Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Forgetfulness

Forgetfulness seems to be a constant thing for me these days. I feel as though I cannot remember what I was doing even 5 minutes ago. Maybe someone took my brain and replaced it with chocolate cake or pie or something? I don't think that's possible but it sure feels like it! The thing that I've forgotten that has bugged me the most is....my watch...it's gone...vanished...misplaced...somewhere that I cannot seem to find! The problem with the watch being gone is that on Friday I did a super major deep cleaning/organization of my house and bedroom. That means I cleaned off my dresser where I keep my jewelry and my watch. This dresser also collects numerous other things including stray books, lotions, makeup, jewelry, hair accessories, random things from my pocket, papers that just seem to collect there...etc. It's a catch all in my room. So I completely cleaned it off, organized it and put things in specific places. All the jewelry is put away, the lotions are in a basket, the papers have been thrown away or put in their proper place, the hair accessories have a drawer, everything is in it's proper place! It looks great and I feel great about getting it done! So here is my delima...I remember telling myself "I am going to put my watch here so I remember where it is." AND I NOW HAVE NOOOO CLUE WHERE "HERE" IS? This is really frustrating me to no end. I searched the entire dresser and it's nowhere. But I know that I put it somewhere specific if I could only remember where that is..... I have been without a watch now for 5 days and I feel as though I've lost one of my limbs or something else really important that you should not lose.  I am just hoping that it turns up soon...Ughhhh the perils of pregnancy!!!!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Feeling Ready

So as the time is quickly approaching that Parker will make his entrance into this world I am beginning to actually feel somewhat ready.  I have my bag all packed and ready to go to the hospital and I have most of his things all packed as well.  There are still a few small things I need to put in our bags but for the most part we could leave with what is in there and be perfectly fine!  I would like to get him a cute going home outfit but if that doesn't happen then there are outfits at the house I can take!  Also the nursery is feeling ready as well!  We have a glider now and the room is organized, his outfits are washed and everything is in order!  Its getting so exciting!!! 

Despite the excitement I am still scared out of my mind at having a newborn!!!!!!  I am just so nervous I won't do something right or that I will drop him or something horrific like that!  I also think I am going to be so paranoid with other people wanting to hold him and being afraid that they will drop him...how do all you other mothers out there deal with these anxieties or am I the only one having these thoughts???  I know these thoughts are realistic and that babies are more resilient than we give them credit for but I'm still paranoid about it!!! 

The past few weeks have been such great fun spending time with family and friends!  Last Saturday my family threw me a baby shower and this Saturday my friends Di and Laurie are throwing me a baby shower!  I almost started crying at the first shower because I felt so loved and overwhelmed by all the sweet gifts!  (Crying is very uncharacteristic of me but these pregnancy hormones have me all out of whack)  And two Saturday's ago I spent the day with my best friend Di and we went to an arts and crafts festival at a local town and it was so much fun!  They had so many unique booths with so much talent there!  It was amazing to see!  Afterward we went to a park and took some pictures of me to document this pregnancy journey!  She has such an eye for the artistic and she did a wonderful job at taking the photos!!! I love them all!!!  Here are a few of my favorites below (these pictures were taken at 33 weeks)!!! Enjoy and hope everyone has a great week!!!



Friday, October 7, 2011

Cheesecake

Pumpkin Cheesecake was my endeavor for today and I am proud to say that it went really well!  This is the first cheesecake that I've made that didn't sink or crack.  I am so impressed that I had to share it with all of you!  I took a recipe from a book I had and modified it a bit to fit what I had in my pantry!  So the recipe below is my altered version!

Crust:
1/2 cup of chopped walnuts
32 gingersnap cookies, coarsely crushed
3 tablespoons of brown sugar
6 tablespoons of melted butter


Filling:
3 packages of cream cheese softened
1 cup of packed brown sugar
1 1/2 cups of canned or fresh pumpkin
1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup of pancake or maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon of almond extract
1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves
4 eggs lightly beaten

1.  Place a greased 9 inch springform pan on a double thickness of aluminum foil; securely wrap foil around pan.  Place walnuts and gingersnaps in the food processor; cover and process until ground.  Add the brown sugar and butter; cover and pulse until blended.  Press onto the bottom and 2 inches up the sides of the prepared pan.

2.  In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and brown sugar until smooth.  Beat in the pumpkin, cream, syrup, almond extract and spices.  Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined.  Pour into crust.  Place springform pan in a large baking pan; add 1 inch of water to larger pan.

3.  Bake at 325 degrees for 60-70 minutes or until center is just set.  Remove pan from water bath.  Cool on wire wrack for 10 minutes.  Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer.  Chill overnight. 

4.  EAT and ENJOY!!!  (Serve with whipped cream)




I am so excited about eating this and don't think I will be able to wait the "overnight" it calls for!!!  My crust is not so superb looking but this might have something to do with the fact that I do not have a food processor and I used my blender...which wouldn't be so bad but I do believe my blender was very angry with me and it didn't get it as smooth as it should!  Oh well!  I can't wait to cut into this beauty!!!  Hope everyone has a great night and wonderful weekend!!! It should be glorious!!!

Monday, October 3, 2011

Beach Pictures

 So I know its taken over 2 weeks for me to put up some beach pictures but here they are better late than never! It was a great week with superb weather!  I didn't take nearly as many pictures as I wanted to but here are a few of my favorites!  

 This little guy was my constant companion throughout the week.  Every time I was sitting on the beach he was out there talking to me!  He had such funny stories and asked tons of questions about everything!  He played bocce ball with us almost every time we were out there.  In the picture above he won the game and so he wanted me to take his picture!  When I said smile this is the face I got!  I'm not so sure if its a smile or a grimace or an I'm confused face! 
Here is my brother in law's girlfriend, my sister in law and my little friend D.  I love the way he has his shorts pulled up!  

 My sister in law and I out on the beach! 
 

 I love the late summer to go to the beach!  Its so much more serene and quiet!  It was the perfect place to have some downtime and enjoy spending time with family!  I learned how to play spades while on vacation and beat my brother in law and father in law in quite a few games of scrabble!  :)  Overall it was a great relaxing week and I'd love to go back sooner rather than later!