audio books

I'm seeking some recommendations for audio books (on cassette tape or CD) to listen to during nursing.  My friend said that was a good way to occupy her time during those long feeding sessions.  I am stil curious how to hold a book while breastfeeding.  I'm going to ask my cousin for a demo this weekend when she comes to visit with her 2 kids.  The are absolutely adorable!  Very tall and chunky, with curly hair, dark skin and huge round asian eyes. 

Kaya, who's turning 3 in November really wants a TMX  Elmo.  I am shocked by the prices on ebay and amazon.  If you're lucky enough to find it in the store, it sells for $39.99 but they are sold out so quickly to people who beef up the prices due to high demand.  The ones I saw were in the $75-100 range!!!  I guess grandmas and aunties and mommies and daddies who love spoiling their kids are willing to pay a premium for a red fuzzy bug-eyed wide-mouthed critter who giggles when you tickle him.  It sure is cheaper than having a pooping, drooling, crying baby who occasionally giggles and smiles, only when clean and well-fed. 

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes...

Romantic Dinner

On the night of our wedding anniversary we enjoyed home-cooked beef noodle soup prepared by onegaucho's mom and pork chops with potatoes from usrbrain and yftoad's mom.  Yes, we are well nourished by our parents and aunties - we're counting on them to help us fatten up the little one.  And we topped off dinner with our favorite wedding cake; NO we did not keep the frozen top layer for 8 years, YES it's the same baker and flavor from our original wedding cake.

Evening Entertainment

We had been talking about what to pack in our hospital bag for a few weeks now, commenting that we should be prepared.  Well, last night we got a kick in the butt to be ready at any moment.  At 7:00 pm I started writing down the time of each contraction, and they were coming quite quickly - 7 per hour.  I decided to keep track for 2 hours before panicking.  Onegaucho printed out naisula and mrfufu's list and began collecting all the necessary items in case the nurses thought I should go back to the hospital for monitoring.  We had not washed any of the baby's clothes or installed the car seat base yet, but after our two prior trips to Labor and Delivery, onegaucho had plenty of experience in locating my toiletries.

Mood Music

When I dialed Labor and Delivery Triage at 9:30 pm, I said to the nurse, "I was told to call if I was having frequent contractions."  She replied, "Please hold on a minute," and the telephone line clicked over to elevator music.  My contractions had already started to calm down, so I wasn't too worried, and just let the music play on and on for 15 minutes.  Thankfully I wasn't in true labor, otherwise we would have been rushing to the hospital instead of listening to staticky hold music for so long.  By the time I got tired of waiting, the contractions slowed to 4 per hour, so I just hung up and decided to go back to our normal bedtime routine.  I can't tell you what's more worth celebrating - 8 years of wedded bliss or Baby Ho making it to 32 weeks on Sept. 1st.  We both went to sleep peacefully knowing that we could spend our anniversary night in our own bed. 

Currently Watching Veronica Mars - The Complete First Season By Kristen Bell, Percy Daggs III, Teddy Dunn (II), Jason Dohring, Francis Capra, Ryan Hansen, Kyle Gallner, Tessa Thompson, Enrico Colantoni see related

San Diego's Best Breakfasts

I love a good brunch. Found this listing on the SD Union-Trib website.  Since I can't go anywhere right now, I will just have to salivate while thinking about these succulent pancakes, waffles, omelettes, and granola. 

http://www.signonsandiego.com/feature/114/

It's the first meal of the day, so shouldn't it be one worth remembering? From orange ricotta pancakes to Pappas Loco (crazy potatoes), the offerings at these San Diego County cafes will fill your hungry tummy and put an all-day smile on your lips. Wake up, San Diego. It's time for breakfast!

New: Want more? Click here for our readers' favorite breakfast spots.

Coastal San Diego

Brockton Villa (La Jolla)
It's got an unbeatable La Jolla Cove view and a soufflé-like "Coast Toast" you'll order every time.

Mission Coffee Cup Cafe (La Jolla)
Ordering breakfast is an excruciating exercise in decision-making: the artichoke scramble or the banana blackberry pancakes? Weekend crowds routinely clutter this cafe's sidewalk.

Come On In! (La Jolla)
It's a crime to skip the luscious pastries and desserts at this charming, sophisticated bakery and cafe.

Kono's (Pacific Beach)
The wait's long but you won't mind with such a great view at this PB landmark. And you'll be rewarded with fantastic egg burritos.

The Broken Yolk (Pacific Beach)
With more than 20 omelets on the menu, this cafe does live up to its name.

Ranchos Cocina (Ocean Beach, North Park)
Organic, vegetarian offerings are only part of the appeal of this homey, greenery-filled Mexican cafe. Chilaquiles and huevos rancheros are the keys to a beautiful morning -- so is a frosty Horchata.

The Mission (Mission Beach)
Step off the boardwalk for the best damn pancakes (banana blackberry, strawberry granola and cornmeal, to name a few) in town. Don't forget to order a mocha made with Mexican chocolate.

Potato Shack (Encinitas)
So much more than spuds -- the line outside proves it. Manhole-cover-sized pancakes await.

St. Germain's Cafe (Encinitas)
Taking a weekend morning drive up Highway 101? Stop here for eggs Benedict and avocado omelets.

Americana (Del Mar)
The beautiful breakfast menu's standout: a fluffy waffle made with homemade granola, caramelized bananas and dollops of freshly whipped cream.

Pipes (Cardiff)
Hey, bud, no way you can beat these killer egg burritos. Check out the tasty waves while you wait.

Inland San Diego

D.Z. Akin's (La Mesa)
This is as close as you'll get to real New York Jewish deli food here in sunny San Diego.

Village Garden (La Mesa)
Griddle fans will love the blueberry pancake combo, apple nut bread French toast, blueberry-topped pancakes and caramel cinnamon roll French toast.

Cafe 222 (Downtown)
This small sidewalk cafe off the beaten downtown path has the best pumpkin waffles in town. And where would you be without an order of Spam?

Family House of Pancakes (Chula Vista)
It's far from fancy, but the Family House of Pancakes is a great place to go with children and a hearty appetite.

The Mission (North Park)
The wait's at least 45 minutes long on weekends, but we've never been disappointed. Once inside, get creative with a host of huevos, blackberry pancakes or creatively yummy smoothies. Or get crazy with Pappas Loco. What's in 'em? Go find out.

Jimmy Carter's Cafe (Bankers Hill)
Quick service and great homemade food light up the nonpartisan atmosphere.

Bread & Cie (Hillcrest)
Blueberry-cornmeal scones, blackberry-banana muffins and a breakfast-bread plate piled high are a few reasons to stop by this urban bakery.

Hash House a Go Go (Hillcrest)
The portions are fit for a family to share, and the Brown Sugar Banana flapjacks will make a dreary day dreamy.

Cafe on Park (Hillcrest)
Urban setting with a down-home menu. Don't miss the pancakes stuffed with Captain Crunch and blackberries or the fresh strawberry preserves on every table.

Crest Cafe (Hillcrest)
The wait is worth it at this chatty cafe in the heart of Hillcrest. Best bets: Orange or Lemon Ricotta Pancakes and Orange Marmalade Stuffed French Toast.

Brians' American Eatery (Hillcrest)
Heaping portions of diner fare bring a line out the door on Sunday mornings.

Big Kitchen (Golden Hill)
A hidden, flower-filled wooden patio is only part of its charm. Judy the Beauty will keep you laughing as the comfort food and coffee keep coming.

The Original Pancake House (Clairemont)
If you're looking for a giant cinnamon-apple pancake and coffee doused with real whipping cream, you've come to the right place.

Parkhouse Eatery (University Heights)
A cool joint to match the funky neighborhood. Sit outside on a patio reminiscent of the French Quarter and take it all in over a roasted polenta cake topped with tomatillo salsa.

Picture Perfect

This week I finished reading a novel that was mailed to me by my cousin's wife, Lizzy.  She is an avid reader and picked out 2 books to keep me entertained during my free time on the couch.  She told me she was careful not to select any depressing books that had to do with children (I'm anxiety-ridden enough as it is, no need to give me more reason to worry).  I've never really ventured into the contemporary women's genre but I was really caught up in this book, probably the same way people get addicted to soap operas.  I could not put it down - for a week I would read for 1-2 hours in the morning and again at night until my eyelids couldn't stay open any longer.  What a luxury to have this much time to escape into fictional drama.  I definitely would not have allowed myself this indulgence if I could organize the closets, wash dishes, or clean out the fridge. 

Picture Perfect opens up in a cemetery where a woman wakes up with amnesia and has to piece back her life to figure out how she got there.  She is found by a new LAPD officer who had just arrived to Los Angeles and was starting his new job the next day.  When the police post her photo in the LA Times, her husband, who is in Scotland at the time, flies back home and claims her at the station.  Alex Rivers happens to be the biggest Hollywood superstar in the middle of producing and starring in a film at the time, and he puts the production on hold so he can be with his wife Cassie. She rediscovers that she is an anthropology professor at UCLA, and she met her husband at a dig site in Tanzania while he was the lead actor filming a new movie there.  At the beginning of the relationship he swept her off her feet, though there were some telltale signs of trouble ahead.  Well, I don't need to give away the rest, but it was a very engrossing psychological drama.  Books are good at capturing characters' inner thoughts better than movies, though I suppose that's why shows like Sex and the City, Grey's Anatomy, and Desperate Housewives attract such a strong following... women have very active minds, and it's comforting to know that I'm not the only one who has irrational thoughts running through my head all the time. 

Lately my most dominant train of thought -- when I'm not occupied with sudoku, reading, work, eating or talking on the phone -- is whether I will work or maybe go back to school sometime after I have this baby.  Of course we cannot anticipate what it will be like to care for a child, whether s/he will have health issues that require constant monitoring, or if I'll even have the physical, emotional, and mental energy to think about anything besides how to survive the first year of parenthood.  So thinking too far in advance is not going to do me any good.  All I can do is lift up my concerns, worries, desires, and dreams to the Lord, trusting that he'll guide my steps.  I believe that he has a very good plan for our future, and for our child too.  So today I will learn to be content with the freedom to wonder and fantasize about motherhood and family while enjoying the affirming rolls and kicks in my tummy, the TLC of friends and family, and the joy of anticipating the day we get to meet our precious little poop-monster in person.

Currently Reading Picture Perfect By Jodi Picoult see related

Must be the hormones...

This morning at 6:00 am I woke up with contractions, abdominal pain and backache and was paranoid about going into labor again.  The contractions subsided after I drank a bottle of water and took my terbutaline pill (I missed a dosage after turning off my alarm at 3 am!).

Onegaucho cut up some peaches and brought me yogurt with granola and mom's homemade radish soup - the breakfast of champions!  After taking a shower I fell back asleep for an hour then came downstairs and ate the bruschetta that Onegaucho made last night.  He won't want to kiss me when he gets home because I have really strong garlic breath!

I found a pregnancy journal on WebMD chronicling a mom who gave birth to twins after being on bedrest for six weeks.  Her water broke one morning and the docs did an emergency C-section at 30 weeks. The twin boy and girl spent nearly 2 months in the NICU and came home on Christmas eve.  When I saw the photos of them on the ventilators, I was brought to tears.  Two months after the twins came home, they were fine, but had to be monitored every minute of the day because of apnea, which would cause their heartbeat to slow down and lose oxygen. They look like they're doing well - everyday is a gift.

http://www.webmd.com/content/pages/19/104214.htm