What's new?

Well, it's the first time in a week that Lizzie has taken an afternoon nap.  This would explain the absence of blog posts.  I'm torn between having an hour or two in the afternoon while Lizzie sleeps, or having an hour or two in the evening after she goes to bed.  I still haven't figured out which is better. 

The couple hours in the evening have usually been spent in the living room rather than the office.  While Sam watches MI-5 on Netflix, I'm on the couch reading through The Help.  I am almost done and I have hardly been able to put it down.  It's fun to read something new.  It's fun to read something without pictures.

The garden has no update; we bought nearly all our supplies, then realized we need to get dirt in to level the ground, and should probably cut down a few of the dozen tall pine trees that have plagued our "lawn" for as many years as there has been a house here. 

And in order to get that done, I need to find a printed-out e-mail somewhere in our office, to locate a particular landscaper's phone number, for an estimate.  Please understand that for something to be "somewhere in the office" it's like saying an item is "somewhere in the frozen tundra."  So, the garden is on hold until the office is cleaned up, at least somewhat.  But one way or another, we'll have something growing in dirt by the end of April. 

We have been making some progress in the world of potty training.  I discovered Lizzie's amazing capacity to love chocolate candy, and have capitalized on this.  She apparently will do anything - including tinkle in the potty - for chocolate candy.  She will often go on command at convenient times, such as immediately prior to a bath, but has on occasion exclaimed, "potty!" and we've rushed off to let her try.  Sometimes it's successful, other times not so much.  We're not quite ready to leave diapers behind, because she doesn't truly have bladder control, but we're getting there.  I am most pleased that she is willing and not intimidated to go on the potty.  There's no pressure.

Baby number 2 is coming along nicely.  I am 24 weeks along - officially 6 months.  Only 4 long months to go.  Last night I was confessing how tired I am of being pregnant.  It's just not my thing.  I know a lot of women love it.  I know a lot of women hate it.  I don't love or hate it; I'm just not all that fond of it.  And the exhaustion, the moodiness, the swelling, the aches, the kicks in places one shouldn't be kicked....  Don't get me wrong; the results are worth it, but I will seriously have to have a severe case of amnesia to get in this situation again--at least any time within the next 3 years.

I'm looking forward to sharing some great new recipes in the next few weeks.  I have a huge collection of photos of recipes I intend to share, plus I have tried several new things that have been successful.  I've discovered a wonderfully simple and delicious recipe for scones, and have made it twice with awesome results.  I kept intending to take pictures, but the process is so quick, and the end product is so delicious, pictures have not yet been possible.  I even made beignets.  They were amazing, and no more laborious than making, say, waffles.  I am seriously considering making another batch of banana muffins, since I have a couple squishy bananas ready to use.  We have also been eating things that have protein in them, I promise.  But those aren't quite as exciting to talk about as all these confections, are they?