1 cm, 50%, and -3
Most likely no baby this weekend, boo. Next appointment is Wednesday.
Friday, December 20, 2024
1 day ago
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
What I'm Most Afraid Of...
People ask me all the time if I'm scared about having a baby. No way. I'm 100% excited. However, there is one thing that gives me a little anxiety. Actually, a lot of anxiety. I can do puke, blood, broken bones, etc. The one thing that I can't do: poop. Just thinking about it makes my stomach turn. I start sweating and I'm pretty sure that I've gotten hives before. Maybe not the hives part. Anyway, here's a video courtesy my favorite tv show AFV that describes how I'm feeling...
Soundtrack for Birth: Part 1
The way I see it is that there are 3 main parts to our birthing plan.
1. The trip to the hospital
2. The labor at the hospital
3. The actual delivery of the baby
Each part needs a song to go with it. I was going to do a video and just play the song. Instead, I'll post the YouTube video with the song on it. I'll give a few options and see what you think.
Today I'll post my top options for the trip to the hospital. I'm going for good music over accurate lyrics, but if the lyrics somehow apply then alrighty. The funnier the better.
#1 - "Never Going Back To Ok" by The Afters
#2 - "Justice" by Genesis (song from the Cadillac commercial)
#3 - "Yakety Sax" by Boots Randolph
#4 - "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor
Shana's Update: Clay
Here is an article that was posted online in our hometown newspapers website. Not sure if it made it into the real newspaper, but either way it is an awesome testimoney to the Lord. Atlanta is a huge city so who knows how many people got to read this. Clay is a really close friend of Josh's. He was in our wedding, we traveled together to Puerto Rico, and he has stayed numerous times in our guest bedroom during all his travels. He really is a great testimoney to the God we serve. Take a minute to read it and be encouraged.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Shana's Update: Date night & Tomatoes
I had a really good weekend. Josh and I had a real date night on Friday night. He didn't have to work all day Friday, so he had a refreshing day of leisure. When I got home from work (officially working half days now) we rested so my swelling could calm down a bit. Then we went to see the new Harry Potter movie. I was really excited for this movie to come out, but right now I am still scratching my head as to what I thought about it.
Definitely was a little disappointment with the ending, in the book the castle battle scene is way bigger. I think I might listen to the last book again on my IPOD to know what is missing again. I know when I saw the last movie I was scratching my head to with some of the pieces they left out. I guess the one thing this movie series has going for it is that they release the films so far apart that people forget what is missing, or it might just be my dumb brain. I will say this though. People are still taking their little kids to see these Harry Potter movies and I think they are nutz. This one and the last one are a lot darker and every time we have seen really small children in the theaters. This time there was a little boy behind us actually ducking down behind our seats and crawling into his mother's lap because he was scared. Crazy!
After our movie we did some window shopping and went to Target to get a few things that we needed still in getting ready for Baby Stringer. We purchased a Cargo bag to go on top of our CRV so that we can haul more stuff on road trips since folding down seats won't be an option anymore. We are pretty excited to try this out. We also purchased a trash can (i know exciting) and a funky hat that was a couple bucks for fun for Josh. I think he looks super cute in it. This picture is a bit dark, but you can see he is wearing it on our date night Friday.
After all that we went to dinner at Mimi's Cafe. We reflected about how in the old days (I know we have only been married 5 years) we used to do things like this all the time. It was a nice evening reflecting on where we had been in life and how God had grown us together and as individuals. Mimi's cafe was alright, I have said this before, I just don't enjoy eating out as well anymore because my husband is an awesome, creative home-chef. It was a relatively cheap meal out, 35 w/tip. But for $35 I was thinking man I could have had filet mignon cooked to perfection at home for this price. No worries folks I still cook, but Josh just knows how to cook meat really good. That is probably the most expensive thing we buy for special occasions.
Sunday I did my first attempt at canning. Judy walked me through it all on the phone, thanks again. But here is my final product.
I am super proud that it actually worked. It took a ton of tomatoes though to fill this 1 quart jar, 14 tomatoes. That is a lot of stinking tomatoes, but our earth box is mass producing so maybe I will get another one out of it. These tomatoes taste so good too. They are heirlooms. We'll use this jar probably in the winter sometime to make chili or something like that. We use lots of tomato things in our cooking, now we just have organic home grown tomatoes.
Well, that is all for today. Talk to ya'll later
Definitely was a little disappointment with the ending, in the book the castle battle scene is way bigger. I think I might listen to the last book again on my IPOD to know what is missing again. I know when I saw the last movie I was scratching my head to with some of the pieces they left out. I guess the one thing this movie series has going for it is that they release the films so far apart that people forget what is missing, or it might just be my dumb brain. I will say this though. People are still taking their little kids to see these Harry Potter movies and I think they are nutz. This one and the last one are a lot darker and every time we have seen really small children in the theaters. This time there was a little boy behind us actually ducking down behind our seats and crawling into his mother's lap because he was scared. Crazy!
After our movie we did some window shopping and went to Target to get a few things that we needed still in getting ready for Baby Stringer. We purchased a Cargo bag to go on top of our CRV so that we can haul more stuff on road trips since folding down seats won't be an option anymore. We are pretty excited to try this out. We also purchased a trash can (i know exciting) and a funky hat that was a couple bucks for fun for Josh. I think he looks super cute in it. This picture is a bit dark, but you can see he is wearing it on our date night Friday.
After all that we went to dinner at Mimi's Cafe. We reflected about how in the old days (I know we have only been married 5 years) we used to do things like this all the time. It was a nice evening reflecting on where we had been in life and how God had grown us together and as individuals. Mimi's cafe was alright, I have said this before, I just don't enjoy eating out as well anymore because my husband is an awesome, creative home-chef. It was a relatively cheap meal out, 35 w/tip. But for $35 I was thinking man I could have had filet mignon cooked to perfection at home for this price. No worries folks I still cook, but Josh just knows how to cook meat really good. That is probably the most expensive thing we buy for special occasions.
Sunday I did my first attempt at canning. Judy walked me through it all on the phone, thanks again. But here is my final product.
I am super proud that it actually worked. It took a ton of tomatoes though to fill this 1 quart jar, 14 tomatoes. That is a lot of stinking tomatoes, but our earth box is mass producing so maybe I will get another one out of it. These tomatoes taste so good too. They are heirlooms. We'll use this jar probably in the winter sometime to make chili or something like that. We use lots of tomato things in our cooking, now we just have organic home grown tomatoes.
Well, that is all for today. Talk to ya'll later
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Pictures from my phone
This is of the kind of turkey bacon we get at work. Its really good. The reason I took the picture is because of Matt and Natalie.
This picture is an Obama kids book about him next to the Adventure picture kids Bible. Nice.
Last. This is a blurry picture of Dr. Mohler bobble head dolls at the Lifeway bookstore on campus. You can't tell it from the picture but he's holding a stack of books which is really funny because he's such a book nerd.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Tim Tebow is for Real
I am usually the last one to put people, especially athletes on pedestals. I'm jaded after so many people say that they are Christians and then they do something horrible and simply chalk it up to a "mistake" - like killing dogs is a mistake. Anyway, yesterday on the way home from work I heard an interview with Tim Tebow on the Dan Patrick radio show. If you've got a few minutes you should take the time to listen to someone worth being your kid's role model...even if he does play for Florida. Link Here. He gives a great and clear witness for the gospel. Especially at the end.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Shana's Update: Doctor's Visit Today
Went to the doctor today and found out that I gained 8 POUNDS IN FLUIDS THIS WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The only thing I can say is HOLY CRAP!!!! I definitely can feel it though. Josh and I did a video that will probably debut on the site any day now, and you'll get a good look at where probably 4 of those fluid pounds went to (MY FACE)! Needless to say I am cutting down my work weeks now. I am officially only working half days, which is really nice. I have to monitor my weight through the weekend and if I gain like 5 more pounds then I will have to go to the doctor early next week, if I can hold off the swelling and fluids then I can go to my regular appointment next Thursday. No worries though, no protein in my urine and my blood pressure was just slightly off. Stay Tuned...
Shana's Update: My Testimoney Part 1
I have been thinking about posting my testimony for a while now. So, here it goes. I will try and keep it as short as possible, but if you have any questions feel free to post them or email me.
I grew up in Sarasota, Florida. Those of you who might think this is the south/bible belt, WAY WRONG! I was raised in a very non-religious/non-christian environment, no church on Sundays really, etc. If anything dominated my culture for faith, it was the Catholic church. So, I grew up with an occasional attendance to an AWANA or a Sunday service. Nothing really stuck, besides the free candy/donuts and the fact that I had this nudge (wink-cough=holy spirit) that there was a God and some purpose to this life on earth, but not sure what. Crazy as it might sound, but I pondered this question from a young age. I can remember having nightmares as young as 11, wondering what happened when I died. In middle school all my friends were going through confirmation and communion. This raised more questions for me because I was obviously not in this loop. When I reached high school I asked my dad to take me to church - naturally we went to the Catholic church. That lasted a few months, but I didn't seem to find what I was looking for there.
I seemed to always have this question in my head, what is the purpose to this life. I remember statements my mom would make growing up like "you work, pay bills, and then you die." Things like that stayed with me because that just didn't make sense in my small brain. Life had to be more than that. So I pursued what the world put in front of me for purpose. This meant for middle school and high school that the purpose must be to be popular. That is what the world seemed to be telling me anyways, so that is what I pursued. It seemed like that is what all my other friends were pursuing as well, honest or not.
My mom enrolled me in cheerleading in the 6th grade which soon became my idol until I graduated high school, but like I said this gave me purpose and I was good at it. It also seemed to help my end-goal of popularity.
My senior year in high school something happened to my mom, she started going to church all the time, which was really odd in my family. Odd fact here = it was the church across the street from our house, South Biscayne Baptist Church. She kept that up consistently that year. Well, I graduated from high school and moved away from home to go to college. Like every other teenager, I wanted to move away from home to party. Sin wouldn't be so appealing if it weren't so much fun, right? I had fun for a semester, but Christmas was fast approaching. My mom had placed herself in the "Christmas Pageant" at the church she had been attending. When I came home for Christmas she invited the family to come see her in it. Naturally families support each other so we all went to see her. My plans were to go to the pageant see my mom, check, and then go get hammered with my old high school pals.
That night was the very first time I heard the gospel. It was definitely a creative story along with the traditional Christmas story weaved in and out. Pastor John Cross came out on the platform and explained the purpose of the Jesus dying on the cross. This might sound crazy to some, but that always confused me. I had no clue growing up what the deal was with Jesus dying on the cross. So, here I sat 19 years old getting it for the very first time.
For me I did the traditional baptist thing. December 18, 1999 - I signed a card, checked that I had received Christ that night. I know some theologians might disagree with this model, but for me it was real and God saved me that night. He seriously made me a new creature in that very moment. I remember opening my eyes from that prayer and thinking my life is going to be different now. Needless to say I didn't make it to that party that night.
A little more back story, I knew my mom was praying because of subtle things she would say. I was pretty sure that night that she scanned through all the decision cards with her new friends to see if I had made a decision because the next morning she asked me if I wanted to run errands with her and we just so happened to end up at the Christian bookstore (wink-wink). She asked me if I wanted a bible, I was like yeah I do. I remember getting my first bible and leaving the next day going back to college with it in my bag. It was as if my mom and I had a silent conversation about what had taken place. As I look back, we never did define it. Just all of a sudden things were different. So, if you know my family at all, that is just how things work.
To be Continued........
I grew up in Sarasota, Florida. Those of you who might think this is the south/bible belt, WAY WRONG! I was raised in a very non-religious/non-christian environment, no church on Sundays really, etc. If anything dominated my culture for faith, it was the Catholic church. So, I grew up with an occasional attendance to an AWANA or a Sunday service. Nothing really stuck, besides the free candy/donuts and the fact that I had this nudge (wink-cough=holy spirit) that there was a God and some purpose to this life on earth, but not sure what. Crazy as it might sound, but I pondered this question from a young age. I can remember having nightmares as young as 11, wondering what happened when I died. In middle school all my friends were going through confirmation and communion. This raised more questions for me because I was obviously not in this loop. When I reached high school I asked my dad to take me to church - naturally we went to the Catholic church. That lasted a few months, but I didn't seem to find what I was looking for there.
I seemed to always have this question in my head, what is the purpose to this life. I remember statements my mom would make growing up like "you work, pay bills, and then you die." Things like that stayed with me because that just didn't make sense in my small brain. Life had to be more than that. So I pursued what the world put in front of me for purpose. This meant for middle school and high school that the purpose must be to be popular. That is what the world seemed to be telling me anyways, so that is what I pursued. It seemed like that is what all my other friends were pursuing as well, honest or not.
My mom enrolled me in cheerleading in the 6th grade which soon became my idol until I graduated high school, but like I said this gave me purpose and I was good at it. It also seemed to help my end-goal of popularity.
My senior year in high school something happened to my mom, she started going to church all the time, which was really odd in my family. Odd fact here = it was the church across the street from our house, South Biscayne Baptist Church. She kept that up consistently that year. Well, I graduated from high school and moved away from home to go to college. Like every other teenager, I wanted to move away from home to party. Sin wouldn't be so appealing if it weren't so much fun, right? I had fun for a semester, but Christmas was fast approaching. My mom had placed herself in the "Christmas Pageant" at the church she had been attending. When I came home for Christmas she invited the family to come see her in it. Naturally families support each other so we all went to see her. My plans were to go to the pageant see my mom, check, and then go get hammered with my old high school pals.
That night was the very first time I heard the gospel. It was definitely a creative story along with the traditional Christmas story weaved in and out. Pastor John Cross came out on the platform and explained the purpose of the Jesus dying on the cross. This might sound crazy to some, but that always confused me. I had no clue growing up what the deal was with Jesus dying on the cross. So, here I sat 19 years old getting it for the very first time.
For me I did the traditional baptist thing. December 18, 1999 - I signed a card, checked that I had received Christ that night. I know some theologians might disagree with this model, but for me it was real and God saved me that night. He seriously made me a new creature in that very moment. I remember opening my eyes from that prayer and thinking my life is going to be different now. Needless to say I didn't make it to that party that night.
A little more back story, I knew my mom was praying because of subtle things she would say. I was pretty sure that night that she scanned through all the decision cards with her new friends to see if I had made a decision because the next morning she asked me if I wanted to run errands with her and we just so happened to end up at the Christian bookstore (wink-wink). She asked me if I wanted a bible, I was like yeah I do. I remember getting my first bible and leaving the next day going back to college with it in my bag. It was as if my mom and I had a silent conversation about what had taken place. As I look back, we never did define it. Just all of a sudden things were different. So, if you know my family at all, that is just how things work.
To be Continued........
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Shana's Update: Bradley Class
So it is a little bitter sweet that our Bradley class is over. We had our last class last night. It was a bit more of a social fest then lesson packed, but we have been meeting for 12 weeks. We got a ton of information. Josh has been super glad that we took this class. All the information alone if priceless. Obviously these are pictures of all the girls and then a couple shot with our teacher. She is the one with the baby. Bethany was a really great teacher. She definitely loves what she does and it is reflected in her classes. If anybody is interested in taking a class to get them ready for child labor I highly recommend her Bradley class, and so does Josh. Even if you don't care about natural childbirth. There is so much information about all the different options and procedures. You can find her in Louisville Kentucky's Birth care network. Her name is Bethany Collins.
18 days to go!! I am starting to swell this week to the point it is really uncomfortable. Not a fan of this. Not to mention feel huge and really tired. Pelvis hurts too, I definitely can feel some shifting going on. Need to schedule Chiropractor appointment today.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Shana's Update: #1 Pregnancy frustration
Ok right now my #1 pregnancy frustration is that I can't lift my legs up. This might sound really crazy to some. I don't even know if this is normal so please if you have been pregnant and experienced this please reassure me of my sanity. I can't lift my legs up because my stomach is so big and so low. I try to prop my feet up so that I don't get crazy veins and swollen feet, well now that is getting impossible. Trying to put any clothes on my lower extremities is almost impossible. I feel like I need my mommy again to pull up my training pants. Getting in and out of the car requires lifting my legs as well which I almost have to get a swinging start now. Not to mention sitting I need to spread my legs so that my belly can hang between them. That is something a man does. I feel ridiculous. I have said it many time, but I am done - stick a fork in me.
Now I don't say this complaining about the gift of life God has given us this far. I know someone having trouble having kids might read this and say they would give anything not to be able to lift their legs, but in this pregnancy process it feels like God prepares you emotionally to be ready to get it out at whatever cost (which is told to be painful). Does that make sense?
Now I don't say this complaining about the gift of life God has given us this far. I know someone having trouble having kids might read this and say they would give anything not to be able to lift their legs, but in this pregnancy process it feels like God prepares you emotionally to be ready to get it out at whatever cost (which is told to be painful). Does that make sense?
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Prime Time Dinner
Last week the meat department at the Fresh Market where I work was 3rd in the company for ribeye sales. I did a cutting demonstration last Saturday and cut 359 lbs. of meat in 4 hours on the floor - special cuts right in front of the customers. I got a nice gift card from the company. Also, because we did such a good job we became the test market for the new Prime Grade Ribeyes that we'll carry next month. We got one case of ribeyes in today and sold out in 5 hours. I managed to get one:
The thing about prime meat is the marbling. Its not the big chunky kind of marble but its the small strands of fat equally distributed in the meat...as you can see in the picture. Usually prime beef only goes to restaurants. Because of the economy, restaurants aren't buying as much beef so more is available for stores like ours to buy. So I got a prime ribeye for dinner. We've carried prime filet mignon in the past few months for holidays, but ribeye is my steak of choice (with some grilled zucchini from our garden).
The thing about prime meat is the marbling. Its not the big chunky kind of marble but its the small strands of fat equally distributed in the meat...as you can see in the picture. Usually prime beef only goes to restaurants. Because of the economy, restaurants aren't buying as much beef so more is available for stores like ours to buy. So I got a prime ribeye for dinner. We've carried prime filet mignon in the past few months for holidays, but ribeye is my steak of choice (with some grilled zucchini from our garden).
Shana's Update: Preparing for Hospital
Josh and I have been taking a very long birthing course called the Bradley Method. In our lessons there is a list of all the things we might need to bring to the hospital. Well, the past two days Josh has been off from work and he has been compiling lists on his big white board of what we need to take to the hospital. It is so darn adorable. I have a bag in my closet half packed, ready for last minute things to throw in it. Josh has his bag pretty much packed and ready to go. We have our snack cooler pretty ready. The baby's bag is packed. It is getting really crazy actually thinking about loading the car for the hospital. OO we also have a basin and towels for the car packed. Josh said when I got up in the middle of the night last night to go to the bathroom I touched his foot and he thought I had said it was time to go to the hospital, but he was still sleeping/dreaming. He said his dreams were all crazy hospital dreams from then on out. I thought that was kind of funny.
How many bags is normal to take to the hospital? Does anybody know of anything that I might want with me that I wouldn't know to bring?
Friday, July 17, 2009
Shana's Update: 23 days to go!!
I know it is blurry, but I never think to take pictures when I actually have a camera. So, the camera phone takes most of these. Solution might be smaller camera or better camera phone, hmm?
Shout out to Maggie and Sarah. Maggie gave me this skirt. One of my favorites. Word on the street is her mom (Vena) made it into a maternity skirt too. Sarah gave me the shirt. Have I mention how blessed I was with all the maternity clothes given to me. One more way that God has provided, He is forever faithful :)!
Shana's Update: God's in Control!
Part of the preparation for welcoming our son into this world has been a spiritual journey. Now I have always held onto the sovereignty of God, well ever since Senior Seminar when I was forced to read "Chosen by God" - that is an entire other story for another blog post. As Josh and I fill our brains with everything we can get our hands on pertaining to child birth and the first months of babydom, we are still forced to our knees in that God is in control. I was reminded of that again this week. Many of you who know me well know how details and organization are all me, and how I like to be prepared for anything that comes my way in life.
I had my Group B Strep test again at the doctors office. Wasn't a huge deal, but if not treated while in labor can be severe for our son. This causes us to change our ideas of laboring at home as long as possible before we go to the hospital. So, like I said this puts us on our knees surrendering that God is in control and even if things don't seem to want to go according to our plan we need to be willing to surrender to it. I keep saying we, really it is I who needs to be in an attitude of surrender.
My midwife, Jesse, is awesome and I am super excited to give birth with her. Josh and I both have been super pleased with all the care and information she has been willing to provide for us in this process. We have no doubts that if something were to come up outside of our plan/control that she'll do her best to inform us of all the options and considerations. With that said, please Lord keep me in an attitude of surrender to a birth plan that falls outside of the one in my medical chart :) This is my prayer for the next few week, feel free to join me in it. I need all the help I can get. My #1 sin = CONTROL, yikes. Forgive me Lord and help me to grow through this.
P.S. I started to have some spontaneous contractions yesterday. :)
I had my Group B Strep test again at the doctors office. Wasn't a huge deal, but if not treated while in labor can be severe for our son. This causes us to change our ideas of laboring at home as long as possible before we go to the hospital. So, like I said this puts us on our knees surrendering that God is in control and even if things don't seem to want to go according to our plan we need to be willing to surrender to it. I keep saying we, really it is I who needs to be in an attitude of surrender.
My midwife, Jesse, is awesome and I am super excited to give birth with her. Josh and I both have been super pleased with all the care and information she has been willing to provide for us in this process. We have no doubts that if something were to come up outside of our plan/control that she'll do her best to inform us of all the options and considerations. With that said, please Lord keep me in an attitude of surrender to a birth plan that falls outside of the one in my medical chart :) This is my prayer for the next few week, feel free to join me in it. I need all the help I can get. My #1 sin = CONTROL, yikes. Forgive me Lord and help me to grow through this.
P.S. I started to have some spontaneous contractions yesterday. :)
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Shana's Update: Birthday dinner
Well, my poll on how much my birthday dinner was a total flop. It was 30.00, for the 3 of you who voted. If we would have went out for dinner to get that caliber of meal we would have paid twice as much. Not to mention, making it at home was way healthier for us.
Monday, July 13, 2009
DC*B Rockumentary 4: Twitter Will Kill You
This is absolutely hilarious. Especially the end...remember the video about the kid on the way home from the dentist?
Shana's Update: Birthday update & Weekend.
My birthday dinner/day was on Friday. It was a really good day. Josh made me a really awesome dinner, as you can see. I know most people go out for such occasions, but I am going to throw this out there how much do you think that meal cost that Josh made. Now if you need a refresher read his post to see all that we had for my birthday dinner. I will post later how much that dinner cost and elaborate on our food choices.
My present this year was a combination present from my Stringer Family (Josh, Dean/Judy, and Andy/Caitlin). They got me a gift certificate for a day at the spa. I am super excited about it. It is at my favorite place here in Louisville too, Z-Salon. I am going to save it for after the baby comes and go veg for a day. Totally looking forward to that.
So I had a really good weekend. I worked at the Sunglass Hut on Saturday (people are still buying crazy expensive sunglasses like mad in this economy). I am not kidding, I sell a lot of expensive sunglasses.
Sunday was the best Sunday in a while. Josh was home all day (he has had to work Sunday since the winter semester ended). After church we headed to the grocery store to pick up some last minute things we needed for the week, not to mention a newspaper because my new home delivery service obviously wasn't working (emailed about that this morning). Well, on the way to the Kroger we passed the Pizza Hut, I have been craving the Pizza Hut buffet. The only problem is I am not hungry enough to feel good about going to get my money worth ever. Well, Sunday after church I was really hungry, blood sugar dropping like crazy. So, I said lets go to Pizza Hut for lunch. Well after attempting 2 different Pizza Huts that didn't have buffets, I found out that the ones that do have buffets don't do them on the weekend. I was totally bummed at this point, and hungry beyond crazy. So, we ended up at KFC. It was good still. I ate a ton of cole slaw, it was really good. After we ate lunch we went home and I took a power nap while Josh vegged a bit. Then Josh wanted to work on our to-do list before baby came. I was all for it. So, he cleaned all the mold/mildew out of the windows and doors and most of the bathrooms. I cleaned the kitchen and all the floors, as well as helped a little in the bathrooms. It was a really productive day. We had some nice together time and we also went outside for a while and played with the pups. It was a really great family day of rest. OO not to mention the awesome dinner we made together to top it all off. We had a really good time using all the produce from our stairway garden. It really was awesome, and not to mention super good for you. I was Josh's sous chef for this meal mainly, but I think we were a good team. Josh is the expert with executing the flavor combination, but I was there to execute the prep. We had a lot of fun.
P.S. I think we might try and find a Pizza Hut buffet this week somewhere, can't wait. I hope I am hungry.
My present this year was a combination present from my Stringer Family (Josh, Dean/Judy, and Andy/Caitlin). They got me a gift certificate for a day at the spa. I am super excited about it. It is at my favorite place here in Louisville too, Z-Salon. I am going to save it for after the baby comes and go veg for a day. Totally looking forward to that.
So I had a really good weekend. I worked at the Sunglass Hut on Saturday (people are still buying crazy expensive sunglasses like mad in this economy). I am not kidding, I sell a lot of expensive sunglasses.
Sunday was the best Sunday in a while. Josh was home all day (he has had to work Sunday since the winter semester ended). After church we headed to the grocery store to pick up some last minute things we needed for the week, not to mention a newspaper because my new home delivery service obviously wasn't working (emailed about that this morning). Well, on the way to the Kroger we passed the Pizza Hut, I have been craving the Pizza Hut buffet. The only problem is I am not hungry enough to feel good about going to get my money worth ever. Well, Sunday after church I was really hungry, blood sugar dropping like crazy. So, I said lets go to Pizza Hut for lunch. Well after attempting 2 different Pizza Huts that didn't have buffets, I found out that the ones that do have buffets don't do them on the weekend. I was totally bummed at this point, and hungry beyond crazy. So, we ended up at KFC. It was good still. I ate a ton of cole slaw, it was really good. After we ate lunch we went home and I took a power nap while Josh vegged a bit. Then Josh wanted to work on our to-do list before baby came. I was all for it. So, he cleaned all the mold/mildew out of the windows and doors and most of the bathrooms. I cleaned the kitchen and all the floors, as well as helped a little in the bathrooms. It was a really productive day. We had some nice together time and we also went outside for a while and played with the pups. It was a really great family day of rest. OO not to mention the awesome dinner we made together to top it all off. We had a really good time using all the produce from our stairway garden. It really was awesome, and not to mention super good for you. I was Josh's sous chef for this meal mainly, but I think we were a good team. Josh is the expert with executing the flavor combination, but I was there to execute the prep. We had a lot of fun.
P.S. I think we might try and find a Pizza Hut buffet this week somewhere, can't wait. I hope I am hungry.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
From the Garden to the Plate
Here's the bounty from the garden. There's lots more coming, but this is the first of it. Cherry Tomatoes, Heirloom Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Serrano Peppers, Jalapenos, Banana Peppers (the red curled one is a very ripe banana pepper.
Here's our original creation...(not sure what to call this kind of pizza)
Stem and quarter the tomatoes. Put on a baking sheet along with the peppers. Drizzle with olive oil and salt. But under the broiler until the tomatoes and peppers are charred. You can do this on the grill if you use charcoal (its better that way but I don't have charcoal right now). When you pull out the tomatoes the skin pulls right off with some tongs. Put the peppers in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. This will create steam in the bowl and allow you to be able to peel the skin of the peppers off easily. After about 10 minutes uncover the peppers. Run each pepper under cold tap water and pull off the skin. You should also be able to pull off the stem and cap to open up the pepper. Run your finger in the pepper to get the seeds out. If you like some heat, leave in the membrane. If you like less heat, pull it out. Its very easy after they've been roasted and steamed. Now you have roasted tomatoes and peppers. finely chop them up and put them in a bowl. Add 1 small can of kernel corn (drained). Skin, seed, and dice a cucumber. Add one cup of diced pineapple. Add 1/2 cup of chopped cilantro. Add 1/2 medium sweet onion diced. Add one tablespoon of minced garlic. Add one tablespoon of red wine vinegar and the juice of one lime. Let it sit for about 30 minutes in the fridge.
Here's the finished product. All this cost us was one pizza crust, a 25 cent can of tomato paste, and a 50 cent can of corn. We used leftover onion, pineapple, and chicken. Everything else came from the garden.
Shana's Birthday Dinner
Filet Mignon topped with 4 Pepper Goat Cheese
Sweet Potato Steak Fries on the grill
Grilled Corn on the Cob with Smoked Paprika Butter
(I should have chosen a different color plate for the picture)
Dessert:
Grilled Comice Pears
Grilled Pound Cake
Vanilla Ice Cream
Friday, July 10, 2009
Shana's Update: Happy Birthday to me!
Yesterday was my birthday. It was a pretty normal day. Josh had to work, which we really have no control over, so tonight we are celebrating. He is making me a special dinner and I think I will get a present too, I will keep you posted.
All in all it was a good day. Work was long, but that is normal. I came home and took the dogs for a good walk (starting early on the labor inducing). While walking the pups I ran into Ben and Cynthia. Ben and Cynthia were walking their dog too. They have been on vacation so we walked our pups together and caught up a little. That was good times. Then I went home and stared into the refrigerator because I was not hungry but knew I needed to eat something. I am transitioning into the mood where I am in no mood to cook anything anymore, too tired. I am not hungry enough to want to make anything either. I feel like I am never hungry. Kind of weird, guess my stomach is being squished to the side. I decided on an egg sandwich. Figured it was good protein and fats. I did a little housework, mostly laundry, and put the infant head rest into the car seat. So, my birthday evening was just a little bit of this and that.
I was glad when Josh came home. He was really sweet, he brought me home some flowers. Said he didn't want my actual birthday to pass without anything special. That was sweet. He is really good at picking out flowers too. They were a bunch of multicolored roses. I will have to post a picture of those later. I got a couple cards in the mail from family, and a card from my girlfriends from back home (atl). It was really sweet of them to think of me and send me a present. I was totally surprised. Work gave me some money and my boss gave me a gift certificate to the subway, that was fun too. I got lots of phone calls today as well. Seems like every time I got off the phone I had 2 or 3 missed calls and voice mails. I managed to call everybody back at least and leave voice mails I think. I really felt loved even though it was a lot like a normal day. Thanks for all the phone calls it really made my day feel special amongst all the mundane. Then when Josh and I went to bed, he was gracious not to put the TV on ESPN and I got lots of rubbing on my legs. It felt good. So I fell fast asleep, which is pretty normal for me anyways.
Well, that was my great birthday yesterday. Now I am 29. I am really feeling like an adult now. This year is my 10 year high school reunion. I wish I could go, but o well baby and school are more important right now. Next year I turn the 30, wonder what that will be like. This year was a really good year. I feel like the Lord has been really gracious to me in showing me his love and that I am his child in abundant ways. He continues to mold me into the image of his son day in and day out. Who could ask for more. Well, I will enjoy my last year in my twenties and look forward to what God will do in my life next year.
P.S. Does anybody know the rule as to when I have to cut my long hair off? I figured I would keep it long as long as I could because I figured I would be out of date soon with long hair. I know it isn't cool to be old with long hair, so when is that exactly?
All in all it was a good day. Work was long, but that is normal. I came home and took the dogs for a good walk (starting early on the labor inducing). While walking the pups I ran into Ben and Cynthia. Ben and Cynthia were walking their dog too. They have been on vacation so we walked our pups together and caught up a little. That was good times. Then I went home and stared into the refrigerator because I was not hungry but knew I needed to eat something. I am transitioning into the mood where I am in no mood to cook anything anymore, too tired. I am not hungry enough to want to make anything either. I feel like I am never hungry. Kind of weird, guess my stomach is being squished to the side. I decided on an egg sandwich. Figured it was good protein and fats. I did a little housework, mostly laundry, and put the infant head rest into the car seat. So, my birthday evening was just a little bit of this and that.
I was glad when Josh came home. He was really sweet, he brought me home some flowers. Said he didn't want my actual birthday to pass without anything special. That was sweet. He is really good at picking out flowers too. They were a bunch of multicolored roses. I will have to post a picture of those later. I got a couple cards in the mail from family, and a card from my girlfriends from back home (atl). It was really sweet of them to think of me and send me a present. I was totally surprised. Work gave me some money and my boss gave me a gift certificate to the subway, that was fun too. I got lots of phone calls today as well. Seems like every time I got off the phone I had 2 or 3 missed calls and voice mails. I managed to call everybody back at least and leave voice mails I think. I really felt loved even though it was a lot like a normal day. Thanks for all the phone calls it really made my day feel special amongst all the mundane. Then when Josh and I went to bed, he was gracious not to put the TV on ESPN and I got lots of rubbing on my legs. It felt good. So I fell fast asleep, which is pretty normal for me anyways.
Well, that was my great birthday yesterday. Now I am 29. I am really feeling like an adult now. This year is my 10 year high school reunion. I wish I could go, but o well baby and school are more important right now. Next year I turn the 30, wonder what that will be like. This year was a really good year. I feel like the Lord has been really gracious to me in showing me his love and that I am his child in abundant ways. He continues to mold me into the image of his son day in and day out. Who could ask for more. Well, I will enjoy my last year in my twenties and look forward to what God will do in my life next year.
P.S. Does anybody know the rule as to when I have to cut my long hair off? I figured I would keep it long as long as I could because I figured I would be out of date soon with long hair. I know it isn't cool to be old with long hair, so when is that exactly?
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Shana's Update: Wise-tales
Went to the midwife/doctor again today. She gave us the official news that her last day at this practice would be August 19th. Not to worried since we are due the 9th. I am pretty sure she'll be around for our baby; most likely with one foot out the door, but she'll be here. Although that makes me sad if we were to have baby number 2 here.
As you can tell probably with my previous postings we are ready for baby Stringer to be here already. So, I am hoping this will be a fun post. Does anybody know any wise-tales or things you can do at home to get your body rolling into labor? Don't be afraid, please let us know. I think we are going to give them all a whirl. I was walking pretty hard this week and felt a few contractions while doing so, Jesse (my midwife) assured me that would be real helpful to get the ball going. So, going to really try and get a good hard walk in everyday till the baby comes then.
So, calling all wise-tales. Please post things you have heard or read. If you are afraid to attach your name to it no worries do it anonymously, either way we still get the information going. We'll let you know if they work.
As you can tell probably with my previous postings we are ready for baby Stringer to be here already. So, I am hoping this will be a fun post. Does anybody know any wise-tales or things you can do at home to get your body rolling into labor? Don't be afraid, please let us know. I think we are going to give them all a whirl. I was walking pretty hard this week and felt a few contractions while doing so, Jesse (my midwife) assured me that would be real helpful to get the ball going. So, going to really try and get a good hard walk in everyday till the baby comes then.
So, calling all wise-tales. Please post things you have heard or read. If you are afraid to attach your name to it no worries do it anonymously, either way we still get the information going. We'll let you know if they work.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Shana's Update: 36 weeks
So here I am in all my glory. Not to bad if I don't say so myself. :) I will say though I am still ready for this baby baking to be done. I was sharing the other day with a friend that this is kind of bitter-sweet. I don't want to be in a hurry because these are the last days to be just Josh and Shana, but I am so done being pregnant! I am soo uncomfortable these days. I am seeing the doctor/midwife every week now and it feels like they don't ever come soon enough. I am also soo tired these days. I feel like after I get up and get ready for work I need a short nap again. Josh is being a fantastic husband in taking care of me. He has one more paper to finish (tonight, woohoo!) for his summer classes and then we are seriously on break until Fall semester starts or baby gets here, which ever comes first. Josh is still voting for baby before school starts, we'll see. I wouldn't mind the baby coming early one bit either, but at the same time that bitter-sweet thing you know.
We only have a couple of classes left in our Bradley class, and we are still really enjoying it. We have met some really nice couples in there and hopefully we will have a reunion class when we have all had our babies to tell our delivery stories. That would be so much fun. We'll see. Weirdly I am at a loss for words today so I will leave this short. Maybe Josh will post something on this later. He was going to post the picture, but I got to it first. Sorry sweetie.
P.S. So sleepy!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Faking it...?
What if Michael Jackson is faking it? What if this is some ploy to kick off his comeback? He would just pop out of the casket and moonwalk across the stage at his memorial for which tickets were sold. Sounds like a concert doesn't it? I don't really think he is but what if?
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Nice View...
I'm just sitting here writing another paper for school...this time in the library and here's my view out the 2nd floor window where my desk is. Sunset off the clock tower. Nice.
Shana's Update: JULY HALLELUJAH-Food!!
Work has picked up a bunch, which I am so glad about. I was getting a little bored and really didn't like wasting all my time on the internet. You feel kind of groggy at the end of the day when your brain doesn't do anything, it is like the same feeling when you watch TV all day one day. It seriously rots your brain out. Does anybody else know what I am talking about?
July is here, HALLELUJAH!! Already feeling the relaxing effects of it. Josh and I have trimmed tons of fat in our schedules (well fat means stuff that isn't necessary, and more like just taking a break from necessary thing I guess). This good. This gives us good time to get ready for baby, physically and mentally. We watched a movie last night, Defiance. It was pretty good. We like real historic movies based on truth, has all the more impact. I am sure Josh will do his critic thing on it later. We also splurged, since it is a new month, and ate out. I know, we were excited to experience a local restaurant for a change. We ordered take out from the Frankfort Beer Depot. It is kind of like a bar, and not the best looking place to want to go eat, but we heard they had amazing food. I really only eat two things when it comes to bbq restaurants, pulled chicken and smoked turkey. Has anybody ever eaten at Sonny's? OK, I know that is poor mans bbq, but I LOVE THAT PLACE!! So, wish there was one here because that is where we would have went last night for way less money. Gosh I want some of that right now.
Here is my review on the Frankfort Beer Depot. It was pretty good food. Josh ordered a 1/2 rack of rib plate that came with 2 sides and texas toast. Well they forgot the texas toast. That made me mad obviously. Josh got 2 sides and since my belly is getting really big my stomach is getting smaller. I just ordered a pulled chicken bbq sandwich and had a few bites of his sides. They had really good onion rings, and good spicy green beans. Josh is a wiz when it comes to flavors and he could spout off what was in them, I have no clue. I just know they tasted good. He is way better at flavors then I am. They were really different then anything I had ever had before, really good. Josh loved them. I liked the bbq sauce too, but Josh said it was very vinegary. See I had no clue, I just knew it tasted good. So all in all it was pretty good. I was in the mood for some bbq when I got home from work and was in no mood to cook because the kitchen was still a mess from the night befores dinner. So I only had energy to either clean or cook.
So you might be wondering if I am not good with flavors does Josh do all the cooking in our house. Actually, no. I do most of the cooking. I think Josh is way better at flare when it comes to preparing meals. I am good with recipes and things I have done over and over again to perfect them. I know this is essential to cooking, but I don't really like tasting things in the cooking process until they are done. Don't know why, but just don't. Josh is great at sauces, gravies, spices, and stuff like that because he has a tongue for flavors. I guess you could say I don't. I can make a mean honey mustard and peanut sauce for chicken wraps, but see those are both recipes that I found. So, really they aren't mine. Most of the time when Josh cooks it is all stuff he thinks up in his head. Now, when you talk about throwing pasta and casseroles together, now I can do that. I can also cook pretty efficiently on a little budget; Josh is getting better at it. So, all-in-all Josh and I definitely even each other out in the kitchen when it comes to our strengths and weaknesses. I will say one thing, it has been awesome that he learned how to cut meat and what is a good cut of meat because he preps my meats almost all the time if I need it cut a certain way. He is the best at steaks too, pretty much prefer his steaks over any steakhouse I have ever been too. Which leads me to my birthday coming up. The past couple years he has made me really good steak for my birthday, and I think that is what I want again this year. Last year he made me filet mignon with goat cheese and a sweet glaze sauce, it was awesome. So, here is my request babe for dinner on my birthday. Something with a filet please :) The way he cooks we could never go to a restaurant and get that kind of food on our budget, so it is a treat when he cooks at home for way less then eating out prices. A lot of times we tag-team cook. He will cook the meat and I prepare everything else to go with the meal. Occasionally he'll wonder in the kitchen and taste things for me and give me a pointer or too if he thinks it needs something else, remember I don't like tasting things.
I had no clue this post would turn into a post all about food and cooking, crazy. If you aren't familiar with Josh's culinary skills, he has done vlogs on it. I think at the bottom of our blog is a link to his youtube page where he has videos he has made. They are entertaining.
July is here, HALLELUJAH!! Already feeling the relaxing effects of it. Josh and I have trimmed tons of fat in our schedules (well fat means stuff that isn't necessary, and more like just taking a break from necessary thing I guess). This good. This gives us good time to get ready for baby, physically and mentally. We watched a movie last night, Defiance. It was pretty good. We like real historic movies based on truth, has all the more impact. I am sure Josh will do his critic thing on it later. We also splurged, since it is a new month, and ate out. I know, we were excited to experience a local restaurant for a change. We ordered take out from the Frankfort Beer Depot. It is kind of like a bar, and not the best looking place to want to go eat, but we heard they had amazing food. I really only eat two things when it comes to bbq restaurants, pulled chicken and smoked turkey. Has anybody ever eaten at Sonny's? OK, I know that is poor mans bbq, but I LOVE THAT PLACE!! So, wish there was one here because that is where we would have went last night for way less money. Gosh I want some of that right now.
Here is my review on the Frankfort Beer Depot. It was pretty good food. Josh ordered a 1/2 rack of rib plate that came with 2 sides and texas toast. Well they forgot the texas toast. That made me mad obviously. Josh got 2 sides and since my belly is getting really big my stomach is getting smaller. I just ordered a pulled chicken bbq sandwich and had a few bites of his sides. They had really good onion rings, and good spicy green beans. Josh is a wiz when it comes to flavors and he could spout off what was in them, I have no clue. I just know they tasted good. He is way better at flavors then I am. They were really different then anything I had ever had before, really good. Josh loved them. I liked the bbq sauce too, but Josh said it was very vinegary. See I had no clue, I just knew it tasted good. So all in all it was pretty good. I was in the mood for some bbq when I got home from work and was in no mood to cook because the kitchen was still a mess from the night befores dinner. So I only had energy to either clean or cook.
So you might be wondering if I am not good with flavors does Josh do all the cooking in our house. Actually, no. I do most of the cooking. I think Josh is way better at flare when it comes to preparing meals. I am good with recipes and things I have done over and over again to perfect them. I know this is essential to cooking, but I don't really like tasting things in the cooking process until they are done. Don't know why, but just don't. Josh is great at sauces, gravies, spices, and stuff like that because he has a tongue for flavors. I guess you could say I don't. I can make a mean honey mustard and peanut sauce for chicken wraps, but see those are both recipes that I found. So, really they aren't mine. Most of the time when Josh cooks it is all stuff he thinks up in his head. Now, when you talk about throwing pasta and casseroles together, now I can do that. I can also cook pretty efficiently on a little budget; Josh is getting better at it. So, all-in-all Josh and I definitely even each other out in the kitchen when it comes to our strengths and weaknesses. I will say one thing, it has been awesome that he learned how to cut meat and what is a good cut of meat because he preps my meats almost all the time if I need it cut a certain way. He is the best at steaks too, pretty much prefer his steaks over any steakhouse I have ever been too. Which leads me to my birthday coming up. The past couple years he has made me really good steak for my birthday, and I think that is what I want again this year. Last year he made me filet mignon with goat cheese and a sweet glaze sauce, it was awesome. So, here is my request babe for dinner on my birthday. Something with a filet please :) The way he cooks we could never go to a restaurant and get that kind of food on our budget, so it is a treat when he cooks at home for way less then eating out prices. A lot of times we tag-team cook. He will cook the meat and I prepare everything else to go with the meal. Occasionally he'll wonder in the kitchen and taste things for me and give me a pointer or too if he thinks it needs something else, remember I don't like tasting things.
I had no clue this post would turn into a post all about food and cooking, crazy. If you aren't familiar with Josh's culinary skills, he has done vlogs on it. I think at the bottom of our blog is a link to his youtube page where he has videos he has made. They are entertaining.
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