New feelings ...

It's been 8 weeks since these new feelings, new emotions.. October 09 Ro and I felt ready and started to plan for a baby, hoping for something positive in the new year. Doctor's visits for health checkups, prenatals etc. followed. We were taken by surprise when we found two red lines just a month later on Nov, 11! Took another test Nov, 12, still positive, finally sunk in that it didn't take as long as we expected :-) We were thrilled yet nervous, are we ready for parenthood?? What about all the travel and freedom? We went to see our doctor on Nov, 17 and she confirmed our suspicion. Both our parents were thrilled and the advice began - take rest, dont fall, eat what you like, let me know what I can make for you etc. I started to feel nauseous, like something's churning in my stomach, and tons of saliva in my mouth. Like on a plane about to take off all day long, hungry yet everything tasteless. I have also turned a hog for sleep, some nights sleeping almost 10 or 11 hours and still not enough!

Few days later on the 21st, we left for our vacation (to celebrate our 3rd anniversary) that Ro planned way before we found out about the pregancy. We drove to Knoxville, Tennessee, spent two days sightseeing.. and then drove to Charleston, South Carolina. Ro had to drive all the way since I dont drive Expressways yet. I kept pretty well through out the trip except for the nausea and the wondering what can I eat that will taste good. I had an aversion for anything non-vegetarian - meat, chicken etc. So the best ribs didnt go too well with me :-( Then there was this sudden craze for a spicy biryani, luckily Ro and I found this Indian Restaurant in Charleston, and the biryani did justice. Since then I have flickering tastes, sometimes hot and spicy with tons of pickle, yet the next day I hate pickle, cannot tolerate non-veg at all (Ro is worried our child will be vegetarian and actually wants to put blood in the baby's milk.. strange), nothing too sweet goes down well, then the strange one like a Maharashtrian thali that I even visualized in my dreams, lots of melon is good :-) (musk, green and watermelon, this is a melon baby!), hashbrowns good, italian brand with butter good, almonds good, yogurt pretty good, and the chilled strawberry milk that Ro makes for me - VERY GOOD

Dec 6, had a relaxing birthday with friend's bringing it in at midnight. Got a chance to relax and oversleep on my birthday, until the doorbell rang, and I ran downstairs to find Ro there with 3 dozen roses in different colors and one single pink rose (my favorite color) and two cards. My day was made, the fragrance of the roses so fresh and light helped with my nausea! Later went to his Mom's house for a lovely lunch and more gifts :-)

We had our first appointment with the OBGYN Dec 8, and the progress seems fine. Blood and urine tests (results later), breast exam, pap smear, even the size of the uterus seems fine. No heart beats until 11 weeks I guess, I was pretty excited about the heartbeats. So another long wait, hopefully with the Christmas season time will pass fast until our next appointment on Jan 5, 2010. Cant wait to be done with 12 weeks, so we can share our happiness with everyone. I miss Pune and family there so much lately hopefully can travel there soon, some of it due to these constant mood swings. Ro has to bear the brunt of it all :-( But he has been a sweetheart listening to my constant yapping about how the nausea is bothering me and my tasteless episodes and making me feel special in every possible way. Things to look foward to - Cake making over the weekend, attending a choir singing carols next week, hopefully get some dusting done over the weekend, lots of cuddling and RoLin time.. must do Resume too..

- Curious Lin

without getting tired

Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired. Mother Teresa

This quote stayed with me. It is difficult to love without getting tired; but not impossible. A hug, a kiss, a smile means so much. My husband inspires me to love unconditionally. He is the sanity to my insanity.

Baking.. relieves my mind

Ever since I can remember I have had a passion for cooking and the oven has a special place in my heart. Baking is an art and I love to experiment with various ingredients. I rememeber the first time I baked a cake I sat by the oven peeping inside and watched the batter rise to a moist cake :-) I am not an expert cook but I feel a super power when I am in the kitchen and cooking is in born .. The lovely fragrances of spices.. the colorful veggies.. the meat waiting to be moulded into a classic bake.. I see people enjoy my food.. its a passion that is most precious to me..

Why Jeere-Meere?

jeere meere pronounced jeeerein meerein in Konkani ( language spoken in the Konkan coast of India) means cumin pepper. I am orginally from Goa, located on the West coast of India. Jeerein meerien is a term my Mom would often use when cooking. I remember her amazing Sorpotel, Green Chicken, Cutlets, Fish Curry, Rechaer Mackerels, Pulao, Chilli fry and much more. She never followed any recipe or measurements, it was always as she puts it /*andaz se*/ (personal judgement)

Pune Oh Pune I miss you I see you I feel you...

MG Road - Pune
Courtesy vm2827 on Flickr

I miss Pune like crazy, I miss being with my friends riding my bike going places feeling the breeze on my face. I remember hanging out with my friends on MG road. Something about MG road is so relaxing, the strolls and an occasional burger at Toons.

read more about Pune on
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pune

I dream about Pune all the time and I remember I jot them down so here goes the list:
Shivaji Nagar
Wanowrie
Hadapsar
Sacred Heart Town
Cybage
Gold Adlabs
Kakde Mall - Magnum
Dorabjees
Karve Road
Model Colony
Yo China
Malaka Spice
Koregaon Park
Pudumjee Park
Bhavani Peth
Jai Shankar Pani Puri
Foodies Kathi Roll
Badshah Falooda - East Street
The Portrait
Sleepins
Inox
Brand Factory
Kalyani Restaurant - opp Adlabs
Westside
Dr. Ashfaque Sayeed
Blue Nile
Kohinoor Restaurant - MG Road
Mahesh Lunch Home
Puneet Jewellers
Wonderland
Clover Center
Faresh- Mechanic
Irshad = Tailor
Coutinho Tailors
Sify Cafe
Vishal Shop
Husseni Baug
Medinova
Hermes Health Club
Shivaji Market
China Grill
Coffe Jar - Wanowrie
Tibbs Frankie
Aurther's Theme
Zamus
Nandus Parathas
Madhuban
cafe Goodluck - Deccan
Lucky Restaurant - Deccan
FC Road
Kapila Kathi Roll
Shisha Cafe
Toons
Southern Spice
Jehangir Hospital
Ruby Hall
German Bakery
The Great Punjab
Bounty Sizzlers - Kalyani Nagar
Yanas Sizzler and Wok - FC Road and Adlabs
The Place - Wonderland
Victory Cinema
Westend Theater
Gokul Pav Bhaji - all night
Nucleus Mall next to Blue Nile
Kayani Bakery
Marz o rin
Bakers Basket
1000 oaks
Burger king
Budhani Wafers
Mona Food
Ram Krishna Restaurant
Chinese Room
Mainland China
Bombay Brasserie
Banjara Hills
chandni Chowk
Naturals Icecream
Sigree next to Mainland
Koyla - Koregaon Park
Vohuman Cafe - next to Jehangir
Kalyani Veg
Tatya Tope
Karve Road
Deccan College
FC Road
Barista
Cafe Coffee Day
Ahlings Chinese Corner
Chung Fa
Sumoi
Mayur Veg
CityPride
KK Mall
Rahul Cinema
E-Square on University Road
Mangala Theatre