26 weeks!

Click here for the same outfit, a mere 5 weeks ago.

How your baby's growing:

The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.

What's Cooking Good Looking?

With the weather as hot as it is, nothing is cooking in my kitchen.  But, I didn't let the 100+ degree heat stop me from mixing up a salad.  I ended up with TWO heads of cabbage this week in my CSA.  Half of one head went to this fresh Rainbow Cabbage Salad from Oh She Glows.

 A whole head is going to Grilled Cabbage Wedges sometime this weekend. 

(Gotta find the perfect moment where it's not too hot, but felipe isn't at work.  Might turn out to be tricky!  Especially since he is on call)

That leaves me with a half head of the purple, any suggestions?

On a sweeter note, I passed my sugar test!  I was super worried I had gestational diabetes.  My own fault for trying to get around the system.  Anyways, that scare was enough to motivate me to eat healthier.  I've signed up for My Fitness Pal, which is an awesome free website/app that helps you track your nutrition, exercise, and water intake.

However, a girl still needs her sweets.  I'm about to mix up some Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough dip.  Think I'll just dip my finger in it!

Wednesday

Woke  up and spent some QT registering online @ Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/registry/baby/1KIXM6EXT8Y3F

Took my sugar-test yesterday to screen for diabetes.  Fingers crossed! (Results should be back today).

Had a lovely lunch knitting Color Affection with my knitty friends.

Dinner was a spinach salad and BLT's, which are always so delicious.  Especially when you use your CSA local tomatoes.

Spent some time finishing reading my book for our birthing class.

(now if only I can get my birth coach to read it too! --Fel this is you!)

Jackson had it right, lounging away the hot afternoon.

Belly Dance

Baby Rosso and I were rocking out to some Tunes at work this morning! 

If you look really close you can see my belly twitching to the kicks.

Baking

Not only have I been baking in the summer heat, I've actually braved turning on the oven.

350 degrees for 50 minutes the other evening netted me these two delightful dishes.

First up, swiss chard and potato enchiladas.  Got to use a lovely bunch of rainbow chard and some red potatoes from our CSA.  Felipe LOVED this!  Next time I'm saving this recipe for company, it took about 90 minutes from start to table.

Up next, Peanut Mallow Bars from Taste&Tell for the Family Medicine BBQ.  Supposedly they taste like a PayDay, one of my fave candy bars (I remember gma introducing me to my first PayDay years ago.)

Right now, they are speed chilling in the frig so I can try one ASAP.

Having fun @ Kyle's wedding.  Got to eat some yummy BBQ and wedding cake (always a hit with the pregnant ladies!) and reunite with old friends.

A House Divided. . . . .

Felipe and I are in Manhattan this weekend (together this time!) taking a second-look at the practices we previously interviewed with.  Both of us love the opportunities, but are hesitant to be 2 hours from family & friends.  This job hunting is so tough!  I keep reminding myself - it's like choosing between chocolate, strawberry, or vanilla icecream.  At the end of the day you are still getting icecream, which is pretty awesome.  Too bad we can't combine them all into neapolitan!

I've got a monster in my belly!

Earlier this week when I was lounging on the couch, I felt a massive kick and noticed movement out of the corner of my eye.  I told Felipe that my belly just twitched, but he didn't believe me.  I did convince him to watch my belly and sure enough you can see our future soccer star practicing their kicks.

Knotty Knitting

Just finished knitting and blocking my very first shawl!

Very, very proud of it.  Of course, I have to finish it right at the start of our first summer heat wave.

But, I can dream of wrapping it around my shoulders this fall as I rock in our rocker (which is yet to be picked out) nursing Baby Rosso.

I've got two other fabulous projects in the works to unveil over the coming months.

New porch

Check out the awesome job my pops did on the porch!  He re-mortared ALL of the loose bricks.  Even better than new!  (You know, for Father's Day it's the papa that's supposed to get the gifts not the daughter!)

GetAway Girl!

Came across this awesome outfit on one of my fave blogs - IamAGreedyGirl.

I can imagine wearing it on a beach somewhere, with a cool breeze blowing in my face, sunshine gently warming my body, and the smell of the sea.  I think we could all use a relaxing beach vacation right about now.

Graduation

Graduation on Saturday was absolutely magical.  From the gifts, the awards, my friends and colleagues, and celebrating it with family it all came together so nicely.  Here are a few of my fave pics from the evening:

HUGE thanks to my family who have helped to support and motivate me to succeed.

To see all the pictures and order prints:

click here

Is this in my future?

Some days I feel this represents me and Felipe, just wait until we add a Felipe Jr to the mix!

Happy Birthday Gma & Happy Father's Day!

2 HUGE holidays to celebrate today!

First, Happy Birthday Gma!

Second, Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful father's in my life.  Happy 1st father's day to my woobles!  This video is for you.

New Dad State of Mind - watch more funny videos      

Graduation

Can you believe how fast the past 3 years have flown by?  Tonight is my residency graduation.  Next year will be my fellowship (and final) graduation.  I've accumulated quite a nice collection of graduation gifts during my academic career (5 to date - 8th grade, high school, college, MPH, med school) and this year was no exception.

Mom's going to deny that these killer leopard pants are my present, but I say they are, and I say they are AWESOME!

Fel got me this SWEET camera which is going to be perfect to chronicle the rest of my pregnancy and the newest addition to our family.

24 weeks

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

Currently craving

Made an absolutely delicious salad last night - lettuce, pickled beets, and walnuts dressed in lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper.  Simple, yet perfect.

Also snacking on: 

Looking forward to bringing the Garber and Rosso families together this weekend for graduation!

Nursery

Got a start on the nursery this weekend.  Jackson thought he was quite the helper!

We put together the crib and changer, and tried to find the perfect furniture arrangement.

Needs just a bit of tweaking this weekend when mom comes.

Also made a batch of bierocks.  Mom and I used to make them every winter. Can't wait to eat one tomorrow!

More scenes from this week. . . .

Evidently baby was in a healthy mood this week - I was craving cucumber salad, broccoli, tuna, and pickled beets.  

(Wish I could say the same for this weekend!)

Check out our new fan!  Sometime in the past 10 years since I had a ceiling fan they made them with remote control -- pretty sweet!

AND our new nursery set arrived yesterday.  Stay tuned for pics.

Knocked Up: Month 5

My week in photos

A few shots of Fel & I goofing around in the photobooth @ Michael Swartzon's wedding.

Urology graduation - 

My most recent recipe success - Zucchini patties - made with summer squash from our CSA.  These turned out SO yummy!

This week I got some local farm-raised ground beef and cabbage.  I think karma is telling me to make bierrocks!

AND as of this afternoon we will have a ceiling fan in our bedroom and our roof will be fixed!  

I'm such a lucky momma.