I wrote this post on the day I went into labor, so, I never got around to publishing it. Harlow's little brother, Hughes, is three weeks old now! Publishing this post "as is" because the food prep, restaurant recs and podcast/book info are all still relevant.
Here it is!
The anxious anticipation awaiting baby #2 continues heading into week 40! Part of me actually keeps forgetting I'm about to birth a baby because I've been so distracted by making sure we have a solid plan in place for Harlow. Luckily we have family in town who can watch him, and, yes, I do have a daily "on-call" schedule written out :).
So, really, it's just a matter of juggling Harlow's daycare schedule and making sure he has clean clothes and plenty of food prepared...one less thing for family to have to manage when they watch him.
Peep Harlow at the Prairie Village art fair this weekend. Little man has no idea just how much things are about to change at home!
Plant-based meal prep
Harlow eats plant-based foods so we make sure he has plenty of options for daycare. He eats the fruits and veggies daycare provides. We just make sure he has a plant protein and carb to round out his meals.
Here's what we prepped for daycare this week:
roasted chickpeas
tofu nuggets
steamed sweet potatoes
We try to make big batches of things to last him through the week and prep foods that Joe and I will eat too. For example, the roasted chickpeas can be eaten alone as a snack or I love to throw them on a salad. (by the way, highly recommend Trader Joe's "BBQ 101" seasoning on the roasted chickpeas).
As for the homemade tofu nuggets, these turned out AMAZING! All credit goes to Joey for these. It took everything in our power not eat them all right then and there. They were yummy dipped in ketchup or tossed in a salad. (tofu nug recipe coming soon!!)
Kansas City spots for the week
Enter our favorite KC restaurant: Blue Sushi Sake Grill. I could dedicate an entire blog post just to Blue (and I probably will one day!). Pre-baby, Joe and I used to eat here 2x per week. Their Happy Hour is amazing and they have tons of vegan sushi options. And all their vegan options are clearly labeled (I love this because I prefer not to have to ask the waiter a million questions about vegan options/modifications).
Our fav menu items:
Crispy Brussel Sprouts
Edamame (regular or spicy depending on our mood)
Cowgirl roll
Crunchy Cabbage
Prince Roll
Vegan Black Dragon
Vegan South Pacific
Blue is very family friendly! It was the first restaurant we ever took Harlow to. We went out to eat here this past weekend as a final family outing of three. We tried to teach him how to color for the first time. He's not quite there...he preferred to eat the crayons more than anything.
The Roasterie Coffee Company. My last day of work was last week and with not knowing when we'll be in the hospital, we've been sending Harlow to daycare. So, I've ended up with some free days which I've been spending trying to get some content ready for the website. I like the Woodside location to get work done. The wifi is reliable and there's plenty of seating. They do have vegan overnight oats, but in an attempt to save money and use up food we have in the fridge, you can see I brought my own breakfast with me --- my not-too-sweet tropical smoothie.
What I am listening to and reading this week:
Andrew Huberman, PhD: Understanding your brain + optimising it's function. If you enjoy learning about neuroscience and how lifestyle choice impacts your brain (for example, what caffeine does to your body)...then this one for you.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain. I was inspired to read this book after listening to this podcast interview: Susan Cain (on the power of introverts and bittersweetness)
I just started reading Quiet. As an introvert, I can tell I am going to enjoy this book. I loved the opening quote:
"A species in which everyone was General Patton would not succeed, any more than would a race in which everyone was Vincent van Gogh. I prefer to think that the planet needs athletes, philosophers, sex symbols, painters, scientists; it needs the warmhearted, the hardhearted, the coldhearted, and the weakhearted. It needs those who can devote their lives to studying how many droplets of water are secreted by the salivary glands of dogs under which circumstances, and it needs those who can capture the passing impression of cherry blossoms in a fourteen-syllable poem or devote twenty-five pages to the dissection of a small boy's feelings as he lies in bed in the dark waiting for his mother to kiss him goodnight.... Indeed the presence of outstanding strengths presupposes that energy needed in other areas has been channeled away from them." ― Allen Shawn
I hope you are having a good week and staying cool!