The End of Pregnancy Will Commence...

So, I went to the doc today. I go every Monday and we laugh and have a good time and I pester him relentlessly about "when" and "why" and "how come I don't" and all that. Apparently I've "twisted his arm" (and that is a direct quote, ask mom, she was there) far enough that he has conceeded to reserve an induction date. My next appointment will put me at 39 weeks, 1 day. If he told me at 10 am that he could induce me THAT day, I'd have to run home, pack all my stuff (I tried to pack it, but can't give up my nightgowns yet!!) make sure Elise was ready for her plans, the dog was cared for, get Mike out of his work clothes (aka yucky muddy boots and pants) and try to keep my bp from raising all that time.... SO we decided that if I'm "ripe" on Monday, I'll be "riper" on Wednesday, and I'll have time to plan, etc. So, Wednesday April 8th we'll try to get this beautiful baby girl out of my belly. IF, yes IF, my bishop score is 8 or greater. Right now I'm sitting at a 6... oh, this has zero to do with church, though it sounds like it could!! I don't remember 7 years back to my bishop scores for Elise's delivery... must not have been too good cause he wouldn't start me until AFTER my due date. Yes, I went over, 8 whole days and 12 hours on my first baby. Lucky me!! She was baked to perfection I believe. Now, if I'm not "ripe" on Monday, then I'll check back in on Weds, if I'm still not "ripe" we wait it out past the due date and induce on the 13th for sure. I'm not excited about giving birth on that day for two very distinct reasons. 1) My high school loves' birthday is on that day. He's a great guy, but honest to pete I'm not in touch with him and I don't want to remember him every year. Seriously! And 2) The 13th falls on Friday's ALL THE TIME... and given bf's experiences with having his bday on the 13th, I'd rather wait for another day. Oh, and there is a 3) I was hit by a car as a child on a Friday the 13th. Okay, she totally just nudged me, I didn't even get a bruise, but SHE freaked me out! She made me get in her car to drive me home from school (her old grandma was in the car so I wasn't THAT worried about stranger-danger) and she totally ticked off my mom, or scared her, or whatever. There are few things in MY childhood that my mom specifically remembers about me, and this is one of them.

Now I'm wondering when Mike will call me to go out for lunch. I'm starving, but if I snack I won't be able to actually eat a meal. Has something to do with being pregnant and not able to digest food quickly and this huge bump that kicks and rolls around and takes up too much room.

By the way Mom, if you read this: Sweetheart is sleeping how Lacee usually sleeps. Body on the ottoman, head on the chair... yup, she's sweet! And Lacee is curled up on one of the dog bags, the brown one. Max is in his crate resting as per instruction earlier. He did go out and go potty first thing. And he still looks as happy as ever! Thanks for coming today, it was good to have you there with me!

Pregnant Photos!

Ice Cream & Hot Fudge

So we went to this party and we had so much fun. But a few people want our recipe for our ice cream and our Hot Fudge... So here they are.

Vanilla Ice Cream

2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 Tablespoons Cornstarch
1/4 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 Tablespoons Vanilla (I used 2!)
7 cups milk (we used 1%)
5 eggs, beaten
2 3/4 cups heavy cream (I used just that small pint size from the store)
1 1/2 cuts half and half (again, just used the pint size from the store)

Mix the sugar, cornstarch and salt in a large saucepan. Over medium heat, slowly stir in the milk, stirring occasionally. Very slowly, add the beaten eggs and continue to stir. Reduce heat to low and cook until mixture thickens slightly. Slowly add vanilla, half and half, and heavy cream. Pour into a large glass bowl and refrigerate for 2-4 hours or until mixture has chilled. Remove from refrigerator. Pour mixture into the mixing canister and follow directions in the "How to Use" section... OH I guess you don't have that part!!! Do not fill your mixing canister over 2/3 full. Liquids have a way of expanding as they freeze... something about chemistry.

This makes 4 quarts. If your ice cream maker is bigger or smaller, I can't help you adjust for your machine, but you could call me and I could call my mom, but she'll probably say the same thing...

Hot Fudge Sauce

2 cups chocolate chips (YOUR favorite kind, we use Ghiradelli usually)
2 cups powdered sugar
1 cube of butter (yes butter not margarine.)
1 can evaporated milk (12 oz)

In a saucepan, melt the chocolate chips and butter. Add the powdered sugar and the milk when the chips get kinda melty. Keep stirring until the mixture is barely boiling. Remove from heat. Add a little salt and vanilla. As it cools continue stirring.

Keep refrigerated. Reheat to serve. A small amount goes a long way and only takes about 30 seconds to reheat in the microwave.

PS this makes a great snack too. Grab a spoon and take a spoonful. Put the lid back on tight and put it back in the fridge, and then lick your spoon clean. I call these Chocolate Shame in a Spoon. DON'T re-use the same spoon. Please wash between uses. ;)

This also makes a good fondue dip... especially if you DON'T have a "fondue pot".

So, Is It Okay When...

Okay this is yet another post probably without pictures...
which starts off my first Is It Okay When...

Is it okay when you post with no pics? I feel kind of blog nakey without them. It is much worse than going all day in the winter without socks on.

Is it okay when you send your niece out to play in the snow, in what her mother sent her in, even though it is totally not snow worthy attire? (Example: her gloves are those little one size fits all cheap crap things that you can get at the grocery store.)

Is it okay when, you refer to your nephew as the Tossed Salad, because he kept you up all night, tossing in the crib?

Is it okay when you send your husband a text message to go pick up his birthday gift that he knows about? Homemade ice cream is our favorite and he's just not been the same lately without a bowl on occasion.

Is it okay when you only spot vacuum? And ONLY because the hubby is coming home soon and he'd flip a lid, or bust a gasket, if he saw the super cheesy cracker mess in the TV room?

Is it okay to want snow for a little longer, just because it hurts your eyes to look at the grass underneath? (This would be why Kelli's landscaping is the best!!)

Is it okay that I can't see the girls playing outside with the dog right this minute? That doesn't make me a bad mom AND babysitter? Oh and heaven forbid a bad dog owner!! Right?

Is it okay that I let my dog run haphazard all over the farm and don't care? LOL! I keep trying to find her mess, but she's hiding it somewhere.... okay I found that she got into someone's ziploc baggies and spread them from one end of the barnyard to the other, but I don't know where they came from, who they belong to, or that she wasn't on a special assignment by the hens to do this. She hangs out in the barn with them a lot... mostly wanting them to come out and play, though I think they don't really want to be friends with her. Something about her genentics. They are so rude!

Is It Okay When I give my nephew a bandaid for a very small owie on his foot that is like 10 seconds from being completely healed on its own without any TLC? Cause I did, and he liked it, and so did I.

Okay I think that is enough questions for you all today. I may have my issues under control by now... or not. hahahaha!

Okay Dokay

It has been a WHILE since I posted. I was at first just waiting for my Pay It Forward to fill up, but now it is MARCH already and I had to change the background (curse my learning new things) and the baby's due date is approaching and I've still got lots to do, and SO much time on my hands to think about what needs done!! Oh and the dog keeps getting out. She's taken to climbing the snowbank in the back of the house, and up over the edge of a wood shed that the roof caved in LAST winter (yes, the landlord has NOT come to fix his own property) and down through piles of rotten cast off wood that has rusty nails and all manner of unlikeable things in it, all in the name of wandering about the barnyard or over to the neighbors (my in-laws) to visit.

So what was this post going to be about? Oh yeah, nothing at all. Mike is busy working. I attend doctor's appointments, eat as much as I can within reason, and try to keep the house clean. Ah and the doctor gave me the go ahead on doing lots of fun things that I've been dying to do lately. Have contractions is the main goal here. He'd like to induce me before spring break if I don't go on my own earlier. So I'm back to doing housework at full force (except vacuuming which Mike doesn't understand) and I may take the dog for a snowshoe to my in-laws if the weather is good and I'm feeling up to it. But mostly I've gotten really used to this lazy house arrest behavior I was stuck with. Lazy habits and addictions die hard I've decided.

I must be addicted to being lazy!

I already KNOW I'm addicted to cream cheese frosting. Have been for a long time.

Oh and we're all trying to see what we can wiggle out of Mike for the baby's name. It is true, you have probably heard it from me before, but we'll be naming our baby something with -ken- in it. Mike's boss put him up to it. He's had a $200 reward (I know, this is so cheesy!) for anyone that works for him if they will name their child -ken- (his name). It will go directly into her college fund (provided there are still colleges and money when she is old enough to need either). And her middle name MUST be Margaret after both our maternal grandmothers. That is really convenient I think, so I picked it! Both great ladies and I love them both dearly though they've both passed away.

So look back again soon for a vote-type thing.

Have you opened your windows today? It is a lovely temperature out there, but the skies are really gray! Unfortunately it smells a lot like it did when I was pregnant with Elise and was really pukey... Ah memories.