Fifteen Weeks and Counting

I have waited to blog about this until I had told most people personally, but now I feel like it is safe to do so. Tim and I found out in November that I am pregnant. We are so excited for this new step in our lives. Actually, it is all we really think and talk about. Our lives have shifted focus to this little baby, now the size of an apple, inside of me. It is amazing how something so small can have so much impact.

I was quite sick for the first two months with the nausea tapering off in the middle of the third month. I am now 15 1/2 weeks and feeling much better. It has been hard for me to get used to my body constantly changing, but I just keep focusing on that time when I will have a little baby to hold.

Patience has been difficult for me in these last couple of months. I want the baby now. Just give me five days to set up the nursery, buy the necessary stuff, and I am ready. However, I feel as though God is teaching me patience and to enjoy these days, weeks, and months I have to revel in this entire process.

Happenings and Going Ons

It has been a while since I have posted.
I have been feeling pretty sick lately, so this is where you can usually find me on any given evening. Curled up on our leather chair with Pippin close beside, reading whatever useful information I can find on the Internet and attempting to stay connected to family and friends.

It snowed for the first time this New Year the other day. Tim was away for work so it forced me to get out of the house and take Pippin for a walk. He absolutely loves walking in the snow. He jumps from one snow pile to the next eating as much snow as possible.

I was glad to have taken my camera with me. A snow covered Capitol Hill is something worth documenting.

I love this garden at all times of the year and purposely walk by it as often as I can. The low bushes do a great job of catching the snow

I hope this person doesn't mind me taking a picture of their car. I just love the colors. Can you tell that we have also been having unusually warm weather lately? Our daffodils and narcissus are already starting to bloom.

As I write this the snow has dissipated and the cold sunless skies are back. I am learning to enjoy life despite this dreary weather. One of my new years resolutions is to be more creative in life. So far that has only manifested itself in creative food dishes which my husband may or may not appreciate. Therefore, I am searching for more creative ways to spend my time.

Along the same lines, I am always amazed at how Christ can bring light to dark, smiles to sadness. This morning I woke with an awful headache, feverish aches and pains, and a clogged sinus. Needless to say I was not feeling well. However, upon logging onto my computer I saw an email from a long lost friend. It brought tears to my eyes and totally made my day! This friend is safe, happy, and hopefully moving back home. Prayers have been answered. Despite the gray skies it is truly a joyful day!

From Farm to Table

Although DC has an abundance of great restaurants, it seems as though my husband and I always end up at our local Capitol Hill restaurants instead of taking a cab downtown to try a new restaurant. Therefore, I was so excited to try the Blue Duck Tavern with two other Pennsylvanian couples on New Years Eve.

Simple, clean, traditional, organic, ode to our Jeffersonian past - these are thoughts that come to mind when entering the Blue Duck Tavern. Located in the Park Hyatt on the edge of Georgetown the Blue Duck Tavern is the epitome of simple elegance. I love the decor of this restaurant including the red and blue fabric walls, and the dining area scattered with Amish inspired tables and chairs. Everything just looks so clean. Nothing is overdone. Simple centerpieces. The kitchen is completely open - you are even allowed to practically walk right through it. I was just blown away by how quiet everyone in the kitchen worked. They seemed to dance around the kitchen in one fluid motion making delicious masterpieces. The menu is simple and a la carte. My favorite! You get to order a little of everything. Meat and vegetable items are listed next to their originating farm - many from Pennsylvania.

Our meal was absolutely delicious. Everything bursted with flavor, including my chestnut stuffed quail. We all agreed that the creamed spinach was out of this world with the goat cheese rosemary grits a close second. We topped off our meal with their world renowned apple pie, mango and papaya crisp, and cappuccinos all around. We were ready to be rolled out the door and into our cars just in time to get home and watch the ball drop. This was a perfect relaxing way to spend New Years.