My "desperate housewife" + Eleanor

Dearest blog readers, thank you so much for sticking with me during these weird periods when a week or two will disappear in between blogs.

The ridiculous truth is, I actually attempt to blog every day. But something always intercepts my time, patience, or energy. Sometimes it is something little and silly: yesterday I had a total "first world problem" moment when I tried to move my laptop to a more comfortable location by balancing it in one hand and trying to untangle the speaker cords with the other (because if my laptop, which is literally falling apart, is unplugged, it will shut down) and the screen, which is also broken, fell forward, which also means a total shut down. I was so frustrated that I opted for a bowl of cereal and Dick Van Dyke instead. But most times it is something big, like the fact that I am exhausted at the end of the day and have to remind myself that it's because I am raising a human being and growing another one.

Time seems to be passing simultaneously slowly and rapidly. Our days are filled with multiple park trips, afternoon naps, late dinners on the porch, and evening "family walks" around the pond. Everyday brings new ways that James makes me smile and laugh, and also new difficulties that grow me in unexpected ways. Lane has been working long days, James has been having difficulty falling asleep before 10 pm, and I have been learning patience and reliance on God for the physical energy to not fall asleep at the lunch table. It is during these days that a little sugar right around nap time can go a long way. Let me clarify: I am the one eating the sugar, not James.

This isn't an every day treat, but a once-in-a-while indulgence. I make a big bowl of plain oatmeal and stir in chocolate chips and a spoonful of peanut butter. It's like a giant oatmeal-peanut-butter-chocolate-chip cookie. Yum.

So, what is everyone else's "desperate housewife"? Potato chips in your cottage cheese? Chocolate sauce and a spoon straight into the ice cream container? 'Fess up! What are they? ... I'll probably be trying them, especially if they involve sweet and salty.

PS In case you didn't hear via Facebook (apparently over 60 people "like" this... I don't think I even have 60 friends), we are almost positive that the new baby is a girl! Since you, my wonderful blog readers, didn't get to hear it first, I will tell you what we are naming her before it hits the FB: Eleanor.

This time a year ago: Asparagus rolled in chicken with caprese potato salad

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the deck

My favorite room in our house isn't actually in our house.

Our deck is part-dining, part-living, part-play room, and even part-kitchen (due to my husband, the grill-master, barbecuing for us).

The deck is also partly covered, so we can even stand out there when it's pouring.

Hopefully we will finish any other room within the next couple weeks so I can continue to post updates. Until then, let me leave you with this picture of James being caught in the act:

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Updates: pregnancy, James, and the big move

Pregnancy: Still feeling very tired, despite the fact that I am three weeks into the second trimester. Growing and gaining, and craving things like pickles (how stereotypical) and cream cheese- and dragging James down with me.

James: So stinkin' cute it is unreal, making us laugh and smile all day every day. He went to the last prenatal appointment with Lane and I, and he was able to hear the baby's "heartbeep." He imitates the sound "whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!" and then imitates the sound of James' big boy "heartbeep" that sounds like "bump, bump!" 

He is warming up to "new house." He loves that it has stairs to go up and down and a big porch to run back and forth on. 

The move: Oh lordy, we did it! We are moved into "new house" as James calls it. It is currently in a state of disarray: we are refinishing the kitchen cabinets, so boxes marked "kitchen" (most with little more description than just that) are stuffed into closets and what will be new baby's room; the garage is the work station, so we cannot store much in there; and our dining room table is covered with an unending supply of things we are trying to put away. Life is crazy, but we are so happy to be here. 

This time last year: Mediterranean inspired meatballs with orzo and chicken, blue cheese, and rosemary ravioli

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