Nesting Season

Hey Friend,

This week after story time, during the playtime, Charlie was drawn to the babies they have there—gently saying "shh shh shh" and patting their little backs with such care. Watching him practice those tender motions made my heart absolutely melt. You see, Andy and I have some exciting news to share: we're welcoming another little one into our family around December 21st—a baby girl🩷! We just might have a Christmas baby on our hands.

Next week I'll officially be in my third trimester, and we've been talking more about the baby with Charlie, so it's finally starting to process for him. From what I witnessed at story time, I have a feeling he's going to absolutely rock this big brother thing.

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🍲 Featured Recipe – Oven Roasted Garlic Butter Chicken

Serves 6 | Perfect for busy families and meal prep.

I tried this recipe this week and it is really good! I feel like this will become one of my go-to meals. I used some dairy free cheese and next time I'm going to substitute heavy cream for coconut milk. This was so flavorful!

👉 Get the full recipe here (YouTube)

Why I love it: It has such amazing flavor! The leftovers taste even better the next day. Plus, it's toddler-approved and pregnancy-craving friendly.

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📅 Weekly Meal Ideas

Here's a lineup of easy, nourishing meals for this cozy season:

• Monday: Oven Roasted Garlic Butter Chicken (YouTube)

• Tuesday: Honey Garlic Salmon (Well Plated)

• Wednesday: Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings (Spend with Pennies)

• Thursday: Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet (The Schmidty Wife)

• Friday: Black Bean Stuffed Sweet Potatoes (Two Spoons)

• Saturday: Sheet Pan Pork Chops with Potatoes (Creme De La Crumb)

• Sunday: Lemon Garlic Salmon Tray Bake (RecipeTin Eats)

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🥨 Quick Snack/Treat – Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats

Perfect for busy mornings or when you need a quick, nourishing snack—no cooking required!

Ingredients:

• ½ cup rolled oats

• ½ cup milk (dairy or non-dairy)

• 1 tbsp chia seeds

• 1 tbsp maple syrup

• ½ tsp cinnamon

• ¼ tsp vanilla extract

• ½ apple, diced

• 1 tbsp chopped walnuts (optional)

Instructions:

1. Mix all ingredients except apple and walnuts in a jar or container.

2. Stir well and refrigerate overnight.

3. In the morning, top with diced apple and walnuts.

4. Enjoy cold or warm it up for 30 seconds in the microwave.

These have been perfect for those early pregnancy mornings when I need something gentle but filling!

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🍎 What's in Season (October Spotlight)

• Fruits: Apples, pears, cranberries, late blackberries

• Vegetables: Sweet potatoes, butternut squash, parsnips, carrots

• Bonus: late-season tomatoes

Best,
Cara