This was Adela's face...

... when I told her to expect a sister today...

What does she know that I don't?

For those of you waiting with baited breath, there has been nary a contraction today. I no longer have a relationship with the moon. At 11:38EST when good ole Mr. Moon was at his supposed highest and most gravitationally powerful point, I was taking a much needed nap. It came and went without a cramp.

Many people have asked me for an explanation for my impatience. After all, today is my due date. My answer is this: there's a baby inside who began her battle to escape almost 11 days ago and at that point, she weighed 8lbs 3oz. My vast mathematical and gestational knowledge leads me to believe she is well over 9 lbs now and on her way to 10lb (if my dietary choices have anything to do with it- what the hell else am I supposed to do?). So, there you have it. I'm not just a crazy, hysterical pregnant lady. I'm one who's been in labor on and off for 11 GD days!

The Full Moon Baby Theory:

Does anyone know anything about what it means to be born on a full moon? Tomorrow, February 28th, is my actual due date and it's a full moon. First of all, I am trying to make myself vulnerable to the moon's "natural gravitational pull," which in some circles is said to help rupture the good ole' bag o' waters. There's also good evidence to support the idea that more women go into spontaneous labor under the full moon. That's good and bad. While I am so anxious to have this baby that I've become impossible to be around (just ask my husband), I am also hoping for a quiet hospital with an attentive staff and available private rooms. NYU is notorious for overcrowding (I think my friend recently spent her postpartum recovery in a janitor's closet) as well as unabashedly pushing healthy moms and babies out the door the moment their time is up. Unlike the last time I did this, I am actually looking forward to being in L'hotel Hospital for a couple of days. I see it as a very, very short break before I become the overwhelmed mother of two darling, little, demanding baby girls. I plan to sleep, eat, read and occasionally breastfeed. I have no problem allowing the nursing staff the privelige of changing every diaper. I have had enough practice. Thank you very much, Adela. In short, I want the full moon to work for me, but not for all the other expectant mothers in the NY Metro area...

And to the fortune-teller who sent me this, I ask: WHEN?

I opened this fortune over two weeks ago...

Winter Storm 2010 Part III

Well, it's safe to say this is the big one. We thought the last one was, but this storm is out of this world. When we woke up yesterday, the ground glistened with an icy sheet of rain, but by 7AM, the snow started up and by the time I dropped Adela off with my aunt Debbie and Nan at 9AM, nearly 4 inches had accumulated. Of course, I had to drive into the city so the doctor could tell me that I hadn't dilated any more since Monday. LAME.

It was a bit dicey, but I made it home armed with the knowledge that I actually have no idea what labor feels like.

This morning, the world is completely white and still. You can't even see our road, which is usually somewhat busy. I think because of the rain that preceded the snow, even the crazy people (like me) are staying off the roads. Totals of 16-24 inches are being reported. Last night, as the wind blew trees down and the snow danced in spirals around our house, I thought, "this would be the night that my baby comes." I had about a dozen strong, painful contractions and I really felt that they might be the ones to send me running to Labor and Delivery, but my skeptical husband suggested that I lay down in bed, relax and breath. No sooner did I start to breath regularly, did I drift off to sleep. I woke a couple of times to breath through a few more painful contractions, but mostly, I just slept like normal (in fact, maybe a little better than normal). So another night has passed without the new baby. I guess I am grateful. It would have been so scary to drive into New York in last night's conditions. It would be so scary to drive into New York in today's conditions, I suppose. I don't even know what I should wish for at this point.

Perhaps, this picture is one I should keep in the family because it's so outrageous. But even more outrageous is the fact that it was taken almost a month ago. So, yeah, I am like a month bigger now. I am relegating this blog to bitching about the fact that I am still f*&#*$(* pregnant.

Up all night, I laid on the couch waiting for (make that, longing for) the familiar burn of the "real" contraction. It didn't happen and now I am up with Adela, eating breakfast and getting ready to go about business as usual. We will go to Gym Juniors, then to Whole Foods for the groceries (we've already bought twice before) for whomever ends up staying at our apartment to take care of Adelchen while we are in the hospital. We've eaten the beef stew my mom made for us for when we're newly home and too tired to cook. We've eaten the meatballs I made for when we're newly home and too tired to cook. Argh. ARGH. So, what should we make NOW? Now that we've exhausted our minimal stash of post-partum eats. Suggestions? I am out of ideas on every front.

ALMOST... There... I MUST be.

I am up, in the middle of the night, sweating. It's February 23 and I am still pregnant with my second daughter. I have been having trouble sleeping for months now, but this is starting to get ridiculous. I just want to be done with it already. This picture immortalizes a happy time when it was still just the three of us and I was thinking that while this last 16 months has been so utterly rich and profound in every imaginable way, our family wasn't yet complete. Knowing this, and knowing I hold the key to its completion inside my (now busting at the seams, comically large) belly, I am so anxious, I can hardly hold it together. I am ready to meet my second born and get on with the business of being Whitneys.

Long Overdue: A Recipe for a Rainy Day

We just got back from Northern California. Well, no, we didn't just get back. We got back weeks ago, but life seemed to take over and my silly little mom-blog took a back-burner. But, now, I want to be back. I want to be back better than ever. So, I am opening with the above pictured Pork Ragu that I made for some friends while crashing in lovely Noe Valley. It's a version of Chris Cosentino's ragu of Incanto, my favorite Italian restaurant in San Francisco.

It's not particularly summery, but it's been so god-damned rainy, why not? Plus, it's cheap. Take your time both cooking and eating it. It's delish. I recommend serving over homemade pappardelle and topping with finely grated Grano Padano.

Pork Ragu

2 pounds ground pork shoulder
1/2 pound pancetta, finely chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more to drizzle
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, cut into slivers
2 celery stalks, finely chopped
2 heads fennel, finely chopped
1 large carrot, finely chopped
1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 cup red wine, like Sangiovese
1 (28-ounce) can peeled whole San Marzano tomatoes and their juices
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon roughly chopped parsley
1 teaspoon fresh oregano, finely chopped
Ravioli or rigatoni, cooked to al dente

Grated Parmesan cheese.

1. Season the meats all over with salt and pepper.
2. In a large saucepan heat the olive oil over medium heat. When hot, add the onion, garlic, celery, fennel, carrot, thyme and 2 large pinches of salt. Cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 3 minutes more. Add the ground meat and brown over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes. Deglaze the pan with red wine and cook at a lively simmer to reduce the wine, about 5 minutes. Crush the tomatoes with your hands and add them and the bay leaves. Simmer for 2 hours. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.