Chocolate

This week, I got the best Christmas present ever. That's right, Christmas. Before I explain, I just have to say how great Ben is. Maybe I've been saying that a lot lately, and maybe it's just the pregnancy hormones talking, but I think it's true. He somehow knows what I want without me saying anything, and sometimes without me knowing myself. He definitely outdid himself this time.

For Christmas, Ben gave me an envelope with a piece of paper that said he had arranged for me to have a chocolate making class with our favorite local chocolatier, Pete.

He explained to me that he contacted Pete and basically talked him into teaching a class. It was held this past Monday night, and I've been thinking about it ever since.

It was a pretty simple class, two hours long, and really fun. We first learned how to make ganache, and we all had our own sample to add whatever flavors we wanted to. I chose cinnamon and allspice (which I rolled in pecans. Turned out pretty well if you ask me).

Since you have to let ganache sit for a couple of days, Pete then brought out a few flavors he had already made, and we rolled a few to take home. When I say a few, I mean 15. In addition to the ganache which makes a dozen truffles, and the two pounds of chocolate I got to make my own truffles at home. So we're pretty set chocolate-wise.

We also had a chocolate tasting, with different brands and levels of darkness. There was even a 100% and a cocoa bean to try. We talked about the different notes and complexities of each one. Yeah, we were pretty fancy.

So now I have all these plans for different flavors I want to try. Not to mention the different techniques I want to learn/improve on. Everywhere I go, I'm looking for different ideas. And the really cool laser thermometer I've decided I have to have.

This is my selfie excited face

Ouch

The past couple of days have been a bit dramatic (traumatic?). Wednesday night, I was trying to simultaneously talk on the phone and walk down the stairs when my feet slipped out from under me and I fell down about six or seven stairs on my backside. I calmly (who are we kidding, I'm sure I sounded hysterical) told my brother I would call him back and then immediately burst into tears. Pain. Luckily Ben was home to calm me down and help me up, though I think I gave him quite a scare. 

I had my 30 week check up Thursday, where I mentioned that I was in pain from falling down the stairs the night before. Apparently I should have called my doctor right away, which honestly didn't occur to me since my abdomen wasn't even slightly bumped. It's strictly a tailbone injury. My doctor told me that when pregnant women have a serious fall, they need to be monitored for a few hours to make sure the placenta hasn't detached from the impact. Whoah. Not exactly what I was expecting to hear. 

So instead of going to my hair appointment that I had been looking forward to (silly maybe, but it's the little things that make my large self feel better), I had to find someone to watch Henry for the rest of the day while I was in the hospital. Luckily we have amazing friends who will take him at the drop of a hat. 

For the first time in over two years, I got to sit on a bed with monitors that are not at all itchy in a hospital gown designed to show any bits of skin you would never want anyone to see, and worry about the life of my unborn child. Oh, and listen to screaming women in labor. I'm re-thinking my decision to go through that again. 

I had a lot of blood taken and I was told I would have to be monitored for at least four hours, but after only 3 1/2 they seemed satisfied and released me. Which was a nice surprise. Those beds do not lend the best support to bruised tail bones. Plus I got to see another ultrasound, and the technician told me that at least he couldn't see anything to tell me she was in fact a boy. Still not the definitive answer we have been hoping for, but nice nonetheless.

I spent the rest of the day (and today for that matter) doing nothing that doesn't involve sitting on my couch, on the boppy I'm using as a makeshift doughnut. Except for the trip Henry and I took to have breakfast for dinner last night. It was a very nice distraction. For the most part, if I don't move it's not too bad. Another amazing friend offered to take Henry for a few hours today, which was really helpful. It's good to know our little girl is safe, and I have learned to give stairs my full attention in the future. 

Photo....Monday

A few months ago the auto focus on our camera broke, so we ended up sending it back in to Nikon to get fixed. They had it for a couple of weeks, but we got it back in working order last week, so I celebrated by taking lots and lots of pictures. This small (ish) selection gives a glimpse of our daily lives, including Henry's love for hats, balls and "weapons", Ben's baking skills, why I usually fold laundry while Henry is sleeping, and where Henry gets his new favorite face from (please note that none of these pictures are staged).

Great Expressions

Ben started a new job this week. It's one that kind of came out of nowhere for us, but seems like a really good opportunity. Ben wasn't looking for a new job when a recruiter contacted him about a position with Great Expressions, a company that acquires and runs dental practices, but we decided to go ahead and apply and see what they said/offered. Let's face it, it feels pretty good to know people want you.

Sure enough, in mid-December he was offered a position. It's a good step up for Ben--he's an executive now and he identifies and buys dental practices. Which is about as close to following in his dad's professional (dentist) footsteps as I think Ben will get. He is having to adjust to a smaller company, without the perks and budget of a top four accounting firm. To me that just means no more tickets to fancy events with VIP treatment.

This job seems like a great blessing for many reasons, one of which is that it is more in line with what Ben would like to do. Plus it brings us one step closer to our dream of owning an orchard. Not to mention the biggest bonus for me--since it's in Bloomfield Hills (about five minutes from our temple), if we decide to stay here long term there's a good possibility of moving further out of the city. I have wanted to move up to that area since we came to Michigan, but we didn't like the idea of an hour-long commute.

I personally am very proud of Ben for getting this job. Just over 2 years ago he was fresh out of college and had no idea what he was doing at a new job. He has gotten so many compliments from both KPMG and Great Expressions about how skilled he is now. Sometimes, just briefly, I take for granted how impressive and hard of a worker he is. So to make up for that, I have an abbreviated list of reasons why Ben is great.

• He loves everyone, and people always seem to like him right away too (which is good, because people and I do not have that same relationship).
• He likes to shop. I mean, he doesn't just put up with it, but he really enjoys it, especially with me.
• Whenever I mention something that I want to do, he encourages me to do it and researches it himself. Not to do one day, but to do now. Even if it's something crazy like take chocolate making classes or go back to grad school.
• He would be the one to be pregnant in a heartbeat. Not just to ease my discomfort, but mostly because he would like to experience it too.
• He likes to bring me little treats from work, like popcorn or hot chocolate or a candy bar someone gave him.
• He cannot take a compliment. Whenever I tell him he's handsome, his response is to contort his face.
• He's an amazing dad. I would be jealous of Henry if I didn't have such a great one myself. The two of them spend most of their time together giggling, and I never know what I'm going to walk in on. For example, one night Ben was supposed to be getting Henry ready for bed, but instead what I saw when I came into Henry's room was Ben holding Henry by the ankles while Henry was going head first through his basketball hoop.
• I can see very clearly how he makes me a better person. I don't know how he does it, but he improves me and makes me want to be better. Or at the very least want to want to be better....

Christmas and stuff

We spent Christmas in Missouri, with my brother Geoff who got home from his mission. Henry and I flew down the day he came home to be there at the airport with him. Ben came later and we stayed until New Years Eve. Since coming back, we've mostly been stuck at home on account of the most snow we've ever seen fall at one time. Luckily Henry has lots of new toys to distract him, and I am overcome with pregnancy craftiness, currently taking the form of knitting (Note the mittens and ear warmer I am wearing in the snowy pictures. Talent).

Two

Henry had another birthday this week. Geez kid. To celebrate, we had some friends and cousins over. I made him a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and trucks. His reaction: "coooooool!" And then he proceeded to eat 3 pieces. So I think it went over well.

This picture perfectly captures his attitude towards presents when cake is around. "More choc-o pease."

 

All of the choc-o and attention made him a bit goofy. I had to capture this moment because it reminded me of a photo of me when I was about 1.

He did enjoy his presents (mostly trucks and cars, which he was thrilled about). He got a musical guitar from Ben's mom that he strapped on and started rocking out to. He even used some of the cardboard it came in as an arm band.

The minute everyone left, Henry crashed. Ben did too. I love Henry's ability to entertain and interact with other people. He usually saves his exhaustion for us, which I like, because then everyone can think our child is perfect.

A few unorganized thoughts and facts about Henry:

He talks all the time, though a lot of it is still babble, especially when he gets excited. But he does often narrate his playing ("zooom, airplane, I fly, oh no!")

He absolutely loves his dog, even if he is a bit rough with Albee at times. He is always trying to get Albee to sleep with him in his bed.

He is a really good helper. He is good at picking up his toys, unloading the dishes, putting clothes in the dryer, and any time he sees garbage, he says "trash!" and has to throw it away.

His favorite foods (other than chocolate) include most kinds of soup, blueberries, bread, peanut butter and mac and cheese.

He loves church. All week he asks for church and nursery and, occasionally, even the sacrament.

He is very good at entertaining himself, but he loves to play with others. He'll often grab my hand, say "come" and then drag me out to the living room where he points to the ground near his toys and says, "sit."

His favorite song right now is "I'm so glad when Daddy comes home" complete with actions (my favorite is when he pumps his fist in the air and says "joy!").

He loves to brush his teeth. Throughout the day, he'll bring me to the bathroom, point at his toothbrush and say, "teeth!"

He's really awesome.

Елка

One of my favorite Christmas memories from growing up is when we would go to the Mule Tree Farm and cut down our own tree. Then afterwards, while my dad was paying and helping wrap up the tree, we'd have hot chocolate and candy canes in the little shop.

This year was the first time since we've been married that we've lived somewhere that doesn't ban live Christmas trees. I dislike fake Christmas trees and we only own one because it's better than nothing.  For the past year I've been talking about cutting down our own tree, even though we won't actually be spending Christmas here (because Geoff is coming home from his mission!!!). Luckily I have a husband who likes to indulge me.

So the day after Thanksgiving, we drove with visiting family (my parents and brother, Ben's sister and brother-in-law, plus Ben's brother and his family from Canton) about an hour north to a cider mill/tree farm and picked out a beauty that Ben cut down all by himself.  This place was quite large and very efficient. We were pulled around by a tractor and they hauled our tree back for us. Ben's favorite part was probably watching them shake out the needles and wrap the tree up. 

I enjoyed the cider and stuffing my face with doughnuts, which have been a craving of mine that I haven't indulged (I tend to get a sweet tooth during pregnancies, and I swear I'd be happy eating nothing but sugar for the next few months. Happy and large).

We decorated our tree this weekend, after all of our visiting family left. In other words, Ben put up the tree and helped me with the lights and then I put on the decorations while he guided from the couch. Everyone has their traditions. 

Henry loves the tree, especially the lights. We're teaching him to call it a елка, pronounced "yolka," which is Russian for Christmas tree. His favorite ornament is the one pictured below. I explained to him who it is, so now he runs up to it and yells, "Dad!" and giggles. I giggle too, but for different reasons. Just look at that face.