Lucky Girl

This past week I had a bit of a panic moment once Halloween passed.  Not only had the quick hustle and bustle of the seasons begun, but I was nearing three months postpartum.  Pre-pregnancy I always thought at three months I would be back in my size 6 jeans and ready to run a half marathon.  While that isn't the case just yet, I was starting to feel like myself again which was an amazing feeling (mostly in part to Hudson napping and sleeping well at night). The amazing feeling turned to a lump in my throat while noticing the months of work I had let slip past for another day.  Chores were piling up as fast as the Fall leaves.  The days were getting shorter and the chill in the air had arrived which translated to more time indoors with my sweet babe who wanted to get out and see things.

You know when it takes you days to compile your to-do list you are in trouble.  My mother knew I was close to letting anxiety get the best of me and she swooped in at the right time.  That's what mother's do, right?  They know when you are close to tears, when you need a nap, and when a trip to the grocery store can keep you from throwing a tantrum. :)  My mom did what she has been doing for decades, she stepped in as the perfect Mother and Mimi when I needed her most.

So last week not only did I knock through lots of to-do's on Monday, but I did on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday all thanks to a Mimi who knew how important it is to give Hudson lots of attention, and a Mom who knew with a little encouragement her daughter could feel like she was capable of moving mountains (i.e. mountains of laundry, donation boxes, and storing newborn clothes, and organizing more "stuff" than I knew was possible).

Lucky is what my mind tells me but my heart is really saying grateful.  When I reflect at night about the day, grateful is the word I use to describe how thankful I am for the life I've been given, and work hard to be ever present of, especially now that Baby Hudson is in our world.

Thank you, mom, for being such a wonderful role model.  Hudson thinks you are pretty special too.

Halloween Block Party on Mimi + Papa's street 

It's hard not to snuggle with babe during nap time. :) 

Hudson's first official race; the Buck O'Neil run/walk

Fun with Baby: Weekly Milestones

Clearly we've been having way too much fun to keep up with the blog, so I thought I'd start by catching you all up on our weekly milestone pictures.  We were late to the party with these and didn't start until 4 weeks.  Even then, we mixed two different styles of photos.  Oh well, better luck with baby #2?  Yeah I know, even less time for the details with two cute babes running around. Don't get your hopes (or gasps for air?) just yet, we aren't expecting nor trying for another rugrat just yet.

Now we realize every parent thinks their kid(s) are the cutest, and we are no exception.  Check out how much our little stud has already grown.  We love him so much.

He was in milk coma, don't judge his lack of coordination.

Beginning of October!

Okay so this doesn't mark a specific milestone other than being cute. Period.

Baby Hudson + I tired this day, hence the pjs.  Little did we know we would both come down with colds/sinus infections the following week.  Exactly the reason I missed the 9 week picture.  Oh well, life goes on.

Dad helped us with this picture.  What you don't see is Adam making funny faces at Hudson to the right of me.

Cutest little pip-squeaking mouse you've ever seen, right?

We are all smiles and can't stop talking this week.  So in love with my little man.

Will post pictures of our Halloween adventures soon, as well as working on catching you up on the best 11 weeks of our lives.

Postpartum Recovery: Mama Essentials

Research and gift giving are two of my favorite things.  Gift giving based on research is even better.  That is why I decided to highlight the part of pregnancy that often gets overlooked and that no one wants to buy for: postpartum recovery. If you thought morning sickness was ugly you definitely need to be prepared for this phase.  Cue the Dun dun dunnnnn.

I've pulled together a "recovery kit" for two new mamas-to-be (you know who you are, so forget about this post and act surprised when you receive it), and decided to share it here so you can either pull one together for a good friend or pass this information along to them.  From experience, there is nothing worse than in your final weeks having to pull this stuff together, or even worse, sending your significant other out for them to then receive phone calls from the store asking what you needed again.  And my response would be: seriously?  I gave you a list.  Anyways, here is my rundown on what you need to stay as happy as can be during those *sometimes* dreadful first few weeks post-delivery:

Made this picture extra large so you can see the items a little better

So in typical Ali fashion, I am a bit scattered.  Some of the items in the picture could and should be in your hospital bag.  For example, I loved having my Medela Tender Nipple Care Cream at the hospital to help ease the pain associated with our latching learning curve.  Breastfeeding is tough on new moms as it is with little time for chapping and bleeding.  Something else I was thankful I packed was Cliff Bloks.  These came in handy about 16 hours into labor when I was starving and lacking energy.    Caution though, if you *might* need an emergency c-section avoid these at least two hours prior to surgery.

The other non-postpartum items I've included in the picture above are a range of baby pajama sizes.  We were expecting an 8-10 pound baby based on our 37 week ultrasound scan yet Hudson only weighed 7 lbs 1 oz.  He was swimming in all the clothing options we had brought so he spent most of his time in a snap front shirt and his diaper.  Obviously it worked fine and no one cared, but some fun functional options that fit would have been nice during those first few days.  I picked up a few Little Me princess pajama sets for Baby Olivia(s), (there are two coming! One in November and the other in December), since we are in the year of the Royal Baby. :)  One is a sleep dress, the other is a footie.  The third option is a sleep dress from Magnificent Baby's line which I'm obsessed with since the magnetic closure are a new parents dream.  Variety of sizes and styles helps, plus baby clothes are tiny and take up very little room in your bag!

Now onto the postpartum must haves, listed based on order in the picture (left to right):

• Gripe water: okay so it isn't technically for mom but baby might need it which in turn makes mom's life easier :)  While I love Colic Calm, it does leave a little bit of a stain on clothing so I purchased Little Remedies version for my girlfriends.
• Bath soak: this packet will provide lots of relief once you finally find time to take a bath.  Just make sure your doctor clears the bath part first (may have to wait a few weeks).  I picked up a bunch of Aura Cacia's Relaxing Lavender Milk + Oat Bath packets 
• MiraLAX neatpaks: one thing I wasn't aware of was the need for laxatives, which I'm sure doesn't need to be explained further.  These single serving packets make it easy to get a dose of fiber while staying hydrated.
• Tucks: if you're lucky the hospital will send you home with these.  I found though that even with a supply from the hospital I needed more.  Let's face it, if you're in pain you aren't going to ration your use of a product that helps reduce the pain.  
• Cottonelle Wipes: while I didn't actually use these, I saw way too many commercials advertising this product.  Go figure that I, an ex-ad agency girl, bought into a commercial's claims.
• Perineal Bottles: must have!  Order a few of these off Amazon since the only other place that sells them are medical supply stores.  I put one in our bedroom bathroom, one in the other bathroom I use frequently, and one in the diaper bag.  Don't forget the diaper bag.  You will need it if and when you finally enter back into the real world.
• Dermoplast: the hospital gave me a bottle of this and I fell in love.  Even though it isn't all natural like the New Mama products, it relieved the pain better.  I went through three bottles - one in the hospital and two at home.  Stock up.
• Perineal Cold packs: I read the recipes for making homemade versions of these but opted for the ones they give you in the hospital.  Why?  Convience.  If you get these you won't have to grab a homemade one before heading to the bathroom at 3 am.
• Pads and Panty Liners: wow did I go through a variety of different options postpartum.  I pulled together a collection ranging from extra long overnight to a light, everyday option.  Obviously the picture only shows one of each - you need a few handfuls of each.  Once you find one you like send your significant other out to get more.
• Depends: this is another product I didn't personally use or buy for my postpartum.  I don't know if it was the idea of them or the potential judgement looks from Target employees.  But when it comes to my pregnant girlfriends, I had no shame.  I picked up a pack of the Depends Silhouette ones, which a similar to the mesh underwear the hospital gives you except they have a built-in pad and you can comfortably wear these in public.

Even if you end up with a really nice nurse who is willing to give you more supplies, (mesh underwear, dermoplast, tucks, etc), it might be better to pull it all together for yourself.  I recently heard on the TODAY Show that hospitals charge for everything.  Remember the saying "nothings free"?  Totally applies.  

Good luck, and congratulations to all the new mama-to-be ladies out there.  The pain you feel postpartum will definitely pass, even if it feels like it will last forever.  Oh and if your doctor tells you to wait six weeks before working out again, listen.  At six weeks postpartum I still regret my three week run.  Fingers crossed week seven postpartum is my week to officially begin a workout routine again!

Lighten Up: Avocado Cream Sauce

Adam and I go separate ways when it comes to pasta sauce - I am a tomato lover, but if given the choice, he goes for the decadent creamy stuff.  While I am not against alfredo sauce, my jeans say no.

Although Adam has gotten use to my homemade tomato sauce, I like making a lighter version of his favorite by utilizing avocados as the main ingredient.  Oh and this version doesn't include cream - it should be called Avocado Cream Sauce (to bad slashed text doesn't work in headers). Here is the run down:

Ingredients:

• A ripe avocado
• A ripe slimcado (pictured above - if you can't find it at the store, substitute another avocado)
• A bunch of basil
• Lemon
• Garlic
• Olive Oil
• Salt + Pepper

Directions:

Chop up two cloves of garlic (more or less depending on your tastebuds), and half your avocados/remove the pits.  Throw these ingredients into a blender along with a bunch of basil, meaning anywhere from 15-30 leaves.  Don't worry about removing the stems.  Squeeze half your lemon in the blender and add the salt + pepper.  Next you'll want to add in olive oil - go easy at first, and add in more as you go if needed.  Hit the go/start/blend button until the ingredients reach a saucy consistency.

I love topping ribboned zucchini with this sauce, but know that I need to please Adam too so I add in the hearty noodles as well.  This dish is perfect for late Summer/early Fall since avocados and zucchinis are perfectly ripe. Enjoy!

Family Recipe: Cinnamon Rolls

When 'family recipe' precedes a dish name you know it must be good.  Good as in everyone who has tried a bite over the years wants the recipe.  So good that one of my friends whose family is in the restaurant business wants the recipe and is willing to share their family's famous recipe in exchange.  So here it is, the Scovell/Mueller family recipe for our special occasion breakfast favorite: Cinnamon Rolls.  Thank you, Aunt Mindy, for introducing us to this delicious-ness!

These sweet rolls should be featured on Sandra Lee semi-homemade if that show still exists - that's how easy this recipe is to complete.  Warning though, if you are the type of cook that can't stomach seeing large amounts of butter or sugar added to a dish, than just forward the recipe onto someone else so they can make them and you can blissfully eat these without knowing the details.  I too am the same way but refuse to let it ruin this sweet treat.  Must also explain my lack, and as a result, poor baking skills.  I'm always trying to substitute non-fat greek yogurt for butter, oil, cream, etc.  Never turns out well for baked goods.

Ahem, getting back to the recipe - here is the key to putting loved ones into sugar and food coma:

Ingredients:

• 2 tubes Pillsbury crescent roll dough
• 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 6 T. unsalted butter, softened (use Shatto butter if you're in KC)
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar
• 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
• Milk

Directions:

Pop those tubes open and unroll the sheets of dough.  Gently spread each sheet out so you end up with eight rectangles total.  

Mix the sugar, butter, cinnamon and nutmeg up in a KitchenAid mixer until it is creamy.  Spread each rectangle with the mix and roll the dough up lengthwise starting with the shorter side (if they are pretty even, you can roll from either end).

Take some cling wrap and roll each up like the above picture.  Chill these in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or better yet, make these the night before you are going to have these for breakfast.  That way they get hard in the refrigerator overnight.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Cut each roll into six equal slices - start by cutting in the middle then out.  Place the slices close together in a lightly greased 9x13 inch pan.  If they don't fill the pan you can always fold a piece of foil and tuck it against the last row of rolls to keep them from spreading.  Bake for 20-30 minutes until the rolls are lightly toasted on top.

When the rolls are almost done, mix up the icing by combining the powdered sugar and vanilla.  Then slowly add a few splashes of milk until the icing has a spreadable consistency.  Pour over the warm rolls.

Yum!  Thanks again to Aunt Mindy!  Life would be a lot less sweet without these rolls.  The pictures I took for this post are just over a month old - last time I made these was the Saturday before my brother Jakey went to college.  Definitely a special occasion.  Miss him so much and can't wait to see him in a few weeks!

Do{ula} what? 'Due Date' Recommendations for Parents-to-Be

We always thought that the birth of our first child would be intimate.  Intimate meaning if our child could remember who was in the room in those first moments, it would likely just be us, the medical staff, and a relative or two.  That's why halfway through our pregnancy the suggestion of a Doula must have equated to desperation for support during labor through the eyes of my husband, which couldn't be further from the truth.

I will admit when we first found out we were pregnant flashes of my husband Adam on business calls during my labor were #1 in the nightmare column.  You see my husband loves his job.  And with that the following comes to mind: hard worker, impactful, perseverance, character, accomplished and most importantly, dedicated to building a meaningful legacy and life for our family.  That is why asking him to weigh in on having a person we barely knew by our side during such an intimate time was tough.  In the end though he was mature enough to realize child labor isn't his strong suit and quite frankly, researching it wouldn't be the best use of his time.  Would he be by my side to hold my hand and tell me he loved me?  Yes.  Would he know all the details and steps that take place pre-baby arrival?  No.  And that was how we wanted it.  Hiring our Doula, Vanessa Hamilton-Flood, was hands down the best decision we made regarding our birth plan and here's why:

Babies, like all humans, have a mind of their own.  The way and time they enter this world is partially up to you as the mother, but for the most part, their journey is just as great of a miracle as them.  Having Vanessa a phone call away during the weeks leading up to Hudson's arrival was comforting.  Having her by our side during 20+ hours of labor was a godsend (includes all the time spent walking the halls of the hospital to each push and everything in between).

Our Doula remained calm and upbeat the entire time and with each nurse/doctor labor checkup she was an incredible advocate.  Even if we didn't understand the conversation exchange, she quickly broke it down into laymen terms afterwards.  Her demeanor and knowledge were crucial to our success when the doctors believed we needed a C-Section.  Without her by my side I would have likely had a panic attack followed by a C-Section, which by the way, was not a part of the birth plan.  Thankfully she kept me calm and hopeful which worked to our advantage moments before the potential surgery when the nurse realized we made incredible progress and could have the baby naturally.

Taking a step back - most of our friends who knew we hired a Doula thought it was a bit of a hippie move on our part.  My response to that is mixed but overall think a better description of it is educated.  We wanted an informed birth experience. From here on out if we are blessed with more children we want Vanessa by our side for each of their arrivals.  The price we paid was the best money we've spent so far regarding 'baby products', even though it was more of an experience than product.  Think of it as the first investment in your child's life.  If its still too pricey what about having people chip in for the service as a baby shower gift?  I promise you won't regret it, especially if you live in Kansas City and can hire Vanessa. :)  You can check out her story on her story + website, Birthing Beyond.

Oh and for the record my mother and sister (Lindsey) were in the delivery room with us.  My stepdad Mark came by before driving my brother's college stuff to TX (a side story), and my brother Jake and mother-in-law spent some time in the room during labor.  Having our family there was also an amazing and partially spontaneous decision. While the family thing its not right for everyone, it was a perfect way to transition into parenthood and the greatest way to welcome our little miracle.

Other trivial recommendations for the looming Due Date/suggestions for your hospital bag include:

• Mama Stuff: a Pretty Pushers hospital gown which is a nice alternative to the oversized hospital gowns; a few nursing tanks - Bun and Cantloop are two favorites I found on Zulily; a comfy robe, yoga pants and quite possibly most important for breastfeeding mama's - some lanolin  nipple cream - I had Earth Mama and Medela handy.
• Baby Clothing: a few baby pj gown options - think sizes rather than style + gown for easy diaper changes (you never know how big, or tiny in our case, your baby will be)
• Essentials - shampoo, body wash, toothbrush, etc
• Hair stuff - hairbrush, no-dent hair ties and workout headband

The hospital will likely provide everything else.  I'll be posting a summary in the coming weeks of what I had handy post-delivery when we got home - all of which were key to a successful recovery AND helped Adam avoid some confusing/embarrassing drugstore purchases.

Also I must note the above post is obviously my opinion.  I know pregnancy and birth are touchy subjects and most people jump at the chance to let their opinion and ways known the moment a woman announces her pregnancy.  That is not my intention.  Additionally, for those of you wondering, I have been typing most of my post-pregnancy blog posts with baby Hudson laying on me.  Newborns sleep a lot and mine loves snoozing on me during the day.  I absolutely love our time together when he does but find I can't get much done besides stare at him (would do this all day if I could stay awake), read a book, watch TV, or write a blog post during these newborn naps.

Here is what we've looked like for the past twenty minutes. Our lovely post-morning walk with Mimi (my mom/Hudson's grandma) look.  Super model with a super tired baby, I know. Real beauty ignores the lack of make-up, desperate need for a shower, and bad habits like biting one's lip, right? :) I'm a real mom and am really proud of the learning experience/journey I am on.  Loving all the hiccups, smiles and cries along the way.

Almost forgot to show a few favorite photos of our first hours and days in the hospital.  After just a couple hours of sleep and a dentist appointment, my sister Lindsey was back at the hospital loving on Hudson and taking beautiful photos of him.  Thank you, Lindsey, we will cherish all the photos forever.  Oh and Hudson loves his Auntie Linds!

Cooking with Baby: Summer Salad + {Extra} Sweet Fruit

Priorities have changed at The Blake Home, starting with dinner.  Gone are the days when I can go to the store and pick up a few ingredients on a whim for the perfectly made up in my mind recipe.  Likewise, the time to create such dishes is nonexistent.  The solution?  Well, we are working through it.

Last night was the first time I had one of my girlfriends over for dinner since Hudson's arrival.  Given it was a weekday, there was no one to pass my semi-fussy "I want to be attached to my mom" baby off to during dinner prep (nor during dinner, but that is another story).  What is a mom to do?  Throw on that handy baby carrier wrap and simplify the recipe.

So here is my Grilled Peaches + Chicken Summer Salad along with dessert: chocolate covered grapes.  I'll give you the real recipe for those of you who have ten extra minutes and a dedicated set of hands.  For those with babies just check out the few pictures I was able to snap of last night's version, you'll get the idea pretty quickly.

Grilled Peaches + Chicken Summer Salad: served over a bed of fresh arugula with (preferably) toasted walnut encrusted goat cheese and tossed in a doctored up Champagne Vinaigrette.  *My peaches are pictured pre-grilled.

Chocolate covered Grapes, with a side of Baby Hudson :)  Such an easy and sweet dessert - rinse + dry your favorite grapes and coat them in some melted dark chocolate.  Let them sit in refrigerator to harden at least 15 minutes.

Salad Ingredients:

• Chicken breasts (halved) - one breast per two servings
• Peaches (best late summer) - one per two servings
• Walnuts - half a cup
• Goat Cheese - 4 ounces
• Arugula or Arugula/Spinach Blend
• Jalapeno
• Scallions
• Champagne Vinaigrette Dressing
• Lemons - 2
• Honey
• Sparkling Water
• Sweet White Wine
• Balsamic Vinegar 
• Salt and Pepper

Salad Directions:

Marinate your chicken and peaches a few hours a head of time to ensure the flavors really shine:

Chicken marinate - freshly chopped scallions and jalapeno, mixed with a squeeze of lemon juice, a about half a cup each of Riesling wine, sparkling water, and champagne vinaigrette. Feel free to add in a few slices of peaches too.  Go light on the salt since the lemon juice already adds tartness, and crank that pepper mill based on your preference.

Peaches marinate - you won't need much of anything since the peaches should already be sweet + juicy, but add a dash of the following to your sliced peaches: white wine, local honey (the local part is suppose to help with fighting allergies), and sparkling water. When slicing the peaches I find its best to half them and then slice them lengthwise, aka avoid having them look like orange wedges.  I am sure those soccer mom slicing days are in my future, but for now, I prefer thin flat slices which helps the food presentation.

Don't forget to toast those crushed walnuts (a step I missed last night), followed by rolling a log of goat cheese in them.  Set this in the refrigerator for at least a few hours before dinner to let it harden.  When it is time to serve, slice it up in about 1/4 inch increments.

Next up its time to grill!  Since it is super hot in KC and because I had a baby strapped to the front of me, I opted for grilling both main ingredients on the stove top in a grill pan.  Heat that guy up and throw your chicken on for about 10 minutes turning once.  It should be hot enough to leave the same grill marks you would get outdoors, if not, turn up the heat.  When in doubt, cut the meat in the middle to test doneness.  The chicken can be made about 30 minutes before serving.  This allows time for cooling and to let the flavors set longer.  When you pull it from the pan, just cover with foil and slice before serving.

The peaches are next - put these in the same pan once your company arrives.  You will want to play with the heat, carefully balancing to get the char marks while avoiding a soggy mess.  I suggest medium high for a few minutes, turning once.

My amped up non-baby wearing version of the dressing is: Champagne Vinaigrette dressing mixed with freshly squeezed lemon, a dash of balsamic vinegar, honey, sparkling water, and pepper.   Stir up these ingredients and taste a bit so you can adjust the sour/sweetness with honey or lemon until you find the perfect balance. If you can't find the Vinaigrette at the store mix together olive oil, sugar and a bit of sweet wine.  Baby version is simply the store bought Champagne Vinaigrette dressing, total bummer.

All ingredients are ready to top a bed of arugula, or for those leery of arugula's bite, try a blend of spinach and arugula.  Viola!  You've got yourself a delicious and decadently sweet summer salad, along with a sweet + tart dessert. My baby Hudson was much like the dessert - sweet on the eyes yet oh so tart (aka fussy).  Oh well.  He will be a month tomorrow and is still as cute as ever even while crying while mom is trying to catch up with a friend from out of town. :)  Gotta love life's little miracles, understanding friends, and simplified recipes.