Archive for August, 2008

I Dream About Buffalo Wings

Thursday, August 28th, 2008

Since day one of my pregnancy, I’ve craved protein. First it was hard-boiled eggs for weeks and weeks, then salmon for a few weeks, then avocados… which somehow eventually lead to turkey and chicken.

Now? Well now I crave chicken, specifically buffalo wings, to the point where I dream about eating them and even getting them delivered to the house. That latter part is only weird because the last time Kevin and I had food delivered to our place of residence had to have been in early 2004, shortly after we first moved in together after we got married.

Also, craving buffalo wings might not seem like a big deal, either, but maybe it will if I tell you that I’ve been vegetarian most of my life and vegan for almost 7 years before I became pregnant. Heck, to some of my long-term readers, it might come as a complete shock (and possibly disappointment) that I am not vegan or even vegetarian anymore. I’m hoping that you, my long-term readers especially, won’t think any less of me for “falling off the wagon.”

Truly, it wasn’t an easy a choice. I wrestled with the reassessment of my own ideals, values, and ethics for weeks before really coming to terms with the change in diet. Also, in the early weeks of trying small nibbles of ground turkey and bites of Kevin’s chicken legs, I still felt personal disappointment for “giving up” on being vegan.

After a while, though, all the guilt sorta went away and food became a part of my life, not a part of controlling my life.

See, food and I, we’ve always had a.. well… shall we say… unique relationship. It’s controlled me (I had milk & cheese allergies as a child and now am allergic to milk & wheat) and I’ve controlled it (I was a raw vegan for some time).

Recently, however, our normal dysfunctional and controlling relationship has transformed into one of peace and cooperation. I can now enjoy cheese & yogurt in moderation, certain meats (chicken, turkey and fish) and eggs without the normal guilt center in my brain firing off and belittling me for eating those particular foods.

On one level I feel like that rat, Remy, in Ratatouille, as I am also enjoying the taste, smell and texture of food like I never have before. Whereas I used to view food as pure nurishment to just keep me alive, now, I actually like food and enjoy savoring all that it has to offer.

After many years of proudly wearing my vegan/vegetarianism like a badge of honor, I finally feel as if I am more than just a “label” and have accepted my new found love of poultry as normal growth and change.

If you think about it, though, I haven’t changed all that much. I still eat lots of organic fruits and veggies, which is easy considering the world’s largest Whole Foods is in town. I still enjoy my wheat-free bread and other non-wheat carbs. Actually, I’m still relatively anal-retentive about what I eat, it’s just that what I eat now happens to include a variety of dairy foods (cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, frozen yogurt), eggs, and poultry meat.

And, before any of you from the “you need meat to live” brigade start in with “Yay! We “cured” a vegan.”, you can just leave me out of your agenda. I want nothing to do with it, because, who knows? Someday, I might dismiss meat and eggs again and return to being labeled a vegan or vegetarian. Then again, I might not. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

As for now, however, I am enjoying the new (to me) foods that have awakened my palate. Now, let’s see, where did I put that take-out menu?

How True

Friday, August 22nd, 2008

“Moving”

Moving

That was us only a few weeks ago.

Also, if you hover over the original comic on xkcd.com, there’s usually another nugget of funny. This time, it was “We need a special holiday to honor the countless kind souls with unsecured networks called ‘linksys’.”

Agreed.

Just a Rant

Monday, August 18th, 2008

I’ve been feeling a little out of sorts for the past few days. Basically, my body doesn’t feel like it’s mine anymore. I guess considering I’m 7 1/2 months pregnant and bigger, slower and more achy than I’ve ever been in my entire life, it was bound to happen at some point.

The main culprit is my left hip. It really hurts. Like, a lot. It hurts to walk even a couple of steps. Of course, I still walk. I walked all weekend and I walk all day, but it still hurts.

Also, I don’t sleep very well anymore and I feel guilty for taking a nap during the day when there’s so much to get done, so I end up being groggy by dinner time. On top of that I can’t bend anymore and if I do, my lower back reminds me why I shouldn’t.

Apparently, my solution to fix these aches and pains is to sit down and have a really good cry. While I sat there and sobbed, I lamented in how much I miss my “old” body and endless energy and stamina. Yup. A good old-fashioned pity party.

After I finally stopped going over the list of things I used to be able to do, I realized I was thirsty and didn’t want to get up to get water because my hip hurts, so cried over that, too.

And you know what? I sure feel better now. Though, I wish I had telekinesis and could float that glass of water over without having to get up. 😉

A Tea Party Baby Shower

Tuesday, August 12th, 2008

While in California for our week-long vacation last month, my sister (in-law) and best friend lovingly hosted my baby shower at my mother (in-laws) home.

It was so special and as I wouldn’t be able to do it justice with words, I’ve chosen some of my favorite photos to highlight the special day.

The tea party theme (blue, brown and gold) looked so lovely all set up!

The tea party theme (blue, brown and gold) looked so lovely all set up!

My sister crafted all the decorations by hand. My best friend\'s talents went into making fragrant sugar scrub for favors!

My sister crafted all the decorations by hand. My best friend's talents went into making fragrant sugar scrub for favors!

All the girls showed up for the tea party!

All the girls showed up for the tea party!

My sister (in-law) and me. She co-hosted my baby shower.

My sister (in-law) and me. She co-hosted my baby shower.

My best friend and me. I have known her since high school. She co-hosted my baby shower with my sister.

My best friend and me. I have known her since high school. She co-hosted my baby shower with my sister.

Kevin and I. He is a proud daddy already! We are standing in front of the onesies everyone decorated for Binary Boy.

Kevin and I. He is a proud daddy already! We are standing in front of the onesies everyone decorated for Binary Boy.