I've still got this big ol' belly

Last week when we went to the doctor he told us they calculated our due date differently than our dr in Utah and I was actually already due. Which is pretty much the dream of any 3rd-trimester-totally-over-this-thing-called-pregnancy woman. So today we go to our appointment with our hospital bags packed, car seat in the car and ready to talk induction just like the doc said we would. But apparently this Halloween season we got a trick instead of a treat. Because surprise, surprise - he said they figured out the wrong due date and we're back to the due date of Oct 30. Boo.

Gourmet Caramel Apples

{An excellent photobomb executed by the hubby}

Remember when Orange Seed tricked me into thinking he was coming too early? Well, I have been craving caramel apples ever since. And lucky for me, my dear friend Rachel happened to be going apple picking and agreed to help me caramelize them. Lemme tell you - this process took us about 4 hours but it was worth every second. These apples are to die for. I used this recipe for the caramel (it's seriously the most legit gourmet tasting caramel ever), this one for the toffee bits (suuuuper easy), and then I toasted a few almonds for good measure before mixing them in with the toffee. We double dipped the apples (letting them harden a bit in the fridge between dippings) but if I were to when I do this again next year I think I'll make it a day long event and quadruple dip the apples, leaving them in the fridge much longer to get a really thick coating. That being said, I've still devoured every one of the double dipped apples without batting an eye. Hubby helped dip a couple so I allowed him to help me eat a few too. I know, I am SUCH a good wife.

Pumpkin Kiss Cookies

Yep - just as I thought, these cookies were delicious. Except the hubby doesn't like them. Which he told me point blank. But really....what does he know?

Oh yeah

I keep forgetting, but we did a little beach going with the pups a couple weeks ago. Just to make sure we went once before Orange Seed was born and we're house bound for a bit. I mean, we plan on going once a week as soon as he can fit into the little 3 month board shorts and hoodie I bought him, but the pups will only be allowed to come once a month. All was fun and games until London peed in our car. Yay for adding "steam clean and sanitize" onto an already full to do list that needs to be completed before baby comes. Lucky for me I have an awesome hubby who specializes in not-so-fun to do tasks.

I've got a pumpkin problem

But it's totally not what you think. Unless you're thinking that I've baked no less than three pumpkin goodies (including these pumpkin cookies) in the last five days and have plans to bake two more before the week is over. Then - it's totally what you're thinking. This slight major obsession caught me completely off guard since I've never been able to look pumpkin pie in the face without gagging. But I'm pretty sure if it's more of a subtle pumpkin flavor instead of a BAM in your face type of deal, I'll be on it like white on rice. I'm going to take this one last opportunity to blame the unborn child that refuses to relinquish his control over my body. At this point I've decided that I'll be in this state indefinitely. But I digress. Back to the pumpkin problem that I'm not taking any responsibility for. Here are the recipes I've been baking and then promptly inhaling. I've tried to take my own pictures, but usually the item is in my mouth and being consumed so fast that the two seconds it takes to open the camera on my phone is two seconds too long.

{Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls}

These are made with crescent rolls but you'd never know it. I made them in like 45 minutes flat which is awesome when you're a starving pregnant lady. Or just hate waiting for cinnamon roll dough to rise. I may be guilty of both.

{Double Chocolate Pumpkin Cake w/Pumpkin Spice Buttercream Frosting}

 

 Okay, so I made this last year and it is TO. DIE. FOR. The only thing I'd do differently is add more pumpkin, since you can't really taste it, but holy moist cake. Oh and I added 8 oz of cream cheese to the frosting. 'Cuz I'm crazy like that.

{Pumpkin Swirl Brownies}

 

I'm not a huge fan of Martha because of her unnecessarily overly complicated recipes but this one actually wasn't all that bad. I made these last night and they had potential. The cayenne pepper is a nice little surprise kick, but you couldn't really taste the chocolate part of the brownie. She has you divide the batter in half, but next time I think I'll do mostly chocolate and just a little pumpkin swirl on top. Also, 9" pan my butt - I had to divide the batter between two nine inch pans and next time I think I'll just put it all in a 9x13 or the like. Oooh and also, I didn't have nuts. But I think that would be an excellent little addition. Maybe the hazelnuts she suggests or pecans.

{Pumpkin Spice Kiss Cookies}

Trying these tomorrow as soon as I find the bag of pumpkin spice kisses I bought. But my mouth is already salivating....so that means they must be good. 

And just in case you haven't had enough pumpkin yet, these recipes are next on the docket:

{Pumpkin Toffee Cookies with Salted Caramel Glaze}

 

These had me at salted caramel. Who are we kidding? They had me at pumpkin.

{Pumpkin Banana Bread}

 

So of course I found this on pinterest (where else?) and another pinner wrote that she used this recipe, but only put in three bananas and added 1 cup of pumpkin.

{Pumpkin Gingersnap Cookies}

 

I desperately wanted to make these last year but failed to do so. This year will not be as lucky.

{Pumpkin Bread w/Cream Cheese Swirl}

 

 Need I say anything? The picture says it all. Especially the cream cheese. That sucker really knows how to speak to me.

{Pumpkin Cake}

 

Does anyone need a giant cake shaped like a pumpkin? What am I saying - who doesnt?!

{Pumpkin Gingersnap Cheesecake}

 

Pumpkin, gingersnap and cheesecake all in one dessert? Oh please stop.

And thus the pumpkin season begins

Sunday started out like this:

I gave a talk in front of the congregation of our church and it went splendidly.

Then, I got home and the afternoon started to look like this:

Annnnnddddd it stayed like that until Tuesday morning. I never actually threw up, but it was one of those times you wish you would so you could feel better. (But then of course whenever you DO puke, you realize that it's much worse than just feeling like you gotta). Anyhoo - we went to the doc and I was half hoping he would say: you're in labor! I'll meet you at the hospital! But no, instead he said: not sure what's going on....lets do some tests. The other part of me was relieved since I did NOT feel in any shape to go through 10 hours of contractions and pushing. I was just too sick and exhausted. So I ate nothing besides 5 saltine crackers and half a cup of jello for about 48 hours and I laid down in bed pretty much the entire time. I don't remember the last time I felt SO sick. On the upside, I gotta stay in my bathrobe for two days straight, which is always awesome.

Then on Tuesday morning I woke up feeling mucho better. Not 100%, but close enough. I tried not to push it, and physically my body was pretty beat. So I got some work done and laid back down every hour or so to rest. For a girl that knows a baby is coming soon and not having the apartment ready yet - it was a struggle to not try to be all wonder woman and go crazy. But whenever I tried my body was like, yeah right. 

So then by Wednesday I was feeling mucho mucho better, which led to a 2 hour trip to Target (bad idea) and baking these cookies (excellent idea). Also, I managed to make homemade pot pies for dinner. Then I promptly pooped out at 9p and slept like a log until 8am this morning. But back to the cookies. They're a recipe from one of my besties here in LA - and they are AMAZING. Every year I must force myself to wait until October to start cranking them out. Because once I do, there's no going back. Consider yourself warned.

Pumpkin Cookies w/ Cream Cheese Frosting:

 Cookies:
1/2 c Butter, softened
 1 1/2 c Canned Pumpkin
1 Egg
1 1/2 tsp Vanilla
2 1/2 c Flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Baking Soda
3 tsp Pumpkin Spice
1/2 tsp Salt
1 1/2 c Sugar

Frosting:
8 oz Cream Cheese
2 c Powdered Sugar
1/2 c Butter, softened
1/2 tsp Vanilla

1) Mix the butter, canned pumpkin, egg & vanilla in large bowl.

2) In another bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin spice, salt & sugar together. 

3) Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet.

4) Drop by spoonfuls onto parchment paper lined cookie sheet.

5) Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. 

6) Make the frosting by mixing the cream cheese, butter & sugar on low speed until mixed. 7) Increase the speed to high and mix until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. 

8) Reduce the speed to low & add vanilla, mixing until mixed through.

9) Frost cooled cookies and try not to eat every. single. one. 

D-Day

Sooo, we went to the Doc today aannnnnnnnnnddddd.........

..................

...............he said I'm just about where I was at last week. (?!?!)

Despite the pained halfway sleepless night I had last night. Despite me not taking it easy anymore. Despite the pep talks. So tomorrow is looking a bit grim for d-day. But I am NOT giving up. I've got just over 24 hours to convince this baby that although it's nice and warm and cozy where he's at, I've got lots of blankets to keep him just as cozy. Oh, and since we're now in sunny Cali, there is little reason to get a chill. And I've decided to even offer him an extension. If tomorrow doesn't work for him, I've graciously decided to give him until Monday. That way our place will hopefully look a little less like a tornado hit it. Which is probably a good thing when you're trying to convince someone to leave their comfy little 9-month (and 5 star, might I add) hotel. And if nothing else works, maybe I'll start eating only veggies and cut him off from the mid-afternoon rocky road binges. That outta get him moving on out.

Until then, I've decided to finally post an Awkward & Awesome Thursday!

Awkward:

 - The general lack of my brain power. I used to have a memory that would rival even the fiercest of elephants. But lately it has been embarrassingly terrible. The hubby says it's even messing him up since he counts on me to remember everything. That part is actually kinda awesome.
 - The fun stuff that comes with the pregoness. If you've been prego, you know what I'm talking about. If not....I really don't want to scare you.
 - Wearing the hubby's tshirts. Every. Single. Day.
 - Walking. Anywhere.
 - The wimp I've become. I'm sorry - is that 5 pounds? No....that's too heavy for me.

Awesome:

 - Getting our microwave mounted above our sink. If you knew the story of the hubby and I trying to build shelves you would understand how great of an accomplishment this is.
 - The hubby. Not only does he not let me do a thing, he's been taking up the slack of my general ability to do anything. Dinner needs to be made? Done. Dishes put away? Done. Dogs taken out? Done. Building dressers & unpacking boxes? Done. I could go on, but I'm sure you're already gagging (or maybe swooning) at this point. Basically he's been an all out superhero to me these past few weeks. (See here and here for even more reasons he rocks).
 - The friends & family that have selfishly helped us move in/unpack/decorate/all-around support. It's been a tough go and I couldn't have done it without you guys. Seriously.
 - Van de Kamp's powdered donuts.
 - Getting excited to meet little Orange Seed and imagining just how amazing he's gonna be. I can already see him running on the beach with the pups. In fact, it makes me smile just thinking about it.

Berries n' Cream

I'm pretty sure I've posted this before...but it can't be helped when you're posting about a yogurt parfait with berries on top. Which was delicious, btw. When one spends all day unpacking one must start the day off right with ripe raspberries, vanilla bean yogurt and vanilla almond granola. We won't even talk about the fact that it was topped so high that one may have spilled everything upon dipping a spoon in to take each bite.

What makes the hubby great

Well, besides his sweet tush, I would say it's the fact that he ran out to the not-too-near grocery store to get some ketchup for his almost hysterical (I blame the pregnancy hormones) wife so she could have some proper "round french fries" for lunch. Which is a meal I would beg my aunt and mom to make me all growing up so I knew it had to be done right. Hubbys everywhere - take note.

The 8 Month Bump

Get ready to see some naked belly pics! And some randomness about the "joys" of pregnancy. Because at this point if I don't call it a "joy" I'm pretty sure explicit words would come out instead. And since I truly am grateful to even BE prego, I wouldn't want to do anything to taint that. Okay now for the naked-belly-ness:

And the randomness:

  - After 7 months of no stretch marks I thought I was part of the 1% of lucky women who don't get them. I even praised my stretchy skin for being so awesome. Whelp - I'm here to tell you that they've come in. And with a vengeance.
 - Sciatica. Seriously. Sucks.
 - I'm pretty sure full term should be 37 weeks. Because that's where I'm at right now and I'm convinced that 3 more weeks is completely unnecessary.
 - On that note: I've decided that next Friday (Oct 12) will be the day I go into labor and deliver little Orange Seed. I've been giving him pep talks for the last week and since I've let him take over my body for the past almost year (or what feels like it) and since I'm sacrificing said body in order to bring him into this world he has no choice but to listen. I mean, it would be pretty rude of him not to.
 - The CA heat finally kicked into gear the cliche prego heat wave every woman feels. The hubby has only once tried to turn off the AC when I wasn't looking. He's a quick learner.
 - I've given up on the belly button making it's debut. It's a stubborn little bugger that refuses to pop on out.

Triple Digits

The last few days have been spent in a sea of boxes, tissues, cough drop wrappers and flip flops. Not only has it been triple digits down here (what the?!) but I also acquired my yearly cold somewhere along the way from Utah. So I've sloughed off all regards for fashion to dress as cool as possible and have decided to buy stock in Puffs plus lotion tissues (because everyone knows those are the ONLY ones not to make your runny noses raw). Luckily I have the MOST amazing hubby who won't let me do a thing. Yesterday I had to practically beg him to let me go with him grocery shopping :) And I also have the most amazing friends and sister who have been dropping by to help unpack so my little 8 months prego & sick body doesn't collapse. And they sometimes even bring yummy chocolate chip cookies which I practically polish off in a day. It's the little things that make the difference.

Fashion Week Faves

Since NY Fashion Week was in September, I thought doing the Oct 1st faves on my top fav looks would be fitting. {Pun intended....at least I think I made one}. And maybe I'm just ready for fall but I swear I loved way more items from the fall collections than the spring. ANNNDD apparently I really like my black dresses.

FALL 2012:

1 - CARLOS MIELE

2 - BADGLEY MISCHKA

3 - CAROLINE HERRERA

4 - CAROLINE HERRERA

5 - DENNIS BASSO

6 - DENNIS BASSO

7 - FARAH ANGSANA

8 - J. MENDEL

9 - J. CREW

10 - JENNY PACKHAM

11 - JENNY PACKHAM

12 - MONIQUE LHUILLER

13 - NAEEM KHAN

14 - NAEEM KHAN

15 - PAMELA ROLAND

SPRING 2013:

16 - BCBGMAXAZRIA

17 - CALVIN KLEIN

18 - CARMEN MARC VALVO

19 - CARMEN MARC VALVO

20 - HERE LEDGER BY MAX AZRIA

21 - HERE LEDGER BY MAX AZRIA

22 - JENNY PACKHAM

23 - NANETTE LEPORE

24 - RACHEL ZOE

25 - RACHEL ZOE

26 - REEM ACRA

27 - TADASHI SHOJI

28 - TIMO WEILAND

29 - VENEXIANA

30 - ZAC POSEN

31 - ZAC POSEN

{All photos from Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week}