I have been wanting to make freezable meals for the family in preparation for my time confined in the hospital (if Eleanor ever decides to arrive) and today I started…that’s right…started. Talk about waiting until the last minute! I should have been doing this for the past month, but for some reason, the normal “must plan ahead” part of my brain wasn’t working. However, I always did perform well under pressure so I’m not too worried…yet
Ideally, I’d like to make a weeks worth of meals (that’s between 14-21 meals if I decide to make freezable breakfasts…the fam may just have to settle for cereal). Luckily, Michael is pretty handy in the kitchen…I was just hoping to help him out a little more.

Here’s what I made today:

1 dozen Black Raspberry Muffins (obviously I omitted the blueberries…but they are just as tasty!)

Kraft Parmesan Meatballs

Mandi’s Baked Ziti

Fudgy Fudge Pie was something extra I made today for all my hard work Boy is it good!!

One day down…um six to go? *** Wondering if I can complete this tomorrow…. ***

I’m less than two weeks to my due date and I-keep-losing-weight! Usually it’s the other way around, since baby has been gaining at least an ounce a day starting at week 36. But for me, I’ve been losing a pound a week since about week 35, even though Eleanor is still growing. Ideally, they wanted me to gain between 25-35 pounds, since my pre-pregnancy weight was at 133 pounds. But, the doctor says all is well since my fundal height measures 37.

Here’s the pregnancy weight gain standing:

1st  Place: Pregnancy #2 (Corinne) with a total weight gain of 22 pounds
2nd Place: Pregnancy #3 (Eleanor) with a total weight gain of 23 pounds (assuming I don’t become a whale-meat lunch-bucket overnight)
3rd Place: Pregnancy #1 (Lilli) with a total weight gain of 30 pounds.

According to this, I suppose you could say my “secret” is running around after kids to keep the weight off…because I’m not exactly, ahem, watching what I’m eating

Thursday night, tired, still pregnant but pretty much ready to go into labor at any moment (I’m already at 2cm as of Tuesday, not to mention other things going on), not wanting to cook, and just plain old not wanting to do anything…what do I do? Order Chinese take out. I love Chinese food, so I wasn’t disappointed, but as far as my fortune…

…boy were they WAY off!

It’s been a while since I did a WIP…but better late than never!

* Since my last WIP, I have completed Eleanor’s longies, as well as some shorties (will post pictures later…probably much later…maybe in a few days…lol). I even decided to make some blue shorties for Corinne. I really like the Tiny Birds pattern and will most likely stick with it for all my longies/shorties projects. So really, I’ve been quite productive in the past month with my knitting
* Thanks to Mrs. H, I tried out Super Cook, where you input the ingredients you have on hand and it will generate a list of recipes that you can make. I came across this recipe and thought I’d give it a try:

Candie’s Bakery-Style Crumb Coffee Cake

Ingredients
* 3 3/4 cups flour
* 1 3/4 cups sugar
* 1/4 lb butter (softened)
* 3 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 2 eggs
* 1/2-2/3 cup milk (I ended up using 2/3 but had to bake for 45 mins)

Topping
* 1/4 lb butter
* 1/4 cup brown sugar
* 2 teaspoons cinnamon
* 1 pinch salt
* confectioners’ sugar (for dusting)

Directions
1. Mix together in a large bowl flour, sugar, baking powder, salt; and set aside 2 cups of this mixture for the topping.
2. Add butter, eggs and milk and mix well.
3. Grease and flour a 13-inch rectangle baking pan.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
5. For Topping: Take the 2 cups of reserved flour mixture and add to the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt.
6. Mix together with your fingers until blended and lumps begin to form when you squeeze the mixture making small pea-sized crumbs.
7. Cover the entire cake with crumbly mixture.
8. Bake for 30 minutes. (Again, I used more milk, so I had to bake longer)
9. When cooled, dust with confectioner’s sugar.

I forgot to take a picture before sending this to work with Michael, but I’m sure I’ll be making it again since my “taste test piece” was scrumptious!

* Our garden seems to be doing well, especially three of our broccoli plants that are in a “Poppa Earthbox.” The others in the individual pots, well, aren’t doing so well. The tomatoes,of course, are growing like there’s no tomorrow. Hopefully we’ll begin to see some results! Honestly though, I’m not too worried about the garden this year…I have too many other things to think about…such as….

* Eleanor. I had my weekly appointment yesterday and everything seems to be right on track. My blood pressure was 119/79 (which didn’t mean a darn thing to me, until I saw this chart…way to go me!). I was surprised that I lost a pound since last week (which brings my total weight gain to 24lbs), but the doctor measured my tummy and said baby was measuring great. I have about four weeks to go, but part of me thinks I’ll deliver within three weeks. Thank goodness my bag is packed and already in the van!

Third time is NOT the charm for the Clarke Family. Don’t get me wrong, we’re SOOO excited about baby number three, but this pregnancy has been the most difficult by far! The soon to be newest addition to the family has surprised us and caused a few surprises! Here’s why:

* We thought Eleanor was going to be a boy (remember my nausea??)
* To date (week 27), I’ve gained 20 pounds - I gained a total of 30 with Lilli and 22 with Corinne! (However, my doctor told me today that I was slightly under my ideal weight when I first got pregnant, so she hopes to see me gain anywhere between 30-40 pounds by the end of the pregnancy)
* I have PUPPP - something I never even knew existed! It usually occurs in first time pregnancies and in women who are expecting a boy (seriously now, what are the odds it would happen to me…lol)
* My joints hurt - to the point where I wake up to turn over at night.
* My toes already look like little sausages at the end of the day.
* I’m having recurring nightmares each night (not just about one topic…FOUR!)

I’ve heard other women say I have it pretty easy, which I am so thankful for! I couldn’t imagine experiencing some of the hardships other pregnant women go through. God is and has been good…He doesn’t give us anything he knows we can’t handle (even though we may not want to handle it…lol).
“He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
~1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

 Here are Eleanor’s first baby pictures!  

This isn’t quite a “knitting” project…but another one of my projects that is a work in progress We found out today that Eleanor Louise Clarke is right on schedule and is expected to debut July 16th, 2008. Even though I was WAY off in my prediction that the baby was a boy, we’re so excited that God has blessed us with another healthy daughter

  I’m tired and don’t really want to blog…but I want to keep up with how far along Baby Clarke is…here is the latest:

* Vernix (a white cheese-like protective material) forms on baby’s skin with the lanugo (soft, lightly pigmented hair covering the body and limbs); both serving to protect your baby’s skin during the months in water.
* Your placenta continues to grow and nourish the baby. Don’t forget those prenatal vitamins!
* Tiny air sacs called alveoli begin to form in lungs. He’ll be putting these lungs to good use in just a few months!
* Her vocal chords are formed. She goes through the motions of crying but without air she doesn’t make a sound.
* Features of your baby’s heart, including ventricles and chambers, should be visible during an ultrasound.
* Your baby measures about 5.59 inches (14.2cm) this week and weighs about 6.7 ounces (190gm).

Pregnancy…a wonderful time to use that “I get to eat anything because I’m pregnant” excuse. We’ve all heard the pickles and ice cream craving, which completely grosses me out…to each their own, right? When I was pregnant with Lilli, all I wanted was Chinese food (the more deep fried, the better)…with Corinne I had a sweet tooth. So what’s the craving this time??? Oh how I wish it were cheesecake, ice cream , or ho-ho’s! But no - salads…salads are my craving this third time around. Our vegetable bin is always stocked with the standard salad ingredients such as: Romane lettuce, cherry tomatoes, carrots, etc. However, my salad cravings go a little further…including, but not limited to: cheese, peppers, kiwi, dried cranberries, hard boiled eggs, cashews, avocado, corn - all mixed with a Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing….YUM! This is one more reason I think Baby Clarke is a boy. It figures he’d want me to eat healthy so he’ll be strong and durable on the racetrack

It’s Monday…and since I haven’t blogged in a WHOLE WEEK I’ve decided to do a recap and skip Music Monday (however I did hear a Def Leppard song yesterday while over my neighbors’…reminded me of 1st grade, rockin’ out in the back of the bus - which, by the way, I could only ride in the back because my cool cousin was in 6th grade - while listening to my tapes on my walk-man…wow- 20 years ago?! Now that’s a flashback!).

Weekly Recap:
* My Dyson came in!!! How crazy is that?! I’m ecstatic about a vacuum cleaner. But really, with two kids, two dogs, & an “outdoorsy” hubby, our home tends to be a cheerio/furball/dirt magnet. This Dyson makes me want purposely spill things- just so I can use the vacuum! I know, I have issues
* I’ve put my knitted baby blanket project on hold for the past two weeks and was swayed by a certain 4 1/2 year old to knit her a Kitty Cuddly. Lilli has been pestering me for a while about this - in fact, ever since she lost the knitted bunny “Bow” a few months back. I think she finally realizes that if she loses something, she has to do without it…it may not always be so easily replaced. It took me 3 days, but “Kitten” was finally born… & Lilli keeps him safe on her bed Something I didn’t expect, though, jealousy from Corinne. She wanted a kitten too! So, a couple days later, “Mini-Kitty” was born and all was well in Corinne’s world.

* Organic Seeds! That’s right, planting season is right around the corner and I want to be prepared! Thanks to http://www.organicaseed.com , we’re right on track. Michael is looking forward to the cucumbers that will be pickled, I’m looking forward to the green beans, and Lilli is THRILLED about the strawberries! As the months pass, I will be sure to start blogging about this subject more often
* We had a visit from my dad! He stayed with us a night, while on a business trip in DC. Michael and I enjoyed his company and the girls had fun spending time with Opa. It was cute seeing Corinne hold his hand as they walked and Lilli making sure he sat next to her at dinner.

* I finished the book, Power of a Praying Wife. My good friend Vicki has asked me to start a small group with her (for which I am still humbled) that focuses on how to be true Christian wives…not as the world thinks wives should be, but how God has commanded wives to be. I’m really excited about this opportunity and am so thankful that God has surrounded me with such wise & godly Christian women. Vicki gave me two books last week: Power of a Praying Wife & Divine Romance. I should have DR read by the beginning of next week and prayerfully God will reveal which book He wants us to start with. I’m interested to see where He leads us
* Lilli is a reader! That’s right, my 4 1/2 year old can read! In fact, she puts letters together and makes up her own words! Her latest book is “Kit” from the Calvert School’s Early Phonics Storybooks. Here are a couple examples from the book: “Kit has a hat” & “Kit can sit.” She is so smart and I pray that her thirst for knowledge continues to grow.

* Lady had her check up and is looking good. She weighs 13 1/2lbs and is in great shape. Within the month, she will be getting spayed.

* Baby Clarke is growing! I’ve felt little flutters here and there and have noticed a more prominent bulge (thank goodness…I don’t like that beer-belly look…I’d rather prefer the I’m-hiding-a-small-melon look…lol”) Here’s the latest:
* By week 17, your baby weighs about 4.97 ounces (140gm) and is 5.12 inches (13cm) long.
* He or she has a much more normal “human” appearance now. She holds her head more erect and her body and limbs are longer in proportion to her head.
* Pads are forming on his tiny fingertips and toes. Soon those individual swirls and whorls will be apparent.
* Her eyes are looking forward now, but they are still firmly closed.
* Meconium (composed of products of cell loss, digestive secretion and swallowed amniotic fluid), is accumulating in the bowel. This black gooey substance will become your baby’s first poop!
* The umbilical cord is growing thicker and stronger and continues to rush blood and nutrients to your growing baby.
* Her skeleton is tranforming from cartilage to bone. The bones remain flexible to make the journey through the birth canal easier.
(info courtesy of www.pregnancy.org)

* The best thing about this week was by far my date night!! Michael and I have made it a point to have a date night at least once a month. As a parent, it is so easy to get caught up everything else: the kids, house, dogs, job, you name it and “forget” about your own needs. It’s also easy to “forget” to have a date night…something else (see list above…lol) always comes up. Michael is more than a dad, I am more than a mom…we are each other’s other halves with our own interests (no, Elmo is really not my favorite actor and no, I really don’t like playing with cardboard boxes and pretending it is my fort). So we’ve marked our monthly date night on the calendar…in permanent marker This past weekend we went to Red, Hot, & Blue and had a GREAT time! The food was awesome, as was our waitress Liz. But the best thing about our date was just being able to share a conversation, laugh, & be silly together for a couple of hours…just the two of us. I was woo-ed all over again

That’s it in a nutshell! Readers, I pray your week is richly blessed!

PS. I posted this blog in Linux…woo-hoo (sense the sarcasm, Michael )