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This week on the Digest you'll see some tips for easy snacking and new idea I made in the kitchen for breakfast. You'll also get a peek into our first trip as a family of 4 to Nashville and some of what we ate along the way!

Watching your husband become a daddy the first time is truly the best thing. Watching it each time after that and seeing his heart expand and walls let down is just as amazing

My mom took Asher so this is what date night in looks like for us! Pepperoni Pizza Pasta from my Meals Made Simple (page 166) and a good bottle of wine.

Had a little date with this one. He has transitioned so well, but I haven't! After 5 years of it just being him and me, I miss our special time together so I pumped a bottle and left baby E with dad so we could have some time out. It was the perfect afternoon! 

Our Monday morning was off to a good start! Wearing Easton is the only way to get breakfast made, pack lunches, and get Asher out the door for school.

Nighttime snack. It was either this or the Real Deal Chocolate Chip Cookies in the freezer. ?? Dairy-free ranch is from Meals Made Simple on page 247. A tip for cutting up a bunch of veggies on the weekend and storing them all week for snacking or kid's lunches- store them submerged in water with a lid. Carrots, celery, jicama, cucumbers, and zucchini all do great this way and last 7-10 days and stay crisp. 

Tried something new for breakfast. I took a grain-free wrap from the freezer and heated it in a skillet with a little mayo spread on top. Then put a piece of ham (or cooked bacon would work) and cracked 3 eggs on top. Then folded it up and let it cook! 
Recipe for wraps can be found in my cookbook Meals Made Simple on page 262.

Sometimes when he naps.. I nap too 🙂

A simple snack. Turkey (nitrate/carrageenan free) roll ups with avocado, mustard, and garlic dill kraut. The turkey is Diestel, the kraut is Farmhouse Kraut and the mustard is organic from Trader Joes!

First trip as a family of 4 and we're proud we made it through check-in with all of our stuff and security with plenty of time to spare! I forgot how much stuff you have to bring when you travel with a baby! You moms of 3+ amaze me! 
4 rolling bags, 2 car seats, 1 stroller, 2 backpacks, 2 kids, and a partridge in a pear tree. 

A Californian ordering “The Californian” while in Tennessee. The gluten-free toast was pushed to the side but it sure looked pretty in the picture!

This guy was having a good hair day! I wish I could have chickens of my own… without the clean-up of course 😉

There's just never enough latte art in my life! I don't get coffee often but I love getting a decaf latte with almond milk when I'm out with friends.

We spent 2 days with my friend and her family and went to the most amazing pumpkin patch we've ever seen! The patches in California are nothing compared to this! Asher and their adorable Eisele were too cute for words as they wandered around in awe at all of the excitement of the animals, games, trains, and pumpkins. 

Well… this is what you do when your son is in love with  a pumpkin and begs to bring it home. Thankfully, I brought 2 packs of diapers for E and used them all so we had some room in a carry-on. It was flagged on the X-ray but made it through! I'm pretty sure that was a first for that agent. Asher was beaming!

Hang-man concentration! I love that he loves games like this. A favorite local cafe has chess so Asher has gotten used to playing games while we're waiting for our food, so when there's no chess we like to play hang man! Don't worry, I'm not super-mom, we do still use the iPhone on occasion 🙂

October 15th was National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day. It's hard to convey the “coincidence” of us being in Nashville 2 years in a row on this date.

 Last year, I added on an extra book tour stop to Nashville on October 15th. While I was there, I met Angie Smith, who has become a dear friend, because she had a story almost identical to Aila's and I read her book I Will Carry You while pregnant. We realized after spending the day together that it happened to be National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day. 

A couple of weeks ago, we realized Asher had a couple of days off of school and decided to take a family vacation out here again to visit Angie and her family and a couple other friends, with no recollection of the significance of the date. When I was with her we realized it was October 15th again. Coincidence? I don't think so. Some of my closest friends are friends I've made in this last year after losing Aila, and they all share a similar loss, and I thank God for putting them all in my life because I don't think I would have gotten through it without people in my life who truly understand. 

Although I didn't have a candle to light, I do have a passionate heart called to empathetically pray for women who have lost babies, so each and every one of you who have shared your sweet angel babies and stories of loss with me will be in my prayers. I am honored that you choose to share your stories, photos, and memories with me, and the names of your children will have a place in my heart always.

I can't believe this sweet boy is already 7 weeks. He's been smiling and coo-ing more than ever.

When I was in Nashville we tried Avo and the avocado margarita was delicious! Ryan had a mescal cocktail that was even better. Did I mention how much I missed my brother's paleo Margarita recipe while pregnant? I literally craved it all second and third trimester! 

We loved the lasagna, zucchini noodles, and the special kimchi spring rolls! I love discovering and going to restaurants that have so many great options for those with allergies. Actually, funny story – they are so strict about allergies, the food we brought in for the 2 kids at our table was not allowed and they had to eat it outside! So those with celiac – you are fully safe eating here.

Never a dull moment with my sweet boy. He is so silly and has such an incredible imagination paired with the passion to learn and understand things on a deeper level. He makes life so much fun.

People always ask me what I eat when we travel. The answer is… lots and lots of lettuce wrapped burgers! I almost always add bacon and avocado and sometimes when I'm feeling fancy, an egg on top. This was at Fido in Nashville.