Just Checking In #7

Where have I been? Oh, where have I been? I'm asking myself at this point. I'm so sorry for the lack of updates and recipes. It turns out that getting ready for a baby is kind of time consuming. Kind of. Especially if you leave it all to the last minute. Yikes.

I've also been wrapping up this little side project called my second cookbook. No biggie. Wait, HUGE biggie! You guys know how passionate I am about cooking for two. It's my whole life. I left my corporate job, and threw away my Master's degree to do this for you. I'm so into two! This is my true vocation, and I'm so grateful to you guys for letting me live my new life. This life keeps me WAY busier than I used to be, but I'm having a lot more fun. Plus, the fact that I can work from home most of the time and be with my baby girl brings tears to my eyes. The big man upstairs had a huge role in this life plan, and I'm so joyous that I get to hang on for the ride. It just keeps getting better. Thank you for that. Thank YOU.

More book details -->  I created my first volume of Cooking for Two! It has breakfasts for two, lunches for two, dinners for two, and yes, even more desserts for two! Everything serves just two! But, almost all of the lunch and dinner recipes can be doubled or tripled to make more servings. I didn't want to leave anyone out when sharing my famous Steak Enchiladas, Alabama Fried Chicken Sandwiches, or my Mom's famous Southern cornbread dressing. As always, I don't recommend altering dessert for two recipes; baking is just too finicky. But, anyway, I know you're going to love this book! The release date will be in the fall, but there will be a special chance to buy it in July. I wish I could elaborate on that, but I just can't at the moment. I'm so sorry! But, stay tuned, and as we get closer to July, I will fill you in on all the fun details! I can't wait to share everything with you :)

Shall we talk about the nursery? Do you guys want to see photos? I snapped a few for you, but it's not exactly finished yet. We figure that she'll be sleeping in our room for the first few months, so I feel like I have plenty of time. I know how crazy that sounds. There's also a good chance we're moving again, so I can't imagine tapping holes into these beautiful dark navy walls that my husband painstakingly painted around our thick crown molding. Oh, bless this 1920s house.

If you know me in real life, you know that I hate pink. Err, I used to. Once the initial shock of being pregnant wore off, I remember the exact moment when the thought first crossed my mind that it could be a little baby girl growing in there. I smiled, threw my hands up to the heavens, and let the tears fall down my face. A little helper in the kitchen sounded so perfect and necessary in my life. (Not that if I had a baby boy I would keep him out of the kitchen--quite the opposite). Anyway, friends started asking me how I was going to decorate her room if I hated pink. I leaned towards grey, black and white for a long time. Not only is that the saddest-sounding thing ever, but my husband pointed out that I have a fear of color. It's true, come to my house sometime---my walls are painted colors (from the previous owners), but my furniture, curtains, and rugs are all neutrals.

So, the story goes that I was thumbing through a Pottery Barn Kids catalog one day and saw a navy blue room with hot pink and gold accents. I showed it to my husband and said 'OMG this is my dream little girl's room!' and then I flipped the page and moved on. He stopped me in my tracks and said 'if that's your dream, we're doing it.' Why didn't I think of that? He's the best. So, here it is:  dark navy walls, hot pink and white accents. I'll share the info on where we bought things below. If we end up staying here, I'll add gold accents somehow. I've always loved the quote 'Let her sleep, for when she wakes, she'll move mountains.' I come from a long line of hard-working, confident, and self-sufficient women, and I know my little Camille is going to be the same way. And probably even feistier. I'd love to get that quote framed above her crib at some point.

Wait, can we take a short intermission? Since I've survived almost 38 weeks of being pregnant, I just want to say a few words about it before it's all over. Something that isn't said enough. Ok, here goes:  You are completely capable of having a normal pregnancy. I'll say it again: you are completely capable of having a normal, symptomatic-free pregnancy.

The minute my bump started showing, women came from all over to tell me their horror stories of pregnancy. Why do women do this to each other? Fear-mongering is one of my biggest pet peeves. When someone tells you all about their terrible heartburn, back aches, or other awful health problems they experienced while pregnant, just remember me: I had zero issues, except a growing belly. Not even a single back ache. It is possible. A positive attitude is necessary. Oh, and a gallon of water a day. I don't know a single health issue that drinking more water doesn't solve. But anyway, you are completely capable of growing a child in your body without issue. It needs to be said more. I'm so grateful to my best friend Esther who had a glorious pregnancy before me, and instilled in me the belief that I could, too. I doubted my tiny frame could carry this baby, but she made me snap out of it, and adopt a positive attitude. I love you, Esther!

Anyway, thanks for tuning in to hear all about my crazy life. I have plenty of recipes to share with you guys in the coming weeks. I planned my maternity leave so that I would never leave you hanging for recipes. But, please be patient with email and comment responses. My dream is to not touch my iPhone for the first 6 weeks after Camille is here. I really want to tune everything out and focus on her. So keep in mind that I could go into labor at any minute (and, actually, the process has already started, if you know what I mean. Sorry, TMI), and I might drop off the face of the earth. But, I will always check in with new recipes.

I think that's it for now. Until labor. Thanks again, you guys! I love you so much. SO much. Seriously, I pause once a day in gratitude and look at my life. I couldn't have planned it or imagined it any better. It's all made possible by your love and support. And our mutual love of small batch recipes and hatred for tempting leftovers ;)

Love and cupcakes,
Christina

Resources:
Crib: Second-hand and repainted (yes, we checked the recall list, thanks, guys!)
Dresser: Second-hand and repainted (It was my husband's idea to paint the knobs hot pink!)
Hot Pink Rug: Pottery Barn Kids
Navy Pom-Pom Curtains: Pottery Barn Teen
White Corduroy Glider: Babies R Us
Pink Pouf: Land of Nod (though we saw some bad-ass vintage Moroccan poufs in New York that we were so bummed we couldn't carry home on the plane)