Katie and Ben in Boston!

Audrey meets Ellie

2012-02-16T09:00:00.000-05:00

While we were in Charlotte, we were lucky enough to have Audrey drive down from Durham to visit us! I am so glad she did. It was great that she could meet Ellie and we could have time to catch up. She arrived mid-day on Monday and we left Ellie with my parents for a little while so that we could go out to lunch and do a little shopping. It was so nice for both of us to have a little time away from our responsibilities!

On Tuesday we went to explore a fun toy store in town and then went out to lunch. Ellie was in a great mood all day and kept us entertained at lunch with her lovely noises and tongue tricks. She is so funny! After lunch, it was time for Audrey to head back to Durham. It was a quick visit but a great one, nonetheless!

My parents and I had a nice rest of the trip. We stayed close to home, but it was really nice to see each other and the time went so quickly. I know my parents loved having their granddaughter visit. Ellie got to play a lot on the new quilt that my mom made her. Isn't it pretty?

On Wednesday morning, Ellie and I headed back to Boston. The trip went smoothly but it was a lot trickier to travel on my own. We survived though and Ben met us at the airport. We are glad to be home but we had a great time and I know that this will be the first of many flights and trips for our little family.

Jetsetters

2012-02-14T20:06:00.001-05:00

Ben and I finally braved the skies and took Ellie on her first flight this month. It was a special occasion and definitely worth the trip. My dad turned 60 last week, so we went down for a surprise weekend trip. Matthew met us down there and we just showed up at the front door of my parents' house. My dad didn't suspect a thing and was very surprised to open the door and see us all there!

It was well worth the trip and everything went so smoothly on the way down. I'm not sure why I was so nervous! We got through the airport without a problem and Ellie did really well on the flight. She actually slept almost the entire time, which was completely unexpected but just fine with me.

On Saturday evening, we left Ellie with a family friend and went out for a nice birthday dinner. We came back to the house for dessert and libations. Ellie was glad to see us. She was exhausted from the busy day and the trip, so she went to bed quickly and easily.

We had a quiet day on Sunday: my brother made omelets for breakfast, we went for a short walk, and then the boys headed back to the airport to go home. Ellie and I were lucky enough to stay for a few extra days. The whole trip was great and it was so fun to surprise my dad. I can't believe how easily Ellie adapted to all the changes. She's such a trooper and it was so fun to have her at home in Charlotte. Happy birthday, Dad!! It was great to celebrate with you!

Ellie is 5 (months, that is)!

2012-02-07T21:15:00.000-05:00

This has been a fun and quick month. Ellie is getting so big. She weighs about 14 pounds now and she has moved on to size 2 diapers and her 6 month clothes. I can't believe it! She's doing a much better job of controlling her body and getting it to do what she wants. She was rolling from front to back all the time for about a week and now she seems to have forgotten how to! Instead of rolling over, if you put her on her tummy, she will push up with her arms and raise her head up as high as she can. Then, she'll break for a few seconds and do a "superman" pose with her hands raised a few inches above the ground. She's getting a good work out.

After Christmas we got her a jumperoo and she loves it. She's been exploring it and figuring out all the different things to touch and play with. She's even starting to bounce in it. Her feet don't reach the floor yet, so we're putting one of Ben's big textbooks to good use under her feet. For a few days, she had discovered her toes, but she's lost interest in them. She has started to get tired of her bouncy chair too. It has been such a huge help over the last few months. She'll still sit in it for short periods of time but she would much rather be up at the same level as us, especially at dinner time. She has taken to playing in her Bumbo chair on the table while we eat dinner.

She is making lots of different noises now and has started screeching to test out what her voice can do. She is a lot louder now! We'll have to get used to it, I think. We can get her to giggle more often and her laughs always bring a huge smile to our faces. Ellie has become a good little eater and is getting to be quite the chubby little baby. She is eating about 6-7 times a day. She watches Ben and me intently while we eat, so I think that she will want to try food on her own in the next month. That will be a big step!

We have had a month of blissful sleep. She has been starting to go to bed a little earlier (usually around 8 or 8:30) and will sometimes sleep for 10 hours. It has been AMAZING! I fear that we may be getting too used to getting a great night's sleep. Our biggest challenge is trying to get her to drift off to sleep in her crib instead of falling asleep while eating. So far, we have had mixed results but I've been learning the lyrics to a few lullabies, which are coming in handy for our bedtime routine.

I was a little worried about how Ellie and I would fill our time during the week at home but we have been keeping really busy (perhaps too busy, in fact!). We are going to a play group at the local parenting center, a music class down the street, and a mom's group. At the mom's group, I have even been able to leave her in the nursery for a couple of hours, which is such a nice break. She has done really well and the ladies in the nursery all seem to love her. I have also found a babysitter who is able to come watch her for a couple of hours one afternoon a week, so that I can escape for some time on my own. It's a really nice break! Between all the activities and the things that we need to do around the house, we are staying busy. During the next month, we really need to work on getting her into some sort of daytime nap routine.

She is such a happy little baby and really a joy to be around. She is always smiling and looking at everything around her. I think that we might have a challenging month ahead with working on sleeping and naps but fingers crossed that we will make some progress.

Fashion Forward

2012-01-30T09:05:00.004-05:00

Ellie is getting so big! She is starting to outgrow some of her clothes, so we have broken out some bigger ones. She's definitely the most fashionable member of our household!

Here she is in her Italian outfit from my godparents:

And she's ready for the cold with her designer silver sparkly boots from Christine:

We got her all dressed up in a new outfit to go woo the employees at the car dealership when we took our car to be serviced.

It's crazy how quickly she is growing, but it's so fun to dress her up in cute outfits every day!

Just What I Needed

2012-01-15T12:00:00.000-05:00

On Friday morning, I had a very special moment. I had just fed Ellie for the first time and put her down to play on her mat while I went to finish getting ready for the day. I hadn't even made it out of the room before she rolled over from her front to her back. I couldn't believe it! I put her back on her tummy and couldn't even get in position to record it before she did it again. She did it a third time and I caught it on camera. I was so proud of her!

This on its own was very exciting, but it was even more special because we were heading out that morning to go clean out my desk at work. I was not looking forward to the task, since it would really make my decision to stay home seem final. Watching her roll over and knowing that I might not have gotten to see it if I was back at work made it that much easier to go in, clean out everything, and tell people I was leaving.

It was thrilling to watch Ellie figure out how to make her body do what she wanted it to do. And it was amazing to watch her do it on that morning of all mornings.

Ellie Laughs!

2012-01-12T18:47:00.003-05:00

Four Months

2012-01-06T21:50:00.002-05:00

This month went by so quickly! I knew that it would with the holidays, but I still can't believe that our baby is already four months old. We had such fun this month. The biggest news is that Ellie's sleeping has improved in leaps and bounds. She "slept through the night" for the first time on December 7th - a whole 8 hours without waking. Ben and I didn't sleep that much though since we were so used to getting up several times each night and kept on checking on her to make sure she was okay! She's still doing really well and we have had quite a few nights where she has slept for 8-10 hours. Pure bliss! I am definitely not taking it for granted, since this could change at any moment, but right now I am REALLY enjoying an almost normal sleep schedule.

This month she has been sucking her fingers, licking just about anything she can get her tongue on, and putting most things in her mouth. She is also a pro at blowing raspberries and drooling! Who knew that blowing raspberries could keep her entertained for so long? She will lie on her tummy and make all sorts of noises for up to 15 minutes at a time. She loves to grasp at toys and can use both of her hands to bring objects to the center and up to her mouth.

The week before Christmas, she giggled for the first time. Ben was the lucky one who got to hear it first, and it was so cute! She has giggled a total of three times and now seems to have completely forgotten how to do it. She's really starting to explore the different sounds she can make and has started to squeal too. And she has officially rolled over. The first time she rolled from her back to her tummy in our bed, aided quite a bit by gravity and Ben's weight. She also rolled from front to back in her crib once. But again, she seems to have forgotten how to do it. Oh well!

We went to the doctor on Thursday for her four month check-up. She is getting to be such a big girl! She is 24 inches long and weighs 13 pounds 1 ounce. That puts her in the 30th percentile for height and weight (she's still clocking in at the 80th percentile for head size!). For the last month, we've had her in the regular stroller seat (instead of the bassinet) and I think that she's enjoying our walks much more, now that she can see what's going on around her. We also took another mom and baby class at the local parenting center. It was a lot more fun for the babies this time around since they were awake more and could interact with each other.

Since she is sleeping so well, nursing has become much easier. We are down to about 7 feedings a day, which feels like so few, considering how many times I was nursing her in the first couple of months. It also seems like she's not spitting up quite as much (but whenever I think that's the case, she spits up a lot just to prove me wrong!). We are still working on naps during the day. Sometimes she will take a long 2-3 hour nap in the morning or afternoon, but other days she'll just have a 30-45 minute nap in her crib and a few cat naps throughout the day. It's a little tough (for me) that it's so unpredictable, but I think that she'll get into more of a routine in the months ahead.

The other big news from this month is that I have decided not to go back to work. It was an agonizing decision and one that I have really struggled with for the last year. I am glad to have finally made the decision though and I'm excited to have lots of time with Ellie and time with Ben when he's not working. I think that it will be good for our family. I will definitely miss all my co-workers (not necessarily all the tedious emails and meetings). I'm investigating some opportunities to do some freelance work from home, and I hope that they will pan out. 2012 is going to be a year full of change (as if 2011 wasn't!).

I love that we are starting to see more of Ellie's personality shine through every day. She is a real cutie and manages to charm everyone she meets. She is so happy and always smiling. We feel so lucky to have such a beautiful, happy, and healthy kid!

Ellie's First Christmas

2011-12-31T14:30:00.000-05:00

We had a lovely Christmas with my family this year. It was so special to have them here. What a year this has been! Last year on Christmas morning, we found out that we were pregnant but it was even more exciting to have Ellie with us this year. She is such a darling, happy baby. It was just another day for her but we felt very blessed.

My parents arrived on Thursday morning and my mom and I did some obligatory holiday baking while my dad entertained Ellie. Here's our Christmas Eve family photo before church:

On Christmas morning, I was still the most excited member of the household (hopefully Ellie will take over next year!).

She got her first doll from Nana and Grandpa. So cute!

Matthew and Allie arrived mid-morning from New York. Up until the last minute, we weren't sure if they would be able to come or not, but they did! We are so glad that they could get the time off and come celebrate with us. And Ellie got to meet her Aunt Allie for the first time!

Ellie kept us entertained all weekend. For the most part, she was content to sit and watch all the action. My brother cooked us a delicious Christmas dinner: beef tenderloin, mashed sweet potatoes, cauliflower and cheese sauce, and roasted parsnips. It was simple yet delicious!

The next morning we went to the hotel for breakfast.

And then pretty soon it was time to drop my parents off at the airport and Matthew and Allie at the bus. My only complaint was that the weekend went much too quickly! Ellie had a long nap on Monday morning (she was worn out from all the excitement), so she missed the family photo.

It's a little sad to think that this was our last Boston Christmas! It was definitely a good one though. We were very spoiled to be surrounded by generous gifts and loving family.

The Littlest Book List

2011-12-29T13:28:00.000-05:00

Well, I've had quite a busy year and it hasn't included much reading! I think that this is my shortest list since I started keeping track after college. Oh well! I'll have to do better in 2012. For the record, I started a lot more books than this but just couldn't seem to concentrate or focus long enough to finish many of them. Thank goodness for my two book clubs which actually forced me to buckle down and finish a few. This is a pretty eclectic mix of books, especially with all the childbirth and parenting selections.

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
I had to return to a childhood favorite to get me back in the mood for fiction. I love Anne! I'm hoping to read a few more of her books next year.

The No-Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley
The Nursing Mother's Companion by Kathleen Huggins

The Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvey Karp
This was very interesting...I'm just glad that Ellie didn't have colic!

The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
Easy Labor by William Camann
The Doula Guide to Birth by Ananda Lowe

The End of the Affair by Graham Greene
I actually read this for book club but I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. The writing is beautiful, although the story is quite sad. I will definitely have to reread it.

The Watery Part of the World by Michael Parker
Tender at the Bone by Ruth Reichl
Blood, Bones, and Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton
Tinkers by Paul Harding

Burning Bright by Ron Rash
One Foot in Eden by Ron Rash
I think that Ron Rash is my favorite discovery of the year. I loved One Foot in Eden and I really want to read his other novels too. I started Serena but couldn't get very far...

Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann
Self-Help by Lorrie Moore
A Red Herring without Mustard by Alan Bradley

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
This was perhaps my favorite book of the year. I had never heard of Collins but he was one of the first mystery writers in a modern sense and this book was fabulous. I read so much modern fiction that it was nice to read something a little older for a change. This is long but I highly recommend it!

Dreams of Trespass by Fatima Mernissi
Luka and the Fire of Life by Salman Rushdie

The good news is that I am back in the swing of things and reading again before bed. It's one of my favorite things to do, so I am very happy about it! Hopefully I'll have a better book list next year.

A Little N'awlins Up North

2011-12-28T12:24:00.007-05:00

We got the biggest surprise a couple of weeks ago when Chris and Ariel told us they were coming to visit! We couldn't believe it. Traveling with an almost 2-year-old seems like a daunting challenge but we were so excited to see our friends!

They got here on Saturday afternoon and stayed until mid-day on Tuesday. We stayed in on Saturday but on Sunday we went to the aquarium. Ellie was bundled up in her carrier and slept most of the time, but Jude got to run around and enjoy all the exhibits. I can't wait until Ellie is a little older and we can take advantage of some of the great museums around Boston.

Sunday night we recruited Kathryn and two of her friends to babysit for us while we went out for a grown-up dinner. It's always a good sign when the babysitters outnumber the charges! They did a great job with Jude and Ellie and we had a fabulous dinner and got some time to really catch up.

On Monday, Ben had to work, but the rest of us went to the Children's Museum for a couple of hours. We had a lot of fun but barely saw any of the exhibits. We'll have to go back since there is so much to do and look at there. That evening we got take out and stayed in.

And then it was Tuesday and time for them to go home. It went by much too quickly! We met Ben near the hospital for a late breakfast, Ariel bought some great cowboy boots on Charles Street, and then we were off to the airport.

I am SO glad that Chris, Ariel, and Jude could come and meet Ellie! It was really special to have them back in town after such a long absence. Hopefully we'll be down for a visit to New Orleans soon! We miss you guys already!

Ho ho ho!

2011-12-19T14:54:00.000-05:00

Ellie went to visit Santa for the first time a few weeks ago. Ben was very skeptical of the whole outing but I am glad that we did it. He thought that she would be the youngest one there but I'm pretty sure I saw other babies her age.

She did such a great job and sat with Santa for a few minutes. She sweetly waited until after she was safely off the lovely gentleman's lap before spitting up all over her own father.

I am so glad that we have these pics! I feel like she may never want to do it again, since her mother is terrified of anyone in costume and doesn't have any Santa pictures of her own. Haha! Merry Christmas to all!

Thanksgiving

2011-12-16T15:45:00.000-05:00

We had a great Thanksgiving with Ben's family! Since Carolyn and Mike didn't arrive in Boston until Friday, we had our official turkey day on Saturday. On Thursday, we had a Mexican Thanksgiving with chiles rellenos, fajitas, and margaritas at Kathryn's house. Yum!

On Friday night, Betsy and Brian stayed home with Ellie while the siblings went out for dinner. It was so nice! We were foiled in our plan to go to Drink, but we had a nice dinner at Legal Test Kitchen.

On Saturday, we buckled down for lots of cooking and baking. Everyone pitched in and helped since I was busy feeding Ellie much of the time. Everything turned out so well! We had a beautiful bronzed turkey, some delicious sides, and pretty pies for dessert (chocolate pecan pie and sweet potato pie with marshmallow meringue).

Ellie was great for the whole weekend. She was a little overwhelmed and overstimulated at the end of each day but that's to be expected with so many people around. It was so great that we could have everyone here to celebrate with us.

Ellie is three months!

2011-12-11T20:49:00.000-05:00

This has been such a great month. Ellie has grown and changed so much. There has been more time in the day for playing, instead of just eating and sleeping. This month we broke out her play mat and she loves to look at all of the toys that dangle from it, watch the flashing lights, and listen to the music. She also discovered her hands. At first she just batted at the mobile but by the end of the month she was staring at her hands all the time. She's moved on to stuffing them in her mouth now.

She has also started to focus on different objects and intently watches them move around. We've been playing with rattles too and she has started to wrap her tiny fingers around them. She still can't let go but it is so cool that her little fingers are always grabbing for things (I will probably find this less exciting when she's a little older!). Her head control is so much better. We've tried her in her Bumbo chair a couple of times but she's still not quite ready to sit up, even with a little help. We've also been reading lots of books to her. If she's in the mood, she will sit and stare at the pages, which is such a thrill for me. She's more and more comfortable playing on her stomach and doesn't get frustrated and upset quite so quickly.

I feel like we have made so much progress this month in decoding her different cries. She really is a fabulous baby and when she has what she needs, she is not very fussy. She is still eating about every two hours during the day but she has started to consolidate her sleeping at night into two big chunks of 3-4 hours each. It is such a relief not to be up at all hours of the night feeding her! We've definitely had some nights where she has reverted to her two-hour schedule, but in general, I think that we're making some progress. She has started to take longer naps during the day but her schedule is still very irregular.

I think that the thing I've enjoyed the most this month is how much Ellie is talking and smiling. It is so rewarding to have a little feedback and know that she is happy. She will have long conversations with me and Ben on the changing table, especially in the evening. I can definitely tell that there are times when she is "mad" at us by how her tone changes. It is so cute to hear her setting us straight if something hasn't gone right during the day! She is making lots of noises and it's so cool to see her watch my mouth as if she's trying to figure out how to get her own to make the same sounds.

Ellie also loves bath time. She's pretty quiet when she's in the tub, but you can tell that she loves the water. The first few times we bathed her she would scream when we took her out, but she seems to have gotten the hang of it now and it's much more relaxing for everyone involved.

At her two month appointment (which actually took place when she was 10 weeks), she was 22 inches long and 10 lbs 4 oz. That is the 24th percentile for weight and 44th percentile for height. Huge progress! It was so good to know that all of the hard work of nursing is finally paying off. She also had her first set of shots at the two-month appointment. It was very traumatic for all of us! She had no idea what was coming and her little face turned beet red at the surprise and pain of three shots in a row. The poor thing was understandably fussy and clingy for the rest of the week.

The doctor also recommended we get a plagio-cradle for her, since she has a preference for looking to the right and has a slight flat spot on one side of her head. We have been using it for the last month and while it seemed like an extreme solution to the problem at first, I actually think that it has been great. She doesn't mind sleeping in it, and we got it at the same time that she started to be noisier at night. It didn't fit in her bassinet, so we had her sleep on it in between us in bed for a couple of weeks. We weren't ready for her to be so far away from us in her own room (even though it's right next to our room)! Then we transitioned her to her crib after Thanksgiving. It went really smoothly, mostly, I think, because it felt the same to her. And the cradle has definitely helped her head shape. We've also been doing some re-positioning, so she is not quite as wedded to the right side as she was at first.

So, it's been a busy month here! Ellie has added so much joy to our lives and we can't believe how quickly she is growing and changing.

Play time!

2011-11-29T07:51:00.000-05:00

Ellie has been busy playing! She is doing so well on her tummy and is getting better and better at raising her head. It is so much fun to watch her look at and play with all her toys. She's even starting to grasp and hold things, although sometimes she doesn't realize she's holding something and can't really figure out how to let go!

The Visitors Continue...

2011-11-28T07:45:00.007-05:00

My mom and Sheila came for a visit a few weeks ago. It was really special to have Sheila visit us in Boston for the first time! Both Ellie and I were totally spoiled during their visit. I got to escape one morning for a luxurious facial while they took care of Ellie. That evening Ben stayed home with Ellie while the three of us went to dinner. What a treat!

Both Granny and Granny Sheila enjoyed spending time with Ellie. She got lots of love and attention and playtime. We had a pretty low-key visit but a great time nonetheless! As usual the visit went much too quickly, but hopefully they will both be back to visit us again soon.

Road Trip

2011-11-24T12:56:00.002-05:00

A few weekends ago, Ben and I headed out with Ellie for her first road trip to Caryn and Aric's wedding. We were a little unsure of how the trip would go and what we would need. We were only away for about 24 hours but we filled the car with diapers, wipes, outfits, and every other possible thing we could need.

Ellie was amazing on the trip! She slept most of the three and a half hours to Saratoga Springs. We took one break about 2 hours into the drive and then made it to the hotel by about 1 pm. We met up with several of my friends and their spouses and dates and headed out to a local winery for a tasting. It was a surprisingly baby-friendly activity!

Then we were off to get ready for the wedding. The ceremony and reception were just lovely and Ellie was very well behaved. She slept through the ceremony and then woke up for the cocktail hour. It was so fun to see all my friends and I'm really glad that we could be there to celebrate with Caryn and Aric.

Caryn looked just gorgeous! We all got together for a group photo after dinner. Then Ben and I went back to the hotel since it was past Ellie's bedtime.

The next morning we met everyone for breakfast and then we were back on the road. It was great to get out of town and to have a trial run away from home with Ellie. She is such a darling girl and made the trip so easy. Next we'll have to try a slightly longer, farther trip!

Happenings

2011-11-05T14:29:00.000-04:00

We've been busy around here!

For Halloween, Ellie was a pumpkin. She was just an inside pumpkin though and really only very briefly. But a cute pumpkin, nonetheless!

She also got a new snowsuit! Since we had our first snowstorm last weekend, we decided that we better get ready for a long, cold winter. As you can see, the snowsuit is about twice as big as Ellie right now, but I have great expectations for her growth over the course of the winter (which will likely last till April).

Also, last weekend, we finally set up the nursery. Most of our visitors have come already, so we moved the bed downstairs and set up her crib. We moved things around, hung the pictures on the wall, and generally decorated. It feels so nice to have a space in our house that is officially Ellie's! We've been letting her hang out in her crib a little bit during the day and she seems to like it so far.

There are a few special things to point out in her room:

The quilt hanging over the crib was made by my mom. It coordinates so well!
Ben painted the rocking chair for Ellie and his mom made the cushions.
The white blanket that Ben's Grandma Alma knitted is hanging over the rocking chair.
Baloo, the bear that my dad gave her, is nestled in the corner of the crib.
The beautiful mobile hanging on the closet door was made by my friend Anita. We need to figure out a spot to hang it that's closer to the crib!

I am so pleased with how everything looks. We need a few more decorations for the walls, but it is looking really pretty so far!

Nana and Grandpa visit!

2011-10-31T11:39:00.004-04:00

Ellie is very spoiled! Her other set of grandparents came to visit her last weekend (and her Nana stayed the rest of the week to help us out). We had a low-key weekend but we went out to the Charles on Saturday and Sunday to watch the crew races. It was great to see Brian and Betsy and I know that they had fun spending time with their granddaughter!

Two months

2011-10-28T21:08:00.015-04:00

Ellie is two months old today. This has been such an exciting month for us! I can't believe how much she has grown and changed. She is turning into quite the adorable little lady. She now weighs almost 9 and a half pounds and has the cutest chubby cheeks. She's even starting to grow a little more hair on the top of her head. It's very blond but in certain lights it looks a little reddish. Her eyes are still a gorgeous blue.

My favorite development this month is her newfound ability to smile and coo. It is so great to finally get a little feedback after weeks of feeding, burping, changing diapers, and soothing her. While my mom was here, she and Ellie had several long conversations! Ellie is especially happy and chatty on her changing table. She also loves to look at the mobile that my friend Anita made. It's hanging right near her changing table, so she can look at it from there. She's fascinated by the bright colors and the tinkling bells. She's starting to be more aware of her hands as well and has been reaching out more and more.

We've been diligently working on her tummy time and have a few modified tummy time positions that she seems to like a little more than being completely flat on her mat. Her Nana has been here this week, so she has been whipping her into shape. Each day Ellie is getting better at holding her head up. It's remarkable how much stronger she is getting! She also LOVES to sit in her vibrating bouncer. It's amazing how calm it makes her and how well she sleeps there. It's great to have a spot to set her down every once in a while so we can get something done (or eat dinner together!). She looks at the lights and "waterfall" on it more and more. She sleeps particularly well when we play the nature sounds (it even allowed us to have 2 hours worth of photos taken last week by a photographer, which I consider to be a small miracle!).

Around the six week mark, Ellie and I really finally got the hang of nursing. It's going much better now, although I still feel like we spend at least half of our time feeding (Ben routinely leaves in the morning and comes home at night to find me in the same spot nursing Ellie!). Some days we have even lengthened the time between feedings to more than two hours. I am so happy that she is gaining weight so steadily. We've also made some progress in the sleep department. We've had a few great nights where she has slept for two chunks of 3-4 hours. We've also had many nights where she wakes up every two hours. Oh well! I am somehow learning to function on not much sleep at all. And I have rediscovered napping!

With all of her recent weight gain, Ellie is finally outgrowing most of her newborn clothes. It's so weird to put on a cute little onesie that fit perfectly last week and find it hard to get it over her head or snap the snaps this week. We've just started to put her in the three month clothes this week and size one diapers. It's getting colder here by the day, so Betsy and I bought her some cute long-sleeve onesies and pants this week to keep her warm as well.

For the last six weeks, I have been going to a wonderful mom and baby class at the local parenting center. We had our last class this week and it was pretty amazing to see how much things have changed. I remember how nervous I was and how awkward we were at the first class. It was weird to nurse and change her in public, and I was so worried that she would start screaming! Now we're almost pros at leaving the house. All the babies pretty much slept for the first four weeks of class, so it was very exciting to see so many of them alert and engaged this week. We are going to continue with the next class for older babies in a few weeks, and I'm very excited about it.

So, all in all, it's been a busy month with lots of lessons for mom and dad and developmental milestones for Ellie. It has been very exciting all around and we can't wait to see what the next month holds!

Lunch Date

2011-10-25T08:25:00.005-04:00

Ellie went on a lunch date with Murphy last week! They found a snug spot under the table while their moms ate a delicious lunch. Ellie wasn't a great lunch companion since she slept the entire time, but Murphy didn't seem to mind (and he got lots of attention that way).

The babies even let me and Katie go for a walk after lunch. It was great to get outside in the nice weather and catch up.

Out and About

2011-10-18T13:45:00.000-04:00

Since Ellie is getting so much bigger and nursing on the go is getting a little easier, we have been getting out and about to enjoy the fall weather. I think that it makes us all feel better to leave the house and get a few things done.

Last weekend, Ben, Ellie, and I went to the SoWa Market on Sunday morning. Not only do they have a lovely Farmer's Market, but they have great craft vendors and a vintage market too. We got Ellie the most adorable teddy bear hat, as well as a pretty ribbon clip to keep her pacifier from getting lost.

My mom has been in town to help out since Wednesday and it has been great to have her here. My dad arrived on Saturday morning too. This is his first time seeing Ellie since she was first born, so she has changed a lot!

We have had a busy weekend. On Saturday morning, we took Ellie to have her handprints and footprints captured in clay. She looks so calm in these photos, but she didn't like it at all when she had to touch the clay! I can't wait to see the final product!

On Saturday afternoon, we went to the Mt. Auburn Cemetery. It was a fun outing but unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate. It was cloudy and then started to rain, so we had to cut the trip short. We need to try and go back in a couple of weeks once the fall foliage is in full swing.

On Sunday the weather was gorgeous, so we drove out to Walden Pond. With the wind, it was even a little chilly! We took a quick walk around part of the pond, and then drove back through Concord. We stopped at Wilson Farms on the way home for cider donuts and some groceries for dinner.

It has been really great to have my parents here. They will be back for Christmas and we can't wait!

Granny and Grampy visit!

2011-10-17T15:26:00.002-04:00

Ellie has been getting a lot of love and attention with her grandparents in town!

The Happy Couple

2011-10-16T17:56:00.000-04:00

Matthew and Allie are married!

By all accounts, the wedding was fabulous. The setting and the weather were beautiful. The bride looked gorgeous and the groom dashing. They were surrounded by friends and family. As you would expect for two people who work in the food industry, the food was delicious.

We were so sorry not to be there to celebrate with them in person, but as it turns out we were able to watch the ceremony live on Skype. It was so wonderful of Peter to call us and show us around the wedding virtually. Oh, the wonders of technology!

Congratulations, Matthew and Allie! We are so excited for you!

Cuteness

2011-10-11T08:57:00.003-04:00

Ellie Goes Apple Picking

2011-10-10T08:55:00.000-04:00

Last weekend Ellie got to take part in my favorite New England activity--apple picking! I have been looking forward to getting a stash of fresh local apples and eating some delicious cider donuts for quite a few months. The weather wasn't great but we decided to brave the mud and drizzle and go anyway. We were really excited that Kathryn could come with us.

We bundled Ellie into the Moby and the outing was a success. It was great to get out of the house and come back with a peck of apples. We should be set for a few weeks with apples to eat and enough for some apple crisps and cakes. Yum!

Uncle Matthew's Big Day

2011-10-08T12:07:00.004-04:00

My brother Matthew came up from New York to visit us last week and meet Ellie. I am so glad that he did. It was really great to see him.

I was especially happy that he could come since he and Allie are getting married today. I can't believe that we won't be there. It was a really hard decision but we just couldn't wrap our minds around traveling halfway across the country by plane when Ellie was still so little. So far, we've been lucky to make it out of the house each day to somewhere 20 minutes away. I think that we made the right decision but I am still sad not to be there for the festivities this weekend!

I hope that the newlyweds will be able to come up to Boston for a visit soon or else Ben and I will brave the much shorter trip down to New York with Miss Ellie to see them.

In any case we are spending the weekend thinking about the happy couple. We wish them many congratulations and much love in their new life together. We couldn't be happier that Allie will now be part of our family!

One month!

2011-09-27T21:29:00.000-04:00

I can't believe that Ellie is one month old! This has been the longest, shortest month ever. I guess that's what happens when you get so little sleep and are up around the clock!

I do feel like we've turned a corner in the last few days. Over the weekend I got more than a couple of hours sleep each night, so I feel like I have returned to the land of the living. We've gotten into more of a routine at night and Ellie is sleeping better. I know that it won't happen every night, but it is such a nice break to get some rest!

Ellie is such a darling girl! She is starting to interact with us more when she's awake. She can focus on our faces and gives us big grins. She has even let out a few coos. We are so excited to see how her personality develops in the coming months.

She likes to sit in her bouncer or her swing for short periods of time (mostly while we eat!). She has tried out her tummy time mat. She is getting better at controlling her hands and her head. She loves to have her hands by her face like she did in utero. She is not a fan of her car seat and tends to scream like a banshee when she has to go in it.

We have been continuing to struggle a little with her weight, but according to our unscientific weigh-ins on our kitchen scale, it seems like she is finally putting on weight consistently. That is a huge relief! She has become less of a sleepy eater in the past few days, so hopefully she'll spend more time eating and I'll spend less time trying to rouse her during our feedings in the coming weeks.

Ellie and I had our first day home alone last Thursday. It was a daunting prospect but we survived. We made it to our mommy and baby class that morning. On Friday we went and met up with a friend for an hour. So we are getting out of the house little by little. The weather has been quite hot and rainy but I hope we'll be able to go on some nice fall walks in the coming weeks.

She is one adorable little lady and we can't wait to see who she will become!

Big Purchase

2011-09-24T21:24:00.001-04:00

As if a new baby wasn't a big enough adjustment, once she arrived we decided we needed a second car. As it turns out, riding public transportation with a tiny baby isn't very easy or convenient to do in practice. Last Friday we got a beautiful, bigger car that actually fits her car seat without leaving the front passenger's knees jammed into the dashboard. It's a little big to drive around town but I'm getting used to it. And it will be perfect for next year!

You'll notice that Ellie remains unconvinced about the comfort of her car seat.

(Also add this to the list of things that I wish we had done before the baby arrived! Oh well!)

Visitors

2011-09-24T21:15:00.000-04:00

Aunt Carolyn and Uncle Mike came to visit us last weekend. It was so great to see them and we were so happy to introduce them to Miss Ellie!

Three weeks

2011-09-21T18:57:00.000-04:00

Ben and I are continuing to get to know Ellie. She is so adorable (if we do say so!). I can't believe how much she has matured in the last couple of weeks. She seems like a completely different baby than the one we first brought home from the hospital.

She has the most expressive face and it's so much fun to watch her. She grins, grimaces, and has periods of complete serenity. After feeding, she will often stretch herself out to her full 19 inches, throw her arms and her head back and exult in her full belly. She now seems to be growing well and looks a bit pudgier than when she first came home from the hospital. We went to the doctor for a weight check last Thursday and she had gained 3 ounces in as many days, which was very good news! Hopefully she will keep it up.

I still can't say that we are getting a whole lot of sleep around here. We have had some really good nights and some really bad ones. Hopefully the former will start to outnumber the latter at some point soon. Betsy has been here to help since Thursday, which is a lifesaver. It was really great to have Ben around all weekend. We really miss him when he is at work!

Our days are filled with eating, sleeping, and diaper changing, but somehow the hours just fly past! Ellie has also started to enjoy her vibrating bouncer for short periods of time (often at dinner, so we can all eat!). She has started to have better control of her head and we have experimented a little bit with the tummy time mat. Most of her exciting activities take place when Mommy is sleeping (or trying to). I also invested in a Moby Wrap, so that I can have some hands-free time and still keep her close to me. It's a little tricky to get her in there, but she seems very content once we do and I'm sure that I'll get better at wrapping her in the coming weeks.

I can't believe that she is almost a month old. What a surreal few weeks it has been!

Two weeks

2011-09-14T20:59:00.001-04:00

I didn't completely understand how quickly time flies once you have a baby! The past two weeks have been a complete blur. Each time I look at the clock, I am amazed at how many hours have passed and how (seemingly) little I have accomplished.

I can't believe that Ellie was two weeks old on Sunday. We have had a busy week. Ben went back to work last Tuesday and my mom arrived that day to help out. It has been wonderful to have her here. We have spent a lot of time around the house but also got out a few times, despite the rainy weather earlier in the week. She flew home this afternoon and Ben's mom arrives later tonight.

Ellie has been doing really well and we've really been enjoying getting to know her. She has such an expressive face. We can't figure out if she looks more like me or like Ben. We had a couple of rough nights without much sleep toward the end of the week, but the last few nights she has slept like an angel. We'll see how frequently that happens going forward! Her umbilical cord fell off on Friday night, so we gave her a real bath for the first time on Saturday.

We went back to the doctor on Monday for her two-week check-up. She is doing really well but hasn't put on as much weight as she needs to. So we are back on a rigorous feeding schedule to get her to plump up. We go back for a weight check tomorrow and hopefully she will be right on track!

Ellie and Mommy

2011-09-13T21:05:00.001-04:00

Ellie and Daddy

2011-09-09T17:34:00.001-04:00

Baby's First Bath

2011-09-09T17:15:00.008-04:00

Ben and I gave Ellie her first sponge bath the other day. She wasn't quite sure what to make of it at first, but she turned out all sparkling and clean in the end. (And the cute monkey towel doesn't hurt either!)

One week old

2011-09-04T21:02:00.003-04:00

What a difference a week makes! I can't believe that this time last week we were still in the hospital and our parents were meeting Ellie for the first time.

I have to say that the week has flown by, especially since we got back from the hospital. It's been a very steep learning curve! We are starting to get on a more regular schedule though and are learning some of Ellie's cues. We even ventured out of the house for the first time on Friday evening to get pizza across the river. We fed her, bundled her into her car seat, and headed out for a quick dinner. The outing was a success and it was great to get out of the house!

It has been so special for the three of us to spend the week together. Here are a few of our favorite pictures from her first week!

Day 2

2011-09-02T13:52:00.001-04:00

She's here!

2011-09-01T12:25:00.006-04:00

Baby Elinor arrived on Sunday, August 28, at 1:20 am. She weighed 6 pounds 15 ounces and was 19 inches long. We are completely in love!

My water broke early on Saturday morning and we went off to the hospital a few hours later. Apparently, Hurricane Irene may have been to blame since many people are crediting the drop in barometric pressure with starting labor for many pregnant women up and down the East Coast.

Ben, Ellie, and I got back from the hospital on Tuesday afternoon. We have been busy getting settled in and learning about our new baby girl. We feel very blessed to have a healthy and content baby girl, and will have lots more pictures to share in the coming days!

39 Weeks

2011-08-24T16:39:00.007-04:00

I am 39 weeks today! Yikes, we are getting close. But I think that we might be having a September baby instead of an August one. We'll see! We had an ultrasound and doctor's appointment today, and while everything looks good, I don't think that her arrival is imminent. I have been enjoying my time off from work to do some final preparations and finish some projects before the baby arrives.

Here's a belly shot that my friend Amanda took about a week ago when I was about 37.5 weeks.

We are getting very excited here and just trying to keep ourselves busy until Peanut decides to make her debut!

Cravings

2011-08-20T10:15:00.001-04:00

For most of my pregnancy, I haven't really had any food cravings. I made myself a smoothie for breakfast just about every day for the first 6 months. I think they satisfied my desire for cold, icy beverages and kept me away from the ice cream. I've had an urge for a really good BBQ dinner a couple of times. Other than that, I have just wanted carbs, chocolate, and baked goods. Since those aren't very different from the foods that I crave under normal circumstances, I don't think they count! I think that I had my most official pregnancy craving on Thursday evening when I sent Ben to the store for French bread and cheese. Yum!

Last week, one of my co-workers brought in some delicious apricot jam bars, and I couldn't stop thinking about them. So, I decided to make my own on Sunday and they were so easy. I now know that the reason they are so delicious is the crazy amount of butter that they require! However, they are pretty rich and make enough to share with others. I wanted to take a picture of them but sadly they disappeared too quickly for that! I decided to use raspberry jam when I made them and omitted the ginger all together.

Apricot Crumbles
from Real Simple
Makes 16 bars.

2 sticks unsalted butter, cold, cut into pieces
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup apricot jam or preserves
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

1. Heat oven to 375° F. Coat an 8-inch square baking dish with 1 tablespoon of the butter.
2. In a food processor, combine the flour, granulated and light brown sugars, baking powder, and salt. Pulse to combine. Add the remaining butter and pulse until crumbly. Add the egg yolk and vanilla and pulse until the mixture just comes together but is still crumbly.
3. Transfer 1/2 cup of the dough to a small bowl or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Use your fingertips to press the remaining dough evenly into the baking dish, pushing the dough up about 1/4 inch around the edge.
4. Combine the jam and ginger in a small bowl. Spread the mixture evenly over the crust. Crumble the remaining refrigerated dough over the top. Bake until golden, about 35 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes before cutting.

Also, yesterday was a big day: my last day at work! The last week has been a frantic rush to the finish and there were a couple of times when I was worried that I might not make it. However, I managed to finish the training for the person who will be covering for me while I'm away, and I wrapped up the majority of my pending projects. It's a huge relief to be finished, but it also feels weird to know that I don't have to go back to the office or check email for several months! Now we just have to wait for the baby to arrive. Until then, I will be enjoying the ultimate long weekend. To kick it off, we are having a lazy weekend at home and then I'm off for a pedicure on Monday morning!

Girls Weekend

2011-08-14T21:00:00.001-04:00

Last weekend my friends Shevani, Christine, and Michelle came up to Boston to see me and my other friend Caryn. We all stayed at a nearby hotel, relaxed at the pool, went shopping, and went out to eat. It was so fun to see everyone! It was also wonderful to have everyone come to Boston. It felt like a vacation but I didn't have to do any traveling!

On Friday night, we celebrated Caryn's upcoming wedding with a little shower. And everyone also bought baby presents for me. The baby and I are so spoiled! We didn't manage to take a picture on Friday night, which was the only night that Michelle was in town, but here's a shot of our drinks before dinner on Saturday.

Needless to say, by Sunday morning, I was exhausted from all the activities, but it was well worth it. Hopefully we'll have annual get-togethers like this one in the future. And at the very least, we'll all be back together for Caryn's wedding in November!!

36 Weeks

2011-08-03T20:10:00.000-04:00

Today I am 36 weeks pregnant! I can't believe it. We're also officially in the baby's potential birth month, which makes the whole thing seem very real! Who knows if she will come in August or September, but we are excited for her arrival!

A few other exciting things to mention:

I have only three more weeks of work (and lots to do before I leave). My co-workers threw me a fabulous surprise baby shower last week. They lured me to a conference room under the pretense of attending a meeting and I was completely surprised. Then, they took me out to dinner afterward. I felt very spoiled!

I went to the doctor last week for a check-up and an ultrasound. We finally got a good 3D picture of the baby! She hasn't been very cooperative in utero, but she finally let us see her face. We are very biased, but we think that she is just adorable. We can't wait to meet her in person! You can see half of her face in the ultrasound below. She has her little fist tucked in by her eye.

I have been feeling really well, but I am glad to be closing in on the last few weeks. In the last week, my hands and feet have been swelling more and more, so I have been cutting back on my walking and trying to stay in the air conditioning. Luckily, it hasn't been all that hot here!

On the Islands

2011-08-02T21:10:00.001-04:00

We've been trying to make the most of our last few weekends before the baby comes. We had a completely baby-free weekend (well, in the sense that we didn't do any baby prep or baby errands) and decided to go out to the Harbor Islands on Sunday. Kathryn came with us, which was a nice treat!

We got a later start than we expected, so first we took a ferry to Georges Island. We went there last summer and enjoyed it. They had completed all the renovations to the visitor's center and opened a snack shack, so it was really very nice this year. We walked around the fort and had a picnic lunch while we waited for the inter-island ferry to Spectacle Island (we spent a lot of the day waiting for ferries!).

I was very intrigued by Spectacle Island and excited to get there. It was a gorgeous weekend and so everyone else wanted to go there for the day too. It was crowded and very hot! There is a beach area but we weren't really in the mood for swimming in Boston Harbor. We started to walk up to the highest point on the island but with the heat, my lack of endurance, and the informative historical signs telling us about the island's past as a rendering plant and then a landfill (!) we didn't quite make it to the top. There was still a great view of the Boston skyline!

We made it on to the 3 o'clock ferry back to Boston and were all very happy to get back home to the air conditioning! It was a fun trip, but I think that next time we'll try a different island on a cooler day.

Getting Ready

2011-07-25T18:12:00.000-04:00

Last weekend, my mom came to visit! It was so nice to have her in town and we spent lots of time getting ready for the baby. We went shopping for some essentials, washed all of the baby clothes and put them away, and spent plenty of time watching the Tour de France. Ben had to work that weekend, so we could just entertain ourselves.

On Saturday night, we went out to a lovely dinner and Kathryn came too.

On Sunday, we went to an Infant CPR class, so my mom and I are both up on all the latest ways to resuscitate infants who are not breathing or who are choking. Hopefully we won't have to put those skills to use!

The weekend went much too quickly, but it was really wonderful to have her here and have some help getting things in order before the baby comes. We don't have too much longer now!

Last Hurrah

2011-07-14T19:14:00.000-04:00

Over the fourth of July, Ben and I headed down to Durham for our last trip before the baby comes. I was a little nervous to fly so late in pregnancy but the flights went fine, and I'm so glad that we got to catch up with our good friends, Audrey and Ryan, Chris and Ariel, and their kids.

First order of business in the hot steamy weather - swimming! Sam got to use his new birthday present.

It was fabulous to be outside and in the water. I wish we had a pool up here!

On Saturday night, we left the little boys with a babysitter, so that the grown-ups could go out for an adult dinner. It was great! (Apparently, Ben and I will appreciate this much more in about 6 months!)

The next day we drove to Saxapahaw to go canoeing on the Haw River. So much fun!

The river was really shallow in places which was perfect, since we could get out easily and swim (even the very pregnant woman managed to get in and out of the canoe).

Sam taking a turn as captain! He did a great job swimming and paddling.

That evening, after a dinner of BBQ, the boys enjoyed some cigars and scotch, and the ladies enjoyed a more innocent treat of ice cream. Not too much debauchery ensued.

The next day, Sam and Jude went to the neighborhood parade, complete with firetruck and firemen. Jude got his first taste of a popsicle (he liked the second taste better).

And then, much too soon, it was time for us to go home! We had such a fabulous time though. We will have to plan these get-togethers more frequently and I'm excited that we will hopefully be able to introduce everyone to baby Peanut at the next one!

There's a reason they call it the off season

2011-06-29T17:06:00.002-04:00

A couple of weeks ago Ben had a week of vacation, so the two of us set off on a little trip to Martha's Vineyard. He's had a pretty rough call schedule over the last few months, so we needed a little getaway. This was also our last vacation before the baby comes, so it was fun to have some time for the two of us away from all of our to do lists at home.

We left on Sunday morning, drove down to Wood's Hole, parked our car, and took the ferry over to the island. It was really easy, and there is a great bus system on the island that could take us anywhere that we needed to go. We stayed in Edgartown at a cute little hotel that has been around for 100 years. We spent Sunday afternoon exploring Edgartown and walked out to the lighthouse. We found a restaurant by the water and had a really nice dinner (complete with a great berry mocktail for me!).

When I envisioned the trip, I was hoping that we could spend some time exploring the island but more time relaxing on the beach and possibly in the water. Unfortunately, the New England weather had other plans! Technically the full summer season doesn't start until late June or the first week of July. The temperatures didn't get much above 60 degrees and the sun only came out for about 10 minutes! At least the rain stayed away, but it wasn't really beach weather. We stayed in our jeans the whole time and didn't need to bring our swimsuits! Oh well. We made the most of our time there, even away from the beach.

On Monday morning, we explored Oak Bluffs. They have some very cute historic "gingerbread" cottages in the Camp Meeting Association area. We walked along the beach and checked out some of the shops in town. For lunch we found a great spot on the water. We had some good seafood during the trip, and I realized that I actually do like clam chowder. Yum!

That afternoon, we took a bus over to Katama and walked along South Beach. The sun appeared for a little while so we could relax on the beach and read. Somehow, despite the very brief appearance of the sun, Ben managed to get sunburned. Who knew!

The next day we rented a car to drive up island and explore Menemsha and Aquinnah. On the way, we stopped to explore Main Street in Vineyard Haven and the Polly Hill Arboretum.

We made it to Menemsha just in time for lunch. It was blustery, but we got some clam chowder, lobster bisque, and oysters (for Ben) at Larsen's Fish Market. It was right on the water and all the seafood was very fresh. I think that they filmed part of Jaws in Menemsha so it was a very picturesque spot.

After lunch we headed over to the lighthouse at Aquinnah. It was a gorgeous, rugged spot and also very windy. We both expected there to be more to do in Aquinnah (for instance, a town of some sort), but after seeing the lighthouse and walking down to the beach, we were done. Gay Head Beach is "clothing optional" but it was too cold for anyone to be out there, so we didn't have any thrills or awkward encounters!

After that we headed back to Edgartown and found a place in town for dinner. On Wednesday morning, we packed up, returned the rental car, and headed to the ferry. It was great to get away and spend time together but we will definitely only be returning to Martha's Vineyard in the full, peak season so that we can enjoy the warm weather and the beaches!

Fifth Year, Finally

2011-06-28T21:10:00.004-04:00

As of Saturday, Ben is officially a fifth year resident. Hooray! This has been a tough year with lots of call, so it is great to move on to our last year. Of course, his new year as chief resident started with more weekend call, but he has assured me that there will be a lot less of it this year. In fact, he should only have to work 6 full weekends this year (compared to 18 last year!) which doesn't seem too terrible at all. And we'll get three of them out of the way before the baby arrives, which is great.

I can't believe that we have been in Boston for four years already. In some respects, it has gone by quite quickly but there have definitely been challenging parts as well. I'm not even the one working the 90-hour weeks and it has been exhausting. It's really nice to be in the home stretch though, and we have a lot of exciting changes to look forward to in the coming year. Congrats, Ben, on making it to your last year of residency and the top of the totem pole!

29 Weeks

2011-06-20T20:59:00.006-04:00

Ben and I are back from a fabulous week of vacation. We are still working on the pictures from our trip, but in the meantime, I thought you might like to see a picture of my growing belly.

I was 29 weeks last Wednesday, so I am now firmly in my third trimester. I can't believe how quickly the last few months have gone. I continue to feel really great and the baby has been kicking and wiggling around more and more. Ben has even put his stethoscope from med school to use and we have both heard the baby's heartbeat. It's so cool!

We have also been busy getting our spare room ready for the baby and figuring out all the baby gear that we will need. There is just so much to consider, so it has been a challenge to figure out what we really need and what we can live without. We are making some progress though!

Kathryn Graduates!

2011-06-03T17:50:00.000-04:00

Kathryn graduated from college two weekends ago. I think that we were all surprised by how quickly the past four years have gone. We are so proud of her!

It poured with rain the morning of graduation, but by the time we arrived, it was cloudy and dry. Ben made it to the ceremony too, which was a wonderful surprise.

The readers zoomed through all the names of the graduates (probably because of the impending clouds and rain), so we made it to Kathryn's name in record time.

That evening we went out for a celebratory dinner in Coolidge Corner. It was so special to have Ben's grandmothers, Carolyn, and Mike in town.

Congrats, Kathryn! We are so proud of you and excited to see what you will do and where you will go!

Celebrating with Family

2011-05-26T21:24:00.000-04:00

Last Saturday, Betsy hosted a baby shower for me. Both of Ben's grandmothers and Carolyn were in town for Kathryn's graduation, so it was the perfect opportunity for everyone to get together. We had a really special afternoon with a lovely lunch full of good food and storytelling. And they completely spoiled me and baby Peanut with presents.

Kathryn and Carolyn gave us some cute things for the nursery.

Brian's mother knit us the most beautiful baby blanket!

Betsy gave us a bedskirt for the crib. It's going to look so cute!

Sarah and Ellen, Mike's sister and mother, were able to come as well. It was so nice to see them! Sarah is due with her third child in early July, so we got to shower her as well. She definitely won the belly competition (but she has a good 6 weeks on me!).

We got a lovely soft blanket from Betsy's mom as well.

It was such a fun afternoon! I felt so special and loved to be surrounded by such a fabulous group of ladies who have given birth to 19 children between them!

Later that evening the boys joined us for dinner. It was great to have all of Ben's family in one place for a few days! Next up...graduation!

Meet Me in NYC

2011-05-18T21:56:00.003-04:00

This weekend we went off to New York for a weekend with my family. I was a little anxious about getting on a bus for 4+ hours, but the trip down there went really smoothly. Ben even managed to get the afternoon off, so we arrived in the city by about 6 pm on Friday.

We met up with my parents at the hotel and then went to meet Matthew and Allie for dinner. We had something special to celebrate--Matthew and Allie's engagement! They got engaged the weekend before last. Needless to say, we are all thrilled that Allie will be joining our family. We toasted them with champagne at dinner and generally ate, drank, and enjoyed ourselves a lot.

The next morning (still mostly stuffed) we made our way downtown to meet the happy couple for brunch before Allie had to go to work. She had sweetly offered to work for my brother on Saturday, so that he could entertain us!

We weren't sure how to spend the day, but we decided to go to the American Museum of Natural History. It is a cool place but some of the exhibits are so old--you can just really tell they were created in a different time when people felt differently about wildlife and documenting the natural world. We went to the special exhibit on large dinosaurs which was pretty interesting. Ben and I both liked the walls which looked like they were made of thousands of plastic straws stacked together.

This is the vertebrae from one of the dinosaurs in the exhibit:

My dad and Matthew are not all that fond of museums. Exhibit A:

When we were finished at the museum, we found a little restaurant on the Upper West Side where we could sit down to rest and refresh ourselves. After a little break back at the hotel, we were off to dinner. Despite the clouds, we didn't have to contend with any rain on our trip and we walked over to the restaurant.

We had another amazing meal. I think that we were all completely stuffed by the time we were done. So stuffed, in fact, that I couldn't even force myself to go to my favorite place for brunch the next morning! But we did have a fabulous time, and it was so good to see my parents, Matthew, and Allie. Hopefully they will all be coming up to Boston for a visit soon!

Sunday morning went quite quickly, and before we knew it, my parents had to head to the airport, and Ben and I were off to catch the bus. We stopped for a little photo shoot in Grand Central, and then we were on our way home!

Reading Rut

2011-05-16T21:30:00.004-04:00

I'm not sure if you've noticed but my book list is looking pretty slim this year. I can't tell if I overdid it last year or if I'm just too distracted by the pregnancy, but for whatever reason, I just can't get reading! There are plenty of books that I want to read, I just can't concentrate on them. I've started and stopped several books and have reread a few others but very slowly....

Luckily, within the last year, I've joined two book clubs. I've made it through most of the monthly picks. Recently, I got to pick the book for one of the clubs and I chose One Foot in Eden by Ron Rash. I really enjoyed his book of short stories last year and this book, his first novel, was also a great story about the meaning of family and the power of nature and land in shaping a community's memory. I highly recommend it!

Hopefully the summer weather will kickstart my reading!

Photographic Evidence

2011-05-05T15:28:00.001-04:00

I've had a couple of requests for a photo of my growing belly. I was 23 weeks yesterday, and I am definitely getting bigger!

Ben and I both went to the doctor yesterday and everything seems fine. We got to hear the baby's heartbeat, which is always very cool. In the last couple of weeks, I have started to feel her move around a lot, and on Sunday she had hiccups for the first time. I can't believe how quickly the weeks are passing. August will be here before we know it!

No Time Like the Present...

2011-05-01T21:31:00.001-04:00

Even though it's now May and I'm almost 6 months pregnant, for my birthday present from Ben, I got a brand new pair of skis! They are very fancy, and hopefully they will be a lot of fun. This is my first pair of brand-new skis, so it's quite a treat. We found them at a store near us and since it's the end of the season they were 40% off. I am rarely a bargain shopper, so I thought we should take advantage of the great deal! They are K2 Lotta Luv's, and I have heard great things about them. They'll be a little bit of a challenge for me at first but hopefully I'll be a much better skier at the end of our year in Taos.

I can't wait to try them out! Eight months till ski season!

Peanut's First Baseball Game

2011-04-19T19:00:00.002-04:00

(Alternate title: Fetus at Fenway!)

Ben was completely off from work on Saturday, so we decided to try and stand by for tickets at Fenway with a special deal he gets through one of the hospitals. We had never tried it before, but it worked! We stood in line for about an hour and then got in at the beginning of the third inning. We had great seats near third base.

It was very fun, but we didn't realize quite how cold and windy the weather was going to be! I wish that we'd worn more layers and brought gloves. Luckily, the Red Sox were ahead 4-1 against Toronto, so we didn't feel too bad leaving in the eighth inning.

We have tickets for a couple more games later in the season (thanks, Mike!), so we are excited to return in warmer weather. It was still a great way to spend the day, and we eventually managed to warm up once we were home.

A New Toy

2011-04-18T10:00:00.001-04:00

Last weekend while Ben was working, I got to play with my new birthday present. Since it was a momentous birthday, my parents got me a serger. This is not the most conventional present, I know, but after my sewing lessons with Julie, I was completely hooked on this very useful sewing machine. It makes finishing open edges of fabric and sewing seams very easy.

I decided to make a pair of pajama pants for my first project. I thought that it would be quick and easy, but unfortunately, my sewing and visualization skills are a little shaky. I did get a lot of practice with the serger though since I had to rip out so many seams and sew things back together multiple times!

Finally at the end of a couple of hours, I had a lovely pair of pajama pants. They don't exactly look store-made, but it's not bad for my first try. I was working from another worn-out pair of pajama pants that I love, so I think that it would have been easier with a pattern.

The next day, I made a pair for Ben (in the hopes of getting him out of his scrubs when he is at home!). I thought that it would be quick and easy since I had worked out the problems the day before. Not so! If anything, I had to unpick MORE seams (darn fabric with no right or wrong side!). However, I got them together in the end, and they should be completely finished soon.

I love the serger though! It was easy to use and I didn't have any problems with threading it or with the tension. Thanks, Mom and Dad! Now, I just have to improve my sewing skills!

It's a Match!

2011-04-17T14:54:00.003-04:00

We're having an exciting month here! On Wednesday, we found out about Ben's fellowship match. With all of the other things that have been going on this spring, we didn't have as much time to stress and worry about where we would be going. However, I'm happy to report that we will be going to Taos, New Mexico!

The start date is still more than a year away, but it's great to know where we will be. This was our first choice, so we are very excited! I think that it will be a beautiful and fun place to be for a year with lots of outdoor activities (skiing, hiking, fishing, horseback riding, and more) and a great training experience for Ben. We will be really excited to have visitors, so start planning! We can't wait!

Big News

2011-04-06T22:02:00.001-04:00

Hooray! I am 19 weeks today and due at the very end of August. We went for an ultrasound this morning and found out that we are having a baby girl. It's all very exciting and daunting at the same time. So far, I have had a really easy pregnancy. I've been feeling great and looking not very pregnant (or at least that's what people have been telling me!). The baby looked great in the ultrasound, so hopefully the next 5 months will go smoothly.

We'll be sure to keep you updated, but I think that's enough news and announcements for one day. Back to the celebrating!

Big Day

2011-04-06T22:00:00.001-04:00

Today I turned 30. Yikes! That seems very old. My birthday should be in the spring, but that's not really the case in Boston. It's still chilly and windy. Regardless of the weather, I have been indulging all day. I treated myself to a facial and pedicure this morning, a lovely lunch from my favorite bakery, and some relaxing time on the couch this afternoon. Tonight Ben took me out for a lovely dinner for two. What a perfect day!

Family Visit

2011-03-22T21:04:00.000-04:00

I can't believe that we are already in mid-March! We are finally closing in on spring! This weekend we had my whole family in town. My mom had been planning to come visit us for a while, but last week we found out that my dad could come too. My brother also had the weekend off, so he took the bus up from New York. They all arrived on Friday. I took a half day and Ben even finished a little early. As usual, we had a really fun weekend together! We did lots of talking and lots of eating. On Friday night, we had a great dinner at a new modern Chinese restaurant nearby, East by Northeast. Betsy was able to come too.

On Saturday, after a delicious waffle breakfast, we decided to go to the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown. We all made it up 294 steps to the top for a great view of downtown Boston.

Matthew made dinner for us on Saturday night. Yum! He grilled a beautiful beef tenderloin, and we had salad, asparagus, mushroom caps, leeks, and mashed potatoes to go with it. Betsy, Brian, Kathryn, and her boyfriend, Nick, were all able to come too. It was a big, fun group, and we had Betsy's great strawberry pie for dessert.

On Sunday, we all crammed in the car and took a little drive out to Lexington. The weather was nice and it was good to be outside. We saw the main green, "Ye Old Burying Ground," and the house where Paul Revere stopped on his midnight ride. (Needless to say, some of us were more enthused about all this than others!)

We capped off the weekend with a delicious dinner at Hungry Mother. We were all so full by the end of the evening. Matthew decided to take a late bus back to New York and my parents' flight left on Monday morning. It was a quick visit but very fun to see everyone. It was nice to have my whole family in one place!

The Baker

2011-03-06T17:12:00.000-05:00

Recently Ben has been the baker around our house and not me! For the last few months, he has been experimenting with bread baking and I have been the lucky recipient. He's made several different kinds of sandwich bread, and a few weeks ago, he tried Jim Lahey's No Work Bread. It's truly amazing! Look at the beautiful loaf that he created!

Not only did it look beautiful, but it had a great crumb and flavor. Yum! It's been so nice to have fresh bread around the house. I had forgotten how much more delicious it is than the loafs that you get at the grocery store. Another loaf will be going in the oven shortly. I can't wait!

The Interview Trail

2011-02-21T12:51:00.000-05:00

After three and a half years without any applications or interviews, we are back at it again. In the fall, Ben put together his fellowship applications and then interviews started last month.

I decided to accompany him on a couple of interviews. A few weeks ago we headed out to Lake Tahoe (on the Nevada-California state line) and to Taos, New Mexico, which is about two and a half hours northeast of Albuquerque. We did the whole trip in 5 days, which meant a lot of traveling. But it was great to get out of Boston and explore the West and Southwest. Both places were just beautiful with a lot of things to do outdoors. In Tahoe, we took a couple of excursions around the lake, and got some great photos. We skied for an afternoon in Taos, so we didn't manage to take a single photo! The skiing was great though.

Ben still has one more interview left and hopefully we will have some good news to share in mid-April. The fellowship would start in August 2012, so once we find out if he's been chosen for a position, then we'll have a little time to plan everything before we actually have to move.

60: Round 2

2011-02-21T10:18:00.002-05:00

On Thursday and Friday, the temperature reached 60 degrees! It was a very brief respite from the winter weather, but it was nice to break out my lighter winter jacket for a few days. Of course, it's snowing again today, but hopefully spring will be here soon! (Wishful thinking!)

The Fuschia Fixie

2011-02-02T14:00:00.000-05:00

Over the last couple of months, Ben has been working with our friend Asher on a beater bike that he can ride around town. Asher helped him find this old Miyata, and then he helped him fix it up. It's been a really fun project!

Asher even showed Ben how to make a wheel by hand. It's a flip-flop wheel in the back--one side is a fixed gear and the other side is a single speed. You can change between the two depending on the conditions. My dad also gave Ben one of his old saddles, and I think that the final result is very impressive. And perhaps the best part is that it will continue to require a lot of tweaks and enhancements, which should keep Ben busy throughout the year.

And so, this leads me to a kind of sad announcement. Asher and Julie have decided to leave Boston for greener pastures! They have packed up everything, rented their house, and are moving out to Seattle. We will miss them immensely but are so excited about their new adventure. I think that it will be a great change for them, and I'm so excited to go visit them on the West Coast.

Good luck, you two! We can't wait to hear how it goes. Thank you for introducing us to so many great things in Boston and for so many great memories!!

60

2011-01-30T20:38:00.000-05:00

We've been a little snowed under this month. So far, we've had 60 inches of snow this season, and it's not even February yet. Yikes! The average for Boston is about 40. We're running out of room on the streets and sidewalks. I've had three snow days and one delayed opening at work (sadly, Ben doesn't really have anything like a snow day in his profession). In the last three years, I think that I've only ever had one snow day. I'm actually a little surprised at how easily they have cancelled work recently. I thought that the Northeast was supposed to be better equipped to handle snow! Last week we got about 10 inches and the week before we had a snowstorm that dumped 12 inches. It has meant a LOT of shoveling!

Here are some shots of our neighborhood. If you can believe it, the snow had settled a little bit from its highest level. The snow is even up to the first floor windows on our building!

They're calling for another major storm this week. I don't think that I'm ready for it!

Winter Break

2011-01-12T18:12:00.000-05:00

I know that it's only a week and a half into the new year, but Ben and I needed a break. Ben has the week off from work, and I worked most of the weekend at a conference in town. So, on Monday morning, we packed up and headed up to New Hampshire and Vermont. We skied Monday afternoon at Mt. Sunapee. It remains one of our favorite places on the East Coast--it's only a 2 hour drive from Boston, but it has some great runs and is pretty reasonably priced. The snow was pretty nice too. Not icy! And we practically had the place to ourselves without the weekend crowds.

That evening we drove up to Hanover. We went to dinner at Murphy's in town and spent the night at the Norwich Inn across the river. We stayed in the main inn which was old and quaint with plenty of character.

The next morning, we grabbed breakfast at Bagel Basement and drove off to Okemo for the day. It was our first time there and we enjoyed it. It's bigger than Mt. Sunapee, and I think that it (sort of) has the feel of a Western resort. Both days were COLD, but we got a lot of runs in and many cups of cocoa.

At the end of the day, we headed back to Boston. I wish that we could have stayed longer, but it was a fun quick trip and just what we needed to get through the rest of January.

Mission Accomplished

2010-12-31T15:08:00.003-05:00

At the beginning of the year, I set myself the goal of reading 50 books in 2010. I wasn’t sure that I would make it since the most I’ve read in past years is 35, and it meant a pretty rigorous schedule of a book a week. (Just in case you think that all I do is lounge around and read, keep in mind that I have about an hour of reading on the train each day!). It took a concerted effort, but I am proud to announce that I finished my 50th book this morning. Whew! It was a very cool experience. My mom also joined in on the challenge and made it to 41 books this year, which isn’t too shabby at all!

I definitely stuck to books that I was sure I could finish in about a week (I stayed away from 800-page behemoths). Still, it’s a very satisfying accomplishment, and I’m pretty impressed at the list of books I’ve read this year. It’s quite heavy on fiction and short stories, but I am pleased since in 2009 I read a lot more nonfiction.

Here’s the complete list with notes about some of my favorites. Happy reading!

We Need to Talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver
I was lucky to start the year with an amazing story. I couldn’t tear myself away from this book. It is a mother’s attempt to understand what could have made her teenage son commit mass-murder at this school. It’s fascinating and well-written.

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Sing Them Home by Stephanie Kallos
Love Begins in Winter by Simon Van Booy

Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon
This was another amazing book and about as close as I get to reading thrillers. Weaving together the narratives of three people, this is a superb exploration of identity and identity theft. The ending was completely unexpected, and it made me want to start right at the beginning again to figure out how the author constructed his plot so perfectly.

In Other Rooms, Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddin
Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned by Wells Tower

The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by Heidi W. Durrow
This book, like Mudbound, one of my favorites from 2008, is the winner of the Bellwether Prize sponsored by Barbara Kingsolver. It is the story of a biracial girl who grows up with her white mother but after a series of tragic events is sent to live with her black father’s family, throwing into question her sense of self and family.

A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore
The Family Man by Elinor Lipman

The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian
This book is completely haunting. Set in modern-day Vermont, it is the story of a young woman coming to terms with a violent event from her past. Woven throughout are references to The Great Gatsby, and I have to say that the ending completely fooled me—it turned out to be much darker than I expected.

Drift by Victoria Patterson
Ordinary Thunderstorms by William Boyd
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
Birds of America by Lorrie Moore
Mrs. Darcy and the Blue-Eyed Stranger by Lee Smith
The Gardner Heist by Ulrich Boser
American Eve by Paula Uruburu
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
The Help by Kathryn Stockett

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Here the author tells the incredible story of one black woman whose cells—harvested without her knowledge when she was undergoing treatment for cervical cancer—were the first human cells to successfully be grown in culture and have had an lasting impact on modern science. The author not only explains the science but also tells the story of Henrietta Lacks’ family. It delves into big questions about scientific advancement and the complexities of who owns and benefits from our bodies.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
This and the second book in the series—The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag—were my guilty pleasures for the year. They are lovely cozy mysteries with a pint-size sleuth. I’m looking forward to reading the next one.

A Friend of the Family by Lauren Grodstein
The Moor's Last Sigh by Salman Rushdie

The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver
I hadn’t read great reviews of this book, but I was pleasantly surprised by how absorbing I found it. It is the story of an American whose lives in Mexico and is thrown in the path of Leon Trotsky, Frida Kahlo, and Diego Rivera. When he returns to the US, we see the Depression and McCarthyism through his eyes. I found the main character to be very tenderly but realistically portrayed.

Little Bee by Chris Cleave
So Much for That by Lionel Shriver
Setting the Table by Danny Meyer
A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O'Connor
The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley
Bad Mother by Ayelet Waldman

Dancer by Colum McCann
Just like Let the Great World Spin, this is another fabulous creation. The author takes on the life of Rudolf Nureyev and imagines a whole host of characters from his life and world.

One Day by David Nicholls
This was made to be a movie and the story reads very much like a screenplay. It’s a reinvention of “When Harry Met Sally” that looks at the same day in the life of two people each year for more than 20 years, starting from the day they met at the end of college. It’s a sweet love story, and I was completely bawling by the end!

Drinking by Caroline Knapp
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain
The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman
Cod by Mark Kurlansky
The Lovers by Vendela Vida
52 Loaves by William Alexander
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
Composing a Life by Mary Catherine Bateson

Let's Take the Long Way Home by Gail Caldwell
Set in Boston, this is the story of a friendship between two women: Gail Caldwell, a former book reviewer for the Boston Globe, and Caroline Knapp, author of Drinking, which I read earlier in the year. Beautifully written, it’s a bittersweet ode to their time together and their shared battle against alcoholism, their love of dogs, and their love of rowing.

Bitter in the Mouth by Monique Truong
I have been waiting for this second book from Truong for several years now (I read her first novel Salt in 2005). This one didn’t disappoint. It’s the story of a girl growing up in North Carolina who has a form of synesthesia (she tastes words). However, that description barely cracks the surface. The author has a beautiful way with words and this is ultimately a tale of growing up and discovering what constitutes your sense of self, home, and family.

Burning Bright by Ron Rash
I read seven books of short stories this year, but I think that this collection was my favorite. Each story is beautifully written and fully realized. The author sets his tales in the grim and hardscrabble life of Appalachia but the characters’ individuality and determination shine through each page. I can’t wait to read his other books.

The Geography of Bliss by Dan Weiner
The Solitaire Mystery by Jostein Gaarder

Homer & Langley by E.L. Doctorow
This book re-imagines the lives of two brothers in twentieth century New York. Stuck in their Fifth Avenue mansion, surrounded by hoarded possessions and trash, they experience the key events of the century. Brother Homer tells their story and as his world becomes increasingly smaller due to his blindness and deafness, it’s quite a tragic tale. Doctorow packs so much into each sentence and each word; he is a master.

The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

The Widower's Tale by Julia Glass
I ended the year with the latest novel by Julia Glass. It was a lovely and absorbing read—set in and around Boston—but I don’t think that she’ll ever be able to top her first novel, Three Junes, in my mind. She has an amazing ability to write believable male voices and create families out of a diverse set of unrelated characters.

That’s it! I’m going to take it a little easier next year, and read at a more leisurely pace. Happy New Year!

Snow Day!

2010-12-30T14:00:00.000-05:00

What better way to end the Christmas weekend than with a huge snowstorm and a snow day? Since we didn't have to travel anywhere, we were quite excited to have some snow. Up until last week, we hadn't had any snow this year. We've definitely made up for that now!

It started snowing at about 2 pm on Sunday afternoon and didn't stop until about that time on Monday. We must have got about 15-18 inches of snow.

It required a lot of shoveling (but also a few snow angels). My office was closed for the day, and somehow Ben managed to have the day off as well. It was a wonderful treat.

By Monday evening things had calmed down a little and we could escape the house. We celebrated my mom's last night in town with dinner out. It was so nice that she could stay with us for a few extra days. It was her first real snowstorm in many years, and she got to break in her new coat and winter boots.

On Tuesday morning, my mom's flight went ahead as planned without any cancellations or delays, and Ben and I went off to work. Back to reality!

Christmas

2010-12-29T21:32:00.000-05:00

I can't believe that Christmas is over already! It went so quickly. Like last year, my parents came up to Boston, and Matt and Allie joined us early on Christmas Day.

My parents arrived the Tuesday before Christmas. I took Wednesday off so we could finish some Christmas preparations, go to the JFK library, and stock up at the wine store. That night we went out for a lovely dinner at Rendezvous and then went to the Holiday Pops. It is such a fun concert for the holidays!

On Thursday, we loafed around for most of the day, but then we had the most amazing dinner at Scampo at the Liberty Hotel. I don't think that we had huge expectations for the food, but it was truly fabulous. I had an amazing risotto with confit duck leg. Ben had a delicious black and white pasta with crab and spicy arrabiata sauce. My dad had cod and my mom had tiny spinach gnocchi in a gorgonzola cream sauce. Yum!

On Christmas Eve, my mom and I made our favorite Christmas baked goods: mince pies and German tart. Ben managed to sneak away from work early that afternoon. For dinner before church, we made roasted rack of lamb, brussel sprouts and bacon, and mashed turnips and potatoes. The Christmas Eve service at church was very nice, and once we got home, I got to open one present. Even though I really shouldn't, I always get very excited!

Matt and Allie arrived bright and early on Saturday morning on the bus from New York. We got a few hours of sleep in before we started opening presents.

My dad was supposed to go home on a 9 am flight on Christmas morning, since he had to be at work on Sunday. But since the weather looked clear, he was able to change his flight to Saturday afternoon, and he got to stay for more of the festivities. It was such a great change!

It did mean that we had to get going on the Christmas dinner. By noon, we had a lovely and delicious roasted rack of pork with pear chutney, smashed peas, cauliflower and cheese sauce, and mashed turnips. The pork was amazing and such an easy recipe. If you don't have Sara Foster's Fresh Every Day cookbook, you must buy it!

And here's our festive family photo, complete with hats from the Christmas crackers. We had such a fun time, and it's too bad that my dad had to leave so soon!

We spent the afternoon enjoying our presents and each other's company. I think that our favorite present was the set of Buckyballs from Ben's parents--they're very addictive little magnetic balls that you can transform into an endless array of shapes.

I also convinced everyone to play The Settlers of Catan with me! It was fun (although it took a little while to figure out!).

Since we had such an early Christmas dinner, Matthew made us blinis for dinner (the advantage of having a chef in the family!). On Sunday morning, Matt and Allie had to take an early bus back to the city. It was so sad to see them go so quickly, but I am so glad they could come. What a lovely Christmas!

The Special Guests

2010-12-11T16:32:00.000-05:00

After our big day of eating, guess who joined us in Boston? None other than Matthew and Allie! I got a phone call from Matthew on Tuesday to say that they had some time off and were coming to visit. It was a great surprise!

On Thursday night, we had a full house with Kathryn, Mike, Carolyn, Matthew, and Allie all staying over. It was very fun! (Hopefully the guests who slept on the air mattresses agree!) On Friday morning, we had a big brunch with eggs, waffles, and lots of other good things. That afternoon we headed down to the waterfront to explore. It was a beautiful day and nice to walk in the sunshine.

As is usually the case with my brother and Allie, we ate a lot over the weekend. We splurged on wine and cheese at Central Bottle. Then, that evening, while Ben worked, the rest of us (minus Carolyn and Mike) went out to dinner at Russell House Tavern. It was a good meal!

On Saturday, we had a lazy morning, got brunch, and then took Matthew and Allie downtown to their bus. It was a quick visit but sooo good to see them. We're looking forward to having them back again at Christmas.

That evening we met up with the rest of Ben's family to watch the Wisconsin football game. Lots of debauchery ensued (exhibit A: 120+ ounces of beer).

We couldn't leave before taking a family photo with Bucky the Badger.

We had a very fun and family-filled weekend! It was so good to have everyone in town.

Thanksgiving Goodness

2010-12-07T19:29:00.000-05:00

We had a fabulous Thanksgiving. Despite a minor setback early in the week (no giblets in with my turkey!), all of the preparations and the day itself went off without a hitch. As usual, Ben got some really great pictures of the festivities.

Here are some shots from the morning:

Betsy, Brian, Carolyn, Mike, Kathryn, Asher, and Julie came to celebrate with us. What a wonderful group of family and friends! We were so excited that Carolyn and Mike could be back in Boston to join us.

Then the eating began. Here's the surgeon showing off his knife skills. The turkey was beer-brined and had a malt glaze. It looked beautiful and it really tasted delicious too. The recipe is definitely a keeper.

The full spread included 3 types of stuffing (to please everyone, most particularly, Ben, who couldn't bear the thought of another Thanksgiving without sausage stuffing), mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, cauliflower with cheese sauce, and Julie's famous cranberry sauce. Yum. I am getting hungry again just thinking of it.

And then it was on to the sweet stuff. We had lots of pies and cake. This is my blueberry-cranberry pie (it turned out so beautifully!):

Here's Julie and Asher's Fall Butternut Squash pie, which had the most tasty (and beautifully decorated) crust:

And last but not least, Brian and Kathryn's chocolate cream pie, which was back again this year by popular demand:

We had so much to be thankful for. It was a lovely day. After our huge dinner, we all played some Wii to burn off our extra calories, until our special guests arrived....

Fall Favorites

2010-11-21T22:22:00.000-05:00

The month of November has been pretty quiet around here. Ben and I slogged through the rest of night float and are proud to announce that we will (hopefully!) never have to suffer through another month of it again. Ben will have a few night shifts going forward, but we're done with the full rotations of nights. Woo hoo! That is a cumulative seven months (in three and a half years) which I will be happy not to relive!

We are in the midst of preparing for our big Thanksgiving feast here, but in the meantime, these are a few of the things that I am enjoying this fall:

Good Reads: I have been reading up a storm recently and keeping track of my books on Good Reads. It's so fun to see the full array of books that I have read in the last few years. I also get updates about what my friends are reading. I just finished Bitter in the Mouth by Monique Truong. Set in North Carolina, it's a coming of age story about a girl with synesthesia (she tastes words) and is thoroughly absorbing. If you're not on Good Reads, you should think about joining!

Boston Organics: Since our local farmer's market finished at the end of October, I decided that we needed a different way to get our veggies. We decided to join Boston Organics. It's very flexible, but right now we are getting a box of local veggies delivered to our house every other week. So far, we have gotten some really delicious stuff. It's also nice to get things that I wouldn't ordinarily buy, such as turnips, beets, and kale. It's made our dinner routine a little more adventurous, and we feel really good eating lots of veggies.

Central Bottle: There's a new wine and cheese shop in town. It's actually been open for a year now, but we have only started going recently. We have discovered some really great wines there, and it's nice to be supporting a local business with some personality.

Sewing Projects: Julie has gotten me addicted to sewing! I've been making some more cute baby clothes. I hope that they'll be the right size for the intended recipients by the time I finish. It's so satisfying to end up with actual clothes after a couple of hours of sewing.

Evening classes: This fall I decided to take a Spanish literature class at the local adult education center. I took a conversation class there last winter, so I wanted to try something else. We are reading Latin American short stories. They're challenging, and my classmates are really good speakers. The stories have been interesting (some of them are bizarre!), and it's been good to get back in the habit of reading and speaking in Spanish.

And fall in New England would not be complete without apple picking and the Head of the Charles. So, never fear--we did both this fall, but don't have very many photos to show for it.

Sadly, most of the leaves are off the trees by now, and we're just holding our breath until the inevitable first snow. But Thanksgiving first--we are hosting at our house again, and I have a handful of new recipes to try. Can't wait!

Visit with My Parents

2010-10-31T20:53:00.000-04:00

Ben and I finished our whirlwind month of trips, with a visit down to North Carolina to see my parents. We left early on Friday morning and flew back early on Monday morning. It made for a really nice, long weekend, and we managed to fit a lot of things into a few days.

On Friday, Ben and I spent the day with my mom. We relaxed in the morning and then went out for a nice lunch and some book browsing in the afternoon. That evening all four of us went out to dinner. The company was lovely, but the restaurant was just so-so.

On Saturday morning, Ben and my dad went off on a big bike ride. While they were gone, we ladies went to Mary Jo's, the best fabric store around. I got some lovely fabric for a quilt I'm planning to make. My mom got some fabric for a project she's working on too. That afternoon when everyone was back home, we went to see The Town with Ben Affleck. We really enjoyed it. It was very bizarre to see a movie about Boston while we were in NC! We recognized so many places in the movie, and it would have been really interesting to see the reaction of the audience in Boston.

That evening, we had planned to have some of my parents' friends over for dinner, but I was struck down by a really awful headache. We ended up having a quiet night in with just the four of us. I survived my headache, and by later in the evening, I was feeling much better. We even got a few rounds of dominoes in before bed.

On Sunday, we were planning to drive up to Asheville for the day, but we got a later start than we had planned. Instead, we went to the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. Even though it was late in the season, a lot of the plants were still in bloom and there was plenty to see. They have an amazing orchid house as well.

That night we went out for dinner again. We had low expectations since we had such a mediocre time on Friday, but luckily, we went to a great restaurant (Rooster's) and had an amazing meal. It was the perfect way to end the weekend.

We had to get up really early to make our flight on Monday morning, but I loved having the whole of Sunday to spend with my parents. It was so great to see them and see the home improvements they have done in the last year. They completely renovated their bathroom and the bathroom upstairs. They also revamped my room and my brother's room. Everything looks so great!

Even though both Ben and I were exhausted after our three busy weekends away, I really loved all of the traveling and visiting that we got to do. I came back after each trip feeling really refreshed. Ben's month away from work was truly special, and I am so glad that we stuffed so many fun things into it!

The Farm with Friends

2010-10-27T22:43:00.000-04:00

At the beginning of the month, Ben and I headed down to Washington, DC, to spend the weekend at Chris' family's farm. We had never been before, although we'd heard a lot about it. We met up with Chris, Ariel, Jude, and Audrey. Ryan and Sam joined us later on Friday night. Chris' mom, Evie, also made a special guest appearance for the weekend to sneak in some extra time with her new grandson.

It was so great that we could all fit the trip into our schedules. It is not easy to coordinate the schedules of three residents, never mind those of their wives!

What I didn't realize before we went down there is that the farm is still a working farm (or at least the land is still worked). And Chris' mom grew up there. It was really interesting to hear all of her stories about the farm and the huge changes that have taken place in the surrounding area.

We spent Friday afternoon catching up. We went for a walk near the neighboring lake, and then we had a great dinner that one of Evie's friends cooked. Fried chicken and all the fixings!

Out in the country we had an amazing view of the night sky and stars. The girls had an early night, but Chris and Ben stayed up to build a bonfire and see Ryan when he arrived after midnight.

The next morning we had a great breakfast and took advantage of the lovely warm weather for a walk outside. Later that afternoon, we went for a fishing and canoeing trip. Sam braved the canoe with his dad and Ben. The boys were also really successful with the fishing. They filleted several of the fish that they caught and we had fried fish for dinner.

I think that Sam and Jude had a fun time too!

That night after the kids went to bed, the adults had plenty of time to sit outside by the bonfire and catch up. It was so nice to have all of us back together in one place. I miss our Durham dinner parties. We'll have to make these trips a regular occurrence going forward!

The farm was the perfect getaway. On Sunday morning, we had an early lunch at a BBQ joint nearby, and then we all headed home.

We miss you guys! It was SO wonderful to see you. Let's plan another weekend trip together soon.

Cape Cod

2010-10-16T17:50:00.011-04:00

Despite having lived in Boston for three years, Ben and I still hadn't made it to Cape Cod until a few weeks ago. We left after work on a Friday and took the high-speed ferry to Provincetown. It was so quick and convenient. We were there in 90 minutes and the seas were quite calm. We went with Brian and Betsy to visit their friends, Fred and Emmy.

It was such a fun weekend! It was late in the season but not quite fully fall. The weather was quite windy and chilly at times, but it was sunny. On Saturday morning after breakfast, we all went for a walk on a nearby glass beach on the bayside.

Then we decided to go for a bike ride on the Cape Cod Rail Trail. We rented a couple of extra bikes and were off. We had a pretty good incentive to ride: we stopped at clam joint for fried clams, other seafood, and lots of onion rings. Yum!

On the way back, we took a detour to Marconi Beach on the ocean side to see the site of the first wireless transmitter. There wasn't much left of the transmitter, but the views of the beaches nearby were really gorgeous.

Action shot!

After our bike ride, several of us decided to go to the beach for a quick dip. I didn't know if I would actually go in, but the water actually wasn't that cold after I got in. We didn't stay in long, but it was brisk and refreshing. It also brought back many memories of my family's two trips to Cape Cod when I was little.

For dinner on Saturday night, Fred got us lobsters.

Fred and Emmy had all the right tools and garb for our lobster dinner.

This was my very first steamed lobster. Here we are together:

Then, it hit me that I would have to dismantle and eat my lobster.

Despite the look on my face, it was actually really good! These lobsters were amazingly fresh and sweet and cooked to perfection. It was such a fun experience! We ended the night with a few rounds of dominoes.

On Sunday morning, we went out to the jetty near Provincetown for a walk. Ben and I didn't really know what to expect, but it was very cool.

The jetty was surprisingly long, and it went to a beach out in the harbor. It felt really good to be out in the fresh air.

Sadly, when we got back to Fred and Emmy's, there was just enough time for lunch before we had to pack up and head to the ferry. We thought we would have a malasada from the Portuguese Bakery in Provincetown before we left, but they were sold out. How rude! We settled for fudge instead.

We had such fun time! It was a great weekend trip, and it reminded me how easy it is to get away from the city and to the beach. I definitely want to go back during the summer, so that we can really enjoy the weather and the water. Emmy and Fred were wonderful hosts, and we had such a lovely time with them and Ben's parents.

On Pleasure Bent Again

2010-10-01T08:24:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, I went back to Oxford for a work trip. It was great to see all of my UK colleagues and meet with them face-to-face, instead of by phone and email. Oxford is such a lovely city and this time I got to explore a little more.

The Sunday I arrived in town was "Oxford Open Doors" and so several of the colleges were open for visitors. I saw the grounds and chapel of Exeter College.

Here's the great local bookstore, where they had many of the books that I work on displayed!

I looked at part of the Bodleian Library, although not the part with the books (I'm not sure where that part is!)

I also got to see the Codrington Library at All Soul's College, which was amazing.

After three days of meetings in the office, I was off to the Lake District by train to meet up with my family. It was a complete coincidence that my entire extended family was staying at a cottage in the Lake District during the same week that I had my work trip. Very fortuitous!

The cottage was in the country, surrounded by sheep. The first night I was there, we had a lovely home-cooked meal with Duncan's lamb and appetizers and sides from Matthew and Ally, our resident chefs. Here are the parents:

And the cousins:

The next day, Dad, Duncan, and Becky's Jem went on an ambitious hike. The rest of us went down to the town of Keswick for a boat ride on Derwentwater and a hike of our own.

As it turned out, this is as far as most of us got on the hike. Becky, Fiona, and Caroline soldiered on; Matthew, Ally, my mom, and I went back to continue our boat ride around the lake.

It is such a beautiful area! We also had really great weather for the two days that I was there. It was sunny and not too cold.

That night all of us went out to dinner together at a pub in a nearby town. It was so fun to be together with everyone. I'm glad that I could join the party for a few days.

On Saturday morning, we were all up bright and early to pack up the cottage and head home. Fiona, Matthew, Ally, and I took the train to London. After dropping off our things at Fiona's very cute flat, we went directly to the Borough Market.

We found a lot of delicious things to eat there: ostrich burgers, falafel, oysters, cider and juices, Pimm's Cups, fudge, brownies, and sausage sandwiches. We might have overdone it a bit, but it was soooo good.

Next we took a boat down the Thames from London Bridge to the London Eye, where we met up with Anna.

We had some tea, took some photos of Big Ben, and headed back to Fiona's flat for a brief rest before dinner (we were on a tight schedule!).

We ended the day with a really delicious meal at a restaurant near Fiona's flat. It was so fun to go out with all my cousins (minus one--we missed having Becky there!). The day went much too quickly, but I'm very glad that we could all spend some extra time together.

Later that night, Matthew and Ally took a car to their hotel near the airport, since they had an early flight the next day. I stayed at Fiona's and after breakfast the next morning, I was off to the airport myself. It was such a busy trip, but it was great that I could fit in as much fun and family time as I did. I can't wait to go back again!

The Perfect Late-Summer Recipe

2010-09-26T22:20:00.001-04:00

I can't believe how quickly the summer has passed. It has been a good summer here with lots of sunshine and hot weather. But, I haven't had time to go to the farmer's market nearly enough. I made it there a few weeks ago during peak tomato season. We didn't manage to eat all of the tomatoes that I bought raw. I didn't want them to go to waste, so I tried this fabulous recipe for slow-roasted tomatoes. They take a long time to cook, but they couldn't be easier to prepare. You just cut the tomatoes in half, douse them in olive oil and spices, and put them in the oven at a very low temperature.

Oh my gosh, were they delicious! We ate them on pieces of baguette with a little bit of goat cheese on top. They were amazingly sweet and fragrant. It was so indulgent. We ate them standing at the counter. I will definitely be making them once more before all the local tomatoes are gone for the year.

Pomodori al Forno
from Molly Wizenberg and Bon Appetit
6 servings

1 cup (or more) olive oil, divided
2 pounds plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise, seeded
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
3/4 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 to 2 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons minced fresh Italian parsley
goat cheese (aged or regular)
1 baguette, thinly sliced crosswise, toasted

Preheat oven to 250°F. Pour 1/2 cup oil into 13x9x2-inch glass or ceramic baking dish. Arrange tomatoes in dish, cut side up. Drizzle with remaining 1/2 cup oil. Sprinkle with oregano, sugar, and salt. Bake 1 hour. Using tongs, turn tomatoes over. Bake 1 hour longer. Turn tomatoes over again. Bake until deep red and very tender, transferring tomatoes to plate when soft (time will vary, depending on ripeness of tomatoes), about 15 to 45 minutes longer.

Layer tomatoes in medium bowl, sprinkling garlic and parsley over each layer; reserve oil in baking dish. Drizzle tomatoes with reserved oil, adding more if necessary to cover. Let stand at room temperature 2 hours.

These can be made ahead, covered, and chilled up to 5 days. Bring to room temperature before serving. Serve with goat cheese and toasted baguette slices. (Note: I actually left out the garlic and parsley in the second-to-last step, and they were still delicious.)

Fun with Julie

2010-09-24T16:44:00.000-04:00

Whew! Things have been busy around here. Ben has been working a lot, and I have been traveling for work. Ben has just switched to a better rotation, so we have a very fun (but still busy) month ahead.

However, earlier this month Ben was working a lot of weekends. I was very lonesome. Luckily, my dear friend Julie kept me entertained. One weekend we had brunch at her and Asher's house with special guests: Rebecca and Christian.

The food was delicious: pancakes with fresh Maine blueberries, waffles, cornmeal and maple biscuits, and fresh-squeezed orange juice.

We made quite a mess.

It was the perfect way to start the day.

Over Labor Day weekend, Julie and I embarked on a little sewing project. While I can quilt, I have never really sewn clothes before. Julie has been making the most darling baby clothes for her friends' children over the last year, so I wanted to try my hand at it.

It was a full weekend project. Julie is a very good teacher. She has all the right tools and gadgets (even a serger!). It was tough and required lots of concentration, but it was very satisfying. And how cute, right?

I was planning to give these away, but they are almost too cute to part with!

Thank goodness Julie is here to keep me busy while Ben is off at work. Ben has another month of night float ahead this fall, so I think that I'll have plenty more free time on my hands!

The Big Day

2010-08-31T21:50:00.002-04:00

Once again, I have a picture-filled post to share today. However, I can't think of a better way to remember Carolyn and Mike's wonderful wedding day. It was a long day, full of many activities, friends and family, and fabulous memories. The bridal party had a busy morning getting ready and then we were off to the church by mid-afternoon.

Everyone looked just gorgeous, especially the bride. She chose to wear my veil, which was very special. She looked stunning!

The father and mother of the bride looked dashing and beautiful, respectively.

The weather cooperated, and even though it was a little windy and turned a little chilly later in the evening, there was no rain.

The ceremony was lovely and the church, with a view of the mountains in through the windows near the altar, was the perfect setting. After pictures and a fun limo ride to the reception, it was time to mingle and party!

Noah, Amelia, and Annalise

The maid of honor

Betsy and her siblings

Yours truly

Ben with Uncles Dan and Tom and cousin Eric

Kathryn, Sarah, and me

The bride and groom during the toasts on the lawn

Triple-fisting

The toasts by the maid of honor, best man, and father of the bride were all lovely. It was very nice to have everyone together on the lawn by the ski lifts. What a beautiful spot!

Ben and his sister

Sarah and her brother

The borrowed blue garter!

Gentlemen dining

The father-daughter dance

Lisa and Peg

Annalise was the star dancer at the wedding!

Kathryn and McKenzie

The three families

The whole evening went by so quickly and soon Carolyn and Mike were off! Both the ceremony and the reception were filled with special touches that reminded us of the couple. The food was delicious and the dancing was great, but the company was the best. Congratulations, Carolyn and Mike! We are so happy for you and so happy that we could be there to celebrate with you!

Carolyn and Mike's Wedding Weekend

2010-08-24T18:18:00.003-04:00

We had a very fun and very filled wedding weekend with Carolyn, Mike, and both of their families in Park City earlier this month!

We started the weekend off on Thursday night with a barbecue with Mike's family at the house. It was a nice time to catch up and see each other before other friends and family arrived.

Mike, Carolyn, and Mike's nephew, Ryan

One of my jobs for the wedding was to put together the welcome bags for the out-of-town guests. I thought that the finished bags were very cute. Inside were Cape Cod Potato chips, salt water taffy, and other treats, plus information about Park City and the weekend. I had so much fun putting them together!

On Friday, the bridal party spent some time getting manicures and then we went out for a lovely lunch together. We had time for a short break in the afternoon and then we got all dressed up for the rehearsal. Don't we look pretty?

Me, Catie, Cate, Carolyn, Becky, and Kathryn

And a shot of the entire wedding party together (practicing our smiles for the big day):

Then, we went to Zoom on Main Street for a lovely dinner hosted by Mike's mom, Ellen. The company and the food were fabulous. The room even had a balcony overlooking Main Street, so we could see some of the vendors who were exhibiting for the Arts Fest.

Sarah, Ellen, Betsy, Carolyn, and Mike

Me and the groom

The father of the bride and his mother

Carolyn's two grandmothers--looking fabulous!

The best man, Fran

Catie and baby Ryan

The groom and the bride

Ellen, with Betsy's help, put together an amazing slide show featuring Carolyn and Mike. It was such a special way to celebrate the two of them and their decision to get married! After the dinner, other friends and family showed up for drinks and conversation. It was so good to see everyone. Ben and I headed home early though in preparation for the big day the next day!

What luck!

2010-08-24T16:54:00.003-04:00

Yesterday as I was stretching and cooling down at the gym after my workout, my eye strayed to the magazine rack. There, staring right back at me, nestled in amongst the trashy celebrity magazines, was a vintage August 1985 Gourmet magazine in pristine condition. I could not believe it! What a nice reward for going to the gym!

Now I just have to figure out who is dropping these off and when! I might be visiting the gym a lot in the coming months!

A Day on the River

2010-08-14T20:52:00.005-04:00

Ben managed to get a week off for Carolyn and Mike's wedding, so we headed out to Utah a week early to try and get a few days of vacation in before the craziness of the wedding started.

We succeeded! We went hiking, golfing, and biking. But, perhaps, our favorite part of the week, aside from the wedding itself, was our day-long fly fishing trip. Ben, Brian, and I went out on the Provo River with a guide, and the trip far exceeded our expectations!

During college, I took a 10-week fly fishing class. It mainly involved practicing casting on a soccer field. We were scheduled to actually go fishing for the last class, but there had been huge downpours the day before, and when we got to the river, it was too swift and deep for us to get in. So, as I remember, we stood on the bank and cast rods (without flies!) into the raging river.

Our trip last week was amazing though! Not only was the setting gorgeous, but it was so relaxing. We got all decked out in waders. We stood in the river all day (or at least until my toes got numb and I had to take a break). It is remarkably satisfying to stand in a river and not get wet. You can feel the current rushing past you. The water was chilly in the morning, but it warmed up as the day went on.

Our guide, Dave, was amazing. He was so knowledgeable, a great talker, and he managed to take great care of all three of us. He positioned us in the best spots in the river, continually changed our flies, and helped us reel in our catches.

We caught so many fish! I think that we had at least 20 between the three of us, all of which we released. I alone caught 7 brown trout. Not bad for my first fishing trip, huh? I felt like a pro. Brian caught a really large fish at the beginning of the day, but by the end, Ben and I had each caught a pretty large fish too. And we were only 15 minutes from Park City. I couldn't believe that there was such great fishing so close by.

Before we started, I was a little worried that I would get out to the river, stand there without catching anything for 20 minutes, and then be completely bored. It was completely the opposite though. The day went by quite quickly. We changed spots several times, had a casual lunch, and before we knew it, it was almost 4 pm.

Here's the highlight reel:

I can't wait to go again. The trip was amazing. Thanks, Brian, for organizing it!

Shower and BBQ Pics

2010-08-03T10:00:00.000-04:00

Ben thought I was remiss not to include photos with my last post. Once again, we have some good ones! Here are our favorites.

Farewell Brownies

2010-07-28T22:12:00.000-04:00

July has been quite the whirlwind. We have been enjoying the summer weather, spending time with Kathryn at home, and preparing for Carolyn and Mike's wedding. We have also been savoring our last opportunities to spend time with Carolyn and Mike before they move.

A few weeks ago, we all got together and drove out to Mike's hometown for Carolyn's wedding shower and a BBQ with Mike's family. It was so nice to spend the day with the happy couple! It was also wonderful to meet Mike's family for the first time, especially after hearing so much about them for so long. At the same time, it was a bittersweet day--we have really enjoyed having them close by during the last few years. We have had so many fun double dates and family outings and dinners. The shower and the BBQ made me realize that their time in Boston was coming quickly to an end.

For the BBQ, I decided to bring a dessert. Although I subscribe to Bon Appetit, I don't usually make a lot of their desserts. My mom does though, and she suggested an indulgent brownie recipe from the latest issue that would be good for a special occasion. She was right. The brownies were amazing. For me, they were the perfect combination of cakey and fudgy. The ganache on top didn't hurt either! They're definitely not your everyday brownie, but they were worth the extra effort. And I think that from now on, I will affectionately refer to them as "farewell brownies"--the perfect sweet treat to celebrate fond memories.

Carolyn and Mike have already left Boston for their new home in Colorado, but luckily, we have lots of wedding festivities ahead of us in the coming week.

Truffle Brownies
adapted from Bon Appetit
makes 25 (at least)

12 ounces bittersweet chocolate (do not exceed 61% cacao), chopped, divided
11 tablespoons (1 stick plus 3 tablespoons) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 1/4 cups sugar
3 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup unbleached all purpose flour
1 cup pecans, toasted, coarsely chopped
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Line 9x9x2-inch metal baking pan with foil, leaving overhang. Spray foil with nonstick vegetable oil spray. Combine 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate and butter in medium metal bowl. Set bowl over saucepan of simmering water and stir until chocolate and butter are melted and smooth (or heat slowly and gently in the microwave). Remove bowl from over water and cool chocolate mixture until lukewarm, 5 to 10 minutes.

Whisk sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and salt in large bowl to blend. Whisk in chocolate mixture. Stir in flour, then chopped toasted pecans. Transfer batter to prepared baking pan. Bake brownies until tester inserted into center comes out with moist crumbs attached, 26 to 28 minutes. Transfer pan to cooling rack and let brownies cool completely.

Bring cream to simmer in small saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat. Add remaining 6 ounces chocolate to hot cream and let stand 5 minutes to soften, then whisk until melted and smooth. Pour chocolate ganache over brownie sheet in pan and spread to cover completely. Let stand at cool room temperature until topping is set, about 4 hours.

Using foil as aid, lift brownie sheet from pan. Fold down foil edges. Using large sharp knife, cut brownie sheet into 25 squares, wiping knife with hot moist cloth after each cut. Arrange brownies on platter and serve.

Girls Weekend

2010-07-19T21:32:00.000-04:00

Over the Fourth of July weekend, we celebrated Carolyn in advance of her wedding! It was a jam-packed weekend of fun. On Friday night, we geared up for the "Night of Debauchery." Woo hoo!

I felt a little old at first since I haven't been out dancing and partying in a while, but I caught on quickly.

After gathering at the apartment of one of Carolyn's friends, we headed out on the town.

As Kathryn predicted, it was a firecracker night--short but sweet!

After a day of recuperation, we all headed out on Saturday night for a classy dinner on Newbury Street.

We got tapas, a porrón of cava, and plenty of sangria.

We showered Carolyn with a few fun presents.

It was so much fun to spend time with Carolyn's friends and treat her to a night on the town. After dinner, I headed back home to see Ben and the rest of the ladies headed out to another bar.

On Sunday, July 4th, the bride and bridesmaids (minus one) went to a Red Sox game. It was HOT and HUMID outside and we had bleacher seats in the full sun. We decided to start hydrating before we got inside the park!

Here's the five of us: Carolyn, Kathryn, me, Catie, and Cate (yikes, right!).

We had a really great time! I can't say that we watched much of the game (it wasn't a very good one to start with), but we drank, ate, chatted, drank, and made friends with some of the people in the neighboring seats.

We arrived back at Carolyn's apartment for the BBQ in high spirits (after a day of working, Ben was not quite in the same mood but he indulged me!).

I don't think that we could have fit much more into the weekend if we tried! The countdown to the wedding begins....