Around Town

We had guests in town and had fun showing them DC's highlights, so here are some pictures. It was cool too, the wife of the couple visiting us was 8 days farther along in her pregnancy than me. One of the pictures is us together - at about 20 and 21 weeks respectively.

ps- I had to include that last picture just to prove the Washington Monument doesn't always have to be coming out of my head...

Life is Good

Trader Joe's has Mochi Ice Cream! Yay!

I think the baby really likes the strawberry flavor. Or it could just be me.

Coast Guard Day!

We went to the Coast Guard Day picnic in our area today. Coast Guard Day is actually August 4. It celebrates the founding of the Coast Guard, hence the Coast Guard Festival being the first week in August (in the fabulous town of Grand Haven, MI).

It was one of the first CG Day celebrations I have been to, and it was nice to hang out with/meet some of the people CO works with, and to see some of their families too.

I guess I've been kind of lonely here. I don't have a job. I don't take classes (well, except hula once a week). I have to figure out some way to productively rejoin society. Otherwise, I'll continue sleeping in and doing nothing worthwhile all day long. I guess I'm spoiled because I don't HAVE to work and I can just sit around eating and growing a child, but still... I'm getting to the point where I'm having awkward conversations with people in grocery stores.

It was nice to get out and socialize a bit today. Thanks for having a birthday, Coast Guard.

Dear Air Force

Dear Air Force,

I am grateful that I can use your medical care facilities (also known as military treatment facilities), but just for your information, it is kind of awkward to start off with an 18 year old boy taking my blood pressure, weight, and giving me the first part of my exam. I do realize that I have an aversion to hospitals, so I'm not that comfortable in them anyway. I guess I just have to get used to the teenage boys, because I'm doubtful you'll change.

v/r,

me

Overwhelming!

Holy cow, people. I know America is the land of options (just check out the yogurt aisle of the supermarket here - in Brazil it was vanilla or strawberry). But come on! How in the world do you sort through all of the strollers, car seats, and crib bedding options?

We're trying to focus on the following things right now:

- Car seats
- Pack n play (baby's bed for the first few months)

Anyone have advice? How did you choose your baby stuff? What's important to consider?

Harvard?

This has been my first experience using MTF (Military Treatment Facilities) for my medical care. Before, I had military insurance but I was able to choose my own civilian doctors (as long as they took my insurance).

I took a pregnancy test and had an ultrasound with my beloved OB back in Nashville. We heard the baby's heartbeat and saw it was progressing as it should. Good news!

Then we moved to the DC area, military capital of the world. No more civilian providers for me. It took me a little bit to get used to the idea of not having much choice, but I think I'm good now. When we got to DC, I figured out which military base I wanted to go to, and then went over the whole process again - pregnancy test, etc! Apparently we still have some North/South distrust/animosity...

After the North confirmed my pregnancy, I was able to go and see an OB here. Funny story - I had been avoiding doctors in Nashville who had gotten their degrees from a certain medical college, hearing that the standards weren't as high as others. I had managed to avoid them while I was in Nashville. Wouldn't you know that I started chit-chatting with the OB doctor on base and he said he had studied in Nashville. I then made the mistake of asking where he had studied, praying he would answer "Vanderbilt" only to have my fears confirmed that he indeed had studied at my avoided university.

At one point, we discussed what prenatal vitamins I am taking. I showed him what my Nashville OB had prescribed, and he read the name "Prenate DHA. What's DHA?" I then, in some weird twist of fate, tried to explain it to him. Me, explaining DHA to my OB. Sweet.

Me: "Well, DHA is supposed to promote brain development"
Him: "Oh, that's good."
Me: "Yes, it's the new 'hot topic' among pediatricians. The pediatric pathologists I used to work with at Vandy suggested that I look for DHA supplements, but then my OB prescribed this prenatal vitamin."
Him: "That's nice. I had never heard of it. Guess we all can't have Harvard degrees now, can we?"

What does that mean? Perhaps I should go to the other military base for treatment? Or just pray I don't get him again?

Recipes!

Thanks everyone for your recipes - keep them coming! I'm so excited to make them. Monica, I think I NEED that cheesecake recipe :)

I have another blog where I keep all of my recipes - it helped me organize them when we were abroad and while we were moving. As long as I had internet access (or could call my sister and have her look something up for me), I had access to my recipes without actually having them in paper form. I try to credit the appropriate people for recipes, if you see something that's yours, claim it!

The danger of making this other blog public is that these recipes are ALL I know how to make! So, chances are, if you come over for dinner, it'll be something from here! My recipe website is here - Mea 'ai 'ono

Some of our recent favorites are:
- Spaghetti Carbonara (surprisingly quick and easy)
- Mojo Corn and Black Bean Salsa (perfect for summer)
- Creamy Penne Pomodoro (I substitute half and half for heavy cream)
- Lemon Chicken with Capers (hubby loves capers!)
- Caprese Tarts - cute appetizers (and you can have fun with the shapes!)
- Blueberry Pound Cake - it's blueberry season!