sorry for the lapse

since i have been going from family reunion to riverside birthday party to vacation to a girls-only AC getaway to my shower and taking care of setting up a nursery in between, i have been insanely busy and not normally home for a stretch of more than a few days. add to that nursing, baby basics, and childbirth classes and my nights are generally full-up as well. thus i apologize for my lack of updates for the past two-and-a-half or so months. however, i have decided what i will be entering in the home-ec fair competitions this year, by class:
cakes, chocolate- chocolate ganache cake
coffee cakes (not yeast), other- blueberry cake
dessert pie, 8 or 9 inch, other- chocolate bourbon pecan pie
blueberry contest, any baked item with blueberries as a main ingredient- oatmeal blueberry cookies
i was going to enter the cheesecake class as well, but i really only like my plain cheesecake recipe and i think that i might be outclassed in that category! plus, at 37 weeks pregnant, i will really only be able to do so much, and four entires ought to be enough. this week (at 35 1/2-36 weeks) i will be doing a test-run on all recipes and typing them out to submit with the entries. i think i'll do the cookies today, and i know i'll do the chocolate ganache cake on thursday, as ted's family is coming over for a bbq that day for his father's 50th birthday...there's so very much to get done before then!
this year, ted will be entering several exhibits in the fair as well, in the open vegetable show, including hot peppers, potatoes, plum and cherry tomatoes, and mint. he had originally intended on entering white onions and yellow squash as well, but when we got home from vacation we found that they had not fared quite so well as the other veggies so perhaps they will have to wait until next year.
on the baby front, we're in the home stretch! the stroller, crib, and changing table are all assembled and put in place (although the cats have taken them over completely, one in each...i know that i should discourage it but it's completely adorable), and the car seats should be installed by the end of the week. i've got my hospital bag packed, and i can't wait to meet my little ruby! i hope to get in one or two more updates before she arrives, but as far as i'm concerned she'll come when she comes, and there's really nothing that i can do about it besides cross my fingers, pray, and hope that it's quick!