Things That Make Me Happy

**Post idea stolen with advance warning to my dear mother.

1. Milly wearing socks.

2. My growing belly.

3. Andrew taking forever to tell me goodbye every time I walk out the door.

4. Andrew's forearms.

5. Sunless tanner.

6. Baking. I missed it for about three months.

7. Buying maternity clothes on ebay.

8. Crepes.

9. Mama Ese's fruit salad. And Dad makes a pretty good copy.

10. Sunday lunches with the family.

11. Cinnamon raisin bread everyday during 2nd period.

12. Skinny jeans and boots.

13. Searching the internet about everything baby.

14. My blanket.

15. My students.

16. Stretchy pants.

17. Looking for baby furniture on Craigslist.

18. Talking with Andrew about parenting.

19. My Chi hair straightener.

20. Walking with Rachel during 4th period.

21. Specialized baking gadgets.

22. Scarves that complete an outfit.

23. Talking/negotiating about baby names.

24. The new Steve Fee album.

25. Bran flakes with raisins.

Okay, one more.  26.  I'll say it again.  Those lines.

Snowed-In

After reading this article about the French Market in Knoxville, I have been craving crepes like crazy. Afraid to get out in this weather though, I decided to whip up some of my own for breakfast. You may think this looks more like a dessert recipe, but you know, I'm pregnant. It's been a good excuse for many things lately, so I might as well use it here too.

This recipe is perfect for being snowed-in because it only uses ingredient you have on hand at all times. It turned out to be the best crepe recipe I have ever used - and I have tried my fair share of crepe recipes :)

Strawberries are my topping of choice, but if your great-grandmother doesn't keep you stocked, you can use anything you like - bananas, preserves, caramel sauce, fresh whipped cream. You can, of course, venture into the savory fillings such as cheese, spinach, or salmon, but I just can't get away from the perfect combination of strawberries and nutella.

Set yourself up a little crepe station and start assembling.

See how they get a little crispy and roll up on the edges? Perfection.

This is always my dilemma - how to fold the crepe? The crepe stands in Paris fold them in half and then into thirds but our weren't big enough for that so Andrew got something of a crepe sampler platter.

I decided to stick with the fold-in-half method because it makes them seem bigger and you feel like you're eating more. And that's what it's all about after all.

It was quite an adventure sending Milly out into the snow this morning.

It may look like she was frolicking in the snow, but really she was so mad about her straight-from-Paris socks that she was walking around with stiff legs.

She definitely gave me the cold shoulder.

I'm sure my Denver family thinks it pretty funny that we call two inches being snowed-in, but even if we could actually get out, I love the idea of being holed up at home.

I'm looking forward to a day of reading, cooking, watching TV, and even - dare I say it? - watching a Lifetime movie or two. It's my pregnancy guilty pleasure. Okay, that and the crepes for breakfast.

14 Weeks

Today marks the 14 week milestone. Why a milestone you may ask? Well, it means I'm entering the second trimester - the one so many people kept reassuring me would bring better times. And yes, it's true! I feel like a brand new woman - no nausea in the past few days and much more energy. I must admit I was a little disappointed that I wasn't enjoying pregnancy. Really it makes a girl feel like a failure in the first stages of motherhood.

No, wait. That was something else. I have officially experienced my first mom failure. You remember seeing that first ultrasound image, the one where the baby just looked like a peanut? The first ever picture of my first ever baby? Yeah, well I lost it. Correction - I lost them! We had two copies, and we lost both!

I vividly remember using it as a bookmark in a book I was reading from the library. I was only doing that to keep it from getting bent in my purse. Well, when I realized I couldn't find it, I headed straight to the library to see if it was still in the book I was reading called Feed the Belly. Turns out the book has been checked out. I can only hope this other mother-to-be will know how important that picture is and bring it back. I can't tell you how humiliating it was to explain to the librarian that I had lost the very first picture of my child. Total failure. I'm still holding out hope that it will turn up around here somewhere.

Ah, the comfort of a dress. I think I'll be purchasing quite a few of these to carry me through the pregnancy :)

Andrew's 26th

Somehow Andrew's birthday celebration lasted all weekend. It began with a spontaneous trip to Big Ed's on Thursday, then a boys' night on Friday, dinner at his parents Saturday and lunch with my family today. Whew! Everybody let him pick the menu so we had Matt and Morgan's special recipe spaghetti and meatballs Saturday and Mom's roast and potatoes today. For dessert I brought his favorites: banana pudding and caramel pie.

Caramel pie makes a much prettier picture than the banana pudding that just looked like yellow mush. No worries, though, it tasted just fine.

One-fourth of the pie is lacking pecans per Andrew's request. I hope he didn't get too used to this kind of special treatment. Life goes back to normal tomorrow, Dear.

Here he is with two of his birthday gifts - a Braves onesie (okay, not technically for him but he loved it) and a Daddy diaper bag.

Yesterday, I was lucky enough to photograph the homecoming for one of the Haitian girls that arrived in Knoxville yesterday. Benita was adopted by one of the teachers at our school, so I offered to tag along with my ridiculously large equipment. I never realized how cumbersome it was until yesterday in a space so full of people that you could barely move. It was such an amazing experience to see those girls finally home with the families that have hoped for so long. Last night they slept under a roof for the first time in 11 days. I can't imagine the emotional roller coaster these parents have undergone not only dealing with adoption paperwork, but also because of the earthquake.

Benita's smile yesterday seemed to be permanently plastered on her sweet face. In nearly every picture you'll see she was wrapped up in the arms of one of her new family members. In fact, I had to ask her for a picture by herself because I wasn't able to snap one otherwise :) If you have about ten minutes to spare, watch this video.

Benita's Homecoming from Sarah McAffry on Vimeo.

Check out the photo blog for more pictures.

Neglect

With all the Baby Mac coverage recently, Milly has been feeling a bit neglected.

She gave us quite a scare last Friday. When I got home, she started her breathing problem. I wasn't worried at first because it happens pretty often - especially when she gets excited. Usually we can just pick her up, and she will calm down within a few seconds. This time, however, after Andrew and I both tried soothing her for several minutes, she continued. We took her in right away for an emergency doctor visit. Though she stopped about halfway to the vet, Dr. Hilla, whom I highly recommend at Callahan Animal Hospital, diagnosed her right away. Her strange gasping/snorting sound is apparently called a reverse sneeze. He assured us that it was nothing to worry about. Maybe not, but when your dog can hardly breathe for about five minutes, it's enough to scare you pretty good.

Jury's still out on how Milly will react to the new addition.

Unexpected Surprise

We went to the doctor today hoping to hear the heartbeat. Instead, we actually had an ultrasound. The only catch was that we had to wait for about 45 minutes wondering why we couldn't hear the heartbeat from the Doppler. I guess we can check that off as our first major parenting scare. They kept assuring us it was nothing to worry about, so we just tried not to think about it.

After the 45 minutes of waiting, our minds were quickly put at ease. As soon as the ultrasound technician put the wand on my stomach, we immediately saw the baby moving. She stretched her back out; I guess she's not a fan of the ultrasound lady pressing all over her. (I'm using "she" because the ultrasound technician did.) Incidentally, I have started thinking it's a girl lately though I've always thought it sounds a little hokey to make guesses like that.

Stats: Heart rate 159 beats per minute and 7 centimeters long.

We don't have a picture of it, but we actually got to see a hand - and all five fingers!

I've been reading all the websites and books that tell you about the baby's progress, but this just made it so real. Just look at that ultrasound. She already has facial features and the cutest little profile! Only 8 more weeks until we find out if "she" is really a she.

12.5 Weeks

Like many of you, I have been glued to CNN's coverage of the tragedy in Haiti.

It's really not helping my slight crush on Andrerson Cooper,

or Sanjay Gupta for that matter.

Gupta was helicoptered to an aircraft carrier to perform brain surgery on a 12 year old girl when they could find no other neurosurgeons in the country.

He has even skipped out on his CNN show because he couldn't tear himself away from the field. Quoted from his Twitter feed, "Yes, I am a reporter, but I am a doctor first."  Wow.  When is this guy running for President?  He has my vote any day.  Make sure to click the link to the right to donate to Compassion's Haiti Fund to help however you can.  

I'm so proud of my first period class.  We read an article from the News-Sentinel about one of the teachers at our school who is in the process of adopting from Haiti, and they wanted to do something to help the orphanage where her little girl is staying.  This week we'll be taking a little class time to assemble ribbons and make posters for their fundraiser.  Somehow I think that might be a little more memorable than the pronoun antecedent agreement we had planned :)

I've been on a baking hiatus lately, but I got some inspiration today to make some pound cake.

I tried a new recipe from the Williams Sonoma Desserts Cookbook.  Those things are foolproof.  I highly recommend all of their cookbooks.  BTW, you're lucky you got a picture of this.  It was eaten pretty swiftly after I not-so-gingerly set the camera down.

Not sure if that's the pound cake or the nearly peach-sized baby showing.  We're headed to the doctor tomorrow and will hopefully get to hear the heartbeat! 

Best Movie Lines Ever

Return to Me

Bob Rueland: I miss Elizabeth. I'll always miss her. But I ache for Grace.

It's like a dagger to the heart every time I hear him utter that line. The word ache is just so unexpected and so powerful. Whew.

Love Actually

[neither understands the other's language]
Jamie: [in English] It's my favorite time of day, driving you.
Aurelia: [in Portuguese] It's the saddest part of my day, leaving you.

Oh, the irony! I just love all the story lines in this movie, but this couple is my favorite vignette by far. Their inability to communicate is so endearing. So endearing, in fact, that I have to share another one.

Jamie: You learned English?
Aurelia: Just in cases.

I don't know how that extra 's' on the word case that makes this one of the most tender and sweet moments in the movie, but these writers were brilliant.

The Shawshank Redemption

[last lines]
Red: [narrating] I find I'm so excited, I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it's the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend, and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope.

This movie is such a beautiful illustration of the resiliency of the human spirit.

The Godfather

Don Corleone: Because a man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man.

Stole this one from Andrew. How great is it that this is my husband's favorite movie line?

Steel Magnolias

Truvy: Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion.

I have to agree with you Truvy.

When Harry Met Sally

Harry Burns: There are two kinds of women: high maintenance and low maintenance.

Sally Albright: Which one am I?
Harry Burns: You're the worst kind; you're high maintenance but you think you're low maintenance.

I've heard I might suffer from the same delusion.

This task was actually a little more complicated than I thought it would be. Turns out, some of the best movie lines aren't entirely appropriate for publishing. Now it's your turn. Share one of your faves.

A Bientot Madame

Today we said au revoir - no, that's a bientot (She refuses to say "goodbye", only "see you soon.")- to one of the best educators to walk the halls of our school. In true Madame Taylor style, she didn't want a retirement party. Instead we celebrated her 60th birthday at Bistro by the Bijou. They shut down the restaurant just for her, and we packed the house. After sitting in her French class for four years and teaching down the hall from her for another four, I felt a little out of sorts last week without her. In fact, I texted her just hours after school started Monday to tell her I already missed her. In reality, she isn't even fully retired. She is teaching two classes at another local high school as a Distinguished Professional - a grant from the state. Add to that the evening classes she teaches at Pellissippi, and I think you still have a full-time teacher. She's one of the rare few that just can't imagine her life outside the classroom. I pray I will still have that passion and dedication when I am in her place.

Mme, I don't know how we'll make it without you. Guess I'll just have to take another tour around the world with you to get some quality time.

Pregnancy Update - 11.5 Weeks

• Morning Sickness - correction - All-Day Sickness: getting better
• Energy: returning just in time for second semester
• Baby Bump: making its appearance earlier than expected
• Cravings: fruit, juice, smoothies, bagels, salads, carbs, carbs, carbs
• Aversions: fish, shrimp, and most meat
• Baby Names: still under negotiation
• Clothing: thank goodness for the rubber band trick
• Sniffer: still can't find the source of the stinky smell in my house but I did smell the most delicious glass of red wine today - and I don't even like red wine
• Grandparents: wearing Grandpa hats and being put on spending restriction
• Baby McAffry: the size of a large lime - and that statement alone makes all the digestion, appetite, and weight issues beyond worth it

Baby Mac's First Presents

Well, I guess this one is actually for me, but how cute is this diaper bag? And the monogram? Love it. Thank you Jett Family.

I've heard many people speak well of this children's bible, so we picked up a copy at Andrew Peterson's concert at the Ryman. I treasure my memories of bedtime stories with my parents, and I just can't wait to snuggle up with our kids to read them to sleep.

Looks like we have plenty of books to choose from. When you don't know the gender, books are always a safe bet. This whole stack is from Mom. She's a bit excited.

And maybe my best Christmas gift this year. Andrew's Mom gave me these overalls that Andrew wore as a baby. I'm tearing up just thinking about it. I think she might have been getting me back; I usually go for the sentimental gifts that make her cry. Well, I definitely had a little cry when I opened these. Can't wait to see you in these, Baby McAffry.

Christmas Party

Our annual Christmas get-together with our high school buds was such a blast. Andrew wanted to do hors d'oeuvres instead of a meal so hors d'oeuvres it was.

On the Menu:

• Homemade Potato Skins
• Apple, Ham and Swiss Sandwiches (Trust me. They're delicious. Thanks Greg and Jessica for letting me steal your recipe!)
• Apples and Dip
• Aubrey's Spinach Dip (Give me a break here. I'm tired and pregnant.)
• Pigs in a Blanket (a la Kenny)
• Sausage Balls (a la Kenny)
• Homemade Cookies and Cream Ice Cream with Chocolate Cake and Hot Fudge
• Punch and Wassail

For the first time in my life, I actually put people to work when they arrived. Usually people walk in, the food is ready, and we eat. This time I totally underestimated the time it would take to make the potato skins, so everybody had a job putting them together. I think it was worth it though. They disappeared pretty fast :)

On to the best part of the evening - Game time!

The boys started out with some success.

We girls swiftly robbed them of that. Andrew may have helped us out with that when he couldn't hum the tune of Pink Panther. It was actually kind of painful to watch; I really wanted to help him!

After all that intensity, we took a brief break to chat and catch up. Half of the couples live out of town, so we had a lot of talking to do.

A McAffry Game Night just wouldn't be complete without a round of Catchphrase. Luke always makes sure of that.

I love these people so much. They have brought much joy to our lives and marriage. Can't wait for next year.