Every morning when I come downstairs I need (need, need, need!) to guzzle an enormous-almost-chokes-me gulp of apple cider, straight from the bottle. Before coffee, before anything. Last week it was so fast and furious that it ended up coming out my nose. This isn’t the best way to start the day (something about protein? I don’t know. I don’t care.) and I suppose it’s a blood sugar thing, but to hell with it. The elation my mouth feels is worth every drop of sugar. And ice! Give me ice to chomp between my teeth, I love that too. #Pregnancy
I wore one of William’s shirts today because virtually all of mine are at the stage where there’s always going to be lower belly showing and as much as I would prefer to go entirely clothes-less, I don’t think I’m ready to reveal my nude pregnant body to the world just yet and I really don’t think the world is ready for it either. But, yes. Clothes, for the most part, all suck. I walked downstairs in Steve’s pajama pants the other day and he barely glanced up from the computer. It is what it is. Going up and down stairs? Almost huffing and puffing, my friends. What’s my deal? I don’t remember feeling this ridiculously… pregnant? with Parker. I am regularly astounded by people who have many, many children. Is each subsequent pregnancy more pregnancy-like than the last? Nonetheless and despite the lethargy, I did like six loads of laundry and hauled them all throughout the house which then earned me not only a swig of apple cider but a whole glass with a lot of ice (bonus: a lot of baby kicks after all that cold apple cider; some jabs to the bladder). What a treat! (I wish I were being sarcastic. That is how good cold, sweet things taste to me lately.)
Today was voting day so the kids had off. William, Parker, and I went for a bike ride, hot chocolate date, and a library visit. Typically Parker grabs books willy-nilly off the shelves while I try to sneak some of the less desirable ones back to their respective places. But this time he didn’t do that! He built a Duplos castle and I filled our bag with books that looked really good. I was excited to finally get this one
after seeing it everywhere. It’s fun, just like one would think, and I enjoyed watching him and Steve tap the pages, turn the book left, turn the book right. He went to bed with this classic which I imagine he’ll flip through, again and again and again, until it’s time to return it to the library. Sometimes, bless him, he’ll go through an enormous stack of books one by one for an hour (Am I bragging? I think I’m bragging. We could bring him down a notch real quick by talking about naps/bedtime lately.). He flings each book off to the side where it lands with a bang when he’s done. Sometimes he does this upstairs in his room (we’ve recently implemented “quiet time”) and every few minutes or so I hear a bang. Ah! Parker is starting a new book.
after seeing it everywhere. It’s fun, just like one would think, and I enjoyed watching him and Steve tap the pages, turn the book left, turn the book right. He went to bed with this classic which I imagine he’ll flip through, again and again and again, until it’s time to return it to the library. Sometimes, bless him, he’ll go through an enormous stack of books one by one for an hour (Am I bragging? I think I’m bragging. We could bring him down a notch real quick by talking about naps/bedtime lately.). He flings each book off to the side where it lands with a bang when he’s done. Sometimes he does this upstairs in his room (we’ve recently implemented “quiet time”) and every few minutes or so I hear a bang. Ah! Parker is starting a new book.
The weather’s totally turning and my jacket won’t zip over my belly. I refuse to buy one that will because there’s only a few weeks left, but I am ensuring my outdoor warmth with cowl neck scarves and hats and things (as an aside, winter headbands are a nice alternative for when you don’t want to totally have hat head the rest of the day. I love this one, though I do wish they’d model it on an actual human head. Come on Zappos.). I hate being cold, I’m a grump when I’m cold. Scarves are the greatest and if I were adding to my collection (or maybe I am?) I’d get this one. It’s fabulous. (And, can I ask, do any of you have one of these? Are they really worth the price? I have heard they are unreal in the warmth department. I’ve sort of had my eye on the brand for years, never able to actually pay that kind of money.)
What are you guys making for dinner lately? I don’t want to get in a chili rut. I mean, a chili rut is a pretty good rut to be in if one must be in a rut, but I’ll still take a few recipe ideas. I’ll give you a few of ours too–last night was chicken fajitas (chicken, peppers, onions–add a lot of lime and Tony Chachere’s (yes, that brand and no other; I’m serious.) creole seasoning while it cooks. Restaurant good. Add your other fixings in and voila!), and a few nights before that was Ina’s Winter Minestrone.
And, be honest, are you already listening to Christmas music?
(Last night I played the Nutcracker while we ate.)
Haha, I had to chuckle about throwing the books off the side when he's done with them! My daughter Ivy does the SAME thing! Even when she's looking for the one she wants, chuck this one, chuck that one, oh, here it is! It's so funny, despite the mess. 🙂
Chili recipe- THIS ONE. SOOOO good. Make cornbread muffins with it and mmmmm. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/patrick-and-gina-neely/pats-famous-beef-and-pork-chili-recipe.html
I have a six-week-old and for some reason, didn't want to cook at ALL during my pregnancy, so I'm just getting back on the wagon. This week I made a fantastic corn and potato chowder and a chicken pot pie. Both delicious and discovered on Pinterest!
http://damndelicious.net/2014/09/12/slow-cooker-potato-corn-chowder/ (I made this on the stovetop and added crumbled bacon right before serving for some salty crunch)
http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2014/10/30/recipe-chicken-pot-pie/
i looooove chicken pot pie. ON IT.
I just realized you needed to change your header again!
ha! you're right, tiffany. sometime by 2016 i'll get on that :-
I would be all UP in that Christmas music goodness, but my husband is nuts about jumping ahead on seasonal celebrations. I'm lucky that I get away with playing it on Thanksgiving night! 🙂 Crank it up loud for me!
husbands can be such grinches.
I've been making a modification on a pasta/sausage recipe. Pretty easy, and I like to change up the veggies!
You should make some pasta fagoli or sweet potato casserole 🙂 And then invite me over for dinner haha
gimme some recipes and maybe i will!
Hey Bridget!
I don't want to be THAT person, but have you had your iron checked? Ice chewing can sometimes be a dead giveaway of anemia… Also, we love a good oven stew for fall–beef, potatoes, carrots and v8 in the oven or crockpot for several hours and life is good 🙂
i would not be surprised at all if it's low – it was when i was pregnant with parker too! not so low that i was prescribed anything, but i just ate more with iron in it. had no idea there was a correlation between low iron and ice chewing though!!!
gonna have a burger for lunch. wash it down with a spinach shake. (not kidding.) thank you!
Wait that is adorable that you are craving apple cider! And Parker…what a smart boy, you should brag! Lastly dinner- we're gross and have been eating out a ton! Last night I spent $50 on to-go sushi then followed that up with cookies, trust me a chili rut sounds better than my bad habits!
xo
Michaela
http://michaelajeanblog.com
no way! no Xmas music yet… but i will start playing it nonstop in a few weeks.
Dinner tonight: Butternut Squash soup & garlic bread!
Dinner tonight: strata with sausage and greens from Food52. Perhaps a tossed salad, too?
Lately I've been all about savory galettes.
http://food52.com/blog/11538-how-to-make-any-savory-galette-without-a-recipe?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Editorial%20Only&utm_campaign=10222014_Edit_Midweek
Not only do they make me feel fancy on a weeknight, by they are actually pretty delicious and hard to mess up as long as you have a good crust. Any soup makes a good sidekick.
galettes are so pretty too!
(sort of related, not entirely buuuut i love quiche for any meal with a side of soup or salad!)
Try my White Chicken Chili!! This is a super old blog post, but the recipe is still good 🙂
http://www.laurenpetersblog.com/2011/03/white-chicken-chili.html
oh i LOVE white chicken chili. thank you!
My sister-in-law craved Big Macs when she was pregnant and gained almost 90 pounds (she's 5'1" and normally around 100 pounds). I hope to the heavens that when I start having kids that my cravings are more like yours- cider and ice. 🙂
xx
Jenny
http://www.mishmoshmakeup.com
Parker is 3 right? I just ordered that really cute dot book for my cousin who will be 3 next week. THANK YOU!
I've heard Columbia's TurboDown is supposed to be awesome and it's a fraction of the price of the GooseDown: http://www.columbia.com/technology-turbodown/#prefn1=genderGroup&prefv1=Women%27s I'm eyeing it for winter.
Andddd dinner! Last night I had sweet potato and black bean quesadilla (cooked sweet potato mashed on a tortilla, black beans, some cheese, top w/ second tortilla, it's crazy delicious) – if I'm feeling fancy I'll add some kale and mash up some avocado with lime and seasoning salt as easy guac. I've also been itching to make some pulled pork (for sandwiches or tacos or anything really) in my crock pot.
Avid reader for a while but first time commenting. The Goose jacket is 100% worth every pretty penny. It keeps you warm and toasty like no other coat can. Perfect for our Eastern Seaboard harsh winters. You won't regret it!
I remember craving sweet, cold things with my first in my third trimester…which was so strange since it was the middle of the winter. I felt a little strange buying a slurpee at 7-11 when there was ice on my windshield….but like you said, it tastes so good!
I showed my husband your belly pic from instagram the other day and his eyes went all big, I think its the tall and skinny thing that emphasizes the belly. I'm only at the the buttoning my pants is optional stage so I can't complain yet.
Could you post a chilli reciepe? Its not a food thats eaten (well not that I know of) in this country and it sounds really yum!
hahahaha. too funny.
yes! i can post a chili!
This recipe is a prize I tell you:
Tomato Artichoke Soup
4 T. Butter
1 large onion finely chopped
1 T. minced garlic
1 tsp. dried thyme
15 oz. can artichoke hearts, coarsely chopped
28 oz. can chopped tomatoes with juice
4 cups chicken broth
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. ground black pepper
1 cup sour cream
In a large sauce pan heat butter and sauté the onion for 5 minute until soft. Add the garlic and thyme and sauté another minute. Add the artichoke hearts, tomatoes, chicken broth, salt and pepper. Cover, simmer 30 minutes. Add the sour cream, stir well and simmer for 5 minutes. Taste for seasoning. When I add the sour cream I stir it until its creamy then add 1 or 2 cups of the soup with the sour cream to make sure it is blended and not clumpy then pour the mix into the soup.
ooh ooh! thank you!
This recipe!!!
http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/easy-zuppa-toscana-recipe/
Also, I love your socks. Where did you get them?
old navy! surprising right?