Six Weeks To Go...

Only six weeks to go and our life as we know it will be forever changed! But that's an adventure we are very excited to take. Week 34 the baby is about 4 pounds and gaining as much as 8 ounces a week and is almost 18 inches long. This weeks food comparison is a "butternut squash". That's much nicer than last weeks durian!

Good sleep is harder to come by these days... I am thinking I might have to call a friend and borrow a body pillow for the last 6 weeks. I will try and get some much needed sleep before this baby arrives.

Some interesting tidbits of the week...

• 1/3 of the amniotic fluid is replaced every hour.
• A century ago, the word "pregnancy" was hardly spoken in public. It was said a woman was in a "delicate condition".

We hosted our 2nd Annual Bacon Fest this weekend. We boycotted the Des Moines "Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival" last year because tickets were getting too pricey, there were too many people, and not enough food to go around. So last year we decided to have our own Bacon Fest. This year James and I teamed up with Chef Jason from Louie's Wine Dive and we held our private party at the restaurant. All our friends were asked to bring a "pork themed" side-dish. We had bacon mac & cheese, bacon cinnamon rolls, bacon ice cream, savory salami bread, bacon hummus, Korean pork, bacon wrapped lil smokies, chocolate bacon cupcakes, and bacon chocolate chip cookies. For the main dish, James and I ordered a 40 lb suckling pig from Sheeder Family Farms. Chef Jason rubbed the pig with a spicy seasoning and then stuffed it full of apples, sage, and thyme. We devoured every bite of the moist and spicy pork. There was no leftovers. It was a great afternoon!

Here's a picture of the delicious pig: http://jamessasek.tumblr.com/post/51517936065/the-pig

Don't compare my baby to a foul smelling fruit!

At week 33 the baby weighs about 4.2 to 5.8 pounds and measures about 17.2 to 18.7 inches. And the baby may grow up to a full inch this week. The ultrasound technician told James and I that our baby has long legs and long arms. So I already know I am going to have a tall baby. I read something interesting this morning... the reason the kicks and jabs feel so much stronger these days is because the amniotic fluid has maxed out (less fluid to cushion the blows).

The weekly baby newsletter told me that our baby is the size of a durian. We tried a durian once... it was foul smelling and had the consistency of a custard. Not a fan. I kinda feel bad for comparing our child to a durian.

This week the baby's skeleton is hardening. The bones in the skull won't entirely fuse until early adulthood. Speaking of brains... I have baby brain. I have been pretty clumsy lately. I even dropped my phone on the ground yesterday and shattered the screen. Oh joy!

Last night James and I went to the "Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo" ballet. It was phenomenal!!! It's an all male dance company who perform the full range of ballet and modern dance repertoire. "The comedy is achieved by incorporating and exaggerating the foibles, accidents, and underlying incongruities of serious dance." What's impressive is these men will dance all parts typically performed by women and will even be up on point! During the night I forgot I was watching male dancers dance around on their toes...they were that good! Here's a video of the company:. It was a very enjoyable evening at the ballet!

8 Months - 32 Weeks

Wow... where has the time gone!? These past eight months have gone by pretty fast... I can't believe our lil' one will be here in eight weeks!

Baby Pat continues to grow and develop. Measuring about 15 inches long and weighs around 3 pounds. The wrinkles are disappearing and more fat continues to develop under the skin. It's getting cramped in there... I can feel stronger kicks and turns. The baby can also see in utero - discern between light and dark, and blinking and shutting eyes.

I am getting more sleepy through the day. Got me to thinking about how once the baby comes I am going to be a "walking zombie". Kinda freaks me out knowing that sleep will cease to exist once the baby comes. But it's nice knowing those first 6+ weeks I will spend at home will help to get the baby on a sleeping schedule and I will be able to function (a little) once I get back to work. Goodbye sleep... I will see you in a few more years!

We got the crib set up and the nursery organized. Now we just need the some beautiful artwork and bedding and we are all set! Pictures to come.

Mothers Day was spent at our house again this year. Each year we host brunch and invite our parents and siblings over. It was a great day spending time with our loved ones and daydreaming about the new addition that will be joining our family in eight weeks.

P.S. Now whenever I hear or see a Taco John's commercial, I think of the zombie apocalypse.

Magnificent Miami

Week 31 the baby measures about 16 inches long and weighs about four lbs. Since the baby is getting bigger, the tumbles and kicks are getting much stronger. Only nine weeks to go... eeekkk!!!

James and I spent a week in South Beach Miami for a babymoon/wedding anniversary. We enjoyed the warm weather and sunshine while Des Moines was getting a spring snowstorm. One of our favorite things to do while traveling is trying out the local cuisine. We try to get our hands on anything out of the ordinary. Here are a couple of our favorite meals during the trip...

Juvia is a trinity consisting of a French, Japanese and Peruvian cuisine. A foodies dream....
Appetizers

• Pork and Foie Croquette - pork confit, foie gras, panko, and pinapple
• Sauteed Foie Gras with grapes, pineapple mango chutney, and hazelnuts
• Unagi chocolate - causa, chocolate eel sauce

Main Course 

• Hawaiian Blue Prawns smoked on sugarcane with fried plantains
• Chilean seabass with sauteed eggplant and shaved cucumber

Dessert

• Key lime mousse, shortbread crumbles, and meringue fingers
• Dulce tropical was a trio of tropical chutney, coconut streusel, and exotic sorbet

Tongue and Cheek offered innovative and creative dishes...
Appetizers

• 100% pure Iberico de Bellota Ham
• Marinated olives in bay leaf, orange, and chilies
• Chicharrones of chicken skin, Japanese mustard, and Thai chili

Main Course

• Beef cheek burger, cheddar pimento cheese, sweet onions, and house-made brioche
• Crisp lamb belly, barbecued octopus, roasted eggplant, and romanesco

Side

• Poutine of braised brisket, cheddar and pastrami spiced fries

Dessert

• Matcha tea sponge cake, cardamom espuma, rasberry meringue, black tea gelee

You can't go to Miami and not eat at a Cuban restaurant. We noshed on Cuban sandwiches, pulled beef with gravy, rice, and plantains, and sipped Cuban espresso (aka cortadito).

I had some fresh squeezed Florida orange juice...my life was changed! I don't know what I have been drinking but the OJ down there was sweet and creamy. It was pure sunshine!

Pregnancy Dreams Revealed...

Dream 1 ~ I dreamt my belly was like a balloon and when the baby was stretching out the feet it was stretching my belly. I decided to pop my balloon belly and take the baby out to play with it. The baby had a lot of hair and big eyes (very cute baby). Then after awhile I realized I probably should not have done that and told the baby I need to put it back inside because it was not ready to come out yet and still had a couple months before we could play again.

Dream 2 ~ Dreamt of the zombie apocalypse. A group of us were learning what could kill a zombie. We used everything from ballpoint pens and pocket knives. We found an abandoned store and locked ourselves in. Somehow I was always the one having the lock the door because some idiot in our group would leave it unlocked. When I would run over to lock the door the zombie would be pushing against the door and grabbing my shoulder. We decided to out-smart the zombies and handed out bananas and coupons for free tacos at the Taco John's next door. The zombies took them from us and started to wander over to Taco John's to get their free taco! We figured out a way to get the zombies off our backs! (I should call Taco John's marketing department and get a commercial going...)