I found this recipe in Better Homes and Gardens magazine. I made it for dinner last week and was delighted to find it scrumptious, simple, and healthy!
1 1/2 pound boneless pork loin, sliced 1/2 inch thick, sprinkled with salt and pepper and Worcestershire sauce
olive oil
3 to 4 small parsnips, peeled and sliced
2 pears, cored and sliced
1/2 cup pear nectar or apple juice
In skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add pork and brown on each side. Remove pork, cover, and keep warm. In same skillet, cook parsnips and pears for 5 minutes or so, until parsnips are crisp-tender. Stir 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce and apple juice into skillet. Return pork to skillet. Cook 5 minutes more, or until pork is done. Remove pork, parsnips, and pears to serving platter. Boil sauce, uncovered, until slightly thickened. Pour over pork and serve.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Our First Ever Baby Guessing Game
We thought it would be fun to play a little guessing game with our blog readers (and maybe encourage some of those silent readers to come out and participate). If you want to enter our first ever baby guessing game, leave a comment below! Take a guess at:
1. what baby's name will be
2. what day she will be born (we'll count days as 24-hour periods, from midnight to 11:59pm)
3. how much she will weigh
We'll see who gets the closest. Maybe there will be a prize for the winner. ;) Good luck!
1. what baby's name will be
2. what day she will be born (we'll count days as 24-hour periods, from midnight to 11:59pm)
3. how much she will weigh
We'll see who gets the closest. Maybe there will be a prize for the winner. ;) Good luck!
Friday, January 14, 2011
Nursery Time
Ta da! I love it. Practically everything in our little girl's room has a story. My mom made all the bedding, curtains, rocking chair cushions, basket liners, etc. I couldn't find anything I liked, so we ordered fabric samples and then Mom went to town! Didn't she do an incredible job?! (although I think she may be secretly hoping the next baby is a girl, too, so she doesn't have to make boy bedding, ha!) The rocking chair was my great-grandmother's. It was in my nursery when I was a baby. The dresser was in my dad's room when he was a little boy, and then was passed on to me. The wicker pieces were in my room when I was growing up. The crib is new, a gift from my parents. The changing table is the only piece of furniture the Gent and I bought (at a flea market).
The frame on the dresser was handmade by a friend and given to us as a shower gift. Soon it will hold a favorite photo of our L'il Bit!
I love this. The baby dress was worn by the Gent's Pawpaw when he was just a little boy. I painted the frame white (was dark wood) and modpodged a green polka dot scrapbook paper for the background. A special thanks to Granny for loaning it to us! I love all the family ties and history spread throughout the nursery.
The only thing I haven't finished yet is the artwork above the changing table. Obviously. It won't be white much longer, I have some ideas floating around.
This cross-stitched sampler was also in my room when I was little. Mom made it. The lamp was a gift from my mom's best friend - it was in her little girl's nursery way back when!
Basket of blankets, ready to go! One was the Gent's dad's when he was little, one was a gift from my grandparents, made by my great-aunt, the afghan was crocheted by my great-grandmother, and the pink one in the front is new, a shower gift.
The doll cradle and little rocking chair were also mine when I was little. Mom made new bedding and the Gent gave them a fresh coat of paint.
Her book collection is growing, but I am sure there will be more! The Gent and I love books and we can't seem to stop buying them. There are several more memories arranged on these shelves. The cross and pink piggy bank were gifts from my grandparents. The silver piggy bank was in the Gent's nursery when he was a little boy. The silver cup was in mine.
A peek into her closet. Think she has enough dresses? :) (Probably not . . . ) She has several new things that were gifts from family and friends, and lots of dresses that were mine when I was a baby. I am sure she will be one well-dressed little girl!
The frame on the dresser was handmade by a friend and given to us as a shower gift. Soon it will hold a favorite photo of our L'il Bit!
I love this. The baby dress was worn by the Gent's Pawpaw when he was just a little boy. I painted the frame white (was dark wood) and modpodged a green polka dot scrapbook paper for the background. A special thanks to Granny for loaning it to us! I love all the family ties and history spread throughout the nursery.
The only thing I haven't finished yet is the artwork above the changing table. Obviously. It won't be white much longer, I have some ideas floating around.
This cross-stitched sampler was also in my room when I was little. Mom made it. The lamp was a gift from my mom's best friend - it was in her little girl's nursery way back when!
Basket of blankets, ready to go! One was the Gent's dad's when he was little, one was a gift from my grandparents, made by my great-aunt, the afghan was crocheted by my great-grandmother, and the pink one in the front is new, a shower gift.
The doll cradle and little rocking chair were also mine when I was little. Mom made new bedding and the Gent gave them a fresh coat of paint.
Her book collection is growing, but I am sure there will be more! The Gent and I love books and we can't seem to stop buying them. There are several more memories arranged on these shelves. The cross and pink piggy bank were gifts from my grandparents. The silver piggy bank was in the Gent's nursery when he was a little boy. The silver cup was in mine.
A peek into her closet. Think she has enough dresses? :) (Probably not . . . ) She has several new things that were gifts from family and friends, and lots of dresses that were mine when I was a baby. I am sure she will be one well-dressed little girl!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Winter Events
It does get cold in the South. Last night our main water line froze. Thankfully the Gent was able to thaw it out fairly easily before the pipe ruptured. He got to play in the crawlspace, lucky him!
In other news, Zeke had surgery Tuesday. Poor puppy. He had to have his teeth cleaned and a benign tumor removed from his sternum. He is feeling fine now, but he has to wear a t-shirt for the next several days. The vet thought that would be easier than trying to bandage his stitches, since he has so much hair. So he is walking around in one of the Gent's old undershirts. I tied it on his back with a hairband. Zeke is living in an 80s flashback. :)
In other news, Zeke had surgery Tuesday. Poor puppy. He had to have his teeth cleaned and a benign tumor removed from his sternum. He is feeling fine now, but he has to wear a t-shirt for the next several days. The vet thought that would be easier than trying to bandage his stitches, since he has so much hair. So he is walking around in one of the Gent's old undershirts. I tied it on his back with a hairband. Zeke is living in an 80s flashback. :)
Monday, January 10, 2011
Wedding!
The Gent's youngest brother got married this weekend! The ceremony was lovely and we wish them a lifetime of happiness together. Here are some of my favorite photos.
Bridal luncheon
The bride and her maid of honor
Signing the wall at the teashop where the luncheon was hosted
The bride and groom at the rehearsal dinner
We all had a great time at the dinner; thanks to the Gent's parents and Granny for planning a beautiful party!
The three brothers
Pop D!
The brothers and their dad, being goofy
My best man :)
The middle brother and his fiancee (yay, another wedding!)
"Practicing" with Lily, the daughter of one of the Gent's best friends from home. She's such a cutie!
The wedding cake was delicious
Soon baby makes three . . .
Bridal luncheon
The bride and her maid of honor
Signing the wall at the teashop where the luncheon was hosted
The bride and groom at the rehearsal dinner
We all had a great time at the dinner; thanks to the Gent's parents and Granny for planning a beautiful party!
The three brothers
Pop D!
The brothers and their dad, being goofy
My best man :)
The middle brother and his fiancee (yay, another wedding!)
"Practicing" with Lily, the daughter of one of the Gent's best friends from home. She's such a cutie!
The wedding cake was delicious
Soon baby makes three . . .
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
The Birth Plan
This birth plan is intended to express the preferences and desires we have for the birth of our baby. It is not intended to be a script. We fully realize that situations may arise such that our plan cannot and should not be followed. However, we hope that barring any extenuating circumstances, you will be able to keep us informed and aware of our options. We appreciate your support.
• We are hoping for an unmedicated birth, with as little intervention as possible, and hope to have a nurse who supports and believes in unmedicated births.
• I understand that the baby and I must be monitored, but I prefer it to be done as little as possible. According to the ACOG standards is fine.
• I am not planning on using pain medication or an epidural. Please help me avoid them. Please do not offer pain medication; I will ask for it if I want it.
• I wish to drink clear and light colored fluids if I feel thirsty.
• I prefer a heparin lock to an IV. Please place heparin lock when doing initial blood draw.
• I would like to be able to change positions and labor outside of the bed, even if my water has broken. Also, I may want to push and deliver in alternative positions such as squatting, side lying, or using a squat bar. I prefer to use people for leg support.
• I would like to be able to take a warm shower for pain relief.
• I would prefer not to have my water broken; I prefer it to break on its own.
• Please help me avoid an episiotomy! Please use compresses and perineal massage to help avoid tearing.
• We are donating our baby’s cord blood to the public cord blood bank. My husband does not plan to cut the cord.
• Barring complications, please place the baby directly on my abdomen (skin to skin) after the birth. I would like at least one hour with our baby, undisturbed, to bond and breastfeed.
• We do not want our baby to go to the nursery at all. If the baby must be taken to the nursery, my husband will accompany the baby at all times.
• If our baby is a boy, he will not be circumcised.
• Our baby is to be exclusively breastfed--please do not give artificial nipples of any kind.
• If a cesarean delivery becomes necessary, please allow my husband to remain with me for my surgery and my doula to wait for me in my recovery room. My husband will stay with our baby until we can be reunited. Please allow me to breastfeed as soon as possible.
• We are hoping for an unmedicated birth, with as little intervention as possible, and hope to have a nurse who supports and believes in unmedicated births.
• I understand that the baby and I must be monitored, but I prefer it to be done as little as possible. According to the ACOG standards is fine.
• I am not planning on using pain medication or an epidural. Please help me avoid them. Please do not offer pain medication; I will ask for it if I want it.
• I wish to drink clear and light colored fluids if I feel thirsty.
• I prefer a heparin lock to an IV. Please place heparin lock when doing initial blood draw.
• I would like to be able to change positions and labor outside of the bed, even if my water has broken. Also, I may want to push and deliver in alternative positions such as squatting, side lying, or using a squat bar. I prefer to use people for leg support.
• I would like to be able to take a warm shower for pain relief.
• I would prefer not to have my water broken; I prefer it to break on its own.
• Please help me avoid an episiotomy! Please use compresses and perineal massage to help avoid tearing.
• We are donating our baby’s cord blood to the public cord blood bank. My husband does not plan to cut the cord.
• Barring complications, please place the baby directly on my abdomen (skin to skin) after the birth. I would like at least one hour with our baby, undisturbed, to bond and breastfeed.
• We do not want our baby to go to the nursery at all. If the baby must be taken to the nursery, my husband will accompany the baby at all times.
• If our baby is a boy, he will not be circumcised.
• Our baby is to be exclusively breastfed--please do not give artificial nipples of any kind.
• If a cesarean delivery becomes necessary, please allow my husband to remain with me for my surgery and my doula to wait for me in my recovery room. My husband will stay with our baby until we can be reunited. Please allow me to breastfeed as soon as possible.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Eight Month Photo
I feel baby moving around all the time and I love it. I can't wait to meet her in just a few more weeks! We have finished up most of our shopping and the nursery is almost complete (two art projects to go) and then I will post pictures, I promise.
I am definitely thinking seriously now about labor and delivery and life with a newborn and (gulp) parenting. We've gotten the doctor's approval on our birth plan and are starting to think through some other practical things - finding someone to take care of the dogs while we are at the hospital, adding baby to our health insurance, stocking the freezer with some healthy meals.
It is so easy to get caught up in all the doing, I'm trying to intentionally take time to rest and enjoy these last weeks of pregnancy. I like to sit in the nursery and talk to our baby girl, read her a book, pray for her.
I was reflecting last night on how thankful I am for this new little life. A year ago I was elated over a brand new pregnancy, our Noel, and so excited about what 2010 would bring. It certainly didn't turn out the way I thought it would. There was pain and grieving. And pleading with God to help us conceive again when the time was right. I remember reading and re-reading passages in the Bible where women interceded with the Lord for a child. I was especially drawn to the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel.
I spent the spring praying for a baby and it felt like the waiting went on forever. Looking back at that bittersweet time, I see how it drew me closer to the Lord and taught me more about trusting Him, leaning on His everlasting arms, drawing strength from Him and not from my circumstances. When I found out in June that I was (finally!) pregnant again, I was ecstatic and nervous and a million other things. Most of all I was (and am) so thankful to God for this new little one. I pray every day for her - that she will continue to grow strong and healthy in my womb, that her delivery would be uncomplicated, that God would give me wisdom as a new mother, and that she would come to trust in Jesus for herself.
P.S. Happy 2011, y'all!
P.P.S. The dress still fits! Wonder if it will make it through the nine month photo?!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)