Yummy things when you're pregnant

Well, or yummy things when I'm pregnant I guess. Things from this list are guaranteed to appeal to me - at least this week.

1. yogurt and fresh mango (they've been on super cheap discount here in town and I've been buying them by the bushel)

2. cereal (and I haven't had cold cereal on a regular basis for years)

3. Mexican food!

4. fresh grapefruit (until last week when my heartburn kicked in)

5. juice (any flavor, all of the time)

6. steamed milk (so much tastier than coffee)

Yucky things

1. coffee (ugh... I don't even want to smell it)

2. beer (not that I'm drinking it, but I again don't want to smell it)

3. cold milk (unless it's with the cereal above)

4. lunch meat (we get the best sundried tomato turkey here, and the thought of it - ugh)

5. mustard

6. hummus

7. cheese

Not that any of you care, I'm sure... but my dramatic appetite shifts have surprised me.

Stephen Hawking and my dad

With the news today that Stephen Hawking, the great physist, has been hospitalized, I had an immediate recollection of my experience listening to Stephen Hawking speak.

I was a fairly nerdy young teen/girl... prone to fantasy and wild escapism. I think my dad, an engineer by both profession and personality, often wondered what to do with me and how we were to connect. My Christmas present from my dad one year, a special present just from him to me, was a pair of tickets to see Stephen Hawking downtown. I remember that the tickets were in an envelope on the tree rather than wrapped as a traditional present.

We went off to see the lecture, and it was so cool. I was there with my dad and he didn't know much about this topic (advanced physics and black holes) either. We were both learning something new. I was one of few women (and likely the only girl) in the audience. I remember being mesmerized by the talk, by Stephen Hawking's voice (computer synthesized) and the fact that he took questions and laboriously typed out answers during an intermission between the talk and the Q and A period. I remember an assistant changing the overhead transparencies he used to demonstrate different aspects (remember overhead transparencies!).

After the talk, we went to a diner with some of dad's friends and had pie and ice cream and talked. I remember these men talking with me as if I was a full member of the discussion, rather than a kid. It was so great taking part in this conversation and talking with this grown ups about this exciting talk. 

I didn't get much mileage out of this at school, attending a science talk not being a particularly "cool" thing to do. But I remember this fondly. I feel so fortunate to have had a dad so interested in spending special time with me.

I cherish these special times I was able to have with my dad. I hope that Stephen Hawking can safely recover and return to giving his great talks, writing his books, and inspiring new teens. 

Baby related details

So, random bullets of baby-related news

• The baby is due November 17th (or there abouts). 
• We don't know the gender and aren't really planning on finding out.
• I'm feeling much improved these days 
• We have good care through the health center here and then we'll transfer to the local hospital

I guess that's it... I'm not sure really what else is interesting about the baby at this point. You can't yet tell I'm pregnant, so that's not exciting news. 

We're positive.....

... that we're pregnant! 

What the @#%^&$#%

So, it's April 2nd. Officially spring, the birds have arrived and the weather should be improving, right?

It's snowing. It snowed two days ago, and it's snowing right now. 

Seriously? Snow? Come on. I'm am so freaking tired of this.