Dreams

Last night I had some wild dreams! Amazing, but wild! In my dream I fast-forwarded to February, and I dreamt that I was in the hospital having this baby. I got to see what our baby will look like, and our baby was beautiful!! It was a really exciting dream, a happy dream, especially because I didn't feel the pain from the c-section I'll have! If only that were true! My husband had interesting dreams too, but they were more shoot-em up/fighting dreams, probably because we watched Con Air last night.

Great for Fall

This is one of our favorites:

Pork Chops with Apple Chutney

4 boneless pork chops
Steak Seasoning
1 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
2 Tbsp Brown Sugar
1 c. Chopped Apple
1 c. Chopped Yellow Onion
1/2 c. dried cranberries(crasins)
2 Tbsp. Butter

Rub the pork chops with the steak seasoning. Melt 1 tbsp of butter in frying pan, put seasoned chops in pan and sear on both sides approx 4 minutes or until cooked through. Remove Chops from pan and set aside on a warming plate in oven. Melt remaining butter in pan, saute onions in the butter. Once onions are soft add vinegar and brown sugar and apples. Stir cranberries into the mixture and let simmer approx 4 minutes. Remove chops from the oven, put in serving dish and top with chutney. Serve with Mashed potatoes, and green beans.

Mac-N-Cheese

So this morning I really didn't want to make dinner. Why should I be thinking about dinner when I still have breakfast and lunch to think about? Boxed Macaroni and Cheese, that's what I am doing...it's easy won't require any thought or effort, it's perfect! A few hours go by....I think "hey, I'll just add the left over ham slices from the corn chowder I made the other day...then it won't seem so half-assed, Cool!" a half hour goes by....hmmm...more thinking...."boxed macaroni and cheese really isn't that healthy, I should probably add some peas too!" Around 3:30 an epiphany occurs..."I'll make homemade macaroni and cheese with whole wheat pasta, ham slices, peas and a buttery crumble crust! Oh it will be so good, and easy!" At 4:40 the Macaroni and Cheese CASSEROLE comes out of the oven bubbly and smelling scrumtious! My husband ate half, my son had his first macaroni and cheese experience and I am thrilled that it wasn't from a box.

Macaroni and Cheese Casserole

2 c.raw whole wheat penne pasta

2 c. 1% milk 2 c. sharp shredded cheddar cheese

1 c. frozen peas

1/2 c. sliced or cubed ham

1 Tbsp. flour 4 Tbsp. butter

6-10 butter crackers(Ritz or any store brand will do)

salt and pepper to taste

Spray casserole dish with non stick spray. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Melt butter in large saucepan, add flour to melted butter and whisk. Slowly add milk while whisking. Whisk until slightly thick and add 1 c. shredded cheddar cheese. Add pinch of salt and pepper. Meanwhile boil water and cook pasta until chewy. Strain water from pasta and put pasta in casserole dish. Top with peas, ham and cheese sauce. Mix thoroughly, add remaining cheese to top of pasta mix. Put crackers in a plastic bag and mash until crumbly, add crumbly mixture to top of casserole. Put in oven for 20-30 minutes. Take out of oven and let sit for 10 minutes to settle.

Half-Way Point

Today I am officially 20 weeks pregnant. 20 more weeks to go...yay.

Stark Reality #1

I am an emotional person...shocker I know. Well being pregnant only magnifies these emotions a thousand-fold. Even when I was pregnant the last time I don't remember commercials making me want to cry. Take for example; the preview for the new Sandra Bullock movie "Blindside"...gushing tears this morning. Other nonsensical commercials too, it makes me sick. I hate being this emotional. So word to the wise...unless you have a death wish; compliment me...tell me you love my cooking, you think I am a great mother and I am one hot momma. Please don't tell me I am getting fatter, and don't point out that my roots and gray hair are growing in (because you know I can't dye my hair). It will crush me, I promise. You may just be cracking a joke, but believe me, I am not in the mood.

Stark Reality #2

Oh, MY GOD...I am going to have another baby in 20 weeks. Holy crap...I don't know what I am going to do! Right now my son is very demanding, this is a very enjoyable stage, yet very difficult. I LOVE his accomplishments, he's started counting..."One, Two, One, Two, One, Two" It's so stinkin' cute! Or when he tries to sing his ABC's with me, I just love it! But you know what's not cute..the biting, the hitting, the tearing pillows off the couch, smacking my face when I ask for a kiss. It's rough, especially in my emotional state. Then there are the mornings when I want to enjoy my one cup of coffee and relax a moment, it is impossible because he wants to be entertained constantly. So I turn on Noggin...and inevitably I feel guilty that I've turned into one of those mom's who uses TV as a babysitter. What on earth am I going to do when there are two of these attention craving beings?

Now I know a lot of people with 2 or more children, and they all survived, they suffered these moments and are stronger for it. Don't get me wrong we'll be just fine. But right now, this moment, the one thing I desperately need, I cannot have: a HUGE glass of wine, with a big chunk of raw cookie dough...sigh...20 more weeks.

p.s. Sorry and thanks to my wonderful husband who puts up with me being pregnant, emotional, and irrational, I don't know where you get the strength to deal with me, but I love you so much for it!