Hi Friends! That was quite the break I had, huh? Sorry I was gone for sooooo long! I must admit that I really enjoyed my time off.
I’m going to be completely honest with you right now. I love writing on this blog, but the reason I decided to take a break (way back in April) is because I wasn’t having fun with my blog anymore. I started it as a hobby, but quickly got wrapped up in the world of blogging and was constantly worried about what everyone else was doing. How could I make money with my blog? How could I get more readers? How could I compete with all of the other food bloggers? I think you get the picture. In a nutshell, I was so worried about “keeping up with the Joneses” that I lost sight of why I started my blog in the first place—to have fun!
In the beginning I didn’t miss it much. It was nice not to be spending so much time on my computer and the break was much needed. Plus having had just moved back to the States, I needed some time off to settle in a bit and get my life in order.
Soon after we arrived in the States I found out that I was pregnant! We are soooo excited! In case you missed my announcement on Facebook, here is the picture we posted:
Although you might think we’re having a girl based off of those super girly, flowery sandals, at the time we didn’t know what we were having. I borrowed those sandals from a friend 
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A little over a week ago we had our second ultrasound and found out we are actually having a boy! I was convinced that we were having a girl (I have no idea why—maybe because I am a girl) so I was surprised to hear it’s a boy, but my husband and I are both super excited and cannot wait to meet our son in December!
I may be a little biased, but I think he's pretty cute already.
I felt awful from week 6-16 so food and cooking were the last things on my mind. I never threw up, but I was nauseous 24/7. I normally eat really well and love anything with vegetables, but during that time all I wanted was junk (i.e. carbs—only the white variety and cheese). I would not go near vegetables with a ten-foot pole. I tried to cook healthy dinners with veggies for my husband and me (dinners I normally love), but after one bite I thought I was going to throw up and resorted to eating Cheerios for dinner. I think I ate my body weight in Cheerios during those ten weeks. And fruit—lots and lots of fruit.
My diet was pretty monochromic during that time so I knew there was no way I was ready to come back to my blog—just thinking about food made me super nauseous. I couldn’t even watch The Food Network!
There were some days when I would worry that I would never be able to eat healthy foods again, but thank goodness I’m feeling much better now. I have waaaaay more energy and am pretty much back to my normal eating habits (though some days I still feel a little nauseous). Plus I can last longer than 20 minutes working out so that is a big win too .
After I started feeling better I realized how much I miss my blog and my readers (hopefully some of you are still out there!). Just when I was ready to start writing again, we had a bit of a family emergency and I had to fly home to my parent’s house in CA. I’m not going to get into the details here, but at the end of May my dad fell and broke his ankle and it sent his body into a crazy tailspin. He ended up spending 13 days in the hospital, 6 of which were spent in the ICU. It was a very scary and emotional time for my family.
Watching my dad go through everything he went through was very upsetting. I am amazed by his strength and don’t know that I could have fought the way he did. It is amazing what our bodies can go through. I’m so proud of him. We are all lucky he is alive. All I can say is that prayer is an amazing and powerful thing.
I spent about three weeks at home with my family, but in the middle of my trip I flew to Oregon where my husband and I had the privilege of being in the wedding of some of our very best friends. It was a beautiful occasion and we could not be happier for them .
Just ten days after I arrived back in San Antonio, we got in the car to make the 14 hour drive to Columbus, MS, our new home for the next few years. The drive went pretty smoothly other than the fact that one of our two cats cried for about 90% of the trip.
We arrived in Columbus yesterday evening. It is so nice to finally be here. We hope to find a house this week so we can finally settle in somewhere and have a place to call our own. It’s been over four months since we moved out of our apartment in Okinawa. And as you can tell, it’s been quite a whirlwind!
I apologize that this post got to be so long, but you all know I have a tendency to be long-winded 
. I wanted to catch you up on what my life has been like and why I’ve been MIA for so long.
I plan to start posting more regularly now, though certainly not everyday. Taking time off from my blog helped me realize that it was time to reprioritize some things in my life. As much as I enjoy writing on my blog, it was taking up way too much of my time and energy and causing me to neglect some other things in my life that deserve my attention, love, and care too. So today’s post is to say hello and let you know that I’ll be back, but maybe only once a week.
Before I go, here are a few shots of my growing baby bump .
About Kristen
CONGRATS GIRL!!! so happy for you!!
Lindsay @ The Lean Green Bean recently posted..July Foodie Penpals Reveal
Thanks Lindsay! We’re so excited too
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I’m so glad your dad is okay and OMG congratulations on the baby!!!!
Thank you Sarah! I’m so glad he’s doing better too and of course super excited about the baby
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Twitter: everydaymaven
says:
What a great update Kristen! So glad your Dad is doing better and your pregnancy is going well now that the sickness has subsided. I think it’s awesome that you are refocusing your blog and your time. I couldn’t agree more that it needs to be fun and authentic! Welcome Back
Alyssa (Everyday Maven) recently posted..The Food Matters Project: Baked Salmon with Romesco Sauce
Thanks for the nice comments Alyssa. It’s fun to be back and getting comments from all of my blogging friends–I missed you guys!
Welcome back and I really look forward to reading. And you’re right to keep your eye on the real blogging prize – it can get way to corporate in blog land sometimes!! You look great too – excited for you with a new home and a new baby on the way!
Sarah P recently posted..Thai Curry Shrimp
I’m so glad to hear from you Sarah! Thanks for saying hi
. Blogging can definitely get really corporate and that’s not something I want to get wrapped up in. I admire all of the bloggers out there who do it, but I realized that’s not for me right now. We’re very excited about our new home and baby too. How’s Hawaii so far?
Glad you are back! Yay for boys!! They are so much fun. Cat and I were just talking about you and Giff the other day. We miss seeing you guys!
Erin recently posted..Anything That Goes!
Thanks Erin! It feels good to be back and getting so many nice comments
. We miss you guys and Okinawa too! Please say hi to Cat for us–she must be about ready to have her baby boy!
You are glowing! You’re gorgeous, for real. Already miss your face:)
Awwww thank you Katie. You are so sweet. I miss you too, but cannot wait to see you in December!!
Kristen recently posted..Update on My Life
Twitter: skichic95
says:
Congrats to you guys!! How fun to be welcoming a little boy in Dec!!
xoxo
You have definitely experienced a lot since taking a break from blog land. Sorry to hear about your dad but rejoicing that he is better!!
Take care of yourself!!
Taylor @ Goings on in Texas recently posted..Random I Am {32 x 32}
Thank you, Taylor! We are really excited to meet our little guy in December
. We are rejoicing about my dad too. It means a lot to have so many nice thoughts being sent his way. I hope all is well with you too 
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How FUN to have you back with MYB&T. I KNOW what you have been through and applaud you for holding on and getting to the other end. Dad is even better today than previous days. We have our fingers crossed that he will be able to go home SOON!!!
I look forward to seeing what wonderful treats you come up with as you take up your blog again – albeit at a slower pace!!!
Thanks, Mom! I’m so excited to hear that dad might be going home soon. We are praying really hard about it! I’m excited to be back on MYBT too. I already a few recipes in mind
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you know I’ve missed you! pregnancy is fantastic….enjoy it, it truly flies by!
alex recently posted..Red Pepper and Sausage Quiche
I’ve missed you too, Alex! Thanks for keeping in touch through email though while I was away
. I feel like the first half of my pregnancy went slowly, but I’m sure it’s going to fly by now. So excited!
Kristen recently posted..Update on My Life
Twitter: rosesdaughter
says:
Stopping by from SITS to say hi!
I totally understand about re-prioritizing. Babies make you do that! I’ve done this many time, in my quest to find balance! Do what feel right for you!
Thanks for stopping by from SITS girls! It’s so fun to meet so many other bloggers. Finding balance is definitely the secret to living a healthy and happy life–it’s just not always so easy to find that balance. Thank you for your kind words
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Awww, congrats Kristen! By the way, Happy SITS Day! You truly deserve it.
jamie recently posted..Here is where you begin
Awww thanks Jamie–on both fronts! We’re soooo excited to meet our little boy in December and it’s also super fun to be the featured blogger today
. Please come back again soon!
Hello, visiting from SITS Girls. I really enjoyed reading your update post. It takes courage to be so honest! Congrats on your new addition and good luck!
madge | the vegetarian casserole queen recently posted..Fruit and Nut Vegetarian Chicken Salad
Thanks for stopping by today. I’m loving my SITS day so far and it’s only 9 am! I thought that my readers deserved that honestly after I disappeared for so long. It was a bumpy road for a little bit with the move and my dad being sick, but I’m so happy that things are going well now. We can’t wait to meet our little boy in December. I hope to see you again soon and can’t wait to check out your blog
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Hi Kristen! Welcome back to blogging! Saw your feature on SITS and wanted to say hi. Congrats on the pregnancy! You are one CUTE pregnant chick! Hope your move went well and that you are doing great!
Hugs, Abbey from The Cards We Drew (blog swap buddy!)
Abbey!! It’s so great to hear from you. Thank you for stopping by my blog and saying hi
. It’s nice to be back in the blogging world (and even nicer to be feeling better again!). Thank you for the kind words 
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Congratulations!! SOO exciting
and so glad you have your energy and your ability to eat back! Nothing can knock you out like a first trimester, that’s for sure…
Sarah recently posted..Sleep.
Awww thanks, Sarah! I couldn’t believe how awful I felt in my first trimester. I wondered if I would ever feel better again! Haha. It’s great to have my energy back
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That’s so special that you were both braidsmaids together. I hope you are excited and enjoying preparing for your baby.
MommyPage recently posted..Free Disney® Enchanted Call for Kids
To say that we’re excited about our baby is an understatement
. We are so so so so excited and I can’t wait to set up the baby’s room once we get into our new house! Thank you so much for stopping by my blog for SITS day. I love meeting so many other bloggers!
Twitter: omgyummy
says:
Hi Kristen! Congratulations on Baby Bloom! How exciting! So glad to see you featured on SITS. Good for you for taking a break. It is easy to get caught up in the frenzy of blogging and the “Joneses”. But don’t – do what you do best and your talent will shine through.
I just moved my blog to wordpress.org and did some redesign – some of the impetus was related to opportunities to start earning money but in the end, every post has to be something I am excited about and proud of, or I just won’t do it. Maybe my approach is not the best or only approach, but it works for me. So do what motivates you and your content will reflect that! Have fun today!
Beth (OMG! Yummy) recently posted..Change is in the Air — A New Look and a Cookbook Giveaway to Celebrate!
Thank you for stopping by Beth! It’s so fun to be featured on SITS, but I know you know all about that! Thank you for the encouragement and advice about my blog. I realized that I wasn’t having fun with my blog anymore and I wanted to change that. Having my feature day is a great way to get back into the blogging world! It’s so fun to “meet” so many other bloggers out there and remember why I love blogging
. I can’t wait to check out your redesign and thanks again for saying hi today!
I’m assuming that by now you have a kiddo? Believe me, I know all about the whole MIA from blogging while pregnant thing. My little girl was born in late October. Hope everything is going well.
Miriam @ Sometimes I Veg recently posted..Coconut Candy Cane Milkshake