Ribs for her pleasure

My 30th birthday was a really wonderful day. It was extended into a wonderful weekend of friends and beach adventures. I have to give Bryn a major "shout-out" for making it such a great time. (Love that man, I do.)

Flowers and cards! Roses (left) from the hubby and
another bouquet (right) from my niece and nephew (c/o my sister.)

Birthday dinner was a massive success.  Here are some highlights:

Delicious ribs. Rubbed. Refrigerated overnight. Slow-cooked in the oven all day. A bit of sauce and a quick broil. Highway to the flavour zone. Unbelievable. Fall-off-the-bone. Melt-in-your-mouth.

A bit more meat porn:

Delicious potato salad. I learned the importance of seasoning the water (with sugar, salt, and vinegar) prior to cooking. Started the potatoes in cold water. Immediately seasoned after cooking with vinegar and the recipe-prescribed ingredients. Brilliant. Potatoes were firm and delicious.

Tangy coleslaw:

And slow-cooked baked beans
(something I've always wanted to make from scratch!):

CAN YOU SMELL THE 1/2 POUND OF BACON? So delicious.

It was such a wonderful feast!

The night was capped off with a cake brought by two of our dinner guests.

The birthday weekend continued with a trip to Ft. Lauderdale to celebrate a dear friend's 30th birthday. (We are secret twin birthday sisters.) We went to a wine bar and then had an enjoyable dinner out with a whole whack of people at an Italian restaurant. The meal ended with a surprise presentation of a delicious cake. MORE CAKE!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SECRET BIRTHDAY TWIN!!! Love that girl.

---

Sunday we headed out to visit Key Biscayne.

It's a destination we've wanted to check-out since moving here.

We drove over and out to the end of the key. We stopped and checked out the recreation area and beaches down at the south end of the key. It was really beautiful! The beaches are rustic and populated mostly by families.

 It had a totally different vibe than South Beach! Crossing the causeway to get on the Key is $1.50 and access to the park is $8.00. From there, parking is free and up very close to the beach (unlike at South Beach). We found a little restaurant where we got some fresh squeezed orange juice (DELICIOUS) and a cafe con leche for Bryn. It was a wonderful end to a very memorable weekend.

---

A few other updates:

I made these Parmesan Quinoa Cakes for dinner one night this week and they were a super-big hit. Delicious, low-calorie, and fun to make:

Served them on a bed of greens and topped them with a bit of the recommended whipped feta and some marinara sauce. Yum yum yum.

We went for a maternity ward tour today at the Holtz Children's Hospital. It was crazy to see where we're going to have the baby--it made everything feel so much more real! Following the tour, I went for a check-up with the OB. All's well! She confirmed no gestation diabetes and we heard the baby's heartbeat. We also booked all upcoming appointments up until I hit 40 weeks! How crazy.

We are gearing up for our epic road trip to Canada.
We leave Sunday. Updates to come!
First stops: Savannah, GA and Charleston, SC. (GET READY, LEAH!)

The death of my youth, or, Happy 30th Birthday to me.

Today is my 30th birthday.

(deep breath)

I have been "celebrating" all week with various acts of youthful rebellion, intended to give me some kind of closure on what has been the wildest and most rewarding decade of my life. Today it all ends. Today, I pause and reflect. No more fence hopping or bulk-bin diving. Today, I am officially an adult.

This past decade was the most amazing chapter in my life so far. So many friends made, lessons learned, and experiences had. I earned three degrees in my twenties. I fell in love. I got engaged and married. I moved between Canada and the US several times. I gained and lost an enormous amount of weight. I learned so many things about health and happiness and hardwork. I experienced tremendous gains and unforgettable losses. I grew and changed in ways I could have never expected. I got pregnant.

Everyone I know who has passed this milestone before me tells me that the thirties are way better than the twenties. I'm going to end my melodramatic musings here and move forward, confident that my twenties have prepared me to handle almost anything.

A few musings:

• You know you're thirty when... your favourite birthday presents are a label-maker and a night-guard (I grind my teeth at night.) 
• I am excited to have folks over for dinner tonight to celebrate. Bryn and I are in the midst of preparing an epic southern rib feast for eight guests. A full report will follow.
• A little over a week remains before Bryn and I head out on our three-week road trip (a.k.a. "The Last Pre-Baby Hurrah")
  
  

---

And now, I give you a photo respective of my twenties.

Age 20. Ended my second year of undergrad, entered my third. Tons of friends and partying. I worked in residence life that year and lived in Med/Syd.

Celebrating after the completion of my deferred second-year vocal jury.

Age 21. Shortly after turning 21, I started dating Bryn. He completed his master's degree that year; I completed my bachelor's. We made plans to leave London together only a few weeks into our relationship...
and I guess we all know how that turned out.

In the beginning...

Age 22. Mere days after turning 22, I graduated from UWO and received an amazing gift (a car!) from my generous and loving parents. Bryn and I moved to Tallahassee to attend FSU and got engaged in December of that year. We returned to London for New Year's to celebrate our engagement with dear friends.

Out for a New Year's even dinner.

Age 23. I finished my education master's at FSU and we got married! Bryn continued work on his PhD and we really started feeling more at home in Tallahassee. 

What a gorgeous group of people.

Age 24. Bryn and I went on our amazing European honeymoon, adopted Vern, and continued at FSU. Bryn was still working on his PhD while I was stumbling around a bit to discover what I wanted to do with myself. I spent a year in a Master's of Arts in Music program taking random courses in music psychology and sociology. (Our first niece, Zoe, was also born this year)

Prague, Czech Republic

Age 25. We got another pug and continued our adventures in Tallahassee. I changed programs after discovering this crazy thing called "ethnomusicology."
(I think that's how you spell it...)

Two pugs are better than one; welcome Prudie!

Age 26. I started work on my master's thesis and began feeling like I might actually "have what it takes" to make a career of this academia business. A highlight of that year was traveling to NYC to do thesis research at the NY Public Library and to interview Maury Yeston. Bryn was back in London for the first half of that year while I remained in Tallahassee.

Maury and me in NYC.

Age 27. I finished my ethno master's and moved back to London to begin a PhD (and to rejoin Bryn, who'd moved back 4 months prior.) I started working for the London Fringe and CAFF. This was the year that changed our lives forever... Bryn and I both started to take our weight loss and fitness seriously. This was the year I started "seriously" blogging.
(Our first nephew, Henry, was born this year.)

Lovers. Thanks to Bryn's Mum for this picture.

Age 28. PhD continued. Bryn moved to Ithaca to teach and we did the long-distance thing. Lots of driving. Took my first picture this year in a bikini, after losing a whack of weight. Bryn started looking pretty hot, too. Our car unexpectedly died this year (RIP Carl) and that brought with it some unique challenges.

Alligator Point summer retreat.

Age 29: Bryn took job at UM; moved to Miami. Continued work on PhD from afar. ABD status achieved. Kept up our fitness goals. Got knocked up. (Our second niece, Luisa, was born this year. Grandma Bracken and Uncle Art both died this year.)

I was four weeks pregnant for this run. Baby's first quarter marathon!

Isn't it amazing the difference that one year can make,
let alone an entire decade?

---

One last thing: this is random, but it made me laugh.
I think they've got it completely backwards...

Who wouldn't love Compressed Flapwort Bracken Hughes?
Compie-flap for short? No?

Garden treats and good eats

Our summer garden is thriving in the humidity and rain:

Good day, sunflowers.

Zucchini, watermelon, cucumbers, potatoes, peppers, and tomatoes.

Peas.

The garden has been a wonderful project to get me outdoors and
active in my increasingly-compromised state.

---

We've eaten some delicious things in the past few weeks. I've increased my calorie-intake just slightly in the past week in response to my body's demand (hello, third trimester!). Things are still feeling good and I'm happy to report Bryn and I have both stuck to our eating plan. I'm hopeful I can stay in control for the rest of the pregnancy.

My favourite thing to eat right now:

Sarver-inspired gluten-free veggie enchiladas,
topped with fresh tomatoes, spinach, and sour cream.

And another new favourite (check out the recipe):

Gluten-free CHOCOLATE BROWNIES

These are the most amazing dessert I've ever made. Gluten-free, fairly good on calories (if you keep your portions under control), and UNBELIEVABLY DELICIOUS.

Topped with a little coconut milk ice cream and some raspberries.

I've really been missing cake and cookies that taste like cake and cookies (GLUTEN). This brownie hit the spot. I didn't have one of the night I made them. I waited to give the delicacy a proper celebration as my breakfast dessert the next morning.

One disappointment to share (recipe):

Super Power Chia Bread

 Maybe I screwed something up. Maybe I didn't cook it long enough?
Maybe it's just gross.

I think it was the oregano that put it over the top for me--I forgot how much I don't like oregano. The consistency was gross. I tried to eat it and had to spit it up. Blah. Probably won't make that one again. (And by probably, I mean definitely.)

---

A glimpse of me, in all of my rotund glory, at 28 weeks:

Isn't that a snazzy shirt? My darling sister gifted it to me for my upcoming birthday.
She insisted I open my presents early; I was happy to oblige.

Three days until 30... deep breaths...

Bs and Ds

I haven't written much lately about maternity achievement-karate belts. I've had two revelations in the last few weeks that have made my second trimester and entry into the third trimester a lot easier. I feel as though I've transitioned from having a baby growing inside of me to actually being pregnant. My role as a sacred temple of life has become a part of who I am. As the days move forward, I feel more and more at peace with the responsibility and extreme joy of child-incubation.

Pregnancy Purple Belt: Bs and Ds

Silly me, I used to think that every pregnant belly was the same. I thought that every woman would have a perfectly round belly that would protrude evenly and symmetrically from the midsection. The more reading I've done and the more women I've talked to has only taught me how wrong I was. Just like every woman is different, every pregnant belly is different. (For a laugh, check out these photos.)

Bs and Ds. These are letter used in online pregnancy-speak to describe bellies. Women who have relatively flat stomachs prior to pregnancy will most likely develop D bellies. Plus-size women or those of us with a bit more girth have B bellies. Think about it. Tilt your head to the right and look at the letters. Get it?

I thought I would have a beautiful D. Instead, I have developed a lumpy B whose upper hump is now bigger than its downstairs neighbor. I apologize if this is graphic, but it's the truth. And coming to terms with my "love berm" has been a MAJOR breakthrough in being at peace with my changing body. At first I was really upset because I lacked a "pretty belly." Now I am excited to see how my belly/bellies will continue to change as the fetus grows. Lately, I've felt started feeling the baby kick much higher (under my lungs) which makes me think things are going to even out in the very near future.

Pregnancy Red Belt: Embrace Comfort

When one's body changes on what seems like a daily basis, it can be difficult to establish a reliable approach to clothing oneself. It has taken me some time to find the most comfortable way to cover myself and still feel attractive. One piece of advice that was given to me by a dear friend was to always make yourself feel as beautiful as possible, even when if you feel bloated or lumpy. Do your hair. Put on jewelry. Paint your toenails. I've heeded this advice so far and it has paid off. I try to make myself feel beautiful every day, no matter what. Finding a way to be comfortable in my ever-expanding has only made it easier to celebrate my body, my vessel of love.

Major breakthrough: maternity underwear. I'll let you Google that. I've fully embraced the GIANT granny-panty-like undergarments that cover my belly in its entirety. Apart from being hilariously comfortable, they also help smooth out the lumpy B situation described above and make maternity clothing look good.

I also have to give a major shout-out to yoga pants. The same friend who encouraged me to maintain a satisfying outer appearance also recommended that, prior to getting pregnant/while trying to get pregnant, I look at clothing purchases through the "could I hear wear this as a pregnant lady?" lens. Great advice. Yoga pants are amazing for this because you can roll the tops of them up and down, and place them on or below an ever-changing belly. Brilliant. And you can wear them when you are unpregnant again or while transitioning (de-pregnantizing.) I've been most impressed with my Asics running pants, which have a yoga-pant-inspired top. They'll do me for exercising throughout the rest of my pregnancy and on the flipside.

---

A quick update...

I don't know why I was so worried about gestational diabetes. My only risk factor was that I'm over the age of 25. I passed the glucose challenge test with flying colo(u)rs.

UM Health's system is really awesome. You can sign-in to an online health chart and view all of your test results. You get an e-mail each time a new test result is logged. THE FUTURE IS NOW.

Entering the Third Trimester

Yesterday I hit 27 weeks. This marks the end of the second trimester and the beginning of the third.

YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS...

13 weeks, give-or-take a few, and the world is going to get a lot COOLER.

I met with my OB this past Thursday. I gained no weight (hurrah) over the last four weeks, which in pregnancy-terms at this point is kinda like losing a pound or two. When you average thing with my mega-weight gain the month before, this puts me right back on track.

The appointment started with me taking the glucose challenge test, to test for gestational diabetes. You drink this disgusting McDonalds-orange-drink-like liquid and then sit for an hour before having your blood drawn. It was awful. Here's my play-by-play from FB:

The only good thing that came from the test was a feeling like I was suddenly a part of a really cool club of Moms, all of whom had endured it at one point or another. The doctor told me that they'd call on Friday if the test was positive and I had gestational diabetes or had to the test again. (The next step is a three-hour version of it.) So far, no phone call.

I had big plans to confront the OB during this appointment and talk about our last meeting. She was so flustered because they were running behind at the clinic that I decided there might be a better time later on. I'll be seeing her a lot more frequently in the next few months, so I am confident I will have another chance in the very near future.

At this appointment we went over the redone anatomical ultrasound (which happened at the end of April). I was pleased to hear that everything was 100% normal; they were able to get pictures of everything that was listed as "limited" the first time around. She was a bit shocked at my lack of weight gain and asked if everything was okay--she even went so far as to ask if I could afford food, or if something was wrong. In the moment, I laughed. Of course I can afford food, lady. I can afford so much food that I gained nine pounds last month, remember? I realize now that this is an actual concern with some low-income mothers.

This week, Bryn and I set-up the crib and established "the baby nook" in the corner of our master bedroom. We've opted not to give the baby it's own room to start out, mainly because we really like the way our house is set-up and don't want to give up our guest bedroom.

Handyman extraordinaire!

The crib is pug-inspected, pug-approved.

SHIT JUST GOT REAL. Hello, baby nook!

We got the crib from IKEA and put it together ourselves. We picked one that was very reasonably priced and received good reviews from Consumer Reports. It was surprisingly easy to put together and seems very sturdy. (The adorable pug pictures on the wall came from this wonderful lady on Etsy.)

Garden Update and a mid-May visit

Our garden's fall planting has come and gone with the exception of a few happy pepper and tomato plants. Last week I decided to begin the process of reworking our garden in anticipation of  planting a small summer garden and to be ready for the fall (when I anticipate not having as much time to garden!) Our plots here in South Miami mark Bryn and my first attempt at gardening. Needless to say, we learned a lot! First lesson learned was that we needed more soil depth for above-ground gardening to really work. We also needed a better barrier between the ground and garden in order to prevent nasty weeds and grass from choking the plants and making for a nasty mess.

It took a couple of days simply to weed out the existing beds. Once that was done, we traveled to Home Depot to get some shovels and other material for the next phase. Bryn and I removed all the dirt from the existing bed, made a new bed with a liner, and put all the dirt back in. We've condensed our two beds into one tall bed and stacked the stone liners double-high. We had a dear friend come over to help with some of the heavy lifting since I am mostly useless in that department. After this first stage of work, here's the backyard:

New double-high garden bed next to empty garden bed.

A few plants from the old garden and a few newly acquired ones waiting to be planted.

I did a bit of phoning around and found a local nursery that would deliver the soil we needed to top off the new bed for a reasonable price. Once that delivery was made, we replanted the surviving and newly acquired plants, and planted some seeds (watermelon, zucchini, and cucumber). Bryn also planted the empty bed with sunflower seeds just to see what would happen. Here they are, fully planted:

We've been getting a ton of rain and sun, so I'm excited to see what will start popping up in the next few weeks!

In other news, we had a wonderful visit from our dear friends Sarah and Greg. Some highlights of the visit:

A trip to Vizcaya Gardens (which is apparently featured in the Iron Man 3 movie!)

Enjoying the view at Vizcaya.

A beautiful trip to South Beach! We rented chairs and umbrellas... and felt like movie stars.

Ahhh... the South Beach "bakery." I've never seen so many buns in all my life.

SERIOUSLY. How do these girls' bums defy gravity like they do? I must have stared at them for a good 30 minutes or so, pondering an answer to this question and the meaning of life.

Wonderful Sunday at the Marlins Ball Park.

Marlins won!

Dinner at The Mandolin

Cheers to great friends!

It was a great visit. The Sunday of their visit (when we went to the ball game and out for a delicious Greek dinner) was Bryn and my 6th wedding anniversary! It was wonderful to celebrate the day with friends. It's actually turning in to a bit of a tradition! Last year for our anniversary, we were in Ann Arbor, MI at a theory conference!

---

I just passed 26 weeks pregnant and have been feeling really good lately! I haven't been sleeping as much as I'd like to, but other than that have nothing to complain about. The belly is getting bigger and bigger every day. I am headed to the OB on Thursday for my gestational diabetes screening test and a monthly check-up. I've been tracking my weight, eating well, and am hopeful the doctor will have good things to say. I am planning to talk to her about our last appointment and the impact of her insensitive words. We'll see what happens...

I must also give a HUGE shout-out of congratulations to my dear friends who welcomed their beautiful baby in to the world on May 19th. Meet Noah Anthony Dupont:

AHHHHHHHHHHH so amazingly excited for the new mommy and daddy! Isn't he precious?