15 Weeks

Baby is the size of an: APPLE

Mama looks like:

Yes, this week I gained 4 pounds and my belly exploded. It was such a shock, rolling out of bed to find a tummy, that for the first two days I just felt really fat. Now that I can feel baby #3 making little movements, I'm feeling less fat and more pregnant.

Steamworks

I am notorious for my forgetfulness, and love to eat out. To keep from accidentally eating twice at a place that I didn't like, I decided to start "reviewing" the restaurants we visit while we're here in Colorado. If you're ever passing through, maybe we can take you to one of our favorites :) 

Saturday, before Stake Conference, Mike and I went to Steamworks Brewing Co. Thank you, Bayfield Young Women, who volunteered to babysit at the church for all of us going to the adult session!

Steamworks reminded me a ton of Mackenzie River Pizza in Butte, Montana. Steamworks has a menu full of sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, and pasta (as well as a very large selection of house-brewed beers, which is what they're known for, but we didn't imbibe). We started with the Queso Dip. Normally it comes with one pita bread round and a basket of red, blue, and white tortilla chips. Since Mike doesn't handle food coloring well, I asked for more pita bread and they were great about getting us several more, at no extra charge. The queso was very spicy, and left me wishing we'd gotten their Artichoke-Spinach Cheese dip instead. However, it was a good flavor, and Mike loved it (I just don't need heartburn to add to my pregnancy discomfort right now). We toyed with ordering a regular size Pepperoni Za' pizza and an order of their Missionary Ridge Pasta (which I will try the next time we go there), but ended up just ordering a large Pepperoni Za' (with pineapple, cuz I love it that way) for the sake of time. The pepperoni's on the pizza were thinly sliced and much larger in diameter than any pepperoni I've ever seen before. The crust had herbs mixed into it, and the sauce was really good. It had the perfect "cheese to sauce to crust" ratio. It was too bad that we ordered the large, because Mike could only finish one piece (although he had eaten most of the Queso Dip). I was able to eat two and a half slices, and am happy to have the rest as leftovers. Steamworks wasn't really a place I'd go on another date-night, but it has a nice, laid-back atmosphere that would be great for taking the kids to, or for doing a group get-together. I'm looking forward to trying their pasta and their Pastrami Rueben.

Serious Texas Bar-B-Q

I am notorious for my forgetfulness, and love to eat out. To keep from accidentally eating twice at a place that I didn't like, I decided to start "reviewing" the restaurants we visit while we're here in Colorado. If you're ever passing through, maybe we can take you to one of our favorites :)


Eating at a joint that calls itself "Texas BBQ" while existing only in Colorado and New Mexico felt a bit like a joke, but Mike insisted that we go there. I'm not the biggest meat-eater, but I've got to tell you, I LOVED their smoked turkey. Serious Texas Bar-B-Q is less of a sit down, date night restaurant than many of the others I've blogged about, but it's definitely worth checking out. The interior reminds me more of a small town diner, or a place to have a picnic. They sell their smoked meat by the quarter pound, served with a side of their signature bbq sauce. Mike loves their beef brisket, and I can't get enough of their turkey. The sauce is addictive. We haven't eaten there in awhile, and I'm thinking it might be time to. Tomorrow, maybe.

Ore House

I am notorious for my forgetfulness, and love to eat out. To keep from accidentally eating twice at a place that I didn't like, I decided to start "reviewing" the restaurants we visit while we're here in Colorado. If you're ever passing through, maybe we can take you to one of our favorites :)

Last night Mike and I joined a bunch of his coworkers for dinner at the Ore House. They're primarily a steak house, and not an inexpensive one. I was disappointed they only had one chicken dish. They did have half a dozen seafood dishes, but I'm not a fan of seafood (especially when I'm pregnant and can't verify the source of the fish). Also, if you're like me, and you like to check the menu online before going to a restaurant, be aware that their online menu isn't current. I got myself all worked up about a Spinach and Wild Arugula salad on their online menu (it said it was made with candied pecans, strawberries, chevre, aged balsamic, and olive oil). Well, they didn't have it on their physical menu. Oh it just makes me sad and hungry thinking about it. That is my BIGGEST pet peeve (for restaurants, anyway). It feels like false advertising.


Anyway, because we were eating as a group (there were 15 people in our party), we ordered quite a bit of food, some of which I tried. The sides ordered were Asparagus with a béarnaise sauce, Crab Macaroni & Cheese, and regular Macaroni & Cheese. The asparagus was very tenderly cooked, and the sauce was good. I didn't try the crab mac, but Mike said it was yucky - expensive for no good reason. Because Mike was unimpressed with the crab mac, neither of us tried the regular mac. But really, who wants to pay $7 for a small serving of homemade mac and cheese? Mike ordered his signature virgin mojito and was so disappointed. For a restaurant that advertises a full bar, it's unthinkable that they used mojito mix instead of fresh mint and lime. Mike didn't even finish his mojito (which is saying something). I also ordered their loaded baked potato. It was good, served with a generous amount of butter, sour cream, white cheddar cheese, crispy crumbled bacon, chives, and green chiles. I didn't put the chives or chiles on it, and it was very good. You can never go wrong with a baked potato. However, I don't think it was worth the $7 it cost.


The majority of our group (13 people) ordered a steak of one kind or another, one person ordered the lobster, and I ordered a chicken breast stuffed with artichoke, parmesan and sundried tomatoes, topped with a cream sauce. I can imagine it's very difficult for a chef staff to prepare 15 meals (each with different "done-ness" and preparation) and still get the meals out all at the same time. I was really impressed that we were all served at the same time. Unfortunately, the consensus was that none of the meat was done the way it was asked for. Each steak was off in done-ness by a mark or two (for example, Mike ordered medium-rare and his was medium, and our host, Sebastian, ordered his medium and was served a medium-well steak) and my chicken was very over cooked. I'll admit, I would prefer it over-done than under-done, but when I have difficulty cutting through my chicken with a steak knife, it's a problem. That said, the filling of the chicken was delicious, as was the sauce. From what I overheard, it seems as though the flavors of each of the steaks was satisfactory.


Dessert made an attempt to redeem the meal. I ordered the Butter Pecan Rum Cake, which was good enough to finish even though I felt full. Mike ordered the Crème Brûlée Duo - two ramekins of crème brûlée, one Irish Creme flavored, the other Chai Tea flavored. Mike really liked the Chai Tea flavored one because it tasted like pumpkin pie. I liked the Irish Creme flavor because it was a very delicate flavor, not too overpowering.


I don't think we'll choose to go back to the Ore House on our dime, but it's possible that if you're looking for a flavorful steak and you're solo or on a date, the Ore House may work for you.

East by Southwest

I am notorious for my forgetfulness, and love to eat out. To keep from accidentally eating twice at a place that I didn't like, I decided to start "reviewing" the restaurants we visit while we're here in Colorado. If you're ever passing through, maybe we can take you to one of our favorites :)


For Valentine's Day, we went to East by Southwest. I was surprised they didn't have a special Valentine's menu, but it just makes deciding whether to go back or not that much easier. You know, 'cuz we ate from the real menu, so we know their food is *always* tasty. Spoiler alert: it is, and we will go back. East by Southwest is a Japanese fusion restaurant with great sushi. Of course, you'll have to take Mike's word on that, since I don't eat raw fish, regardless of pregnancy. They did have a delicious vegetarian roll, which I got, and will get again.

Vegetarian sushi platter

Sashimi platter

We started with Edemame, with a Seaweed Salad for Mike and an Organic Greens Salad (greens, wasabi peas, daikon radish with miso sesame dressing) for me. And Mike got his virgin mojito. He says they are some of the best mojitos he's had. And he's had a lot. Lush.

I ordered Pineapple Fried Rice with Chicken for my main dish, and Mike got the Nigiri Sushi and Roll Platter. He chose the Spicy Tuna Roll, which he really liked. The fried rice was full of flavor, the chicken was well cooked, and it was beautifully served in half a pineapple. The leftovers were great too. As we were enjoying our dinners, Mike decided he really wanted an East by Southwest Roll (which is a California roll wrapped with white fish, broiled with dynamite sauce finished w/ sweet soy, sesame seeds & scallions) and I decided I'd try their Thai Veggie Roll (which has peanuts, peanut sauce, inari tofu, asparagus, takuwan, yamagobo, cilantro, & Thai sweet chili sauce). Both were delicious! I haven't talked much about Mike's meal, the sushi, because when I ask him he says it was great. Great is fine - but for a better idea of whether their sushi is worth it, know that ANY time we want to go out to dinner, and ANY time he gets to make lunch suggestions at work, he chooses East by Southwest.

We will definitely go back, and maybe next time I'll be brave and try some (cooked) sushi rolls.

*All the pictures in this post are from East by Southwest's website.

Ken & Sue's

I am notorious for my forgetfulness, and love to eat out. To keep from accidentally eating twice at a place that I didn't like, I decided to start "reviewing" the restaurants we visit while we're here in Colorado. If you're ever passing through, maybe we can take you to one of our favorites :)

For our date in January, Mike and I went to Ken & Sue's. We went without reservations and were lucky we got a table right away. I'm slowly learning to make reservation everywhere we go. I got comfortable in Houston just showing up at restaurants because there were so many that were rarely at full capacity. I had picked Ken & Sue's on a whim, not really seeing anything I loved jump out at me from their online menu, but I'm glad we went. Prepare yourself for an over-abundance of love - almost everything we got was flavorful and fantastic, and our server, Dana, was so attentive on a busy night. We went on a Friday, during Snowdown, so you can imagine how crowded and crazy it was. Our actual table that night:

We started with the Ginger Chicken Potstickers and Spicy Chicken Lettuce Wraps, both of which were phenomenal. I loved the orange-honey dipping sauce for the potstickers, and the spicy sauce on the lettuce wraps was amazing. Mike, of course, got a virgin mojito, and said it was great. It better have been great, he got three of them. I got their Baby Greens Salad, which came with gorgonzola, apples, walnuts, and tobacco onions in a shallot vinaigrette, and ate it all before remembering I'm not supposed to eat soft cheeses during pregnancy. I dream about that salad. SO good. Mike's main dish was Pistachio Crusted Grouper with mashed sweet potatoes and a vanilla rum butter sauce (YUM!) and my main dish was Angel Hair Pasta with oven-dried tomatoes and roasted garlic. I waffled between that and the Herb Seared Chicken stuffed with sun-dried tomatoes, and goat cheese in a roasted garlic sauce. I should have gotten the chicken. The pasta was good, the portion was HUGE, but the flavor was a little too mild for me. I also got a side of their Potato Lasagna (really just potatoes au gratin) and was really disappointed. It needed salt, or a more flavorful cheese. It was well cooked, and very creamy, but tasteless. The dessert I got, Banana Foster Creme Caramel, was absolutely delicious, like a caramel flan with banana slices fanned around it. Mike got the Molten Chocolate Cake (make sure you order it with dinner because it takes 20 minutes to cook). His came with a coconut ice cream that was the perfect complement to the rich dark chocolate.

I'm, obviously, really looking forward to going back to Ken & Sue's!

Mutu's Italian Kitchen

I am notorious for my forgetfulness, and love to eat out. To keep from accidentally eating twice at a place that I didn't like, I decided to start "reviewing" the restaurants we visit while we're here in Colorado. If you're ever passing through, maybe we can take you to one of our favorites :)

One of our first dates here (without the kids!) was to Mutu's. Despite their food being great, our experience left a bad enough taste in my mouth that we haven't been back. The weekend we went, the hostesses and wait staff were extremely unorganized and inattentive. We were told by the hostess to just "find a table on the patio" and proceeded to wait 45 minutes for a server. When one never showed up (no one even came by with water), I loudly protested (that's saying it nicely), stood up, and we started to walk out. The manager stopped us, and with much persuasion convinced us to stay. Most of you know my temper (or if you haven't seen it, have heard fantastic stories about it), so rest assured it took MUCH PERSUASION for me to sit back down. To the manager's credit, he bent over backward to try to make it right (although offering complimentary alcohol didn't impress us like he had hoped) and explained Mutu's had recently gone under new management and the transition was not as smooth as he would have liked. Hopefully he has since trained better employees.

On to the food. We started with the Beef Carpaccio and the Antipasto Plate. I'm not normally a fan of raw-ish meat, but I tried it and was impressed with it's flavor. The Antipasto was delicious: toasted bruschetta with salami, prosciutto ham, roasted peppers, mozzarella and provolone cheese, assorted cured olives, marinated artichoke hearts and mushrooms. It was big enough it could have ended our meal, but after waiting for so long, I was hungry and wanted to get the most out of my time there. I ordered the Deep Dish Lasagna (cheese, not sausage) and Mike got a virgin mojito (like I said, the antipasto was big, and he was full). The lasagna was large and tasty. I ended up taking half of it home and eating it the next day for lunch - it even reheated quite well. Mike says his virgin mojito was "completely unmemorable" (it's kind of his signature drink, and gets it everywhere we go). We took home the Pistachio and Chocolate Cannoli. It was gross. It tasted processed, and I wouldn't be surprised if they'd bought them from Costco's freezer section.

I love Italian food, but I've been really reluctant to go back, for fear of poor service again. Mike has been back for business dinners and hasn't had a problem, so maybe when my craving for pasta reaches an all-time  high, we'll chance it.

Himalayan Kitchen

I am notorious for my forgetfulness, and love to eat out. To keep from accidentally eating twice at a place that I didn't like, I decided to start "reviewing" the restaurants we visit while we're here in Colorado. If you're ever passing through, maybe we can take you to one of our favorites :)


While we were still living in the Best Western, waiting to close on our house, we went to lunch at the Himalayan Kitchen. I had a coupon from the hotel, or I normally wouldn't have suggested Nepalese, Tibetan, and Indian cuisine (especially with a picky eater named Lily). We were pleasantly surprised at how much Lily ate, and while we probably won't take the kids back there, Mike and I enjoyed it enough to return in the future.

We started with Samosas (I LOVE these) and their sample platter, which came with potato salad, chicken Tandoori, vegetable mo-mo (dumplings), and cheese Pakora served with dipping sauce. The cheese is like a deep fried mozzerella-type cheese, and was Lily's favorite. James, of course, tried everything and loved everything. Mike and I got Lassi's (mango for me, salty for Mike) and the kids drank most of mine. Lassi's are super easy to make at home, and so yummy. It's been so long that I can't remember what main dishes we got, but I do remember they were flavorful and filling, and the cheese naan we got on the side was delicious. I also remember dessert (who wouldn't?), Gulab Jamun, an Indian pastry soaked in honey. Mmm.

I don't often get a hankering for Indian food, but the next time I do, we'll go back.

Cuckoos Chicken House

I am notorious for my forgetfulness, and love to eat out. To keep from accidentally eating twice at a place that I didn't like, I decided to start "reviewing" the restaurants we visit while we're here in Colorado. If you're ever passing through, maybe we can take you to one of our favorites :)

One place we have eaten repeatedly is Cuckoos. They are a locally owned and operated sports bar. 

Their wings, whether bone-in or boneless, are phenomenal. They have a method of cooking them that makes them tender but crispy, and the sauces they offer are delicious. The cooking process is called "broasting" and this is how their website describes it:

"...[Our process involves a marinade] that gives our chicken flavor inside and out, and then deep frying under pressure that seals in the the foods' natural juices and flavors. This results in very little oil being absorbed into the food, so our chicken is crispy on the outside, and moist and delicious on the inside ~ along with being healthier than fried chicken."

Because it's a sports bar, and a little noisier than most restaurants, we feel comfortable letting the kids make noise and be themselves. They even have a small kid's menu. One order of Deep Fried Mac & Cheese Bites feeds both of them and gives us fries to split between the four of us. I always get a pound of boneless wings in their honey bbq sauce. Mike gets bone-in wings and always chooses a different combination of sauces. He doesn't recommend the Honey Garlic or the Apricot Sting sauces (very watery) but has enjoyed the Rancher's Choice (low heat), and all of their hot sauces (Honey Chipotle, Asian Persuasion , Old Yeller’s, Brutal Wings, Thai Chile).

This is a restaurant we visit for lunch during the week probably once a month. Love them.

Tequila's

I am notorious for my forgetfulness, and love to eat out. To keep from accidentally eating twice at a place that I didn't like, I decided to start "reviewing" the restaurants we visit while we're here in Colorado. If you're ever passing through, maybe we can take you to one of our favorites :)

No, not tequila,

Tequila's:

When we came to Bayfield to look for a house, the first place we ate, courtesy of our fantastic Realtor (Karen Overington), was Tequila's, a Colorado-based chain of authentic Mexican restaurants. We have gone there several times since moving and love the food and the kid-friendly atmosphere. My FAVORITE thing to order is their Chicken in Mole Verde. It's a sweet mole sauce made with almonds, walnuts, squash seeds, and cinnamon (along with other ingredients). The portions are enormous and every time we eat there we have to remind ourselves that one dish can easily feed our entire family of four. Their food is so good it's hard not to order a dish for everyone.

14 Weeks and a Request for Books

Baby is the size of a: LEMON

Yay for starting the second trimester! Maybe I'll get some more energy and have less nausea. Finger's crossed!

I have spent the last week being a single mom and, after a two day break with Mike home, will spend the next 14 days a single mom again. *sigh* I'm very blessed to have sweet littles who play well together, and play willingly without my interaction. They have been more than content to be baby-gated in Lily's room with all the toys and a few sippy cups of juice while I take an hour nap, or a shower. I'm also very lucky my mom will be coming out to visit for a few days, and then accompanying us back to Utah for a few days. I'm happy we're only a 7 hour drive instead of a 26 hour drive (like Houston was).

Not having the energy to get up and actually unload the dishwasher, or fold the clean clothes, or vacuum our cracker-crumb-coated living room, I've been reading a lot of books. The kids and I go to the Bayfield Library every Monday and Wednesday (and sometimes Friday if we're particularly lucky) and pick up new books. I've forgotten what a voracious reader I am - I've gone through a book a day for the last 3 weeks (sometimes having to supplement from our own small collection of books). If you guys have any book suggestions (I most enjoy fiction, whether adult or young adult, dystopian novels, chick-lit, mystery, and historical fiction, but I'm willing to read just about any good book!) please send them my way!

One happy side-effect of all of my book reading has been James sudden interest in books. I have tried reading to him he way I did to Lily, starting with picture books as a baby and trying to move up with his development (Lily and I LOVED these Begin Smart Books, and we have a whole collection of them). James has never been interested in sitting down and looking at pictures or listening to stories. Lily still loves being read to, and begs several times a day for me to read to her, and we try to include James, who usually runs away kicking a ball or two. But recently I have caught him sitting in his room with a book on trains (it's only ever that book!) and it makes me happy to see him interested in a book! Friends who have little boys, what books did your little boys love?

Lily is in love with Fancy Nancy and we have about a dozen of the beginning reader Fancy Nancy's - but now I'm struggling with how to teach Lily to read so she can enjoy books without being stuck waiting for me to be available. What things worked for you guys who have little readers in your house?

13 Weeks

Baby is the size of a: MEDIUM SHRIMP

Mama looks like: I have for the past 13 weeks - no baby bump yet!

Although my pants do feel tight, I'm afraid I blame ice cream more than a baby smaller than each serving of ice cream I have. I'm still sick out of my mind, but I'm also greatful for that constant reminder that I am still pregnant :)

Love My Littles

It's fun for me to see how Lily's mind works. We were driving into Durango last week and she saw truck tracks on the mountain. When I asked her what she thought they were, she said "They are tree tracks. The trees couldn't hold on and slid down the mountain." We read books together at bedtime, and her favorite, Everyone Poops, has a picture of a whale with the question "What does whale poop look like?". I love hearing her answers, which range from "I think an octagon" to "purple sparkly" and "big like me".

Language has started to click in James mind, and he's using two and three words together consistently now. I can never be sure that anyone other than Mike and me understand him, but it warms my heart to hear him say "Mo juice pease", or hand me his sippy cup and say "Here go Mama". Everytime he hears Gramma on the phone or Skype it's "Hi Gaga". Today it has snowed about an inch an hour (since last night) and looking out the window, he said, "Ow-side cold".

With the snow coming down like crazy, the kids are just itching to go outside - so here we go, for a little bit, until it's time for bed.

12 Weeks

Baby is the size of: A LIME

Mama finally got a different medication to try! I went in for my appointment and was relieved that the OB suggested the benefits of phenergan outweigh the possible sleepiness that could occur. So I tried the phenergan Saturday and found it doesn't make me drowsy. I wonder what it was in the IV I got a few weeks back that did make me sleepy - but at least it wasn't this. I'll still get to be an aware Mama (much to the dismay of my bookshelf-climbing children).

In happy, happy, HAPPY news - my mom is flying out here to visit for a week while Mike is on business to Houston. I'm so excited to have her come out here (and not just for backup!) and Lily is too. She's started asking if Gramma gets to sleep on the bottom bunk while she's here. Hmm, we'll see.

One week down, 28 weeks to go.

The Littles This Week

Earlier this week, Lily and James got their bunk bed! I'd ordered it online and it was delivered in three huge boxes. Mike is so incredible, he was able to set it up alone in about 45 minutes! It's still going to take a little bit of modification (Mike's going to get some boards for rails on the bottom bunk so James can't fall out) but Lily has been sleeping on the top bunk for a week and loves it!

This morning I took a shower while the kids at breakfast. I shut doors to any rooms I didn't want them in and thought I'd get a pretty good shower in with no disasters. Wrong. James somehow got into our closed bedroom and into my drawer of lipstick. Guess he wanted to be pretty like Mama, and in the process, he made one of our couches beautiful, too. Anyone know how to get lipstick out of microfiber?

11 Weeks

Baby is the size of a: AAA Battery

Mama has been: Experimenting with anti-nausea remedies.

What hasn't worked? The Sea-Bands were worthless. So is the Vit B6, but I'm still taking it for energy. The Queasy Drops are tasty, and I love sucking on them, but they don't really help. The ginger sometimes helps if I take it before eating, and the papaya sometimes helps if I take it after eating. I only started taking the Simple Digestion Complex today, so we'll see about it. The Zofran helps for about 3 hours, which to me seems useless, since I'm only supposed to take two a day. What pregnant woman only wants to be puke free for 6 hours a day?

What DOES work? The biggest help I've found is the DigestZen essential oil blend. I rub a drop or two on my tummy any time I start to feel a little queasy (cut with some sweet almond oil) and then cup my hands over my nose and breathe for a few minutes. I've only had to do it about every 4 hours, and I love the smell, so it's been great. And, on a very personal side note, it also helps with that other "pregnancy terror", constipation.

My second favorite remedy is PROTEIN! Weeks ago I read that carbs (like saltines, toast, crackers, i.e. what everyone will suggest you eat constantly) actually aggravate serious nausea, and the solution is protein. When nausea rolls around, I eat a hard boiled egg, or a cheese stick, or a cup of yogurt. Once I get that protein into me, and go through my other rituals to ward off vomiting, I feel loads better. Today I actually did laundry! By myself! For the first time in almost 4 weeks! (You can bet Mike is happy about that!)

The last remedy (not pictured) is Unisom SleepTabs. I've been given the ok to take on every night, and while they don't help me sleep (seriously, Unisom?!) they do keep me from horking at night.

Sometime around 14 weeks, I'll try eliminating the Zofran and see what happens. I tried yesterday, and the ralph-fest I had while trying to make dinner convinced me to wait a few more weeks before trying again.