33 Weeks (May 9, 2014)

Posted on May 9, 2014 by playinghousewi

33 Weeks (May 9, 2014). Somehow it’s already Friday! I’m not going to complain, but this week literally flew by. I’m definitely feeling bigger… at least today anyway. And, I think as our little munchkin beefs up, my belly is looking more and more as if I swallowed a basketball. As for that growing munchkin, she is a pineapple! 17.2″ and 4.5 lbs (ish). That’s crazy. I can’t believe we only have 49 days to go!

Symptoms

Last night we had an appointment with our hospital to install the car seat bases in both of our cars. We had been scared into having it done by “professionals” during our classes, where they said that 80% of car seats aren’t installed correctly. I’m not going to lie, while the two women installing our car seat bases were nice, they didn’t seem “into it”… maybe I was being a little sexist because I was expecting men to do the installation (I know, I know… terrible). BUT really, they were super lazy about it. I had to ask them to redo it twice because it seemed too loose or it wasn’t level.

Regardless, we not have car seat bases!

One step closer to being ready for baby!

Also, note that our seat is in the middle. You need to be able to get a hand in between the car seat and the front seat, but as long as there is room, this is the safest option for baby. I didn’t understand why until the woman said, “think about if you get T-boned”… okay, now I get it. The middle is a bit more of a pain because you have to reach over, but baby’s safety is worth it. Also, we had picked up some seat pads to protect the seat from the base and were told that unless it actually comes with the car seat, it voids the warranty and sometimes poses issues with insurance. Noted. We didn’t use the pads. I think that’s all, but will say, if you’re installing the base yourself, make sure to yank that thing in VERY tightly. Once secured, it shouldn’t wiggle more than a 1/2 inch.

*FYI, we got the Britax B-Safe Car Seat & Bases. Everything I’ve heard from literally every momma I’ve asked has been that Britax is the best. Best quality, safest, etc.

In other news, I’m crabby today. I’m not 100% sure why, but I just woke up on the wrong side of the bed I guess. And if I’m being totally honest, I think I’m a little crabby because Mother’s Day is coming up this weekend and my birthday is next week… and I have this feeling my hubs has nothing planned. I’m a HUGE birthday person, so I think I’m feeling a little disappointed, which I should just let go of. He tends to surprise me now and again.

Also, while poor Ollie the Cat doesn’t get a lot of face-time on the blog, he was especially silly this morning keeping watch from the back of the toilet. Enjoy Sir Kitty.

Kitty on alert. He sees something…

Kitty starting to feel safe again, but still weary.

Okay, things are gonna be okay…

HAPPY FRIDAY!

50 Days, Magical Cheesecake & a Great Appointment

Posted on May 8, 2014 by playinghousewi

I’d like to start off by warning you that I’m obnoxiously chipper right now. Why you ask? Well, a lot of reasons, but mainly, I had a really great appointment with my doctor today. Here’s the update…

Blood pressure: GOOD (98/66… I think?)

Belly Bump Measurement: 32-33 cm (measuring right on track or maybe even a little small… my lady parts like the sound of small)

Baby’s Heart Rate: Great! (I forgot to ask specifics, but she said it was perfect)

Baby’s Position: Still head down! She’s such a good girl.

Weight Gain: Dan da daaaaan… 1 lb! Yes, this made me very happy! My doc said it was great, too! So, now at 33 weeks (tomorrow), I’ve gained 27 lbs. That feels way better than 26 lbs at 31 weeks. I’ve just got to keep up the good work… ie: exercising and eating well. AKA… I will not be going home and eating all the leftover cheesecake. Damn.

I also asked my doc quite a few questions…

1) Can we pre-register for the hospital? No need to! Everything is electronic, so they’ll get you right in a room and any questions needing answers will be asked there.

2) In order to get my breast pump paid for by insurance, I need a prescription… can I get one from you today? Yep!

*NOTE: I had heard great things about the Hygeia Enjoye breast pump and am attempting to go through www.abreastpumpandmore.com to order mine (the website was recommended to me by the rep at Hygeia). I’ll let you know if my insurance accepts it and it works.

3) Do you apply oil / do perineal massage when the baby is crowning? I’ve heard it helps prevent tearing. I do sometimes, but it depends on the patient and how she’s feeling. Sometimes it is too sensitive down there and the massage doesn’t help. If you would like me to, just let me know and I will. And, if you’d like me to apply oil, feel free to bring the oil with you and I’ll be happy to use it.

4) If I have any tearing, will I receive local pain meds before I’m stitched up? Yes. We use lidocaine, which sometimes hurts a touch when administered (it’s a shot), but sometimes it doesn’t. That should relieve any pain from the stitches.

5) When do you cut the cord? I’ve read that it is beneficial to wait a few minutes after birth to cut the cord so extra blood flows from the placenta to the baby. Supposedly it lowers risk of newborn anemia and iron deficiency. I have been trying to adjust my practice to wait a few minutes before cutting the cord. Just remind us [or put it in your birth plan] and we will do that.

**So, here is where I handed the doc my package of mini cheesecakes (see recipe in yesterday’s blog post) and said, “Here’s a little bribe before I ask my next question…” Mark made sure to add in, “You can have the cheesecakes no matter what” haha… I love him.

Classic Cheesecake with Graham Cracker Crust Garnished with Mixed Berry Preserves and Lemon Zest & Whipped Cream, Fresh Blueberry and Lemon Zest… AND, Oreo Cheesecake on an Oreo Crust topped with Whipped Cream and a Mini Oreo. Mmm….

6) My company requires a doctor’s note for my maternity leave. I am requesting 12 weeks and was hoping you could write a note saying that I need 12 weeks. Definitely! The more time the better! What I’m not able to do is fill out a disability form because medically, it is pre-determined that a vaginal birth receives 6 weeks and a c-section birth receives 8 weeks.

SUCCESS!!! YES! How amazing, huh??? I love my doc. Hopefully the damn note will be enough and I can finally get the maternity leave thing checked off my list.

One more reason for smiling… as of today, there are exactly 50 days until my due date! I love round numbers.

Classic & Oreo Mini Cheesecake Bake-Off

Posted on May 8, 2014 by playinghousewi

I decided that instead of making mini pies to bribe my doctor into writing me a note recommending a 12-week maternity leave, I would make mini original and oreo cheesecakes. The recipes were quite simple, but between making tonight’s dinner and prepping tomorrow’s slow-cooker dinner in between my cheesecake bake-off, I was literally in the kitchen for nearly 5 hours.

However, if I get that note, it will be worth every minute spent. If I don’t… I’m coming home and eating all the “leftover” cheesecakes.

Close up…

All packaged up for my doc! Hope she likes cheesecake…

For both cheesecakes, I used a pretty classic recipe. The only difference between the classic and oreo was literally the crushed oreos mixed into the cheesecake batter. Here are the recipes:

Graham Cracker Crust:

1 cup graham cracker crumbles

2 TBSP sugar

3 TBSP butter, melted

*Mix it all together and voila! Then press graham cracker crust into paper-lined mini muffin tin.

Oreo Cookie Crust:

10 original Oreo Cookies with cream (not double stuffed)

1 TBSP butter

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Throw cookies in the food processor and grind up to crumbs. Add butter and grind again until crumbs. Press into paper-lined mini muffin tins and bake for 5 minutes.

Cheesecake Filling

3/4 cup sugar

3 (8oz) Packages Cream Cheese, softened

1 tsp Vanilla

3 Eggs

* Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Beat cream cheese, vanilla and sugar with mixer until blended. Then add eggs one at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until well blended. IF YOU ARE MAKING OREO CHEESECAKE: Mix in Oreo Cookies, just until blended. Spoon cheesecake over crusts.

Bake at 325 degrees F for 15-18 minutes. Let cool, then refrigerate for 2-4 hours. Once fully cooled, add the garnish of your choice and refrigerate for an additional 1-2 hours (at least) to set. TA DA!

Original Recipe Links:

Original Cheesecake

Oreo Cheesecake

Keeping the Love Alive… Post-Baby

Posted on May 6, 2014 by playinghousewi

Can we keep the love sparky and magical post-baby??

I read quite a few mommy blogs and yesterday, I came across a post that really made me think. A woman was saying that she was recently asked if she loves her husband of 12 years and the question made her think. Ultimately, the conclusion she came up with was that she loved her husband like an old sweater and was no longer, “in love.” A lot of other women chimed in and added phrases like, “indentured servant” and other troubling things.

Within an hour of reading the post, I turned to “the Google.” I asked: How to keep the love alive after children. I read article after article and came up with the following as my “favorites” (obviously, I emailed them to my hubs right away):

“Sometimes my husband and I take a vacation day during the week and have a date while our daughter’s at daycare. We have a leisurely lunch, then catch a movie. It’s a treat for her to have both Mommy and Daddy pick her up, and we love having the evening together, refreshed after our ‘couple time.’ “
“Our secret is simple, and we only recently rediscovered it: Going to bed at the same time. It sounds trite, but for nearly six years, my husband stayed up late to catch some quiet time alone. It’s hard to have much of a sex life — or any kind of intimacy — when one partner crawls into bed after the other’s asleep. Going to bed at the same time facilitates ‘pillow talk’ and all that goes with it.”
“I always make sure to hug my husband when he comes home from work, no matter how busy I am. It takes just two seconds to reconnect with him, and it’s well worth it.”
“We remind ourselves that in 18 years our daughter will leave us, but that we’re forever. This helps us make decisions to invest in our marriage — date nights at least twice a month, occasional weekends away, prolonged kisses at the door, spontaneous sex during afternoon naps, and loving conversations in front of our toddler (to show her how important we are to each other). My parents did the same, and it gave me a wonderful sense of peace to know that they loved each other so much.”
“Okay, men, as much as I hate to admit it, sharing responsibilities is the way to keep romance alive. I get up at night to feed the baby (now that she’s not solely nursed anymore). I give her baths. I share the work equally with my wife. One tired parent does nothing for romance — so help your partner with the housework!”
“I tell my wife that I love her as often as I can. I watch out for knee-jerk responses to irritating things. I remind myself to look at the big picture. I make sure that I cuddle with her at bedtime; sometimes I just cuddle ‘instead’ — it always pays off right then, and later on (wink, wink). And every evening we have a few minutes of ‘Mommy and Daddy talk’ when we get home. The kids have to amuse themselves for a little while, but they’re better served by parents who’ve had a chance to reconnect.”
Babies often find night time to be the best time to bond with parents, making romance a hit or miss situation, but that is just fine. Baby will make you change your life schedule a million and one times before he grows up and moves out of the house. If you want to get frisky, try the day time hours. Babies are more apt to sleep the majority of the day on a more predictable pattern. So, as soon as that morning or afternoon nap starts, take some time just for Mom and Dad and keep those fires burning.
Focus on all the reasons you appreciate each other. I won’t pretend that there aren’t hundreds of distractions working against us in the romance department, but we can’t let them completely take over our lives. Today I need to repair the brakes on our van, reorganize the website content for Power of Moms, return our library books, host a play group, and complete dozens of other tasks (just like you . . . I know I’m not alone here), but in the midst of all that, I can think about why I love my husband, and I can let him know I love him. A quick text message saying, “Thanks for buying me flowers this week” or “I think you’re very handsome” can go a long way. One day he wrote love messages all over our bathroom mirror with dry erase markers, and I loved it.

When we both got home from work, my sweet guy and I talked about the different suggestions and our relationship. While we know children and marriage in general put a strain on a relationship, we were both feeling confident in our love and the way we work together. We had to laugh, because my husband pointed out that many marriages blend two independent people with a lot of independent hobbies, etc. Where as my husband and I pretty much do everything together. While I do the bulk of the cooking and he does the hard labor, even those things are things we do together. While I’m cooking, Marky will be washing the dishes or helping to chop vegetables or anything in the kitchen. And while Mark is hacking down trees in the yard, I’m picking up sticks and raking and pretty much doing anything possible to be around him. While this isn’t the answer to everything, we talked about how we want to care for our baby and it really is a similar, tag-team approach.

I know we’ve only been married a year and will face far more difficult challenges than those faced to-date, but even just talking about it with Mark made me feel better. I know that when I’m ready to pull my hair out at 4 am with a crying baby, he’ll be by my side, “tagging in” for duty.

I really love my husband.

Symptoms

A few things to report… 1) my back still hurts… a lot. I need to remember to call the chiropractor. 2) Today I had to say goodbye (for now) to my dearest little friend, Kate, who is moving to Seattle tomorrow. We had a great lunch together – a perfect farewell – but I can’t help but feel very sad for myself as she moves on. We’ve been friends for what feels like forever and I will truly miss her. Thank goodness for FaceTime and a ton of prior commitments this summer (including her wedding) that will bring her back to me at least a few times. Love you, Katiekins. 3) Last night, we were getting ready for bed (at a very slow pace) and while I brushed my teeth, the tiny lady was squiqqling around. She apparently got comfortable, because by the time I got into bed an hour later, she had settled in and seemed to be sleeping. So, imagine her surprise when Marky started to read her bedtime story… at an abnormally loud volume… right up against my belly. Needless to say, she nearly jumped out of my body! That mean dad startled the poor girl! It was pretty silly actually. And one more… 4) Yesterday I was in the car belting out to the new John Legend song… I love it. Anyway, I decided to give the baby boo a little massage as I sang “to her,” so I noticed the right side of my belly looked further out than the left, so that’s where I massaged. Within a minute, she adjusted to put her little butt up against my hand and enjoy a closer massage. That’s my girl 🙂 Oy. I love her. She’s so silly.

A Busy Weekend Recap

Posted on May 5, 2014 by playinghousewi

Another weekend recapped in photos…

Toby and I were on the same page on Friday afternoon. We were definitely feeling sluggish and just over it. Especially after putting in some extra hours last week.

We were both pleasantly surprised when the hubs popped in for a surprise visit after his training session was let out. That helped with the afternoon.

After work, we all napped for a little before heading to my sweet friend Kate’s parents’ house for a farewell dinner. She’s abandoning us and moving to Seattle. New job at Expedia!

Carrie brought her tiny little 6-week-old man, Phoenix to the dinner!

Such a smoosher.

He’s way too cute!

We enjoyed a night of pizza making, GREAT food, and perfect conversation.

Why would she ever want to leave this??

Resident Chef Erica shaping the dough.

Mmmm cheese!

How cute are they?

The boys!

Watch out, Kate! First comes Seattle, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in the baby carriage 🙂 I think your hubs-to-be might be ready!

Is that an AMAZING looking pizza or what?

I have to include this salad dressing recipe, because it was AMAZING! Compliments of Kate’s momma. SO tasty.

On Saturday, we were supposed to have our first labor class with our doula, but she had to cancel because she had a birth on Friday night. I know this is crappy to admit, but I struggled/struggle to believe it. I had emailed her as a little reminder on Friday night and she emailed me back within 10 minutes to cancel and say she was on her way to a birth. Maybe I’m just being skeptical. Oh well.

The lack of class left room for EXCESSIVE amounts of yard work…

Marky trimmed trees…

A lot of trees.

And I was in charge of raking and picking up sticks. So, after literally almost 8 hours of hard labor… at 8 months pregnant… I decided that it might have been a little bit too much. By the end of the day, I had a few Braxton Hicks contractions right in a row, which kind of scared me. It could have been from over exertion or dehydration… but either way, it was probably too much. I felt fine while we were doing it though? In fact, it felt nice to get in some exercise and enjoy the sunshine.

After all that gardening, Marky and I chowed down some Mexican food! Mmm. I was in bed by 10.

Sunday was another big day! It was my sweet Ashley’s bridal shower… with a derby theme! I’m not going to lie, I was a little anxious about having to get dressed up in a theme, because having to get dressed seems to be quite the challenge these days, but I somehow managed. I miraculously squeezed my 8-month-prego belly bump into a pre-pregs dress, threw on a blazer and a hat and was “off to the races.” Well, actually, I stopped for a mani with my mom and sis first! I’m not so sure about my color… it’s a little blah or maybe just too close to my hand color.

The color’s a little lame.

Anyway, the shower was absolutely gorgeous and I had such a great time! It was great to see all my ladies, eat delicious food and play some silly games.

The beautiful bride-to-be!

The bridesmaids (minus a couple)!

I’m second from the left! I’ve decided that black + a blazer = a pregnant woman’s best friend! I had quite a few conversations with folks I hadn’t seen in a while that were interupted by, “OMG! You’re pregnant! I didn’t even notice!” Now, I read a lot of articles and posts about things NOT to say to a pregnant momma… for the record, let’s add that one to the list of things TO SAY!

How gorg are these flower centerpieces? This pic is taken in my kitchen… yes, I was lucky enough to bring this prize home!

When I got home, poor Mark was still in the yard slaving away. Learning my lesson from the previous day, the hubs set Toby and I up on the hammock so we could keep him company.

And watch him work…

Ahhh finally sunshine!

All in all, it was a jam-packed and fun-filled weekend!

Symptoms

Ohhhh my back! I’m feeling a lot better than I did Saturday night, but I’ve still got some serious aching in my back from all that yard work. Good news? I think I’ll survive 🙂 I’m also a bit tired. I woke up at 4 am to pee and could not get back to sleep. I ended up reading until around 5:30 and then my alarm went off at 6:30. I know, I know… practice. Whatever. I’m tired.

But, as I lay there in bed thinking about the baby, I did get pretty excited. Even a little excited for the late night feedings. Not all of them… every night… every two hours… but just to breastfeed my little girl and love on her. And also, I was thinking… in waking hours, you change and feed a baby every two hours(ish)… do you have to change a baby every two hours at night, too? My guess is yes… but oofta. That’s rough.

Anyway, I just can’t wait to meet her. As of today, there are only 53 days left! Ehh… I don’t like that number. Sounds too high. As of today, there are only 7.5 weeks left! That’s better!

32 Weeks… 8 Months!! (May 2, 2014)

Posted on May 2, 2014 by playinghousewi

32 Weeks… 8 Months! (May 2, 2014). HOLY SMOKES! How has it already been 8 months? I can’t believe our little girl is already 4 lbs and nearly 17″(ish). That’s just crazy. And me… well, I’m obviously getting larger! Today the dude that fills the vending machine at our office gave me two free (and unsolicited) bags of snacks. I must look hungry? Or ravenous? Maybe it was his version of throwing a piece of bloody meat to a tiger and making a getaway. Whatever. I ate the pretzels happily.

Pregtastic

Posted on May 1, 2014 by playinghousewi

I read on a fellow blogger’s page that she has used Pregtastic as an amazing resource during pregnancy. So, I’ve been listening to these audio episodes all day and really loving it! Which of course means I had to share…

The site covers such a wide range of topics. Here’s a snap shot:

Pregtastic Home Page

Give it a whirl! Have a listen! So far I’ve heard two birthing stories (which I can’t lie… I didn’t really enjoy – the ones in Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth are way better), a piece on pain relief (natural and medicinal) during labor, Epigenetics, the Bradley Method… there are so many different episodes!

The Maternity Leave Debacle

Posted on May 1, 2014 by playinghousewi

As I may have mentioned, my work situation has gone through quite a change over the past couple of months. In anticipation of baby and to help my company cut overhead costs, I began working half-time there and half-time at my parents’ company. Working at my parents’ company offers some obvious benefits… I get to work with my parents (most days, this is a pro), I’ll get to bring our baby to work, and my sweet puppito gets to join me.

My original employer was quite generous in allowing me to keep all of my benefits (insurance, disability, etc) despite my part-time status; however, the last thing to be figured out has been my maternity leave. Now, with only 8 weeks until the big day, my boss has finally buckled down in trying to figure out the deal. As of right now, here’s where things stand… I will go unpaid (or can use vacation days – which I don’t have) for 3 weeks and then my “disability insurance” or maternity leave will kick in at 70% of my pay. So far, so good. But, the duration is where it gets tricky.

I have requested 12 weeks maternity leave, which would be 3 weeks unpaid and 9 weeks paid. My company is requesting that I get a doctor’s note to determine the length of my leave and they will give me the shorter of the two lengths (either 12 weeks or whatever my doc says). Well, standard required medical leave is 6 weeks for a vaginal birth, 8 weeks for a c-section. That will NOT work for me… at all.

So obviously my first thought is, what should I bake before my doctor’s appointment next Thursday?

Yes, as I’ve said before, I am not opposed to bribery. In fact, I plan to show up with something delicious… maybe mini pies… AND, will also have a couple of articles printed on the benefits of longer maternity leave for breastfeeding moms. Here’s one article I found. Oy… I hope my doc goes for it… wish me luck!

I know I shouldn’t complain because many women don’t get any compensation during their leave… but that’s just ridiculous. We spend 40 weeks housing a baby in our bodies, feeding this baby from our bodies, and then, expel said baby from our very petite vaginas… could you treat us with a little decency?

Symptoms

I haven’t been amazing at noticing our little girl’s movement patterns… except for one. She definitely gets playful and squirmy around 9/10ish. Her squirms typically last for 30-45 minutes and aren’t your average kick. These are full-on, belly moving, body twisting rolls. AND, I love it. Today I’ll pay attention to see when else she gets her play on.

In other news, I have to admit a symptom that isn’t really my favorite. But first, let me explain that my husband is SUCH a fidgeter. I’m constantly asking him to stop tapping (many times the tapping is on my leg or another limb), or to quit rhythmically messing with my nail or hand. There is just something about the fidgets that makes me nutso. Now, with that said… while I find the idea of our baby hiccuping in my tum ADORABLE, the act of it makes me a little neurotic. It hits that same twitchy nerve that goes off when my husband fidgets. And, I feel guilty for wishing it would end because as a whole, I love feeling her and knowing she’s doing well… but it’s just a bit annoying. And she gets them a lot… pretty much every morning… and a couple other times throughout the day. Phew… got it off my chest 🙂

Last night, I went to bed at 10, which felt super early. While I’m still tired today, it was nice to actually get some decent sleep!

Interesting Information on Inductions

Posted on April 30, 2014 by playinghousewi

Last night I was searching online for a “cervix dilation visualization” meditation and came across some interesting information on inductions. First, I should explain my original search… I’ve been thinking that maybe if I could find a guided meditation to help relax exactly the right muscles to promote dilation and effacement, it could help in my labor.

While I did NOT find anything of the sort, here’s an interesting article/chart I found regarding your inductability (probably not a word??)… aka: how induceable (I think I made up this word, too) you are. Why is this important? One of the risks with induction is that you’re forcing your body to labor before it’s naturally ready. But, I guess there is some score that you can be rated that takes into consideration a heap of factors and estimates how conducive your current conditions are for an induction. Your score should be 7 or above… here’s the score chart:

The chart and some background info…

More information on calculating your score.

I thought this was interesting. Obviously, I do not want to be induced, but for some reason, this felt very useful so I thought I’d share.

Symptoms

Last night, Mark and his dad loaded up his dad’s car and went off to return the chair/ottoman. We were all VERY relieved to find out it was actually quite easy! SO, now we officially only have one chair again… well, we will have one chair… when it arrives in a bazillion weeks. Maybe I should start calling them every day to see if it’s ready yet? 🙂 Okay, maybe not.

In other news, I went through all of our 3-6 month hand-me-down clothes last night and decided what I want to keep. It’s CRAZY how many clothes this miniature child has. These piles are literally 3-6 month only…

Lost in a sea of tiny clothes.

And in case it wasn’t clear, I’m obsessed with my puppy. He’s just so cute…

Delicious Whole Wheat Oatmeal Pancakes

Posted on April 29, 2014 by playinghousewi

I like to make a hot breakfast as often as possible, which usually just amounts to eggs on the weekend (and MAYBE once during the week). Anyway, after having delicious egg sandwiches (whole wheat toast, cottage cheese, avocado, spinach, tomato, and egg… mmmmm) on Saturday morning, I was left with only one egg for Sunday’s breakfast. SO, I decided to make some pancakes. I love trying new, healthy recipes and was super excited when I came across this recipe for Whole Wheat Oatmeal Pancakes.

Tasty & Healthy!!

Ingredients:

1 cup (123g) whole wheat flour (or white whole-wheat)
1/2 cup (40g) quick oats (I didn’t have quick oats, so I threw 1/2 cup – or maybe a smidge over – in the food processor to grind it up smaller… cooks more similarly to the quick oats this way)
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 large egg (or 2 egg whites)
1 cup (240ml) milk
2 Tablespoons dark brown sugar (or light brown)
1/4 cup (63g) Greek yogurt (I used half greek, half plain organic)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup add-ins like chocolate chips or fruit, optional (we put fruit on top)

Directions:

Toss the flour, oats, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon together in a large bowl. Set aside. In a separate medium bowl, whisk the egg and milk together. Whisk in the brown sugar and yogurt until no lumps remain. Whisk in the vanilla until combined.

Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour the wet ingredients in. Stir gently until just combined. Do not overmix the batter or your pancakes will be tough and very dense. Add any mix-ins you prefer, but again – do not overmix the batter.

Heat a griddle or skillet over medium heat. Coat generously with cooking spray, oil, or butter. Once hot, drop about 1/4 cup of batter on the griddle. Cook until the edges look dry and bubbles begin to form on the center or sides, about 1 minute. Flip and cook on the other side until cooked through, about 2 more minutes. Coat griddle/skillet again with nonstick spray for each pancake or batch of pancakes.

Keep pancakes warm in a preheated 200F degree oven until all pancakes are cooked. Serve immediately. Pancakes taste best right after they are made. Pancakes freeze well, up to 2 months.

We served our delicious pancakes with plain yogurt, fruit and syrup. DELISH! They’re denser than your average pancake, but honestly, so tasty.

Symptoms

I’m feeling a lot better today. Headache is gone, as is the stomach ache… my back is a bit achy today, but nothing unmanageable. My darling momma sent me home early from work yesterday, which was great. I was able to relax on the couch – while folding laundry and of course, keeping the machine running – and just take it easy. I actually went through my linen closet last night, and purged a bunch of old sheets/curtains/quilts/etc and reorganized the cabinet to make room for baby. It was pretty simple and TOTALLY rewarding. Plus, now we have even more crap to sell at our garage sale this summer.

In other news, my amazing friend Jenna has agreed to lend us her glider chair until our new one arrives. She was planning to sell hers, so she is VERY graciously going to put off selling it for a few months and maybe we’ll even try to sell it for her at our garage sale.

And speaking of the chair, send us positive vibes… tonight is “D Day” with the chair. If all goes as planned, Mark’s dad will be helping us to bring back the original chair tonight and beg them to accept our return for money (versus store credit). Keep you posted!