Pigwidgeon hits the big city!

I'm finally getting past a lot of that first-trimester exhaustion, so we decided to take advantage of my newfound (semi-)energy and take a day trip to San Francisco. Our original goal was to go to Alcatraz (Chris has never been), but tickets were sold out. Then we thought to go to the zoo, but we didn't get to SF in time to make it worth our while. So, instead we spent the day wandering around Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf, and Ghiradelli Square and enjoying the gorgeous weather.

I think to the unknowing observer, I just look a little thick around the middle, but I think to those who actually know of Pigwidgeon, you can sort of tell I'm slightly pregnant in this picture!

Anyway, as you can see, it was a gorgeous day for a city trip!



And now, today, we're playing catch-up on work and house stuff...big fun! Though we did take some time out to torture the girls for possible Christmas-card pix. I'll give you a preview of the pug's displeasure!

A culinary achievement!

Okay, this post is primarily for Lisa and Chris (Duval, not my hubby!), creators of the World's Greatest Food blog. So Lisa and I have been best friends for 28 years, and for all those years, she has been raving about manti, a traditional Armenian dish of little beef dumplings served in chicken broth to make an excellent soup. Yet never have I tried this dish. FINALLY, Lisa and Chris posted the recipe on their blog, so I gave it a whirl. (If you want to try the same recipe, click here.) Oh my gosh, I was NOT disappointed! What a fantastic meal...and so easy! Chris (my hubby this time) and I agreed that it was one of my best dinners thus far. The dish is simple and yet extremely tasty! YUM!

Anyway, Lisa requested pictures and commentary of the manti-making process, so here goes. Made the dumplings, which were surprisingly easy, although they took a while to assemble. The worst part was squishing the raw hamburger with my fingers. Anyone who knows me well knows my aversion to raw meat! Here's how my beautiful dumplings looked before baking:

Then I baked the dumplings, and while doing so, heated up the chicken broth and made the garlic-yogurt sauce. Here are the baked dumplings:

And, last but not least, the final product! If my hair were less stringy and gross today, I would've set the camera's timer to take a picture of Chris and I at the kitchen table, looking happy and content after our manti feast! But alas, a shower is in order for me tonight, so no pix of me will be posted today!

Apple Hill...and a wee baby bump!

Okay, I've received a complaint that our boring blog has nothing new on it, so here's a new post! I don't really have any baby news (other than the fact that our little Pigwidgeon is apparently the size of a prune and has only 9 days left until he officially reaches the second trimester), but we did have a fun outing to Apple Hill today.

So despite the fact that pregnant me isn't as fond of chocolate as non-pregnant me, I have regained my sweet tooth. And today, my sweet tooth wanted excellent pie, so we ventured to Apple Hill despite the rainy weather.

And oh, it was worth it! Chris had plain apple pie, and I had sour cream blackberry apple pie...heavenly! With a bit of vanilla ice cream on the side...to die for! I paid the price for the richness with an upset stomach later in the day, but it was worth every bit of discomfort! We bought a bunch of produce too—can't beat the homegrown apples there.

And last but not least, for anyone who is wondering how chubby I've gotten, here's a pic of my 11-week baby bump (ignore the doofy look on my face, please—not the most flattering picture I've ever taken). Yeah, yeah...most women don't show this early in their first pregnancy. But I had leftover belly fat from my heavier days, so my working theory is that my tummy was able to easily expand. Lovely thought, isn't it? Better than the alternative, which is that the pie is all catching up to me! :-) And yes, those are drawstring pants. Jeans are just NOT comfortable anymore...I'm all about elastic and drawstring now! Feel the fashion statement!

Pigwidgeon's first picture!

Okay, now that our family is expanding beyond Chris, me, and two dogs, I figured it's time to start a blog. And what better way to start it than with our little Pigwidgeon's first picture?? Too bad we don't have video of this—you all could've seen our hyper little fetus dancing a jig in there, as he was doing during the ultrasound! (No, I don't know whether it's a boy, but that's my gut feeling, so I think I shall call Pigwidgeon "he" until we get a definite answer on the gender! That whole "he/she" thing gets too clunky.)

Stay tuned for more exciting updates...and rest assured, I won't bore you with posts about morning sickness, indigestion, swollen hands and feet, or the like. Only interesting baby updates...or furry friend updates, since this blog is about ALL our kids, furry and non-furry. And okay, maybe the occasional update about Chris and I, too, if we do anything more interesting than work or troll used book sales.

As long as we're including furry friends, I'll add this picture of the girls keeping me company as I rest on the couch. Luna has taken it upon herself to keep Pigwidgeon warm by sleeping on my tummy whenever she can wiggle her way up there, and Bitsy stays nearby for more support. What great big sisters!!