Jambalaya

Just in case you wanted to see jambalaya in a 4 step process:

yum!!

Charleston Babymoon

 Hyde and I left for Charleston this morning for our "Babymoon".  Jane is spending the weekend with P and Totty. Philip called when we arrived in Charleston to tell us a funny story about Jane. Totty had picked her up from school and taken her to the Carby office. She had Woody with her and told P that she needed to change his diaper. Jane placed Woody on the floor and lifted his legs like she was going to change the imaginary diaper and said, "Holy Moly! That's poo poo! Where are the wipes?" HA!!! Think she's heard that before?! The only thing she missed was "ooo, that is stinky!"

   We had the best time in Charleston! We pretty much ate our way through the city! Good thing we walked all over the peninsula. Thursday we had a drink and appetizer at The Library Rooftop Bar and walked down to the Battery then back to our hotel on Meeting Street, The Mills House. Dinner was at Husk across the street. It had been voted best restaurant in Charleston and been written up in Garden & Gun magazine. It uses all southern, mostly local, ingredients. It was delicious! I had crispy pig ear lettuce wraps (couldn't believe I ordered that, but it was just like bacon and yummy) and then waygu steak for my entree and shared amazing brussel sprouts with sweet potatoes. We sat in the bar for a little while and Hyde enjoyed an Old Fashion while we soaked up the neat atmosphere. We were too full to order dessert.
 Crispy Pig Ear Lettuce Wraps

   Friday, we slept in! It was almost 10 before we woke! We walked up King Street and popped in some shops but made our way up to Basil for lunch. Hyde and I have eaten here before but love it so much we crave it all the time. We had the chicken and coconut soup first. I had the cashew and tofu dish and Hyde had the basil chicken. Amazing! When we walked in, I ran into an Mt. Pleasant roommate of mine, Gregg Swanson! It was so great to see her! We have vaguely kept up with each other on Facebook so we knew about marriage, kids, and her dog's championship jump in the dock dog's competition, which was written up in the City Paper. During our walk back, Hyde was able to explore a bike shop and find some new shoes. We hit up Earthling Day Spa for the afternoon since the rain was to move in. We each had a 1.5 hour massage! Ahh! Apparently, Hyde's masseuse could bend quarters with her fingers. For dinner we went to Fig, also voted Best Restaurant in Charleston in 2010. I ordered the Ricotta Gnocci and Border Springs Farm Lamb Bolognese for my appetizer and the lamb with cheese grits for my entree. We shared a side of Roasted Sunchokes with Pickled Garlic and it was a nice surprise. They are from sunflowers and have that artichoke heart feel but with the taste of a sunflower. They were delicious. It rained while we ate so we were able to take a rickshaw to The Belmont on upper King Street. Lisa Burnett and her friends Leah and Lewis from Brooklyn met us for a drink. Lisa and I went to high school together and Hyde met her at LSU. She just moved from NYC to Charleston 4 weeks ago. We walked back to Queen Street and Hyde had another beer at the bar at Husk. I'll admit I kept sneaking a few sips of his Mexican Wedding Cake Beer. It was so good and I am craving one now.

 Pork Confit

   We slept in again on Saturday then walked to Whisk, a new bakery, then took a carriage tour. We actually went past 23 King Street where Annie Kate and I lived. A things Hyde and I learned that we thought was especially interesting: 1. Charleston's ironwork is wrought iron and New Orleans' ironwork is cast iron. 2. Dark wooded crepe myrtles produce light colored flowers and light wooded trees produce the darker colored flowers. 3. The Market area did not sell slaves 4. Houses were not taxed on the amount of sidewalk it occupied. The porches are on the side of the house to not be directly in the sunlight and they call them porticos not porches.  The windows on the front and back of single row house (one room wide for the length of the house) could be opened for air circulation throughout the house.
   We cruised around East Bay Street and made our way to Broad street, walked in the Exchange Building then found The Blind Tiger for lunch.
 Fried Green Tomato BLT and Sweet Potato Waffle Fries
 Pot Roast Sandwich with Fried Okra (Version of a Rueben: Pot Roast, Tomatoes and Horseradish Sauce)
   You can only imagine we needed a short nap after that lunch so we missed the last ferry to Fort Sumpter. We shopped King Street again and even had a pistachio gelato waffle cone for a snack, I'll blame this one on the baby. Dinner was at 8:15 at Lucca.
The pasta is made fresh and the menu constantly changes. It is a tiny restaurant in an up and coming area, Elliotsborough. We were sent one block away to Enotecca, an even smaller wine bar that was in its first week of opening. Anna was a delight and told up all about the direction she would like to take the bar and where the different refurbished pieces/walls, etc came from. The wait was well worth it because dinner was amazing. I hate I couldn't partake in all the yummy soft cheeses or wine. To start, we had verdicchio braised summer mushrooms, braised artichokes, and golden beets with white balsamic, pickled garlic, tangerine, chili flakes and walnuts. I don't like beets and this was very good! I had Verrigni Spaghettoro, Grilled East Coast White Shrimp,Preserved Local Sun Gold Tomatoes, Calabrese Chilies (capers, olives and tomatoes with a lemon infused olive oil). It was amazing!!

 Grilled Painted Hills Beef Flat Iron Steak over Chard with Gorgonzola Mac and Cheese
   For dessert, we ordered the pear sherbet and a trio of chocolates: ganache', hazelnut gelato, and I don't know what it is called or exactly what it's called but it was awesome! It looked like ganache in a bar, but had a crispy crunch like a Kit Kat bar. Ahhh! Needless to say, after that yummy meal, we went straight home and slept-very well!

   Sunday morning, Hyde ran around the peninsula then we packed up to go. Lisa picked us up and drove us to Sullivan's Island for lunch at Poe's for burgers. I got the Tell Tale Heart with bacon and a fried egg.

   I was sad to leave Charleston, but couldn't wait to see little Jane and give her a big squeeze. Our flights went well and we were home by 7:30. 

Week 30 Report

I had a checkup yesterday. I was in and out quickly with everything checking out just fine. I've gained 35 pounds, which is what I think I gained with Jane by the end. Baby's heartbeat was 148 bpm and measuring a tad big. Guedon was able to feel that the head was down and the butt was below the bottom of my sternum. When I laid back, we could actually see where he/she was! It was so neat the see that there was a little baby in there! I was able to show Hyde too. That night, baby was going wild kicking and punching. In 2 weeks, March 8, I will meet with Kappi then will have an ultrasound in another 2 weeks (week 34).
.

Potty Success

Jane has been doing a fabulous job learning to use the potty. We have very few accidents these days, but still have some to work on. She only informs us that she needs to potty after she has already had an accident so we still need to work on being able to tell us beforehand. I still have to watch the clock and take her to try. And we have only one time gone #2 in the potty and it just happened to occur at one of those "lets just try to potty" times I asked and she said she didn't need to go (I should know by now her answer will be no).
That being said-maybe, just maybe, we are turning a corner. Yesterday, she woke up from her nap without my knowing and went into the bathroom, moved the stepping stool to the toilet, pulled her tights and pull-up off (we had gone to church and lunch and I was being cautious), and went #2! I walked in to her having moved the stool over to the sink and washing her hands! YEA!! I called mom, dad, and Hyde in to praise her. I am so impressed!! I hope this continues!

Jane in a Fedora

I feel like this picture says so much about Jane. How can you not just love this little girl!?!

This picture is from a very warm day in August 2011.

Making a Note

Lately, there have been some things (phrases or mispronounced words by Jane, funny things she does, things I just don't want to forget, etc) that I have been meaning to make a note of:
Koozie Scoop = Cozy Coupe
Meemer=Mermaid (still)

No Time

I store this article from Lauren Garrity's blog:

Belly Growth

Comparing the Belly: Wow!

Week 19: December 7. 2011

Week 29: February 12, 2012


Week 29 with Jane: Around June 21, 2009

Month 8! Week 29

I can't believe we have already started our 8th month! My "week"

starts on a Saturday. Baby will be here before we know it! I am have

the smallest amount of anxiety about not having done anything to

prepare for him or her to arrive!

Week 28 I took my Gestational Diabetes test and had a good checkup.

Jane came with me and was an angel. She was able to hear the baby's

heartbeat and thought it was really cool. She felt like the baby was

talking to her. We go back and forth on Jane's feelings on and

understanding of the new baby and becoming a Big Sister. She is just

starting to pull up my shirt and look at my belly, poke at my belly

button and talk to my belly, but I instigate it. She doesn't just come

to me asking about baby.

I am getting more out of breath easily, especially carrying Jane

around and feel so much bigger this time around than with Jane. I am

still teaching between 3 and 6 yoga classes each week and occasionally

going to a new toning class. I've decided that I think I prefer being

pregnant during the warm months. I feel like the warmer months are

easier on you mentally. During the winter, you have to deal with

seasonal depression, being covered up (versus in shorts and

sundresses) and having no color/tan. It is frightening to see the

color of my legs! I tend to always put on weight in the winter and

having the pregnant excuse to eat is no help. This all may sound

crazy, but it is my thought. Anyways...

Still due April 28 and looking forward to welcoming a new little girl

or boy to the Carby family! We are still working on names...

PhotoBooth

Fun with the photobooth on the computer. Hyde was at the office
preparing for his trial on Tuesday and we wanted to say hello.

Performing again

Jane noticed that when she climbed to the top of the slide, she was above everyone else and thought it was a nice stage for her to sing a few more songs for us. She added the Tangled love song this time too. This video is of Part of Your World from The Little Mermaid (and there is a little stage mom that comes out of me when she forgets the words, sorry!)

Amelia Presents

I just wanted to share the link of the website to my favorite little store in Oxford, Amelia Presents. It is located next to The Lyric and has the coolest and cutest selection! Erin Austen Abbott is the owner and is a delight to talk with. Every time I am in Oxford I like to see what she has and she is so sweet to always remember my name and ask about Jane. Her website is new although her store has been open for almost 3 years. Check her out!

http://ameliapresents.com/

Barn in Halls, TN

I was driving Jane towards the Mississippi River to try to get her to sleep and saw this cool old barn and had to take a quick pic. I had wished I had my nice camera but the iphone did a pretty good job .

Sent from my iPhone

Week 28

Yesterday started my 28th week with Baby Carby. 

Painting Valentines

Jane woke up ready to paint, so after breakfast she got started on some Valentines. 

(Notice the big girl undies)

She was very concentrated on her work. She never looked up for a picture.

Potty Report

Have no fear: no pictures.

I was definitely feeling frustrated and douting if we should have even started potty training, but then I went and talked with Ms. Armetric. She told me I couldn't ask Jane if she needed to potty that she would always tell me no, I needed to just take her-EVERY 30 MINUTES! Wow! And she needs to stay on the potty for at least 5 minutes. If she doesn't go in that time, I needed to take her back to the potty 10 minutes later! Reading her books while she sits was suggested. For nap time, Ms. Armetric sometimes puts diapers on Jane and said it would be okay to have a diaper at night. I now understand the potty training weekend concept and am glad that it is as warm as it is.
I came home from my meeting more inspired than when I left. After Jane's nap, I changed her back into her big girl undies. After 30 minutes I took her to the potty and created a stack of books in the corner. I sat on the floor and read book after book. After maybe 4 books, she tee-teed and I cheered! Note: don't cheer too soon or she won't finish. I look at her with big surprised eyes (and she does the same) then we cheer. She did great for the rest of the day! She did well for the rest of the week.
Friday we were in Jackson for Hyde's CLE. Mom drove down to shop with us and we met MIcajah, Grace, and Eleanor for lunch. Mom helped me pick 2 patterns and 3 neutral fabrics and trims for newborn day gowns. She wore pull-ups and still went to the potty during the day. We changed her back to a diaper for the drive to Halls, TN for Stella's Baptism. She did great in her big girl undies Saturday and would sometimes 1.5 hours between trips. Only one accident, but everyone has told me that going poo-poo in the potty takes longer to learn.
It is interesting and somewhat questionable if I should even be posting about going to the bathroom, but I guess it is that time in my life and the topic of our conversations these days. Sorry to those who may find this too much.
Today, I picked Jane up from school in the same outfit she wore to school! No accidents! When we got home, I had a feeling it was time to go so we read 3 books. She went tee-tee (1 sticker + 3 Skittles) AND poo-poo (2 stickers + 6 Skittles)!!!!! Wooohoooooo!!! Celebration!! On the chart, these new stickers finished a row to get ice cream. It was a big sugar afternoon to say the least.  I'm so proud of her! I hope this starts a new trend. We are still working on Jane prompting me to take her to the potty instead of my watching the clock. She has only told me she needs to go after she has gone. Still, I think her progress is great.
For those of you potty training too, I feel jane is more motivated by the Skittles than the stickers, but she also realizes the stickers mean ice cream. Think my daughter likes sweets??

Playschool Pouting

This week of dropping Jane off at school, she has started resisting as soon as I try to get her dressed. Since she started, she has somewhat resisted (cried when I dropped her off) but now it is stronger. She tells me that she doesn't want to go to school, she wants to go to the library and read and sing songs, she wants to go to the office...anywhere but school. I pass her over to Ms. Armetric crying and leave feeling very guilty and wanting to pull her out of school. I just don't know about pulling her out right before a new baby arrives. She does great for the rest of the day and has learned so much being there. Thanks to the Playschool and Ms. Armetric, she is potty training and doing great!

When I picked her up this afternoon, the Director Ms. Aretha told me she talked with Jane for me. It went Aretha: Now Jane, you can't be coming to school crying anymore. Mommy has to go to work when you come to school.
Jane: Mommy doesn't work. She teaches yoga some though.

 Ha! I just had to laugh. We see what Jane thinks of the situation. Maybe her talk will work. We will find out Monday...