For Tracy:


Basil Pesto Burgers
Makes: 4 large patties approx.

1/4 cup diced onion
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 tbsp. fresh basil or 1/4 tsp. dried
salt and pepper to taste
sautee with 1 tbsp. oil and 1 tbsp. butter until onions are translucent and the mushrooms reduce by half; set aside

in a medium size bowl mix together
1/2 lb. ground beef
1/2 lb. ground pork
1/4 cup basil pesto
1/4 cup fresh grated parmesan
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 egg slightly beaten
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
add mushroom mixture and mix until evenly combined

form into equal portions (approx. 4) and cook in 2 tbsp. oil on medium heat approx. 5-7 minutes per side, depending on thickness

best served with baby greens and a balsamic vinagrette

Stirling got his report card for swimming today! He and I have been involved in a Parent/Tot class at Bonniedoon Pool for the past two weeks. It was a great experience; usual Stirlingness aside we had a great time. He was doing so well I am considering getting involved in the next classes that would be appropriate for a boy his age. However, I'm not sure if he was swimming because he wanted to or if he was more interested in the gummy worms/lifesavers that came after class on the trip home.

Our first class; Stirling discovers the candy machine promptly inside the main doors to the facility. Not only that, he chose what he wanted to have....gummy worms; two dollar sour-gummy worms I might add. Reluctantly after class...I gave in and bought them, he was so good, why not? Since that day I have heard to no end, about eating worms after class (which I promptly bought a cheaper alternative that seem to last three times as long - gummy lifesavers - still on the first bag, limiting him to so many on the trip home so he could have it another day). A few times we were early and I would have us wait in the car - less distractions - everyone and anyone who walked into the pool he would say "Hey, they're going to steal my candy!" Repeatedly I explained how the candy machine works - and he still said the same thing yesterday.

Another interesting thing that occurred. During the course of our classes we walked in to discover a blind woman with a beautiful golden retriever heading in the opposite direction. Try explaining to a 33 month old that he is not to touch the dog because he is a working dog. First attempt ended with me dragging him into the change room, trying to console and explain the reasoning behind this situation. That took some time, but he now understands that some people need dogs to help them to see, and we are not to pet a dog who is working, we may distract him and the person could get hurt. Normally we were running into them in the hall, and today we were running a little behind, so she was already outside waiting for a ride with that handsome old dog (you know when the hair gets that peppery look, but underneath its still this nice coat of gold), Stirling looks at the dog and says "The doggy is working mommy". I love how much he seems to absorb from things I tell him already. He can count to ten, but has an affliction to the number 6....he never says it, lol. He can name so many pictures and people, his memory is better than mine some days.

35 weeks and counting, I think the baby has dropped, so hopefully he/she will show up in the next three to four weeks. I'm still aiming for September 13, but my doctor ensures that it probably won't be until closer to September 26. I'm still not sleeping much; between braxton hicks, the baby poking me and shoving me in the most uncomfortable spots, and really bad indigestion, things are not so bad. The pool has been my caffeine for the past two weeks (bloody cold), I will miss it dearly.

I fear summer is gone. One day of rain and the season seems to have come to an abrupt halt. We need rain more than anything, so yesterday's anslot was acceptable. It could be worse - our city could be submerged under bacteria infested waters. I love the newspapers reactions of "we are unsure if this is directly linked to global warming"; okay I'm no scientist and I could make an informative decision and say "definitely so". How can these people not link the bazaar weather around the world with global warming, didn't they pay attention in science class?

On a happier note, David and I will be celebrating our five year anniversary in a couple of weeks, funny how it always seems like a blustery fall day on that day; our wedding day it could have snowed; it was very cold, windy and raining. It was a wonderful day for us - weather aside.

With the heat slowly subsiding I find myself still deprived of a good nights sleep. Braxton hicks, and constant belly flops from this little one give me no peace. My doctor says my due date isn't until September 26, but my measurements put me a week or so ahead, and I swore my ultrasound put me ahead as well. I'm thinking between the 13 and 20 of September, any longer and I think I will find means to go into labor. You can tell that I already have a toddler - I'm telling this one to sit still and its still inside me.

David and I are throwing around names - I like the name Madison if its a girl. We have discussed Scott if it's a boy, but I love Jack, after my great grandfather. If we keep with the way we came to choose Stirling's name; it will be Scott for sure, with my dad's name for the middle, probably no matter the first. Stirling's name came from my mother in-laws maiden name; Scott is my mom's maiden name.

My grandparent's are planning a visit at Christmas time to see everyone and meet the new baby of course. I'm so glad we have a large dining room and table that sits eight, there will be twelve of us this year including the kids. I will not be allowing courses to be cooked elsewhere this year. We really missed the smell of turkey roasting in the oven; wafting through the house on Christmas Day. Honestly, I like my stuffing better too I suppose.

I'm so thankful that I am still quite mobile this pregnancy. I try to do what I can in a day to maintain the house, lets just say that I started cleaning house on Wednesday and I hope to finish today. Here's a questions for the day - how do you keep glass/mirrors etc. clean for longer than an hour with 1 toddler, 1 large dog, and 2 persistent cats? Hopefully I can figure it out before the new addition is at crawling/standing faze.