Taking the reigns from my high school aquaintence turned bloggette friend Kendall while she enjoys some time with her brand new (and edibly cute) baby girl Ellie Virgina! Pop on over to Pearls to Pampers today as I shared some thoughts from a few weeks ago on simply, what else, being pregnant ;)
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Last August, when I heard news that Abby had her little gal Leighton, it was the first time in my life I was struck with such an intense desire to start our own family. Even if unintentional, her simply being a part of the world and making Abby a mama was one of her most powerful actions as a newborn....Meeting L just 6 weeks later and cuddling with her seemed to make it even that much more real.
This past Wednesday, another baby girl joined us all in a speedy delivery (yay for her KCS!) and had me wanting to fly to Jacksonville in an instant. Collins Grace Simonetta, from the moment I heard your mama's voice the morning after your arrival, I knew you hit many hearts at once. You had me crying just hearing about your snuggles & button nose & chubby cheeks & effortless cuteness. You make me ancy to meet my own daughter more than I ever imagined possible! Thanks for posing for your Mom's iPhone camera an exorbitant number of times already. If I cant be there physically, I am a pretty demanding auntie expecting no fewer than 5 photos a day of your darling face :) I hope you understand. You is kind... You is smart... You is important... Sometimes by Sunday morning, I begin mourning the wknd coming to an end. But a recipe like this can reset it all:). All for now, time to enjoy + cheering on an old aquaintence Evie in the Olympics!
"Best Ever BlueBerry Muffins" *they had me at a streusal topping* Streusel Topping 3 T white sugar 3 T brown sugar 1/3 cup flour 5 T melted butter Muffins 2 cups (or less if you are me!) fresh blueberries, picked over 1 1/8 cups plus 1 teaspoon sugar 1 tablespoon water 2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon table salt 2 large eggs 4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly ¼ cup vegetable oil 1 cup buttermilk 2 teaspoons vanilla extract If topping with lemon sugar, stir together sugar and lemon zest in small bowl until combined; set aside. If topping the muffins with streusel, combine ingredients until it is the size of peas and set aside. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 425 degrees. If your oven cooks on the hot side normally, reduce the heat. Some people have commented that 425 was too hot. I would recommend getting a thermometer for your oven if you aren't sure. Prepare standard muffin tins with nonstick cooking spray or liners. Bring 1 cup blueberries, water, and 1 teaspoon sugar to simmer in small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, mashing the berries with your potato masher or fork several times and stirring frequently, until berries have broken down and mixture is thickened and reduced by about half. This will take about 6 minutes. Transfer to small bowl and cool to room temperature, 10 to 15 minutes. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in large bowl. Whisk remaining sugar and eggs together in medium bowl until thick and well combined. Slowly mix in butter and oil until combined. Whisk in buttermilk and vanilla. Using rubber spatula, fold egg mixture and remaining cup blueberries into flour mixture until just moistened. (Batter will be very lumpy with few spots of dry flour; do not over mix.) Using a cookie scoop or large spoon, divide batter equally among prepared muffin cups (batter should completely fill cups and mound slightly). Spoon teaspoon of cooked berry mixture into center of each mound of batter. Using chopstick or skewer, gently swirl berry filling into batter using figure-eight motion. Sprinkle lemon sugar or streusel evenly over muffins. Bake until muffin tops are golden and just firm, 17 to 19 minutes. Cool muffins in muffin tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack and cool 5 minutes before serving. Thanks Pap & Gramma Kernion (*name in progress;) for the edible arrangement in honor of the news of baby girl! Feeling the love!
One thing is for certain...
I sometimes feel like I'm "16 & Pregnant" as a preggo in the UWS. Being with child under 30 seems to push me into the minority. (If there was ever an example of women delaying childrearing and being pregnant later on in life, my neighborhood is it.) So prenatal yoga: *The breathing and concious movement has been a welcomed release for me. *The same mats and airy studio feels homey and warm. *The slew of pregnant women creates an immediate sense of community. *Feels kindof like wussy yoga though. *I'm craving more than the stretching and delicate movements. *Kegals are great. *Is this really doing anything? But at the end, my favorite mantra. One that should resonate in us all and that I wished for this baby girl... "May you feel safe. May you be healthy. May you be loved. May you feel peace." I'm sitting at home tonight. The rain and crazy storm clouds lighting up 72nd Street from our bedroom window. I'm sure at any moment a siren will go off. Normal sounds of city living. I think often about how this baby girl of ours will be so conditioned to these noises, unphased by the craziness of urban life.
20 (and a half!) weeks down, and we are over the hump of this pregnancy. Since the 3rd wknd in May, we havent had a Fri-Sat-Sun to spare to ourselves. Weddings, travels with famliy (& to family), beach trips, moving, visitors, out of town dinner parties...the iCal was bursting...*is* bursting at the seams. Some weeks better than others, the ones where painters and handymen (who still cost an arm & a leg and arent reliable) are not on the welcomed. The ones where our evening plans are matched with homemade dinners and a few hours of us time at night are received thankfully. I know, life is only going to get crazier. We're on that bus. I get it. We chose it. But the stripping down to the essentials of what makes this home of ours & us function best on all cylinders is when we take a step back and regroup. In the next few weeks, all I'm hoping for is a settling in. Simplicity. The exciting baby girl news on Monday left us in a spattering of feelings, mostly with just the reality that this little one is more an individual and less a floating gummy bear inside of me (8/9/10wk ultrasound= said chewy candy looking baby for any preggo, really.) The top of the rollercoaster has been conquered and the momentum we're gaining here makes me anxious. She is a SHE now(!!!) What she needs is a calm mama to be and it's amazing how much more aware I am of my own actions with her onboard. Evening rambings put me at ease :) GIRL!!
Sweet Baby M is a precious little lady!! I just knew it;) We spent the evening calling friends and relatives and soaking in the happy news. Everything feels so real now, so absolutely certain that this lovie was meant to be, and meant to be ours. The moments surrounding us opening the envelope and finding out the news will forever be some of my most cherished memories with Lee. What a father he is going to make...(gush). Excited...nervous...anxious for what's to come... Blonde pigtails and bows fill my dreams tonight! You are so very loved already baby girl. XOXO Baby M gender reveal tomorrow!
First real kicks felt on Saturday night...absolutely amazing and unforgettable moment:) Ahhhhh! Make this immediately! Clearly, it's been a fast favorite. Admission: Lee has had one slice. I've eaten the rest. No judging. |
AuthorSarah: one part of a family of THREE with my husband Lee and sweet girl Morgan, simply wanting to chronicle the path I'm on and the path that will come to be. For now it's NYC urban mamaville where everyday is a new adventure! (Actually, just getting to the post office is an adventure.) Ask Me Anything!Blogettes I LoveJoey & The Owl
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August 2015
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