Twelve steps to... tasty goodness

I have a problem. I can't stop baking. It's just so darn tasty not to mention a great way to make friends. But it's getting out of hand.

Sunday: I made hot chocolate cookies and took some to my Bible study girls' learn-to-crochet mini-bash. They didn't even last long enough to take a picture.

Monday: Day off to eat leftover Benjy's Mom's cake from the weekend. Oh. So. Good.

Tuesday: I made lemon cornmeal cookies. Mostly because Nick was in Shreveport for work, and I must make something he doesn't like whenever he's out of town. Even if it is only for one day.

Wednesday: Milky Way bar cookies, fresh from the oven. Originally Snickers-based, I called in a pinch-hitter because I want Nick to like them. He's coming home today and needs a welcome-back treat, right? He was gone for a whole day and a half! And I'll take the rest to lecture tomorrow because we all always need a pick-me-up by then. Just look at that chocolately, gooey goodness!

Thursday: Day off since I won't get home until nearly 7:00 pm. And I'm nourishing another human being with my blood (so weird!) and should therefore probably eat something nutritious instead of just plain dessert for dinner.

Friday: TBD, something to take with us on our visit to Phil and Elissa and tiny man Parker this weekend. Pumpkin for fall? Chocolate because Elissa loves it? Banana because of an abundance of nearly-dead bananas? (And don't tell me to freeze them. I tried it. They were liquefied on the inside after I thawed them back out. Gross.)

You see, I can rationalize the need for a baked good pretty much any day of the week. I'm not an addict. Addiction implies a problem, and I think baking is actually the solution to most of life's problems.

Under construction

I hate loose ends, don't you? And I know I've left a couple of them dangling out there in Blogger-land. Particularly regarding: 1) my selection of pink for Gizmo's room and 2) what I did with all that time at Angela's house a few weekends ago. Well, I seek today to rectify that situation and give you some closure.

Watermelon pink it is, and it's perfect. Just perfect.

I learned lots of crafty things. Specifically, I learned how to make rolled fabric flowers and lots of scrapbooky stuff. But this post is about Gizmo's room, so here are the fruits of that labor and then some. A sneak peak, if you will.

An old dresser, refinished via Mod-Podging tissue paper to the drawers. My least favorite thing, but it's growing on me.

Moving on to the better stuff...

Refinished end table. For whatever reason turned out way better than the dresser.

Ribbon board, for clipping photos, hair bows, etc. Sooooo cute!

Shelf on the wall above the changing table. Just lacks a pink and lime green polka dot teapot. That may or may not be sitting in Elle's room, wrapped up waiting for my baby shower. Thanks, Mom!

And last but not least... we got a baby present in the mail from our friends who themselves just had a baby. I put in on the registry because everyone talks about how it's the greatest thing ever, but can I be honest? I don't really know what one uses a "Boppy" for. If you know, don't tell me. I want to figure it out for myself. I'm stubborn that way.

The last hurrah

Nick and I went to Colorado last weekend to visit the near and dear Mike and Kristen to serve as our last Gizmo-less vacation, and that was a good choice.
I take no credit for these pictures. They're all Kristen. If you like them, you should go to www.kristenstewartphotography.com and sign up to have her take your picture, too. Yes, that's a shameless endorsement. I just think she's that good. But moving on...

Nick and me at 28 weeks and counting

Elle gets her first kiss from Daddy.

(Nick will undoubtedly be less than amused when he sees this one made it on the blog.)

Mike and Kristen. And their furry pet babies Bodie and Mocha.

Independence Pass

Other than being a little dyspneic (that's short-winded for all you Tennessee folk), I can't complain about a thing. We ate yummy food and drove through beautiful scenery.And slept in. And heard all about Mike and Kristen's new life in Denver. It was quite the treat, and I can't wait until next time.

Life of pregnant Bethie: turkey timer

I wish babies came with gauges and indicator lights. I spend way too much time in my days wondering about her. It was extra hard before I felt her move. At least now I can fuss over... Oh no, I can't remember the last time I felt her move. Or, is she moving too much? I wish I had a little green light somewhere (like maybe my belly button?) that would let me know all is well. And maybe turn yellow or red if there's an issue under the hood. Better yet, I'd like a button timer so I can know when she's done and ready to come out of the oven.

Life of pregnant Bethie: going places

You wouldn't believe how much people like talking to pregnant ladies. I mean, it's insane. Everywhere I go, everybody wants to ask me about my gestating fetus. First of all, I'm flattered that the rest of me is skinny enough that even dudes are willing to risk it and ask me about it rather than worrying that I'm just "big-boned" and not mentioning anything.

Today my incubating uterus was addressed by:
Patient #1
My program director
Patient #2
Patient #3's daughter
Cashier at Michael's

I have also been approached by random people waiting in line at the check-out with me at various stores. And pretty much every female store clerk I encounter. And everyone wants two things. To tell me their stories and to ask the same questions. In fact, I'm thinking of making a T-shirt:

Yes I'm pregnant:
January
Firstborn
Girl
Ellison

Yes, I do think I could fit all that on one shirt. I have a lot of prime billboard space in front these days. Pictures to come soon. Really.

Decisions, decisions

This is a story of what might have been but thankfully wasn't. Well, not even a story. Just a quick anecdote.

You know how Facebook suggests "People You May Know?" Well, I think they hack into something akin to the Matrix to figure out who to list. Because just today, I had a suggestion for a guy I dated (I use that term very, very loosely) for like 10 minutes in college. A guy to whom I have not spoken or emailed or anything that could be construed as contact since. And we have no (as in zero) mutual friends. But that isn't the point. The point is that, of course, I clicked on his name to see his picture. My reaction was as follows..
Whew! Good choice, Bethie. Dodged a bullet on that one. Nick was definitely, definitely the way to go.
And I went and went and kissed my husband.

PS No I'm not gonna say who he is.

Hat trick

Today felt awfully long, considering I ended up only seeing two patients in clinic. Lots of no-shows. But it was still quite eventful. Here's my top three highlights. Every word is true. Every. Word.

1) The part where they trust Google more than me
Me: Would you like a flu shot today?
Patient: Hm, do you have FluZone?
Me: Huh?
Patient: FluZone.
Me: I haven't heard of that brand.
Patient: It's four times stronger than the regular flu vaccine.
Me: Um, I don't about that. We have the regular flu shot here.
Patient: Oh, well, maybe I'll try to find somewhere that has FluZone.

I even checked with the attendings; no one knows about this FluZone business. So you can either go with a clinic full of board eligible and/or certified internal medicine physicians, or you can go with the internet. I mean, I just completed a highly reputable medicine residency after graduating from a top 10 medical school. What do I know? Everything on the internet, however, is true.

2) The part when I get stranger danger
Patient: Oh, my! You're pregnant!
Me: Yes, yes I am.
Patient: Oh, your belly is just so cute! [reaching towards me]
Me: Thank you. [stepping away]
Patient: [reaches further, pats and rubs my belly]

I promptly ran away. Here's the baby belly rule; if we've hugged, you're probably good. As in, you can touch without me freaking out. But I have a rule with patients that touching is unidirectional. I touch you, not vice versa. And that's only on the exam table. With purpose. And I don't touch, I palpate. Mommy's sorry, Gizmo. She won't let it happen again.


3) The part where I almost leave early
Another doctor two floors up called our office because she really wanted her patient worked in this afternoon. She thinks he has gout. The secretary checks with me as I am literally signing off the computer and standing up to leave. I said he can come as long as he comes quickly. Do not pass "Go." Do not collect $200. Go directly to jail exam room 6. Thirty (!!) minutes later, he finally arrives from upstairs. He then tells my nurse he doesn't have time for this. His ride is waiting. She explains that new patient appointments take at least 30 minutes, sometimes up to 60. He says that's ridiculous and he just wants me to look at his finger. So many problems with this scenario, not the least of which is that he probably doesn't have gout if whatever's hurting him is in his finger and/or doesn't hurt bad enough that he's willing to stay to be seen. After she explains that as a new patient, he must undergo a full evaluation, he leaves. And so do I.

Happy weekend! I'm sleeping in!

Lemon pie in the sky hopes

With yesterday's gusto of enthusiasm still going strong, I thought I'd satisfy my urge to clothes shop by buying something for Gizmo after clinic today. I mean, tiny little baby clothes should come with tiny little baby prices, right? Wrong. Maybe I'm just too cheap, but I can't justify spending $40 on a dress she'll either throw up on or outgrow before she can wear it twice. So I came home empty-handed and consoled myself with baking.

Exhibit A: Lemon-honey cookies.

Eh, they'll do. Very cake-y, mildly lemon-y. Not bad, just not the sugar-cookie texture I had in mind. Overall not my favorite, which is what Nick says when he's trying to say nicely that he doesn't really like something.

Exhibit B: Chocolate crinkle cookies

Despite the glowing reputation, I've not always had the best of luck with Williams-Sonoma recipes. But I needed chocolate to self-soothe after my epic lemon fail, and the picture just looked sooooo goooood. Survey says: Moderately time-consuming and dirty-dishes-producing, but good and very, very chocolate-y. Worth it? Probably. Definitely, if someone else is doing the dishes.

Best laid plans

Hola, cyber-amigos! I hope your Monday was as good as mine. I know, can you even believe it? A GOOD Monday? And you thought such a thing was only myth. But thanks to my last clinic patient cancelling, I was able to do lots and lots of errand running that I'd been deferring for pretty much the last month. And just ask Nick... productivity always makes me happy.
Know what else makes me happy? I am (almost) exactly 2/3 through this pregnancy business. Today is 66% on the nose.
And what else? This month promises at least a few short days, the thought of which is positively intoxicating. My mind immediately turns to baking and crafting. (But if you see my program director, tell him I said "extra reading on Hughes-Stovin syndrome.") I've already got a pumpkin bread pudding and strawberry shortcake bars in the line-up. I really want to find some killer cookie recipes, too. And scrapbooking. And more decorating Elle's room - re-finishing the dresser, making curtains, putting up wall stuff. I am giddy with anticipation!
Not to mention a visit from Mom and a trip to Colorado. October's gonna pack a big punch. Good thing it's got 31 days.