Who's a Pretty Bird?

My brother's cockatiel, Phreddie, doesn't have self-esteem problems.

High Hopes

Yesterday was a fun day. I woke up with an urge to get out and do something. It was a perfect day for it. So I went to Scott & Minda's, where we went for a walk together, and then after Scott left for work, we went to Centennial Lakes and walked around and took photos. So fun. In the evening, I took a bubble bath and relaxed.

Today I had high hopes that I would be able to get a number of things accomplished around the house. So far, I washed the dishes, but now I'm in bed with an ice pack on my back. So, pooh. I'm hoping a nap will help both my back and my outlook.

It's Baby Season...

Here they all come...

Jenny, someone I've worked with since I started at Aetna 12 years ago, welcomed baby Danielle this morning... J, my telework buddy, and his wife, Renee, will welcome baby #3 by C-section next Wednesday... Stacy & Chris have about three weeks more to go until little Cody is expected...

Theoretically, it's my turn after that... in about six weeks... and then Chris & Jamie's baby girl around three weeks after that.

Why, why am I not making baby congrats cards right now?

As Promised

Photos from the shower, courtesy of Minda!

Baby Shower!

Yesterday Minda & Carrie threw a baby shower for us at Origami in Minnetonka. It was really fun. Of course I liked the food. I think almost everybody else found something they liked too. We had a good time, a delicious dessert, and we received many wonderful, thoughtful gifts.

But ONE gift did actually steal my heart. Tami made it and sent it from New Hampshire. I absolutely love everything about it and I know the baby will too. Isn't it awesome?

More pictures to come...

Tawny Scrawny Lion Soup

Remember this book? The lion learns that he can be happy, sleek and fat by eating carrot soup. Tonight, for supper, in a successful attempt to avoid the grocery store, I made carrot & zucchini soup. Why carrots & zucchini? Because that's what I had. I've had carrot soup before and it was a nice pretty color. Mixing in the zucchini, the color isn't quite as attractive, but it turned out really quite yummy. I did have one near accident with the blender and boiling hot soup... an immersion blender is definitely on my wish list. Here's how it went:

Carrots, Zucchini, & 1 small Onion, finely chopped to make about 6 cups total.
4 C water or chicken stock
2 cloves garlic
3 tablespoons butter, just for fun
1 teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon thyme

In a large soup pot, bring above to a boil, cover and simmer 12-15 minutes.
Let cool slightly, and then puree in a blender. (Make very sure the lid is on securely. Really.)

When serving, I stirred in a tablespoon of sour cream, and then used salt & pepper to taste.

Makes 6-8 cups of soup.

I've had something similar as a summer soup that was served cool. But today I have a cold and a little fever so I wanted nice warm comfort food.

Every Girl Crazy 'Bout a Sharp Dressed Man

Yesterday I received two big bags of hand-me-down baby clothes, all sized 3-6 months or less. So last night I washed and sorted clothes, and I carefully sorted out things that I didn't really like, things that were unisex but looked a little girly, or things that were stained and stretched. This kid has plenty of itty bitty clothes, trust me. Think I'm kidding, or misunderstand how many outfits a child can wear in a day? Here's an example: This child has more than 35 "day" outfits (sized 3-6 months or less). Seriously. Stop the madness.

I was happy to find this in the bag:

Especially for Dave and Keitaro!

Lawzy, we got to have a doctor!

I don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' babies.
--Prissy, Gone With the Wind

Well, that's not completely true, since I went to childbirth preparation classes this weekend. I learned a lot of good information, and a lot of things that I have to think more about. Today we were practicing our swaddling and diapering skills on dolls. I picked an asian-featured one who turned out to be a girl. Sigh... I can dream, can't I?

After a crazy, busy week, Dave loaded up his truck and a U-Haul trailer and left for Georgia on Friday afternoon. He arrived in Augusta this afternoon. His next time home will be to see the baby...