smitten kitchen

link to molasses-spice cookie recipe

okay, i usually don't post on other websites, actually i never post on other websites because really, if you wanted to go to other websites you probably wouldn't be reading my blog, you would just go there! but seriously, smittenkitchen.com has become my new go-to recipe site. just reading her blog is well, delicious. and the recipies i have tried so far are easily restaurant worthy.

gees why am i sharing this, i should save all of the praise for my new-found cooking expertise for myself! i guess i am in a giving holiday mood. i recently tried her molasses-ginger cookies which are pretty much out of this world. a batch will make your house smell instantly like fall, enjoy!

PS There are several cookie recipies in the link, scroll down for the molasses-spice ones

prego pic

i stole this picture from one my family took when they were out last week, its not the best shot, but it does show my changing shape (and jamie's cooking skills in action!)

prego observations

some thoughts on my changing state (in no certain order) :

1. prego clothes are not one size fits all. i don't know if the fact that i married someone who is 6'6'' has anything to do with it but i am not ready to have this baby yet and some of my tops are already on the small side!

2. the bus is always awkward. inevidably at some point on the bus ride to work someone notices i am pregnant and standing and announces loudly to the bus that someone should really give up their seat for me. which is nice and all - but oh the awkwardness of the poor person who finally gets up.

3. going for a run. still going strong at 27 weeks but gotta love the stares!

4. conversations with random strangers. suddenly people feel bonded to you. no more askward silences in the elevator, your belly is an invitation for conversation.

5. standing on chairs. okay, maybe this isn't the best idea, junior probably wouldn't like it if i fell, but if i am all alone (even worse idea) you better believe i am changing lightbulbs and putting things away in high shelves, dont tattle please!

6. too much information. literally, i have just given up reading anything at all, it is exhausting how much i need to read to have a baby.

7. too much stuff. never mind the information, i just printed out a baby checklist, and gulp, its long. never mind that for each item there are about a billion choices which everyone has a different opinion on.

8. trips to the dr. i definitely understand that the dr goes through this whole thing all day every day, and the receptionists and nurses too, but seriously, this is time number one for me... and my brain seems to work slower in pregnancy mood. needless to say asking 10 times what a form is for didn't go over so well, now i just sign.

9. indigestion. i honestly didn't think i was old enough, but tums and i are now good friends.

10. i am having a baby. that part of this whole thing still catches me off-guard sometimes.

"see-more"

i mean i could post on our fun weekend in park city hanging out with all of our friends from jamie's days at university of chicago. it was a blast. but since i realize that is not exactly thrilling blog material (as wonderful as the weekend was) i am instead going to share with you jamie's talent for drawing, especially as it comes to barf bags. although due credit goes to heather and karl for the awesome idea, jamie was the creater of symore (or "see-more" depending on how literal you would like to take the barf bag's name) and cynthia in the name of creating entertainment for our friends' 18 month year old henry, but lets be real... barfbag puppets are just awesome whatever age you are.
jamie really does have a talent don't you think?

michigan peaches

my mom came to visit a couple of weekends ago. we packed the weekend full of a whirlwind of activities: my work hosted a cocktail hour at the new modern art wing of the art institute, we went to a taping of oprah (thanks jamie!), lots of yummy fattening food, the harry potter exhibit at the museum of science and industry, of course a litle shopping... but the one thing i promised my mom was that we could go to michigan.

she has been trying to knock off all 50 states for awhile, and she is down to 6. even though michigan isn't more than an hour drive i have denied her everytime she has come to chicago over the last three years. this time i gave in. she was content just driving past the "welcome to michigan" sign but with some coaxing we ventured out in the chilly august weather to pick peaches.

one more state down, only five to go! the peaches weren't a bad addition either.

bundle of...

the ultrasound yesterday confirmed it. i am now twenty weeks along and baby larsen is due january 22nd. we are thrilled and i personally am petrified. yesterday it all suddenly felt much more real, i am really going to be responsible for the day to day welfare of a little person, gulp. hopefully the little guy isn't confused since i thought he was a girl the whole time, off to the store to return all of the pink!

mysteries of the universe

living on the 28th floor of a building has its advantages, especially when it comes to bugs. it's been 3 years and i have not seen a single cockroach or really any other of the creepy, crawly bugs (or other creatures) that seem to wander in from the great out of doors in arizona.

the one bug that does seem to like spending its life 28 stories above the ground is the spider. i really don't get it but every summer, without fail, the spiders arrive. huge webs string from window to window and out on the porch which makes me a little squemish. but before i can get out the broom and full fledge attack the 8 legged creatures a big wind or thunderstorm comes along and they are all gone.... for awhile. soon they are back at it

(actual picture below taken from my bedroom window, very greatful for the two panes of safety glass between us - i still jumped a little when i was trying to focus the camera and the spider moved) i have to admit they have me a little curious. how do they get up so high? what's so bad about floors 1 - 10, is there spider overcrowding and that is why they keep moving up? how far up do they go, i thought the 28th floor was way up there, but a friend that lives on the 36th floor has more spiders than i do.does that mean that the spiders on the sears tower climb all of the way to the 104th floor? and is every building in chicago just covered in spiders in the summer? (that last question makes me shiver a little bit, kinda creepy). most important, where i am going to get the answers to these mysteries? jamie was patient and presented me with some theories, but i know that he is just making it up to appease me and i really want to know!