I have some explaining to do.
It’s happened a few times in my blogging career where I seem to just slip off into an unknown void. Without an explanation my words, pictures and food cease to exist in cyberspace. And I hate coming back here apologizing to you kind people for my absence because you are so dear and so patient – but this time I think not only will you forgive me but many of you will know exactly why I’ve taken such a long hiatus from delicious food.
I didn’t plan on saying this now but I just can’t stop thinking about you all. Your kind comments and emails keep coming in and many of you have asked if I’m okay and if I’m ever coming back. Thank you for your continued support and presence in my Internet home – even though I don’t respond to all the comments and emails I read them all and each one warms my heart and makes me long to return to this place.
Okay – I’ve procrastinated long enough. Not that I don’t want to tell you – I’m just nervous and don’t even know how to put it into to words because frankly, I still can’t believe it – here it is….
We’re having a baby!
This will be number three and can I just tell you that I’m more nervous for this one than either of the other two little male punks that made their triumphant entry nearly 2 and 4 years ago.
We’ll have months to discuss my nerves and you can guarantee I’ll be seeking advice – especially from those of you who have three or more children.
But for now I’m just counting down the days until I’m out of the first trimester – not too much longer.
I will spare you the details of my daily afflictions but let’s just say that food and I are not friends. I eat because I have to and when I do it’s food that would have repulsed me before. Saltines, pickles and mustard – that was lunch last week. Buttered toast, Gatorade and noodles with butter and Parmesan have become regulars.
I dread when my husband makes coffee in the morning and I’ve asked him to refrain from mentioning any food items unless deemed acceptable by me. Last week in the grocery store he happened to mention white truffle oil and I nearly lost it in aisle 9. He’s still getting used to this rule as just a couple of months ago it was I that would be shunned from bringing up food – especially after we just had a rather large meal.
I can’t tell you how strange it is to go from being so incredibly in love with and passionate about food to wishing that it didn’t exist because just the thought, smell and look of it often sends me rushing to the restroom.
This has been the most intense “morning” sickness (they really should call it “all-day sickness”) I’ve experienced. I know it will blow over soon and at the end of it all – in September to be exact – I will be holding a precious baby. Having two examples of just how fast they do grow I don’t plan on this child ever being out of my arms.
So there you have it. I have no recipes to share because I haven’t been cooking – I will say though that Saltines, sharp cheddar, pickles and mustard make a tasty little cracker sandwich.
I anticipate just a couple more weeks of this sickness and really it should be letting up as each day passes – at least that’s what I’m hoping for.
I will be back, you can count on that. I have some incredible recipes to share – as soon as they sound good I’ll start making them.
Thanks again for being here, for cheering me on and appreciating great food.
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102 Comments
So so so very happy for you, Gabe, and the boys!
That’s wonderful! Congratulations!
Take a break however and wherever you need to – you’ve got some more important “cooking” to do!
Congratulations! That is great news. Your love for food will come back:)
Congratulations Ashley! Great great news:)
Hope you feel bettter very soon!
YAY! as you know, we are beyond thrilled. Lucy cannot wait to meet her new friend.
hooray!!! congratulations!
I was wondering where you were hiding! Such happy news–congrats on baby number three!
congratulations ashley! Have several friends with 3 kids, it will be so fun. Have you tried the psi bands? Helped a lot for me. Along with b-vitamins. Hope the nausea fades soon.
-sara
You are almost out of it, Ashley! Hang in there and then eat all you can in your second trimester! Congrats to you all.
oh ashley! what wonderful news. congrats to the four of you!
What happy news! Congratulations!!! You are going to have the best holidays this year!
We have missed you but this news is more than worth it! Huge congratulations–hope that sickness passes soon.
oh my goodness! Congrats!!!
This is such exciting news!! Congratulations!
Congratulations! I have been wondering where you were, but those little buggers take a lot of time and energy even when they’re the size of a strawberry!
Oh, do I ever remember my first trimester. I never threw up, but almost everything tasted like metal. All I could eat were eggs, tomatoes, pasta, potatoes, and cheese. And suddenly, overnight, it was gone and food was my friend again.
You have my sympathy. And my congratulations!
WOO HOO! Congratulations. How exciting! I too had vile vile all day sickness with both pregnancies and know completely where you are at. I hope it passes soon and that you are back in your beloved kitchen asap. Good luck.
Congratulations and thanks for sharing this most wonderful news! Wishing everyone good health!
Congratulations! I’d say you have one of the best reasons for not posting. I hope that your nausea starts to lessen soon.
What wonderful news! Congratulations, and I hope you get a little break from the sick feelings. I remember them very clearly…
Hooray! So happy for you!!!
Ashley, congratulations on the third one!
Now three little one’s will be blessed to have an awesome baker mom like yourself! 
Oh, honey, congrats! That’s so so exciting. I’m so happy for you.
Congrats, Ashley! Feel better soon… Been there. Thank goodness the female ability to forget this part of pregnancy is so strong.
That’s wonderful! Congratulations, and feel better soon!
Congrats, Ashley! I am so happy for you and Gabe.
yay – congratulations! i have missed your updates – but you are still on my safari “top sites” front page and always will be
) among other regular recipes, i make your caramel sauce almost weekly, and since your recommendation, i have never turned back from using it as my coffee flavoring – SO DELECTABLE! last night i dunked apple slices in it, too. ohmygoodness…!
Wow that’s huge! Congratulations!! I’m so excited for you both. Three is a great number.
Fantastic news! Congrats. Three is DEFINITELY the best number! How fun. Enjoy every (nauseating) moment of your pregnancy!
aww congratulations! your loyal readers will be here waiting for you when your appetite for all things delicious returns
Oh yay, what wonderful news! Congratulations!
Aw, such sweet news! Congratulations. My sister is pregnant with her third, too!
CONGRATS! That first trimester is TOUGH. Hang in there : )
Hey Ashley – I just stumbled over your post. Congratulations! You are literally taking the words out of my mouth – I am expecting my second one by the end of September. After a picture perfect first pregnancy, it’s very hard for me to explain and accept how I am feeling right now. And I am not even a blogger, chef or anything related to that by any means. I just love (d) to eat and feed my family and friends. So you are in my thoughts… Take care!!
Congratulations! That’s awesome! (the baby, not the all-day-sickness part).
As you know, I can relate entirely too well. Congrats! And good luck keeping the food down – I’m fighting to do the same.
you are going to be the best mom of three ever. so sorry about the repulsion of food… hope you get to indulge soon!!
Wow, what an exciting surprise! Congratulations and feel better soon!!!
YEE HA, Ashley! How wonderful! How huge!
The dreaded a.m. coffee…that was the worst in 1st trimester. I feel your pain.
For all-day sickness I carried candied ginger around in my purse. That stuff really helped! Hang in there for those last couple of weeks & here’s to a joyful-energized 2nd tri!
Ashley–that is terrific news!! Hope you are feeling OK. Rest up.
Congratulations to you and your family on your happy news. Have you tried ginger tea or ginger capsules, or even crystalized ginger? Check with your doctor, obviously, but this might help. I was sick almost my whole pregnancy with my son , and it seemed all the foods I previously could eat, would make me ill. But the end result is worth all the sickness. Wishing you well for the rest of your pregnancy.
Congratulations! That’s so exciting. I just made your shortbread cookies last week for our community group at church. I didn’t come back home with any!
congratulations and i feel for you on the food thing and isn’t it so amazing how our minds work (the truffle oil incident). I think our minds trigger the smell and that’s what sends us pregnant, hormonal, rather psychotic females into a frenzy. We only have two and I’m with you on dreading the step from 2 to 3 (the chiefs are outnumbered).
what wonderful news!! congratulations on the upcoming new bundle of joy!
Congratulations!! Oh I remember those days, but having that little baby in your arms make it so worth it!
Maybe you can come up with a recipe using saltines, pickles, mustard and noodles?
Woohoo! Congrats to you and your hubby
Glad to have some news after this long absence. I hope to see you here soon again, be it for a recipe of course, but also anything you feel like sharing with us.
YAY!!!!!!! I’m so beyond happy for you, Ashley! I know how much you’ve wanted this! I remember our talks at your mom’s house! Oh, congratulations!!! I wondered what was up! Well, wonderful! We’ll be thinking of you guys warmly! xoxo
Who hoo, the cat’s out of the bag.
Great seeing you at Dana’s last week. Will you be at Julie’s finale party?? Hope so!
Congratulations bella, that is wonderful news!
Like everyone else here, congrats and may you speedily bounce back from the 1st trimester woes. You’ve been missed. And for what it’s worth, I’m NOT pregnant and the saltine, cheese, pickle & mustard finger sandwich is a fav or mine too! In some areas of the South, they’d call that a square meal … food pyramid and all!
Congratulations! I was in your boat and still currently reside in it and did I mention I’m currently a culinary student as well? Let me tell you, 8 a.m. tasting olive oil and balsamic vinegars in Garde Manger was not on my list of things to do! I hope your aversion passes quickly and you and the baby can come to agree that food is good
congrats!!! that is so very awesome! I squealed like a little girl the second I saw that ultrasound pop up on my computer. I hope you feel better soon!
Oh congratulations! Such lovely news
Although the lack of good eating is indeed sad, I can’t think of a better reason for a blogging hiatus, and what a menial thing food is to momentarily give up for such a wonderful gift! Congratulations on your amazing news! All the best, hope the morning sickness passes soon!
Oh congratulations!!
Hope the morning sickness passes quickly!
Wow! You have quite the following! I love it!
And I totally predict GIRL this time! It would be just like your Mom had!!! 2 boys and then a sweet little you!! Ahh….either way, they will be adorable just like your first two! 
Love you and hope you feel better soon! I miss you! Wish you weren’t so far! 
Sad. Anyways….take care and hope to talk to you soon!! Love you lots!
Congrats on the baby!! I was wondering whats wrong with me cz I didnt bake or cook for a Month!.. happens to be: I’m also Pregnant 5 weeks.. now I know whats wrong with me LOL
so we will be along side by side! if you need anything you can tweet me @madamesucree
have a great day!
This is wonderful news (not the morning sickness part of it), I’m so happy for you! Congratulations!
OMG! Congratulations! I hope you’ll soon get your appetite back!
congratulations, Ashley!
Let me add my congratulations to everyone else’s! Well, you may not be cooking but know that your readers will eagerly wait for news and more food once your stomach settles down. And it may not seem like it now but these days are going to zoom by!
Congratulations! I’m expecting baby number 3 and also due in early September! I have two beautiful boys 2 and almost 4! Three will be busy but SO much fun. Best of luck to you!!
Congrats! That is so wonderful!!
Congrats to you! I have three little ones of my own. 4.5, 2.5 and 8 months… They keep me busy indeed, but I would not have it any other way! My husband along with many others think I’m crazy for wanting a 4th, but I’d love it. I wish you all the best over the next 8 months or so and beyond! I really enjoy reading your blog and love your recipes.
Congratulations!! This such a wonderful new (even with the all-day sickness). I hope that you”ll soon feel better about food, but even if not, it’s all worth it!
Congrats to you and your family, Ashley!
Oh my, congratulations!! We have unexpectedly, brilliantly three, and it is crazy wonderful, the best of the best. Terrifying to imagine being outnumbered, just a smidge, when you’re still trying to imagine the How?, but better than awesome in the day to day, when it’s here, and now. I’m so excited for you. Now to be done with that pesky morning sickness.
Wow! Well congrats! As a child with 2 siblings I can tell you, 3 kids is a good number. My parents said we were a breeze. Don’t worry!
All my hope in you feeling better soon. My husband and I are just getting into thinking about jumping into where you’re at so it’s nice to see good examples to learn from.
PS- I love how the sonograms are marked “BABY”
Congrats! What great news. 3 should be so much fun.
Congratulations!! Thanks for sharing this splendid news with us!
YIPPPEEE YI YAY! This is lovely lovely news!
Congratulations! This is a perfectly valid reason for being absent!
What wonderful news! Congratulations! Take as much time as you need and we will be waiting patiently, with bated breath, for the goodies you have lined up…including the delicious little baby in September!
I just had my first child just two months ago so I should be going to you for advice
Congratulations!!! Hopefully the little mite will let you enjoy your food again soon!!!!
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!
aww man i feel yah. i am 12 weeks along, and the all day sickness is finally letting up, but still only bland foods i can tolerate…. i miss good food, but i dont want to smell it or taste it – !!
anyway congrats from bellingham!
YES! Jon and I are excited to babysit another Rodriguez baby!
i am so thrilled for you and your family! congratulations! oh, and we’ll all still be here when you’ve returned to your regular self.
)
This is incredible news! Congratulations to the whole family. I’m sorry to hear of the all-day sickness and I hope it passes soon, so you can take in the full enjoyment of things that you’re used to.
Congrats Ashley! enjoy this pregnancy to the fullest! I so loved my pregnancy – Julian is now 8 days old. He melts our hearts. Maybe this will be a girl – will you find out or wait for the surprise?
Oh, you are so right…3 kids and 30 years later, I can attest to how quickly the time passes. Must say, though, that this is the best. Those kids grown up and making their own kids. Sharing recipes, cooking for each other. You have lots to look forward to. After you’re done throwing up.
I know you have no idea who I am, so feel free to chuck this advice – but I had all-day sickness as well through three pregnancies and then my naturopath told me to take 10mg. vitamin B6 and 10mg (one half tablet) of unisom, 3 times a day. This saved my life. I was actually cooking for my family, never threw up one time during my last pregnancy! It just seemed so miraculous to me that I always have to pass it on whenever I hear of someone being really sick. I remember the misery so well.
Congratulations!
Congrats! I’ve been stopping be every once and again to see if there’d be a new post…what great news! Enjoy each moment!
congratulations! that’s fantastic news
I hope you and food become friends again soon!
WOW – so exciting! to echo the previous 80 comments – congratulations!!
Congrats!
Ashley, sorry to hear how miserable you are feeling. Wishing you well and congratulations!
Ashley ~ congratulations! This news is so exciting to learn. Having witnessed you go through your last pregnancy, I thought of you often over this past year as I gestated (such a funny word!) little Tristan, who is now 3 weeks old. You were one of the few mama’s I know that have boys so seeing Roman grow up as a baby two years ago has been one of my few frame of references for little boys and how quickly they grow big! Having also witnessed your calm and loving ways of being a mama to two active little ones, I know you will continue to shine as a new mother of one more. Cheers! p.s. I feel your pain on the yucky tummy… though the upchucking never fully went away during my recent pregnancy, food did become yummy again after that 4th month. Then the nesting instinct kicked in soon after and all I could think about was cooking and baking! Hang in there, kiddo!
Aww! Congratulations! Funny I just did this post on my own blog a couple days ago……my sickness hasn’t gone yet and I’m at 12 1/2 weeks. ha Hopefully soon!
Munch on those crackers sister and stop making me think about food!
yay for babies!
i don’t know you nor your blog. i am new to food blogs, new to the food business, new to most all of it but cooking and eating.
having babies was not my easiest accomplishment. i often joke that i don’t remember anything from the 1980’s i was pregnant the entire decade.
that said, because i had terrible terrible pregnancies, that sound much like you have described, i couldn’t not send you this recommendation: papyrus enzymes. little chewable apricot flavored natural stomach settlers. buy them at the health food store.
hope it gets easier.
Congratulations!! I can definitely relate to all day sickness. And I was also super nervous/anxious about my third child (the pregnancy & her health)…probably because I already had 2 healthy children & was afraid something would go wrong. I wasn’t very nervous with the first two, and it isn’t my personality either.
With the all day sickness…the big bummer for me was that we had just finished redoing our kitchen!! I had been so excited all month designing it, and couldn’t wait to cook in it. Not only could I not cook in it for a VERY long time, but the smell of the glue that they used to put in the granite counter tops sent me over the edge. I couldn’t even look at my granite w/out feeling nauseous!! It was horrible. I thought I’d always feel that way when looking at in, and couldn’t imagine ever being able to cook again. Horrible times….but I pray you are out of it soon. My #3 is now a healthy, happy toddler….newly turned 2 yrs old & into everything.
Btw…I love your blog!!
Congratulations! I’m due with my first late September, so we must be on a similar schedule, and one of my staples a couple weeks ago was whole wheat pasta with butter and Parmesan too! I keep thinking the morning sickness is gone because I’ve started meal planning again some days with enthusiasm, until after I’ve eaten the meal and can’t stand the idea of it or the smell of the dirty dishes. Just another week or two and we should be in the clear though – here’s wishing you happy food thoughts and good health! (ps – sorry I posted this in the wrong place the first time – I’m new to your blog but I love it so far!)
Wow, congratulations!! As the mother of 7, I’ll just say this: The more, the merrier! It’s such a great adventure! When I am pregnant, I have to separate myself from anything I enjoy–or else I will connect it for years to the feeling of nausea. No fun recipes, no quilting, no photography….it really does make food a drag! I’ve loved your blog, and totally understand the hiatus! Good luck with your pregnancy and yes, hold your baby as much as you possibly can for it flies by way too fast!
congratulations to you and i so love your sense of humor about it all… feel better xoxo
Congratulations! That is so exciting!
What an amazing outpouring! thank you everyone! -husband.
Wonderful news! Congratulations, I hope you feel better!
Just for the record, welcome to the MOT club (Mother of three, or two, or twelve…or thirteen.). As a Mom of three, I can only say….hmmmm…wondrous days ahead! Lots of love and best wishes!!!!!
congratulations! I was wondering and now I know. take it easy; it sounds as if you’re having a hard-go of it. be well because I can’t wait to see what your going to cook up next.
Ashley,
I just got back from my holidays and I’m trying to catch up on my favorite blogs and, Voila! Big news from the Rodriguez Family!.
Congratulations, I wish you feel better during the rest of your pregnancy, and will be looking forward to read more about how that belly grows.
Congraulations!
Can I suggest Fruit Loops? With my son, I had all day sickness. The only thing that worked to stop the onset was Fruit Loops. A handful before I got up in the morning, a handful after the shower, and frequently throughout the day. Also, I had to switch to a kids toothpaste (fruity flavored) because the mint made it worse.
Jenni – So funny you suggested Fruit Loops. During my first 2 pregnancies I despised any fruity cereal. Ever since then I’ve stayed away. So funny how different it is for everyone.
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