Monday, November 23, 2015

Party of 5

It’s been a bit quiet around here, and the beauty of it is that I’ve felt no pressure to write. Creating this new blog space allows me to write about what I’d like, when I’d like, instead of feeling the need to post a few times a week over at My Dolce Vita.
Like the other months of 2015, November is flying by. I truly cannot believe that the year is coming to an end. So many wonderful things have happened this year, but possibly the most wonderful of all happened on Saturday.

Our family of 4 is growing to a family of 5, and Baby Christmas #3 is scheduled to arrive at the end of July 2016!
I am honestly so excited and thankful and humbled by this blessing. Keith and I did not try or plan to have Gavin and Arabella, but we’ve been trying for #3 since the beginning of the year. I was so certain that if I timed it right then I would absolutely get pregnant.
HA!
I was so, so wrong.
Each month I would convince myself that I was pregnant, and each month I was disappointed. It sounds very cliche, but it wasn’t until I completely let go of my desires and trusted God’s timing and Will that I became pregnant.
I have prayed for this child and I have cried for this child. Every fiber of my being wanted to add another precious member to our family, but the enemy tried to convince me that I was not worthy of another baby.
But my God comforted me.
And my God is stronger than any plan or thought the enemy has.
And is His timing, I am carrying another child in my womb.
I’m currently 4 weeks pregnant and feel great! Over the past month I’ve been exercising and eating clean and have had a ton of energy. I’ve lost nearly 10lbs., but I’m still a little heavier than I’d like to be. However, I’m hopeful that I will continue bringing my weight down in a healthy manner. The only true pregnancy symptom I’ve had is a heightened sense of smell, where things that normally smell fine now smell funky. Now that I know that I’m pregnant I’m being more careful when carrying heavy loads or lifting weights, but I plan on continuing my workout regimen and doing my daily tasks.
I’ve also been experiencing what feels like round ligament pain, but this just means that things are progressing. ðŸ™‚
Honestly, I would love to have another girl, but the gender of this baby is not important to me. I am praying for a healthy and strong baby, and for an enjoyable pregnancy. I was not sick at all for Gavin, and only a handful of time for Arabella, so let’s hope #3 is similar. I truly adore being pregnant, and am aiming for natural birth numero tres.
Lord, thank you for this little miracle. I am immensely grateful.

Monday, November 2, 2015

Biltmore Cooking Project - Entry 1


I tackled the first recipe out of the Biltmore Traditions cookbook on Halloween, and I am happy to report that it was a success! I made a Rustic Apple Pie (page 51) and it was just delicious. The kiddos loved it and I will definitely be making it again in the near future. I’ve never baked a pie from scratch before, but it was wonderful experience.

Even Spider Man loved it! 



Tackling the recipes from Biltmore Traditions is fun (and delicious), but the story of the Vanderbilts and Biltmore is incredibly fascinating and should be shared! With each recipe, I’ll be sharing stories and information with you! 
To truly understand all that Biltmore creator George Vanderbilt III accomplished, we must go back in time to learn of his family.
The Vanderbilts are one of the best known families in the United States, emigrating from Holland around 1650. The Vanderbilts lived modestly as farmers, but Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1877) had a different idea.
According to legend, at 16 years old he borrowed $100 from his mother and launched a ferry service across New York Bay…and this ferry service grew to a fleet of 100 steamships! Cornelius (also known as the Commodore) invested in railroads 50 years later and needless to say these two investment paid off extraordinarily well. Cornelius was the wealthiest industrialist of his time, and upon his passing he left his fortune to his oldest son, William Henry (George’s father).
To be continued…
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