Because Elaine requested it: Split Pea and Ham soup

1 lb split peas, soaked overnight

4 bacon slices

1 onion, roughly chopped

2 carrots, sliced

1 celery stalk, sliced

2 1/2 quarts cold water

1 sprig fresh thyme

1 bay leaves

1 large potato, roughly diced

1 ham hock

black pepper

1. Cut the bacon into small pieces. In a large saucepan, dry fry the bacon 4-5 minutes, or until crisp. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon.

2. Add the onion, carrots, and celery to the fat in the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes until the onion is soft but not brown. Return the bacon to the pan with the water.

3. Drain the split peas and add to the pan with the thyme, bay leaves, potato, and ham hock and bring to boil. Lower heat, cover and simmer for an hour. (or as long as you like really...I simmered the shit out of those peas)

4. Remove the thyme, bay leaves, and ham hock. Process the soup in a blender or food processor until the desired consistency. Return to the pan. Cut the meat from the hock, add to the soup, and heat through. Season with black pepper.

The OTHER little one

Okay...so until I got pregnant, Brutus was my baby. I even carried him on my hip when he was a puppy and got tired. I know, I know...but I loves my baby. ANYWAY...

The past couple of months, he's been exhibiting some weird behavior. I'm not sure if it's behavioral or environmental. Basically...he'll pester to be petted...and then when I tell him no and to lay down because I don't want to pet him, he'll wander off to a different room and heave until he vomits bile. I don't want him to be sick, but at the same time, I would hate to pay for a vet visit because my dog is emotionally bulimic.

It seems to me it's more behavioral than environmental, mostly because it's only happend like 3 or 4 times in the past month...it's not consistent. We are going to try giving him a little food in the morning and a little food at night and see if that helps. We are also going to try letting him sleep in the bedroom, as well. I think he knows that something is up and is trying to compensate. I've been cutting back on the attention I pay him because I know that he won't get as much once the baby is here, and I'm thinking it might be more of a reaction to this.

I just don't know what to do...because he's been sick before...and this is not how he acts when he's sick. Another reason I feel it's more of a behavioral/emotional response to things than an actual physical response.