The truth about my pants

Let's have a little talk about my jeans, shall we? A completely honest talk.



Over a year ago I donated all of my size 2, 4 & 6 pants. After having lost weight it was a way to say... nuh-uh... I'm not going to be fitting in those again. Left only with my size 0's, when they started getting too tight to breathe I knew I had to crack down on the diet and exercise.

I managed to keep the weight off that entire year. Having read my blog and knowing how we enjoy food you can imagine how fantastic that is. I mean, I fluctuate but it's usually the difference between a fitted or blousy top.

After the wedding came the holidays. Oh how I love holiday eating. And all my pants shrunk. Something about winter always makes my clothes shrink. It must be the cold weather.

Unfortunately and perhaps fortunately I had one heck of a flu for the week preceding our honeymoon. This left me at the lowest weight I've been since I was 21. I traipsed around New Zealand in the same 2 pairs of very lovely size 0 jeans. I only gained 4 lbs.

But then I got home and the eating didn't stop and the workouts still didn't compare to the physical activity we had on holiday. (I love saying holiday, its so English)

I gained another 3 lbs. The total of 7 lbs on my 4'11" frame is more than enough to make all my pants tight. Tighter. Tightest.



AND THEN I GOT PREGNANT! At 6 weeks I had some belly bloat and that, my friends, was the last time I buttoned my pants. At 6 weeks pregnant. When the baby was the size of a pea.

That week I was put on pelvic rest in which you can do absolutely NO physical activity... and I mean none. We had some spotting issues but all seems well and I'm dying to get some excercise in because I feel like a big mushy mushball.

I'm Mushy McMusherson. Nice to meet you. This also means that when people touch my stomach they are met with a pillow of warm softness.... and the opening of my jeans.

So I learned the hair rubber band trick. I just need that little bit of extra space. And a BeBand. On the good side I'm really only up about 2 or 3 pounds.

I'm not saying that I need to be a size 0, but it sure would be nice to be able to zip up my pants. I really wish I would have kept those other jeans. Then maybe I wouldn't feel like I'm squishing the baby every time I sit.

I'm curious about my weight gain during this pregnancy. I hear that 25-35 pounds in normal. If you dare to share... were you in that range?

Miles Better Pies, Te Anau

There are a lot of food cravings and aversions I've been having lately. But there is one thing I'm sure of. I have not given up my love for meat pies. They are only just a distant memory now. A sweet dream I once had.

Oh meat pies, how I love you so.



On our way to the Milford Sound (how have I never blogged about that?!) we stopped in Te Anau. Well actually the glass-roofed coach we were in stopped. Anyway, the tour guide specifically mentioned Miles Better Pies as one of the best in New Zealand and suggested the wild venison pie.



An entire tour bus of people and we were the only ones to listen to our guide. Listen to the locals, people! I'll admit I was a little hesitant because I'm not a huge fan of gamey meat.

If you are ever in NZ and heading to either Milford or Doubtful Sounds chances are you'll be stopping in Te Anau. This place is just off the main street.

I'm telling you, stop by and get a venison pie. It wasn't gamey at all and the sauce was completely delicious. Thick and flavorful it had just a little something we couldn't put our finger on. Was it a spice? When B went back in to ask, they were kind enough to explain they add a touch of plum sauce to the gravy.



I had the steak pie...again. I loved the crust on these pies as well. Different from Paetiki Bakery, these were just a bit more solid and less flakey on top. Equally as large though.

Isn't it cute how they mark the pies with the letter of its filling?



Get a load of that meat! Huge chunks of meat in a savory gravy.

The wild venison pie was by far B's favorite meat pie and Miles Better Pies his favorite pie bakery. You can't even imagine the amount we tried while we were over there. Simple comfort food.



That's my dorky husband with the chef. :)

What comfort food do you love?

Restless and weird

Today I am about as motivated as my dear sister Gingerbread. In fact, I feel like I have been lying in the gutter. I never feel rested in the mornings. My nights are filled with frequent trips to the bathroom, waking for no reason and maniacal dreams.

Last night I dreamt that B left me. Only I wasn't sad, I was mad. In my dream he was driving his truck down a street by my parents house. Driving away from me. Only I was chasing him in my fury. I was riding my big wheel behind him, yelling all the way.

My big wheel. Do you remember those? I can still hear the sound of the plastic wheels on the pavement. Pedal, pedal, shakes fist, pedal, pedal, scream, pedal, pedal.



After 5 weeks of not working out and generally turning to mush (more on this later) I feel like this lovely little one here.

Only it's not quite that cute on me.



And I think my butt might look like the one pictured above.

Speaking of dreams, I also had a dream last night that I completely blame on my sister Debbie.

In my dream I had family over to come see the new bundle of joy. I walked them into the baby's room and we leaned over the side of the crib to find.... a litter of cocker spaniel puppies.

To make it even more interesting, I was totally excited. They were so adorable with their soft golden hair!

I blame it on Debbie because we had a facebook converstaion that went like this:
Her: Are you going to find out what it is?
Me: Absolutely!
Me: I just can't wait to find out.
Her: Oh I hope it's puppies! I love puppies!
Me: Me too! I want a basset/ boxer mix!

Odd. I mean, where the heck did cocker spaniels come from?



But most of all I'm really looking forward to scenes like this. Kisses and cuddles and chubby softness (that is not my own) and even the drool.

The Bunker Restaurant, Queenstown

As soon as we decided on New Zealand for our honeymoon I started scouring the interwebs for places to eat. I searched everything from local favorites to award-winning restaurants.

The Bunker was the first place I made a reservation at. I was immediately intrigued by reviews of the restaurant, most of which mentioned that once they found the place they were quite smitten.

The above is the entrance. It's literally off an alley with very little signage... as you can see.



Inside is a small, swanky room that holds about 8 tables from what I recall. The dark wood is warm and the tables all give off soft candlelight. On the walls are old, classic pictures.



Earlier in the day I had to convince B to come here for dinner. I think he might have had a bit too much fried food in the previous days. He did not regret changing his mind and he clearly didn't practice restraint while we were here.

I started off with the gnocchi. Sauteed kumara (NZ sweet potato) gnocchi with wilted spinach, coriander, orange mint and cashews.

I really loved the addition of the cashews in this dish. It makes for a great complement to the super soft gnocchi. Typically the gnocchi I have is paired either with tomato or a cream sauce and this was a really nice, fresh change.



B had the terrine. Terrine of Central Otago pheasant and duck liver parfait, wrapped in proscuitto, served with port wine jelly and walnut bread.

I'm not a fan of liver in general but I did try this dish. With the walnut bread and a topping of the jelly I really liked it. B loved it.



Cucumber martini and I cannot remember what was in it. But it was wonderful and refreshing. This is the kind of drink that could really get you in trouble on a hot day.

I love how they put the straws on the outside of the glass! Its basically just stuck there and adds a stylish touch.



For entree, B had the duck plate. Confit leg and seared breast of Canterbury duck on salardaise potatoes with wilted greens, cranberry coulis and sage jus.



What is salardaise you ask? We had no idea either. Apparently it is a specialty of the Sarlat area in France (said to be served at every restaurant in the area) and involves potatoes being cooked in duck fat. In a perfect world B would always have a bin of duck fat in our freezer.

Of course, sometimes it better not to live in a perfect world. Otherwise I would be the one to be wearing the permanent "duck fat tire" around my middle.

This dish was amazing. The sauce was light, slightly sweet and slightly tart which is a nice balance to the duck in all it's fatty glory.



I had the risotto because it is incredibly hard for me to not order the risotto when I see it on a menu. But I was really sold when I saw it was served with smoked rabbit. This is only the second time I had rabbit and the first time it was ground up with other meat in a dish.

Smoked wild rabbit risotto with thyme, shallots, broadbeans and shaved Grana Padano. Grana Padano is a cheese very similar to Parmagiano Reggiano. It is produced the same way but Grana Padano is a milder, more subtle cheese. This dish was amazing and you really got the smokey flavor of the rabbit, which by the way, was fantastic.



This is just a salad. I'm including it because it was a fantastic salad. All those greens were just packed in there and mixed in with diced vegetables. The salad was fresh and cold and tossed with a simple vinaigrette.

Sometimes it's the simplest dishes that show you how great a restaurant is, you know?



This was a special that night. Sauteed and caramelized banana crepe with a caramel sauce. I never knew how much I loved sauteed banana before this trip. Sauteed banana and marscarpone.

I'm drooling right now.

Upstairs is the cocktail bar but it has a completely separate entrance. If we weren't so stuffed we might have gone up to check it out :)

Pregnancy + Etsy = Newborn Knit Obsession

This all started on an afternoon I was feeling particularly green. As in nauseous and tired.

I thought I would get on Etsy and take a look at knitted caps for newborns as a way of reminding myself of all the good things to come. I'm now totally and completely obsessed... as if you're surprised.

This little bunny hat (complete with bows) comes from After The Bump where you can even pick your own colors!



Do you think it would be odd if I only dressed my baby in photography props?

It's so soft and delicious and I love the buttons on the ears. Created by Kinley Ash.



Kathy Nielsen Designs has this adorable sweet pea cocoon. I just love the cocoons!



Oh.My.God. There are no words.

All Things Belle has a number of cocoons I also love.

Who doesn't need a monkey hat from The Preppy Peach Boutique?

This boutique has knits for newborns all the way to adults!

Also from The Preppy Peach Boutique. No I am not having twins.... but I do have friends with babies coming along :)

I can't handle the cute. Fear for my child and all the ridiculous things I plan to do to the poor thing.

Funny Runny Babbit

After a lovely day kayaking, B and I were walking down the street when we spotted something on the grass.

What is that?



Well, a rabbit of course. A rabbit...with a harness....on a leash....tethered to a stake... near the park....on the corner of the main street.

Why didn't I think of that?



When I bent down it came hopping right over and let me pet its soft, soft fur.

But when B bent down it nuzzled right into his hand and stayed for a while.

We looked around for its owner (who may have been in the motorhome a step or two away) and laughed at the funny scene.



When we walked away the runny babbit just spread right out to enjoy the afternoon sun.



KUGS AND HISSES
Runny said, "I'm lonesome,
I feel so glad and soomy.
I need some kugs and hisses--
Now, who's gonna give 'em to me?"
"I will," said Polly Dorkupine
"'Cause you're cute as a rug in a bug."
Said Runny, "Well, I'll kake the tiss,
But never hind the mug."
~Shel Silverstein



Oh runny babbit, are you taking a nap or saying a prayer?

Prunes and Potato Bugs

In keeping with this rejoicing, we're so happy we're pregnant theme this week.... I'd like to talk about how this child of mine is literally sucking the life out of me.

Sucking the life out of me. I mean that in the most maternal way possible. Of course.

I just can't ever remember a time I was so exhausted. I take a nap when I get home from work, wake up to eat and then go back to bed. Of course, its hard to sleep when you spend half the night urinating. I just said urinating. You see, these are the things you can look forward to reading.

I'm exactly 10 weeks along which, according to The Bump, makes my fetus comparable to a prune. A prune? Really? There wasn't something else to compare it to?

But prune really isn't so bad. This past weekend my sister saw my 9 week sonogram and announced it looked like a potato bug. I had just seen a potato bug for the first time this past year and ~shudder~ well... have you seen a potato bug?! I think she may be trying to give me nightmares. I revoked her baby holding priveleges until.... well eternity at this point. She emailed me potato bug pictures yesterday morning so I feel justified in my decision.

So even though I managed to blog thru my wedding weekend and during my honeymoon I somehow have not been able to keep up during the pregnancy thus far. But I feel like things are picking up a bit around here.

I have a massive amount of restaurant/food posts I'll get up as soon as I can look at the pictures without getting queasy. I shouldn't complain too much because I really haven't been too sick.

Oh and for those of you who have asked, my due date is October 28th which is 3 days after the lovely LeAnna!