What the Weather?

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Weather is a funny thing. It impacts our everyday lives quite a lot, and I've been thinking about it lately seeing as I'm experiencing my first set of seasons in a new climate.

The first thing I have been considering is how much weather impacts my mood. When we have a day like today, 75 and sunny (see the picture above), I feel amazing. I go outside, I walk, I get some Vitamin D that doesn't come from a bottle, and I generally feel happy. When we have a snowstorm in May, or April, or when it's gray for a week at a time, I feel crummy. Crumb-y? ;) Perhaps both. It actually changes the lens through which I view other aspects of my life.

Also, global climate change/global warming/whatever you want to call it: it seems pretty real. Don't you think that the seasons are different than they used to be? It happens gradually, of course. But take this example: Here in the Twin Cities, on Friday it snowed all morning. On Sunday is was 70 degrees and people were outside in shorts. It just seems like everything is more extreme. Maybe if scientists and environmentalists referred to it as extreme weather changes instead of global warming, more people would buy into it...

Since weather impacts us so much, it's an important factor in our quality of life. A day like this by the lake in Minnesota is quite lovely, but is it worth 6 - 6! - months of winter? I'm still deciding.

xo,

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Chocolate Cinnamon Bread

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They have this at Starbucks. I've never ordered it from there, because these things tend to be better and healthier when they're made at home. And this one is so, so good. It's basically chocolate cake. So you can kind of get away with eating chocolate cake for breakfast. And with a cup of creamy decaf...oh yeah. I didn't want to stray too far from the original recipe my first time making it, but if I make it again, I will try substituting Greek yogurt for some of the butter. But in the meantime, enjoy some chocolately,  warm, spiced goodness. Especially if you have several inches of fresh snow outside your door. Which I do right now. ;)

Chocolate Cinnamon Bread
Adapted from Table for Two Blog

Makes 2 loaves

3 sticks of butter, softened
scant 2 1/2 cups of brown sugar
5 eggs
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup white whole wheat flour
1 1/4 cups cocoa powder
2 T ground flaxseeds
1 T cinnamon
1 t salt
1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1 cup buttermilk (Did you know you can use 1 T of white vingar + 1 cup of skim milk to make buttermilk?)
1/4 cup water
1 t vanilla extract

Optional topping:
1/4 cup sanding or coarse sugar of some sort (I used espresso sugar that I had in the pantry)
3/4 t cinnamon
3/4 t ground ginger
1/4 t nutmeg

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter and brown sugar until fluffy.
2. Beat in the eggs one at a time.
3. In a medium bowl, stir together dry ingredients.
4. In a liquid measuring cup (2 cups), stir together buttermilk, water, and vanilla.
5. To the mixer, add the dry ingredients and wet ingredients in alternating portions. (Dry, wet, dry, wet, dry.) Scrape the sides of the bowl as needed. Mix until combined.
6. In a small bowl stir together the ingredients for the topping.
7. Prepare 2 loaf pans by lining them with parchment or waxed paper and cooking spray.
8. Pour the batter evenly into the two pans, and sprinkle the topping over each.
9. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes, or until a tester comes out with a few crumbs.
10. Cool in the pans, on a rack, for 15 minutes. Then use the paper overhanging to lift the loaves out of the pans, and cool completely on a rack. Slice when completely cooled. Watch out for crumbs.

Mmm,

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Quinoa Scrambled Eggs

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Since I'm pregnant, I'm extra aware of how much protein I consume each day. I'm always looking for ways to incorporate more protein into my diet, and this fits the bill! This meal came together randomly. It was about noon, and I was waking up after sleeping from 4am-noon after a marathon birth. I wanted breakfast; I wanted lunch. So I ate this. And it was delicious! It would actually work for dinner too. You could probably throw some veggies in, but I like the balance of flavors just as it is. By my approximate calculations, it has about 22 grams of protein in a small serving - perfectly respectable for a pregnant mama, or anyone who wants to get their day started right. ;)

Quinoa Scrambled Eggs

1/2 cup cooked quinoa { 12 g protein }
1 egg, scrambled { 6 g protein }
1 oz grated parmesan cheese { 4 g protein }
cracked black pepper
drizzle of ketchup or salsa, if desired

1. I keep cooked quinoa in the fridge, so I scoop out about 1/2 cup and microwave it to warm it up. If your quinoa is freshly cooked, you can just put it in a bowl.
2. Add the scrambled egg in with the quinoa.
3. Top with grated cheese, pepper, and ketchup or salsa.
4. Stir together and enjoy!

Bon appetit,

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Second Trimester Recap

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I think I transitioned out of my second trimester yesterday. It was a weird feeling day with a sore belly - I could feel myself growing and stretching. I'm 27 weeks today, so technically I have one more week in my second trimester. But for me, yesterday was the day. We're moving into a new phase...

The second trimester was pretty wonderful, yes, just like everyone says it is. I have mostly felt well physically, and emotionally and spiritually it has been a total high. We've definitely had some big life events going on and it hasn't been without stress. But so far we really like having a baby. <3

Physical aspects of the second trimester:

1. Do yoga and get regular bodywork. I cannot stress it enough. I always encourage my doula clients to see a chiropractor and a craniosacral therapist, but now I really badger them about it. ;) I'm in love with prenatal yoga classes at Blooma because they are "me" time to connect with my baby and with other mamas, and to make my body strong and ready for birthing. I've also been keeping up with my regular bodywork visits. Aches and pains have been less than they were in the first trimester.

2. Broad ligament pain has been almost a constant thing for me throughout the pregnancy. Inversions and rebozo sifting by husby help. I also occasionally get foot and calf cramps during the nights, so I've started taking a liquid calcium magnesium supplement to help with both. The jury's still out on whether it's helping.

3. Heartburn yahoo! Every pregnant woman's classic complaint. I've really almost never had it before in my life, but when you get it you know it. I take papaya enzyme tablets most of the time for it; I take a Tum if it gets very awful. I also get an itchy feeling in my ears, throat, and lungs when I get heartburn - lovely. It feels like allergies. Last night the itchy lungs were particularly intense - I think they're starting to get crowded.

{ As I laid in bed last night moaning around about my sore belly, itching lungs, and achy back, Patrick said, "What would you tell one of your clients?" He helped me remember that it's all normal. Our bodies have a lot of work and changing to do; it's bound to feel intense at times. He also said, "Focus on the positives" :) . Then he snuggled me and I feel asleep. So it's all good. }

4. Most things take more energy from me than they usually do. It's been strange and has required a mental shift, but it's ok. I trust my body to tell me what it needs. Sometimes I just need to sit down and rest - I've never quite experienced that, to this extent, before. Especially when we moved to a new house a few weeks ago, I had to slow way down. I couldn't do nearly as much as I thought I could/should. Sam I am.

22 weeks in Austin, TX

5. Baby movement: I felt the first swimming movements around 16 weeks. It felt like there was a goldfish inside me. I would feel one movement every couple of days. Around 18 weeks, I felt the first tiny kicks. I remember that first night, I felt 3 in a row. I thought something was wrong at first, until I realized what I was feeling - ha! They were very low, right near my pubic bone. As my uterus and baby grow, the movements have moved higher and higher, now reaching a couple inches above my belly button at times. We love feeling our baby move, talking to it, and playing with it when it's awake.

6. Having a really different shape than I usually do: I love it! I feel feminine, ripe, and beautiful. My and my baby's daily existence wouldn't be possible without God's perfect design for us. It feels amazing to live in that every day. I should say that this one outweighs all the other ones that don't seem that great. I'm really enjoying being pregnant.

25 weeks on Easter

Emotions in the second trimester:

It's fun and we're happy. Yep.

Somewhere around 20 weeks, I fell deeply in love with my baby. I've always loved it, but I remember it hitting me hard at some point. I thought, wow, I really feel close to you, I want you, and I would be so sad if anything happened to you.

It's also really cool getting to know his/her little personality more. We can only know some things while baby is still inside, but that's good. God's design is perfect!

I'm more readily tearful, of course. Which for me is saying something, because I'm a pretty easy crier under normal circumstances. I think I cried through our whole Easter worship service. Which reminds me that:

Praising and loving the Lord already feels different. I feel filled up with so much joy. I can't imagine how it will feel when I have an actual baby...!

So thanks for reading, sweet friends and everyone. I'm looking forward to a fun third trimester filled with less working, some traveling, 2 baby showers, and 13(?) more weeks of life with a big belly.

xo,

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Pumpkin Nutella Swirl Muffins

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Please make these. As you can probably tell from my iPhone photo, I was not planning to post these muffins on here. But they are so good, I had to! I just baked my second batch for the week. Our small group will be enjoying them later this evening. Enjoy, preferably with a cup of coffee...

Pumpkin Nutella Swirl Muffins
adapted from Alaska from Scratch

1 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 honey or brown sugar (I used buckwheat honey)
2 eggs (1 used 1 egg and 1 egg white)
1/2 cup grapeseed or canola oil
1/3 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups white whole wheat flour, or any combination of AP and whole wheat flour
2 Tablespoons ground flax seeds
1 teaspooon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

Topping:
1/3 cup Nutella
1/3 cup mascarpone cheese, or cream cheese

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the wet ingredients and whisk together.
2. In another bowl, stir together the dry ingredients.
3. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and whisk until smooth.
4. Pour the batter into prepared muffin cups, about 3/4 full. Makes 12 regular muffins or 24 minis.
5. Scoop the Nutella into the empty dry ingredient bowl and microwave for 30 seconds to soften. Stir in the mascarpone cheese until combined.
6. Use a teaspoon to scoop the Nutella mixture on top of each cupcake.
7. Use a knife to swirl the topping.
8. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

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19 Weeks

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Pregnancy update, for those of you wanting to know {aka my mom}:

18 weeks

This photo was taken about a week+ ago. Baby is growing, we hope just perfectly. I've been feeling movement for a few weeks now, and have started feeling actual kicks this week. It's fun but also strange! The first one I felt, I thought something was wrong with me until I realized what it was - ha!

19 weeks

I am blessed to have a wonderfully supportive community of women around me who are supporting me during pregnancy. A couple of weeks ago, I attended a postpartum doula training with a group of doulas. 4 days straight surrounded by doula love, care, support, empathy... doulas are wonderful. The baby really liked it, and so did I. I'll be writing more about it soon on my doula blog.

I've also been going regularly to craniosacral therapy and to the chiropractor. Not only does it keep my body working well and feeling comfortable and nurtured, but I get to visit with wonderful women who form part of my support network. Add weekly yoga at Blooma and I'm one happy, balanced girl.

Plus girlfriends to listen to me and encourage me - many who are pregnant with me, some who have been before, and some who never have! I'm so grateful for all of them. Even for those of us who go through pregnancy with a supportive and very present partner, it's wonderful to have a community of women, too.

Doing well for now; more updates to come.

xo,

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Happy Valentine's Day, 2013!

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19 weeks

Happy Valentine's Day, from the 3 of us! I sure like Valentine's Day - it's close to my birthday, it involves a lot of pink and chocolate (two of my favorite things), and it's all about celebrating the loves in your life. While I sure have my grouchy moments - I've even had some today, which I'll tell you about another time - I am pretty much a cheerful person and I love, love!

I love: my sweet, caring, providing, handsome husband; our little baby kicking and growing in my belly; our families who support us; friends old and new; chocolate treats; snuggling my husband while watching Modern Family; my job working with birthing mamas and other great doulas... among may other blessings in my life.

This morning was appropriately Valentine-y and felt like a special day. Patrick stayed home for an extra hour of snuggling before work, the trees outside our window were coated like candy with snow, and I got woken up by presents.

Socks and pillowcases from P, Bloomington print from me

Pretty successful exchange, I think! My card said, I {picture of a moustache} you a question: Will you be my Valentine? <3

This afternoon I had to run errands, do some work, and deal with a few things. On the bright side, I got to walk around our neighborhood in the sun. (I did NOT slip on ice!) We have some transitions coming up, which I'm sure you can imagine! I'll share more soon. But transitions, even if they're positive, can cause stress. I'd better go do some yoga so baby knows life isn't too stressful. ;)

This evening we'll go out for dinner, along with hoards of other couples, I'm sure. Oh well, it makes me feel celebratory. What are you doing to celebrate?

Love from Baby Orr

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