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!

Three years!

CO and I have been married three years already (sometimes it seems like more!).

I love him so much and am thankful that he puts up with me!

He surprised me with chocolate and flowers this morning and has been so supportive through our pregnancy.

I'm very blessed!

In need of some inspiration...

What are some of your favorite recipes lately? I'll take whatever I can get - appetizer, main, dessert - whatever!!

Please help a girl out, we're stuck in our same eating rut...

Things that annoy me...

- The people at golf tournaments who shout "Get in the hole!"

- The traffic lights that you can't see unless you're immediately underneath them, rendering them ineffective, particularly at speeds over 40mph.

- Weather maps that show random counties with severe weather warnings, particularly when you (I) have no idea which squiggly county is yours