And The Sex Is...

I feel silly writing a post about this, since most of the people reading our blog know anyway, but alas I feel like I must! I know I can't whole-heartedly write a blog about us and not have a post about finding out the sex of our baby. First, let me preface the results by saying everyone thought we were having a girl. The Chinese calendar, which is supposedly over 90 something percent accurate said it would be a girl, the "way I was carrying" and the baby's heart rate said a girl, my mothers old wife tale (if you know her, you've heard this) said girl, and every other myth and legend said I would be having a girl! Also, everyone (except the lone two or three) predicted we would have a girl. Then, at the day of the ultrasound, the nurse told me "come back and tell me when you find out its a girl." Turns out EVERY ultrasound that day had shown girls. There must have been some estrogen in the drinking water or something! But, against all odds, it turns out its a boy! A sweet, little baby boy who loves to kick and squirm (no surprise, considering whose child he is!). So, almost everyone was wrong. I maintained I didn't have a feeling or inclination towards a boy or girl the whole time... except when he would kick I would say "it must be a boy because a girl wouldn't kick as much-- she's supposed to be more prim and proper than that!" Derek, on the other hand, thought it was a girl, until we were in the waiting room, where he said "I'm going with boy now." Guess we were both right at some point. All that really matters, though, is that its a healthy baby, but we both really wanted a boy first. So, all is well and everyone is happy! And the name? The one and only Tucker Emerson Doss! So, for those following my blog, I now introduce to you (or will reacquaint you with) our little boy, Tucker.

Sweet Potato Casserole

If you have been to Ruth's Chris, you probably know that they have an amazing sweet potato casserole. Keeping with the fall theme (from the post below), I am posting a recipe that is supposedly the one used at Ruth's Chris. Again, its awfully unhealthy, but too good not to eat anyway! Hope you enjoy this as much as I did!

CRUST

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1 cup chopped nuts (pecans preferred)
• 1/3 stick butter (melted)
• Optional (I added this)-- sprinkle cinnamon on top

SWEET POTATO MIXTURE

• 3 cups mashed sweet potatoes
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 eggs (well beaten)
• 1/2 stick butter, melted (1/2 cup)
• Optional (I added this)-- about 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon

Directions:

1.       Combine brown sugar, flour, nuts and butter in mixing bowl. Set aside. 

2.       Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

3.       Combine sweet potatoes, sugar, salt, vanilla, eggs and butter in a mixing bowl in the order listed. Mix thoroughly. 

4.       Pour mixture into buttered baking dish 

5.       Sprinkle the surface of the sweet potato mixture evenly with the crust mixture. 

6.       Bake for 30 minutes. Allow to set at least 30 minutes before serving.

Fall Fever

Maybe I'm nesting. Or, maybe I'm just sick of the 85 degree weather in late September. Either way, I want it to feel like fall time, and to have a cozy house to curl up in. Since I live in South Carolina, Mother Nature is refusing to relent in the summer-like weather. I just can't seem to get my way with wanting the weather and leaves to change to autumn! All is not lost, though, because I am stepping up my home-maker skills, and making it fall time in my house! Below are some of the different things I have done / plan on doing to make the autumn season come alive inside, while its still beach season outside.

1. Read a spooky Southern Gothic novel or short story-- this will get you in the mood for ghouls and witches.
• The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
• The Robber Bridegroom by Eudora Welty
• Wise Blood by Flannery O'Connor (she also has several good short stories)
• Any Edgar Allan Poe stories
• The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
2. Watch any movies / TV shows that make it feel like fall time-- football, Halloween, witches, etc. will all work
• The Crucible (also a play you can read)
• Hocus Pocus
• The Blindside
• Dracula or Van Helsing
• Again, Sleepy Hollow
• Any ghost / paranormal show
• The Hokies football games on Saturdays and Thursdays :o)
3. Light autumn scented candles. All of the flavors below are from Yankee Candle, but you can find similar ones almost anywhere that has a good selection of candles (I found pumpkin ones at the dollar store...).
• Spiced Pumpkin
• Autumn Leaves
• Apple Cider
• Maple Pancakes
• Cinnamon Stick
4. Consume ONLY fall time foods (I have had a blast cooking / baking new recipes). I recommend using recipes with sweet potatoes, apples, pecans, cinnamon, brown sugar, pumpkins, cranberries-- any fall fruits or veggies. Below are a few of the things I constantly have on hand or have made several times:
• Apple Cider (heated is great)
• Apple or Pumpkin Butter-- to eat with fruit, toast, or as a jelly substitute in a PB and J
• Pumpkin Pie-- a recipe can be found on the cans of pumpkin at the grocery store
• Sweet Potato Casserole (my recipe is very unhealthy, but too good not to use-- Ill put it in the next post)
5. Decorate! The candles will add some autumn ambiance, but there are tons of ways to decorate your house to get that extra fall feeling.
• Use pumpkins-- instead of carving you can paint them, punch holes in them and adorn with flowers (mums, sunflowers, etc), upholstery tacks, or anything decorative that you can stick in them, or etch your house / apartment number or monogram into them (be sure to only scrape off the orange and don't scratch / cut through the shell)... Be creative! You can even use pumpkins with the flatter tops as centerpieces-- just cut off the stem, place a small silver plate or platter on top (be sure its balanced) and place it on the table and top with food! These ideas are from the October issue of Southern Living, and look great!
• Use leaves that have changed colors-- this is cheap and easy! Find leaves that have changed into bright reds, oranges, or yellows from your yard. Rinse them off, dry them, and rub moisturizer on them. The moisturizer will keep them from drying out and rolling up. Now you can use them in a wreath, on the table for a centerpiece, or just scattered around the house.
• Create a wreath or buy one-- if making one, use colored ribbons, pine cones, colored flowers, leaves, twigs, etc... The list goes on and on!
• Lastly, I went to the dollar store... They have cheap and relatively cute decorations. I bought a miniature scarecrow and some pumpkin scented tealight candles for a few bucks.

These are all the things I have done or plan on doing soon... and my house is an autumn wonderland! Now, if only I could figure out a way to make the leaves change here and get the temperature down about 20 degrees...

Click here for Southern Living magazine pictures of the pumpkin decorations

Hokie Shirt

So, as most of you know, Derek and I are HUGE Hokie fans (gobble gobble). Also, you probably know that we are pregnant. Well, Fall is football season, and coincidentally it is also when my belly will be growing the most. And, instead of hiding my (not so little, anymore) bump, I thought I would show it off while also showing off my Hokie Pride! I really wanted a maternity Hokie shirt for the football games to do this, but the one I wanted was only sold in a small (not ever going to happen...) or I hated the other ones. Long story short, with a little creativity and sweet t-shirt design website, I made my own! I got so many laughs and compliments on it, even from Appalachian State fans, who we were (very badly) beating at the time. Some people even think I should trademark it and try to market it to the Virginia Tech bookstore. Heres to hoping, right? Below is a picture of me, in my t-shirt, with Derek at the opening home game and a close up of just me. GO HOKIES!