Nourish US - our new family recipe blog

Dear Family and Friends -

Here is a Christmas present for you all from me and my dear cousin Meliors. 

Nourish Us, a new blog at http://nourishus.blogspot.com/ is a gift for all members of our far flung extended families to have a place to share family recipes, stories and photos.  We hope that it will help family members stay connected, ensure that family memories and pictures are shared and recorded, and provide many delicious dishes for us to remember or try.

This was designed as a space to post and find favorite recipes. It was inspired by our maternal grandparents - Ada Ruth and Jess Kellerman - who shared a love of cooking and large meals shared by family and friends alike. Their house rule was one visit you were company, but on the second visit you became family. (Being family also meant you had to do dishes...but that was an easy price to pay after enjoying a delicious meal at their table).

We would love to have you post to this website to share your favorite heirloom or new favorite recipes.  You can either send me or Meliors your recipes and we will post them.  Or - if you would like to post recipes yourselves - let us know and we'll add you as an author for the blog.  

Please keep in mind - we are still working out some of the setting-up kinks across our different time zones (with me here in Colorado and Meliors in Melbourne, Australia).  However...please hop on board and send us your recipes!  Also - please send this to family or friends who I've missed or who you think would enjoy the blog!!

Meliors and I hope that this will be such a lively family meeting place that eventually we can plan fun activies like a virtual family reunion dinner, where we nominate a dish or menu to all cook on the same day, then each share our photos and stories - it could be the next best thing to sitting down to eat around the same table.

Lots of love, and Merry Christmas!!

Kimberly & Meliors

She's perfect

Ruth Lorraine arrived on November 7th at 5:14pm.  While she was "late" or past the due-date guesstimate...when she decided it was time to be born she came pretty quickly.  

She was 7lbs 13.5 oz, 19.5 inches at birth.  It is almost a month later and she's 9lbs 2oz and 21.5 inches.  So, she's growing!

Ada-Ruth Lorraine is named after both John and my maternal grandmothers - Ada Ruth was my dear grandma and Lorraine is John's feisty and wonderful grandma who lives in Wisconsin.  

We are very lucky and feel very blessed.  This past month we've been able to introduce her to both sets of grandparents, her uncles and aunt...and we look forward to Ada-Ruth meeting many more people who love her.  The outpouring of love from our friends and family has been overwhelming and heartwarming and we thank everyone for the warm thoughts, cute gifts, prayers and love you've been sending our way.  We all appreciate it.

And now...I have to go feed the baby...:)

Chaz's new digs

October 24, 2008: No Chaz yet.  However, as consolation prizes the Carpal tunnel and heartburn are still here.  Sleep seemingly wisened up and has not really been around (at least at night) for many weeks.  Wheee!

So...since I'm just sitting here waiting...I've resorted to taking photos of the crib.

Here is the beautiful crib!  Uncle and Aunt-to-be David and Melissa gave the baby the crib and mattress - and we're excited to start using it!! 

Babyclothes!

These are gifts from the great-grandparents.  The (very dusty) cradle was made for me by my Grandpa Kellerman when I was a baby.  My mom and dad have saved it and I'm very proud our baby will be able to use the cradle as well.  We'll be using this cradle on the main level for baby naps.  And, the white blanket with color strips was made for the baby by John's grandma Lorraine.   

The baby has a 3rd bed...it is the co-sleeper in our bedroom.  Chaz will be spending nights next to us so the initial wakings, feedings and comforting is easier on all of us.  We have also learned that having the baby sleep in the same room as the parents may teach the baby better breathing patterns and regulation possibly preventing SIDS.  So, it seems to be good all around!

Last but not least, here is the view out of Chaz's window. 

In the distance are the mountains - with Meeker and Longs clearly visible.  I think it is the best view from inside the house.  Only the  best for our baby.

Ouch, ouch, ouch...that hurts

Ok- so no one told me that I could get carpal tunnel. I was expecting the swelling, the sleeplessness, the strange emotions, the strong need to "nest", the food cravings...but I wasn't expecting any carpal tunnel nonsense. For about the past 2 weeks - I no longer wake up with leg cramps because I wake up with hand and arm cramps. What the heck?

Now, I don't mean to complain too much. I have been really blessed so far with this whole pregnancy thing. But, I now understand why the last couple weeks are not so much fun. Movement is restricted, food is unappealing, sleep is difficult...ah well. The joys of mother-to-be-hood. I'm in the home stretch and I'm ready for the baby to come home. The nursery is painted, crib is put together, linens and clothing is washed and hanging, bag is packed...now we need a baby and many sleepless nights.

Today I was treated to a baby shower lunch by my fellow women co-workers here in the Denver office. We had a great time- I need to get the pictures back and I will post. The lunch was wonderful and the cake was spectacular! I also got some lovely gifts to help welcome Chaz. It was so sweet of the ladies to host a lunch for me & babe- and made me feel very special, especially when these ladies have only known me for a couple months. Thanks to Melissa S, Melissa L (aka cake goddess), Karen, Melanie & Jenn - not to mention all the guys who stayed back in the office (understandably...for it was a very estrogen heavy lunch). Again- it was a really fun time - I was really touched.

So...now my time is taken up with working from home, creating "to-do before baby" lists, doing my prenatal exercizes and trying to convince Chaz that this week is as good as any for Chaz to join us. I'm trying to use some logical reasoning: the sooner Chaz arrives, the easier it will be on everyone involved in the labor process; Chaz's daddy is REALLY tall...so...it's ok if Chaz wants to come out a little bit early; once Chaz arrives, there are SO many gifts Chaz will get to enjoy all to her/himself; the middle of October allows Chaz to have a birthday party and also take credit for Halloween...instead of having to blend them into one event; um...and if Chaz comes in the next week or so then I don't have to buy any more pregnancy clothes...cause I got nothing to wear when the weather dips under 50 degrees. So...send your "induction" vibes along to the little one - we're ready to go. Hopefully Chaz is, too.

I'll try to post again before the big day and I don't mean the election... :)

It's all about baby Chaz...

We're at 34 weeks and counting. Today is all about baby - so it is only appropriate that I post a little bit about the little one. Besides, it's about time I post something!

The baby is growing - I can tell because I have started to feel like a beached whale. Moving around has become more and more difficult. The heartburn, backaches and restless sleeping aren't much fun. I hear that the heartburn will go away as the baby drops...which should be happening very soon.

And...today has been all about the baby.

First- we had a photographer over this morning for a maternity session. We had a lot of fun and laughs...and she's already posted a few of her favorite shots - take a look at them here. They look great. I can't wait to see them all. I am having a bit of difficulty accepting how large my face looks...but knowing that this is "baby fat" and that it will go away after Chaz joins us does help. *sigh*

Second- we went to our birth class and learned all about the "transition" period and the second stage of labor. We talked about and practiced labor positions. We talked about how vaccinations are good and bad. We talked about local produce and farmer's markets. Good times.

Third- we met with Abby- our labor doula. We talked about the pregnancy and how we've been doing, how I'm feeling, what we're hoping for in the birth, etc. More good times. We really like Abby and I feel she's going to be a great coach and support for us while I endeavor to deliver little Chaz.

Tomorrow we go in to Mountain Midwifery, where we are going to deliver, for a checkup. I'm looking forward to meeting another of their 4 midwives and hearing Chaz's heart beat on the doppler. That's just the best sound in the world - I can't wait.

So- in the next 6 or so weeks...we have to put together a nursery, pack a bag for delivery, buy all of the stuff we're supposed to buy for the baby (onesies galore, diapers (!!!), little hats and socks...so cute), drink a lot of raspberry leaf tea, do my Kegels, sqats and pelvic tilts...and just get ready for this baby who will be here sooner than we realize. Nevermind the continued need to unpack, hang art, wash and put away clothing, organize paperwork...yikes. Bottom line is...baby will be here whether that stuff gets done or not!

Exciting times ahead! We'll be keeping you posted. :)