Winter Blues and Kitchen News ;)

WHERE'S THE SNOW?!?!?!

This time of the year is hard.  Sorry, but it is.  After the build up and craziness of the holidays, January is a bit of a let down.  Not to mention these arctic temperatures we have in Atlanta.  Burrrr!  I remember this lull last year.  We were planning for the wedding in April, which seemed so far away last January!  Jimmy especially gets a little down this time of year.  He lives for the Spring, and in January that seems like an eternity.  Plus he still has to get through Valentines, which I think is hard for all men.  This year I made it easy by calling him and telling him specifically what restaurant I wanted to go to (Gunshow), and when I wanted to go.  Nice wife... apparently pregnancy makes me VERY specific about what I want to eat.

On the plus side, we had a fantastic trip to Jackson Hole!  I was slightly disappointed in the whole spa experience only because I did not get to lay on my stomach as I had hoped.  There was a wedge pillow on top of the table with a hole in it for my stomach, but my stomach is so big (you know I just loved typing that phrase), that I felt like I couldn't breathe.  I lasted for about five minuted before I gave up and laid on my side.  Pregnant lady problems.   On the plus side the food was FANTASTIC!  Fresh green kale juice every morning and all the gluten free toast I could eat, which was a lot.  I'm craving toast with jam these days... I heard it keeps you thin ;).  Mom and I did, indeed, catch up on some movies, and we watched several episodes of the Price is Right :)  The photo above is from the last day when we rode the gondola to the top of the mountain for lunch (chili and a baked potato).  The baby went too, as you can see.

Speaking of the baby, he is a papaya this week.

I don't like papayas because I think they smell/taste like feet.  The first time I ever tasted papaya was about 5 years ago when my family went to Cabo.  We stopped by the grocery store where there was a BIG BIG sale of papayas, so even though we had never tasted papayas we thought, "when in Rome..."

My brother decided to use all these papayas up in a margarita... you know, just get really Mexican with it.  He was so excited when he served them!

Turns out the reason there was a BIG BIG sale on papayas was they were all rotten.  Hence the feet taste.   It was the nastiest tasting margarita I've ever had, and I vowed to avoid papayas forever... or so I thought.

On the last day of our honeymoon in Thailand, Jimmy and I decided to treat ourselves to spa services in the room.  Jimmy smartly ordered a massage, and I got a facial.  About halfway through the facial they wrapped my face in gauze and started painting that gauze with cold fruit goo, which seemed fine.  About 30 seconds later I noticed a horrible smell... like feet.  I was laying there wondering what in the world that smell could be.  Was it me?  Was it the facial giver?  Ahhhh  papaya!  My old enemy.  I laid there for 15 minutes breathing through my mouth vowing, "never again"... and now there's one in my stomach!  Yea!

I've made it through papaya week by trying to picture what baby Macauley will look like, which is how I found these adorable pictures of Jimmy.

Yep.  The faster I can get my hands on one of those the better... even if it means the baby has to be a papaya for a week.  By the by, I know I'm biased, but can you BELIEVE how cute that baby is?!?!?!

Speaking of passing time, I've also been taking some photos.  Last week I shot 634 Carriage Way for Glennis Beacham.  It had one of the best kitchens I've seen in a long time.  Jimmy and I have actually been looking for houses ourselves recently, and when it comes down to it the kitchen may just be the most important room in a house.  I know when I'm at home I spend at least 40-50% of my time in the kitchen either cooking or cleaning or getting some sort of snack (that's a recent addition).  Jimmy and I have a tiny kitchen right now, but we still both try to be in there at the same time... me cutting up veggies and him stirring soup, just talking about our day.  I know that was a bit of a tangent, but it's been on my mind with all the houses we've been seeing.  I really don't even have to see the rest of the house, I can judge it all by the kitchen.  That's why I was so struck by how beautiful this kitchen was!  Wouldn't it be the prefect place to hang out with your family and get ready for dinner or make brunch on Saturday.... one can dream.

Pregnancy Gratitudes- Jackson Hole- 3955 Northside Drive

Notice anything different?  I have a new look here at This Photographer's Life.  You know they say "change is good," and it was time to freshen things up a bit.  This is a much more modern layout and allows the reader to navigate the site more quickly.  Please let me know what you think! Tomorrow we are headed to Jackson Hole, so I wanted to get in a quick update.  This trip will be much different than the legendary trip two years ago where I lied about my skiing abilities.

This year there will be much less skiing/falling, beer drinking and hot tubing.  Beer drinking and hot tubing are my two favorite parts of ski trips, so I'm a little bummed.  I'm sure it's fine for some people to ski while pregnant, but not me.  I'm actually fine headed down the hill, but I've been know to fall doing stupid things like standing in line. So coordinated.

I am scheduled for two spa treatments.  Prenatal massages are the best things going.  This will be my second (I am also getting a facial to combat pregnancy breakouts), and it cannot come soon enough.  Luckily Glennis is going to Jackson and doesn't ski, so we will get a lot of mother-daughter time, which I assume will be spent in the movie theater.  I also plan on taking full advantage of ski-related food like chili and hot chocolate.  Lastly, Jimmy got a new ski helmet, so there is a lot to celebrate.  Have you seen the old one from 1993 (see above)? Bowling ball.

Baby update.

The baby is a banana this week, which is uber depressing.  Going from a cantaloupe to a banana  makes no sense to me, but it has to do with hitting the 20th week and beginning to count the legs, which were not counted previously...  blah blah blah, I want that baby to get bigger, not skinnier.  Nobody likes a skinny banana baby.

Here is a quick list of things Pregnant Blayne is thankful for:

1. Pregnant Friends

Friends who are pregnant are THE BEST whilst pregnant.  They keep you from losing your mind.  The strangest stuff happens to your body while you are pregnant.  Example; a few nights ago I woke up and both legs had gone numb, which was surprising to say the least. Pregnant/alone/hypochondriac Blayne would have convinced herself she was starting down a road to paralysis and called the doctor, but instead I woke up and texted my slightly further along pregnant friend Callie something like, "strangest thing happened last night... woke up and couldn't feel either leg!!!!"  After a few minutes she wrote back, "yea, happens all the time, no big deal."  Thus a panic attack/trip to the hospital/call to the doctor was completely averted.  If you are pregnant, my advice to you is to get some pregnant friends ASAP.  Can't live without them.

2. A Pregnancy Pillow

I'm not going to go into this one so much because it's just obvious.  If you are pregnant it's your best friend.  Get one.  I am actually the proud owner of two (thank you Lex), and I use the both... unless Jimmy or Charlotte steals one, which happens surprisingly often.  See Charlotte, that little pillow thief. (Above she took over a head pillow, not a pregnancy pillow, but you get the idea)

3. A good pair of Jeans.

I bought this pair of jeans at A Pea in the Pod when I was about 2 months pregnant (don't judge... I've dreamt my whole life of an elastic waistband).  Now, before you go judging me about how expensive they are, let me tell you, I've worn them every single day except for 5, and the only reason I didn't wear them those days is because they HAD to be washed.   By the end of this pregnancy, these jeans will have cost about $1.50 per day, which is my best pregnancy investment to date.  The sales lady at a A Pea in the Pod told me this was the most popular seller because the jean has a little elastic in it, which makes it easier to move.

4. The parent exchange group on Facebook.

If you live in Buckhead, there is a group called "The Buckhead Brookhaven Parent Exchange" that my friend Meredith asked me to join.  It's a group of moms in the area who sell used children's clothes/furniture/toys that they don't need.  So far I've bought a pregnancy pillow, bouncy chair, pack and play, and a glider for a grand total of $105... now that's a savings you can funnel right back into a good pair of maternity jeans. ;)

5. A good pregnancy blog.

I like two.

Rabit Stew - this cute girl wrote a week by week account of her pregnancy and delivery.  I love reading it every week.  She's funny and real and has the nerve to write about stuff that I don't...

Pregnant Chicken - Funny writer who reviews everything pregnancy and baby related.  I like.

And now...

Somebody buy this house. Glennis Beacham has it listed, and it's one of my very favorites.  3955 Northside Drive.  It's the perfect place to raise a family.  There is a huge front yard, an even bigger back yard with beautiful gardens, screened-in porch, massive family room and a studio space on the third floor!  See?  Perfect.

Have a great week everybody!  I'll think of you from my massage bed.  Not.

- Blayne Macauley