In those moments, I daydream about sharing a recipe for the beef stew my mum crafted from her favorite and very weathered California Heritage cookbook. Or, the Ina Garten recipe for cheddar corn chowder that Nils’s mum’s friend sent along after an empassioned discussion at a family holiday gathering about the Barefoot Contessa and my love of that recipe in particular.

I am grateful for the thoughtful food shares. As each empty baking dish and serving plate pile upon each other for return, I wonder what I may do to show how much the gift of a meal means to a new mum that barely has time to fit in a shower between feedings.

For now, I hope this recent photo from Kai’s first month of living suffices. I mean, look at that smirk…

I will be attempting to continue blogging about my mumhood adventures and mishaps and all that falls between those lines. If curious, feel free to follow along.

Thank you so much, our family and friends for the eats and laughs and laundry washes and naps. I owe you. xo

Naturally, I’ve been abstaining from alcohol. While spending hours at our bar, with friends, on New Year’s Eve, even this mum-to-be needed something bubbly with which to toast the new year. Luckily, The Bartender anticipated this craving (he’s getting good at fulfilling these pregnancy cravings). While I poured Champagne for the bar’s revelers, he instructed that my bottle was in the cooler. Bottom shelf. On the left. Fre Brut.

I’d tasted a white from this producer already and was very curious how the sparkling beverage would taste.

I popped the cork before midnight, so I could pop the cork on a real bottle for The Bartender when the years exchanged positions. Then, I swigged a taste directly from the bottle of Fre Brut because, well, I figured the patrons needed the glasses more than I did, and if I was drinking this sparkler, the least I could do is feel a little scandalous by swigging outta the bottle.

There are enough bubbles to tickle your throat. Crisp bites of green apple and juicy peach entice further sipping. I must have looked like I was enjoying myself. Soon others were prompted by curiousity for their own swigs. Each time, a satisfied yet surprised glance towards the label followed. I must admit, for a moment or two, I fooled myself into thinking it was the real thing. And, that feeling was encouraged further when my friend Ry, thinking I was sipping from one of the other bottles, grabbed it from in front of me with the “what are you doing?” look. 

Fre fooled him. That’s good enough for me.

Happy 2012 to all of you. Wishing you a fulfilling and adventurous new year.

Cheers!

Just in case you’re wondering where my writing has been lately, allow me to coax you over to the blog where I share musings about my impending mumhood. The blog is named, 40 weeks…to life, and each week I write a letter to our lil one, both for the child who may be a curious reader someday, our family and friends, and for myself so I do not forget these fleeting moments. I will return to palate-to-pen soon as I truly miss it here. And, I just got a new lens that I look forward to breaking in over some tasty photographs.

Happy New Year!

Cheers.