Frontyard Foodie

This week I have been eating a lot of veggies. Mainly onions, tomatoes, carrots, cabbage, cucumbers, lettuce and bell peppers.  I have found myself craving onions, cabbage and carrots the most and yesterday I remembered, suddenly, that those were the veggies I wanted at the end of my last pregnancy and for about three months afterwards as well. I’d saute up a huge plate of them and eat that for lunch. Once Avery was born though I began to notice a correlation between my cabbagey meals and his bodily discomfort. Needless to say I had to stop buying any of those veggies in order to resist my strong craving urges so that my son could have a calm stomach.  Babies can be sensitive to a lot of foods through the mother’s milk and even though I had to give up the thing I craved the most I had to be thankful at the same time that I didn’t have to give up dairy, coffee, tea, gluten, fruits or sweets.

This got me thinking about Eli and what I may have to put on hold for a few weeks until his little system adjusts. I know for first time moms (myself included) that the ‘gassy’ period lasts forever but it really is only three months or so and that’s important to keep in mind the second time around.

Naturally I’ll give up whatever it takes for Eli and thinking about it now will help me be in a problem solving mindset if I notice him in pain. It took me about three weeks to figure out it was my diet with Avery……pretty unpleasant. I didn’t really know how things worked! Now I do though so I figure I may as well eat as much of my craved vegetables now while he is still unaffected by them.

Last night I put all said veggies, with a few additions, on a pizza.

I used about a third of my basic bread dough recipe to make two crusts (left over from making bread yesterday) and then went to town with toppings.

First poured tomato sauce on half of each crust and then olive oil on the other side. The olive oil side I sprinkled with salt, garlic and Parmesan cheese and just put a little salt and dried oregano on the tomato sauce.

Toppings

• olives
• pickled banana peppers
• green bell peppers
• onions
• carrots (chopped very finely)
• cabbage (shredded finely)
• thinly sliced roma tomatoes
• mozzarella cheese
• garlic powder
• dried oregano
• light sprinkle of salt
• light sprinkle of Parmesan

The reason I put seasoning on top of the pizza was because it had such a thick layer of vegetable toppings I knew it would need an extra boost and it really turned out perfectly.

My concept was basically to put every veggie I had in the fridge on the pizza….except for cucumbers, I really couldn’t make myself do that.

Who would have thought carrots and cabbage would have worked on a pizza!? Well I’m here to tell you that it did and was fantastic.

Naturally I made Shane a pizza without either of those thing and added TONS of pepperoni. He loves veggies, and I loaded his with veggies too but carrots don’t really fly in his book.

I cook the pizzas at 500 degrees for about ten to fifteen minutes. The crust gets crusty with big air pockets and the cheese browns but has stretch. It’s perfect.

Today I just made a massive salad of all the veggies (including cucumbers this time) and drizzled it with homemade balsamic vinaigrette.

On the side I had a piece of left over pizza (couldn’t resist!) and a huge jar of cold water.

So until I have to cut out foods, I will enjoy them, even if there was no way I could finish this massive of a plate and that I also chopped my thumb nail because I am really not savvy with knives.

Question: For the mamas, did you have to cut out any foods while nursing? For everyone, what weird toppings have you put on pizza?

 

Yesterday I had my scheduled prenatal massage that Shane and Avery got me for Mother’s Day. Let’s just say, I was waaaay more than excited. I’ve never gotten a professional massage in my life because I never wanted to pay but I love love love getting a good back rub so I knew it’d be awesome.

I got especially excited about it because on Monday night I was having contractions, heavy nausea and cramps and Shane rubbed my back in the sore places for a while and it felt so good  that I just knew I’d be in heaven having someone work on those places for an hour.

It was everything I hoped for. I was so relaxed when I got home that I didn’t want to move. She hit all the ‘labor’ pressure points so hopefully I can go into labor sooner than later:)  Things have definitely felt ‘different’ since the massage (I won’t go into the tmi details here for your sake, hehe) but not sure if they’re labor different or my body is just all adjusted and muscles are relaxed. Which was a good thing since I had spent the morning nesting like a crazy person….cleaned the house top to bottom and even baked bread and made pizza dough for a dinner.

A small sandwich bread loaf and a larger cinnamon/olive oil loaf.

Even though I didn’t blog, or do anything but watch the Royals game after the massage, I did manage to make dinner and it was oh so tasty.

Salad, garlic bread from the loaf I baked that morning, and some homemade spaghetti. I loaded that spaghetti sauce with veggies and garden fresh herbs and sprinkled a little bit of Parmesan on top.

I slept very well last night and Avery finally is fully adjusted after night terrors last week and for the first time in a few days he slept in to his usual time (7am) so I got a full night.

This morning I knew we needed to get out in the sunshine and go to the park but first we had breakfast. I had cereal.

With a sliced banana, almond milk and a cup of coffee. Avery hijacked most of my cereal but hey, the boy’s gotta eat too. hehe

Then we did some intensive potty training. He has been resistant to diapers and the toilet for quite some time now but finally I think he’s putting some things together. He calls the toilet ‘the potty’ and hasn’t been fighting it so much. However, he does hold everything in all day if I put him on the toilet every half hour. As in, he won’t even poo that day.

So I got him his own potty and he knows what it is, understands that he needs to sit on it but hasn’t gone on it yet. His bear on the other hand…….

Well, let’s just say it’s been going potty all morning.

After we worked on potty training for quite a while we headed out to the park. The weather is PERFECT. 75*, totally sunny with a nice breeze. Avery loves the park and we spent the rest of the morning enjoying it.

He also found a friend and they got very excited about the lawn mowers together. SO cute.

We left in time for naptime and Avery crashed immediately. Sunshine will do that to you. I think I may have gotten a tad burned even though I tried to keep tabs on it!

Now that he’s napping I might try to do a little garden work to help urge this baby to come. So I bid you adieu!

Question: Any potty training tips? Have you ever had a massage?

 

I haven’t really posted much food lately and I do apologize for that. Food hasn’t been my forte lately since being massively and ridiculously pregnant not only takes my appetite but my general will to care about food preparation. However, this doesn’t mean I haven’t been doing plenty of it anyway. Mostly it’s just necessity because I don’t have an appetite but also I try to keep things interesting and a variety of colors and ingredients.

Today for lunch I had my typical taco salad.

I was cooking beans at the same time and once the bean smell hit the house I couldn’t eat anymore…..I am SO sensitive to scents these days. Nausea is full force.

Speaking of beans. I cooked up this batch with diced onions, taco spice, cayenne, garlic powder and salt and I was able to make REALLY good refried beans.

Just used my emulsifier to puree them and what a difference from my other batches! Usually I just cook the beans with salt and garlic but adding the onion and other spices really made a huge difference. First time I have ever been satisfied with my refried beans.

Last night, last meal before grocery day, I put together a very random Middle Eastern inspired meal.

I basically cooked rice in the rice cooker, topped it with hummus (still in the rice cooker to warm up the hummus), onions, chopped chicken and chopped green and black olives on top with red pepper flakes and olive oil on top. I liked it, Avery liked it a LOT….not sure it made sense to Shane but he ate it all like a champ:)

I still have to get my greens and even though juices are my main stay for that, I decided to switch it up a little and go for a green smoothie since I had frozen bananas and lots of strawberries from my little patch.

Also lots of kale, coconut oil, peanut butter and an orange! Avery and I split it.

There’s really nothing like seeing your toddler with a massive green mustache…even if he is freaking out that his cup is empty.

He always gets frustrated with smoothies because it doesn’t LOOK like it’s all gone since it coats the sides and he keeps trying and trying to get every drop. I have to coach him….

Also, with the warm weather and the massive pregnantness I have been enjoying some sherbet.

And by some, I mean I ate a half gallon in like three days. Oh yes, it’s just as yummy as it looks and oh so refreshing! This is the best sherbet flavor combo I’ve ever had. Pineapple, raspberry and orange. I could have done without the orange and maybe just had an entire tub of pineapple. Incredibly delicious.

So there are some eats of late. Tomorrow morning I will be baking bread for the next couple weeks and I’m always excited for that! Until then though, I will bid you adieu and goodnight.

Question: what is your favorite ice cream, sorbet, or sherbet?

 

Everyone is always asking the question, what do I bring to the hospital when having a baby?

Well I have done this once before and there are endless lists out there but sometimes learning from experience is the only way to go.

When I packed for Avery’s birth I wasn’t thinking about several important factors are set into motion after your baby lands in your arms. The first, and most important, is that you nurse. I knew this, but didn’t know that obviously you want to bring a shirt that is easy to nurse in. Once I was out of the hospital gown (asap!) I put on some sweat pants and a t-shirt…..but the t-shirt was So annoying to pull up with my lack of abs and roughed up body every time I needed to nurse and I wished so hard I had just brought a v-neck or SOMETHING easier to nurse in.

I also completely forgot to bring swaddling blankets or a onesy for Avery. The hospital provides blankets while you’re there and a little outfit as well but it was just lucky that he was born in warm weather because his little bare legs were hanging out as we left!

I think we all know that hospital food is kind of disgusting. When packing my bag last time I put a bunch of granola bars in there just in case I wanted to sneak a snack while laboring (most hospitals don’t allow eating or drinking during labor which is silly and I did both when we were alone) and once I gave birth if I got starving while nursing or something. I ate one or two maybe but I wanted FRUIT. The hospital fruit was not good and this time I’m definitely filling my bag up with apples for an easy snack.

So what does my entire list look like? Here goes.

Hospital Bag Take 2

• camera
• cell phone with charger cord
• netbook with power supply (in case we have to stay an extra night like last time)
• low cut shirt for nursing ease
• sweat pants
• underwear
• dress for leaving hospital
• robe
• 2 onesies (in case of surprise blow out….we all know they happen!)
• 2 swaddling blankets
• boppy
• pillow (hospital beds are SO uncomfortable, I have to have my own pillow)
• wallet
• make up…probably just some lip color and under eye concealer for photos!

Trying to keep it minimal but also being prepared. I want to be safe in case they end up keeping us there longer than I anticipate. This was the case when Avery was born because my water broke almost 24hrs before I gave birth (which can cause infection and they wanted to observe us longer) so including the night I labored there, we stayed three nights total. It was a major drag. I hated it. I cried when they told me they were keeping us another night. I wasn’t prepared mentally, emotionally or hospital bag wise.  With all that though, I did pack a ton of stuff I didn’t need so I felt like I had too much junk in the room (thermal socks, slippers, shoes, sweater, etc) and I want to avoid that too. Taking advantage of what the hospital provides is also key. They give you thermal socks and slippers, pacifiers if you need them, diapers of course, all sanitary products and toiletries you’ll need, and pain killers like ibuprofen if you had rough tearing or something.

There you have it. Simple I think, and up to date. I remember when I was pregnant for the first time I saw a list that included change for phone calls and batteries for your camcorder! Time flies people, it flies fast.

Question: What did you bring to the hospital? What would you recommend? 

 

I never knew, my entire life, I never knew, what it was to be a mother until almost two years ago when I became one myself.

If I had been aware of the all absorbing love and sacrifice that comes when you bring a child into your life, I would have spent my entire childhood letting my mom know, but then I guess it wouldn’t have been such a challenge!

My mom somehow gave birth to seven children, raised us as a stay at home mom and on top of that, she homeschooled every one of us. She had a great support with my dad but spending all day every single day caring for us, mostly while pregnant and nursing, had to be trying beyond what most could handle. Imagine spending fourteen years being either pregnant or nursing for the majority…that’s intense.

When I got pregnant and began to go through the rough symptoms that carrying a baby can bring I remembered the times when my mom would wave us outside so we wouldn’t see her throw up in the sink or would sit on the couch weakly trembling with a pale face downing saltines and water and I suddenly began to see how much she must have gone through.

I felt rushes of guilt occasionally, remembering times I may have been disrespectful towards her as a teen because I never realized how much she sacrificed for me. Isn’t it funny how that works?

Once while I was pregnant with Avery I overheard a teen giving her mom an attitude at Target and had an almost irresistible urge to butt in and say ‘I don’t think you get it. Whatever petty issue you’re having right now as a spoiled brat doesn’t matter because this woman sacrificed her body, her freedom and all the love in the world for you, so get over it.’ Naturally I didn’t, but that was my lightbulb moment.

Being a mom is incredible. It’s fulfilling like nothing else in the world and I am blessed beyond measure to be a mother. However, it’s a life altering path to take and it requires selflessness, hard work, and sacrifice and so I say to my mother, thank you. Thank you for being present every moment of my life, thank you for loving me unconditionally, thank you for training me, for being a good example of a wife and mother, thank you for guiding me with wise advice, thank you for letting me be who I was designed to be and supporting me in it fully. Thank you for praying for me, letting me cry over the phone to you, celebrating all the insignificant little good things in my life, encouraging me,  and showing so much generosity in every way to me and my family.

I have learned these past couple years that only a mother can truly understand what a mother does and so I can say with genuine sincerity, Happy Mother’s Day Mom.

Question: Mamas, did you get new appreciation for your mom after becoming a mother yourself? Non mamas, how did you show your mom she was special this year?