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5 weeks and Traveling
December 14th, 2011
Hi there! I wanted to update you on our lives here in our cozy newborn-way-of-life. We have had lots go on in the last couple of weeks. We have seen our little girl change and becoming a strong little human being. It is pretty amazing how it all works!
Last Wednesday we had our 1 month appointment. Before I knew we were headed out I was surprisingly nervous. All I could think about was how Julianne might not be healthy or maybe be weighed and not have gained enough. I have a frequent preoccupation that I do not have enough milk production which I really just try to stop thinking about it because worrying and anxiety CAN produce less milk production. Well not only that but those negative feelings can pass on to the baby as I feed her and I try to stay positive and leave my health in God’s hands.
Our pediatrician is super nice. He came recommended and seems to be very wise! He is in his mid 80s but he looks like he could be in his 60s. He listened to all our questions and he took his time with us. It is pretty incredible because it does not seem to be like that for any medical appointments that I have had of recent.
Julianne gained 2 1/2 pounds and she grew from 21 inches to 22 1/4. She is growing and is very healthy!!
The only thing I am not quite sure of is the Vitamin D drops the pediatrician told me I should be giving Julianne. Some mothers I have spoken to DO give the drops and others DO NOT.
What have you heard? I am still trying to find time to research this new idea so it seems. I thought perhaps since I am taking my prenatal plus an additional vitamin D supplement that it would not be necessary but he said it was.
Did I mention that Julianne was a doll at her appointment? The doctor asked whether she was alert and if she was following us with her eyes. She was doing that at 3 weeks already! He tested her and she smiled at him and he mentioned how smart she already was! 😀 Don’t mothers want to hear that all the time??
After the appointment we went to Panera. Can I tell you how stir crazy I have gotten? We tend to be busy at home that I do not go on errands with Julianne especially if Ryan is home, but being with myself and the baby for too many days cooped up can get slightly daunting. Well, in a sense that I do not feel human. Going to Panera and seeing people and being out in the world with Julianne brings a little normal back in my life.
I think Ryan and I mostly feel afraid that she will be unhappy and crying all the time and we will not be able to enjoy our outing but in reality she has done well with our outings.
This past weekend Ryan had his Christmas concert in Holland with the Holland Chorale. Even though Ryan REALLY wanted me to be a part of the concert I did not feel comfortable with it. First of all, everyone I knew in Holland was singing that night so I could not leave her with just ANYONE. Second of all, the mother of a newborn was not happy leaving her quite yet. Am I wrong?
Even though there were 2 concerts, one in the afternoon and one in the evening, we opted going to the evening because it would be close to Julianne’s bedtime. I fed her, burped her, and placed her in my Moby wrap. I was very prepared to sit in the back of the gorgeous church so I could walk out in case she started crying. She was awake for 10 minutes and then she fell asleep for 1 1/2 hours. The WHOLE duration of the concert folks! She did not wake up with the clapping, the loud orchestra, or when the whole audience started singing carols. She was a princess and people were impressed. I thanked GOD! Ryan also had a composition being premiered so I also wanted to be there.
Thanks for your help!!
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Manna Bread Giveaway winner
December 10th, 2011
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Roasted Butternut, Portabella and Barley Pilaf
December 7th, 2011
Last night I was inspired to make this yummy meal for us. It was VERY quick to make and filling too. Ryan mentioned that he was glad I had made barley. I believe it is a grain that I have never prepared before and I realized how sorry I was that I had never prepared it before.
I have been using a lot of kale lately since I have been staying away from broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. These happen to be some of my favorite veggies but for a time I have to set them aside for my baby’s health. In the meantime it has caused me to focus on my leafy greens.
Last week I made a soup with leftover turkey using curly kale. It was quite delicious but the flavor is usually a little more bitter when eaten raw. For this dish I used dinosaur kale, which Ryan happened to like a lot better than the curly kale. It is a little more like spinach but coarser but not bitter.
I roasted butternut squash for almost an hour then in the last 15 minutes I added chopped portabella caps. I boiled pre-soaked pearl barley and once the roasted veggies were cooked I tossed them with the cooked barley in a large bowl. I added raw chopped dinosaur kale and dried sweetened cranberries.
If you are looking for a new side dish for the holidays this is definitely a colorful and delicious dish. Hope you try it! Now back to my little one! 😀
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Secret Recipe Club: Vegan Banana Oat Bread
December 5th, 2011
It’s that time of the month! It is Secret Recipe Club for the month of December and I am working it! I have finally baked something and this something was GOOD.
Okay, so wait. I am lying. I baked on November 21st. I baked in 2 day increments and made German Chocolate Cupcakes for Ryan’s birthday. Yes. I made the frosting on one day and the cupcakes on another day when I had the time between taking care of the baby.
Cooking and baking has been a little challenging and not as important to me since having Julianne. Although I feel hungry very often, due to breastfeeding, I have no desire to cook or bake.
Even though I took this December task as a challenge it turned out not to be so hard. As I get a hang of a schedule with the baby, I work on tasks that are important. If I feel I can bake after the most important things are out of the way then I will. Sometimes, baking allows me to do something fun than keeping up with all the chores in the house.
In comes this yummy Oat Banana Bread. When I found out I was assigned Itzy’s Kitchen, I was excited. I follow Erica’s blog and really like all her posts especially all the details about her pregnancy and now her newborn. She is a great inspiration especially since she looks amazing since having her baby. She seems to have gotten a hold of a schedule at her house. You go Erica!
She loves to workout and teaches classes at her gym. She even worked out up until giving birth to her daughter. If you have been keeping up with my blog, Erica and I have lots of things in common. I just hope that once I am able to get back into my exercise routine that I can shed all my unwanted pounds.
As I perused Itzy’s Kitchen I came across a yummy recipe for banana bread. I have had a hankering for banana bread so much so that I kept sniffing my husband thinking he smelled like banana bread. I knew I had to make some instead of thinking that people around me smelled like bread. LOL
Erica found the recipe on The Motherload and then added chocolate chips to her bread. I decided to leave out the chips and I made it vegan. How about that? Inspiration all around. The other unique thing about this recipe is that it called for oats and buttermilk instead of sour cream or yogurt.
This banana oat bread was DELICIOUS! It baked perfectly and browned so elegantly. Can bread brown elegantly? It did for me! It was very moist and even though I used coconut oil, I could not taste it. I used flax seed meal to substitute for the eggs and I made buttermilk using coconut milk and apple cider vinegar.
You too can make this healthier banana bread and maybe even make them in 4 smaller loaves and give it to friends. I decided to keep my loaf and eat it with my husband. Hee hee.
I am glad I took on December challenge because it was great! Thank Erica for the recipe!
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Manna Organics Bread Review and Giveaway
December 3rd, 2011
