Football finale

In the past two years, Brian & I have spent a weekend in Lawrence & Kansas City watching the Jayhawks & Chiefs each play a football game at home. (Check out my blog posts from 2007 & 2008.)

This year, we had a special tailgate planned at the Chiefs vs. Giants game at Arrowhead, and the Jayhawks happened to have a bye week that weekend. So, we split our annual football road trip into two weekends. Brian & I headed to Lawrence Saturday to watch the Jayhawks play the Cornhuskers. We were able to wave the wheat, shiver in perfectly brisk football weather and admire the campus of our alma mater. Yes, it's no fun that Nebraska won, but we had a blast nonetheless:



Brian's parents were very generous to share their tickets with us. We met up with them for lunch at The Salty Iguana and then also joined up with Brian's brother Eric for the game. Afterwards, we all headed to Legends, where we had an indulgent dinner at the Yard House. (I'd highly recommend it. My meal was fabulous: New Zealand lamb chops with shiitake mushrooms, corn risotto cakes and balsamic glaze. Yum!)

On Sunday, Brian & I shopped for baby furniture (we've already picked out an adorable set!) and spent some time at the K.C. Country Club Plaza. We had lunch at California Pizza Kitchen on the Plaza and had a romantic time on the chilly, rainy day. Several of the shops were playing Christmas music, and it finally seems appropriate. (When he & I bought our Halloween candy at Target in late October, the store was playing Christmas music. It didn't seem as festive then.)

With a little one on the way, we're not sure we'll be able to observe our annual football road trip tradition next year. It's one of the many tiny insignificant sacrifices that we are more than happy to make to welcome a baby into our family. But, for now, we're relishing opportunities to enjoy little "babymoons" like this one.

Baby blankets: A family tradition

Tuesday night at Prairie Quilt Guild, I got up during "Show & Share" (the portion of the monthly program in which quilters show off their work) and showed the crowd Mom's very first quilt (pictured above). I said that Mom made it for her precious firstborn (me, of course), and that the tradition would soon continue. I explained that in six months I plan to wrap my firstborn in one of the first quilts I ever made (also pictured above). It was a touching moment, and our quilting friends beamed and congratulated both of us.

Mom sewed her cotton quilt, which features gingham and bunny rabbits, for me when I was an infant. Dad worked construction and had accepted a temporary job in Denver. The three of us, Iowa residents at the time, lived in a Colorado hotel room for months, and I celebrated my first birthday while we were out there. Mom sewed this extra-thick quilt so I could have a comfy, cozy spot to snuggle.

Mom has taught me everything I know about quilting. Years ago, I sewed this flannel blue and yellow baby blanket with sheep on it. I actually made it for one of my favorite charities, Project Linus, which collects and provides donated blankets to children in need. But my mother-in-law convinced me to save it "for someone special someday." I think I have just the person in mind! (Don't worry: I whipped up a bunch of quilts to give the organization soon thereafter.)

A few things strike me about these quilts Mom & I made: Neither one of us used patterns. They're both hand-tied. And I think they actually look similar, with the yellow and blue squares in an Around-the-World-inspired design.

It was a fun, memorable evening. The guest speakers for the evening were Su & Dwayne Bunch, retired teachers who travel with their Piece Keepers quilt business. Su specializes in blended quilts. Here are some of her beautiful projects:

Baby books, baby names, baby class & more

I haven't blogged about what I've been reading because those books would've given away my secret. Here are the paperbacks that have been taking up my time in the last several weeks:

Laura Wattenberg's "The Baby Name Wizard: A Magical Guide to Finding the Perfect Name for Your Baby" may just be the favorite of my baby books so far. Brian and I have spent hours looking through it together and talking about the pros and cons of different names.

We have decided to wait until we meet our little one in May to find out if our firstborn is a boy or girl. And, with the help of this book, we have a first and middle name picked out already for either gender. We love both names and have vowed to keep those a secret. (Although we do, of course, reserve the right to change our mind on our baby's birthday!)


Dr. Stuart Campbell's "Your Pregnancy Day by Day: Watch Your Baby Grow as You Enjoy a Healthy Pregnancy" is definitely another favorite of mine. Each day, it offers a short summary of how our baby is developing. Brian & I read each day's installment together while we eat breakfast.

Over omelets this morning, for example, we read about Day 99: "More bone is deposited on your baby's skeleton, making it easier for him to bend his arms at the wrist and elbow. He can make varied movements with his hands."

What a miracle. And what a fabulous way to start each day: in awe and thanksgiving.


I gave a copy of Heidi Murkoff & Sharon Mazel's "What to Expect When You're Expecting" to my sister Jen last year when she was pregnant with my nephew Kaden. Now it's on loan to me. What goes around, comes around.









Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin's "Skinny Bitch" books have made me think very carefully about what I've been eating during my pregnancy. I haven't embraced all of the vegan suggestions they emphasize, but I have switched to soy milk and try to altogether avoid high fructose corn syrup, which is difficult because it's in so many things that we eat and drink. (Disgusting!) Their writing is pretty hilarious -- if not over-the-top. And I love the recipe for potato-pumpkin curry. (Holy yum!)


Brian, also an avid reader, has jumped into the new book genre. (You can't tell we're excited, can you?) His current read is "She's Having a Baby -- and I'm Having a Breakdown: What Every Man Needs to Know -- and Do -- When the Woman He Loves Is Pregnant" by James Douglas Barron. He certainly isn't having a breakdown, but he is enjoying having his own "Daddy book" to read. And I sure won't complain. Several weeks ago, Brian brought home a gorgeous crimson and gold mum plant for me and explained that his "Daddy book" suggested one should buy flowers for your expecting wife. Yep. I've been a fan of this book ever since!

In the past week, Brian & I have expanded our baby education by taking the "Off to a Good Start" early pregnancy class at Wesley BirthCare Center. It was a good experience that gave us more to talk about, think about and anticipate.

Any other pregnancy or parenting books I should check out?

Silly pups

Here are a couple of videos I shot last Saturday of pups playing in the leaves:

Mmm ... potato pancakes

Brian loves to cook and has been especially proficient in the kitchen in the past three months while I've been lethargic with first-trimester fatigue.

This weekend has been no exception. For dinner Friday, he cooked slow-cooker brisket and mashed potatoes. For breakfast today, he added two beaten eggs, bread crumbs and chopped green onion to the leftover mashed potatoes to make potato pancakes. Yum! We topped them with butter, sour cream, salt & pepper.

We adapted the recipe from one of our favorite cookbooks, "Pancakes A to Z" by Marie Simmons.

Hot!

Brian was experimenting with our camera and snapped this self-portrait. Yowza!

Thank you!

Brian & I would like to thank our friends & family who have offered support, prayers and kind words since we announced our big pregnancy news last weekend. What an exciting journey to share with everyone.

Brian's dad snapped the photo above Sunday at Granite City after we met up with family and close friends for a celebratory brunch. Many from the group also joined us at Aldersgate earlier in the day, where we announced our news to our congregation during the Joys & Concern portion of the service. The flower bouquet we're holding was on the altar to mark our special day and signify our gratitude for our new little blessing. Brian ordered the flowers and requested lilies -- the official flower for May.

It's been a relief and a joy to have our news out in the open after keeping it to ourselves -- and entrusting a close circle of friends & family -- since we found out about seven weeks before.

This weekend I wrap up my 13th week and begin my 14th. Just when my energy was returning, I've been hit with a cold. I'm hoping it's a quick 24-hour head cold, which Brian seemed to have yesterday. Please keep us all in your prayers!