A CONVERSATION BETWEEN ME AND AN IMAGINED AMALGAM OF ALL PERSONS WITH WHOM I'VE DISCUSSED MY PREGNANCY SO FAR
ME: Thank you so much! I'm truly thrilled. David and I are so excited.
AMALGAM: How are you feeling?!
ME: Great!
AMALGAM: You're so chubby already!
ME: Excuse me?
AMALGAM: Wow--I didn't pop that much until 25 weeks AT LEAST. Here, let me show you a picture.
ME: …Oh. Yeah, you looked great.
AMALGAM: How are you feeling?
ME: A-Ok!
AMALGAM: Did you get sick at all?
ME: Nope. I was really lucky that way.
AMALGAM: Do you know what you're having?
ME: A human!
AMALGAM: No, silly. I mean a boy? Or a girl?
ME: A boy.
AMALGAM: Oh! How fun! Boys are AMAZING. *Whispers* SOOOOO much easier than girls.
ME: Bonus!
AMALGAM: How are you feeling?
ME: Super!
AMALGAM: When was the first day of your last period?
ME: What now?
AMALGAM: Do you know the day you conceived? Like the exact day you guys did it?
ME: Um. Well, there was a range of days in there.
AMALGAM: How are you feeling?
ME: Awesome!
AMALGAM: Was your pregnancy planned?
ME: I don't even know your last name and I just met you.
AMALGAM: I just thought maybe you've been trying forEVER and so you're really relieved you're FINALLY pregnant.
ME: Again, I've never seen you before five minutes ago.
AMALGAM: Turn around.
ME: Hmm?
AMALGAM: Do a 360, Lady! Nice! I'll bet your husband likes that extra back there. More to grab onto. Ha ha ha!
ME: I hope you're right?
AMALGAM: How are you feeling?
ME: Tip-top!
AMALGAM: Wait: how far along are you?
ME: 21 weeks.
AMALGAM: Wow, you still look amazing.
ME: Still?
AMALGAM: Any names picked out?
ME: Believe it or not, I think we've got him named already.
AMALGAM: ….WELL????
ME: We're not really telling anyone the name.
AMALGAM: What? Why the hell not?
ME: We've decided to keep it under wraps until he's born.
AMALGAM: You can tell ME though, right? I won't tell anyone.
ME: We're gonna keep it a secret for now.
AMALGAM: Boo! Tell me the name!!!
ME: Sorry.
AMALGAM: *Pouts awkwardly*
ME: …
AMALGAM: You feel good?
ME: Yep!
AMALGAM: You pooping?
ME: …That's…wow…
AMALGAM: Are you guys gonna have another one?
ME: …I think we'll start with the one.
AMALGAM: It'd be great if you could have a girl next.
ME: I'll see what I can do.
AMALGAM: You might wanna get on that though, if you know what I mean.
ME: …
AMALGAM: Tick tock…*repeatedly pokes at wrist*
ME: I actually knew what you meant.
AMALGAM: Are you planning on natural childbirth? You HAVE to have a natural childbirth.
ME: It'd be awesome if it unfolded that way.
AMALGAM: Oh, just get the epidural, honey.
ME: …Ok...
AMALGAM: You HAVE to meet my doula! She's amazing.
ME: …Ok…
AMALGAM: And make sure you have your birth plan in order.
ME: …Ok...
AMALGAM: Did you know baby doctors secretly hate birth plans? They totally judge you for them. Just show up and roll with the punches.
ME: …Ok…
AMALGAM: How are you feeling?
ME: Like making muffins alone with my baby.
Quinoa Muffins with Chocolate, Banana, and Coconut
makes about 12
These took some trial and error to get right but were so worth the tinkering. They take a bit of planning (black bananas, leftover quinoa) but man, they are crazy delicious. I'm certain the quinoa and chocolate cancel each other out.
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 t salt
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t baking powder
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 super ripe (read: black) bananas, mashed with a fork
2 eggs
1 t vanilla
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1 cup cooked quinoa (this is about 1/3 dry)
1 cup chopped bittersweet chocolate (or chocolate chips)
turbinado sugar (Sugar-In-The-Raw) for sprinkling (optional)
Preheat oven to 400F and paper or grease a muffin tin. In a medium bowl, combine the flours, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Whisk well and set aside. In an electric mixer, cream the butter and the sugar until light and fluffy. Add the bananas and the eggs, mixing and scraping down the sides after each addition. Add the dry ingredient mixture a bit at a time, mixing until just combined. Stir in the coconut, quinoa and chocolate. Use an ice cream scoop to drop the batter into your muffin tins. Sprinkle with turbinado sugar and bake for 20ish minutes or until the tops are golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Serve warm for optimal deliciousness.
(Did you know you can also make a batch of these and freeze them? Bake muffins and cool completely. Then place them in a plastic freezer bag, squeezing as much of the air out as possible. When you're ready for a muffin, preheat oven to 350F, pop a muffin or two into a muffin tin and bake/warm until heated through.)
xoxo
jolie
P.S. THANK YOU SO MUCH for all the kind words and congratulations! I am so blown away by all the support and love and I feel it ALL. You guys are the best ever. Giant hugs and love to you……………xo
This is amazing. So, so familiar.
ReplyDeleteHi Jolie,
ReplyDeleteLiz here- your 1st roomie at Oxy... I've been checking out your blog (totally love it) for a little while now, and was heartbroken when you recounted your fertility struggles, and also immensely touched by the grace of your words. I hoped that by you releasing those words, and sending your pain out to all of us that the world would in turn give back the amazing gift that is now growing in you. A first pregnancy is the best of all worlds - it's amazing (literally), so new and crazy, fun and joyous. Relish this time. I'm so happy for you both!
Liz! Hi! Thank you so much for your kind words. I appreciate them so much:)) xoxoxo Hope you are wonderful.
DeleteHAHAHAHAHAHA! Gah, you crack me up woman. I love you. xo
ReplyDeletethat's right, you just start with the one. :) lovely lovely news
ReplyDeleteO.M.G!!! My keyboard is now soaked from a thorough tea-spewing! (I know, ew). Just wait until you get the total strangers feeling up your blossoming tummy w/o even offering you a cookie first, or something.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to both of you!!
Hysterical! The scary part is I have actually heard people (not me-mama taught me manners)asking pregnant women these questions. Oh and strangers who go up and touch a pregnant woman's stomach without asking--how rude is that? Makes you want to slap people silly. Good thing I've never been an expectant mother. It is wonderful to hear you are feeling well, have sonny boy's name picked out, know how to brush off nosy busybodies and you still have your fabulous sense of humor.
ReplyDeleteVery much enjoyed your crazy conversations. So how are you feeling now? :)
ReplyDelete