Bousillage

Mom bought these little dresses for Peachick, and though I initially hung them in her closet, they're so sweet that I just had to pull them out. Every time I walk through her room, I see them and my heart does little flips akin to the ones I experienced when Mike and I first started dating. Maybe this is what life is all about.

Little birds and the poem "All Things Bright and Beautiful," have both become recurring themes in the nursery, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Bousillage (pronounced "BOOS-ee-ahsh") is a Creole word that literally means "big mess." It describes a style of Colonial French architecture in which a combination of mud, sand, horse hair, and whatever else settlers could find was used to make the walls of their homes. It was practical, provided good insulation, and most importantly, was very strong: many Colonial homes along the River Road were constructed with bousillage and are still standing today, despite hurricanes that wreak havoc on the region.

It's a word I associate with Peachick often lately: she's a strong big mess. She must have some Creole in her because she and I both adore spicy stuff. Tabasco on pizza is a particular favorite. She has recovered from her shyness around her daddy and kicks the heck out of me when he's around and she hears his voice. She delights in poking and prodding me while I'm trying to focus on a hard puzzle, and oh my, is she a night owl.

And strong! We had a great appointment with Dr. K last week, and he said her heartbeat was impressive. I passed the gestational diabetes test with flying colors and rather enjoyed the sugar high induced by the glucola. That's the strongest stuff I've had since April, and I can't imagine what a lightweight I'll be come January. Peachick had a party in my pelvis while we worked the glucose off together.

She's quiet during our morning walks with Dante, so I have a feeling she'll enjoy being rocked to sleep, and I can't wait to watch Mike rock her. Dante thinks she's the bees knees. I wish you could see him gently head-butt my belly when we're on the couch together. Then he settles in with his head right against me, just waiting for Peachick to join him in the outside world. I have a feeling they'll be good buddies.

My belly is burgeoning, and we can see her moving around, which is kind of a trip. Mike is having a more difficult time in the evenings finding a spot for his head just before we turn off the light, but somehow we manage it. He can even hear her heart beating just by laying his head against me.

Things are just rocking right along. We're looking forward to meeting this big mess. Our own Bousillage.

Wedding Cake Love

I adored our wedding cake, but how much fun would this have been? Mosey on over to the Sunday Sweets section of CakeWrecks.com to see more ostentatious peacock.

Missing You

We love you so, Alan, and we miss you more every day. Thank you for brightening our lives.

What a Lovely Saturday

Today was just a bunch of impromptu fun girls' stuff.

It all started yesterday when Asher and Ashley invited me out for lunch at the Irish Frog and a shopping trip. The waiter was a hoot, food was great, the company even better.

And dessert was almost the death of us all.

Before:

After:
Notice the lack of anybody's face in the after shot: we were all miserably full; I even found chocolate and whipped cream IN MY HAIR when I fastened my seatbelt once I sat in my car. That's' just klassy with a K. All three and a half of us did our best to finish it off, but the Chocolate Monstrosity really lived up to its name. Peachick has been kicking me all afternoon, asking for more, but I honestly don't have any room to put it.

After lunch, the girls were sweet enough to take me to look for baby clothes, and boy did I find them! I had to use restraint and must admit that now I'm a lot more excited about having a girl. They can wear pretty stuff. Let's just say most of the pieces I bought had ducks on them, and the others made Mike say, "That's cute," when he looked through the shopping bag. One outfit (A & A, you know which one it was) even elicited an, "Ooh, that's pretty," from my stoic engineer.

Then on the way to Jackson, I called Mike, who was on his way to take the boat out to the Reservoir. I was listening to the GA Tech vs North Carolina game on the XM Radio, and Tech was not favored to win. It was the last 4 minutes of the game, and though we had been losing most of the time, lo and behold the score was 30-24, Tech! I turned the radio up to a roaring 47 so Mike could hear over the phone. It was a nail-biting ending, but we won!

Once in Jackson, I met Ying for a surprise baby gift for Peachick. It was such a creative gift: Ying took me to Harry the Potter and let me pick out whatever I wanted to paint for the baby. How neat and thoughtful is that?!? Her nursery walls are very bare right now, so I selected a pretty little fleur de lis that will make a sweet accent piece. I'm really happy with the finished product, if I do say so myself, and I was even able to sign and date the back of it so she'll always know her mama made it for her. It still needs to be fired, so the colors will be much more vibrant and glossy when I pick it up on Thursday. I honestly can't wait.
Since the only camera I had with me was on my phone and I've had the thing since May 5, I decided it was high time I figured out how to transfer photos from my phone to my computer. Indulge me in a quick walk down memory lane of the summer:

Kearney finally fell off that pillow.
I don't know if you can make it out, but Dante was all snuggled up in the crook of Mike's arm on the couch. He was curled up into a tight little Dante ball.
And Dante L.O.V.E.S. Peachick's room. I love his tail in this photo.
Beachy goofiness.
My hot husband and his big hat.

And I am still enamored of this cookie Asher made me.

Now Mike's buzzing around inside and out, firing up the grill for some steaks while I blog with my feet up. He's so good to me. And I think we'll watch either Airplane or a Miami Vice for tonight's entertainment.

Do I smell steak?

Here's to hoping your Saturday was just as nice!

A Little Creativity

Good afternoon, dear readers. What are you up to this weekend? Please join me in remembering the victims and heroes who were created today nine years ago. We will never forget.

Our first DAR meeting of the season was this morning, and I agreed to be head hostess now so that I won't be waddling around in the kitchen in a few months. This meeting was especially exciting, as we were meeting in the Genealogy Room of the new library for the first time. At the same time, this meeting was especially tricky, as food is not allowed in the Genealogy Room, but the librarians were making an exception for us wild and crazy Daughters of the American Revolution.

Our refreshments are always simple: the usual menu involves sweet and salty, so I decided on a pound cake, some fruit, assorted nuts, and cheese straws. I baked a million dollar pound cake with amaretto whipped cream and had my other hostesses bring nuts, cheese straws, and drinks. But what to do about the fruit salad? I had nightmares of grapes rolling off plates and onto the brand new hardwood floors.

What to do, what to do..... I know! Skewer 'em.

I had the best time making this platter, and though it looks awfully summery for the week after Labor Day, every one of my compatriots were wearing open-toed shoes, so I figured there was no better time than the present to celebrate the end of summer.
I pulled out all the stops and made a whole theme with these little parasols: I put them in the cake and the centerpiece to give the party continuity. Then Mike took photos of the finished work this morning before I left. Love how the sun shines through the jewel tones.

The very best part? My mom was able to come to the meeting too. Two of my three co-hostesses weren't able to come, so Mom jumped into the fray, and with the help of Mary Jo, she and I were able to churn out and serve plates like a well-oiled machine. Thanks Mom.

I always wonder if a cake is good before serving because it's just not the type of food you can sample before the big reveal. But I suppose this particular cake was especially good, as when we returned to the kitchen to clean up leftovers, somebody in the library had stolen the last 5-inch chunk that I was planning to take home to Mr. Peacock!

Photos courtesy of Quisenberry.

Day of Laboring

Oh, what a beautiful weekend, oh what beautiful days. I have a beautiful feeling everything's going our way.

The past three days have been nothing short of idyllic. Maybe it's the (somewhat) cooler weather, maybe it's the fact that we are now able to sleep with the windows open, maybe it's just been the company. But we have loved every minute of it.

Mayhem and foolishness started on Friday, when Mike was able to come home a little early. He brought with him flowers and doughnuts! Lately I've been on a kick about how goooooood a doughnut would be, but I wouldn't break down and buy any because of all the sugar and fat involved. Well, Mike fixed my little red wagon with a baker's dozen of freshly-glazed goodness, enough to keep us through these past three days. Pair them with a cup of freshly ground and brewed coffee, and I'm like a new woman.

Then the girls and I went out for supper Friday night. I know - it's too good to be true! A man who brings home flowers and pastries and then gives me the night off in the kitchen so I can spend time with my two favorite bad influences. The weekend could not have begun better.

But wait. There's more.

Dante started off with a big Saturday morning romp:

Then Mike had to join the fun:

After that, Mike and I had some lunch and stopped off at Discount Hunting on our way to Turcotte to shoot rifles with friends. Peachick was not fond of the larger calibers with whom we were sharing the range, and she let me know under no uncertain terms with lots of kicking and squirming. When Mike saw somebody pull out a big boomer, he would grab me by the waist and hug me up behind him, using his body as the baby's own muffler. It was so sweet, but a little hot. So I spent about half the time sitting in the car, which was kind of a killjoy. But it was nice being outside and enjoying good company nonetheless.

While in the car, we listened to Georgia Tech beat up on South Carolina State 41-10. Mike was enthused.

Saturday night I roasted a rosemary and cracked pepper crusted ribeye with onions and potatoes while Mike tinkered out in the garage and started sanding the side door in preparation for some new varnish. We watched Date Night, and I laughed at the cab driver 'till I cried.

Then Sunday we loaded Dante up and headed down to our friends Cindy and James' place out in the country for a cookout in the dappled shade of the pecan trees. We ate too much but had a great time doing it. The food was great, the company even better. While we were there, we were fortunate enough to have friends take a few shots of the two of us together. That's so rare for married couples: we always have photos of one of us or the other but very few together in the same frame.

Mike is so proud: look what I did!
Of course, I'm proud too: look who I married!!!

Mike also honed his photography skills with some very difficult subjects: hummingbirds.

We came home to an easy evening with a light supper. As soon as evening fell, we opened all the windows, turned off the lights, popped some popcorn with extra butter, and cuddled together to watch the Swedish version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It was a very intense and graphic film with a very good plot, and I hate to see how much moviemakers water it down for the American version. Though it's filled with unsavory characters with whom I find it hard to relate, I'm so fascinated by their strengths and motivations that I might just have to read the trilogy. But I'm glad to have seen the movie first for the heads-up on some of the necessary plot development.

We took it easy today, taking a leisurely run together with the dog this morning, having an excellent Mediterranean/Lebanese lunch, and enjoying a quick visit with Mom this afternoon. During lunch Mike told me the story of how he flew solo for the first time and the process of achieving his pilot's license. His instructor actually told him to go solo before Mike expected, and Mike admitted (as I would have been too!) that he was scared out of his wits. I love that human part of my 00 secret agent. Now I'm sitting with my feet up, watching my favorite, Pawn Stars, while Mike tinkers with the boat outside.

I hope your weekend was just as wonderful. What did you do?

Photo courtesy of inspirationbit.

Hi Daddy!

My favorite time of day is at the end, when the world winds down and we settle in for the night. Our ritual has always been for me to keep reading after Mike is finished so he can curl up around me and lie his head on my stomach. I'll absently scratch his head or rub his back while I read until I can't see straight. Then I'll dog-ear my book and turn off the light while Mike scoops Dante off the foot of the bed to gently deposit him on his bed on the floor.

Last night I was reading Dan Brown's Digital Fortress. Mike has had to move his head up closer to my ribs to make room for the peachick, but he's still able to find a comfortable spot on me. I was just about to dog-ear my book when...

THUMP.

Mike's fingers tightened on my belly. "Was that her?"

"I think so. Let's see if she does it again."

THUMP THUMP.

I could feel Mike's grin against my ribs. It was such a sweet, happy time. He's been looking forward to this since July 15th, when I first tentatively felt her while sitting at Mom's kitchen table. Then I felt her more consistently starting on July 27th, as I bumped along the backroads of St. Francisville, Louisiana, exploring while Mike worked at River Bend. Since then she has become stronger and more persistent, but as soon as Mike put his hand on my belly, she would be quiet and still. "Dad's here. I have to be good."

I bet she'll do me like the cat does: a complete mad March hare while Mike's away, but as soon as he comes home, she'll be a little angel.

And she'll have us both wrapped around her finger.

20 weeks - halfway there!

Photo courtesy of vintagegent.