The Land of Vikings and Lingonberries

Helsinki, Finland

After the tears at home as I said goodbye to C, and the tears on the drive to the airport as I thought about how long I’d be away from C, and the tears while sitting on the runway as I was reminded how much C loves airplanes, I managed to survive the journey to Helsinki despite the mom guilt.

There, K and I met up at the completion of his work trip to start our Nordic & Scandinavian vacation - our first true baby-free trip in 2 years (we had spent about 16 hours in Houston without him earlier in the year, but that was barely comparable to 12 days without him). We took the train into the city and checked into our ADORABLE AirBnB before feasting on a traditional Finish meal of reindeer with lingonberry sauce at The Seahorse. Boy, oh, boy - it was delicious! 10/10 - strongly recommended!

The next day, we headed out on a walking tour of the city where we strolled passed the Havis Amanda Fountain, Senate square, Helsinki Cathedral, Uspenski Cathedral, and the harbor. For lunch, Kevin and I sat among the locals at one of the many food stalls at Market Square before browsing the works of Luther, Benjamin Franklin, Charles Darwin, and Voltaire at the Helsinki Library.

Our second full day day in Helsinki, we took a small ferry to Suomenlinna Island, where we walked the cobblestone roads of the 18th-century sea fortress and took in the scenic stops along the defensive walls. Back in the city, we tried to achieve serenity at the Kamppi Chapel of Silence and in the pews of the Temppeliaukio Church of the Rock.

St. Petersburg Russia

In order to take advantage of the 72 hours visa-free visit to Russia, K and I arrived in St. Petersburg on the Princess Anastasia “cruise ship.” Disembarking the large ferry was nothing short of hectic; even knowing that things would be a bit crazy, we were not prepared for the chaos and lack of instruction. Nonetheless, we made it to our hotel around noon before heading out to see the Hermitage Museum - the second largest art collection in the world, second only to The Louvre. Also known as The Winter Palace, the iconic pastel green building was gorgeous - standing beyond the Bolshevik Revoluation and the bombings of Leningrad during World War II.



That night, we watched the sun set at the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood before watched the St. Petersburg ballet perform Black Swan at the Mariinsky Theater.

The next day, we took the train to Pushkin, about 18 miles outside of St. Petersburg, to tour Catherine Palace - the former summer residence of the Tsars. There we learned about the destruction of the palace during the Nazi siege, the disappearance of the infamous Amber Room, and the heroic efforts of the staff to save and restore as much of the original artwork and architecture. That night we dined at Gustogram, a gastro pub whose menu is entirely based on “Instagram worthy” plates - honestly, our meals were as good as they looked!
Our last day in St. Petersburg we braved the rain and the cold for a tour of the city, and we fell more in love with Russia’s former capital with each step - St. Petersburg was easily a favorite for both me and K. The history, the food, and the people were all phenomenal! After re-boarding the Princess Anastasia, we journeyed back across the Gulf of Finland, to continue our vacation.

Stockholm, Sweden

After arriving in Stockholm, we spent our first afternoon at the Vasa Museum - K’s FAVORITE thing from the entire trip. Without giving too much away, the entire museum is built around a restored 17th century Swedish ship and definitely worth a visit!

Our first full day we walked -a lot- doing a walking tour of the Stockholm city center in the morning, and a walking tour of Old Town in the afternoon. We saw where the Nobel Prizes are handed out and the picturesque Stortorget, stuffing our faces with delectable gluten free Swedish meatballs and coffee at Under Kastanjen (don’t forget the side of lingonberries)! 

The following day we toured City Hall on the tip of Kungsholmen island, and the site of the Nobel Prize celebratory dinner, before returning to Under Kastanjen for ANOTHER round of Swedish meatballs before catching our plane to our final destination.

Copenhagen, Denmark

When we originally packed for our Nordic and Scandanavian vacation, the weather was supposed to be cool, but pleasant - a nice reprieve from the 100+ degree Texas heat - but by the time we arrived, the weather had plunged 15 degrees and the fall rain had moved in. At a brisk 50 degrees, Copenhagen greeted us with the warmest but wettest weather of our trip.

The first day we spent in Denmark, we - of course - went on a walking tour of the city before meeting up with our friend from college and her husband. Although J & R had also lived in Texas for a few years, apparently it took crossing an ocean to see each other again after their move to the Midwest several years ago.

We started the next morning/the last day of our vacation, highly stressed after we tried to check in for our flight(s) home and learned that Thomas Cook Airlines, without warning, had gone out of business three days prior, essentially stranding us in Europe. After several hours of calls and internet searches, we booked new flights home and took our frazzled selves to the Michelin-starred Restaurant 108 for lunch with J & R, a can’t miss reservation for foodies the world over who don’t want to spend an arm & a leg at its sister restaurant Noma.

We then took in the breathtaking panoramic view of Copenhagen from atop Christiansborg Palace and ate our final meal at Torvehallerne market. I feasted on the traditional Danish Smørrebrød, while we watched the sunset one last time on our vacation.

I Will Remember

Dear C,

When you are older and moodier and when things no longer excite you like they once did, I will remember your pants on crooked as your little legs moved quickly across the living room. I'll remember your eyes wide with excitement at the sight of bubbles appearing from seemingly nothing.  I'll remember the sparkle in your eye.

When you no longer want kisses from mom, I will remember the “muah” sound and the feeling of your nose pressed against mine when you'd want a smooch from your mama.

When your voice changes into a deeper, manlier tone, I will remember how your sweet little voice would say “mommy” more than any other word. I'll remember how it sounded hearing you call for me when you'd hear me come home from work. 

When you don’t come to me for everything, and when you want to be with your friends, I will remember how you would always grab my hand and pull me to the ground so we could play with your toys. And then grab my hand and bring me to the next activity. I'll remember how that little hand felt gripping my fingers.

In the days when laughter is more difficult to pull out of you, I will remember the sound of your giggle. The giggle that could soften hearts, brighten a room, and warm my soul in an instant. The giggle that reminded me why I am so lucky to have you. The giggle that was, at least for a while, the soundtrack to our life together.

When cuddling on my lap is laughable because of your size, I will remember how you would bring book after book back from the shelf before snuggling into my lap so we could read your new favorite over again. I’ll remember how my lap was your favorite place to hang out.

When you roll your eyes at me and don’t laugh at my jokes, I will remember how you scrunched up your little face with a big, beautiful grin when you were being silly.

I know there will be a day when you will change, and these things will be gone. But right now, you need me. You run to me. I am your mother, and we have a special bond. 

And I’d be lying if I said letting that go will be easy.

So for now, I will try to enjoy those fleeting moments and burn them into my memory so they don't slip away... Nothing lasts forever, but I will always be your mother and you will always be my son.

(Inspired by, and modified from "Dear Son, When You No Longer Want Kisses from Mama" by Kelli Bachara)

Home Sweet Home

Last year, you were able to follow along with our pregnancy journey. What you may not have known, however, is that while I was busy growing a baby, we were also in the process of building our first (and hopefully only) house! We used to joke that it was a bit of a race to see which would finish first… Luckily, we were moved in and mostly settled before C made his arrival.

We have officially been in our forever-dream home with our little man for just over a year, but deciding to buy a house almost came at a whim. Whenever I had downtime at work, I found myself researching “custom home builders” and day-dreaming about designing my perfect house. I stumbled upon a neighborhood just 10 minutes from our apartment at the time and ventured out to look at the models of two different builders with my dad. I walked into these gorgeous houses and my heart and mind were made up – it was time to buy a house!

That was easier said than done, of course. Not only did I have to get K onboard, but we had not been saving for a down payment. Being home owners was still a little ways off in our minds. But, I took him to see the model home(s), showed him the ratings for the schools in the neighborhood, and when we learned that we wouldn’t need our down payment until closing (aka, after construction was completed) we realized that this could really happen - gotta love the LaRosa double-secret-probation-budget!

In August, we settled on one of the two builders in the neighborhood, but it was still a few months before they got the OK from the city to start construction. And so, we waited – and started saving. In December we got word that the city had given the green light, and so we picked our lot and floor plan. In preparation for the momentous decision, we traveled across the Metroplex to see homes in different stages of construction and met with a realtor to get her input on resale value of the changes we had in mind. Eventually, we settled on the Riverstone and placed the symbolic “sold” sticker on the map of the neighborhood.

In January, we found out we were pregnant, and informed our builder that it would be great if our house could be finished closer to the 6 month end of the 6 to 9 month timeline. With a September due date, we really did not want to be moving with a newborn! Later in the month we met with our contractor to go over our blue prints; we opened walls, we rearranged our kitchen, we added windows and extended the hardwood floors, we added a Jack-and-Jill bathroom, and we expanded our laundry room for more storage. We met with the company that would be wiring our house to decide on the location of our outlets, on a home security system, and our entertainment automation system. We went to the builder’s design studio and picked our floor tile, the orientation of the backsplash tile, our grout color, the brick color, the color of the trim on the house, the color of the dividers in the window panes, the wall color, the countertop shape, the design of our garage door, the type of cabinetry, and made decisions on every other customizable option in our home! Although satisfied with all our decisions, I was a bit nervous to see how it would all come together…

At the beginning of February, we broke ground and eagerly waited for our home to take shape. The beginning of the construction was slow, but once the foundation was set, the bones of the house began to take shape. Every weekend, we would drive by to see the progress on our house and shoot the contractor an email anytime we had a concern or question. By the end of April, the outside of our home was complete and, lucky for us, we had a mild spring with very few rain delays. We were actually ahead of schedule! Over the next three months, the wiring and ductwork was installed, the dry wall went up, and then the cabinets and hardwood were placed. The stairs were stained, and the walls painted. At the end of July, we closed – but not before dealing with the stress of a final walk-through and transferring of funds between banks to actually pay our down payment and closing costs. The first weekend of August, with the help of family and some friends, we moved into our new house and started to make it a home.

Give Lemons

When life gives you you lemons, make lemonade lemon risotto.

With an 8 month old, K and I had to stay closer to home for this year’s anniversary celebration. No paper tickets to Europe. No cotton retreat in a Fredericksburg cabin. No leather seats to Charleston. Lucky for us though, fruit & flowers was an easily obtainable traditional gift for the fourth year, and a cooking class was just what we needed for a date night out to commemorate another year together.

MENU:
Lemon and Saffron Risotto
Sicilian-Style Grilled Chicken with Fresh Herbs
Basil, Mint Lemon Sorbet

Sur La Table almost seemed to be catering specifically to us with their lemon centered “al fresco” menu, and with drinks in hand (three cheers for BYOB cooking classes!), we eagerly took our place in the kitchen. Aprons, check! Cutting boards, check! Hungry bellies, check!

The night started with a quick introduction by the chef leading the class and then we dove right into zesting lemons and making a simple syrup for our sorbet - we had to get all the ingredients into the ice cream machine early to give it plenty of time to freeze by the end of the night.

In between cheese and cracker snack breaks, we juiced and zested another lemon, learned the proper technique for chopping fresh herbs, and dropped our chicken into a fresh, aromatic marinade before starting in on our risotto.

Now, Kevin and I have never made a risotto, but everything I know about it comes from Gordon Ramsay yelling at contestants on Hell’s Kitchen. Risotto is supposed to be rich and creamy, cascading onto the plate when you serve it… it’s not supposed to be too runny ort too dry. It is a delicate balancing act that required us to ladle broth into the pan, one scoop at a time, while constantly stirring for 20-30 minutes. It’s not an easy dish! 

With one eye on the delicate and demanding risotto, we placed our chicken, bay leaves, onion, and lemon wedges on skewers and grilled them on a convection skillet (potentially, one of K’s favorite parts of the night). As the food sizzled and the aroma of crisp lemon filled the air, we were nearly salivating by the time dinner was served!

Some lemon zest here, a little lemon juice there, two hours of cooking (sans-baby) and another year together, it was a magical Saturday night. Plus, it’s totally starting to feel like our love story has lasted four-ever... get it??? I crack myself up sometimes!

I Wish I Had Known

An open letter to my mother, on my first Mother's Day

Dear Mom, I am SO SORRY. I am sorry for the tantrums, the sass, the eye rolls, and the "I hate yous." I didn't know what I was doing to you at the time. I'm sorry for the frustration, the exhaustion, the tears, and the heartache. I didn't know; I wish I had known.

My journey through motherhood is still in its infancy (pun intended - your grandchild is just shy of 8 months old, after all), but it has opened my eyes. Mothering is a life changing, identity crisis inducing, mentally draining, never ending task. It is physical and emotional. It is breathtaking and boring. But hands down, without a doubt, that tiny human that smiles at me, cries for me, and clings to me is my greatest accomplishment. I didn't know the joy you've felt until I experienced it myself.

The love I feel for your grandchild is indescribable. It rises and swells from deep within my chest and washes over me, filling my eyes with tears and my lungs with un-breathable air. I look at him and I see perfection. How could he have come from me? There's no way I could have known what you felt about me before I felt it for him. I didn't know; I wish I had known.

I wish I knew how different you became when your own journey of motherhood began. The love and strength that manifests from every fiber of your being when you hold your own child creates a new, almost unrecognizable person. It creates a mother. I didn't know the metamorphosis you've undergone until I too had changed. 

I wish I knew how your body had changed while mothering. How it grew and stretched and physically housed a growing infant only to protect and comfort and emotionally house a growing child. I didn't know; I wish I had known.

As time moves forward, I will look back and wish I had known more. It's inevitable. Mothering is said to be a "thank-less" job, and it looks easy from the outside. But, I am no longer on the outside looking in. I have plunged head first into the deep end, and I am selflessly and wholeheartedly saying screaming: THANK YOU! 

I didn't know what you went through, and what you continue to go through as a mother. As my mother. But I'm trying to appreciate the moments I experience as a new mom - at the very least - so that I can appreciate the moments we shared together. I wish I had known what being a mother was like before I became one myself. I didn't know how important it all was before. I know now, and each day, I will know more.
With love.

Charming Charleston

Between the diapers and feedings and overall exhaustion, I’ve been day dreaming about our last vacation. It feels like a lifetime ago, but back in the spring, K and I were celebrating a trifecta: our third wedding anniversary, his 27th birthday, and a babymoon (all the unpleasant first trimester symptoms had finally disappeared and traveling with the baby simply meant getting myself places) in Charleston, South Carolina. Founded in 1670 as Charles Town, South Carolina’s largest and oldest city has retained its true Southern charm over the last 340 years, and it did not disappoint. Nestled on a peninsula, cobblestone streets, rod iron gates, and neatly packed houses reflect old Southern charm & hospitality, and the city has something for everyone – history, nature, architecture, good eats, and shopping; it’s easy to fall in love with Charleston.

Explore Historic Downtown

One of the things K and I love to do in a new city is a walking tour. Sometimes we partner the walking with eating [like we did in Seattle]. Other times we opt for a free excursion [like we did in Munich]; it really just depends what the local cuisine is and what we’ve budgeted for while we’re away.

Early in the morning, before the sun was too high and the sea breeze was still blowing, our tour of Charleston (courtesy of Free Tours by Foot) started at St. Phillip’s Episcopal Church and its neighboring cemetery. St. Phillip’s is the oldest congregation in the city and is the final resting place of several familiar names. The tour continued past the French Huguenot Church, the Charleston City Market (formerly the Slave Mart – a misnomer as slaves were not sold here, but it’s where they would go to shop for produce, fish, meat, etc.), the Dock Street Theater, and the Old Exchange Building. Our guide was knowledgeable about the city’s history and added a few bonus stops along the way, before finishing the tour with a stroll along picturesque Rainbow Row. Pro Tip: Use the free DASH Trolley to hop-on & hop-off during your time in the Lower Peninsula when you are hot and/or need to give your feet a break. 

Stroll the Water Front

Situated on the shores of the Cooper River, Waterfront Park is a lovely area to stroll in the afternoon. Dotted with mature trees, and home of the popular pineapple fountain, the park offers eight acres to view Charleston Harbor, the Ravenel Bridge, and the USS Yorktown. There’s even a long, covered pier where you and your honey can snuggle up on a porch swing and watch the dolphins in the harbor and the listen to the seagulls call to one another.

Ferry to Fort Sumter

Located in Charleston Harbor, Ft Sumter is an important piece of American history; it’s where the American Civil War began. I love history, and I was really excited to venture out to the island. The fort is only accessible by boat and tours include a very educational 30 min ferry ride en route to the historic landmark. Once you disembark at the fort, you have the option of immediately venturing out on your own, or spending a few minutes listening to a park ranger recap the events surrounding the start of America’s deadliest war. We chose the latter.

Get Out of Town

Plantations

Charleston’s history and traditions cannot be separated from its sordid ties to slavery in America. The growth and wealth of the southern town was and is linked to the cultivation of rice, indigo, and other crops at the expense of human suffering; walking among the trees and serene gardens of the Low country, visitors are forced to come face to face with the dichotomy of the South’s charm and beauty and the dark reality of how plantations were run. That being said, Charleston’s remaining plantations serve as a reminder of how far we’ve come and offer a way to understand how the south functioned prior to the Civil War. There are several plantations worth visiting if you find yourself venturing out of the Peninsula: Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Middleton Place, Drayton Hall, & Boone Hall Plantation all offer a striking window into the past. We only had one day where we ventured out of the historic city, and so we chose to visit Magnolia Plantation & Gardens – one of the first rice plantations on the Ashley River. With an on-site zoo, black water swamps, preserved slave quarters, and optional train tour, today, Magnolia is bustling with life.

Angel Oak Tree

Estimated to be between 400-500 years old, the Angel Oak tree is located just ten miles from Charleston on John’s Island. Standing nearly seventy feet tall, a visit to the Southern Live Oak is both free and totally worth the stop if you venture out of the city. Once you see it in person, it’s easy to understand why it’s one of the most photographed attractions in South Carolina; it truly is a testament to Mother Nature – it’s believed to be one of the oldest living things in the United States!

Folly Beach

One of Charleston’s best summer attractions is it’s beaches; there are several to choose from – Folly Beach, Sullivan’s Island, Kiawah Island, and Isle of Palms – with each offering their own atmosphere and escape from the humidity and heat. Affectionately called “The Edge of America,” we ventured out to Folly Beach. A distinct beach town, there are numerous restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops along Center Street, and there’s even a fun lighthouse at the northeast end of the island to take some lovely photos. Parking is limited, as you’d expect on an island, but we were lucky enough to snag a free spot down a side street and spent our final Charleston afternoon laying in the sand and soaking up the Southern sun.

Eat Something Everything

Whenever you find yourself in a town, region, or country known for its cuisine, it is expected that you’re going to stuff your face with delicious food. Charleston is no different. In preparation for our trip, I did a lot of research on places to eat (there are few circumstances I find more annoying than being in an unfamiliar place and being unable to decide on where to eat because you don’t know the area or what’s good), especially since we always have to be on the lookout for Gluten Free menu options to accommodate K. Here’s a list of our favorite eats while in Charleston, South Carolina:

Brown Dog Deli: Hip sandwich shop with a new take on old classics using fresh, local ingredients; gluten free bread available upon request for ALL sandwiches! Located around the corner from Rainbow Row, this place gets busy during lunch. Pro Tip: They deliver. 

Belgian Gelato: Hands down, our favorite dessert stop. Conveniently located by the Waterfront Pier, we happily stopped in before snuggling up under a shaded tree in the park. A combination of traditional Italian gelato paired with the flavors of Belgian chocolate. So good! 

Cory's Grilled Cheese: Originally a food truck, the concept behind Cory’s is pretty simple… build-your-own grilled cheese (or pick a pre-made concoction off their menu)! Although not technically in Charleston, this John’s Island restaurant made the list with their Gluten Free bread option and was a must during our day outside the city. Pro Tip: They also serve breakfast.

Breizh Ban Crepes: Owned and operated by a husband and wife duo that hails from France, this little creperie brings a taste of France to the South. They serve omelets, salads, cakes, and (of course) crepes – both savory & sweet! Another gluten free friendly restaurant, they offer buckwheat crepes upon request, and it was a lovely place for us to grab breakfast early one morning. 

[Any] BBQ: This is less of a specific recommendation, and simply a statement regarding Carolina BBQ. Eat it. No matter where you end up, you likely can’t go wrong! If you find yourself with a craving, just pull out that handy smart phone and do a quick search for BBQ joints in the area. Honestly, you should probably have some BBQ every day – there are plenty of BBQ joints to choose from!

A Birth Story

Up until our little one’s arrival, almost all of 2017 had revolved around trying to keep that baby in. Despite a September 28th due date, my OBGYN predicated an unavoidable early delivery and had spent the entire pregnancy hoping that I would make it to the 15th without going into labor. By week 36, September 15th was sounding better and better to me; I was ready to get that baby OUT! I was a bit nervous though, as my doctor would be on vacation from the 11-18th …right in the middle of our expected delivery window, and I didn’t love the idea of just any old OB delivering my baby. But, ultimately that was not up to me; the big entrance was all up to our Little LaRosa.

Since we managed to avoid a C-section, I had my cerclage removed (a simple in-office procedure done without anesthetic, and quite uncomfortably) on the 14th by the on-call doctor. The 15th came and went. No baby. On the 21st I saw my OB, fresh from her vacation, and she was shocked to see that I was STILL PREGNANT. It seemed now that this baby could come out, it simply didn’t want to. officially one week from my due date, my doctor checked my cervix and performed a membrane sweep (umm, ouch) – giving me a 50/50 chance of going into labor within 24 hours – and scheduled me for an induction on Monday, September 25th (just in case I didn’t deliver over the weekend). Around 4PM the following day we found ourselves in L&D; I’d spent the last 2 hours having contractions every 5-8 minutes, some of them bringing a stream of tears that would roll down my face as I contorted my body to alleviate my back pain. Several hours later, the contractions stopped progressing and we were sent home. The weekend came and went. No baby.

September 25
7:30AM – It was officially induction day, and after an early morning alarm, K and I walked into L&D (back again!) where I was quickly taken to a delivery room. I changed into a gown and had my IV started. The fetal heart monitor and contraction monitors were strapped to my belly and shortly before 8AM, my doctor broke my water – again, she was shocked to see that I was STILL PREGNANT …I mean, who goes through an entire weekend 4 cm dilated and 70% effaced without their baby popping out?!

Noon – By midday my contractions were lasting just over a minute in length with little down time between them. At only 0.5 units of Pitocin, my body had clearly been ready to serve its eviction notice once my water had been broken. Once more I found myself in a familiar place, trying to find a position that would alleviate the worst back pain of my life as tears rolled down my cheeks. Time to call the anesthesiologist. By the time my epidural was administered the labor pains were so bad, the only thing I was aware of were my contractions. I didn’t feel the burn of the lidocaine. I didn’t feel the insertion of the needle. As far as I’m concerned, epidurals are painless. Within 15 minutes, my legs started to feel heavy and the pain was replaced with periodic tightness that would start in my back and end just above my belly button. Over the next few hours, between the occasional shaking, nausea, and sweating (even though I couldn’t feel my body laboring, it was still working hard to move that baby closer and closer to delivery), I was placed on my left side, on my hands and knees, and on my right side in an attempt to rotate baby face down. It turns out that a sunny-side-up baby was the reason for my excruciating back pain.

3:00PM – With only 6 units of Pitocin in my IV, I was fully dilated and our little one had dropped into my pelvis. Time to start pushing. Our baby’s arrival was imminent but it still felt so surreal and the idea that we would soon have a baby seemed like an abstract idea way off in the distant future. Luckily, my L&D nurse was amazing, and under her careful coaching, my mom and K each grabbed one of my legs and brought my knees to my chest. The only sounds in the room were the beeping of baby’s heart beat and the nurse counting to 10. After only a few pushes, our baby's heart rate was not recovering between contractions and I was placed on oxygen. The pushing continued.

4:30PM – As the fastest hour and a half of my life came to an end, I could start to feel pain in my back again, but it became easier to feel myself pushing. The nurse called my OB and while we waited, I gave “one last good push” to get baby into position. Suddenly there was immense pressure in my pelvis; our baby was crowning. As soon as my doctor walked into the delivery room, she quickly gowned up while taking inventory of the delivery instruments. She performed a 3rd degree episiotomy (give that a quick Google search if you're interested to learn how pleasant my post-partum recovery was) and with 1 final push, out our baby came. Our little man arrived at 4:41 PM; they placed him on my chest and he stole my heart.