IT'S A.....

We had our ultrasound today. First by a student then by a "real" ultrasound tech, so overall it took almost 2 hours (normally a 45 minute thing) We didn't mind though, it was really cool to see the baby moving all about, jumping on my VERY full bladder. (I didn't feel it, though it made Lucas need to pee).

Anyhow, it has 10 fingers, 10 toes. Two kidneys, four chambers to the heart, good legs, good arms, a nice looking brain... and some "bits and pieces" between the legs... YEP IT'S a BOY!!

We are VERY excited! Everything looks nice and healthy! AND I haven't been nauseous in TWO WHOLE DAYS!!!! I really hope that trend continues!!

yarn

I will be the first to admit I am not a good safe-cracker. I tried a few times to break into my co-workers lockers. (I wouldn't have TAKEN anything, or even looked through their personal belongings, I just wanted to say I was on my way to becoming a safe cracker.) But I failed... and I've given up trying anymore...

Never you fear, I've created a new hobby for myself: YARN. I taught myself to knit, and this past weekend my friend taught me to crochet. Yes, you heard me right, I now am a yarn-ologist. I still need to find someone to teach me macrame... but I know someone out there will teach me. Or I will find a "how-to" book, I will teach myself and some lucky reader out there will receive the best hanging plant holder they've seen since 1977.

Ida Mae

We spent the past weekend at Seaside. It was a great time. Some close friends stayed with us Friday and Saturday, then Lucas and I spent a few more days there by ourselves. One of the great things to do at Seaside is go to the Arcade. My goal when I spend my money is to earn coupons so I can spend my winnings on candy, cards and other things I do not need... but I like to see how many I can win. Lucas on the other hand plays the actually video games, shooting people and landing airplanes.

One of my favorite games in the past is... well... I'll say it... it's a nerd game. I think it's called Cubix, match up colored blocks, clear the screen win lots of coupons. I am good at this game... in the past winning of 1200 coupon on just a couple dollars. It's great fun, and for only 50 cents a game, I make I killing. (being a nerd DOES pay off) However, this time, to my disappointment, they changed the rules. Now instead of 80,000 points for the big bonus, you need 200,000. This feat is impossible. Now for 80,000 you only get SIX coupons.... not worth my time! They must have realized nerds LOVE this game... it's fun and you get paid well for it.

I found other games to payout my coupons. I played a whop-a-mole type game until my arms ached... but worth the 100s of coupons I would receive. Since we were there a few days, we visited the Arcade 2 times. I had earned over 1000 coupons (mainly due to a JACKPOT win on Wheel of Fortune).

It was time to trade in my coupons... the candy, the shot glasses, the postcards could all be mine... then Lucas said, "why don't you give the coupons to that little kid? We don't need that junk." JUNK??!!! He must of meant PRIZES that I had worked hard for. But then I saw how excited that kid was when he turned in his 18 coupons... 18... that's child's play... oh, wait he was only 7. I felt like Ida Mae in Ghost when she has to sign over 4 million dollars to the nuns. I held my coupons.

"maybe I'll just give him a couple hundred?" I said.

Lucas replied with the most hated of phrases: "I know you'll do the right thing."

Right thing is to buy 100 bit-o-honeys. 40 Atomic fireballs. They even had Chick-a-Sticks! The long ones, not just the little stubby ones... "do the right thing".

I did. I gave him my 1000 coupons. He was probably happier than on Christmas Day. He glowed with excitement... I did "do the right thing", but I pouted a little on my way out of the arcade... I missed bit-o-honey.

new job

OK, I've decided I want a new job... or maybe it will be just a new talent, or pass-time activity. I will need to train, it will take time, but I've decided I want to learn to be a safe cracker.

"How did this new idea start?" you ask?

Well, every time I open my locker at work, I use a lock. Reminiscent of high school lockers: twist one way, find the secret. Twist the other way... past the first secret number, to the second secret number. One final spin to the final secret destination and POOF the lock opens. Now, I know what's behind my locker (a mess the is reminiscent of my high school locker) BUT what about unknown locks that secure mysterious doors.

Before you call the cops, I'm not going to start breaking into things with my new skill... but what if you forgot your lock? or bought a locked treasure chest at a yard sale and needed inside. SURE you COULD use your handy-dandy lock cutting scissors that you bought from an infomercial at 0300... OR you could call me, and I'll master my new hobby and crack open the lock. Isn't that what Charlez Theron does in Italian Job...

So, I don't know who will teach me my new talent, be my Donald Sutherlin safe cracking dad. Maybe there's a book "safe-cracking for dummies" or "how to break into other's lockers" but I'll start with closing my eyes while opening my lock... maybe I'll start feeling when hits my secret number... (hint, one of them is a two).

umbrella etiquette

I am an Oregonian. I have never owned an umbrella. (that may be a lie... I may have owned an umbrella in the first grade, but only because it was bought for me, and only because it had Strawberry Shortcake on it). So I'll change my intro...

I am an Oregonian. I have never bought an umbrella. I have never used an umbrella. I don't mind getting wet. I'd rather get wet than have an umbrella turn inside out in the wind. I'd rather get wet than poke an innocent person's eye out.

We went to the Farmer's market on Saturday. It was raining. Rather it was borderline POURING. I had a hoodie on, I was fine. What I was not fine with were the many people who carried umbrellas and had no clue that they would run into me. Poke me. Nearly take out an eye (thank goodness for my glasses). WHY don't people realize that when using an umbrella, they take up more space! I don't get it. I could ALMOST tolerate the six year old twirlling his umbrella, spraying water everywhere... but, I will admit I grabbed the umbrella to stop the added water spray.

I hate umbrellas. Get wet, we aren't made of sugar!

Betty Crocker watch out!

Everyone knows, Lucas is the chef of the family. He loves to cook, and he's VERY good. I'm quite spoiled to have such a husband. But MAYBE I'll be the baker of the family.

We took a road trip around Mt. Hood on Saturday. It was a lovely drive, and there is a section called "the fruit loop". Multiple orchards and yummy farms to stop at and buy goodies. We found some of the most delicious apples there. So, of course we bought a lot. We bought extra for our friend Dave who makes great apple pie.

Here I light bulb went off... why can't I make an apple pie? I've never made one, never made homemade crust... maybe this was the perfect opportunity.

I pulled out the "Oshel Family Recipe Book" my mom made for us... French apple pie. (I thought it was Dutch apple pie, but what do I know... I am not Betty Crocker.) I also found the crust recipe. If I was going to do this, I would do it full heartedly... not "cheat" and buy a premade crust.

First I tore the kitchen apart looking for our pie pan. I knew we had one somewhere, a wedding gift from four years ago... but where would I have hidden it. We are chefs, not bakers in this household. Of course, it would be in with the cutting boards.

I then made the crust. I created a nice floury mess... but rolled it out nicely and placed it into the pie plate. (Unfortunately I did not have enough to make the yummy cinnamon treats mom used to make... another day.)

I then took to the apples. Peeled, cut, and sliced them to perfection. Except for one thumb wound, all went well... Which reminded me... I need to buy band-aids.

I piled the apples high into the pie. I covered them with the yummy crumbles that make French apple pie French apple pie.

Into the oven it went. I patiently waited for 50 minutes. OK, I looked at it every five minutes through the little window, watching it turn golden and bubble to perfection. I admit, I talked to it too. If people talk to their plants, I will talk to my pie.

FINALLY it came out, beautiful... but again we had to be patient. If you cut pie too soon, it will fall apart... if you wait you will be rewarded. So, we waited, and waited and waited. Staring at this beautiful pie.

The wait was worth it. It came out in a perfect pie shape. I braced myself for the first bite. Better than I even imagined. The apples still had a little texture ( I hate mushy apples) the crumbly top was sweet, the gooey insides were cinnamon and sugar. It was the best pie I've ever had.

If I can't have chocolate (still unappetizing) at least I can have apple pie. Fresh apple pie, straight from my oven.

Mom told me I was already nesting... I disagree... I think I just wanted a slice of heaven!

a few firsts

Well, pregnancy has definitely given me my share of "firsts", here are a few...

• My first food aversion: I hate chocolate. The smell, the taste, even the thought of makes me nauseous. Buying Halloween candy was difficult... and there's about 10 leftover pieces sitting in the kitchen, just staring at me... taunting me. I may actually have to throw them away. Sure, it makes me sad, I've always loved chocolate... but maybe it's a good thing... it's not THAT good for you.
• My first food craving: KFC. I can't remember the last time I ate at KFC, let alone crave it. And I didn't just crave the mashed potatoes and gravy... no, I craved the 11 secret special spices. No fears, I didn't eat it off the bone, something that still grosses me out... but the chicken strips... they were so tasty. I didn't even use the ranch dressing provided...
  
• My first vomit: I ate a graham cracker. It seemed so innocent. It tasted so good. And it did, going down. I puked so hard to get every crumb of that graham cracker out of my body, I actually got bruising around my eyes... it makes me very thankful that I'm nauseous all the time, but don't actually vomit. (sorry Jill)
• My first ultrasound: We had our first doctor's appointment on Halloween. Everything went great... we got to see the little bugger's heartbeat. It was very cool. As Lucas put it: "I've seen cool things all around the world, but that was by far the neatest thing I've ever seen."