Lopsided

Almost halfway through...I feel like I'm getting bigger everyday. This is what I get from procreating with a 6'2" man. Lately a few people have commented on looking forward to seeing a newborn with a full beard...haha. If he is anything like I was he'll be bald until 3(not much different than his dad either), and then grow in a thick, curly, unmanageable mane. Oh, ya...look at that, my stomach just got bigger while I was typing. Derek's going to have to start tying my shoes soon.

We don't have a scanner, so these are pictures of pictures. They are a bit grainy but it's the best I can do for now. Two of the photos are in 3-D which make Theo look like a thumb imprinted, putty-shaped aqua doll, but it was really cool to see him moving around in 3-D onscreen.

It's a boy! Theodore Martin Brost or Theo for short. We'll post pictures as soon as we can find a scanner. He looks to be healthy and active, sitting in a breach position kicking at my ribs for fun (just a flutter now but soon it will be a jolt). My due date was confirmed for August 23rd, the hottest part of the year, in what will likely be a record-breaking heat wave with my luck. I recently made Derek take apart his beloved movie room so I can begin to paint, lay wood floors, and move nursery furniture in. I could tell this sacrifice was affecting him. First he sighed and grumbled. Then he quickly decided to buy a LCD 1080p 47" flat screen and PS3 for the front room. I think this soothed his high tech gaming and viewing needs, as he has been playing Oblivion and Assassin's Creed for hours every evening. No more sighs except to admire the digitally remastered blu-ray version of Blade Runner on the new screen. So the balance has been restored....all I've got to say is get that gaming in now D, before the baby comes!

pushing up soil
winter's many hued demise
here the crocus lies

_______spring haiku by juliana_________

Derek was on a mission tonight- to pan sear our steaks the Alton Brown way. No, the pictures are not washed out. They accurately display the smoke of a newly seasoned iron skillet on unimaginably high heat, with tenderly rubbed steaks added. Derek eventually had to roll in our industrial strength air cleaner and turn all of the fans on maximum to clear the air. Yet the wisdom of that much venerated food guru led to very tender steaks. The searing brought the combination of sea salt and peppercorns to a sweet, aromatic crust that needed no steak sauce, only a few sauteed mushrooms. Meals as meaty as this used to be rare in our house, that is until I got pregnant. I still eat and crave a great amount of fresh fruits and veggies, but I cannot skimp on the meat anymore. I'd like to give a shout out to my home-skillets Jason and Heather for giving Derek his much-thumbed Alton Brown book for his birthday. I'm Just Here For The Food is a hit, and a smoke.

the beach

While I sit at the computer here in Indiana pondering the 20+ degree temperature drop (56 to freezing rain and snow tonight), I am reflecting on the fact that I could have stayed at the beach for another two weeks with Derek's parents! gaaa... We did have a relaxing vacation with Derek's parents, Gerry and Phyllis. I had a plethora of time to take long walks on the beach and read my new, old Asimov trilogy (The Empire Novels, which is a true prequel to The Foundation series- a great series that goes on and on with several prequel and sequels written post Foundation). The condo was right on the beach, so we enjoyed watching the seagulls and pelicans round up and consume their morning meal. The food in Gulf Shores was tasty, especially the brick oven pizza joint we stopped at. We went all the way to Florida (only 15 minutes) to try it, and the veggie pie was exceptional...almost as good as our homemade. Below are a few pictures of us, I especially love the one that Derek snapped while I was in a zombie-like, washed out, post walk swoon....