What a nice Thanksgiving weekend. We spent the holiday with Tim's family. We had a lot of good food throughout the weekend and we had a lot of fun playing the little kiddies. The main Thanksgiving meal was actually done on Saturday instead of Thursday for us. We had to wait for my in-laws to drive down from Michigan. On Friday, we actually did some shopping. Not crazy early shopping, but just regular business hours shopping. =) It was fun hanging out with my sister-in-laws. Tim and I actually got more shopping done today versus on Friday. I got some new winter boots and Tim got a very stylish new winter coat - so we got our retail therapy in. hah I also got a new cookbook.. Mastering the Art of French Cooking. =) It's a good read so far. I was flipping through it earlier when we got home. Also, the weather was just perfect for the long weekend - nothing ridiculous. Usually Thanksgiving time is gross weather time. So I was really happy with this year's weather. I haaate cold dreary weather. Ug.
It was a nice weekend and I'm glad we got to spend Thanksgiving with Tim's family. We'll be spending Christmas with my side this year. Last year, it was flip-flopped. =) I'll post some pictures of this weekend later. The kiddies were really cute this weekend. Lots of running around and dancing.
Earlier, I took a belly bump picture. I figured it's about time to get another in.. heh. I'm almost 21 weeks in.. it's amazing that we're more than halfway into this pregnancy. Since knowing the gender, Tim and I have been discussing boy names more... it's tough. I had a dream the other night and I called him a specific name.. we'll see if that's what we end up naming him. =) I've been feeling a lot more action now too, which is really exciting. It feels funny =) I've also been looking at baby stuff more online.. trying to figure out what stuff I'd like to get and/or add to a future baby registry. hehe So much stuff, but I think I have a fair idea of what things I like and need..
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!
Just a couple of more hours until Thanksgiving.. but I would like to say a little bit of thanks now. I am very thankful for my husband and for the little baby growing inside of me. They are the world to me. I've never felt such a warm sense of comfort before, from a little being that I haven't even met yet. I am thankful for my family (growing in many ways) and for my friends. They are all so beautiful and amazing in their own way. I am thankful to the Lord for all of the blessings He has given me. I'm thankful for my good health (and my baby's good health), safety, and happiness. I feel like I have all of the factors of a wonderful life. I feel so blessed.
Tim and I had our anatomy ultrasound yesterday afternoon and we found out we're having a baby boy! =) It wasn't a huge surprise to me since I've been thinking he was a boy for about a month now. Just strong feelings. (And the spicy food cravings, hehe) We're very happy to know though. In Tim's side, every one has had boys for their first child.. crazy crazy. I'm excited to see what this baby's personality will be like, how he looks, who he will look like, etc etc. I'm just so intrigued.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!
Since we're going to the Philippines for Christmas this year, Tim and I decided not to get a real tree to decorate. It would just be a huge mess waiting for us when we get back. (Noo thank you) So, we decorated and added on to my little tree from Utah. =) This was my very first Christmas tree of my own.. and each year, I have added on to it. This year, I got lights, a star topper, and some silver ornaments to put on it. I found some cream/off white fabric while cleaning out our closets and I turned it into a tree cover. hehe Turned out nicely. I used the "clouding" technique, haha.
I'll probably add some more Christmas decorations throughout our loft in the next few weeks.. It's so crazy to think that Thanksgiving is already next week! So many things to look forward to in such a short amount of time!
Busy busy the past few days. It's been great hanging out with my brother. Didn't feel too well, so I called in to my part time job, but other than it's still been busy. Tim and I were planning on hosting the working session dinner for BML on Tuesday.. and since more people were coming this time, we wanted to make it nice. In a way, it was like my Pre-Thanksgiving meal... Since I won't be making a Thanksgiving meal this week, I decided this one will be it for me. Tim has been wanting pork tenderloin for awhile and I've been doing chicken since it was just "easier." (Not necessarily) Anyway, I wanted to do a Roasted Pork Loin. I made one using Giada's recipe. I've done it once before - and this time, I tweaked it up a little bit. Especially the cooking time since I got a larger piece than what the recipe called for. I also used less balsamic vinegar for the vinaigrette 'cause last time it was just a bit overpowering.
Anyway, the meal was a hit. Everyone loved it and ate a bunch. We got a lot of nice compliments, which was sweet. A not-so-much-pork-eater even liked it! =) I really liked it too. I'm always a bit iffy with pork.. either, it's too pink for me or too dry. Really hard to have it just right and I think last night, I got it just right. I was very happy with it. It was tasty and juicy. The sauce was a great add to it. I loved it, actually. Key lesson learned, I let it rest for awhile. And letting it rest, helped us get everything else ready, so it was a win-win.
And this morning, I also found out some great news. My sister-in-law is pregnant! She's going to the doctor tomorrow to confirm. So yeah, another 2011 baby!! =) I'm very excited and happy for Kuya Warly and Ate Carla. =)
So, Tim and I cleaned a lot this weekend. He did great by cleaning allll of our lights and ceiling fans in our loft. Trust me, that's a lot of work. And I tackled the closets, ours and the guest room, and the whole guest room too. Essentially, I wanted to clear up our closet and organize it so when Baby comes, his/her stuff will have a nice spot to come home to. And for the guest room closet, well, that's been a storage closet of soo many random things since we moved here. I decided to clean it and make it usable. The guest room is still a semi-storage spot (which is great) but it also has room for any guests to hang up some clothes and have the hotel effect. (We want our guests to always feel comfortable here, hehe) =) We have a bunch of stuff to donate too. It's great to clean up like that. But we were pretty exhausted from the weekend of cleaning..
We also did a bit of shopping on Sunday. Man, the mall was pretty packed when we went. People are getting their holiday shopping in early. I've been getting more and more maternity tops lately. And Tim and I are on a hunt for some nice winter boots for me. I need 'em. And I've also been mainly getting tank tops to wear under clothes, etc. I felt like my tummy just popped out this weekend. And during our cleaning spree, I really felt.. tired and pregnant. Hah. I guess it's about that time when pregnancy really starts to hit.. =) I've been calling our baby "Baby" a lot lately.. it's what Tim and I call each other too.. I guess I'm not that creative with nicknames. =) hehe
My oldest brother is here 'til Thursday.. I haven't seen him since he left for the Philippines in July. Nice having him around at home. Too bad he didn't bring his daughter with him - Tim and I miss Samara a lot! =)
The weather here has been so interesting lately. We thought it was Fall... and then it became Summer again. I'm definitely not complaining! =) I've been loving the weather. Great during the day and cool at night. Tim and I have been busy busy with work and such. Time just flies by. Last weekend, we stayed in town and had our neighbors over for dinner. We served them a lasagna meal complete with Tim's garlic bread and salad. We had a great time with them and I think they really enjoyed dinner =)
Yesterday, I had my monthly OB appointment. Everything looks good, the numbers all look good. So, I'm definitely thankful. It's always neat for me to hear the heartbeat. =) I can't wait to find out the gender. My sister sent me a package with some maternity stuff and a book "What to Expect When You're Expecting." It's a good book, definitely a classic known by many prego or used to be prego women. It was nice of her to send that over.
Hmmm. what else is new.. I've been taking prenatal yoga the past couple of weeks. I'm liking it so far. It feels good to stretch out, relax, and focus. And during the Art Walk here downtown, Tim and I put our names in for a raffle at the place I do yoga at... and I ended up winning! (I'm super excited 'cause I never win raffles!) I won a free hour massage.. I'm very excited about this since I've been tense and achy lately in the shoulders/neck and lower back area. Great timing!
Though we've been busy, we've been having a great time lately hanging out. It's been fun to watch Tim's football games and make meals together and just have fun together. I'm lovin' it. We're getting so excited for our Philippines vacation. I guess with a baby on the way, we're really trying to take a lot of things in. =)
Here's a meal we had recently... we had grilled salmon with a citrus salsa verde. It was yummy. The salsa verde was a great touch to the salmon. I made some Filipino Palamig too...it's a nice refreshing sweet drink. It's usually made with boba/tapioca (sago in my Tagalog), but I made this one with shredded pieces of cantaloupe. I loved it. Makes me think of the Philippines =)
Happy November everyone!
This year is going by so fast! And our weekends are filling up really quickly. In a month and a half, Tim and I are heading out to the Philippines. We're so excited for that trip! And everything else happening before it. Tim and I can still remember everything perfectly from last November.. a year went by fast! Almost every weekend in November is already booked for us. Sheesh! October came and went. Tim has been playing flag football during the weekends. I actually watched one of the games a couple of weekends ago and that was a fun game to watch. And yesterday, Tim went trick or treating with his little brother and his 2 sisters, and one other Big Sister and her fiance. A good size group. I made them some snacks before they headed out. I made a pot of hot chocolate from scratch, a platter of cheese & crackers, fruits and a homemade fruit dip, and a bowl of cheezit snackmix. Nothing chocolatey. I figured they'll have plenty of that after trick or treating.. They seem to enjoy it which felt good for me. I ended up staying in - I wasn't really in the mood to walk around in the cold. heh
Here is my Quarterback in action: =)
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