Flutterings (& Chocolatey Mug Cakes)

It was a lazy Tuesday morning (my only "lazy" morning)
and I laid awake in my bed.

Just laying there.
Breathing in and out, in and out.
Trying to picture that little, growing baby inside me.

I laid my hands on my belly and continued to breath.
In and out, in and out.
And there it was!

I gentle poke from the inside.

I laid perfectly still...Another poke!
Gah, I love this! My favorite part of pregnancy is being able
to feel a baby wriggling and stretching inside me...

Me! Just another human being who happens to be housing
another, growing human being, who will grow up to be a big
girl or boy who can laugh, cry, dance, think, believe, and achieve.

The thought is beautiful and almost unfathomable in some ways.

Hah! I think I can feel my little peanut squirming around as we speak!
It's miraculous.

While pregnancy brings the joys of feeling a human-being inside,
it also brings the feeling of some random cravings...
Which is where the "chocolatey mug cakes" part of my post comes in!

Remember this post from a while back?

Well, I have another chocolatey mug cake recipe to share with you!
Because I want everyone to know the joys of mug cakes. ;)
And so I don't feel alone in my random chocolate cravings

Healthy Chocolatey Mug Cake
Total Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 1 mug cake
Nutrition at a glance (more detailed nutrition at end of post):
Calories (337), Fat (20.4g), Carbs (40.3g), Fiber (7.6g), Sugars (18.6g), Protein (5.9g)

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp. whole wheat flour (or white flour)
• 2 Tbsp. dutch processed cocoa (regular cocoa works fine, but dutch is more rich!)
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1-2 Tbsp. organic cane sugar (regular sugar works, or 1 Tbsp. of honey or agave nectar)
• 1 flax egg (1/2 Tbsp. ground flaxseed + 1 Tbsp. water) -- a regular egg, well beaten, also works!
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. dark chocolate almond milk
• 1 Tbsp. applesauce
• 1 Tbsp. melted coconut oil (you could also just use 2 Tbsp. canola oil in place of the 1 Tbsp. applesauce/ 1 Tbsp. coconut oil--I just like to use applesauce for half of it because it's healthier ;) )
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 Tbsp. Ghirardelli dark chocolate chips--they're the best!

Directions:

1. (If using the flax egg) In a small bowl, prepare the flax egg by combining the flaxseed with water. Let sit for 3-5 minutes until it has a viscous, egg-like texture. 
2. In a large mug, stir together the flour, cocoa, and sugar (if not using agave or honey).
3. Add to the mug the egg (if not using flax egg), almond milk, applesauce, oil, vanilla, and agave or honey (if not using sugar). Mix until well combined.
4. Stir in the chocolate chips. 
5. Microwave somewhere between 50 and 60 seconds. The time really depends on the strength of your microwave. It may take a bit of experimentation to get it just right.
6. Enjoy! And keep a glass of milk nearby. :)  

Note: The flax egg makes the mug cake slightly grainy, which I don't mind because I'm not sensitive to different textures. However, if you are not so much a fan of different textures, I would use a regular egg for a more fluffy texture. :)

                                                                                          

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 Serving

Per Serving% Daily Value*

Calories 337

Calories from Fat 184

Total Fat 20.4g31%

Saturated Fat 14.7g74%

Sodium 14mg1%

Carbohydrates 40.3g13%

Dietary Fiber 7.6g30%

Sugars 18.6g

Protein 5.9g

Vitamin A 1% · Vitamin C 15%

Calcium 5% · Iron 29%

*Based on a 2000 calorie diet

Pregnancy Numero Dos!

If you hadn't heard already, I am expecting a BABY!
Yes, baby #2...in July...due one day before Kaiya's birthday!

Hopefully I'm not in the hospital for Kaiya's 2nd birthday...
We may have to celebrate a little earlier...or later :D

Anyways, I just wanted to share a bit about how this pregnancy has been.

Pregnancy #2 = Pregnancy #1 = Wonderful!

I know there are hundreds and thousands of women who have very difficult
pregnancies, and I have no idea how they get through it all! That would be so difficult!
Especially for those pregnant mommas who already have one or two (or three) little ones.

For me, however, the first trimester of pregnancy is a little rough,
filled with nausea and exhaustion,
but starting the second trimester is heaven!
I have much more energy and I just feel good--like my body enjoys 
housing and nourishing a little baby. 

And I truly feel blessed to experience pregnancy like that!
because pregnancy for a lot of women is really difficult.
And I have so much respect for those whose bodies have a
difficult time with pregnancy (my mom had terrible, hospitalizing pregnancies!)

Anyways, despite the very similar pregnancy experience with Kaiya and Baby McG #2,
this pregnancy is also very different in some ways.

Why is this pregnancy different?

Reason #1: I already have one little munchkin to take care of (plus a big, handsome one ;) )
As my belly grows, it gets a little more difficult (and exhasuting!) to carry Kaiya around with me all the time! And I do tend to need at least one nap a day, but that often doesn't happen because Kaiya can't be up and about while I snooze. :D That would lead to disastrous consequences...

Reason #2: I am doing pregnancy yoga and working out daily
When I was pregnant with Kaiya, I was taking like 17 or 18 credits of classes and working, so I didn't have much time, or energy, for physical activity outside of walking to and from campus. This pregnancy is much different. Every day I do some sort of physical activity, whether Joshua
does some personal training with me or I YouTube some pregnancy pilates or yoga. I find
that as I stay fit and active during my pregnancy, I have a lot more energy and I feel much stronger
and confident about what my body is capable of during pregnancy. It is also extremely beneficial for labor and birth!

Reason #3: I am prepping for a natural delivery
This is also why I am working out a lot more during this pregnancy that I did with Kaiya. I want to have a strong, capable mind and body for a natural delivery. That's right. Completely natural. No pain meds. With Kaiya, I went into the whole labor thing with the thought, "I'd like to have a natural birth but I might have the epidural. I don't know. I guess I'll decide when it comes to the big day." BAD IDEA!!! That is the wrong thought process to have going into labor, because you DO want the pain meds if you haven't prepped for a natural birth. So, I ended up having the epidural with Kaiya (which I do not regret!).

However, with this baby, I want to try a natural birth AND I am going to prepare for it. Have you heard of Hypnobirthing? It's a natural birthing technique that emphasizes relaxation, meditation, and breathing throughout labor and understanding your body's strength and capability. I've done some research on Hypnobirthing and really want to try it out! So, I am going to buy this book and CD to prepare for my natural delivery. (I will have to do another post after the delivery to let you all know
if hypnobirthing worked for me!)

Reason #4: I won't be in school after the birth!!!! (my favorite reason this pregnancy is different)
Self-explanatory. I couldn't be more excited to be a mommy at home with my favorite people and not have to run off to school or work every day.

By the way...I'm 15 weeks along now! Almost 4 months. 5 more to go!

Race to the End

Well hello everyone!

I've kind of been M.I.A. for the last few months (or more).

Life was seriously so crazy this last semester.

I was taking 15 credit hours of class, working 20 hours a week, 

and being a wife and mom on top of that. 

It nearly killed me. And I nearly gave up.

But then I decided I was too close to the end of my schooling to give up.

I made it through the semester after many agonizing days (weeks, months, etc.) of

not enough sleep, time, or energy to get everything done.

Some days I thought I was losing my mind.

(Some days I really think I did).

Some days I cried.

The only reason I made it through was because Heavenly Father is all-knowing 

and all-loving and put people in my life to get me through.

These angels:

*my husband

*my sweet Kaiya (believe it or not)

And...

*countless selfless and kind babysitters who also have busy lives of their own

I could never do anything I have accomplished without them.

And for one more semester (just one more!),

I will be relying on them again.

For just one more semester, my life will be unbelievably busy with

15 hours of work, 15 hours of internship, and a 3 credit class every week.

But I can do this! And it will be so worth it!

When things get tough this semester, I think I will just ponder about

how amazing it will feel to walk across the stage at graduation and say,

"I did it. I got married, had a baby, and graduated from college--all within 3 years."

Was it crazy? You bet your bottom dollar.

Was it worth it? Wait 'til you see my smile at graduation. :)

Part of Being a Mom

Part of being a mom is realizing that the time your little girl is
"little" goes by way way way too quickly.

Part of being a mom is realizing that not too long ago
your little girl was totally dependent on mommy and daddy.

She only drank the milk I provided for her,
Only got around by being carried, and
Couldn't clearly communicate her wants and needs.

Now, my little girl is running around, collecting rocks,
exploring trash cans, eating everything, calling Joshua "dada,"
"reading" books, kissing dolls, attempting somersaults, folding her arms
for family prayer, chasing dogs, chasing ducks, making friends, obsessing about
babies, pointing at birds ("bees" according to Kaiya), saying new words,
and just being too darn cute!

Why can't time slow down for a couple of months before
she officially becomes a toddler?

Why do they have to grow so fast?!

I guess part of being a mom is learning to love
and embrace the change, even if it goes by entirely
too quickly.

Life Lately: McGlothin Family Updates

Life can be a little crazy sometimes.

I'm sure you know exactly what I mean.

Between a 20-hour work week, 15 school credits, and family responsibilities,
I sometimes barely rememeber what I did 20 minutes ago, let alone one day ago.

When people ask me how my weekend was, I usually say something like,
"That's a really good question..." or "What did I do?!"

I guess what I am saying is that I am exhausted!
But it is SO worth it because I graduate in April. Yay!

Recently, Joshua and I have been pretty busy with school and work.
Most of the time we get to spend together is in the evenings
after Joshua gets home from school.

Dishes pile up in the sink for a couple days because we are so busy
and Kaiya's toys end up everywhere...
the shower, trashcan, bookshelf, drawers, dryer, and other random places
throughout the house.

Joshua and I celebrated my birthday at the beginning of the month with some dinner
at a Thai restaurant in Provo that was delicious! We love Thai food and have
set a goal to visit every Thai restaurant in Provo before we leave next year!
(We'll see how that goes...) :)
We also got some ice cream from Coldstone!
Seriously, every time I go there, I tell myself I will try a new Creation flavor...
but I always end up getting the Founder's Favorite ice cream.
It's filled with addicting sweet cream ice cream, brownie chunks,
pecans, chocolate syrup and caramel syrup.
Is your mouth watering yet? Mine is...

 Now is your mouth watering?!

For date night last Friday, Joshua and I went to the Provo temple
and just enjoyed sitting outside of it, reading together,
and enjoying the peaceful evening.
We even got to cuddle a bit because it was chilly. ;)

Anyways, Kaiya is showing interest in helping me "clean,"
meaning she will hold on to the broom as I try to sweep the floor
and pushes the vacuum with me. She's such a great little helper!

Not too long ago, Kaiya reached into the refrigerator and pulled down a bowl
of beans that spilled all over the floor.
She immediately looked over at me to see what I would do.
I just smiled at her and said, "Whoops! Let's clean it up!"
She smiled and picked up each bean, individually, and placed it
on the bottom shelf of the fridge. 

That didn't last long...because then she started grabbing handfuls of the
beans she had already put away and threw them back on the ground!
Close Kaiya...but not quite. :)

And for those not keeping track, Kaiya is now 14 months old!
Unbelievable, right?

Kaiya 14-month update:

• Favorite foods: everything...except cranberry sauce (can't blame her, right?)
• Favorite words: baby (most things are "baby"), bye-bye, duck, dad
• Favorite activities: looking at things upside down (with her head between her legs), playing tag, making friends, playing in dirt and rocks, playing with daddy, going to the duck pond
• Favorite person/people: Mommy and Daddy of course! ;) And anyone else who plays with her...
• Favorite book: Back in My Arms

Playing with rocks...one of her favorite things!

Well, I hope you have a wonderful day! :)

Coming to a Close

So, I've been thinking a lot recently about
my quickly approaching college graduation.
(I graduate next April!)

I've thought about how the past 16 years
of my life have revolved around
school, education, studying, etc.

And as I am sure many have felt before (or maybe I'm just a nerd ;) ),
I am scared  of being done with school!

What am I going to do with myself?!
All that extra time.

Well, I know one thing is for sure.
I am definitely going to be spending a LOT
more time with this little cutie...

**You may recognize this picture from a previous post I made
when Kaiya turned 5 months old.**

Now, she'll be 10 MONTHS OLD TOMORROW!!!
(Oh my gosh!)

Anyways, I miss time with this sweet baby.
I am truly grateful for everyone who has helped watch
her while I'm at work or in class,
but I want to be the one at home with her.

I don't want to miss her first steps.
I don't want to miss the first time she says, "Mama" or "Dada."
I don't want her to wonder who will be babysitting her each day.

I want to be there.

I want to show her the world and teach her the things I know
and the things that really matter in life.

I want to be her role model.
But I also feel like there's so much I can learn from her.

And now that graduation is coming up,
I feel like I am getting closer to spending more
time with my sweet little Kaiya.

So, my formal education is coming to a close,
but another chapter of my life is beginning to open.
I plan on filling this new chapter with 
*more time with Kaiya,
*more time with Joshua,
*books I have been wanting to read,
*ongoing personal study and learning,
*new hobbies,
*new family members *wink wink*
*and much, much more.

Feeling SO excited for what the future holds! :)

~Anyone else feeling nervous, excited, uncertain, relieved about college graduation?

~Or, if you have already graduated from college, how did you deal with the stress of 

transitioning into the "real world?"

Tired and Teething

So, the past couple of days have been reeeeallly hard.

I haven't gotten anything done that I need to do to get ready for finals.

I have a final on Tuesday that I haven't been able to study for
and I literally have no idea what will be on it!

I have gotten maybe 2 hours of decent sleep in the past two days.

My house is a disaster.

Can you tell I'm a little stressed...and tired?
I am.

Part of why I haven't been able to get anything done or get any sleep
is because Kaiya has just started teething.

Poor thing.

Just yesterday she started to get sick and drool everywhere
and today she has been miserable most of the day.
She just wants to snuggle up to mommy,
which is something I absolutely love,
but it makes it difficult to study for finals or clean my house
or eat or anything really.

Sometimes, being a mom is really hard and really exhausting.
It's on these difficult days that I like to watch this and this.

These videos remind me why I chose to have a family and be a mother.
I love being a mommy.
Even though it is difficult at times, it brings me so much joy
and is so rewarding.

Life is hard, but God is good and helps me through these times.

"Good" mom, "bad" mom

Sometimes, I have one of those days where I feel like I can do no wrong.
Everything works out perfectly.
Kaiya's happy. Joshua's happy.
I'm happy.
I feel like a "good mom".

Tuesday was one of those days.
Joshua and I woke up early to workout together.
(And boy, was it a brutal workout - in a good way)
We loved spending that time together,
suffering through the burning thighs
and the sweatiness that accompanied it.

I had my Writings of Isaiah test that I was worried about
and felt like I did really well on it.

Kaiya was SUPER happy all day.
Full of smiles and giggles and crawling!
(Except I didn't get to see her crawl so it doesn't count, haha)

My favorite moment was when I held
Kaiya in my arms before bedtime.
Joshua kept leaning in and making funny noises at her.
Each time he did, she would squeal and giggle uncontrollably,
hide her face in my shoulder, and then look at Joshua expectantly,
just waiting for the next silly noise.

We did this over and over and over...and over.
It was one of those moments I don't ever want to forget.
It was so full of joy and love.
Love for my baby and love for my sweet husband.

Wednesday, on the other hand was soooo hard.
One of those days where I felt like a "bad mom".
Everything seemed to go wrong.
I could not get anything done.
Kaiya was fussy ALL day.
I could not figure out what was wrong!

I just held her and rocked her, trying to provide some comfort.
I felt so overwhelmed and so unqualified to be a mother.
I was tired and stressed (lots of midterms to study for).
And no matter how hard I tried to get her to go to sleep,
she would not have it!

So she cried, and I cried.
And then I prayed.
I prayed for strength at this moment
because I could not do it on my own anymore.
I prayed for Kaiya and I prayed for myself.

And even though she did not quiet down immediately,
she did eventually fall asleep for the night.
And I got to sleep.
I also got the loving embrace of a caring husband
when he got home from work.

Life's hard, but I'm blessed.
Even on my "bad mom" days.

A good reminder for me! (image found on Pinterest)

Greeting the Pearly Gates

Image from Google

"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long perfectly manicured fingernails.

 I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor's children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden. I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and tears of a friend on my shoulder.

I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."

~Marjorie Pay Hinckley


I share the sentiments of this remarkable woman. I want my life to contain more substance than things the world provides...

The world provides objects and things that are fleeting, things that end, things that are broken and lost. And those things are the ones that really don't matter.

The things that do matter are the ones that have eternal consequences--service, love, charity, motherhood, compassion, sacrifice, family. These things are not broken or lost. They never end.

And they are the things that I want to carry with me when I greet those pearly gates.

Love,
JaM

A Heart Full of Gratitude

Sometimes life can be pretty challenging, y'know?
 Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed...

 being a mom
 a student
a wife
 etc.

...and I feel I will never be able to get everything done that I need or want to get done.
There are just never enough minutes in the day.

Despite the challenges that life brings me, I know that someone is looking out for me.
I know that God is looking out for me.

He knows me.
He knows my name.
He knows my heartaches,
My stresses,
My desires.

I'm pretty sure He knows me better than I know myself.
I know this because He continues to place people into my life who help make my burdens lighter.
Right now, those people are my friends who sacrifice their time and energy to take care of Kaiya while Joshua and I work and go to school.
I cannot thank them enough for their willingness to help.
I truly feel blessed to have these people in my life.

Plus, who wouldn't want to play with this cutie patootie?!

And there are so many more people who make my life
sweeter and more meaningful than I could ever hope for.

Who are you especially grateful for in your life right now?

Love,
JaM

5 months ago...

5 months ago, I was so blessed to have little Kaiya enter into Joshua's and my life.
We were full of awe, joy, love, and (yes) a little bit of fear.
How are we going to take care of this thing? This living, breathing, little human life?
The task seemed so overwhelming at the time. (Hormones may have played a part in that.)

There were so many unknowns, and there still are. But I feel more and more confident in my role as Kaiya's mother every day. She is a little piece of Joshua and I that I will treasure for ever.

And to celebrate Kaiya's 5 months of life, I decided to take lots of pictures of this cutie patootie to document how much she has grown!

 

For some reason, she reminds me of Santa Claus in this picture...funny, huh?!

Ooooo, camera!

Just chillaxin'. And no, I did not place her hands there. She did that all by herself.
She's that cool.

 I love my big, 5-month old baby girl.