Hi world!

Not much time to post yet, but here are the details:
Eden Alice Middlebrook . November 22nd . 6lbs 9 3/4 oz . 18 1/2 inches
More later!

Does this womb make me look fat?

I think Eden is gaining weight again- she certainly feels heavier today, helping me perfect my waddle. The doctor said she is getting into position but other than that seems to be perfectly content to hang out where she is. More news again next Tuesday!

So I was serious about making a robe for myself in my last blog- it's rare that I so quickly make good on a crafty plan- but I guess the clock is ticking on this one. I used the kimono robe pattern from this book. I've made it once before as a gift and it's a pretty easy pattern- and as guessed it took about 8 hours. It's amazing what I can get done without distractions from my husband.


Speaking of, Thomas is coming home any minute!! He even gets tomorrow off for working so hard these last few weeks. Once he's home I can enlist him to hang the nursery artwork and then it'll be done! I'm using a lot of !!!! but I'm getting really excited about our little family's progress :). Hopefully I'll be checking back in soon with more pictures.

Hungry Hungry Hippo..

Seriously, if someone wanted to bring me a piece of chocolate cake I'd be indebted to you forever. I'd make some for myself, but would probably eat the whole cake.

2 weeks, 4 days...

I am officially counting down the days now, not just the weeks. No signs that the due date will change any, and so far I'm ok with that :). We go back to the doctor tomorrow- I'll try to share if there is any exciting news about Eden's progress - minus details of course.

My hospital bag is packed minus Eden's things that need to be washed, some entertainment in the way of books/magazines, and a robe. I am having difficulty finding a lightweight robe. Seriously, it's Texas. I know that big fleece robes make people get into the holiday season and believe that it's winter- but--- ahem-- it's Texas, sale something lighter. I'm toying with the idea of sewing one for myself. Last time I made a robe it only took 8 hours, and I have since added new cutting tools that make the prep work faster. The only problem is I'd really like it to be knit- but sewing with knits terrifies me because I don't have a serger (if any one has a good used one they want to sale let me know). Though to be honest, I don't even know what I'm talking about, just that I've read that sewing with knits is awful without a serger. If you're a sewer and have suggestions, I'm all ears.

Eden's nursery is really close to being done. There are a few more things that need to happen- painting shadow boxes and filling them, hanging all other artwork, washing clothes, sheets, and blankets, and vacuuming. I think I'm procrastinating because it would be weird to have it all done. Of course this means no pictures yet :). In the meantime, here are a few projects I've been up to:

Aaron and April had Alena Grace a few weeks ago and I'm happy to report the completion of a few projects for her! I helped with one of April's showers and provided cloth napkins in a nursery toile design so that they could later be turned into a small quilt.

There was enough unused fabric to make the quilt- but I decided to use the napkins from the shower so it'd have a special sentiment to it. Some of the napkins even have a few spots :). I think multi-textured blankets are great for kids so I used flannel for the backing and silk for the binding.


The next project was a special request from the parents that I happily took on. I think it's becoming a tradition for me to paint something for my friend's nurseries (if twice can be considered tradition :) ).


Thomas is gone for the third week out of the last four, though, it's really nice that he's been home on the weekends. That way I am really able to rest up when he's here- although I'm afraid he doesn't get the same! Poor guy spends all week in a physically demanding job to come home and pick his pregnant wife off of couches, the bed, the floor- pick up all of the things I've dropped or think are too heavy. Luckily I was able to cook some requested food and accompany him to an action flick- providing him with a little R&R. He should be home Wednesday or Thursday and then will not have to travel again for a few months. I can't wait to see him with this little girl- he's gonna be such a good papa!

Just because we felt like we didn't have enough balls in the air- we decided to have our house repainted. Honestly, the windows already had some bare, exposed wood and were going to rot - not to mention the parts of the wood siding that have already rotted.... We did such a HORRIBLE job picking out the house colors. We're talking orange clay with mint green. Yeah.... but the good news is they were fixed with just one remix! If you come to our house- ignore the color of the back steps, in fact, just save yourselves the horror and use the front door until the new paint is up :). It is going to be so pretty for Christmas and all of the many visitors I'm sure we'll have!

Coming soon: Christmas Goodies for Eden, Cookies and more Cookies, and Nursery pictures.

Snuggle Sack & Test Scores

There are times I wish that knitting/crocheting didn't frustrate me so much (yes there are limits to what crafting I do). Finding this project was one of those times. It's so adorable! I can just imagine it in reds and pinks instead of blues and yellows- just in time for Christmas. Has anyone caught on that this is my favorite time of year? And that I'm thrilled to have a daughter coming in the middle of it? And I get to dress her up for Christmas?! She already has a mini tree in her nursery thanks to Mrs. Clinch :). I have a few good friends who actually like this hobby and are making/have made some sweet knitted things for Eden. Including a fabulous, brilliant blue sweater, bib, and washcloths Megan Y made for her. Thanks Megan!!

My test results were posted this morning, yay for the miracles of the modern age and computers. No more 4 week waiting periods for test scores to come by mail after they were hand scored by some individual hundreds of miles away... I passed! I know none of you had any doubts, but I tried to keep a healthy pessimism in case I had a fluke brain malfunction or something else distracting me... like my strongest braxton hicks contraction yet in the middle of the test - haha, yeah, that was funny once it was over. I even scored higher than I did on the practice tests. Who ever said cramming last minute for a state board doesn't work?

So now it's time to relax a bit- and just in time- Thomas gets 1.5 days off at the end of this week (this afternoon and all day tomorrow). I think our picnic plans (well, his plans, I can't take the credit) are being dampened. It's raining cats and dogs- oh well!

Taking a Break

Taking a break from studying to eat lunch and check my mail. The writer of one of the blogs I read has started a new blog project with the following purpose:
"As crafters, the reasons we create are many. Just one may be to spread a little bit of peace into the world, to make a small but meaningful difference in one person's life through a simple act of crafting with intention. Mama to Mama seeks to find ways to connect handcrafters with
mothers, children and families in need of a little bit of handmade love."
I love the idea of the first project The Caps to Cap-Haitien Project: A partnership with Konbit Sante.
We just cleaned my house out of any old t-shirts that would have been appropriate so I'll be walmarting or thrifting it in the next few days. Since my test will be over, I'll have some time I can dedicate to anything I want (at least until Baby Eden arrives)! If anyone wants to contribute but doesn't have the time or sewing skills, feel free to give me cotton jersey t-shirts you have lying around. I think the deadline for submissions is the beginning of December so it'd have to be soon!

Randomness

For any of you still hanging in there, checking this blog as if I will keep my promise and write again, I'm back! Thanks for your patience. My Texes PPR test is in two days, hence the reason I'm finally blogging: procrastination. The last few weeks have been a whirlwind, not that this will change anytime soon. There were three VERY lovely showers given in honor of Eden's quickly upcoming arrival. Each was unique with very sweet personal touches- we're so blessed by the loving people that are going to be here to greet Eden into this world. The last one was Saturday and it was a Bedtime Story themed shower. They made the dining room table into a bed (sheets, blanket, pillow, teddy bear) and all brought books that were displayed there. Of course the refreshments were milk and cookies :). It was completely adorable and Eden has so many wonderful books now!

The nursery is really starting to come together and I find myself making excuses to spend time in there (reading the books, sifting through her clothes, teaching myself how to use her cloth diapers). My parents picked up the glider and brought it to us yesterday (THANKS!!). Now, the crib is the only furniture we lack. I still have a few more projects to complete involving the decor of the room, but then I promise to post pictures.

Ooohh, one really exciting part of our weekend was that Thomas and my dad went shopping for a firepit while my mother and I attended the shower. S'mores here we come!! We still need to brainstorm a way to get a cooking grill or swinging arm rigged up over it so we can pretend we're not in the middle of the city and cook in our backyard. Just in time for the cooler weather :). If anyone has some delicious chili recipes, I'm all ears.


Cooking again! I've finally gotten into a little bit of a routine being home and dinner time has improved greatly. I made empanadas a year ago that were delicious- slow cooking chicken legs until the meat fell off the bone, combining it with interesting ingredients like cloves and pimento and olives. They were delicious! I've searched for a year for the recipe I used and can't find it, soooo enter empanada trial #2. Thomas thinks these are much better. Although I'm not convinced (mostly because they were much easier and surely all of my previous labor meant something!) they were pretty good. The recipe is a combination of Martha Stewart, recipezaar.com, and Katie tweaks.

I like to serve this with spanish rice and cantaloupe.

ATTENTION:: The below recipe is written for twice as much filling as dough. I froze half of the filling and made dough again a few weeks later. It made dinner really "simple" (this recipe is not a quick one). If you plan to make this just once, half the filling. The dough makes somewhere between 10 - 15 empanadas depending on the size you make them.

• FOR THE FILLING
• 2 pounds ground beef
• 2 medium onions, finely diced
• 7 oz can dice green chiles
  
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 2 cans (14.5 ounces each) tomatoes, diced
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 2 tsp (or more if desired) minced garlic
• diced black olives (optional)
• 
  
• FOR THE DOUGH
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpoBlogger: Baking & Blogging - Create Postse flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 cup partially frozen butter (cut into small cubes, place the butter cubes in the freezer until ALMOST completely frozen)
• 2 large eggs
• 1/3 cup ice water
• 1 tablespoon vinegar

Directions

Dough:

1. In a large bowl sift together flour and salt.
2. Blend in the cold butter cubes using a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse meal (the mixture should be pea-size).
3. In a small bowl whisk together ONE egg, ice water and vinegar.
4. Add to the flour mixture, stirring with a fork just until incorporated (the mixture will look somewhat lumpy).
5. Transfer the mixture onto a floured surface.
6. Gather the dough together with your hands and gently knead with the heel of your hand once or twice (just enough to bring the dough together, do not overwork the dough or it will be tough!).
7. Form the dough in a semi-flat ball or rectangle.
8. Cover the dough tightly with plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour or up to 8 hours.
9. Roll out the dough, then cut into desired size circles.
10. Fill with favorite fillings then close the dough over the filling (see directions below).
11. Brush the ends with an egg wash (one egg beaten with one tablespoon of water) then seal together with a fork.
12. OPTIONAL FREEZER INSTRUCTIONS: If desired, freeze on a baking sheet until firm, 2 hours. Wrap tightly in plastic; freeze in plastic bags.
13. To bake fresh or frozen empanadas, preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place on parchment-lined baking sheets. Brush tops with egg wash, avoiding crimped edges. Bake until golden brown, rotating sheets halfway through, 30 to 40 minutes.

Filling:

1. In a large skillet over medium-high, cook meat until no longer pink, breaking it up into small pieces, 5 to 7 minutes.
2. Add onion and chiles; cook until soft, 5 minutes. Stir in chili powder, tomatoes, and garlic. Cook over medium until mixture has thickened, 12 to 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Let cool.