Kumquat Watch 2012
For the past couple of days, I’ve had some good company and good food. My mom arrived on Tuesday afternoon and it’s been nice to have her here. With less than a week left of my pregnancy, I’ve been getting in some tasty treats and lots of long walks through the city. With my mom with me, Jesse can also feel a little better about me waddling around the city all day.
On Tuesday, as soon as I picked her up from the airport, we went straight to 99 Ranch and we bought a bunch of groceries including some ingredients that we’d need for dinner this week. We also ran a few more errands. It’s so much easier running errands when you have someone sitting in passenger seat waiting while I run out to get whatever I need with the parked illegally and the car still running. We picked up dry cleaning and then a bag of clothes that Ranee had left for me since Little Sophie had outgrown some of her stuff over the past 3 weeks here in SF. Thanks, Ranee! 
That evening, my mom whipped up an old childhood favorite of mine. It’s call Kao Moo Dang and basically consists of eating rice with BBQ pork, hard-boiled egg, and cucumber with a savory red sauce and a sweet soy sauce. It had been YEARS since I had it and I was so happy.
The next morning, we walked Koa together and then hopped on N-Judah and took it to UCSF for my weekly antenatal testing.
This time my mom came along and Jes went to work. She got to see the ultrasound of Kumquat and the nurse said that she’s growing lots of hair on her head. Yay! Everything checked out fine and she still has plenty of fluid for Week 39. Can you believe I only have a week left?!
After the appt., we took the light rail back to downtown and did some more shopping in Chinatown. There was a certain ingredient, preserved cabbage, that we couldn’t find at 99 Ranch Market and I luckily found it in some random store on a bottom shelf. Perfect! It was just what we needed for dinner!
Then for a late breakfast/early lunch, we stopped at our favorite place for porridge and fried dough. Aaahh… With full stomachs, we took the bus home and I ended up taking a monster nap. For dinner, my mom made a dry noodle dish called Bahmee Hang made with egg noodles, the leftover BBQ pork, cilantro, green veggies, and a bunch of other stuff that you add to it for flavor. Boy, I’m spoiled.
This morning, I weighed myself and I had lost a pound! Seriously?! With all this eating, how is that possible?! My mom and I took the bus to my weekly prenatal appointment and it was uneventful as usual and the doc says that she doesn’t think Kumquat will be a big baby. Phew. I hope she’s right. She also said that my weight has also stabilized as she had expected. That means labor is close! Ah…so I wasn’t going crazy this morning.
For breakfast, we walked down to Embarcadero and caught the F-line to Fisherman’s Wharf for my mom’s favorite mini donuts. They were so scrumptious and perfect with coffee.
Then it was back on the F-line to the Ferry Building for some browsing of the Farmers’ Market and then another favorite – the porchetta sandwich from Roli Roti.
I opted for Kimchi Fried Rice from Namu instead and we both walked home full and happy. Once again, about 30 minutes after getting home, I passed out and took another monster nap. To make the day even better, I woke up to the smell of peanut sauce cooking.
Oh man, Koa and I are going to be so spoiled this coming month. I get good home-cooking and he gets timely walks and little pieces of bread and crackers that my mom snacks on during the day. Now if only Kumquat would hurry up and make her appearance…then again, maybe I can wait another couple days. 🙂
On Saturday, we walked to the Ferry Plaza for lunch and had a feast at Hog Island Oyster Co. It’s one of my favorite places to eat and I was so happy. Jes had some raw oysters and we also each started with a salad.
Mine was the Little Gem Salad that had mandarin oranges, apples, and almonds. The shaved cheese on top was a little weird at first sight but made a lot of sense when I tasted it.
Next was our clam chowder. It’s never disappointing and went so perfectly with the roasted crab that came next. When we were done with the crab, it looked like a massacre on the table. It could have been the perfect meal but it was missing one thing: a nice glass of white wine. 🙂 Heh heh. I only have to wait a couple more weeks!!! Yippee!!
On my way home from the doctor’s office on Thursday, I walked to the Ferry Plaza for lunch and then decided it was sunny and warm enough to walk home.
So with some coconut and passionfruit sorbet in hand, I waddled my butt home along the waterfront. I think I walked a good 2 miles that afternoon and was exhausted by the time I reached the couch.
Here’s a photo of me, Dog, and Kumquat at 38 weeks and 3 days. It was a triple-win that afternoon – Koa got a long walk, I got some sunshine, and Jes got to watch the boats in the harbor.
I also stopped at the local children’s store next to the deli. Turns out they have used clothes for sale in the back. I bought Kumquat a little 3-month outfit: a cute Old Navy white knitted sweater for $8 and a pair of Old Navy jeans for $6. They also buy your used clothes for 50% of what they think they can sell your items for in the store. Good to know for later when it’s time to purge again.
Later that afternoon, I got a manicure and pedicure at the place down the street from home. Let’s just say it was time to clean up my fingers and toes too. I had always wanted to take advantage of mid-day/mid-week specials and I totally did because I finally could!
Ever since we 
We enjoyed the Duck a l’Orange with blood oranges and a garlic souffle and the handmade pasta with trumpet mushrooms and fava beans.
The best part of the night was the dessert. We usually share one but we splurged and had two! Both were so yummy: ginger cake with candied kumquat and chantilly creme and the meyer lemon and pink lady apple galette with vanilla ice cream. Yum.
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