Fabulous Food!

Last weekend a good friend, my sister, and my sister-in-law threw me a baby shower. They prepared wonderful food that was a great hit. I promised I'd get the recipes on the blog, so here they are:

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Willy Wonka Balls

(I think these might be my new favorite dessert - I loved them!)

2 cups creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup butter (@ room temp.)

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Mix together peanut butter & butter

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Add:

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

3 c. powdered sugar

3 c. Rice Krispies

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Roll into balls and freeze for 2 hours

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Dip in semi-sweet melted chocolate and let sit until hardened

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Spinach Artichoke Dip:

1 c. mayo (light)

1 brick cream cheese (light)

1 4 oz. can green chiles

1 can artichoke hearts (drained & quartered)

2 c. parmesan cheese

spinach as desired (Jen did a few handfuls)

Bake @ 350 for 15-20 min. (or until hot and bubbly)

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Almond Cake

1 1/2 c. sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 c. flour

3/4 c. melted butter (not marg.)

1 tsp. almond extract

1/2 tsp. salt

Blend sugar with melted butter. Beat in eggs. Add almond and vanilla extract. Add salt and flour. Spread batter into a greased 9-in round pan. Sprinkle with sugar and almonds (if desired).

Bake @ 350 for 30-35 min.

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I still need to get the salad & dressing recipe from Jen - when I do, I'll put that up, too. :)

Pregnant Photo - FINALLY

Not my favorite photo, but a photo nonetheless--since I've hardly taken any while pregnant. :)

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Any suggestions?

So, we're not super-prepared for the baby . . . we do have a car seat and now even some diapers. The good news is we can now get him home from the hospital. We're collecting and gathering . . . and I'm looking for any suggestions from people with more experience with babies than me (which just happens to be the bulk of my friends).

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Particularly . . . does any have a baby book they love? . . . the "first years/memories" type? I've been on the hunt and haven't found anything wonderful so far.

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And, is there anything else you just can't live without that is a well-kept secret?

Less than 2 weeks . . . maybe :)

So, thanks to my little ticker friend on the blog here, I've been pretty aware of how much time they think I have left before I deliver . . . I'm planning on being late, though. I figure it may just be the key to my mental well-being. My mom was always late, and since I'm very similar genetically, I'm just planning on it.

The good news is I am making progress towards delivery, though. The baby's been head down since the first time the dr. checked (during the 7th month), I've had some Braxton-Hicks contractions, the baby is dropping and "getting ready to come out" as the dr. put it (and his foot isn't in my rib so much these days-hooray!), and I'm a little dialated (all of 1 cm).

I feel like the pregnancy has gone pretty well . . . aside from the 4-hour glucose test that was a pain (at least I passed, though), and a bit of an iron deficiency (which pills have remedied), things have gone pretty well. . . While my wedding bands from my ring don't fit, I'm still wearing the bulk of my ring . . . and I've only gained 25 lbs. Things could definitely be worse!

Poor Rob, he's dealt with a lot of cold nights--I can't handle the heat--so he piles up on blankets. He's also been extra helpful with just about everything.

We actually took some pictures of the baby belly a couple weekends ago . . . I really need to get them up!