Dreaming

I have been dreaming a lot about our baby this week. Ever since I read that our baby can hear us now, he/she seems so much more real, and I find myself thinking about and talking to him/her throughout the day. This afternoon I was listening to an album that Rusty gave me for Christmas (while reading through my syllabi for this semester's classes). As you know, I LOVE Sara Groves. Between my brother and my husband, I was blessed with her entire collection for Christmas, and among them was Station Wagon: Songs for New Parents. I imagine that most of the songs will mean a lot more to me once Baby Bronco joins us in July, but when "Fast Asleep" came on, I could almost picture our baby sleeping peacefully...

When the night comes
polar bear cubs sleep in their caves
calves on the farm sleep in the barn
warm in the hay
nothing in this world is quite as sweet
as a tiny baby fast asleep
I could watch you to the end of time
especially when that baby is mine
kittens and pups eyes all closed up
snuggle near mom
robin's and wren's chicks have been fed
sleep until dawn
nothing in this world is quite as sweet
as a tiny baby fast asleep
I could watch you to the end of time
especially when that baby is mine

SO sweet. I love you, Baby, and I can't wait to meet you!

YUM

It's cold and snowy in Bville, so tonight we warmed up with this yummy Tomato Tortellini Soup! It's super easy, really delicious, and bonus...vegetarian. Try it out!

• 10 Servings
• Prep/Total Time: 25 min.

Ingredients

• 1 package (9 ounces) refrigerated cheese tortellini
• 2 cans (10-3/4 ounces each) reduced-sodium condensed tomato soup, undiluted
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 2 cups 2% milk
• 2 cups half-and-half cream
• 1/2 cup chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• Additional shredded Parmesan cheese, optional

Directions

• Cook tortellini according to package directions.
• Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, combine the soup, broth, milk, cream, tomatoes and seasonings. Heat through, stirring frequently. Drain tortellini; carefully add to soup. Stir in cheese. Sprinkle each serving with additional cheese if desired. Yield: 10 servings (2-1/2 quarts).

14 Weeks and Counting

Today I am fourteen weeks pregnant. That means 1 trimester down and two to go!

I must admit that it hasn't been easy to wrap my head around my growing body, especially since people and media seem very free to discuss and offer advice on topics like my weight and shape.

Nevertheless, as my belly starts to look more like baby instead of too much holiday food and the clothes that don't quite fit begin to pile up, I find myself more and more welcoming of it, because it means that our fist-sized, hair-covered, movin' and groovin' chicklet is growing into the baby that we can't wait to welcome.

So, here it is...