Time to Accomplish Something

Tick tock. So the New Year is coming and it has me thinking, like every person on the planet, about what I hope to achieve in 2011. I'm hoping that making my list public will push me to do them all, so here it goes!

• Read all of the physical books that I own and get rid of the least important ones cluttering my house. (I got a Nook for Christmas!!)
• Be the best mother I can for Lynaea
• Get rid of any stretchmarks that I got while pregnant
• Get rid of the baby weight
• Get back to Freshman year of college weight
• Finish the first draft of my novel
• Join a group of some kind that meets at least once a month to keep me social
• Get the courage to talk to people who knew my mother so that I may know her better as well.

Wish me luck! Happy New Year everyone!!

33 Week Milestones

I have been nesting hard for the past week or so and decided to sit for a minute. I'm sure I will think of something to clean soon, but for now I will try to relax.

Just like every mom-to-be in America, I read the changes my baby is going through week to week. This week I thought I would share some with you, because let's face it. I can't think of anything else!

• She is about 4 1/2 pounds (No wonder she doesn't seem to have much room in there anymore!
• Her lungs are almost mature
• Her bones are fully formed and hardened
• Average weight gain for mommy at this week is between 22 and 28 pounds (I'm at 25)
• Mommy should expect having trouble finding a comfortable way to sleep, sit, and walk. (yep...)

I'm so excited!

The Best Chocoate Chip Cookies For the Best Time of Year!

I'm a big fan of cookies on Christmas (and Christmas Eve) and this is by far the best chewy chocolate chip cookie recipe I have found. 

Happy Holidays!!!!

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Stir together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, cream together the melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended. Beat in the vanilla, egg, and egg yolk until light and creamy. Mix in the dry ingredients until just blended. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand using a wooden spoon.
3. Refrigerate the dough until firm (about an hour or two)
4. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.
5. Drop cookie dough 1/4 cup at a time onto the prepared cookie sheets. Cookies should be about 3 inches apart.
6. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are lightly toasted. (Sometimes they need 20 minutes... just watch them until the edges are starting to turn golden brown) Cool on baking sheets until completely cool. Transfer to sealed container.

                                 

Sunday Night Sucks... So Cheer Up!

I'm having a harder time with tonight than most Sundays... so a double dose should do the trick!

No these aren't my videos.. but they are hilarious!

                               

I Want a Beer

Don't worry I will wait a few more weeks to taste the deliciousness, but I gotta tell you... I can't wait!

I never used to be a beer girl, but college can, and does, change a person. Lately I haven't been able to get comfortable enough to relax... though all I seem to do nowadays is sit!

A couple more months and counting... then again I'll be breastfeeding so it might be a little longer. All I have to do is build up a supply so that hubby can bottle feed her my saved milk while I also nurse a bottle of a different kind.

I'm looking forward to it as much as children look forward to Christmas... oh yea, I still have to do my Christmas shopping...

Write a Book... Or Not

For some time now I have wanted to write a book, but never knew what about. I felt that I could do it if I tried hard enough, don't laugh, and to be honest I still do. So, I think I'm going to attempt it. At least then I will won't be able to say "What if..." Call it a "bucket list" item if you'd like.

I encourage all of you to start work on one of your items. What will it be? Set a deadline or else you might let yourself off the hook!

By telling all of you, now I feel I have more of an obligation to get it done rather than by just telling myself. I always let myself off way too easy.

So what will it be?

Pelvic Girdle Pain

I've decided that pelvic girdle pain... is weird feeling. I had never heard about it before, though I suppose I should have expected it. It started a few days ago and silly me, I thought I was just sleeping weird. Turns out, it's a totally normal pregnancy experience that I should have been expecting.

Pelvic girdle pain is what happens when the crazy pregnancy hormones in your body make your pelvis ready for childbirth by spreading them. Fun.

Anyway, if you are a newly pregnant woman with her first child on the way, this is from me to you. I don't like being surprised so maybe you don't either. Oh, and if you are standing in a hot room and you get dizzy... that's your blood pressure. Sit down and you'll feel better (though you should tell your doctor in case it's more serious than you know)

If I See Anymore Cardboard Boxes, I May Scream!

Sorry for the hiatus guys. My husband and I had to move into our apartment a couple of days earlier than planned, so I have been quite busy! My internet will not be connected in our apartment until the 7th (I'm in the library now) and I'm more than a little bummed. Wish me well! I will be back sooner than you know!