A Nerd Like Me

Dear Baby

I’ve been writing these offline since I found out I was pregnant. Thought I would share them with you and continue to post as the urge hits me.

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12.11.11

Dear Baby,

We’ve been trying to make you a reality for four months. So this week, when I finally saw two pink lines instead of one, I was jumping up and down for joy…and then I sat down because I pulled a muscle. I’m overwhelmed and excited. You, our little sweet pea, are the only thing on my mind right now. Holding a conversation is difficult, because the only thing I want to scream is, “I’M PREGNANT!” But of course I can’t do that. Not yet.

Your dad is in denial. I don’t think he’ll believe you’re in there until he hears your heart beat or sees your picture. And that’s okay. We all process things differently, little one, and you are definitely something to process.

I don’t feel you yet. No morning sickness, no kicks. But I know you’re there, bonding with me already. I can’t wait to go through this journey with you.

Love,

Mom

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12.23.2011

Dear Baby,

Your dad and the rest of our family are so happy you are on the way! I can just imagine how spoiled rotten you will be. We finally spilled the beans a couple of nights ago, after we found out that your dad has to have surgery before Christmas and we will be staying home for the holiday. We knew telling our loved ones would be the best early Christmas present ever! Some screamed, some cried, some didn’t even believe me, but I assured them all that you are safe, secure and completely loved.

While you are only the size of a blueberry right now, I feel the effects of you all over. I’m tired and cranky and have never been so bloated in all my life. I’m still not sick but the thought of certain foods are really throwing me for a loop. It’s possible that I now hate avocados…that can’t be right. I really, really HOPE that’s not right.

Merry Christmas, little one. I hope you enjoy the food and the fun.

Love,

Mom

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1.25.2012

Dear Baby,

We finally saw you a couple of weeks ago! You looked like a tiny little blob, but you wouldn’t stop dancing and doing aerobics. I’m a little worried that you’re going to be just as hyper as me. Please be like your dad instead. Seriously.

Since we saw you, you’ve grown quite a bit. You are already the size of a lime and getting bigger by the minute. I don’t feel you dancing, but I feel you in other not-so-awesome ways. But it’s cool. I’ll get through this for you.

You should see how much I’ve been reading! I’m already working really hard to get ready for you, but I’m also scared out of my mind. See, you’ll learn this about me someday but I’m an obsessive planner. I need to be ready for anything and everything in advance. But I’m starting to realize that no matter how many books I read or items I register for, I’m not going to be completely ready for you. Ever. I’m going to have to learn to take it one day at a time and roll with the proverbial punches. Is it possible that you will be the one to finally teach me patience?

Let’s chat on my 29^th birthday. It’s coming up and I’m so happy you’ll be with me as I celebrate!

Love,

Mom

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2.18.2012

Dear Baby,

My 29^th birthday was a couple of weeks ago, which means that I am officially the age I will be when I meet you. I feel really old, like I may not be able to keep up, so take it easy on me, k?

I have a gut feeling that you are a girl. That you will wear cute little cardigans and dresses and let me braid your hair and paint your nails. I’ve already picked out the most adorable bathing suit for you if you are, in fact, a little lady. You will definitely need one because we live 45 minutes from the beach and will be going there all the time. Your dad and I love being outside, enjoying nature. We can’t wait for you to explore the world with us.

We find out what clothes to buy in just a few short weeks. Until then, surprise me with a kick or two please. I can’t wait to feel you!

Love,

Mom

—–

3.04.2012

Dear Baby,

It’s a beautiful sunny day and I’ve been sitting outside, reading my beloved books and enjoying the sunshine. Sitting outside got me thinking about you and our future together. There are so many things we can’t wait to do with you. So many wonders of this world that we want to show you.

We want to take you to Disney World. We want to camp in the Grand Canyon with you. We want to introduce you to the best music and movies ever made, which were way before our time and yours. We want to wake you up at five in the morning to surprise you with homemade pancakes and a day trip to the beach. We want you to be there with us when we spend an entire Sunday in bed watching tv, or outside reading in the sunshine.

Our lives will forever be yours. We will always be there for you, and we hope that you will always want to be there with us.

Love,

Mom

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Vegan Banana Bread

You should know that the only credit I deserve for this post is for the picture I took…and possibly for the fact that I have so much energy that I am actually enjoying baking again.

Jim and Ravyn were amazing enough to hook me up with the recipe, which you can find here.

Dude. You must. Make. This. It doesn’t even have to be vegan. You can use regular milk if that’s what you have on hand. There are no eggs, egg replacers or crazy weird typical vegan ingredients in this bread – just wholesome goodness. Make it. Enjoy it. Then don’t shut up about it and you can be just like me!

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Update on Drew

Joe Cain Day, Mardi Gras 2012

Remember when I posted about Drew’s disease and the big lifestyle changes we were making because of it? I’m here to give you an update. Since that post, we’ve learned quite a bit about homocystinuria. We went to see a geneticist who told us that there are many different forms of it, but that the most common form, which he thinks Drew has, responds well to vitamin therapy. That means that going completely vegan wouldn’t really be necessary.

While we love being quazi-vegetarians (I know there’s a real word for it but I always forget it), being vegan is difficult, to say the least. We’ve done well in some areas: switched to almond milk, coconut milk creamer and soy yogurt. But those fake cheeses? Not so much. Absolutely disgusting. We also like to eat meat every now and then – usually once or twice a week. I’m pretty sure we would stay on this same path if he does need only vitamin therapy, because there are so many other reasons to not trust dairy made in the US. I’ve even switched to European cheeses to escape from the awful growth hormones in American dairy, but that has absolutely nothing to do with Drew’s condition.

The next step is a genetic analysis to determine exactly which type of homocytinuria Drew has – that’s being done right now. From there, we will see a metabolic specialist that can help us with vitamin and diet therapy (which hopefully means another great trip to New Orleans!).

Drew’s eye is doing well for now. He will need another surgery in the coming months, but we’ll take it one step at a time.

As for the baby, we aren’t doing any kind of prenatal testing to determine if he/she has it. The geneticist and my girly doctor (I’m sorry, but I can’t say or type that other word) are both pretty confident that I’m not a carrier, since nobody on either side of my family has any symptoms of homocystinuria. The only way for our kid to have this is if I’m a carrier. Otherwise, they will all be carriers and need to be educated. Homocystinuria is also one of the 20+ diseases/problems they test for at birth, so I’m certain that we will catch it in time if Baby Davis isn’t so lucky.

So there you have it! I’m really beginning to enjoy baking vegan goodies, whether it is necessary or not. It just feels good for some reason.

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A Note to Joy

Once upon a time, I was a newlywed with a new teaching career and a new-found love for baking. I would bake anything and everything. I even started a blog about it because I wanted to share with the baking community, get feedback, make new friends. Enter Joy the Baker, my first blog friend. I wrote to her when I first started out. She gave me advice. I gave her my grandmother’s cookbook. She made my grandmother’s famous buttermilk pie.

Now, 4 years later, while I’m slowly trying to get back into baking something special every now and then, I still treasure every word Joy writes, every delicious parcel of food she creates. I was so very excited to receive a special gift from her in the mail – her brand new, first published cookbook!

Joy, this part is especially for you…

Thank you for taking the time to chat with me 4 years ago. Thank you for being a friend. Thank you for sending me something so special to you. Know that it is incredibly special to me too. Look, I’ve already dog-eared like EVERY page! I can’t wait to get in the kitchen and start baking these yummy things. You said you would get me to bake again…I guess you win!

Love,

Ev

P.S. Are we gonna make this Jazz Fest thing happen or what? I may know a man with an available apartment…just need a date. I hope we finally get to meet soon!

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Cure for the Rainy Days

Tee: Old Navy (very old) // Red Skinnies: Gap Outlet // Leopard Flats: Target

It’s been raining every day for the past week. It feels like Seattle, only not nearly as awesome. I’m sure when the sun comes out I’ll be looking for Mt. Rainier to grace me with her beautiful presence… I wish.

My only cure are these red pants. And homemade vegetable soup. And chocolate. Okay, so there’s more than one cure, but they are all equally amazing. These pants? They embarrass The Hubs, which makes them even more amazing.

You can’t tell due to the contrast in this picture, but I’m really showing now. The belly has popped and it is still unbelievable when I look down. Maybe the next outfit will show it off. Until then, the countdown to “Does It Have a Penis Day” is on. March 16th, people. Now taking bets. All proceeds will go to the nursery fund.

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Boy or Girl?

Really, the title of this post should be “Does it have a penis?” but I thought that might get too many spammers’ attention.

We find out in just a few short weeks whether Baby Davis is a boy or a girl, and while I would much prefer this fetus to have a penis so that I can add another gentleman to the world (they are so few and far between), I am willing to bet money that it’s a girl. Why? Well, every Chinese chart, old wives tale and silly online quiz points to it. The heart rate points to a girl. Even my heart skips a beat when I think of our little girl. And it’s the girl name Drew and I can never quite agree on, which means it just has to be a girl. To top if all off, I keep referring to this little one as a she. Great.

This may all be rubbish. I may look at the ultrasound monitor and see a penis and scream out loud with joy…or I may see the lack of a penis and vow to never let my little girl go on a date (while also screaming out loud with joy, of course). It’s that simple, people.

Now, if only The Hubs would understand that you can’t learn everything you need to know about childbirth by watching the Cosby Show…

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The Midi :: Your Thoughts

Tee: Gap // Skirt: Dorothy Perkins // Pumps: Pierre Dumas via Shoe Station

Why yes, that IS a shameless baby bump pic. But who cares about that, because the point of this post is for your opinion on this skirt. So many lovely ladies can style the midi just right, but is it right for me? I kinda think I need to get it hemmed a few inches so that it falls just below my knees, then wear it with a striped tank top and some flat sandals. What are you thinking?

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Someday

Someday, The Hubs and I will finally find the right time to make a huge, brave leap and move to a new, amazing city. And if that city happens to be Seattle, I hope to spend my days and nights with Alida, saving the fine citizens of Capitol Hill. Case in point: Wonder Woman, Tequila and the Time We Saved Lives.

Someday, I will finally meet Joy the Baker, my first ever blog buddy. I will take her to a cheese shop and buy her a New Orlean’s daiquiri and she will convince me to get in the kitchen and bake again. We will talk about boys and cheese and cake. It will be beautiful. I may even call her Joy the Baker in real life. Is that weird? Oh, and she will bring me these, because I’m pregnant and will beat her up if she doesn’t: Mini Pretzel Dogs.

Someday, I will be more than just a gopher at work. I will actually write again. I miss writing so much. I miss thinking like a kid and writing science programs that make little ones want to be the next Bill Nye.

Someday, I will have either a little girl who wears this adorable outfit to the beach:

swimsuit, straw hat

Or a little boy who is totally stylin’ in this ensemble:

plaid shirt, sweater, jeans

My kid is gonna be so much cooler that me.

But all of that happens in the future. My only goal today is to catch the taco truck and gain some weight. Thanks to a stomach virus, I don’t look the slightest bit pregnant anymore and today is the day that I change that!

Until the future, HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY!

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This is what 2011 looked like.

It happened. I actually completed my New Year’s resolution from last year and video-documented 2011 through our eyes. Now I have this amazing video to remind me of my favorite year yet. The year I became a kid again at Disney. The year I fell even more in love with my husband when he told me he wanted to have a baby. The year I saw the Pacific Coast for the first time. The year I found out I was pregnant. The year we went to NOLA more times than we can count. It was a damn good one, ya’ll.

And the song? Definitely our song of the year. There’s even a clip in here of The Head and the Heart singing this very song at a show we went to in NOLA. See if you can spot it.

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To the Island and Back

I was perusing some of my old blog posts the other day, and noticed that we don’t have nearly as much fun on the weekends as we used to. It’s not because I’m pregnant, because we’ve been lazy on weekends for much longer than that. I think we just go through spurts – sometimes we want adventure, sometimes we want to spend the entire weekend doing nothing but laying in bed eating junk food with each other. But seeing those old blog posts made me want another adventure, and wouldn’t you know, Drew texted me right about that time, letting me know that it would be a beautiful weekend and we should spend a day on Dauphin Island. Perfect timing! SO that’s exactly what we did. We woke up, had pancakes at IHOP and headed out to the bird sanctuary on the island.

(P.S. I thought I looked cute and pregnant here. Apparently, I just look like I had a few too many beers. Bummer.)

As much as we want to move away from the gulf coast for a while, I do love living here and being this close to the beauty of nature. Our little world is beautiful, with it’s white sandy beaches and crazy quirks. It helps being only two hours away from New Orleans, where we can get insanely amazing food and see a great concert, then get back to reality shortly thereafter.

The Dauphin Island parade was small and sweet. It was nice not having to fight people for moon pies or get pelted in the face with beads. I was thinking this would be the perfect introduction to Mardi Gras for our little one, until the traffic getting off the island took that thought away super quick. That and the rednecks we passed on the way out. Apparently, we were in the nearly-redneck-free zone where we were standing.

Hey, Booyah! They had a superhero float and I thought of you!!!

We finished the day with the first crawfish of the season at R&R Seafood. It was glorious. Speaking of crawfish, have you ever had any, Booyah and/or Joy? I’m wondering if this is something I should introduce you ladies to in the near future. But don’t worry, I don’t suck the heads…only Drew does that.

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