First Trimester Recap

Now that I am only a couple of weeks away from being in my third trimester (say what?!?!), I thought it would be nice to capture my first trimester in the blog. Pregnancy has been such a whirlwind of experiences and emotions and I know that being able to look back on these posts will be invaluable in the years to come. 

First things first, yes we were trying. Sorry if that is TMI for some of you. However you would not believe how many people have asked us that question. Chase and I have wanted to be parents from day one. Babies and parenthood have been topics of conversation many times over during the later part of our dating journey, our engagement, and the beginning of our marriage. The thing is, life doesn't always match your dreams. Between graduate school, student loans, and pure baby biology (conception is a complicated thing if you didn't know), baby smith took a bit longer to make its arrival than we anticipated. But what joy it was when we finally found out that we were going to be parents!!!!! 

How I Found Out

Honestly I was just feeling a bit off. I was still within the window of Mother Nature arriving, but something just felt different. Chase kept telling me to just take a test if I wanted to, but in the past I had been disappointed and I just didn't want to ride that emotional roller coaster anymore. So we set a date. If we made it to such and such date and I was still feeling off and there were no signs of not being pregnant, I would take the test. Too bad I am impatient. Chase went away for 2 days (just 2 days!) for work and all I could think about was that test. And so I woke up the morning after he left and just took it. The test said it would take 3 minutes before it told me the result. That darn test showed a VERY strong positive after 45 seconds (yes I was timing it). Needless to say I was overcome with joy. I jumped up and down and cried and then laughed and then just sat on my bed in wondrous disbelief. A normal day in the middle of July turned into a very special one. We were finally pregnant! 

How I Told Chase

Sooo...like I said above Chase was out of town for work. I always thought I would be the kind of wife who surprised her husband creatively when she found out that she was pregnant. But all of those ideas flew out the window as soon as I found out that we were pregnant. I wanted him to be as excited as I was. This had been such a long journey for us and I just couldn't wait a minute longer. I called him and woke him up at 5:15 in the morning by FaceTiming him. He was so confused as to why I was calling so early and why I was talking so fast. I basically told him to wake up and get ready for something really important. And then I showed him the test. And we laughed and rejoiced and celebrated together. It was a beautiful moment and I wouldn't have done anything differently looking back on it. 

How We Told Our Family 

We waited until after our first OB appointment to tell our family. So basically we waited about 5 weeks to tell them and it was torture. We actually went to the beach with my family for a week and kept silent about it, and met with Chase's parents a couple of different times and kept our mouths shut somehow. At our OB appointment we found out that baby was doing great so far, that there was just one baby (thank you Lord), and that I was 7 weeks along instead of 9 like we thought (thank you again complicated conception rules and timelines). We got some cute pictures that just looked like black and white blobs (but the cutest blob you ever did see!). And then we ran to Target and bought some tiny little onesies. We went home to our families the next day and gave each of our parents a present with this in it. 

Chase's parents thought we were showing them a picture of Chase's brother's child's ultrasound. They were expecting their first child in August at that time. But just a few seconds later they realized that it was OUR ultrasound and they were so excited. They were going to have two grandchildren within 7 months of each other and to them that was just the best news ever. When we told my parents my dad opened the gift because we told him it was an early birthday present (his birthday was a couple of weeks away). He opened the box and then shut it closed really fast and then just kept saying "really?" over and over again with a huge smile on his face. Mom had to pry the box out of his hands so she could open it. When she saw it she was thrilled and we all hugged and chatted about babies and such. It was BEAUTIFUL! 

We waited until we were 12 weeks along to make our news about pregnancy public. I know that there are mixed reviews about this, but for us that was the best choice. I was emotional throughout the entire first trimester about possibly having a miscarriage. I know people who have walked through that and I also know that it is quite common. I also knew that we had been wanting to be parents for so long and that losing a baby would be devastating to us, and that having to walk through that publicly would just be too much emotionally for both of us at this point in our lives. And so we waited. And then when 12 weeks hit we exploded with joy as we told our friends far and wide. Luna was even excited to share the news. 

First Trimester Highs & Lows 

Exhaustion: It hit me HARD. I felt like I was walking through quicksand at all times of the day. I would come home from work and basically eat dinner and go straight to bed. On the weekends I would take 2-3 hour naps multiple times a day. Poor Chase held down the house all by himself for weeks. I am so grateful for him. He kept me hydrated and checked in on me and just made sure I felt loved even though I felt like a hot mess. 

Morning Sickness: Thankfully this was not a symptom I had to deal with very much. I threw up about 3 times the entire first trimester. And luckily I was only at work for one of those events. I am so  thankful that it wasn't as worse as it could have been. I did find that eating very bland foods really helped with my tummy and I basically stuck to bagels and eggs and mashed potatoes for a while. 

Breakouts: I have never had a real problem with acne. But as soon as I got pregnant my face just began to break out randomly. It has been an experience and some days I feel like I am going through puberty when it comes to my acne. 

Hearing & Seeing Baby: One of the best parts about the first trimester was being able to see our little peanut (twice!) and getting to hear its heartbeat strong and loud on the doppler at our 10 week OB appointment. It made my mommy heart breathe a sigh of relief each time. 

Cravings: During the first trimester I craved carbs and starches. Potatoes in any form, toast, bagels, Bojangles biscuits. I also had some food aversions. Breakfast sausage just made me gag (and I normally love it). Also, Chase made a roast in the croc pot one evening. It looked beautiful. As soon as he opened the lid and the smell hit my nose I had to run out of the room. I felt so bad. Chase had to eat pot roast for days because I wouldn't touch it. 

Emotions: The first trimester was filled with ups and downs of emotions. I was constantly worried about miscarrying the baby and anxious about being a good mom. However more than anything I was overcome with joy and excitement at the realization that Chase and I were parents. That we now were going to be able to raise a sweet and precious child of our own. 

Relief: When the first trimester came to an end I felt immense relief. We had made it! And thankfully symptoms were starting to ease up (more about that in the second trimester post).

 

We are so incredibly excited about this next new adventure! We love you so much little one!!! 

B-A-N-A-N-A-S

Whenever I need to spell the word or eat a banana I can't help but sing that song in my head. I know you know which one I am talking about (the edited version of course!). "This stuff is bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S!" Thank you Gwen Stefani for helping me always spell fruits correctly. I digress. 

Chase and I love to eat bananas. They are the perfect fruit to throw in a lunch box or take to a soccer game on the weekends. They can easily be made into pancakes or smoothies. We always seem to have them on hand in the house. Every now and then though we buy too many and they begin to get too ripe for our taste before they can be eaten. I'm too frugal to just toss them in the trash, so more times than not I end up making good old fashion Banana Bread! 

You can find the link to the recipe that I use here. I normally double this recipe and it gives me two loaves of bread. I keep one out to eat and I freeze the other loaf to eat down the road or to take to a family function when we are in a pinch to make something. 

I made a few loaves of banana bread a couple of weeks back and thought that I would document it and show y'all how I go about things. I absolutely love to bake when I can find the free time to do it. My waistline is thankful that I am busy these days, but my taste buds are always wishing for me to spend some extra time in the kitchen. 

Find yourself some lovely overripe bananas. The definition of overripe is different for everyone. For me, when the bananas begin to turn black on the outside they are no longer acceptable to be eaten. 

Then cream your butter and sugar together. I thank God on a weekly basis for my Kitchen Aid mixer. And also for butter and sugar. 

Then just add in your eggs and mix until smooth. 

In another bowl mix together the milk, spices, and bananas (I sang that song in my head again just now)! 

Potato mashers are not just for potatoes. They come in handy to mash and mix any soft foods (hello bananas and avocados). 

In your last bowl mix together all of the dry ingredients. 

Then just alternate mixing in the wet and dry bowls until your batter is fully combined. Easy Peasy lemon squeezy. You could also add nuts at this point to your batter. On this particular day I was supposed to add walnuts to the loaves I was making. Chase even went out and bought them especially  for this occasion. Needless to say I completely forgot them until the bread was in the oven and almost completely done baking. Whoops. Thankfully my husband is the forgiving type and we found other uses for the walnuts.

Just pour your batter into bread pans and bake away! 

Once the loaves are done baking you can enjoy them right away. Or let them cool and freeze them up to six months. Yum Yum Yum!


Baking always brings me back to my roots and reminds who I am and what I was created to be. Baking takes normal ingredients and turns them into something divine and special. Its kind of like life. We are all just a bunch of normal human beings doing our own individual thing in this big wide world. But when we can come together and spend time mixing and forming intentionally, something divine and special happens. We as a group of people can be more than ourselves. We can change the world for the better and make a positive impact. Whether your strengths are leading large groups of people or (like me) baking goodies and sharing them with those in your community, you are making a difference. Always make time for the good things in life. You never know when a passing smile or a shared meal will change the way a person sees humanity. You've got this!

P.S.
Thanks for letting me share not only my love for baking but also my love for community and hospitality. I am so thankful to be able to be a domestic diva as well as a female minister and also an independent woman.

What are your favorite ways of sharing love and hospitality with those around you and your community? I would love to hear your stories.

-S&C

Porches

All of my childhood houses growing up had porches. Either front or back or both. And they were always big and sprawling. Some had a hot tub connected to them, while others wrapped around 2 or three sides of the house and had more rocking chairs than inhabitants. No matter what they looked like though, to me they were a safe haven. There are many pictures of me on my childhood porches. I am either swinging in the porch swing, or roasting marshmallows, or helping mom water the flowers. 

Tiny Sara enjoying the porch swing 

To me (and many in the south) the porch is where life happens. And so when I moved away from my childhood homes and went to college, and then to grad school, my porches disappeared. I tried to copy them by renting apartments with balconies. "I will spent all of my time out there on that balcony" I would tell myself. It never happened. Not only was there never enough space to fit more than two people on them, they just felt cold and uninviting no matter how they were decorated. I needed a real porch. 

And so after nearly 7 years of apartment living, Chase and I finally were married and had saved up enough money to buy a home together. My three requests were 1) A fenced in yard for Luna, 2) Counter space so I could bake, and 3) A porch. I originally thought that I wanted a front porch with rocking chairs. However, as fate would have it the house that we fell in love with just has a stoop. But boy does it have a back porch. It is reminiscent of my childhood. It has space for many and is shaded on one side during the hottest part of the day. 

When we saw the porch for the first time it had a canopy on one side. The sellers left us that canopy, but it was in bad shape. After a couple of hard storms, the canvas ripped to shreds and we were left with just a metal frame. The paint was also beginning to peel in many places. 

The porch the first time we saw our house 

So last September Chase and I began the porch makeover. We spent too many hours to count painting it a new rich brown color (after having to return a pink can of paint that somehow ended up in our buggy!). We found a new canvas canopy and my parents let us buy a fire pit at a discounted price from their store (score!). We then were able to buy patio furniture that was unassembled and on sale in the dead of winter at Lowes (but maybe we should have splurged on already assembled furniture because that process was a bit crazy). When the spring weather came around we were able to complete our porch with pillows and a new grill cover. 

New coat of paint and a new table and chairs 

A new canopy with a fire pit

Eddison bulbs (my favorite!)

My favorite "room" of the house 

Eight months later and the porch is finally finished, just in time for warm days and cool evenings. As I type this blog I am sitting under the canopy enjoying the view after working a 12 hour shift at the hospital yesterday. 

Luna loves the porch too! 

I am incredibly thankful for this space of solitude and peace in an otherwise hectic life. I can just imagine all of the memories that will be made on this porch. All of the family gatherings that we will have. All of the meals that will be eaten at the table. The many fires that will warm our cold hands and feet after a long day. And hopefully down the line maybe some small feet will be able to christen this porch of ours. Whatever this life may bring us, I am glad that porches are a thing. So next time you get the chance, put your feet up and stay a while. Trust me, you won't regret that decision. 

New Year, New...?

Resolutions are not my thing.

I can never keep them and they add a whole new dimension of stress to my life.

So this year I decided to focus on goals for 2017. I see 2017 as a year for striving towards wholeness. What can I do in my day to day life that will not only make me a better person, the but the world around me a better place? What are simple actions I can remind myself each week of that will allow me to grow as a woman, a minister, a wife, and most importantly a child of God? What are goals that I can set for myself that will not set me on a path of failure and heartbreak, but instead set me on a path of growth and love?

I have six goals for myself this year. Not resolutions, goals. Not stressful "must do's", but instead encouraging "do because you love them" actions.

1) Blog Intentionally 
Blogs are a guilty pleasure of mine. I love reading them, and I love having one of my own. Moving into this new year I want to focus more on my own blog. It has been neglected, and in a way my lack of blogging has correlated with a neglect of my own creative self. So now I shall blog more intentionally. Who knows where it will lead. Hopefully it will be an inspiration to other bloggers and readers to continually do what they love. To find joy in the simple things. To be your true self even in the midst of a not so true social media world.

2) Give More 
I must make a confession. I don't give as much as I should. Chase and I have worked so hard the past couple of years to build our marriage and lives, that giving back hasn't been on our to do list. But we know that it should of been. This year I want to spend more time giving of my time and talents than taking from others. Whether it is by sharing our home and hospitality with others or by giving time to non-profit organizations, it is important to put others before yourself.

3) Forgive More 
Is is bad that I need to make another confession? Well here it is anyway. I am also bad forgiving people. When my week at work as been incredibly long, or my on-call shift at the hospital was crazy, or if I am hungry, or sleepy I can be less than forgiving. My poor husband has had to put up with my mood swings for many years now, and for that he deserves an award. I want to focus on being more humble when I am not feeling my best. I am incredibly blessed. I don't have it all, but I have all that I need. I have been forgiven way too many times to count, so it is important that I also go out of my way to forgive others as well.

4) Drink Water and Take Steps 
Health and fitness resolutions have always been my least favorite. I hesitated to make a goal for myself revolve around health and fitness. However I realized that having basic healthy attitudes towards food and your body is important to also having healthy relationships with the world around you. I bought a fitbit a while back. I wore it for a while and really enjoyed it. One day the battery died and I never recharged it. Its time to recharge and reset. I know that when I drink enough water and walk around 5-6 miles a day I feel on top of my game. So why not strive to do that regularly? I don't want this to turn into an obsession, but I do want this to eventually turn into a lifestyle that is healthy and happy.

5) Marriage Investment 
Marriage takes work. Marriage takes time. Marriage takes investment. And so as Chase and I go into year two of our marriage (and nearly 9 years of relationship together) our focus is on one another. We want to talk the time to make sure that we are spiritually and emotionally at our best. This means intentional quiet times together, regular date nights, and having real life chats with one another about what is on our hearts. I love my husband, and I know that he loves me. Investment in marriage now, means rewards and returns years down the road.

6) Turn Off TV 
Lastly, I want this year to be more adventurous. I want to turn the TV off in the house and go outside, put together puzzles, have conversation, do projects, go exploring in my city, and make good food. I want to take the time recognize the real world around me instead of the created world on the TV in front of me. Who knows where this could lead us.

I am optimistic about 2017. I know that these goals may not be met all of the time. I understand that progress is slow, and not meant to be instant.

 I also know that I am a child of God, and that I am covered in grace. My life is in front of me and I am ready to go for it. I just have to take it one day at a time.

So what do you think? What are some of your goals for 2017?

-S&C