Down for the Count

I'm blogging to you today straight from my bed. We had such a great weekend, but I woke up today feeling "off". I thought maybe it was just morning sickness, but now I have a fever to boot. I can't stand fevers. Yesterday we took Blake to the Children's Museum over in San Luis Obispo, CA. It was a wonderful day, but I am wondering if maybe I picked up this bug from there. Thankfully, Blake does not have it and neither does Chad. My fever has been low grade but has me uncontrollably shivering to sweating out every pore. I despise going to the ER, so I'm going to keep an eye on this "thing" with Tylenol until I can hopefully get into my doctor in the morning. How often we take good health for granted! Can't wait to be back to my normal self! I may now have a fear of Children's Museums too. Who knows though. I thankfully have my hubby here taking real good care of us all. Hope to be back to blogging about happier subjects soon......

TGIF!

Gotta love Friday! Whether it's been a great week, an awful week, a zipped right by or moved as-slow-as-can-be week.....I think almost everyone welcomes Friday. I actually managed to pull out of that slump I was referring to on Wednesday. I really got some stuff done around here. I found that under the gigantic stack of clean clothes in our laundry room there was a counter. Who knew?!:) Yes, you can now see a clean counter top. I must admit the majority of this was done by my wonderful husband. He knew it was bugging me and I just couldn't seem to get it under control. So he stepped in and, wham, we can now not be afraid of the laundry room again! Thanks honey! He literally lightened the load that was weighing down my spirits.

Anyways, it is funny how things can have a snowball of an effect. In this case, it's a good snowball effect. Just having that done is motivation to keep it done. Each load is going away promptly and I'm hoping to stay on top of it. Also, I managed to put away all of my daughter's clothes that no longer fit! This one I did all myself! A year's worth of clothes neatly organized and put into storage. Awesome! Did my "big buy" at the grocery store yesterday and cleaned out the fridge. We are now full of good unexpired food and set for some healthy meals up ahead. Speaking of healthier meals, I am trying to kick a bad craving for every night ice cream. So I whipped up this bowl of pears, strawberries, and blackberries and still had fun with the chocolate syrup. It's gotta be better for me than a big old bowl of ice cream, right? Right? Well, it was delish and like I said... I'm kicking the every night ice cream habit. ;)

I don't mean to sound all "look at me", but I'm proud of getting some things done around here. I'm hoping to keep knocking down that to-do list, and I must admit it feels better than just thinking about it. Whatever your week was like, it's over, so here's to a great weekend everyone!!!:)

PREGNANCY 101: How to Grow a Human (2nd Trimester)

Hi there! We are back at it this week! Meet Kristi, Stacia, and Tasha. We are all pregnant bloggers, friends from high school, and have due dates just trimesters apart. We are also moms to toddler girls, which means we aren’t exactly new to this whole song and dance. In this special pregnancy series, we would like to take you on a three trimester journey of our pregnancies written from each of our points of view at our current trimester.

 Are you curious about what goes on during the second trimester? Every pregnancy is different for every woman...and every woman can have different pregnancies herself. So today Kristi, who writes Whine & Cheez, is going to give you a glimpse as to what’s in store. She is 17 weeks pregnant (2nd trimester).

*************************************************

Second Try at the Second Tri

Bagel with cream cheese.
Pancakes.
Pasta Salad.
Medium Pizza.
Orange Chicken.
Chicken Lo Mein.
Moose Tracks Ice Cream.

That’s what I ate today. Yep. Just another food filled day in the increasingly tight shoes of a pregnant-gal. And sadly, this is a somewhat light day in the food department.

That’s right. I just hit my 17th week of pregnancy today-- which means Baby Boy Gilbert is now the size of an onion -- a mere onion -- which hardly explains why I am already sporting a beer belly that now hangs over my elastic pants. Blasphemy.

During my first pregnancy (with Ava) I LOVED being pregnant. I floated around, all happy, full of energy, glistening with that “pregnancy glow” that everyone talks about. It was wonderful. I didn’t show until 20 weeks and I managed to gain just 26 lbs throughout the entire pregnancy. To top it all off, I had absolutely zero issues with morning sickness, fatigue, etc.

Not this time around, pal!

At 12 weeks, you could already see the beginning of the Buddha. Also, I’ve not only experienced nausea, but I’ve been sick -- violently sick (I will leave it at that and spare you the graphic details). And my complexion?! Let’s just say that I could be a “Before” picture for a Proactiv advertisement. Hell, even my dreams have become super wacky!

Yep, it’s completely different this time around. Perhaps it’s because I’m having a BOY! That’s right! The ultrasound confirmed the gender at just 12 weeks -- and let me tell you, my husband felt an overwhelming sense of pride about the size of our son’s genitalia, already appearing on ultrasound at such an early age. Boys -- Ay ay ay! He says that “obviously it’s hereditary”. Um. ok...?

The new addition to our family, brings not only excitement, but also concern. Ava has reached the age of 21 months, which means she is in the thick of her terrible twos; I have concerns for her reaction to this change: Will she act out? Will she react with jealous behavior and lash out at the baby? Will she digress so I will baby her, too?

At times, she can be a walking advertisement for birth control: She won’t sit still for dinner anymore. She refuses to sit in the cart while shopping. She rarely listens to directions. I seriously feel like almost everything has become a battle. She is still darling as can be, don’t get me wrong -- she is just deciding what she does and does not want to do now -- which creates it’s own set of headaches -- and requires a ton of patience -- something I’m working on -- reeeeeeally working on.

I ask her if she is excited to be a big sister and we get both answers. I don’t think she will fully realize the magnitude of this change until it is here. For one, she’ll be losing her playroom because its will soon become the new nursery. And as for another change, there will be another child to share her Mommy & Daddy -- something that will definitely shock her. “What do you mean I have to wait?!”

And she’s not the only one who will experience a major adjustment with the addition to our family. I, for one, am scared stiff. I’m scared of changing the dynamic of our family; just when we get into a good groove, something changes. I’m also scared of getting the dreadful postpartum depression again. I’m scared that with two kids, I will most definitely be losing my identity. How do people keep it together? I fear I will turn into a recluse, afraid to leave the house for fear of not knowing how.

I sometimes think about that show with the Duggar family. That lady has been had like 70 kids. Bitches be crazy. She has been pregnant for nearly two decades. Can you imagine being sober for that long?! I would open a vein. I have enough trouble going the first 20 weeks without having a glass of wine!

Now that I’m over the hump of the morning sickness and fatigue, I look forward to enjoying the fun part of the pregnancy, which comes with the second trimester: planning the nursery, dreaming of what our baby will look like, and having an occasional glass of wine (keep your opinions where they belong -- to yourself!).

Having said that, we couldn’t be more thrilled with the expansion of our family. I’m sure there are struggles and celebrations to come, with this addition, and we welcome them with open arms. I am lucky to say that I have been blessed with all I ever wanted and that I could not ask for more. I hope this little bugger is ready for the ride of his life!

As my sister said during her wedding toast to me and my husband, “As a family grows in number, it grows in strength”. Here’s to having an even stronger bond within our family, and even more love under the roof of our home.

**********************************

To see more of Kristi's posts, hop on over to Whine & Cheez. There you can see how this hilarious pregnant mom keeps the order in her beautiful home with her hubby Ken, daughter, Ava, and two labrador retrievers, Biscuit & Willy.

Then stay tuned next week as Stacia will continue with our series! Her blog, Dried on Milk, is always a good read as well. She tells it like it is, and has a real knack for creativity whether it's making it all work as a full-time working mom or informing on a new ways to go green. Yes, Stacia will be pulling up the rear with the final installment of... dun dun DUUUUUN!!... the 3rd trimester!! So hang on to your uteruses ladies this is going to be fun!

P.S. All three of our blogs (Whine& Cheez, Dried on Milk, and Daily Cup of T) have their own Facebook pages! So if you'd like to keep up with any of us, just hit "like" and we'll see you on your news feed! Thanks everyone for reading and letting us share this time in our lives with you all!:)

A New Start

Okay, it's a new month! It doesn't make today much different than yesterday, but I am starting out on a new mission and a new set of challenges for myself. We are now 12 weeks pregnant. Plenty of time until our December due date for baby#2, but I have got some changes to make. I need to get it together. To re-charge. To fine-tune my routines and ways of getting things done. Maybe everyone with a small child feels always behind in something, but lately I have been feeling overwhelmed with everything I am not getting done.

Some of it is me being hard on myself. Some of it is just a mix of procrastination and pure laziness. I can open the same junk drawer a million times, and then be annoyed by it a million times. I have a never ending cycle of laundry that I just need to catch up with, and keep up with. I need a better system. I looked into www.flylady.com (an on-line tool for keeping up with housework) and it looks great. My list is going beyond housework though. It's new recipes that I need. It's better photo-book keeping. It's an exercise routine. I'd like to read more for myself. On and on and on. You may be thinking "join the club" or you know some great secret that I do not. Either way, I saw this quote on Positively Positive the other day and it spoke to me....

"If you really want to do something, you'll find a way. If you don't, you'll find an excuse." - Jim Rohn

Brilliant and so simple, isn't it? My problems are small in the big scope of life. I need a change though. I want to kick some bad habits (like being a clutter-bug) to the curb. I really want to have it together by the time I have two children to take care of. Will I become perfect? No way. Will someone or some article tell me how to get there? Probably not. Starting today though, I am going to start somewhere and just get things done. The first of the month sounds like a good place to start. I don't have a set plan, but I am declaring that I'm starting a work-in-progress plan of action, and I'll let you all know how it goes. Maybe I'll discover something worth sharing or at least a laugh or two. Gotta go for now! Hope you all have a great start to your month too!

Daily Mom Report!

Isn't it amazing how much information is out there these days when it comes to, well everything and, especially parenting? We are really fortunate to have so much right at our fingertips. Whether it's browsing parenting websites, getting weekly email updates, having something catch our eye on Facebook or Twitter...it's all out there. I can't tell you how many times I have wondered something and went straight to google. If it is of real importance, of course I get it from the doctor eventually, but google usually gets me first. So many answers or suggestions right there for the taking 24/7. I know our parents' generations find it all a little comical because "back when we were younger, they didn't have all that ______." Funny to hear, yet true as well. I have heard before that this current generation of parents worries more than any other due to all that info out there swirling about.


However, we all know that knowledge is power. Most of us can sift through what needs our attention and what might just be food for thought. This day and age has also taught us not to believe everything you read, and also how to consider the source. Well, I have a GREAT new news source for you all to check out! www.dailymomreport.com. This site does a great job of combining the latest parenting articles out there and provides them all on one site. You can pick and choose what applies or appeals to you. It's all up-to-date daily and throughout the day. Plus, I know one its creators, and she is a fabulous mother herself and one of my closest of friends. I am not just being biased though! Her site is awesome! You can also find Daily Mom Report on Facebook and Twitter. I really love this because I catch it on my news feed. I don't even have to look for it, it just comes to me. So whether you're a news hound or just a browser, if you are a parent, you will benefit from checking this out! Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!


Happy Memorial Day Weekend Everyone!
Oh, and a shout out to my little sis who is turning (gulp) 30 today! Happy Birthday Lindsay! I only gulp because that means I am moving further away from 30 myself. Think I'll go look around on Daily Mom Report for the latest article on how parents in their 30's still have the most fabulous years ahead them. I'm sure it's out there! We're all only getting better with age, right? It's the way of the world!:)

(Update: Daily Mom Report was listed as one of the Top 100 Websites for Women in 2011 by Forbes Magazine!!!!  Congrats to them!!!!!)

PREGNANCY 101: How to Grow a Human (1st Trimester)

Hello there! We are mixing it up a little today here at Daily Cup of T! I'd like you to meet Tasha (that's me), Kristi, and Stacia. We are all pregnant bloggers, friends from high school, and have due dates just trimesters apart. We are also moms to toddler girls, which means we aren’t exactly new to this whole song and dance. In this special pregnancy series, we would like to take you on a three trimester journey of our pregnancies written from each of our points of view at our current trimester.

Are you curious about what goes on during the first trimester? Every pregnancy is different for every woman, but I am going to give you a glimpse as to what’s been in store for the 1st trimester. Today I am guest posting over at Stacia’s blog, Dried On Milk. Please check it out!:)

Next week, Kristi will continue our trimester series with a post on the 2nd Trimester. Until then though, feel free to pop on over to check out her blog, Whine & Cheez. You can see how this hilarious pregnant mom keeps the order in her beautiful home with her hubby Ken, daughter Ava, and their two Labrador retrievers, Biscuit & Willy. She is full of ideas for the mom on the go, and often leaves me feeling inspired myself with either a new recipe or a new venture in life.

Stacia will then bring up the rear with what it’s like to experience the 3rd trimester. When you read my post today, you should stick around on her site and check out some of her posts too. She is also very entertaining and humorous. I have enjoyed following her daily stories of her life with her hubby J, their daughter Ava, and their beloved cat. She tells it like it is, and has a real knack for creativity whether it's making it all work as a full-time working mom or informing on a new ways to go green.

Well, I hope you all enjoy our little special pregnancy series....... PREGNANCY 101: How to Grow a Human. :)

Strawberry Goodness

I recently saw this recipe on SmittenKitchen.com. I could not look away. Needless to say, I can't get it out of my mind. Once Blake is awake from her afternoon snooze, I think we are going to have to hit up the local strawberry stand nearby. It looks delish!

*********************************************************************************

Strawberry Summer Cake from smittenkitchen.com
Adapted, only slightly, from Martha Stewart

The recipe recommends using barley flour, but I don't think it is necessary. On Smitten Kitchen, they point out most of us associate whole grain flours with heartiness and heaviness, but they say this is neither — it’s silky and delicate, like the best cake flour you’ve ever bought, and it has a subtle creamy, nuttiness to it should go fantastic with berries. Again, they say this cake works like a dream with 100% all-purpose flour, but if you’ve got barley flour around, swapping it in for half the volume is recommended.

Also, it was noted that the batter itself could go with 2 tablespoons less sugar (i.e. 7/8 cup sugar instead of a whole one). If that’s sounds good to you too, why not go for it...or that is, go without it. Leave the sugar on top. It can then contribute to the berries turning into jam.

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus extra for pie plate
1 1/2 cups (188 grams) all-purpose flour (can swap 3/4 cup with 3/4 cup or 75 grams of barley flour, see Note)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1 cup (200 grams) plus 2 tablespoons (25 grams) granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup (118 ml) milk
1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
1 pound (450 grams) strawberries, hulled and halved

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 10-inch pie pan or 9-inch deep-dish pie pan (what I used). They noted they did not test this with a standard 9-inch pie plate but looking at the margin of space leftover in the deep-dish pan after baking the cake, they suspected you’d be safe. This cake would also work in a 9- or 10-inch springform or cake pan. The 10-inch would make a thinner cake than pictured.

Whisk flour or flours, baking powder and salt together in a small bowl. In a larger bowl, beat butter and 1 cup sugar until pale and fluffy with an electric mixer, about 3 minutes. Mix in egg, milk and vanilla until just combined. Add dry mixture gradually, mixing until just smooth.

Pour into prepared pie plate. Arrange strawberries, cut side down, on top of batter, as closely as possible in a single layer (might have to overlap a few to get them all in). Sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons sugar over berries.

Bake cake for 10 minutes then reduce oven temperature to 325°F and bake cake until golden brown and a tester comes out free of wet batter, about 50 minutes to 60 minutes. (Gooey strawberries on the tester are a given.) Let cool in pan on a rack. Cut into wedges. Serve with lightly whipped cream.

FYI if you to prepare it in advance: Cake can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days, loosely covered, but good luck with that!

**********************************************************************************

I'll let you know if it is as good as it looks! Happy Wednesday everyone!