Aisle Twelve

What's a girl to do when for various reasons (pregnancy, antibiotics or masochistic sacrifice) one finds herself unable to drink?  This has of course come up for me on several occasions recently.  There are only so many bad sparkling juices a girl can drink before she has to resort to coming up with her own concoctions.  Luckily, I have not had major cravings for alcohol.  I'm too busy craving ice cream.  But this completely gorgeous and summer like weather had me craving a summer drink.  I really wanted a cool and refreshing mojito and was just starting to banish the craving to July when I realized a mojito is actually a good drink to have with or without alcohol.  I whipped one up and to my pleasant surprise, this is one refreshing drink I'd have even if I could have alcohol.  It lead me to come up with a n/a version of my other favorite cocktail, the Cosmo.   My CosNo isn't quite as satisfying booze free but it is a g...

The best thing about being pregnant, next to the fact that I have a precious life growing inside of me that I will love more than life itself, is that I pretty much get a free pass to give into cravings.  Baby gets what baby wants.  And Thursday baby wanted oatmeal raisin cookies.  Yes, that is a little healthier treat that I've craved lately.  I guess after a carton of ice cream devoured over the course of a couple of days, baby wanted something a little more substantial.  I didn't have a recipe for oatmeal raisin cookies off hand so I consulted the internet to see what I could find.  I wanted a classic, grandma type cookie that had big juicy raisins, lots of sugar and cinnamon and that would be perfectly chewy.  Who could I consult to find such a recipe?  I went to Betty Crocker, and wow did she deliver.  These cookies were everything I just described and they really hit the spot.  Baby definitely enjoys these cooki...

Hi Pumpkin, it's Mom.  A lot has happened in the last couple of weeks.  We had your ultrasound a few weeks ago.  You were very stubborn, clearly you take after your father!  For most of the time, you were laying face down so we couldn't get a good look at your face.  After lots of coaxing, you finally turned and faced the camera.  You were just so cozy in your position you didn't want to move!  Everything measured perfectly.  You were already perfect to us.  Also, I have been feeling you moving all around in my belly. The first time I felt you move I was laying on the couch watching tv and just happened to have my hand on my belly.  Just then I felt something underneath my hand.  It was such a strange but great feeling.  I get so excited every time you move.  Dad has been able to feel you move a few times, but mostly right now, it's just me who can feel all the flips and turns and dancing you'...