Nathan is much more a traditional kind of guy when it comes to names.  And also his perception of unique is much different than mine when it comes to names.  Growing up in Australia he didn't meet another Nathan until he was older, where as Nathan here was a pretty popular name.  He also grew up in an area with a large Jewish population so there were a lot of typical Jewish names, (even more Jewish than his own Nathan David) which are not very common to me at all, but he was quite used to.  So when he went to school there weren't a lot of kids with the names James, Rachel, Jessica, David, Jennifer, Ryan, Robert, etc compared to those I went to High School…well you all know how many there were you may be one of them, I was at least only one of 3 in my graduating class, instead of one out of 10 but it was still annoying.  So Nathan's requirement, it can't be TOO Unique, something in the top 50 would be nice.

So I didn't keep a list of the names Nathan suggested, but James, Rachel, Jessica, David, Jennifer, Ryan, and Robert, were among them.  I think Kelly, and Allison were also in there.  The names I suggested were: Aspen, Edison, Forrest, Cedar, Bracken, Isle, Marine, Lakelann (Lochlan), Oceanna, Marcail, Dailey, Gael, Mallory, Kagan, Murel, Cress, Baradine, Ashby, Heath, Dundas, Hamilton, Merrit, Tuart, Elsie, Hazel, Fletcher, Porter, Werner.  All vetoed by Nathan.  Too strange, too hard to spell, too hard to pronounce, didn't want to name a child after a paddle (I really liked Werner, and their paddles are nice too), too easy to make nicknames up for (like Cooper, or Tucker) and most of them are well outside the top 50 names, some of them outside the top 100 names, and some aren't on the list at all.

We did settle on names, one girl, one boy with at least one middle name as well.  What are they?  Not saying…but they are between the top 20 and top 50 most popular names according to the SSA for the last 5 years.  So there ya go, if you are looking for a project, you can go through the names from the last five years and see what we picked, but we won't tell you if you are right or wrong until after July is born!

Directions
Cut cucumber in half lengthwise.  Scoop out any seeds and discard.  Leaving skin on coarsely grate the cucumber into a small colander (or use the food processor and transfer to a colander).  Sprinkle with salt and leave over large bowl for at least 15 minutes to drain off any bitter juices.

Meanwhile, place yogurt, crushed garlic, dill and lemon juice in a bowl.  Stir until well combined.

Rinse cucumber under cold water.  Taking small handfuls, squeeze out any excess moisture.  I put the handfuls into a paper towel after squeezing to try and get as much moisture out as possible.  Combine the grated cucumber with the yogurt mixture, then season to taste with salt and ground black pepper.

Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Makes 2 cups.

note:  Can also be made using mint in place of the dill.

Lauren saw Dr Beth today and our thoughts were just enforced more, she is always impressed at how advanced she is for her age, size, verbal skills, and her gross and fine motor skills, she is now about the size of an average 27 month old.  No wonder we are in the 2T clothes already.  We'll see if she starts leveling off on that curve, if not the few 3T outfits will come in very handy sooner rather than later.

Official measurements.
Head – 48.25 cm – 90th percentile
Height – 34" – 97th percentile (I thought she was going to be a little taller)
Weight – 26.2lbs – 80th percentile

We got the go ahead to start potty training if Lauren was interested, but she also told us that she would probably regress a little when July baby comes.  We also talked to her about not staying at the hospital any longer than we absolutely have to and she was ok with that.  With being Group B Strep positive she would like to see at least two rounds if not three of antibiotics before baby is born (with Lauren I had one, there wasn't time for any others), but she said that even if we don't she knows we would absolutely bring baby in if we thought he was getting sick.  We are just supposed to remind her when time gets close so she can talk to the other docs in her group in case she isn't around on the day baby is born.  Everything was good good good.  Even though we didn't have an appointment in the book.  When I scheduled Lauren's first H1N1 vaccine shot I also scheduled her 18-month check up and her 2nd shot to coincide…well apparently the appointment was never entered on their system, but they got us right in, really Dr Beth and her nurse Karen are the best.

INGREDIENTS
2 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/4 cups butter, 3/4 cups melted, 1/2 softened
2 Tablespoons fine ground espresso beans
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
about 1/4 cup granulated sugar for dipping

Preheat oven to 375 F.

In mixing bowl beat the butter and espresso powder until well combined.  Add the confectioners' sugar and brown sugar and beat until creamy and smooth.  Add baking powder, cinnamon.  Add flour 1/2 cup at a time making sure it is well incorporated.  Stir in chocolate chips.

Put the granulated sugar in a shallow bowl or plate.  Scoop about 1 tablespoons of dough and flatten it slightly into a disc.  Dip one side into the granulated sugar and then set the disc, sugar side up onto an ungreased baking sheet.  Repeat with the remaining dough, spacing the discs about one to two inches apart.  Bake until edges start to darken, about 15 – 20 minutes.  Allow to cool on baking rack for about 5 minutes.

Makes 30 cookies.

After re-telling our experience to a few friends they suggested we write a letter to the manager.  We got a phone call today (3/2) that the person we had addressed the letter to was not the manager, but she was passing it along to the appropriate person.  In the end everything is fine (or so we believe, we'll have to see what the report says when we meet with our midwives), but this is not the experience one should have when having their ultrasound.

I was told by your staff that you are the manager of the TRA facility on Lily. I would like to share our experience of our last ultrasound, a 20 week fetal ultrasound, which took place on Tuesday 23^rd February. We believe the technicians name was Shari, although she never did introduce herself.  That is the name we believe was on the certificates hanging on the wall of the room we were in.

Let me start by saying during our other two pregnancies we had a lovely tech, whose name eludes me. Unfortunately this experience left us both upset, we wish we could have requested the tech we had on prior experiences.

We had our 18 month old daughter with us, and the first thing the technician told us was that if she made a fuss I would be asked to leave with her. Her tone and demeanor, almost instantly upset our daughter, who prior to this point had been in an excellent mood and was engaging with your front desk staff and other patients in the waiting room.  We had prepped her for what to expect from the ultrasound by talking about what would happen and showing her photos from her ultrasounds as well as photos of pregnant women having ultrasounds done.

My wife was asked if she wanted to know the sex. Which we did. I was in the room too. It was our decision, not only my wife.  I understand that my wife is the patient, but we are both the parents.  The next thing we were asked was how many pregnancies we had had. This is our third. We lost our twins with our first pregnancy at 23 weeks. The technician then looked at our daughter and asked how many live births we had. With absolutely no feeling. She seriously needs some sensitivity training. At that point we probably should have asked for another technician. I suggest she attends a PS Support Group meeting so she understands what it is like to lose a child.

Our daughter continued to cry, so I let her get down on the floor and she walked toward the wall monitor and the tech snapped at us that she shouldn’t be allowed to wander around the room, so I stood with her by the wall monitor and she started to calm down but I was asked to leave anyhow. Not the experience we had all looked forward to. I was extremely disappointed, as was my wife. I came back in a few minutes later, as my daughter instantly calmed down on leaving the room. On entering the room again she started crying and I asked if the sex had been determined yet. It had not, and the technician looked and told us. No joy in her voice at all.  I then left the office completely and waited in the car with my daughter.

When my wife arrived back at the car she shared that the technician was in no better mood for the rest of the ultrasound. In fact she was berated for drinking too much water because the tech kept having her go to empty her bladder.  She informed the technician that she had drunk no more than the 24 ounces prescribed, and then she was left laying on the table in the room with the technician leaving saying, “If you can wait there, I need to talk to the radiologist about something.”  Now again, as parents who have lost children, that is one of the scariest things that we could have heard.

We shared our experience with a number of friends, and all said we should notify the office of our experience. We are lucky enough to know we just got horrible service. First time parents would be left with a different perspective.  In contrast to the other tech we have had it was like night and day.  The previous tech we had would tell us what she was looking at, why, what was normal for this stage in development, the measurements she was taking, if we wanted photos of different things, etc.  This tech did not tell us anything about what she was doing, measuring, or looking at.  Only from past experiences did my wife know what she was looking at.  The tech selected the photos to print, and my wife said there were some great ones that she would have liked to have.

Sticky Date Pudding with Toffee Sauce

For Pudding

1 3/4 cups packed pitted dates (about 10 oz)
1 cup water
1 cup orange juice
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 Tablespoons softened butter
1 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs

For Sauce

3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Make Pudding:
Preheat oven to 375.  Butter and flour an 8-inch square baking pan, knocking out excess flour.

Coarsely chop dates and in a 1 1/2 to 2 quart saucepan simmer dates in water and orange juice uncovered for 5 minutes.  Remove pan from heat and stir in baking soda.  Mixture will foam.  Let mixture stand for 20 minutes.

While mixture is standing, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Add flour, baking powder, ginger and salt, until just combined.  Add date mixture and stir until combined well.

Pour batter into baking pan and set pan in larger baking pan.  Add enough hot water to larger pan to reach halfway up sides of the smaller pan and bake in the middle of oven unitl a tester comes out clean, 45 to 60 minutes.  Remove smaller pan from water bath and cool pudding on a rack.

Make sauce while pudding is cooling:

In a 1 1/2 to 2 quart saucepan melt butter over moderate heat and add brown sugar.  Bring mixture to a boil stirring occasionally.  Add cream and vanilla.  Simmer sauce, stirring occasionally until thickened slightly, about 5 minutes.  Cool sauce to warm.

Cut warm pudding into squares.  Serve pudding with ice cream and warm sauce.

Serves 6 to 8.

Lauren is growing like a morning glory vine in the height of summer, FAST!  She is a climber for sure.  The other day she apparently wanted something on top of her dresser so she pushed her rocking snail against the wall under her window climbed it, climbed into the window and was caught standing with one foot in the window sill one hand holding on tight to the window, and the other hand and foot headed toward the open dresser drawer.  We took her to Bigelow Park the other day and she figured out how to climb the climbing wall.  She scales chairs and stairs with ease (both up and down), and has mastered the lever door handle, which isn't a big deal for the most part except the inn's front door is a lever, so we have to be careful when she is out and about the inn, usually in the mornings.  Oh and she gave the librarian a jolt the other day at book babies when she pushed the librarian's chair over to the table with the books, after she had already pulled down all the ones she could reach, and climbed the chair and then up onto the table to get the ones she couldn't reach.  Oh monkey girl!  She is getting more verbal all the time, and will usually use the word or the sign for what she wants when you ask her to use her words, rather than the screaming.  Usually she only screams about stuff when she is tired.  She does have a few words that when she says them they sound the same.  Please, Shoes, Socks, and Sit.  They come out sounds like sh!t.

She puts herself to bed if you ask her if she is tired or if it is time to go to sleep.  Usually she will nod yes, and then trot off to her room and climb up into bed and lay down.  Of course she has to get into her PJs and have a fresh diaper put on first, so you have to follow her in and really get her ready for bed, but it is still pretty cute!  We don't think she has gotten the concept that there is another baby in momma's belly  yet.  We have checked out a few books for her from the library on the subject, but so far she has only liked one, I'm a Big Sister Now.  She would read it over and over and over and over and over, well you get the point.  She does give my belly kisses, but then usually also head butts it or tries to give it five.  We'll see, she likes other little babies, she sees them at Book Babies and is usually pretty gentle, but I think she wonders why they don't say HI! back.  She will be so happy when July is old enough to play with, sometimes I think she needs a playmate, but then other times when she is around other kids her age she goes off and plays by herself, that is usually only if there are more than a couple though, maybe she gets overwhelmed.  We love having her around though, she makes life interesting and fun!

Our next appointment is right around the 18 week mark and then we can schedule our 20 week ultrasound.  GEEZ the half way mark is just around the corner.

What else?  July baby has names, but we aren't telling.  We have another appointment in a couple of weeks and then we can schedule our 20 week ultrasound.  ALREADY.  Geez time is going fast.  I haven't had too many pregnancy symptoms so far, but I do get a bit nauseous in the morning.

Carrot found a new home but came back a week later, but we think we are going to take him to Sydney's kennel because they have an adoption program through PetSmart.  Poor cat, but it is for the best.  He has been very elusive and quiet since returning home, but within an hour of being here Sydney was licking her legs (vet said could be allergies to the cat), and he was pulling out his fur…argh!

Looking forward to working on some projects around here.  Next is the tile in the Astoria room bathroom, complete with underfloor heat!  First to rip out the old tile on the floor, it has seen better days.

Lauren, Nathan and I were bundling into the car one chilly day when I looked up at the windshield and said, "What is that?"  Upon closer inspection it was a pile of crap on our windshield.  Not a figurative pile of crap, a literal pile of crap!  In our carport we have a few sheets of trellis up on the rafters and we think a neighborhood cat has been up there seeking shelter, and in this case, had done a sizeable crap which had then fallen through the trellis and onto the windshield.

Nathan spouting expletives takes off his gloves (to avoid getting crap on them I suppose),  gets out of the car and goes to the yard waste bin and snaps off a stick about the size of a pencil and walks towards the car as if perhaps he is going to fling the poo skyward and elsewhere.  He approaches the poo and pokes it with the stick which breaks and he looks dumbfounded at the stick as if to say, "I think I need a bigger stick" to; 1. loosen the poo that was not flingable because it was frozen solid, and 2. to avoid getting poo on any portion of him!

He returns with a large extension handled ice scraper with a broom on the other end.  He hacked hacked hacked at the poo, and the ice puck of poo finally flew off the windshield to who knows where and little chunks flew on top of the car.  To top it off he was hacking at it with so much force Nathan nearly put his hand in the remaining residue of poo on the windshield.  By this time I was laughing hysterically inside the car, trying not to wet myself.  I could barely hear him over my laughter, "It's NOT FUNNY!"

We pull out the driveway and start driving down the street and I can hear the little chunks of poo rolling down the roof of the car, I look  behind me and there is a car and I am just laughing with tears coming down my face thinking of the other driver going, "Is that car throwing frozen poo at us?"

So maybe not everyone will find it as hilarious as I did, but even now a week later I can barely contain myself when thinking about it!.  Frozen poo…nothing beats that!