Leo at the beach

I was lucky enough today to take part in a really exciting project called The3six5 : 365 days, 365 Points of  View (http://the3six5.posterous.com/). The goal of this project is to have a different person write an entry that describes their experiences that day. The writers are selected by the project’s editors and are from all over the globe. This is a really exciting concept that will hopefully one day be published in hard copy. My entry was for today, November 6th, 2011 (http://the3six5.posterous.com/november-6-2011-sarah-evans). I have included my text below, but please visit the site to check it out.  Enjoy!

_________

There is nothing like being on vacation. No work. Little responsibility. Quality time spent with those you love. This year, due mostly in part to the newest member of our family, Marty and I chose to return home to Montreal for our annual vacation. Most of the year we spend running a little hotel, Posada Luna del Sur, in Tulum, Mexico. It has been nothing but the most rewarding experience, however, since Leo was born, work has definitely taken its toll on both Marty and I. Twenty four guests plus one newborn equals little sleep and lots of business to tend to!

One of the reasons we chose to visit back home this year was to enjoy a little family support. Since being home, I can’t deny the fact that it has been nothing short of wonderful having the grandparents on hand ready to help where they can (I haven’t yet mastered the skill of checking my email while breast feeding, but trust me, I am working on it!).

The grandparents have enthusiastically resurrected many of their old techniques used on their own children when they were babies. Thankfully, I now have an entirely new repertoire of children’s’ songs (both in French and English), several new methods to put Leo to sleep and a new found appreciation for learning from someone else’s (valuable) experience.

Older generations have often referred to my generation as “the one’s who want it all.” Not only do we want to recreate the family life we grew up with (or improve on the one that didn’t quite live up to our expectations), we want a career, the money to go with it and everything else in between. For our parents, sacrifice and family went hand in hand, whereas my generation desperately tries to sacrifice as little as possible. Today, on my 26^th day of vacation, as I rocked Leo in my arms while staring into his innocent little brown eyes, I couldn’t help but feel that maybe our parents were on to something.

About the author: Sarah Evans is a native-Montrealer who recently moved to Tulum, Mexico. She is a hotel owner, a traveler, a food lover, and most importantly a mother.

...and Leo Tomas was born....

Introducing Leo Tomas

Well, after quite a long absence, I am finally back to writing my blog, and boy does it feel good! As most of you probably have already assumed, I finally had the baby! Leo Tomas Senecal was born on August 17th, at 8:32 a.m. by way of emergency c-section. He is now almost 6 weeks old and doing fantastic.

The whole production of giving birth is pretty amazing. I have never felt so many different emotions at the same time. Let’s not forget that on top of feeling all these emotions, you’re also feeling some intense pain. Yes, giving birth is certainly painful no matter what anyone tells you. I’ve read the idea that some people believe in not calling it “pain” but I am sorry folks, that’s just what it is and there is no way around it in my books!

So here is how it all went down…

On the night of the 16th, after having inconsistent contractions all day, Marty and I decided that we would leave early the following morning and get a hotel room in Cancun until Leo was ready to make his appearance. That way we would get the 2 hour drive to the hospital out of the way and already be close to the hospital when the time came. Sounded nice in theory, but it seemed that Leo had other plans… Around 2 a.m. my contractions got significantly stronger and there was no question in my mind that we needed to get going ASAP. We were both still awake and tracking each contraction. I was about 8 minutes apart.

Upon arriving at the hospital, I was 5 minutes apart and feeling the pain a little more than before we left. Let me tell you, those topes (speed bumps) on the way were killer with the contractions! I was checked in to the emergency where my vitals were taken, and my doctor was called. Marty was hanging in there and although we were already pretty tired, things were moving fast enough that we didn’t really have time to think about it. Once Dr. Loya arrived we were moved into the birthing room where he examined me. My contractions were really close at this point, and the real pain begun to kick in.  Marty thought this would make the perfect photo op- Sarah in intense pain sweating her a#s off! Needless to say that those pictures have since been erased. I was not one of those women who felt like she needed to document every step of the  her birth process.

I already knew before everything began that I wanted an epidural. Now that I have experienced giving birth first hand, I truly admire the women out there who give birth naturally. They deserve their name on some wall of birthing heroism or something, cause Lord knows I would not have made it. This is exactly what was going through my head when the anesthesiologist was having trouble administering the epidural. Not only were my contractions stronger than ever and maybe seconds apart, but the doctor was having me curl up in the fetal position on my side so that he had more room in my spine to slip that sucker in. After numerous attempts, I began to panic that this epidural was not going to happen. Finally, and thankfully, the doctor was able to get it in and I could breathe a sigh of relief. The pain was still there but definitely more subdued and I was told it wold just get better from here. That is until my water was broken…

When Dr. Loya saw the color of my water was brown and green he know that the baby was in distress. Along with the fact that poor little Leo’s heart rate had significantly decreased, the decision was quickly made that I needed to go under the knife and fast! This is the part that I remember those most vividly. Before being whisked away into the operating room, I was able to make quick eye contact with Marty. I remember him looking worried but still calm which completely reassured me. For all you men out there, your ability to stay cool and collected does wonders, especially when things take a turn for the unknown. Suck it up and put on that brave face. I don’t know if I would have remained so calm if it wasn’t for that last exchange we made before I was taken to the operating room.

Before I knew it, I was being prepped for surgery and things were moving really fast. Marty came in all dressed up in his scrubs and all I could think was what a hot doctor Marty would have been…Meanwhile, he was watching the surgeon open me up to retrieve our baby. I still can’t believe he watched. I was more than happy to be on the other side of the divider waiting patiently to hear my crying baby, but Marty said he could not help but watch the procedure. “I can see your insides,” he tells me. “Hmm, I can do without those details thanks,” I replied, trying to erase those last words from my mind.

“Wah, wah, wah,” it was like music to my ears. Leo was finally born. What a moment I tell you. For those of you reading this who are expecting or who are expecting to expect, seeing your baby for the first time is unimagineable. I know I’ve talked about this moment in other posts, and I was a little worried about how I would feel. It is like nothing I have ever experienced. It was also a little surreal for me. After months of carrying this little guy all of a sudden you come face to face and it is the most beautiful moment. There is also some relief of course that it’s all over, but the feeling of love and excitement is overwhelming.  Leo was finally in our arms, safe and sound. It was a life changer….

First meeting after the c-section

The aftermath

Since the arrival of Leo many things have changed but somehow have also remained the same. Marty and I are still doing our thing at the hotel, but now have a little extra responsibility. My recovery is still in  process which has kept me indoors over the last month, as I was banned from using the stairs, walking too much etc. Being that we live on the 3rd floor, I was very limited in where I was allowed to go. After my last doctor’s appointment, I was finally granted permission to live life as I was before.

My incision is healing, but slowly. It is frustrating as I feel mostly 100% but my abdomen is still tender and raw. I’ve been told a c-section takes months to heal, and maybe even take up to a year for me to feel back to normal. I am ok with that (not that I have much choice) for the most part, but am honestly looking forward to no longer having to change dressings, applying ointment, feeling bruised, etc. In the beginning it was much worse, since I was in quite a bit of pain therefore caring of Leo was that much more difficult, and frustrating. At night, it would take me ages just to get out of bed and by the time I’d get to Leo, he’d be in hysterics. I have no idea why some women opt for a cesarean by choice, unless if it due to medical reasons. After seeing my friends who gave birth vaginally and how quick their recovery was, I would never choose to have major surgery!

So that’s it. The rest is history. I have probably never been more tired in my life, but it is all worth it so far. Due to breast-feeding (best post birth diet ever!) the baby weight has melted off…Marty seems to think I am smaller now then I was before I got pregnant. I’ve been putting off trying on my pre-pregger clothes, but am looking forward to feeling like myself again…if that ever happens that is. Now only if the breast-feeding could get rid of the dark circles under my eyes and these pesky grey hairs…

-sarah

Leo Tomas doing what he does best

Personal floating device?

Things are getting more and more hectic over here the closer the BIG day gets, but I wanted to take a moment to sincerely thank all of you who have sent us messages wishing us well with the new baby (who should be here any day now). The fact that you have all have taken time out of your day to reach out has been very touching. It has all been a bit overwhelming and we feel very loved. Thank you to my readers, guests (past & future), as well as family and friends!

We will be sure to keep everyone posted (Facebook, Twitter, blog), giving you an update on the little ones arrival. At this point, we have been given the news that if I don’t go into labor by Thursday, I will be admitted into the hospital on Friday to be induced. We’re very excited and looking forward to meeting this little one!

sarah, marty and bump xxx

9 month belly shot

Lettin' off some steam with J-Lo

In preparation for the baby, we’ve been trying to get some stuff done around our own apartment, since the last couple of years have been purely dedicated to updating and renovating the posada itself. It has been frustrating at times, having people in and out of our house, but we try to remember it is all for a good cause. With the extreme heat and humidity this summer, not being able to put on the A/C has ben frustrating, but with all the dust and paint fumes, the windows have to stay open!

Speaking of paint fumes, I think Marty may possibly have inhaled his share yesterday afternoon…

I walk in to our apartment from the rooftop deck, where I had been diligently trying to catch up on some accounting, and what do I see? Marty blasting the latest Jennifer Lopez song in the kitchen with the painters (all grown men, I might add). Marty is singing at the top of his lungs while the painters take a break and watch him in awe. I, of course, begin to laugh hysterically, while in the meantime Marty increases the volume and starts to belt out the chorus. The painters and I  continue to watch and laugh, and I tell them that the paint fumes have finally got to his head. The song finally comes to an end and Marty proudly announces to the painters, “I told you there was Spanish in this song!” They claim to like the english version a lot better. Without hesitation, Marty continues to sing his own version of the song acappella as he begins to clean up around the house.

Moments likes these are what have kept us going over the last few weeks. We’ve locked our only set of keys in the apartment, lost our only cell phone, things have been breaking, leaking, gone missing, etc. You name it, it has happened. With me being bigger and less agile, Marty has taken over a lot of responsibility, so if he needs a little J-Lo to help him get through the day, then so be it! I think I can handle that….

-sarah

Below are 2 easy and tasty recipes I cam across in Food Network magazine, April 2011, Volume 4, Number 3 (thanks to one of my guests Lily, who so kindly brought Marty and I a few magazines to enjoy- another item we live without living where we do).

P.S. Keeping with the topic of magazines I highly suggest picking up a copy of the Food Network magazine. Great recipes and some good articles. I also recently discovered and love the magazine Saveur. They also provide some great recipes, however, I really enjoy reading the articles. The magazine’s content often focuses on different types of cuisine, new restaurants, cooking techniques, etc.

THAI PORK & NOODLES

1 pound thin boneless pork chops, fat trimmed

8 ounces wide Thai rice noodles (I used much thinner rice noodles since it was all I had available)

1 cup  fresh cilantro (leaves and stems)

Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lime

2 slices peeled ginger

2 garlic cloves smashes

3 red jalapeno peppers, seeded and roughly chopped (I used 1 green jalapeno which packed enough punch for us, although red makes for a nicer color combination)

2 shallots, roughly chopped

3 tablespoons fish sauce

2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar

4 tablespoons peanut oil

1/4 pound green beans, split lengthwise and cut into pieces

 

GREAT TIP! Place the pork in the freezer about 10 minutes to make it easier to slice. Trim and cut into thin strips. Soak rice noodles in hot water until tender (about 10 minutes). Drain and cut noodles down into shorter lengths.

Now for the fun part (I love making new sauces out of fresh ingredients)! Puree he cilantro, lime zest, juice, ginger, garlic, jalapenos, shallots, fish sauce, brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon of water in a food processor  until smooth(I used a blender and it turned out fine, you may have to add a little more water/lime juice).

Heat 3 tablespoons of peanut oil in a large skillet  over high heat. Add half the cilantro mixture and stir-fry for about 1 minute. Then add the pork and stir-fry until no longer pink, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the pork to a plate. Add remaining 1 tablespoon of peanut oil to the skillet, add the green beans and stir-fry until tender, about 4-5 minutes.

Lastly add the noodles , pork, and 2 tablespoons of the remaining cilantro mixture. Cook until heated through and serve!

I added a few marinated cherry tomatoes as garnish to add a little color.

And now for a little dessert….

CHEESECAKE PARFAITS

8 ounces of cream cheese

3 tablespoons of sugar

3 tablespoons of heavy cream

Enough graham cracker crumbs to make a nice bottom layer to the parfaits (I used crushed  cinnamon cookies since I could not find any graham)

Fresh fruit for topping

Beat cream cheese with sugar and cream until smooth and well mixed. Ad a heaping teaspoon of graham cracker crumbs in each glass. Top with cream cheese mixture and fresh fruit. I chilled mine for about 1/2 hour before serving.

TIP- use a small glass. The glass I used was too tall in my opinion, which made it difficult to get perfect bites of the cream cheese mixture with the right amount of graham cracker crumbs. I would use a smaller serving of cheese, mixture the next time, although Marty says he wouldn’t have changed a thing! He even ate one for breakfast this morning!

Cheesecake Parfaits, a tasty treat ready in 10 minutes!

Not much longer now...

So, yesterday I had my second to last appointment with my doctor before I start making weekly visits to check up with a nurse. Everything looks good and baby is growing and thriving. Am really looking forward to meeting this little guy and find myself trying to picture what the moment will be like when we first lay eyes on each other!

Thanks to great friends of ours over in NYC (much love Stef & Eric) we are connected to American TV via our computer, which means we can live stream their cable connection. When things are quiet and we have some downtime, Marty and I have been watching shows like the Baby Story, and Baby’s First Day, etc. Marty was surprisingly enthusiastic about tuning in to these types of programs, which took me really off guard at first. Than I quickly realized that this was really his first time seeing the whole “process” of what takes place on the actual birth day. I think watching these programs is his way of getting some real practice time in before actual game day arrives.  Some episodes are definitely more, well…how do I put this….traumatizing then others, and I found myself shedding a few tears at the thought of going through a similar situation. The whole thing can be quite overwhelming to watch, especially when you’re actually preggo.

The most overwhelming part for me is watching the mother see their baby for the very first time. It will be a feeling I’ve never felt before and I can honestly say I am not the best at handling such emotional moments. I am one of those people who tells their friends how much they love them after a few glasses of wine, if you know what I mean. Will I cry? Will I go into shock? Will I be able to handle all this raw emotion? I’m preparing to feel a little bit of all these things, but I guess you never know until it happens.

Marty seems to be most concerned with me not making it through the birth and becoming a single father. Ahh Marty, always mister positive. A little morbid, maybe? Yes! Not exactly the exactly image I have of the most important day of our lives, but Marty is probably the most honest person I’ve ever me and most things he thinks do not get filtered prior to leaving his lips. I remind myself that he is also entitled to his own thoughts (however morbid) and feelings about the baby. His honesty and forthrightness have always been something that I have loved about him from the start, so why stop now? I think that I have done a pretty convincing job of reassuring him that I’ll pull through the birth and that he will not be going home as a single father. Somehow this (crazy) thought has manifested in his head and I am full on blaming it on all the screaming women and bloody babies these programs have introduced him to!

When watching these programs, I’m always taken a back at how many family members, friends, neighbors, you name it, are permitted in the hospital room during birth. A couple of weeks ago, there was one episode we watched where this woman even had one of her aunts on Skype while she pushed that  little sucker out! I’m all for technology, and I definitely don’t want to be the one to judge, but to me this was a little extreme. I don’t think I would be very relaxed or comfortable having more than Marty and perhaps one other person present, apart from the nurses and doctors, but I guess to each his own, right?

It will most likely be Marty and I going into this thing together with the possibility of maybe one other relative. Most likely my mother, but as of right now we have not settled on anything yet. The issue is that we’ll be coming home straight back to the hotel once we’ve been released from the hospital, so we’re thinking we may want to spread out the family visits so that we can get as much help as possible for the first month. No maternity leave for me I’m afraid, however, I feel lucky that Marty and I are at least together in the same place, even though work won’t necessarily stop. After speaking to some guests and other expats, I’ve also learned that except for Canadians, most women do not receive more than a few weeks of maternity leave. As Canadians (or maybe it is just Quebec, not sure) we are given one full year off to attend to our new family member(s), and many father’s are able to take a paternity leave of about 5 weeks. We’re quite spoiled in this regard and many of my female guests (from other parts of the world of course) are shocked when I tell them this (and most likely very envious). I guess it is a good way to encourage children and family growth in Canada (or just Quebec), as I am sure some women wouldn’t consider having children without their maternity leave.

My plans for remainder of this pregnancy? Stay cool! Eat healthy (apparently I surpassed the monthly weight limit this month…Oops!).  Work but try to relax. Begin to prepare our apartment for a new family member.  Once I get things looking top shape I’ll be sure to post some pictures of the nursery and the rest of our place. After 2 years of living here with plastic chairs and white walls, I am taking control and trying to make a home for us. Wish me luck!

Fresh coat of paint in the nursery

-sarah

Almost 31 weeks

After many requests from family, friends and guests I have posted a new pic of myself at 30 weeks and 6 days. Things are going very smoothly and I feel very lucky in that respect. I know I have been saying this a lot, but most of the time I do not even feel pregnant, if it were not for the big basketball growing on my front half and of course the movement inside. I do get the occasional leg cramp and swollen feet but all in and all I have to say I would do this again…but maybe this kind of statement should wait to be made post birth, am I right?

My biggest challenge right now is the heat! Honestly, I know I should not be complaining, but holy cow is it hot over here! I am now up to about 3 cold showers a day, with the application of ice packs and cold compresses in between. The ocean is also my favorite place to be right now! This is not to mention the intense addiction I have developed for popsicles. Now all I need to do is find myself some freezies, but unfortunately I don’t think they exists in Mexico (tear).

Swelling has only developed in my feet and has not been too bad for the time being. I can say that I definitely am lacking in energy these days, but on the bright side, at least all the sweating and going up and down the stairs have been keeping me in shape!

Marty has been the perfect father to be throughout all of this. I haven’t touched a dirty dish in almost 8 months and he has been all about getting me to stay relaxed and rested. I’ve especially appreciated the sleeping in part! It definitely has been a positive experience for the both of us, which we are very grateful for, as running a hotel can be very demanding on a couple, let alone when one of them is pregnant!

The next step is getting the nursery finished up. We’ve decided to forgo the classic crib and have purchased a pack n’ play. It is definitely more versatile then a crib (which fits our lifestyle) and saved us about $800 USD. Can you believe that the cheapest crib we found (that was up to our safety standards) was almost $1000 USD!! We’re also having a baby hammock made which we are looking forward to trying out. Believe it or not, this concept has become very popular not only in Mexico, South/Central America but countries like Australia and Sweden, who are also using hammocks for their infants. Studies have shown that the use of baby hammocks has reduced the number of crib deaths, as there is nowhere for the baby to suffocate in a hammock. Regardless, I am still a little nervous about using one, but we are determined to give it a try.

Another important step for us right now is to figure out the plan for the actual birth date. I am due on August 19th, which is a busier time for us at the posada. Being that the hospital in Cancun is almost 2 hours away, we’re going to have to be organized with some kind of a plan…I don’t really want to give birth in a taxi on the 307 highway! This will be tricky to plan, but thankfully both our families have been tremendously supportive and have offered to come down anytime to help out with the hotel. We’ll figure it all out I’m sure!!

Before I wrap this post up I want to thank one of our past guests, Silvana, for sending us a couple of awesome organic onesies in the mail, all the way from NYC! We were so thrilled and touched by your thoughtfulness!

Thanks for all your kind messages and words of support!

-sarah

I decided for this entry I would put together a short photo essay so that you can really appreciate the visual treats Valladolid has to offer!

Local Yucatecan woman in traditional dress

Views from the street

There is nothing better than people watching when visiting small towns like Valladolid. I suggest you spend part of your day sitting outside in the plaza or at a cafe and watch the world go by…

Yucatecan women waiting to cross the street

More city landscape

Of course eating was also an important part of this trip. When visiting Valladolid be sure to sample some of the excellent and authentic Yucatecan cuisine! We ate at Las Campanas off the main plaza and it was great.

Pico de Gallo & Habanero salsa

Street eats- Didn't indulge this visit, but next time I certainly will!

Single file on the narrow sidewalks of Valladolid

During the hot spring/summer months, visiting ruins can be exhausting. Not many of the sites have shade and the ruins themselves can be pretty spread out, meaning that you’ll be exploring for a while in high temperatures. Ek Balam are the perfect ruins to visit in hot weather as they are located on a small site and there are some shady spots to sit and relax. More importantly, Valladolid is close by so you can easily reward yourself with a nice relaxing lunch in town!

If you have vertigo like me, I suggest climbing only half way (with a friend, thanks Erin!)

Stunning views from halfway up

I hope that you enjoyed visiting Valladolid through my eyes. You know what they say… Pictures are worth a thousand words!

-sarah

For me, the ultimate comfort food isn’t any food in particular. It’s not poutine, not Mc’Ds or fried chicken. It’s a whole category of food I like to call “mom food”. You know the stuff I’m talking about: chicken à la King, Sheppard’s pie, macaroni, beef stew, tomato soup, grilled cheese and the likes. It’s the stuff our mothers and grandmas used to make for us when we were kids. Back when food was about filling our bellies and we didn’t have a thousand take-out or restaurant options to choose from. We would just eat what was put in front of us. Period. Complaining about broccoli or fish was just part of the well-rehearsed and familiar mealtime routine. Wasn’t that awesome?

When I am sad, and especially when I find myself missing my mother and grandma (who both
passed a few years ago), I make mom food. I put on my apron, stare at the inside of my fridge and ask myself,  “what would they do?”  The trick with these dishes, I think, is not over thinking them. It’s about keeping things simple, taking your time and putting your heart into them.

My aunt Lise has been great at schooling me in the art of mom food. That’s probably because she’s always been like a second mom to me, and even more so in recent years. Her spaghetti sauce is my all-time favourite. It only requires a few ingredients that you can probably find in just about any part of the world. But don’t let that fool you – the depth of flavour is surprising. Give it a try it next time you’re feeling down or missing home. Hopefully it will warm your heart in addition to filling your belly.

Matante Lise’s spaghetti sauce
Makes one medium pot or 5 – 6 portions.

1 can of
tomato soup
1 can of diced tomatoes
1 can of tomato paste
2 onions, diced
a few garlic cloves, minced
Red pepper flakes to your liking (try ¼ teaspoon to start)
½ teaspoon of sugar (optional to correct acidity)
½ pound of ground beef
½ pound of ground veal (or lamb, which I prefer)
1 bay leaf

In a medium-sized pot, sautee the onions over medium heat for about 10 minutes, until they become translucent but not brown. Add the garlic and continue cooking for about 1 minute making sure not to burn. Add all the cans, the bay leaf, the sugar (if using) and pepper flakes. Let simmer for one hour. Brown the meat in a skillet, strain the fat. Add to the sauce and simmer for an hour more. Add salt to taste. Serve over pasta of your choice with freshly grated parmesan and chopped basil.

Matante Lise's spaghetti sauce