Our family eats a Whole-Food, Plant-Based diet. We have been doing this for almost two years. In the beginning, I loved looking up recipes all over the internet and trying new things. It was fun for me to prepare delicious and new dinners for my family, but often they were time intensive, had a long list of ingredients, or didn't feel very whole-food focused. I wanted to eat simpler.

During this year I have spent a lot of time creating our own family cookbook. I have filled it with recipes we have enjoyed as a family. These meals were created using simple ingredients and focus on eating whole foods that are not too processed. Creating this cookbook has been fun and had moments of great success and moments of great failure. The failures got set aside and the successes made the cut for the cookbook.


Now I am excited to share it with anyone that desires to eat more plant based meals.

The cookbook includes 44 recipes.


The breakfast section includes 15 recipes, including our favorite smoothies and acai bowls, three ways we love to eat oatmeal, 100% whole wheat pancakes and french toast, and a tofu scramble burrito.




The Lunch and Dinner section has 18 recipes including salads, sandwiches, soups, quinoa bowls, pizza, pasta, rice and bean bowls, and sushi.


The Side Dishes section has 8 recipes including ways to make potatoes, veggies, breadsticks, spring rolls and bruschetta.


Finally, the Desserts section has 3 recipes that are naturally sweetened and simple.

How far along: 40 Weeks!

Baby size: 19.6 inches and 6.8 lbs. The size of a Leek.

Maternity clothes: Wearing a loose, flowy dress or tee shirts with Daniel's basketball shorts are my preferred outfits right now. Real maternity clothes are almost too restrictive.

Sleep: Honestly, I am actually sleeping really well. It's been surprising but good!

Gender: A baby sister!

Best moment this week: Daniel took this whole week off work since he already had a few days off for the 4h of July. It has been so nice to have him home and watch him and Kennedy play and be best buds. The 4th was fun too, even though baby sister decided she didn't want to join us for it.

Looking forward to: Having this baby! I can't believe I made it to my due date!

What I miss: Moving with ease. Walking, sitting up, lying down, bending over. It all happens in slow motion right now.

Movement: The best! I am trying to soak in her little kicks and jabs. 

Food cravings: Ice from sonic... mmm.

Aversions: I really haven't had many this pregnancy.

Nursery: Everything is ready. And has been ready for a while. Just needs a little one to go along with it.

Overall: Week 38 was hard. I was so sure she would come early, then she didn't. At my 38 week 4 day appointment I was dilated to a 3-4 and 80% effaced. Again I was so sure she would come really soon. Then she didn't. My doctor wanted to induce me before he went out of town for the week and that was hard because I would have loved for him to deliver this baby, but I was not at all interested at getting induced, especially knowing my body knows how to go into labor. Still it was an emotional decision. By 39 weeks my doctor was gone, and I had decided not to get induced, I figured that my being dilated meant nothing since days had passed and no active labor/ giving birth had happened, and my expectations just went out the window. So I spent that week just being pregnant and being (mostly) at peace about it all. And it was a much better week. Since Daniel wasn't working we had great times as a family of three and just enjoyed all the little moments we had together. It was kind of special to have that time together as well, especially to focus on Kennedy, before she has to share our attention with another little human.

Miscellaneous: I am super thankful I have felt healthy and strong during this pregnancy. We still keep up with walks and I love going and working in the garden. I am thankful to be able to do all the things we want to do up until the end. And I am so thankful for a healthy little girl that is just growing and growing inside of me, getting all ready to come earth side. I can't wait to meet her and hold her and cuddle her and kiss her.