Pumped for Thanksgiving this year. We are hosting for the first time! We're already having so much fun planning everything out. We're only hosting four additional people so the pressure is relatively low.
100 days until the EDD! Some really interesting projects at work are coming up, so I'm hoping this baby will let me work until Jan 31st.
Icky cold-rainy weather over here. Doesn't make we want to go and take out our recycling to the collection containers, but it's not really an option. Can't make the case for using old yogurt cups as decoration...
This morning DH gave me my usual hug ((me still in bed half asleep) before he left for the day, except then he went down and rubbed my belly and said, "Good morning Dean, I love you too and you and mama have a good day!" I think I melted into a pregnant puddle.
My belly is finally big enough to double as a cupholder. If I use a straw, all I have to do is lean my head down to drink. Who says pregnancy isn't fun??
Big AW: today is my wedding anniversary!!! We celebrated already by going to dinner on Saturday night at the restaurant where we held our wedding reception. Today, I get to do parent teacher conferences all day and then I am picking up our free anniversary cake from the bakery that did our wedding cupcakes. Then I'm going home and we're eating cake for dinner in our pajamas. #romance
Morning!!!! I have a very busy calendar for the rest of the month starting tomorrow! I am excited for Thanksgiving... but first - house guests, my bday, DD bday, DD bday party, several doc appointments, and family pictures.
My husband is in super nesting mode. We got the baby's room emptied out, the dresser set up in there, and picked out paint colors this weekend. So last night my husband was looking at my oldest's room (that my son picked himself when we moved in) and suggested to my oldest that if he wants a bigger TV he should take the room we were going to put the baby in and we could put the baby in his room because of the layout. Well 1 when the F did we tell him he was getting a bigger TV and 2 I'm pregnant and excited and not super rational right now and you're just going to start switching rooms all around and the room I've been thinking of as the "baby's room" since we picked the floor plan of the house 2 1/2 years ago is no longer the baby's room. So now we're totally redecorating my oldest's room, giving him a new TV, painting my youngest's room and giving her my son's TV which requires moving things on the walls in her room around, and trying to get the baby room done. How did this happen and why are we doing this the month before Christmas?
This little guy is making my belly move when he kicks. I was amazed just watching it move with each kick yesterday and this morning. I'm a little worried if he is this strong now how it's going to feel in February! He's had a couple kicks that are just so strong and surprising and hit the right spot that I've actually jumped and gasped.
Me: 33 | DH: 34 Married: October, 19, 2015 EDD 2/22/17 DS1 born on 3/2/17 EDD 3/8/20 DS2 born on 3/10/20 EDD 11/24/23 (Formerly Marriedhamstermom Feb ‘17)
@Xstatic3333 I LOVE Thanksgiving dinner, favorite meal of the year. I hosted it for the first time after our son was born (he was only 2 months old and I didn't want to travel so I figured I'd have the grandparents come to us) and it was a lot of fun. I love planning out all the dishes :-) I eventually want to take it over permanently in the family and have everyone come over (I have a ton of aunts, uncles and cousins that usually get together for the holidays). But for right now the house is just too small for that. If we ever sell our damned house and if people are willing to travel a bit that would be my ideal. We will see.
I would LOVE to host Tday but it gets expensive. We both have decent-sized immediate families so that would have to be something I planned and saved for. But I would love to do it one day!
Our company actually gives it's employees turkeys for the holidays (I know, a bit weird but handy!). so since we both work here we get two turkeys every year. That would totally work for our huge family. so I'm half way there! plus everyone always want to bring something anyway so it all helps with the expenses.
What is everyone's favorite side dishes? For me it's all about the side dishes :-D The turkey is important but not really the star in my mind :-) I love stuffing. And cranberry sauce. And roasted brussel sprouts. And...and....and.....! :-D
We're hosting Thanksgiving this year, which means half a dozen of DH's family staying with us for most of the week... Our ranch house will turn into air mattress central for a few days.
This year, I plan on accepting every offer of help I get, which will be the opposite of the last time we hosted (3 years ago). My mom and I are both taking the whole week off; she's going to help me prep, grocery shop, cook, etc. So, even though it will be exhausting, I'm really looking forward to the whole thing.
Our company actually gives it's employees turkeys for the holidays (I know, a bit weird but handy!). so since we both work here we get two turkeys every year. That would totally work for our huge family. so I'm half way there! plus everyone always want to bring something anyway so it all helps with the expenses.
What is everyone's favorite side dishes? For me it's all about the side dishes :-D The turkey is important but not really the star in my mind :-) I love stuffing. And cranberry sauce. And roasted brussel sprouts. And...and....and.....! :-D
Our company actually gives it's employees turkeys for the holidays (I know, a bit weird but handy!). so since we both work here we get two turkeys every year. That would totally work for our huge family. so I'm half way there! plus everyone always want to bring something anyway so it all helps with the expenses.
What is everyone's favorite side dishes? For me it's all about the side dishes :-D The turkey is important but not really the star in my mind :-) I love stuffing. And cranberry sauce. And roasted brussel sprouts. And...and....and.....! :-D
I am "hosting" this year. I have every year since we've been married except last year when I was supporting a birth. This "clean"(er) green bean casserole is the dabomb dot com. I make it 2-3x a year but try to save it for special occasions. https://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Healthy-Green-Bean-Casserole-Recipe-25809786
It is the easiest thing ever, too! We usually have a TG party at a friend's house the Sunday before and that is my go to dish I bring. I've literally made it in the parking lot of the grocery store before! LOL
DD1- Aug11 Angel Baby- June13, said goodbye Oct12 DD2- Aug13 DD3- due Feb17
Our company actually gives it's employees turkeys for the holidays (I know, a bit weird but handy!). so since we both work here we get two turkeys every year. That would totally work for our huge family. so I'm half way there! plus everyone always want to bring something anyway so it all helps with the expenses.
What is everyone's favorite side dishes? For me it's all about the side dishes :-D The turkey is important but not really the star in my mind :-) I love stuffing. And cranberry sauce. And roasted brussel sprouts. And...and....and.....! :-D
We get turkeys too!
Sweet potatoes mash with marshmallows. My dad was trying to do an adult, healthier version one year and everyone revolted, it must have marshmallows!!
The marshmallows are always a dividing line. I have to admit, I'm firmly on the no marshmallows on my sweet potatoes side while my husbands family love them (my family never really did this because we are Portuguese and we just roast regular potatoes with the turkey and get all the yummy drippings and garlic and hot sauce all over them, drooooooooooooollllllll)
ETA: Though I do love topping the mashed sweet potatoes with brown sugar and brulleeing it!
The marshmallows are always a dividing line. I have to admit, I'm firmly on the no marshmallows on my sweet potatoes side while my husbands family love them (my family never really did this because we are Portuguese and we just roast regular potatoes with the turkey and get all the yummy drippings and garlic and hot sauce all over them, drooooooooooooollllllll)
Yes! Roast potatoes in with whatever protein is being cooked is the way to go. My family, who are British, always cook them this way. Imagine my horror when I went to Christmas at MILs and there were only mashed potatoes. My aunt is a fabulous cooks and makes a traditional British roast for Christmas and it's the best ever. I've already let MIL know I'm going to my aunts this year.
I've never met a potato I didn't like (except marshmallow covered ones ;-p), but absolutely, with any meat roasted over them covered in the drippings is the bomb!
We have two thansgivings, one hosted by my dad's mom, the "redneck" thanksgiving. And then we have my mom's mom. She's from the cape so that's the "Yankee" thanksgiving. Both are delicious and both are so vastly different, I just get excited about eating thanksgiving two days in a row.
We have two thansgivings, one hosted by my dad's mom, the "redneck" thanksgiving. And then we have my mom's mom. She's from the cape so that's the "Yankee" thanksgiving. Both are delicious and both are so vastly different, I just get excited about eating thanksgiving two days in a row.
I hosted Thanksgiving last year and I hope I never have to do it again. It was just soooo much work and money. I'll just continue to bring two dishes to Thanksgiving at my Mammaws, much easier.
I'll def host Christmas though. My mammaw and pappaw keep trying to make Christmas dinner without ham...wtf is that about?! No Christmas ham?! Nope, Christmas is at my house from now on, we have ham.
Speaking of redneck thanksgiving: my MIL was shocked the first TG she spent with us that I didn't use jarred gravy, instant stuffing, and frozen mashed potatoes. Uhm, I never cook any of that ish especially not on Thanksgiving. She also asked me if I was making anything that her husband would "actually eat". Uhm I am making Turkey and 7 side dishes. Sorry i am not about to whip up a box of Kraft if he can't find something he likes.
DD1- Aug11 Angel Baby- June13, said goodbye Oct12 DD2- Aug13 DD3- due Feb17
Speaking of redneck thanksgiving: my MIL was shocked the first TG she spent with us that I didn't use jarred gravy, instant stuffing, and frozen mashed potatoes. Uhm, I never cook any of that ish especially not on Thanksgiving. She also asked me if I was making anything that her husband would "actually eat". Uhm I am making Turkey and 7 side dishes. Sorry i am not about to whip up a box of Kraft if he can't find something he likes.
Lol boxed mashed potatoes are a sin here in the dirty south.
Ham on Christmas is so weird to me :-) But, again, I'm Portuguese :-) So much like the seven fishes that the Italians do (which might be more familiar to most people) we only do seafood on Christmas Eve (Christmas Day is just "come over and eat these leftovers because we ain't eating them all!!").
The star of Christmas dinner is boiled octopus with boiled potatoes and broccoli rabe with a healthy dose of olive oil on top :-) When my cousins and I were younger there was a meatless lasagna to appease us, now as adults we gladly partake in the food. Also, a ton of fried things (I would be willing to bet there's a Chanukah connection here), eel filets, cod fish cakes (delicious!), rabanadas (kinda French toast thingys), salted cod filets, etc.
Ham on Christmas is so weird to me :-) But, again, I'm Portuguese :-) So much like the seven fishes that the Italians do (which might be more familiar to most people) we only do seafood on Christmas Eve (Christmas Day is just "come over and eat these leftovers because we ain't eating them all!!").
The star of Christmas dinner is boiled octopus with boiled potatoes and broccoli rabe with a healthy dose of olive oil on top :-) When my cousins and I were younger there was a meatless lasagna to appease us, now as adults we gladly partake in the food. Also, a ton of fried things (I would be willing to bet there's a Chanukah connection here), eel filets, cod fish cakes (delicious!), rabanadas (kinda French toast thingys), salted cod filets, etc.
Never mind, just read it again. Blah working and trying to read bump at the same time.
Ham on Christmas is so weird to me :-) But, again, I'm Portuguese :-) So much like the seven fishes that the Italians do (which might be more familiar to most people) we only do seafood on Christmas Eve (Christmas Day is just "come over and eat these leftovers because we ain't eating them all!!").
The star of Christmas dinner is boiled octopus with boiled potatoes and broccoli rabe with a healthy dose of olive oil on top :-) When my cousins and I were younger there was a meatless lasagna to appease us, now as adults we gladly partake in the food. Also, a ton of fried things (I would be willing to bet there's a Chanukah connection here), eel filets, cod fish cakes (delicious!), rabanadas (kinda French toast thingys), salted cod filets, etc.
Where do you live where octupus is the main dish for xmas, I have never heard of that.
lol CT but like I said, we are Portuguese, parents all immigrated here in the late '70s before the cousins and I were all born, grew up in a city with a significant Portuguese community so not that hard to get your hands on octopus and salted cod and continue the old country's traditions :-)
Ham in general is a strange meal for me, not just at Christmas. We never ate ham steaks. Of course I became familiar with it as a meal option growing up in the states and seeing my friends talk about it, but we never did at home. Don't get me wrong, pork is heavily favored in Portuguese cooking, especially in the north were my family is from, but it's rarely in ham form for a meal. In ham form it would be cured like prosciutto (or presunto as it's called in Portuguese) and used for appetizer or flavoring in a dish, not the main protein.
My favorite side dishes are pumpkin mashed potatos and wild rice pilaf with cranberries and almonds. Oh and cranberry orange relish!!
We're not hosting this year for financial reasons and it makes me sad because the place we're going doesn't spatchcock their turkey so it's all dried out. Maybe next year we can do it!
Re: Weekly Randoms (11/7)
First BFP: 12/16/13
EDD: 08/23/14
Baby BOY born: 08/29/14
Pumped for Thanksgiving this year. We are hosting for the first time! We're already having so much fun planning everything out. We're only hosting four additional people so the pressure is relatively low.
Icky cold-rainy weather over here. Doesn't make we want to go and take out our recycling to the collection containers, but it's not really an option. Can't make the case for using old yogurt cups as decoration...
ET 9/10 - transferred 1 perfect 5AA blast
7dp5dt BFP ~~ Beta on 9/19 - 77.4 Beta #2 on 9/21 - 357
Low heartbeat on 10/7 86, lower heartbeat on 10/11 76, no heartbeat 10/14/13. D&C 10/15/13
Tests revealed MTHFR c677t mutation, put on Folgard.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FET #1 1/6/14 - 4BB blast - BFN
Big Bro 7/14/13
Little Bro 2/6/17
This little guy is making my belly move when he kicks. I was amazed just watching it move with each kick yesterday and this morning. I'm a little worried if he is this strong now how it's going to feel in February! He's had a couple kicks that are just so strong and surprising and hit the right spot that I've actually jumped and gasped.
Married: October, 19, 2015
EDD 2/22/17
EDD 3/8/20
EDD 11/24/23
(Formerly Marriedhamstermom Feb ‘17)
Big Bro 7/14/13
Little Bro 2/6/17
Our company actually gives it's employees turkeys for the holidays (I know, a bit weird but handy!). so since we both work here we get two turkeys every year. That would totally work for our huge family. so I'm half way there! plus everyone always want to bring something anyway so it all helps with the expenses.
What is everyone's favorite side dishes? For me it's all about the side dishes :-D The turkey is important but not really the star in my mind :-) I love stuffing. And cranberry sauce. And roasted brussel sprouts. And...and....and.....! :-D
This year, I plan on accepting every offer of help I get, which will be the opposite of the last time we hosted (3 years ago). My mom and I are both taking the whole week off; she's going to help me prep, grocery shop, cook, etc. So, even though it will be exhausting, I'm really looking forward to the whole thing.
&
This cranberry fluff is always a hit and SUPER easy to make. https://www.mybakingaddiction.com/cranberry-fluff/
Big Bro 7/14/13
Little Bro 2/6/17
Sweet potatoes mash with marshmallows. My dad was trying to do an adult, healthier version one year and everyone revolted, it must have marshmallows!!
Married to my Soul Mate since 09/06/09
The marshmallows are always a dividing line. I have to admit, I'm firmly on the no marshmallows on my sweet potatoes side while my husbands family love them (my family never really did this because we are Portuguese and we just roast regular potatoes with the turkey and get all the yummy drippings and garlic and hot sauce all over them, drooooooooooooollllllll)
ETA: Though I do love topping the mashed sweet potatoes with brown sugar and brulleeing it!
My family, who are British, always cook them this way. Imagine my horror when I went to Christmas at MILs and there were only mashed potatoes.
My aunt is a fabulous cooks and makes a traditional British roast for Christmas and it's the best ever. I've already let MIL know I'm going to my aunts this year.
https://what2cook.net/2013/11/20/crispy-brussels-sprouts-with-bacon-and-garlic/
Sweet potato mash MUST have marshmallows. Period.
I hosted Thanksgiving last year and I hope I never have to do it again. It was just soooo much work and money. I'll just continue to bring two dishes to Thanksgiving at my Mammaws, much easier.
I'll def host Christmas though. My mammaw and pappaw keep trying to make Christmas dinner without ham...wtf is that about?! No Christmas ham?! Nope, Christmas is at my house from now on, we have ham.
ME: 25, DH: 27
TTC #1 since 09/2015
Miscarriage @ 10 wks 02/28/2016
BFP 05/28/2016!
Ham on Christmas is so weird to me :-) But, again, I'm Portuguese :-) So much like the seven fishes that the Italians do (which might be more familiar to most people) we only do seafood on Christmas Eve (Christmas Day is just "come over and eat these leftovers because we ain't eating them all!!").
The star of Christmas dinner is boiled octopus with boiled potatoes and broccoli rabe with a healthy dose of olive oil on top :-) When my cousins and I were younger there was a meatless lasagna to appease us, now as adults we gladly partake in the food. Also, a ton of fried things (I would be willing to bet there's a Chanukah connection here), eel filets, cod fish cakes (delicious!), rabanadas (kinda French toast thingys), salted cod filets, etc.
Married to my Soul Mate since 09/06/09
lol CT but like I said, we are Portuguese, parents all immigrated here in the late '70s before the cousins and I were all born, grew up in a city with a significant Portuguese community so not that hard to get your hands on octopus and salted cod and continue the old country's traditions :-)
Married to my Soul Mate since 09/06/09
We're not hosting this year for financial reasons and it makes me sad because the place we're going doesn't spatchcock their turkey so it's all dried out. Maybe next year we can do it!