I’m finally hopping on the chia seed pudding train and I’d like to tell you that it is…interesting! I’m actually a pretty huge fan of the texture but I could see how it might take some getting used to. The way the chia seeds absorb liquid is really quite bizarre but man does it end up being a delicious and healthy little snack!

I decided to keep it simple for my first try and just made a basic vanilla bean chia pudding (I even used alcohol-free vanilla so Sophie could try it out at her next snack time—she played with it for about 10 minutes before deciding she was also a fan and devouring most of what I put in her bowl), but you could really get creative with both flavors and toppings.

Between breakfast and a few snacks it did not last very long, so I’ll be making another batch really soon—probably a chocolate version next!

Vanilla Bean Chia Pudding (Paleo, Gluten-Free, Vegan)

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons chia seeds (6 tablespoons)

• 2 cups milk (almond, cow, whatever you prefer—for this recipe I chose an almond/cashew mix)

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (you could also use a real vanilla bean if you have one on hand—just cut in half and scrape the inside out)

• Whatever toppings you like: banana slices, berries, etc.

Instructions:

1. In a large container with a lid, mix chia seeds, milk, and vanilla extract. Stir well to ensure that there are no clumps, then transfer to refrigerator and chill overnight.

2. To serve, spoon into bowls and top with fresh fruit or granola.

Dear Sophie,

Mother’s Day weekend is here and I mostly can’t believe how well-rested we all are! This time last year you were sleeping a lot better but we were still up nursing together almost every night or early morning. As excited as I was to leave that part of baby-hood behind and sleep uninterrupted again one day, I must admit that I do sometimes miss your warm little body against mine in our rocking chair at 4:45 AM.

Last year, your dad silently scooped you out of your crib in the corner of our bedroom and let me sleep in (which I always want to do but never actually do), and a couple hours later we were all together again on the couch, a fresh hot latte in my hand and you in my arms.

Being your mom is by far the best, most amazing, most awe-inducing, hardest, but most fun thing I’ve ever done. I miss you when you’re sleeping and wake up excited to see your little face and hear your little voice. We both smile so big when we hear “Mamaaaa! Dadddddaaa!” over the monitor every morning. When Ender wanders into your room you say “Ender! Good boy!” and blow him a kiss.

You’re going to be a year and a half this month and you are constantly blowing me away with everything you do and learn. You are sweet and you share everything and you’re smart and so incredibly funny. It’s an honor to be your mom.

So much love,

Mama

There’s a running joke that for someone who loves books as much as I do, I’m pretty terrible with libraries. When we lived in Charlotte I think baby Ender destroyed more library books than I ever actually read, and after moving here and having a baby I imagined a life where we go to the library and get books every week. I did it exactly two times and then this week decided to try again, where I learned that I owed $8 in late fees.

After almost a year and a half of pretty much eating whatever we want every day, Rob and I decided to just bite the bullet and do a Whole 30. With the exception of the past few years, I have spent the better part of six years eating Paleo, but never actually did a Whole 30. (This challenge will be put on pause this Sunday, because we’re going to brunch for Mother’s Day and I have to have fried chicken. Or kimchi fried rice. Or maybe both.) I have so many thoughts about food and diets and body image lately and really hope to share them in a post soon.

We have flown to the East Coast with Sophie 5 times in the past 17 months, and while it’s been so fun to see our family and friends so much, it’s been kind of exhausting and definitely expensive. We have one more trip planned in July for a family wedding and then we decided to not go back to Charlotte or Roanoke or Richmond again until 2020. It’s kind of sad but we’re really excited to stay put (especially for the holidays), maybe even taking some time to finally explore Southern California.

I chopped like six inches of my hair back in February and really like it but now I can’t decide if I want to keep the shorter (still very long if you’re looking at pictures scratching your head) length or grow it back out. #firstworldproblems