I had not one, but two people ask me today if I was pregnant, (That would have been way awkward if I wasn't, but I digress) so I figure that means my baby bump is probably big enough to post a picture. It still doesn't really seem that big yet, especially since it's really hard to tell when I'm wearing my scrubs. But I'll have Stu take a few shots this weekend, and post them up then.

I'm just starting to work my way through some baby names, because I am still so completely undecided. I created some loose criteria in which to follow, just to make it a little easier. It should be 2 or more syllables, not start with B, and I would like something that sounds a bit old-fashioned. And of course, Hubby has to like it. I've seen several names that I really, really like, but nothing really seems to fit. Every name I see is something cute for someone else's child. Growing up, I never had any names that I just had to use for my own kids, so I guess that's why everything fits awkwardly.

Suggestions would be appreciated. :-)

Yep, it's a girl! Didn't I say I thought it was a girl? :-) We're so excited, but now comes the hard part of actually picking a name. Eek! Poor Stu will be in a house with four ladies (two having tails). Maybe we should get him a beta?

For those interested in why I'm tired lately, I'd like to mention the fact that Hubby Dear and I are expecting our first baby in October. Sometimes I get overly shy about such things because I don't like to be the center of attention, so it's taken me a while to mention it. We are ecstatic beyond words, of course. It's an interesting story about how we found out--remind me to tell it sometime. ;-)

Okay, fine, I'll tell it now. :-)

I scheduled my yearly doctor's appointment in March, and for the few weeks before the appointment I was feeling really off. I was feeling slightly nauseated and sleepy. Even though the symptoms made sense, because they were mild I just thought it was all in my head, since I wanted a baby so very badly.

When I had my doctor's appointment, I told her about my suspicions, and she confirmed that, yes, I was pregnant. I told her how I had absolutely no idea how far along I could be, so she did an ultrasound, and I was already 8 1/2 weeks along. I remember being excited, and actually relieved that I wasn't going crazy. :-) I was actually very concerned that we were going to struggle with infertility, since I have, um, hormone issues, and I hadn't had that time of the month in a very long time. It wasn't until after that that it really started to sink in, and it still really hasn't.

I've been feeling much better than I expected. Only a little bit of nausea at the end of my first trimester, then fatigue after that. I love that I can eat so much food at once!

Anyway, this brings me to another important point. We find out tomorrow what kind of baby we're having. My gut feeling is that it's a girl, but I know we would be happy either way. I'm still processing all this now, even though I've been able to feel the baby kick the past few days. I just can't believe that I'm going to be a mother. It's so exciting, but a little scary at the same time.

I'll post some pictures in the next few weeks. I'm showing a bit, but it's not really worthy of a picture yet. :-) Anyway guesses as to the gender?

I just can't get over how tired I am lately. Everything from blogging to housework has seriously suffered. I'm not even gonna put up the linky button for the Recipe Swap because I'm that exhausted. (Click the button on the sidebar or use the link over there to go The Natural Mommy to see the other fabulous bread machine recipes.)

I'm not too lazy to share my contribution for the week. It's technically a bread machine recipe, as it does utilize said appliance. However, it must be rolled out, filled, and sliced before baking. But I must say, it is so worth it. These are probably the most amazing, melt-in-your-mouth goodies I've ever baked. I only bake half, and freeze the extra cinnamon rolls for future Saturdays, when I'm feeling as lazy and drained as I am today.

Clone of a Cinnabon
From Allrecipes

INGREDIENTS

* 1 cup warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
* 2 eggs, room temperature
* 1/3 cup margarine, melted
* 4 1/2 cups bread flour (I use all-purpose, with fantastic results)
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 cup white sugar
* 2 1/2 teaspoons bread machine yeast

* 1 cup brown sugar, packed
* 2 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
* 1/3 cup butter, softened

* 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
* 1/4 cup butter, softened
* 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1/8 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS

1. Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select dough cycle; press Start.
2. After the dough has doubled in size turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, cover and let rest for 10 minutes. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon.
3. Roll dough into a 16x21 inch rectangle. Spread dough with 1/3 cup butter and sprinkle evenly with sugar/cinnamon mixture. Roll up dough and cut into 12 rolls. Place rolls in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking pan. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
4. Bake rolls in preheated oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes. While rolls are baking, beat together cream cheese, 1/4 cup butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract and salt. Spread frosting on warm rolls before serving.

I got some of my to-do list done today, but due to the gorgeous weather Stu and I decided to go to the park. So, I'll be finishing up my list tomorrow. (I did get all my laundry done. Yay!)

I've just awakened from a nap, and so I'm rather groggy at the moment. I shouldn't have fallen asleep right after I had eaten dinner! We've been spending the evening attempting to cool off, since the cool week is over and it's quite hot and stuffy outside now. The AC can't cool off fast enough!

I'm trying to decide what to do this weekend, as I really need to put my nose to the grindstone and do some spring cleaning. The kitchen and bathroom are disaster areas, and the bedroom needs some serious cleaning and organizing before the baby comes. It just might take me that long to get it finished! I'm also hoping to work more on a sewing project for my sister (which I'll post about when I'm done) so I can begin working on some clothes for myself. With the farmers market and grocery shopping tomorrow and Hubby Dear's desire to see a movie, it's going to be a busy day!

I think if I can get up at 7 and have breakfast on the table at 7:30 that would be a great start to the day. I'm making homemade cinnamon rolls with a simple sugar icing. I made a batch a week ago and put the extras in the freezer. I'll transfer these to my refrigerator tonight, then set them on the counter to rise for a bit. These are so good with coffee!

At 8 I'll leave with a friend for the farmers market, and hope to be back by 9. Stu wants to see the 10 a.m. showing of Iron Man, so I think we'll do that. Then a quick sandwich or salad lunch. Afterwards I'll head to the grocery store and CVS, so by 3 I'm hoping to start cleaning the bathroom, and I'll throw a load in the laundry. If I can get the bathroom spotless tomorrow, I think that will be sufficient for the day. It's really messy. :-(

Then I'll start dinner (Roasted chicken and potatoes) I love to wind down in the evening with a good book or a sewing project, so I'll finish with some work on Julie's dress. Then a nice glass of iced tea (it's too hot for a warm mug) and some reading.

It sounds good on paper, but with the lethargy I've been experiencing lately, it just may not happen.

I'm currently watching my kitty checking herself out in the dark glass door overlooking our balcony. I think she's picturing another cat on the other side of the glass, as she is walking ever so slowly up to the pane and bobbing her head from side to side to see if the other cat is a threat.

I've been feeling so very tired the past few weeks, and have been turning in as early as 9:30. I've been dragging at work lately as well. It's an odd feeling to have your head bobbing at your desk at 3 in the afternoon! As a result, my desire to blog has spiraled. I'm hoping the beginning of the month will renew my desire to blog and hopefully I'll have some good posts lined up.