In a world bustling with daily routines and cherished moments, Etienne and I are absolutely thrilled to share the biggest news that has been bubbling under wraps for the past few months. That’s right – there’s a bun in that oven! More importantly, there’s a bun in MY oven, and we couldn’t be more overjoyed to finally make this special announcement to all of you, our wonderful community. We are expecting our third child, with a due date set for April 29, 2018, marking a monumental new chapter in our family’s journey.
The anticipation of welcoming another little one into our home brings with it a delightful mix of excitement and, admittedly, a dash of anxiety. Our days are already wonderfully chaotic, filled with the laughter, learning, and endless energy of our two amazing little terrors darling children. Trying to wrap my head around the idea of managing a bustling household with three energetic youngsters sometimes feels like a monumental task, but it’s a challenge we embrace with open hearts and eager minds.
THREE! The concept of expanding our family to a dynamic group of five has always been a heartfelt dream. Coming from a family of five myself, I deeply understand the invaluable bond of siblings and the incredible joy that a larger family brings. Siblings are truly the best built-in friends and companions, sharing life’s adventures from childhood through adulthood. While being smack in the middle of the demanding yet incredibly rewarding toddler and pre-school stages can feel daunting, the thought of creating our very own vibrant family of five fills us with immense happiness. We are incredibly excited to meet this new little person, eager to discover their unique personality and watch them seamlessly integrate into our loving family unit, enriching our lives in countless ways.
As a dedicated food blogger, the past few months have presented some unique and, at times, incredibly challenging hurdles. If you’ve ever experienced morning sickness during pregnancy, you’ll undoubtedly understand the struggle. The term “morning sickness” itself feels like a misnomer; it’s definitely more of an “all-day-long” sickness, a relentless wave of nausea that seemed to cast a shadow over much of my early pregnancy journey. This fun little symptom of early pregnancy arrived hand-in-hand with its notorious sidekick: a seemingly never-ending list of food aversions.
Foods that once looked, smelled, and tasted absolutely delicious became utterly revolting. I’m talking about dishes like my beloved chimichurri pork, a staple in our home, which suddenly became unbearable to even think about. This intense aversion to most meats and many vegetables essentially transformed our household into temporary vegetarians. In reality, with the limited things I could stomach, we were more accurately “bread-tarians,” relying heavily on simple, bland carbohydrates to get by. Creating new recipes and even just cooking regular family meals became an arduous task, a significant challenge for someone whose passion and profession revolve around food. The kitchen, usually my happy place, felt like an obstacle course.
Thankfully, with each passing week, the fog of nausea has begun to lift, and a sense of normalcy is slowly returning. Much to my husband’s delight, and certainly to my own, I’m gradually getting back into the kitchen, eager to experiment with new flavors and bring a little more color (and indeed, some much-missed meat) back to our dinner table. It’s a true relief to once again find joy in cooking and sharing delicious meals with my family, especially as we prepare for our new arrival.
In a silver lining amidst the food aversions, I must confess that most sweets and delightful, cakey treats have remained highly appealing. Whew! This sweet tooth salvation has been a welcome comfort. I may or may not have indulged in three of my delectable cranberry white chocolate donuts in one sitting the other day – a small but significant victory in battling the pregnancy cravings! These small pleasures have certainly made the more challenging days a bit brighter.
Beyond our incredibly exciting pregnancy news, life has continued its beautiful, if somewhat eventful, rhythm. This fall, Oscar embarked on a new adventure, starting his pre-kindergarten program. This milestone has not only introduced a fresh routine into our daily lives but has also created some wonderful one-on-one time with our youngest, Mr. Wally. These precious moments allow us to connect individually, fostering deeper bonds and creating special memories before our family expands to five. It’s truly a joy to watch them both grow and discover the world around them.
On a personal note, I’m thrilled to report a significant culinary triumph: I finally mastered my sourdough starter! After much patience and dedication, I’ve been consistently baking a glorious loaf of this tangy, artisanal bread at least once a week. The satisfaction of pulling a perfectly crusty, fragrant loaf from the oven is immense. It is SO incredibly good! We absolutely love to break into it while it’s still warm, savoring each slice soaked generously with fragrant olive oil and a drizzle of rich balsamic vinegar. It’s become a cherished tradition and a highlight of our weekly baking endeavors, bringing rustic charm and deliciousness to our table.
As many of you know, the past month presented its own challenges as we battled through a relentless wave of sickness that swept through our household. From sniffles to coughs, it felt like an endless cycle of germs. Thankfully, we believe we’re finally out of the woods, with just a few lingering coughs remaining. This period of recuperation certainly called for plenty of downtime, resulting in a few solid weeks of major Netflix binges and cozy, snuggly blanket time on the couch. It’s definitely that time of year when comfort and warmth take precedence, and we embraced the opportunity for some much-needed rest and family bonding.
This festive time of year also brings with it a flurry of birthdays within our family. It was Etienne’s birthday on Tuesday, and mine is just around the corner, coming up on Monday. I can’t wait to turn 25 again… (hah!). We recently celebrated my wonderful father-in-law’s 65th birthday this past Friday, a joyous occasion that brought everyone together. We were incredibly lucky that Etienne’s sister and her family were home from Kelowna to join in on the festivities, making the celebration even more special – and of course, to help us devour some of this truly ridiculous cake I attempted to create!
I had grand plans to dedicate an entire blog post to this ambitious dessert, but truth be told, it didn’t turn out quite as perfectly as I had envisioned. While undeniably delicious, it was, in retrospect, WAY over the top. The structure itself was an architectural feat: a rich brownie bottom layer, crowned with a creamy white chocolate cheesecake middle, and finally, a delicate chocolate mousse layer on top. Oh, and did I mention the pounds of indulgent icing meticulously spread between each layer and generously slathered all over the cake? Right, and let’s not forget the liberal sprinkling of chocolate chips for good measure. It was good, yes, but so, SO sweet and simply too much for even the most ardent dessert lover. It wasn’t exactly what I was going for in terms of balance and elegance, but every baking endeavor is a learning experience, and this epic cake certainly taught me a few valuable lessons along the way about restraint and moderation in dessert creation. Sometimes, less is indeed more, even when it comes to celebrating significant milestones.
Speaking of the delightful world of baking, my friends and I just completed our annual Christmas cookie exchange this week, a beloved tradition that always fills our homes with an incredible variety of amazing sweets. It’s truly one of the best ways to kick off the holiday season! I’m now loaded down with an assortment of festive treats, which is incredibly helpful for when company stops by unexpectedly – all the joy of homemade baking without all of the individual work! My contributions to the exchange included my highly requested holiday Twix bars, a crowd-pleaser, and a batch of irresistible double chocolate peppermint biscotti, a recipe I’m excited to share with you all in a dedicated post next week. These holiday baking recipes are perfect for sharing the festive spirit.
The excitement in our household is reaching a fever pitch as we eagerly await next week’s appointment, where we will finally find out the gender of our new little peanut! Having two energetic and wonderful boys already, I must admit there’s a little part of me that’s hoping for a touch of pink in my life, dreaming of tiny dresses and bows. However, above all desires for a specific gender, our ultimate wish and most profound prayer is simply for a healthy baby. That’s truly all I can ask for, and we are overflowing with gratitude for this incredible gift. The journey to becoming a family of five is unfolding beautifully, and we can’t wait to share every step with you.
This December, as we navigate through the joyous chaos of babies, baking, and all the sparkling Christmas bling, I sincerely hope your month is equally full of love, laughter, and an abundance of ridiculously indulgent food. May your holidays be bright, your gatherings warm, and your hearts full.
Cheers to new beginnings and festive traditions!
K.