There is absolutely no reason for being rushed along with the rush. Everybody should be free to go slow.

And for the most part we are FREE to go slow. But does that mean that we CHOOSE to go slow? Most of the time we don’t because it’s hard and because there’s lots to do. Always lots to do. In both a great way and in ways that pushes us. ( I so badly want to use the word challenge here but Jeff has let me in on a little secret – I use the word challenge a lot – too much maybe? If you have any other amazing words to express the feeling of being challenged please share them with me – I am always on the hunt for new good descriptive words).

So for instance, I sat down to write this blog post a handful of times. But then Agatha got the stomach flu. And then I got the stomach flu. And then she took at 30 minute nap instead of a 2 hour nap. So here we are, almost a week later, writing writing writing. The same thing happened just half an hour ago. I had the intention to book an appointment with a new holistic fertility acupuncturist here and when trying to book the appointment (which is 2 hours long and sounds magical) I just couldn’t find a moment to actually pick a time and a date that worked. They are only open during the week 8am-3pm, I need to find childcare, my husband works, my baby naps – So, something that should be as simple as saying yes to an appointment has now become something I have to facilitate and organize amongst 4 different people. It’s hard.

I guess what I’m saying is, it isn’t always easy. So go easy on yourself. Hopefully if you’ve been along for the 21 days you’ve found delicious moments of slowness. Maybe you’ve started a few good pre bed rituals, eaten some really nourishing meals, and embraced a few juicy naps that have filled you back up.

Sometimes when I think back to making babies and the start of all of this, I remember talking a lot about how hard it was going to be. Because there were genuine moments of feeling like this wasn’t going to happen. A lot of them. And that, coupled with moments of wanting it so – freaking – badly made it impossible to let go of.

At any given moment there are so many things we can be choosing to do. And so many of them are just plain good for us, inside and out. Sleeping more, taking a good prenatal, connecting with a great practitioner, finding out your ovulating – I could keep going. These good things are things that are sometimes on an invisible check list, one that just by nature of the fact that we can say “yup, doing it” – makes it feel so freaking satisfying.

There is also doing less that’s also so good for us. With no checklist and no agenda. Like the simple idea of just having sex. That’s it. You and your partner. Easier said than done but if you’re in a place where you’re ready to make that baby, try to take a huge deep breath (like the one I helped you to take when we were starting all of this) and dive in. I just don’t want you to think that it is impossible. Or that there is something wrong with you. It isn’t and there is not. There might be an imbalance in your body but there is nothing wrong with you.

Sometimes I think people forget the connection between our bodies and us. Like somehow they are this totally separate entity. We are in fact, one in the same. What goes into our body, what we do to our body, how we speak about our body – that’s what we are made of. I often remind myself of how much I spoke to Aggie when she was in my belly. I took these hour long morning moments to just sit and talk to her, to breathe with her and to move with her. It was amazing. There is no reason why my body doesn’t deserve that kind of love and attention now, with her on the other side. Good food, hot baths, a warm fire, a big juicy hug – it all goes a long way.

Here are a few of my favourite things right now (although I totally burned the apricots in this granola so will be making it again this weekend). And do me a favour will you? Make some really good slow soup where you roast all the veggies before you turn them into soup. And drink some delicious beer, or red wine. And definitely cozy up and watch this (it’s on Netflix).

You got this lady.

---

Millet, Oat, Maple + Apricot Granola 

• 2 cups old-fashioned oats
• 2 cups cooked millet (about 1/2 cup uncooked)
• 1/4 cup flax seeds
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 cup oil (I used coconut)
• 1/2 cup  maple syrup + splash for later
• 2/3 cup dried apricots
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and warm coconut oil + maple syrup in a small saucepan. Pour into a large bowl and stir in salt, vanilla, and cinnamon. Add millet, oatmeal, and flax and toss to coat everything well. Spread out in an even layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment and bake for about 30 minutes, stirring every 15, until the granola is almost crisp. Remove from oven and carefully pour back into bowl. Add dried figs and a splash of maple syrup then stir to coat everything. Increase temperate to 400 degrees F and pour back onto tray and bake for 5 – 10 minutes until crispy. Keep a watch on it so it doesn’t burn!

Baked Farmers Market Pasta 

• 1 package favourite mushrooms
• 1 knob butter
• garlic (1 clove) pressed
• 2 cups torn dinosaur kale (or whatever dark leafy greens look good )
• 1/2 package good pasta
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• salt / pepper to taste
• 2 tsp chili flakes
• 1/4 cup good goat cheese
• 1/4 cup shredded parmesan

Fill up pot with water and set to boil. Add salt. When water boils, add pasta and stir often so it doesn’t stick to pot. Take out just before al dente. Drain and pour a tiny bit of olive oil on so it doesn’t stick. Preheat ove to 350 degrees F. Warm knob of butter in cast iron skillet and sauté mushrooms until done, set aside. Pour olive into same skillet with pressed garlic and sauté garlic until fragrant and add torn kale, salt, pepper and chili flakes. Wait until it softens and is semi wilted. Mix pasta with mushrooms, kale and goat cheese in a baking dish. Top with parmesan and bake for 20-30 minutes.