Bakin' Friends!!

So, I'm posting my first ever Bakin' Friends post! It is basically a pen pal set-up group through the blog Steph's Bite by Bite that allows strangers to trust other strangers to bake yummy treats for each other. Fun, huh?

This month's "secret ingredient" was pretzels. I made my pal some deLISH Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cookies (with pretzels on top). It was a recipe I adapted from the New York Times Chocolate Chip Cookie. The real secret to making the best cookies is to refrigerate them for a good 2 hours. so the dough is super chilled. (i just learned this) So here is the yummy goodness that I created for Zainab (my Bakin' buddy). Her blog is here. She's awesome. and a GREAT BAKER!! I hope I can get as interesting and creative and artsy as she is with her recipes. PLUS, she is a neuroscience phd student and knows about the good ol' Read Montague! Small small world eh?

My baking buddy sent me some Chocolate Covered Pretzel Peanut Butter Bites. She used the recipe from Sally's Baking Addiction. Here is a pic of the little treats. Thanks, Desiree!

The lovely recipe can be found here.

Such is my life. Sweets, sweets, and more sweets. If you want to learn more about Bakin' Friends, you can read more here!
And just because I am obsessed with sweets AND my kiddos, here's a pic of the nugs. =)

Happy Weekend!

Enjoying my blessings

Life isn't so bad looking at these faces all day...

"ting, ah-siiiide?"= "swing, outside?"

Baby Nate is cooing and singing and smiling these days. Every stage is still so amazing to me. 

Thank you, Jesus for the miracle of life and child-rearing. I think I can better understand how you see us now that I'm a mama. One minute Georgia's throwing a fit on the floor and the next she is running into mama's arms for hugs and kisses. You will always be here to give us hugs and kisses even after our tantrums. What grace. 

What's Bakin'?

So, I have been WAYY too obsessed with sweets lately. 

and by lately, I mean the last 11 months. No, I have not lost my pregnancy cravings one bit. So, naturally, I must satisfy them!

Some of the most recent creations have been

S'mores Brownie Bars

(the trick here is BROIL on LOW for 2 min to get the perfect marshmallowy top)

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars

(I could eat 10/day. Good think I'm breastfeeding...)

 "Bakery" style Chocolate chip cookies

(still trying to find my fave choc chip cookie recipe)

the one I most recently used called for more brown sugar than white sugar, which makes for an extra chewy and browner cookie. YUM!

 Cinnamon Chip Scones (these are to DIE for!!! So good. but make sure your baking soda is up to date otherwise they won't rise like they need to....I made that mistake!)

 Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes with PB Buttercream Icing!!

(these speak for themselves. I seriously don't think I've had a better cupcake.)

Ok, so OBVIOUSLY I stole some of these photos from the Internet because I forgot to take beautiful pics of my creations, but you can probably surmise that chocolate has been a consistent theme of craving as of late! I also got to make scratch blueberry muffins and a blueberry lemon coffee cake that was DEE-vine. My favorite blog to steal recipes from is My Baking Addiction but I have been trying to branch out. It's hard. 

Suffice it to say I love sweets. And I just went to the dentist for the first time in.....um, maybe 2 years? and guess what they found? yes, 4 (count 'em, F-O-U-R!!!) CAVITIES! bah!! When you are on MassHealth and have zero dental coverage, it's not so funny. 

The convo upon looking at my x-rays went something like this:

Dentist: "So, do you drink a lot of sugary drinks?"

Me: "No, I drink mainly water because I'm breastfeeding"

Dentist: "Hm. do you like sugary hard candies?"

Me: "Not in particular. Maybe it's all the cough drops I ate while I was pregnant? They soothed my nausea for some reason"

............yeah. but I didn't tell her about the pictures above. Who even cares HOW I got cavities, right? They fact is they are THERE. and they cost a buttload to fix. Boo. 

In the meantime, I'm going to bake my sorrows away.....

p.s. I just joined a baking group called "Bakin' Friends" and I will be posting about it once a month!! 

Nathanael's Birth Story, part 2

So, where were we?

I rushed home from CVS, antibiotics in hand. On the way home I called my friend Melissa who was my on-call person to take Georgia whenever I would go into labor. This was it! She was at the mall with her kiddos, so she rushed back to meet me at our apartment. I got home to be greeted with stares from my mom and Broun as if to say "ok, now what, captain?" ...at least from what I could discern, that's the read I got on their faces. I decided I wanted to take a shower to freshen up before making my debut at the hospital. Also, I just wanted to ensure a stay at the hospital without getting sent home due to false labor!

I thought I would die from my contractions in the shower, or have a baby, but neither happened. We all proceeded to gather things for our unpacked hospital bag, and potential 3 night stay. Oh, and Georgia's overnight bag for Melissa's!...finally, we head out the door.

At this point my contractions are about 2 minutes apart, and .....breathtaking. Literally. We rolled the windows down for some summer breeze and sped to Beverly Hospital. Mom and Broun we texting and making calls while I was concentrating on breathing. It was a beautiful, sunny, 75 degree afternoon as we made our way into the hospital parking garage. By the time I actually walked in the hospital doors, I was certain I would have a baby pretty soon because of how intense and frequent my contractions were.

4:30pm we checked into the L&D floor and they quickly escorted us to the largest delivery room in the hospital. Much to my excitement, we were the only people in Beverly, MA going into labor at 4:30pm on June 3! (by "we" I mean "I").

I got to the room, after stopping to have a contraction, and begged (again) to wear a nursing cami while I labored/delivered. Sure! They didn't seem to mind at all! The nurse came to check me once I was sitting with the doppler on my belly and I was at a 5. I felt great when I wasn't contracting :). The nurse was SO sweet, and would rub my back and legs to comfort me every time I had a contraction. My sweet husband turned the fan on in my direction and fed me cough drops and ice. What a gem.

So, we were all settled in and watching LiarLiar, and I decided I wanted an epidural. This was around 5:15pm. 2HOURS LATER, the anesthesiologist FINALLY showed up. Apparently the OR needed him more than I did. Try to explain that to a pregnant lady writhing in pain. It's 7ish, and the doc puts in the IV for the epidural. Nothing happens. I lie on one side, nothing happens. I turn to the other side. Still, no relief. Really, I was just thinking what a waste of a huge hole in my spine it was.

I clenched hands around the bed rails every 2 minutes for an hour or so while my contractions got more painful. Sometime during that hour, the midwife came and broke my water. In the meantime, National Lampoons European family vacation was entertaining me, my mom, and Broun. For some reason, I enjoyed the comic relief/distraction from contraction pain. So, I progressed to an 8 at around 8pm, and we had called the doc back in to see what the deal was with my non-helpful epidural. Literally at the moment the doctor stepped in, I was feeling tingling run down my back to my legs. It's working!!! My epidural, which I think was really just the pure grace of God intervening, worked from 8cm-9.5cm, basically the most difficult part of labor, called transition. Thank you, Lord. 

Then, it shut off again completely. Oddly, though, I felt completely at peace. I wasn't afraid of my contractions or the thought of pushing out a baby and being able to feel it. I knew how the pain would feel (given the last 4 hours), and my body was created to do this! I really wish I had embraced the pain a little earlier in the process, but glad that i was able to embrace it at the end. At this point, it was about 9:30pm, and almost time to push. 

Finally, around 10pm, I started feeling the baby's head push down further and further. I called the midwife in to check me and she excitedly said, "yes! He's right there and coming out! You can push at your next contraction." so, a contraction came, and I pushed. Broun called out something like oh wow! I can see his head! Come on, you got this! The midwife told me to reach down and touch his head...I knew I would regret it if I didn't, so I reached down and felt his little head as he was about to enter the world. (TMI? Sorry I'm not sorry. ) 

About three pushes later, and ten minutes, out came baby Nathanael Charles Stacy!! She put him on my chest immediately and I fell in love all. Over. Again. Praise Jesus for sweet new life and birth. It truly is an amazing thing to partake in creation with our Lord. Think about it. What a privilege and pure joy! At 10:11pm, He was a perfect, healthy, beautiful 8 lb, 11oz and 21.5 inches long. We are so so grateful to God for letting him join our family. 

Overjoyed to have our son. ,

Nathanael's Birth Story! Part 1

Here we are again, 17 months later, celebrating the arrival of another child into the Stacy family! This time, it's a HE!!

And again, I thought my child would be here way too early because I just "felt" ready. Alas, God had a perfect plan...and here it is.

Baby Nate was due on June 5, 2013. My mom came on June 1. On Monday, June 3, my mom, Georgia, and I went out to Target to fetch some needed items. Then, they waited in the car while I went to the doctor because I had a major sinus infection and cough that had lasted over 20 days, and I wanted some relief/assurance that my newborn wouldn't contract my awful disease. So, the doctor prescribed an antibiotic to kick out whatever lingering bug was in my system. We drove home after the doc and put G down for her nap. On the way home I felt a few short crampy contractions that basically were dull like period cramps. I thought nothing of it...mainly because 3 days prior I had painful contractions for 8 hours straight that were about 8 min apart. Then, suddenly they vanished. Completely.

Side note*** I was 100% NOT going to cry wolf and go to the hospital until I was 100% sure that a baby would come out of me, simply because I have heard and read too many stories where the mama gets sent home to wait it out longer. So, I thought, I'll just stay home as long as I can.

Back to Monday. Georgia is napping and we are putting things away, cleaning, and making lunch. It's about 1:30 at this point. Mom made some BBQ chicken pizza, and I was eager to grab a slice until I had another contraction. This one was slightly more painful, and lasted about 45 seconds, so I decided to forgo the pizza and opt for some plain ol' crackers and cheese. Eventually, the contractions started seeming more and more frequent and more and more painful. Maybe it was time that I timed them?

So, for the next hour, without letting my mom or Broun know (he was in the library studying all day) I timed my contractions. Mom was resting in our bed and chatting on the phone with a friend when I came in to put laundry away...it had been an hour. I nonchalantly mouthed to her "we might be going to the hospital today". She quickly wrapped up her tele convo and said "whaatttt! Are you sure?" I said, "well, the 5-1-1 rule says if you have contractions that are 5 minutes apart, last for a minute each, and go on for at least an hour then it's probably time to go to the hospital. And mine are between 4-7 min apart, 1 min long, for the last hour and 15.....buuuttt I don't think we should go yet. I'm not convinced that this is the real thing. Plus, I need to go to CVS to pick up my prescription. "

Mom cooly said okay and let me go to CVS. It was 3:15 at this point. On the way to CVS (about 7 minute drive) I had 3 pretty horrible contractions, one of which I thought to myself "I should probably pull over before I crash but I really just want to get to CVS, so nah."

As I got to CVS I decided it would be a good idea to at least text my husband to let him know what was going on. I told him he may want to go finish packing his hospital bag just in case. So, I went inside CVS and, per usual, my prescription wasn't ready because there were 10 other geriatrics in line in front of me. Wait, I'm not a geriatric!...I digress. I patiently waited in a cushy chair off to the side. Soon, another contraction happened. Breathe. It subsided and I got up to stand in line. Mayyybe one (1) full minute passed and I felt another contraction coming on! So soon?!? What is this, a baby? This one was the worst one yet, and I crossed my legs as I stood there, thinking either a baby is going to slide out or my water is going to break. I looked around for the bathroom trying not to make an awful expression on my face. It was my turn at the counter, and I had to make a quick decision to either rush to the bathroom or stay and get my antibiotic. Naturally, I put on my focus face and calmly and collectedly got my prescription. That's when I decided it was the day to go to the hospital.

On the third day of Christmas my true Love gave to me...

OK, Katy K. You inspired me [by your hilarious rendition of Piper's entry into the world] to remember Georgia's debut... on a blog post, as well. Thank you.

Please disregard the fact that this post is 5 months postpartum. And way too long.

December 27, 2011- the day before.

So, back around 36, 37, & 38 weeks pregnant*, my doctor measured my "fundal height" (basically, the growing belly). Her first assessment at 36 weeks was "oh you're lucky baby's going to be small, maybe 6 to 7 lb!" (helped by an ultrasound measuring Georgia at 33% of her gestational age). Her next guess at 37 weeks was "hm, she's probably going to be average size, in the 7lb range." And finally, giving up at 38 weeks, said "OK this baby is going to be a big one." AKA I have no idea what's going on until baby actually comes out.

*If you've seen any of the large marge pics from previous posts you are well aware that the human growing inside my belly seemed quite sizable. Ultrasound was a little off that day.*

All that to say, Dr. didn't want me going past my due date provided that my child was going to be Large, per her educated guess. SO, at my 38 week appointment, I reluctantly scheduled an induction (on the promise that I could cancel it at any time) on December 28, my due date.

Two weeks passed, and no baby. I was sure this child would have been here before Christmas, and maybe even earlier....a possible sprint out of the classroom while giving my final exam...who knows. I was way wrong.

I tried to change the induction date twice to no avail. "No doctor from our practice is on call that day at the hospital. And I'm only on call on Wednesdays." My thought: AHHHHHHH!

Alas, after walking 3 miles/day for 2 weeks, eating Torchy's tacos and queso, and trying to do that other thing that supposedly helps babies start contracting their way out....I was just sore. full. and baby-less.

I signed the "induction paper" promising that I wouldn't consume anything but water, sugar-free jello, and Gatorade past midnight the night before Dec 28. This was to insure that I wouldn't sue anyone in the case that everything went wrong and I ended up with an emergency C-section, and after being given anesthesia I throw up AND aspirate/choke on it/die. Talk about jumping from A to Z. Wait, what was I talking about? Oh yeah, induction. So I starved myself that night waiting for a phone call at 4am. (slash, i was only STARVING in the middle of the night when I should have been sleeping because I wasn't allowed to eat anything. duh.)

I can't sleep, and am nervous out of my mind. I've never had a baby before!! So many things are about to change!!! No phone call at 4am. I called at 5am. They told me they were super busy and to call back around 9:30am if I hadn't heard from them by then. No call, again. I call back. This time, if I don't hear from them by 11am, they will reschedule me for another day. At 10:23am I get a call from a nurse who asks if I can get there within 15 minutes. OF COURSE I CAN! and of course we haven't even finished packing a bag by the due date, nor were even out of our pajamas.

We literally sprint around the loft throwing clothes around, grabbing everything that looks baby-ish, and leave the place in shambles.

I'm soooooo nervous. So, when we get out of the car at the hospital, I walk in and automatically start gagging. What? Why? I have no clue. Never happened to me before now. Also never had a baby before now. It was pretty awkward because the man at the welcome desk said, "Uh, ma'am, the bathroom is THAT way!" I don't throw up. I regain my "composure" and we go up to L&D floor to check in and get a room.

11:40ish: I get in the room, and they get all monitors strapped around me. I get checked, and I'm at a 4 (I was at a 3 and 80% effaced for 2 weeks with no change). Apparently, after watching the monitors for about 30 min, I'm having regular contractions that are 2 1/2 min apart. Cool, I'm already in labor and I don't feel it.

12:15pm: Pitocin is started to get the contractions going strong/steady. AKA induction.

Significant time passes and I still don't feel any pain. People in and out visiting.
Then, they decide it's time to break my water.

2:00ishpm: breakage of waters. weirdest thing in the WORLD.

sometime about an hour later I decide two things: 1. I'm in pain now. 2. I should probably try to poop before this whole thing goes down.

3:30ishpm: I stop talking to Broun during my contractions and think it's about time for an epidural. I get checked again after the epidural and I'm at a 5-6. slow go.

Then, a mixture of things happened; DVDs, nausea, anti-nausea medicine, side stitch, more epidural after asking for some Tylenol (somehow they are synonyms when you're in labor...), going completely paralyzed from the waist down, and begging them to shut off my epidural completely (some time around 7pm).

I felt so out of control with a paralyzed body that I didn't know what to do with myself. I told the doctor this and anyone else who has asked about my experience that you could have cut off my legs with a butter knife and I wouldn't have felt a thing. There was no way to even think  my legs into submission to move from right to left. I couldn't even wiggle a toe!! Worst sensation/non-sensation ever.

It took about 10-15 minutes of begging to persuade my doctor into shutting off all anesthesia. Success.

8pm: I'm at a 10. Ready to rock and roll. Speaking of rock and roll: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles was playing in the background.

8:05pm-8:25pm: Push time!

Talk about being nervous. Everything got real to me at this point. All this waiting, medicine, rules, restrictions, etc. and finally FINALLY this human that has been growing inside me for nearly 10 months, who was once a speck smaller than my eye can see, is going to make her appearance in a matter of minutes. All I could think about was A) was she healthy and was her heartbeat not too slow or too fast and B) push effectively. figure out how to freaking bear down so A) can happen.


8:25pm: Georgia Bella Stacy is born!! 8lb 13oz, 20 3/4 in. She was perfect and pink. =)

First family pic.  December 28, 2011

and 5 months later:

The Countdown begins...

So, you've begun to realize the frequency with which I post a blog. And the content. Feel free to not read. Yay for pregnancy! and Baby Georgia!

 

 

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 31 weeks tomorrow (which means 8 months next week)

Size of baby: Baby G (georgia) is about 16 long and should be about 3.5 pounds (the BabyCenter website compared my baby to the size of Britney Spears' yorkie dog. hmm)

Total Weight Gain:HOLY COW.

Maternity Clothes:yyyyep. trying not to buy anything for the next 1.5-2 months. i mean, really.

Gender:Baby G(irl)!!!! cannot wait to meet her already.

Movement: definitely a lot. i thought Braxton Hicks contractions were her pressing against me really hard, but nope. my belly contracts alot and turns into a rock. that's called Braxton Hicks.

Sleep: Sleeping well!! especially with a body pillow. Thank the Lord for those. 

What I miss: working out...

Cravings: um nothing really. most things have to squeeze into my squished stomach and then just normally produce indigestion/acid reflux/heartburn because of limited space. but all food is very appealing.

Symptoms: pumpkin belly
Best Moment this week: forgetting everything always. but still remembering that i get to meet her in just a little while! wooooot!!

 

Beware the bare-belly pics! It's getting ginormous. Third trimester sets in!

 

26 weeks

below is 27 weeks

below is 29.5 weeks

below is last week 30 weeks