i heart recipes

Most lovely days as I make dinner at 5:00 pm, I watch Ina Garten on the Barefoot Contessa. I love to write down her recipes in a little note book I keep in the kitchen. I'm always on the hunt for new recipes. I LOVE FOOD, I just can't help it!

So, I was glad to stumble on this little gem Honest Fare by Gabi [who I gather is Cole's sister from Pacing the Panic Room] I have not made any of her recipes yet, but the pictures alone get my mouth watering!

She has some great baby food recipes that I am eager to try...guess I have to have a baby first? I'm working on that.

Buon Appetite!

The Last of the Confessions Series

1. My midwife says, 'ok, could be tomorrow, or 3 more weeks!' Sweet Lord, Have Mercy.
Was that meant to be encouraging or torturous? Because it was lots of the latter. Realistic, YES. Hard to hear, YES.

2. I was brave, and went to church on Sunday. On the drive there I braced myself for the questions & comments: 'When are you DUE? You haven't POPPED YET!?!? Are you excited? You don't LOOK as miserable as you're probably feeling! You have totally dropped, it's going to be soon! Oh, you haven't dropped yet...It's going to be at LEAST three weeks.... ETC.
[for the record, I was asked nearly all those...and more]

3. As I type this, '18 Kids and Counting' is on tv. I should watch it more...it's pure birth control.

4. While I am hoping The Prince arrives soon, I really hope that I can get over this funky cold first! I sound a little drag queen-ish, I'm stuffed up, and I cough all night. Wahhh.

5. My pelivs bones feel like they are going to shatter....that's a sign he's coming soon, Right?

6. This Sunday, the 31st, is the offical due date. And, there is a full moon. I've heard that more babies are born around the full moon.....Fingers Crossed!

7. His nursery is done. It makes me happy. I'll post pictures...

8. Baby and I are both healthy.

9. Can this belly get any bigger?

10. D-day. Come soon. I want to meet you offspring!!!

[insert the Jeopardy Theme song here]

Oh the waiting.
I read this a few days ago and was so deeply encouraged.

Romans 8, the Message Translation

24.That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don't see what is enlarging us. 25 But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy. 26 Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. 27 He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. 28 That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

a new family member

We have a new family member!

He's sweet, adorable, soft, and...orange?

Ardi the Ardvark is here!! I can't believe how excited I am over my kids stuffed animals.

oh, what? was that cruel? ;)

living in a dream world

It's 2:26 am.

I can't sleep.

It's not that I ain't tired.

I just can't stop thinking about him.

When i'm awake I dream of him.

I feel like I'm cliff hanging.

It's the midnight hour.

He WILL be here soon.

I don't want to sleep, my heart is too full of excitement, and anticipation.

I feel like i will burst.



I had some tea, toast, a juicy pear, and some search time for cloth diapers.

At 2:26 am, I am exhausted and thrilled for these next few days/weeks of waiting.



I'm living in a dream world.

36 weeks

It's great to have talented friends.
My {lovely, creative, super} friend Claire took some belly shots for me.
Baby and I have really grown a lot recently, but {cross my fingers} only 3 weeks to go.

let's do this! (and I'm scared out of my mind)

my friend asked me 'So, how are you feeling? Are you sad, anxious, nervous, excited, avoiding people cuz you can't bear to hear anyone else say "Still hanging in there?" Not going to church? I get it!'



That couldn't describe my feelings more! Wednesday I was a shining, smiling, giddy ball of joy and energy- so ready to meet him. The crib had arrived, the birth pool arrived (hooray!) I took some belly pictures with a friend, and even got my hair cut and colored. I WAS PUMPED. 'Ok baby, you can come now!' I said. Thursday? Thursday I cried into the simmering pot of rice and beans. I thought 'I am going to be so needed by another human being...but I still need to be taken care of. I still need my mom. The idea of that is so overwhelming'
But Wow, my SON! My first born son. I can't wait to meet this little life and grow to know who he is! What an honor.

I get the question 'Are You Excited?!' daily. Answering yes is the understatement of the year.
I am. I sooo am. Ready and scared shitless. But that's normal. Right? right. riiight?

Baby ticker says 19 days, but I'm feeling some deep movement, pelvis pressure, and contractions, so we'll see. Maybe sooner? (yippeee!)

xo, Y

Best of 2009

My Favorite Moments of 2009:

Buying our first house!

Moving in. Hah.

Meeting baby Naomi & becoming Auntie Yaya

Celebrating my Mom & Mom-in-law at my house on Mother's Day. Little did I know, we concieved that day. So technically I was a mom too, and didn't even know it!

The shocking second pink line.

[this would also fall under the category of most scary moment of 2009]



One year Mawwied! Weekend trip to DC







Secretly filming his parents as we reveal our big surprise











My 25th birthday bash. Pregs. So much fun!

A visit from my best friend Kate. I'm rocking my 20 week bump, and she was rocking her new Rock, from freshly proposed fee-yawn-cay, Mr. Petrick.

Going to see my friends Mute Math in concert.

My Baby Shower. The gifts were great, the female chatter was roaring, and the food was bangin'. My mom rocks.

Our trip to San Francisco!

Our 'Last-vacation-with-out-a-baby-for-a-few-years-trip' to San Fran.

2nd mawwied x-mas. First in our home, and first ever pregs.

Giving my sweet man his guitar

There are many many more beautiful memories that only my heart holds.

ok, 2010. What'chu got? Bring it!

new years ressies

I am not much of a new years resolution person, mainly because I don't like not doing what I say I want/plan/hope to accomplish.

BUT. If I did have a list, it would look something like this:

Learn how to be a mom.

Forgive myself as I make mistakes as I learn how to be a mom.

Not have so much disdain for Nicholas Cage, his hairline and his movies.

Learn to love my husband more/better through his love languages.

Love doing the dishes. [cringe]

Enjoy every moment with my baby. [even the poopy, crying, late sleepless nights]

Not have so much disdain for football.

I have many more real resolutions and even more sarcastic and fake ones, but I'll keep this list short and sweet.

What resolutions did you make that you'll actually keep?

xo, Yana

'it's the final countdown'

This is it. DAY ONE of 2010.
This is the year that my first baby will be born!
I will become a mom, for the rest of my life!
Seems so surreal. He has a short few days of growth inside, and a lifetime on the outside. What a journey...what an adventure!!

When I woke up this morning the first thought on my mind [besides 'oh my back! my baaaccckkk....ugh!!!] was "it's the final countdown!" -I joke that this is the song what I want playing when I transition into the pushing stage of the delivery. May I present, a magian named GOB.