girl!

Have a great weekend everyone! Oh yeah, and:

The Tragedy Maker

I'm sure Rob would agree with this! Going to the doctor tomorrow morning. I'll update after I get to work!

11 Weeks

Your baby is now about as big as a fig. (Length: just over 1 1/2 inches, head
to bottom.) Your fetus currently enjoys a 1:1 ratio between body and head, and has skin so transparent that blood vessels show right through. But, fingers and toes are no longer webbed, and hair follicles, tooth buds and nail beds are forming -- setting up a significantly more attractive future.

So that's what's going on with the fig this week. As for me, I'm doing well. Still very tired, but I guess that gives me an excuse to lie on the couch. A week from today is my next doctor's appointment which I'm looking forward to. The appointments seem to buy a little "peace of mind" time. Those who know me know I'm not a worrier by nature so this is all new to me. I guess this is just preparing me for a lifetime of worry, huh?!
Have a great weekend, everyone!

Happy Birthday weekend to my friend and fellow pregnant lady, Lauren Adams!