Despite the wasps....

We love all things related to our patio and being outside.

This weekend Philip oiled our Teak Patio Furniture and it looks like a brand new set.

Its amazing what 2 cans of teak oil can do to some dingy grey teak furniture.

We spend a significant amount of time on our patio throughout the warm months and can't get enough of it.

Before - All Grey and Dry looking

After - Oiled up, Brown and Beautiful

A few weeks ago Philip planted several shurbs, plants and bushes.

This was our 2nd attempt at planting hydrangea and this time we selected an area that gets a lot less sunlight. We think we have a very happy plant on our hands. Check out the growth! Last year's hydrangea got too much sun and attacked by slugs. My hope is that the slugs stay away and this hydragea plant takes off and gets HUGE!

Last fall we transplanted two rose bushes from a friend's over grown yard that have blown up this year. We were worried they would die but they seem to love our yard and all of the sun!

We have two different rose bushes as you can see below and its amazing the growth from one day to the next. I am loving all of the rose blooms and am ready to cut some off and bring them into the house. They smell even better than they look!

Day 1 - Yellow Rose

Day 2 Yellow Rose - WOW!

I received this book: Softies Only a Mother Could Love, for my birthday from Jen and Naomi.

I finally got out my sewing machine and decided it was time to make Asher some cute softies to cuddle with. I decided to make the hardest one first which is the little guy that is upside on the cover (real wise seeing that I haven't sewn in ages), but its proving to be so much fun! Finished product photos this weekend....

Almost everything is pinned together and the face has been sewn on by hand!

Philip is out of town this weekend for his Best Friend Ben's bachelor party in New Orleans. Please pray that nothing crazy happens to me and no pre-term labor. I plan to lay low outside of sewing and the gym.....and of course sit outside and enjoy the patio!

Mike Martin

It is with GREAT sadness that we lost a wonderful friend and member of our Jewish community Michael Alan Martin this weekend. I served with Mike on the Board of Directors at our Temple and became very close with him and his wife Janet over the past year. This is truly a loss in our community and we are so very saddened.

Mike pased away Sunday early, early morning due to an unexpected heart attack.
He will truly be missed by so many and we are devestated by this sudden loss.

Please pray for Janet and all of the Martin/Abel family as this will be a very difficult time.

Mr. Martin, 66, passed away on Sunday, April 26, 2009 in Matthews, NC. He was born on October 9, 1942 in Los Angeles, CA and graduated from Venice High School. Mr. Martin was stationed in Turkey while serving in the United States Air Force in the early 1960's. He retired from GTE Data Services in Tampa, FL in 1999 after 18 years with the company. Michael enjoyed many hobbies during his retirement including woodworking and especially his motorcycles. He continued to work part-time in cycle shops and often rode with his friends. He was a member of Temple Beth El where he served on the Board of Directors and was also a co-chairman of the Israel Committee. He served on the Transition Committee for the Temple. Mr. Martin celebrated his adult Bar Mitzvah in 2008 and was currently studying with the Senior Sage Class. Mr. Martin is survived by his wife, Janet Abel, with whom he just celebrated his 16th anniversary; daughters, Marie Addington of Austin, TX and Monique Lummus of Lexington, KY; brothers, Roger Lewis of Albuquerque, NM and Lawrence Lewis of Sacramento, CA; sister, Diane Lewis LaVorgna of southern California; and granddaughter, Helen Lummus of Lexington, KY. A memorial service for Michael will be held at twelve noon on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at Temple Beth El, 5101 Providence Road, Charlotte. The family will receive guests following the service in the David Silverman Social Hall at the Synagogue. Interment will be private. Shiva will be observed at the residence on Wednesday evening. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial donations be made to Temple Beth-El, 5101 Providence Rd. Charlotte, NC 28226. Arrangements are in the care of Hankins & Whittington, 1111 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203. Online at www.hankinswhittington.com.

The final stretch....less than 6 weeks

How far along? 34 weeks 1 day
Total weight gain/loss: 20 lbs total gain as of today. Dr appt is Friday and we will have our Step B test. Pray for a negative test and minimal weight gain (just baby)!
Maternity clothes? Mostly non maternity but the stomach is getting larger and the weather is getting warmer so I will be getting out some cute sleeveless maternity shirts to wear this week!
Stretch marks? nopers.... :).
Sleep: I am still sleeping great. This week was the first time he actually work me up out of my dead sleep. He must have kicked me in my rib cage HARD and it startled me. I woke up in a panic, but went right back to sleep. (I can't take naps... if I nap I cant sleep at night)
Best moment this week: Lots of relaxation and sitting outside in the gorgeous weather. I definitely am slowly getting a little bit of a tan!
Worst moment this week: My computer screen backlight died forcing me to work in my office which was unbelieveably painful on my hip/back issue. Losing a friend to a sudden heart attack.

Movement: Constant and HARD... he is very very strong.
Food cravings: Finally I have my normal appetite back. I've been craving homemade meals and grilled food. Lots of fresh fruit and milk as always.
Working out: Same ole workouts and getting LOTS of stares these days. Still running 2-3 days a week as well as lots of cardio. 4-5 days a week. I cant walk or run outside. Its too hard on my hip/leg and I need the shock absorption of the gym equipment.
Labor Signs: none

Weekly Wisdom: Relaxing is great... I need to do it more often.
Milestones: My stomach has grown A LOT!
Looking forward to next week: TONS MORE RELAXING and sewing softies for my little guy! Philip will be out of town this weekend in New Orleans for his best friend Ben's bachelor party (this makes me so nervous) so I will be laying very low to prevent any onset of early labor :)

***WARNING*** Maternity Photos....

*****Disclaimer....if maternity photos... clothed or semi nude are not your thing please do not look further. I do not want to offend or insult anyone therefore I want you to know upfront that I am CHOOSING to post personal photos that are semi nude on OUR BLOG*****

When we found out we were finally expecting one of Phlip's requests was that I would do maternity photos. After losing 40 lbs before I got pregnant I was finally in a secure place with body and felt great about myself. I am not sure what he ultimately wanted/wants to do with the photos other than have them as a keepsake of this beautiful and natural time in our lives however I was on board. You know me and photography!

My girlfriend Nicole who I worked with at Global Knowledge has been developing her photography business over the past year: www.NicoleFabyPhotography.com and happens to be from Charlotte. She volunteered to do my photos over Easter weekend in our home and I was very excited since I am extremely comfortable with her. Philip and I were very pleased with how they came out... and wanted to share this very exciting time in our life with you all in all of its natural beauty. I have selected a few of our favorites to share....

Just the Three of Us...

Imagine that?

Holding on to This Moment

Have I told you lately that I love you?

He really loves me...

Can you hear me?

It's all in his name!

Beaming

The womb

Renee's Baby Shoes

Wrap me up

I can hear you...

If you are not interested in looking at photos with less clothing then I suggest you STOP... and click the red and white X at the top left or right of your screen.

As I mentioned we didn't know what we were going to do with some of these types of photos (and there are many more!) but I think we have found the perfect place for this very artsy yet spectacular photo over our......Mantle (JUST KIDDING!!!!!) We will however be using this photo in our house just not in the wide open.

I guess these arent any more revealing than my bikini in my backyard that all my neighbors get to see weekly :) I bet your glad your not my neighbor hahah! My belly is MUCH larger that it was when did these photos two weeks ago...amazing how much my little man is growing. I hope you enjoyed the photos as much as we did shooting them! Thank you Nicole for everything. (((((HUGS))))))).

Checking off the list...

We feel accomplished.
We did so much this weekend and checked so much off the list.

We shopped.
Ordered my Ergo baby carrier, Maternity Bra's, Sleep Bra's, Nursing Pj's, Pants for Philip, Yoga pants for me, Baby Clothes, a Mirror for the nursery....ALL with lots of credit we had accumulated!

One very special purchase: Asher's suit for my sister's wedding. He will be 4 months.

I peeked into Janie and Jack and snagged this steal of a deal...Originally $140 for $28!

Yes I know I am a little crazy for buying him a suit that he will wear once, but I couldnt resist!

We also crossed many things off our list this weekend! Car seat installed, birth plan printed, registration printed, bags half way packed, baby clothes washed, nursery cleaned up! Happy pregnant mommy!

We received a few more handmade gifts that I couldn't resist sharing becuase they are so special to us and will be to Asher...

This is 100% handmade and was a gift from Anne Stewart's mom Sweetie. This is an absolute treat and I am so honored that she smocked and sewed this custom outfit for Asher. This was the first boy outfit she had ever made. I almost teared up when she gave it to me to open knowing it was a Sweetie orginal.

We received another handmade gift (my favorite kind!) from one of my mom's participants in her senior program. This was hand crotched for us by a lady named Regina who actually has known Philip since he was a baby, but didnt realize that this was for Philip's son!

We witnessed a beautiful wedding this weekend. Both Philip and I have known Austin and Marissa for over 15 years. Philip grew up with both of them and I met them in BBYO (high school youth group). They didnt start dating till well after college and this weekend they got married. (not sure who this guy is in the photo, but it was a great one of the bride and groom!)

As I have mentioned our Temple is getting ready to undergo a 10 million dollar renovation expansion and Marissa and Austin were the last wedding to take place at the Temple. The reception was at the Mint Museum (the exhibits were even open!) and the weather couldnt have been more perfect!

Of course Philip and I had to get a photo too!

...and my girl Erin Goldstein, who was in the wedding....

Candy buffet with to go boxes.... yum!

and......the Belly Update at 33 weeks!

I did a maternity photo shoot two weekends ago that I will be sharing photos from this week. Be on the look out for some really awesome belly shots from an awesome friend Nicole Faby in a post later this week!

How far along? 33 weeks 1 day

Total weight gain/loss: 20 lbs total gain as of today. These past two weeks I gained the most I have gained yet totaling almost 4 lbs. I have been starving the past two weeks and was eating anything I could get my hands on. I ate all of the healthy choices we had and moved on to the no so healthy :) Thankfully that subsided this weekend and I can go back to normal and healthy eating habits!

Maternity clothes? Mostly non maternity but it depends on the occassion. The dress I wore to the wedding was not maternity :)

Stretch marks? Yeah I was crazy. No stretch marks.

Sleep: Sound. He still doesnt wake me up and I am so very thankful for that.

Best moment this week: Checking things off the list. Realizing its great to take a bath. An extremely supportive and loving husband who is doing everything he can do to accomodate me and make me feel comfortable. Philip continues to tell me over and over how beautiful I look pregnant which is truly a gift. I am so thankful for all of his support. I couldnt have asked for a more caring and loving husband!

Worst moment this week: Work. I prefer not to go into details...hmmm pattern.

Movement: He is running out of room so his movements are becoming more and more strong.

Food cravings: Last week I could eat just about anything. I felt like I was constantly eating and nothing was satisfying my appetite. I tried to make healthy choices but I started to run out of ideas and food. Thankfully these appetite is GONE!

Working out: Same ole workouts. Still running 2-3 days a week as well as lots of cardio. This is the one time Asher doesnt move (he sleeps) and I can get some type of pain relief from my hip.

Labor Signs: I definitely experienced Braxton Hicks on Monday due to a work related panic attack. NOT GOOD. Thankfully I have not experienced them since then and have done everything in my power to relax.

Weekly Wisdom: Love thy husband all day, everyday. Take more bath's!

Milestones: Braxton Hicks... that was enough of a milestone for me for now

Looking forward to next week: TONS OF RELAXING. We have nothing on the agenda ...YET!

We are addicted

...to our yard.

We cant seem to get enough of planting, fertilizing and watching things grow and grow. We are still beginner's and have lots to learn, but the joy we get out of our lawn makes me giddy.

I hate that I am very limited as to what I can do in the yard this year. We use a lot of different fertilizer's and it is not worth taking a chance with the pregnancy. We have finally completed laying pine straw (which I did in fact help!). I think we ended up using 20 bales!

If only I had a couple extra grand I would rip out all of this Bermuda Grass that is AWFUL and put down fescue. I can't tell you how much we hate Bermuda. It is constantly tracked into our home during the dormant season by all things with leg's particularly 4 leg's!

This weekend we decided to rip out 4 azalea's that had died from the cold and not so wise placement on our part's last year. We ended up buying 10 more azalea's (see above), 2 white heather bushes, 1 large hydrangea plant and 8 new hostas. Philip did an AMAZING JOB creating new beds on either side of the patio, putting down weed protector and planting the new bushes and plants. We are so excited about what the next year holds for these plants.

Brand spanking new bed with Azalea's, hostas and the hydrangea

Newly expanded bed to go around the air conditining unit (if they survive!)

THE FINAL PRODUCT (with ugly straw Bermuda Grass that needs to be moved!)

Most of what we planted last year has almost tripled in size. It is amazing to look back and see how skimpy everything was last year compared to this year. Our "staple trees" (the one's everyone in the neighborhood get when you build your new home) are the largest, bushiest and greeniest on our street. Again... this makes me giddy.

side note: after we took this photo we left the patio as is. the next day the wind got really bad and our umbrella went flying out of the base, knocked over a chair and the chair crushed the umbrella and it broke. so sad. we barely even used that umbrella last year and just put it out this weekend.

new guy in town

I thought Asher was going to be the next male addition to the Bass-Schreibman clan BUT despite my thinking I was wrong.

My parents decided to adopt this little guy from the Humane Society.

I confess I was a brat about it and pretty upset that less than 8 weeks before my baby was due they would adopt a dog and expose their already timid malti poo to another dog this close to another upcoming and possibly traumatizing event, the birth of their first grandson. But... they are adults and they do what they want to do... I am still warming up to the idea.

Regardless of how bitter I was...it's impossible not to turn into a ball of mush when you hear his story and think he is in a much better home now....but I am still very nervous.

His name was Lorenzo. He is now called Scooter (after some Yankee's player!?!). I suggested Moses with his arrival occuring during Passover....but the Yankee lover won. Scooter was living in a pen at a Puppy Mill for the past year and a half. He is a Bolognesse. Half Bichon and Half Maltese. They are exotic and expensive dogs when purchased from a regular breeder. Evidently the Puppy Mill turned over several dogs to the Humane Society because they couldnt keep up with the costs and he was one of them. He is very timid and very shy and is learning to adapt to our crazy family.

After a few weeks of love I am sure he will fit right in...he is a kisser :)

I definitely won't be able to help walk three dogs and a newborn....

Rapid growth!

32 weeks OH MI!

How far along? 32 weeks 1 day
Total weight gain/loss: 16.4 lbs total gain last weighed but I think Im up to at least 18 or 19! It says for every week I should gain a 1/2 lb and so should Asher so hopefully that is the case. That is some major baby growth!
Maternity clothes? I got into my bikini for some sun this past weekend... Im still about 1/2 and 1/2 on the maternity clothes vs regular.
Stretch marks? Its possible... I saw a small faint line developing on my low right back hip, but Philip thinks I'm paranoid... He is CORRECT.
Sleep: I have been a little achey the past week at night but still sleeping very well. Slept through the night Thursday night without one interruption. Friday night Bella kept me up all night!
Best moment this week: I'm really growing, the sciatic pain has slowly reduced and we got most of our landscaping for this season done and out of the way...plus added some new flower/plant beds! All credit to Philip.
Worst moment this week: Work. I prefer not to go into details.
Movement: Our child is active. He is constantly moving, rolling and kicking. I love it!
Food cravings: My apetite is close to ravaging. Nothing really satisfies my hunger and Im constantly look for something else to eat so I am trying to keep healthy choices around.
Working out: I was able to run again this weekend now that the sciatic pain is pretty much gone! The gym was closed due to Passover Wed-Friday but I got in two great work outs this weekend and now he is kicking even during my workouts!
Labor Signs: Thankfully No...then again I have no clue what Braxton Hicks feel like.
Weekly Wisdom: Rest whenever possible and make a list to stay organized. (not very profound, but it works for me!)
Milestones: Bending down is finally getting a little bit more difficult as my belly rapidly grows. Looking forward to next week: More relaxing and Marissa and Austin's wedding!

I would like to reiterate how much I have loved being pregnant. I am fairly optimistic about pregnancy in general and am waiting for the "final weeks of misery" that everyone swears I am supposed to encounter at some point. Although...I have heard that from day one. "You wait till you start showing, you wait till your 30 weeks, you wait till your last trimester etc." I'm waiting. I'm ready to embrace if the misery comes my way. My feelings about pregnancy have not changed and neither has my life. Although I am fairly limited now and I definitely make some funny grunts or groans here and there I am loving this pregnancy thing. Too many people make it out to be such a tough and trying time and I am here to tell you all ITS NOT BAD... ITS A BLESSING!!!!

jewish mother in training.

Some of my friends will tell you I am cut out to be a "Jewish mother"... or at least they think I am. I might have failed them all yesterday. Sorry folks.

Task:

• Matzah Ball Soup for approximately 20.
• Home made organic chicken broth - Done Monday night
• Make Matzah Balls x40 - Done Tuesday night and put in fridge till next day.
• Drop balls in boiling broth and watch them grow to plump and lucious Matzah balls - Wednesday in time for our 6 pm seder dinner - BIG FAT FAIL!

I screwed up. Pregnant Brain or not. They tasted horrific and were hard as heck. There was no way on this earth I could bring 40 hard tasteless Matzah Balls and present them to our mom's and family and friends for our seder dinner. I was scrambling. What if the grocery store didnt have anymore Matzah Ball mix? It is the first night of seder!

Thank god.... the first place I called had tons of boxes. I put them on hold at the front counter and Philip swung by on his way home from work to the trusty Harris Teeter to snag them up and another 18 eggs so I could fix my mess.

yet another snafu.

He purchased two different kinds of Matzah ball mix. One was Matzah Ball Mix with 2 packets of mix, the other was Matzah Ball & Soup Mix with only 1 packet of mix. I didnt realize this. (yup.. I was using the mix at this point folks, no denying my panic as 4;30, 5, 5:30 was creeping up on the clock). So two extra eggs and two tablespoons of canola oil later the mix was ready to sit in the refridgerator for 15 minutes while I quickly got dressed, put on my face and ran back down to make my balls.

some major praying going on at this point.

40 more balls dropped into the boiling pot. all of them were expanding. booyah. perfect. fluffy. just right. im sticking to the box from here on out.

80 matzah balls later and a whole lot less soup broth than I started with... we were on time for seder dinner. i present to you the matzah balls.... sans the soup broth....



Evidently it was all amazing. I must admit the matzah balls were good, but the soup was even better....although by the time it was all served they were luke warm or cold. humpf. so much more me and my perfectionist jewish mother wannabe self.

catastrophe adverted. mission accomplished.

i can live on as a jewish mother in training.
-----

A friend of mine sent me this cute little photo that she edited of me during her free time that I found amusing especially since her timing was impeccable. This came before the fiasco. Thanks Sara B for this wonderful and much needed laugh!

It reads " A little Passover message from a guest soon to arrive (not Elijah)...I love my Matzah Ball Mommy, Keep the yummies coming! With love from Asher"

Here are some details for our lovely Passover Seder which Philip led and did an amazing job! The beautiful seder plate. We actually had 3!

Gefilte Fish...which I don't eat but it was presented very pretty!

The tables ready for the guests!

What pregnant woman isnt eyeing the desserts before dinner ???

Thanks to pregnancy I will not be eating matzah all week. That is a constipation recipie for disaster....but I sure do love some Passover food and yummy cookin courtesy of our mommy's!