We have a lot of traditions in the squadron that I really love. The dining outs,
hails and farewells, coffees, and girl time while the boys are at roll call or deployed are just to name a few.
We really are like a family, and it’s comforting to know that we have instant support and friendship wherever we’re sent. One of my favorite things about the squadron family aspect is baby meals. I’ve posted about them a few times before (because I love making them!) but for baby meals, wives will sign up to bring dinner to new parents in the squadron for a couple of weeks after they get home from the hospital. 
I felt bad accepting the baby meals, since my family is here and they have been bringing over food and stuffing our fridge for us, but the act of making food has fallen low on the priority list…
(Assemble and G-O)
but I thought it would be really nice to enjoy a home-cooked meal. I had no idea how wonderful it would be.
Tonight we got our first baby meal, and were seriously hooked up with incredible food and conversation.
Shrimp curry with brown rice
Veggies to add to the curry
Beautifully spicy shrimp ceviche
(I’ve been snacking on it all afternoon)
aaaaaaaand gluten-free chocolate cake.
I can’t wait to heat up some curry and rice, but first, there’s a cake situation that needs to be remedied. You see, it wants to be covered with almond butter and stuffed in my face…. 
Have a great night!
xoxo
Gina
Something to do: This year’s Winter Shape Up! I’m loving all of the feedback so far- keep rocking it out, friends. Next week’s workout will go up on Monday <3
Something to read:
10 mistakes you’re making on the elliptical trainer
Set smarter New Years resolutions
Hi, I'm Gina. Welcome to The Fitnessista! I love blogging about my adventures as a new mom, military wife and fitness instructor, as well as sharing new workouts and recipes. Check out the About page for more info - thanks for stopping by!
A sense of community is so important in every aspect, especially in times of need. When my family has gone through hospital-filled times, our church, neighborhood, family and friends have banded together and provided meals for us for up to two months! It really is a beautiful thing.
You have so much amazing love and support for your family
It makes my heart happy!
That is such a wonderful thing to have love and support during such a busy and happy time of your life! That cake looks amazing, I honestly wanted to jump through my computer screen for some!
Wow! That is an awesome meal! And that cake looks delish!!
All of you support each other when your partners get deployed, I think it’s only natural that they support you when new babies come into the world too! Very sweet. Enjoy the cake!
I would do terrible things for a slice of chocolate cake right now. If I weren’t a lazy bum I would go get a cupcake (only in NYC can you get a cupcake at all hours of the night. It’s a beautiful but cruel thing). But come to think of it…it’s probably better that I am lazy right now because a cupcake is certainly not necessary.
How sweet! It all looks yummy,and I need the recipe for that shrimp ceviche! I think that cake needs some of your awesome protein frosting that I have on my oatmeal every morning Thank You for that!It looks like you guys are settling in nicely,Give livy hugs for me!!! xoxoxo good night my sista!
That’s so wonderful. By the way, thank you so much for this year’s WSU. You are such a fitspiration – and inspiration! Love your posts. They always make me smile!
Also, I hope the book you eventually write has a military slant, I really enjoy reading about the different traditions the squadron has.
Wow! You are so fortunate to have such a great support system! Hope you have a wonderful dinner and a great night. Take care, Kilee
I love the cake comment – that is me all the way. What an amazing program – so helpful. I would have loved something like that especially with healthy options that fit within your normal diet.
That’s so great that you guys have such a great support system surrounding you!
This is amazing! I am experiencing military community and hospitality for the first time and it is remarkable. I am sure everyone is so excited to celebrate with you, especially after you’ve been so amazing about bringing your readers along this journey with you!
Now THAT is how healing from child birth should be! As an American healthcare practitioner who has studied postpartum ritual of other cultures, I feel so sad that in our country which has so much, women are really not authentically cared for enough postpartum. No bone broth to recover from blood loss and depletement of primal qi. Babies are rushed out of the home, taken to child care facilities b/c mom has to get back to work before even the first month. New moms push themselves so hard to “bounce back”.
So, I am happy to see how nurtured you are getting. Soak it up! Take all the time in the world, there is no rush. Make sure to get stir-crazy. That’s a good sign you are recovering properly, lol! Thanks for everything Gina and Tom! (and Bella!)
LOL!! I am laughing at myself- “depletement of primal qi”! Seriously, when is ‘Shit Acupuncturists Say’ going to come out???
I did raise an eyebrow..
However, as a nutrition/psych student, some of the stuff that comes out of my mouth makes me smack my hand on my forehead. It has been a long time since I said ‘sugar’. I’m always talking about glucose, fructose, sucrose, lactose, disaccharides, monosaccharides, polysaccharides and sometimes.. people give me ‘the look’.
That is awesome about the baby meals on wheels. SUCH a fabulous idea. I know you’ve mentioned it in the past, but seeing all that glorious food that YOU didn’t have to make has got to be the best feeling ever!
Enjoy your babymoon and savoring time with your little lady!
Haha, it is like being part of a church! The same kind of things get done there too. I am glad that they catered so well to your eating style too! Lovely people they must be
Off topic question for you, I am looking into studying to be a personal trainer, does this course look legitimate to you? http://www.icslearn.ca/personal-trainer/program-outline.html
Thanks girl! Ali
before you get your cert, call some gyms where you’d like to work and see what certifications they accept
Those squadron wives must read your blog! Or did The Pilot issue a list of Gina-friendly ingredients?
It makes me happy reading how well things are going for you. Like, in a stressed out world, there is still a whole bunch of love and happiness going on.
we’re friends, so the other girls know what foods i like
That is such a great idea! And the food looks so good too, especially the shrimp ceviche. It must feel comforting to be so well looked after
I’m not a parent, so I haven’t experienced that end of the meals but I have cooked my fair share. It’s definitely something I love about the military family, especially while overseas.
Oh my….I need the recipe for that spicy shrimp ceviche! Googling now….
I found this one that looks pretty good if anyone is interested.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-specials/shrimp-ceviche-cocktail-recipe/index.html
that is so nice! and all that food seems right up your alley.
This really is an awesome set up that you guys have. I know it’s not the same, but the families in my neighborhood did a very similar thing when my mom was diagnosed with cancer, back when I was in high school. It was so comforting for all of us to know that we had one less thing to worry about at the end of the day, all thanks to their kindness and consideration.
I knew I should’ve joined the military! Dang it!
Enjoy!
I am part of the family readiness team ( what the marine corps call it at least) so we help organize those meals for my husbands squadron. Its fun to cook for other people and help them out! We have our huge marine corps ball that is my favorite event, an excuse to dress up in a ball gown and get all dolled up!
What an amazing community you are apart of! I made stuffed chicken for our next door neighbor after she gave birth, but it was nothing as elaborate as all that you received. I must step up my game!
That is SO nice that your hubby’s squadron does that ! Definitely an amazing sense of comaraderie ! Unfortunately, I don’t feel this as much at our base anymore, like we used to in the past. OH and I know this sounds TOTALLY CREEPY haha, but I definitely think you were in my dream last night, at like a nutrition seminar, with your hubs & baby. I think you were giving a speech of some sort, lol.
Oh thank God, Gina was in my dream a little while ago too. She was leading a fitness dance class on a ferry to Hawaii. I thought it was just me…:)) Do we need help?!
haha maybe ? I feel much better knowing I am not alone, LOL !
i would love to teach a dance class on a ferry
haha i love it!
I should also have added that I don’t even know if there are ferries to Hawaii,and have certainly never been there – but your dance class was an absolute blast!!
)
That is awesome! I would love to try Indian food… I don’t know about you but I wanted sweets even more after my daughter was born. I have heard from other moms that it might have something to do with nursing. I’m not a big chocolate fan and I couldn’t get enough chocolate chip cookies and slices of pumpkin pie!
I think it is incredibly awesome that they were so considerate of your eating preferences! That is support on a whole other level in my eyes!
LOVED Tom’s birth story post BTW. So precious!
yes, it was amazing!
That is so awesome you have all that support! And, the spread looks really yummy! Hope your enjoying your time
I can see that about the cake. It CLEARLY needs to be covered in almond butter and eaten. That is extremely obvious.
The spicy shrimp ceviche looks right up my alley!
Thats so nice they do that! And what’s even better is that its stuff you can/will eat! Rarely do people send along a gluten free cake. Most people don’t pay attention to what people can/cannot eat. So very thoughtful of them!
Love it!! You belong to a wonderful community
That sounds like such an awesome community to be a part of…and that cake looks amazing! You are one lucky girl with this community and your family close by, and of course with Tom, your pup and new baby!
Those are some GREAT dishes! Obviously any food is great, but those things are creative and healthy rather than the go-to meals like lasagna that I feel like almost everyone makes in these kinds of dinner gifts.
Thanks for those great links! 2012 will be filled with positive energy and healthy habits.
Looks amazing! Please share the Ceviche recipe!
i’ll have to ask her for it- it was AMAZING
Yes, please! Congrats again!
Don’t feel bad accepting it, half of the fun is making food for others as well
that’s a good point- i always love making baby meals
Aww it sounds like it’s really nice to be part of a community like that! I love the idea of the baby meals- how wonderful that everyone pitches in! And wow, that meal looks amazing!
I just have to say thanks for making the time for these posts. My husband and I are planning on getting pregnant later this year…and I’m also going to start a part-time MBA program. I’ve heard so many stories about how a new mom has no time for anything else. While I’m sure life is much busier, it’s great to see that it is possible to find a balance!
What a great thing to do for new Momma’s! It all looks delicious — especially the cake
The support of our military family in the Navy (DH retired a few years ago after 30 years) was priceless. I loved the support of not only my peers, but the spouses with much more experience when we were first married, and I then loved being able to support the spouses with less experience as the years went by. I arranged a lot of baby meals when we were in Germany which was really important since families were far away. Thanks to you and your husband for your service; our service members couldn’t serve so honorably without incredible spousal/family support. Cheers to you both, and your new little military family member/dependent.
Baby meals are such an amazing idea! We just found out our friends had their baby tonight!! I think they’ll be in need of a baby meal this weekend.
Great idea to evaluate your finances yearly!
It’s so touching and kind that everyone has been so generous to your family! You all are obvi very loved and have a great support system!
[...] to worry about dinner, along with dessert of course. After reading Fitnessista’s baby meals (history here) she received after giving birth I was inspired to create one! I’m making this Coconut Shrimp [...]
An awesome example of “it takes a village”. I had to giggle at the first picture in this post- “To The Mess!”