I finally made my first batch of kolaches.

We had Mom & Dad over for dinner and, when they arrived, I was up to my wrists in sticky dough.  This part of the process did not go as smoothly as the infamous Christmas morning yeast rolls, but the final product was yummy. They’re a little different than Grandma’s.  I used apricot preserves for half and pitted cherries (not pie filling) for the rest.  With the popsika on top, they are sweet enough without being too sweet.  I’ll need to work up a few more batches to perfect the dough, which I think can be a little lighter.

We had our 20 week ultrasound today.  I had 2 appointments back-to-back, so I was delicately dancing around the hospital with a full bladder…which Pinto Bean must have sensed because he/she was kicking like it was a turn-of-the-century football (pig’s bladder).

The tech showed us that Baby eM had 2 arms, 2 legs, a beating heart, kidneys, and an empty bladder (lucky kid!)  What he couldn’t tell us with any absolute certainty is whether we were looking at a boy or a girl.  He didn’t think it was a boy, but he didn’t seem ready to bet the farm on it.  (He didn’t seem like he’d have a farm to bet anyway, but that’s hardly the point.)  So we’re basically back to square one in regards to gender preparation.  Kevin is convinced that it’s a girl. I’m convinced it’s a punter.

(I can’t help but think of Nyquil or Benadryl every time I write that phrase. Horrible! :P) 

Kevin and I watched in amazement last night as Simon went and got a wipe from the wipes container, toddled over to the coffee table, gave it a nice cleaning…then went straight to the kitchen and put the wipe in the trash bag. (He actually put it in and then pulled it back out, but no one’s perfect on the first try. Right? :))

We’re hoping that his spirit of impromptu helpfulness will last at least through Spring.

We wish you health and happiness in this new year.  Our big adventure, of course, will be adding another name to the Morris roster.  We’ll have a better idea of what that name might be in the next few weeks as our 20 week ultrasound is coming up soon.  It’s taking a little longer for the idea of two tots under two to sink in.  I’m sure it will be a flash of reality when Adria and Howard welcome their little girl into the world.  As Simon would jive, “Babies, babies, babies.”