Friday, August 29, 2008

yesterday vs. today

So, yesterday was a good day. I got to see Katie (my friend in the prego business who is due a couple days after me) and have a wonderful lunch with her that just made my day. I miss seeing her at work and it's always fantastic to catch up with her and hear about the craziness in her life. I had a big audit at work, which pretty much had my panties in a bunch all day because of stress. My audit went really really well and I am really starting to realize how much I like my boss. She's been really cool about certain things/drama that has been going on at work and I really feel like she's listening to us when we tell her about crazy crap that's going on. I still question her on some stuff, but over all, I'm really starting to like her and feel like I can cut up with her. Then, last night, Phillip and I went and had a BBQ dinner in Waynesville, which was followed up by ice cream at Jack the Dippers (I loooooove this place!) It was a great day.

Let's move on to this morning..... Phillip asked me to take the first shower this morning instead of him (which is the usual routine so I really shouldn't complain), and getting up early always makes me feel rotten. Then, I realize how much I've been craving a good donut since I've been reading Martha Stewart's daughter's blog and how she's been making amazing ones. There is no where around here that is a bakery to sell good donuts, so I go to the local supermarket and get their crappy ones just to soothe my soul. As I'm checking out, this older lady check out person asks me when I'm due. I tell her October. She asks what I'm having. I say a boy. The conversation proceeds as follows: (keep in mind this is 8:00 in the morning and I've already started my day off bad and don't want to go to work or in public at all) :
Beast- "Are you sure you're having a boy?"
Me- "Yup, he hasn't been shy in letting us know!"
Beast- "How many ultra sounds have you had to double check?"
Me- "We've seen him 3 times"
Beast- (as she eye-balls me up and down with her brow furrowed and frown on her face )
"I don't know. You're pretty huge and are carrying like I did when I had my daughter. Yeah, you're pretty big!"
Me- .... speechless with jaw on floor......
Beast- "Yeah, my son was all in my back and you don't look like I did when I was pregnant with him. You're definitely carrying like me when I had a girl."
Me-..... jaw still on the floor.....
Beast- "Yeah, you're really big"
Me- "..... uh, uh, uh......Well, it's my first, and I'm carrying him really high, so that's why I look so big you bi'atch" (ok, maybe not the bi'atch part) .... Then I start to gather my donuts feeling bad already for buying them and then being told that I'm an elephant, and walk away.....
Beast- (as she follows me with her eyes oh-so-obviously) "Oh, yeah, you're big in the back end too!!! It just might be a boy!"
Me- "Yeah, well, maybe back in 1927 when you had your son you might not have looked like this, but this is 2008 lady and I'm carrying a boy really high and I'm gonna go to my office and remorse in my donuts because you are a rude bi'atch! I hope you scan your retina with that laser there and go blind!!!!"..... as I walk away with my pride in tact.....

... I only wish I could've said that to her.... stupid beast..... I do hope you scan your retina!! Remind me next time I go to just stick with the U-scan line so I don't have to put up with anyone else's crap.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Catch up

So, the a couple weeks ago I told you that I went to get Chinese food with my friend Kate. Well, we had the kookiest waiter and he was all about me being pregnant. He commented over and over about how I needed refills on food to feed the baby and filled my glass 12 million times to make sure the baby had plenty to drink. At the end of the visit he brings out the check and our fortune cookies. He was so sweet and said that he found this particular fortune cookie and wanted to give it to me because it had a momma and a baby cookie in it. Check it out:

Awesome right!?


Also, I told you about some amazing ribs that I made. It's a Paula Deen recipe and it's really good. I cut it in half because I didn't have a full rack of ribs, but it was still delicious and so tender! Also, we don't have a smoker so we just turned the grill down low and let it cook for a while.

Smoked Pork Ribs

2 racks pork ribs
House Seasoning, recipe follows
Jerry's Basting Sauce, recipe follows
Favorite BBQ sauce, if desired

Prepare smoker to 250 degrees F. I use charcoal and wood chips such as hickory.

Remove membrane from ribs if desired. Rub thoroughly with House Seasoning. Place ribs on smoker grate and cover. Slow smoke ribs for 2 to 3 hours. Every 15 minutes brush ribs with vinegar solution. We serve our ribs without sauce. If you like sauce cooked on, brush ribs with sauce about 15 minutes before they are done, turning often, watching carefully that the sauce does not burn. Ribs are done when they are tender enough to easily pull from the bones. If you're not a sauce eater, remove ribs, cut and serve with BBQ sauce on the side.

House Seasoning:

1 cup salt
1/4 cup black pepper
1/4 cup garlic powder

Jerry's Basting Sauce:

3/4 cup white vinegar
3/4 cup lemon juice
4 dashes Worcestershire sauce
3 to 4 dashes hot red pepper sauce
1 small onion, minced
3 to 4 dashes salt
Seasoned pepper, to taste
2 to 3 cups water

In a medium saucepan, mix all ingredients and bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Use this sauce to brush ribs or chicken to keep moist.


Ribs with salt, pepper, and garlic powder

The basting sauce
Yummy!! The finished product!


Oh, and this last picture is one of Phillip's favorite sides. It's just sliced mushrooms cooked in Italian dressing. He says they are to die for, and they smell good cooking, my texture issues just put a stop on it for me.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Birthday and shower weekend

We celebrated Paisley's 1st birthday this weekend. We had such a wonderful time! I am such a lucky aunt and I cannot believe how much she has grown and developed over this year! I fixed two birthday cakes for her party. One was for her to dig into (the Barbie cake) and the other for everyone else. She seemed to loooove her Barbie cake and made quiet the mess with it! I also had a baby shower thrown by my dad's side of the family this weekend. One of my mom's sisters from Alabama came down for it and the party and it was such a treat! Here are a few highlights from my weekend!




















Thursday, August 21, 2008

Thank you


Just wanted to say thank you for everyone's thoughts and prayers. Phillip and I are back in the mountains now, but will be leaving Friday to head back to Durham/Burlington to be with family. The funeral for his dad was beautiful. It was very hard and will be even harder with these days to come, but I really appreciate all the sweet comments everyone has left. It was wonderful seeing family while we were home and helped ease the pain of all the current events.
Paisley turned one on Monday and proved to us how much of a big girl she is by walking ~10 steps by herself before she fell. She's growing up so fast! We head home tomorrow for her birthday party and for my side of the family's baby-shower. I will post pictures of her 2 birthday cakes as soon as I can. I'm gonna be a very busy girl this weekend trying to get those done!! Take care and have a great weekend!

Friday, August 15, 2008

Tragic loss


I will be away from my blog for a while due to a tragic loss in our family. Phillip's mom and dad, Pam and Harold, came up last night to visit us and we took them out for a very nice Italian dinner for his dad's birthday. Harold turned 55 last night and indulged in a fantastic crawfish pasta dinner and chocolate cake and had a very happy night with family before he tragic passed away. He's had many years of health complications and recently got out of the hospital after being getting 3rd degree burns on his legs at work and having heart complications. They were with us to celebrate his birthday and to relax from the stress at home. He got to see his sons, his grandson Jacob, and his future grandson before he passed. His death was foreseen due to his long list of health problems, but was very unexpected. Please keep us all in your prayers. Phillip was very close to his father and will need as many prayers and support as he can get. Thank you for your love, and thanks for checking in.

See you some time next week hopefully.- Sara

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

OB visit

I had my 30 week OB visit today. Things are looking good for mister Carter. He is weighing about 3 pounds right now and had a heart beat of 142 this morning. He is definitely head down and has head his booty and his legs up for a while. I haven't gained anything since my last check 2 weeks ago, and was actually down a pound. That makes me feel good cause I've been putting on the pounds and it's finally good to see the scale not go up. I shouldn't tease myself though, I know the baby will be growing a lot in these next few months and I'll definitely be gaining, but I'll take this little proud moment as I can get it!! In the meantime, check out this amazing recipe that my friend Sarai just shared with me. We both are in looooove with Kraft Food & Family Magazine and I'm all over this next pie and will have to try it ASAP!! Thanks for checking in! Have a great Tuesday!

Lemonade Stand Pie

Prep Time:
15 min
Total Time:
4 hr 15 min
Makes:
8 servings
1/3 cup COUNTRY TIME Lemonade Flavor Drink Mix
1/2 cup cold water
2 cups vanilla ice cream, softened
1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed
1 HONEY MAID Graham Pie Crust (6 oz.)

PLACE drink mix in large bowl. Add water; stir until mix is dissolved. Add ice cream. Beat with electric mixer on low speed until well blended. Gently stir in whipped topping. Freeze, if necessary, until mixture is thick enough to mound.

SPOON into crust.

FREEZE at least 4 hours or overnight until firm. Remove from freezer 15 min. before serving. Let stand at room temperature until pie can easily be cut. Store leftover pie in freezer.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Peaches N' Cream


I made an amazing pie off of the Kraft Foods website Sunday night for a co-workers going away party. It was ridiculously simple and sooooo refreshing! Enjoy!

Peaches N' Cream Pie

Prep Time:
15 min
Total Time:
3 hr 30 min
Makes:
8 servings
1-1/2 cups finely crushed NILLA Wafers
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 pkg. (4-serving size) JELL-O Brand Orange Flavor Gelatin
3/4 cup boiling water
2 cups ice cubes (not cold water)
1-1/2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
1 cup chopped peeled fresh peaches

COMBINE crumbs and butter. Press firmly onto bottom and up side of 9-inch pie plate.

STIR gelatin into boiling water until completely dissolved. Add ice cubes. Stir until gelatin is slightly thickened; remove any unmelted ice. Add whipped topping; stir with wire whisk until well blended. Gently stir in peaches.

REFRIGERATE 15 min. or until gelatin mixture is thick enough to mound; spoon into crust. Refrigerate 3 hours or until set. Store leftover pie in refrigerator.

Monday, August 11, 2008

"It's been a long time gone..."

So, it's been a while since I've had a chance to visit and update this site. Things have been crazy here. I got to have dinner with one of my high school friends, Kristen, on Friday night and it was just wonderful! She and her hubbie moved up to Boone a couple weeks ago and we got together for dinner and just talked about life, beach trips, and good times. It was so great to reconnect. I haven't really been able to see her since her son's birthday party a couple months ago and I'm so glad she closer! It really made me miss our other friend, Jaime, who lives close to D.C. now. But, hopefully we'll get to see her soon. Then, the next day, my friend Kristi, and her husband, Matt, came up and stayed with us to help her sister move into our old college for her first semester. It was just a wonderful weekend to reconnect with everyone! It was a bit stressful with all the things we had to do around the house, especially since it has to hold us over until Phillip's family gets here this week to stay for a while, but it was worth it. I also got to see my other friend who I asked for prayer requests on. She's been in the hospital for about two weeks now, and was finally released on Saturday. Looks like prayers were heard and she's feeling better. She's still having to take it easy and not work for the next month or two, but the prayers are still going up for her and her family to be able to make it through those months with no complications.
I didn't get to tell you about my previous weekend. The story about the Chinese restaurant is a bit long, so I'll tell you about our photo shoot instead. My friend, Nishelle, got an awesome new camera and is trying to get into photography a little more, so she asked me if she could take some maternity shots. I'm was allllll for it b/c I really wanted some shots of the belly, but just can't find the money to shell out a crazy butt-load of cash for pics, when I really want to focus that money on the baby and shots of him when he gets here. She got some really great shots of Phillip and I, and some great shots of the belly too. I can't wait to be able to share them with you, but she's holding off on sending them to me b/c she wants to surprise me with them. See you tomorrow!

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

"Summa' Summa' Summa' time!!"

Everyone always commented on how being pregnant in the summer is gonna be hell. I said "No, it wont be too bad, I'll just have to grin and bare it." Now, I say screw it. It's hot as haitis here kids. My job keeps me on the road, back and forth, to my clients homes, all day, or in the office doing paperwork. Unfortuantely, the air conditioning in the state vehicles we drive is not exactly reliable, or quick to function properly. Also, unfortunately, my client's homes don't always have air conditioning and I usually end up hyper-ventilating until I finish my appointments and can go outside for fresh humid air. So, this brings us to my office. Keep in mind, I work for the state. Last year, when the heat got over 100 they put regulations on our air conditioning saying that we couldn't move it past 78 degrees. This time around, the air just isn't working.... AT ALL!! My office looks like the most dismal black hole you could come across. All my lights are off. My blinds shut and turned down. My little fan is blasting. My chair is covered in home-made back supports that the occupation therapist has SO KINDLY made me and is letting me try out until we can permanently jerry-rig whichever designs work. Files are spilled everywhere because it's too dang hot to actually work. Then, there's this fat, sweaty, puffy footed girl sitting in her jerry-rigged chair about to fall out from the heat. It's unbareable. I don't know what I would do if I were in the old days when women wore long, thick, wool dresses. Holy Hannah, I'd probably kill myself. Note to self- If you ever design to do this baby thing again, shoot for the cold months!! I was going to post pics from my great weekend and the fantastic ribs I made, but it'll have to wait. I can barely hold my sweaty head up right now and I still have 3 home visits and physical therapy left to go. Then, I'm going home to my house to sit in the air conditioning that is not working properly because I have it turned down so low that it constantly freezes up. ppfffffffff...... I should really stop complaining. I just realized how much of a brat I sound like. Do me a favor friends, go swig a large glass of sweet tea or a sangria for me!

Friday, August 1, 2008

ribs

This baby is playing my ribs like a xylophone!!! It's killing me!! Every time I push him out of them he gives me a good swift kick back. Oi'!!!


Quick side note, one of my friends and her family are going through such a hard time right now and really need prayers. I just ask anyone who believes in the power of prayer to please uplift this family because they need as many as they can get. And, my dear friend, if you are reading this (which I know you will at some point b/c you are my blog stalker) I am praying for you and wish the best for you and your little family! Everything will work itself out! Just don't delay in calling me if you need ANYTHING! (I truly cannot say that enough!)