Pregnancy and the Female Body

Pregnancy and the Female Body:

Since becoming pregnant a big topic I've noticed a lot of women discuss/bring up is weight gain.  You begin to hear a lot of women talk about "prebaby bods", "Pregnancy weight gain", "swelling", "cellulite", "cravings" and "the appetite of a teenage boy", etc when you become pregnant.  Alot of women live in fear of what their bodies will go through during pregnancy.. its the fear of the "unknown".. you really just dont know how your body will respond. Not just with weight gain but overall with all of the symptoms that come along with pregnancy and growing a little person in there.

I know for me, fitness and health have always been something I've valued. I really enjoy exercise, for the physical and mental benefits.  I also love feeding my body healthy food, especially knowing theres a child inside of me benefiting from my nutrients.  That doesn't mean there haven't been so many days where I really dont feel up to working out, when im exhausted or something else sounds like more fun then heading to the gym, especially at being 7 months pregnant... Or that Im always eating healthy food.. Id say I have probably one cheat meal a day and a treat after lunch (sometimes..okay, most days) and always after dinner.  I just try to stay balanced.  This was important to me before pregnancy but even more so during.  I knew that I was going to go through a big transformation mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and physically the moment I found out we were pregnant.  I think I'm doing my best to handle this transformation one day at a time.. i can do that through making sure I stay connected to God, doing my daily devotional, continued bible study with my girls, spiritually growing with my husband and praying daily together, and going to church on sundays.. i have a longing to be the best mom I can be and the best wife and I truly feel like that where I am in my relationship with God is a huge influence on how I am in relationships with others.  I also do this through making sure I am where I need to be in my career, I am working on pushing myself harder to study for my exam to become licensed, its difficult when I really just dont have the energy or motivation during pregnancy to want to sit down and study. I am working on emotionally being in a great place, which I feel that I really am. I am so happy and thankful for the Lord's blessings and all He has gifted my life with. I really dont even have words to describe how filled my heart is with gratitude for all He has showered on to me this past year.  I have the most special and supportive person by my side through all of this and that just makes it so much easier to transition into (my dear and sweet husband).  And lastly I can do this through healthy balanced eating and exercise. Which i have tried my best to maintain at a moderate level during this pregnancy. Exercise is good because it helps prevent high blood pressure, swelling, and diabetes, as well as it prepares you for birth (which my dr describes is like a marathon and one must train for that to do well).

I have been so fortunate to not have any complications during this pregnancy, its been easy and so beautiful and peaceful (aside from being awfully sick in the beginning).  I couldn't be more thankful for that!  Watching my body change hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be...  I wasnt sure what this experience would be like when you are exposed to all of these women out there (blogs, friends, family, etc) who make it seem so dreadful & bombard you by telling you all sorts of horror stories like how most women "pack on some serious pounds".  I really feel beautiful and have been embracing my new curves, I think I see this as a gift that a lot of women long for, a lot of families cannot have children on their own, and I think God has kept how special this is as my true focus.  I look in the mirror and get excited (most days) that my belly is growing AND feeling him move around is the biggest high in the world.  And then watching how other people light up around this belly of mine is so spectacular and incredible to witness!  And to top that all off, my loving husband is so gentle with me and tells me every single day ..multiple times.. how beautiful i am and shares how he loves my body, it has only brought us that much closer.  He makes me feel amazing no matter what kind of day im having.  I know my son will have his wonderful heart.  I've always said my husband is an angel and truly has a heart of gold and I pray that my son learns that and gets that from his daddy.

So here are some beautiful mommies in all shapes and sizes.  From prebaby bodies to during pregnancy and even after, you can see how we are all created differently and each of these women is so beautiful at all phases of life.  I know the media has slandered a lot of these women in different ways, so Im here to embrace them and to simply show other girls out there that our bodies will do what God intended during pregnancy and after... we should embrace, accept, and love our bodies.. which includes treating them right.. our bodies are temples.. we need to feed them well, not too much and not too little, and give them daily movement in whatever exercise, activity, or way you enjoy.

 Kim Kardashian before baby and then during her pregnancy. 

Kim Kardashian Pre baby body

Kate Middleton 28 weeks pregnant

(Kate later shared that she did yoga during her entire pregnancy and post partum to get strength back in her core)

 Kate Middleton Pre baby body

Jessica alba Pregnant                                                  Jenna Dewan Pregnant

Jenna Dewan pre baby body

(Jenna Dewan talked about her pregnancy openly and says she worked out/walked/went to the gym almost every day and ate vegan (shes always been a vegan).  She was committed to staying healthy).

Jessica Alba Post pregnancy body

Jessica Simpson pregnant

(Jessica Simpson openly talked about how she wanted to enjoy pregnancy and eat whatever she wanted. She even made light of her weight gain by talking about eating pop tarts dipped in butter). 

Pregnant and after Pregnancy - Jessica Simpson

                                                   Kim Kardashian pregnant
(Kim Kardashian claimed to have gained around 50lbs during her pregnancy. She shared that she never really craved unhealthy foods and really craved veggies and ranch).

Its so beautiful seeing a woman who is creating a human inside of her tummy. I think it is the most fascinating adventure and we need to do a better job supporting these woman and lifting them up while they are enduring all of these changes that are out of their control.  I hope you enjoyed reading my take and experience on pregnancy and the female body. Im sure I will touch on this again post baby.  (:

Sneak Peak Maternity Shoot

Maternity Shoot Sneak Peak:

If you are following me on instagram: tessa_ray_armstrong, im sure you already saw this little sneak peak my sister (our photographer: www.kelseysteindler.blogspot.com) took from her IPHONE...   I cannot wait to see the actual pics she took w/ her camera! She is an amazing photographer, so gifted and skilled, with such a beautiful heart. She can make anyone smile and it so wonderfully her goofy sweet self that you instantly feel comfortable in front of the lens (great for people like my hubs who hate taking professional photos).  

Her instagram is "thesteinz" if you'd like to follow her work.  Im so grateful for her giving heart and that she is always open to do a shoot <3.  Since we are family she brought along her hubby and their sweet 6 month old baby boy, my darling nephew Canaan (pronounced cay- nan). Her husband took the baby and their dog for a stroll while we got down to business.  Heres a couple photos of me with my nephew after we were done shooting. He was out past his bed time for auntie so he was a bit crabby but I love to kiss and squeeze him anyhow!

Before we shot w/ my sis we were sitting around waiting so i stole a quick kiss at sunset.

We finished off the night at Savannah's Steakhouse. We love to get in as many date nights as we can these days knowing that pretty soon we'll have our little guy here and not be able to do as much with just the two of us.  My husbands schedule is INTENSE and BUSY to say the least right now. For the next 2 1/2 months hes working and going to school (finishing his hours) and on top of that doing work for the band. Hes a busy man and im so proud of him for all his hard work for our family. <3

Cant wait to post more maternity pics for you when my sis gets a chance to edit! 

28 Weeks Pregnant Update

28 Week Pregnant Update:

How far along: 28 Weeks

Symptoms: Nothing new really.  Just hungrier in the morning, i've been eating breakfast and then 45 minutes later eating again. I think he must be going through another growth spurt

Clothes: Im still wearing normal clothing, i purchase a couple maternity pieces and borrowed some from family and friends, but im mostly just wearing my own clothes or buying things ill be able to wear even after the baby is born (lots of maxi skirts and dresses,.. easy to fit into and be comfty still as well as i can wear them again after pregnancy and they are great for summer). I can still wear heels without my feet swelling but my back tends to hurt so i try not to wear them longer than a couple hours.  Ive been living in boots and sandals. When i get home my favorite thing to do is strip and wear just a t-shirt, i really dont like being constrained and have found ive been that way since only a few weeks pregnant. Anything on my belly even if its lose doesnt feel comfortable.

How im feeling: I feel the best i've felt at the 6 1/2- 7 month mark of pregnancy. I think its because my bump excites people, my hubby even gets excited and i find him saying "hey little preggo, or wheres my preggie" often. It makes me so happy that my belly makes others happy.  People keep saying "WOW, you've finally popped" or "I cant believe you are 7 months pregnant, you look great!" Which is ALWAYS nice to hear when you are pregnant (:   Also I feel like i'm connecting to our little guy more and more as he moves all throughout the day now, and he feels so much bigger! The bigger he gets the more a reality this becomes! I am so excited to meet him but I also feel I have so to do. We havent even started the nursery, we are waiting until after our baby shower to see what we will still need.

Cravings: Still cravings sweets, mostly chocolate. And cold green grapes and fresh pineapple (but it has to be really cold).
I'm also trying to go into this next trimester being more aware of salt and not adding salt to my meals etc.  I know as summer is approaching (as well as the inevitability of just being in the 3rd trimester) swelling may be near! So i'm going to "try" my best to keep it to a minimum if i can. My body tends to swell easily and retain water, even when not pregnant.

My two fears of late: C-section and what if for whatever reason breast feeding doenst work out the way i pray it will. I really want to birth this baby after all the hard work and preparation for labor i've put into my body and knowing my body was made for this and is fully capable.  Its just the woman in me. And as for breast feeding Dr. says "breast is best", the bonding is unlike anything else, nutritionally its the best thing you can do for your baby! And on top  of those incredible reasons it helps mamas uterus shrink back down and heal.   It can also (for some women) aid in weight loss to get back quicker to your pre baby body. Watching both my sisters and best friends bread feed makes me so excited to have these special tender moments with my son.

Movement: I feel him moving in a whole new way these past few weeks. He rolls around the surface of my tummy and you can see him from the outside. It sort of looks like a little snake slivering. I also still get the kicks and pokes as well. I can't figure out if i've felt him hiccup or not yet, I feel him move in a pattern but sometimes i just wonder if he's got a lot of energy like his daddy and mommy or if its hiccups? His body reaches across my whole stomach (hes as big as an eggplant now..around 15 inches) so we can feel him with one hand on my left side and one on my right at the same time when hes moving.

Excited for: Baby showers these next couple weekends! And our birthing classes start May 8th! I am so excited for those!  We still havent gotten our results back for my glucose text i took this past monday, so Im eager to see how that went. I havent really worried about it because i'm pretty healthy and no one in my family has ever had diabetes during pregnancy. Oh im also excited to have a little break from work and go on maternity leave in june! Only 7 more weeks of work!

Missing: sushi, and not having to lower my sodium intake (im just now starting to think about this.. and i wish i didnt have to.. to avoid swelling during the summer).

Sleep: Pretty much the same, i wake up often for bathroom breaks. (2-3 times a night). I'm starting to enjoy it at times because around 4-6am if I get up to go to the restroom when i lay back down in bed I can feel him awake moving in there, I get to share these special quiet moments alone w/ him where i can just curl up and hold my belly and fall sleep envisioning my son while hes right there awake with me while daddy sleeps so peacefully next to us.

It's surreal that he could be here so soon! Especially if he comes early!

My husband is guessing he will come 7/11/13 and will have blue eyes and blonde hair. Im guessing 7/22/13 with blue eyes and brown hair.  We shall see!

27 Week Pregnancy Update after Dr. Visit

27 Week Pregnancy Update after Dr. Visit

We had our monthly Dr. visit and had to do my glucose test (mandatory/standard test they do for pregnant women at 24-28 weeks to test for diabetes).  I had seen a lot of bloggers and posts on pregnancy websites about how awful these drinks were, so I was curious what this would be like.  They were all out of the orange flavor and had lemon lime and fruit punch availble.. i chose fruit punch but I guess she didnt hear me and gave me lemon lime instead. I was fine with it and figured this might be less sweet anyhow. I didnt think it tasted that bad. Im not a big soda fan so it sort of reminded me of if i had to down a big can of flat sprite... at 11 in the morning... on an empty stomach (they make you wait to eat). Overall, its not something for those of you who are expecting mamas, to dred. They make you wait an hour after drinking it and then do a blood test.  We get our results back in 2-3 days.

The doctor measured my uterus and all looks perfectly on track. We got to hear the babys heart beat (as we usually do at dr. visits) this just melts my heart every time! I asked her if she could feel if he was measuring big or small or average.. she said he seems around 2.5 lbs right on track and that his head is down. (his head was down at our 21 week ultrasound, this is a good thing if he stays this way! We want him to be face down for labor)

Waiting for my hubby to get in the car for Sunday date night

Both of us were recovering from having the flu and didnt have much of a weekend so we decided to go to dinner and have some fun sunday night.  We went for mexican food because i (per usual) was craving chips and salsa and some fresh tacos.. I ended up getting a tostada instead (; We left very full and satisfied and went home to watch 2 redbox movies my hubs rented for us. These are the nights im sure i will miss,.. just the two of us.. for 12 or less weeks left! We are cherishing our time together for these next few weeks <3

 Getting some Vitamin D and catching some rays to try to make us feel better from being sick all week.

These puppies (my parents doggies) just love love love this belly

I sure love it too! Here you can see my little belly button is definitely OUT. (halfway.. the bottom wont pop out ever most likely) 

My husband, my best friend, my baby daddy <3 . .. and look at my bump! Its getting so big!

25, 26, and 27 Weeks Pregnant

25, 26, and 27 Weeks Pregnant Update:

Week by Week belly comparison, its amazing how big the baby gets towards the end.. im excited to see what this belly will look like in 10 more weeks (at 37 weeks!)

{dont mind the backwards 7...}

27 weeks baby bump (sick with the flu.. dont mind the pjs and bed head) 7 Months pregnant, welcome to the third trimester!!

27 weeks baby bump (sick with the flu.. dont mind the pjs and bed head)

25 Week baby bump

25 week Baby bump 

I didnt get a shot of my belly at 26 weeks, we were busy and I think I forgot, by the time i remembered i was already 26 wks and 4 days, big difference with this little guys growth spurts hes been going through.

How far along:  Currently 27 weeks pregnant

Symptoms: I've been feeling pretty good still.  Im a little more tired at night than i was a couple weeks ago. I have noticed that numb/heavy feeling in my right leg when i work out is creeping its way back in these last couple weeks as well (Dr. says its just the increased blood volume in my body and maybe the babys weight on my pelvic region?).  Im still hungry often and need to eat every 3 hours.  I have been trying my best to make sure im getting enough fluids and forcing down water especially at the end of the day.. which leads to me waking up more frequently at night to run to the bathroom (3 times per night is the norm).  

Weight gain: so far i've gained a healthy 15 lbs.  The baby himself is on average 2.5 lbs at this stage.  Its interesting to learn about where all the weight goes when you are pregnant, for those of you who don't know here is a break down: 

Where Does My Pregnancy Weight Gain Go?

A normal weight gain of 25 -35 pounds (28 to 40 pounds for women considered underweight, only 15 to 25 pounds for those overweight), over a10 month pregnancy is expected.Where does it all go? Location Average Weight (in pounds) Fetus 7.5 Placenta 1.5 Amniotic Fluid 2.0 Uterus 2.0 Breasts 1-2 Blood 3.0 Water 3.5 Fat 7.5 Research has found women tend to retain the weight they have gained during pregnancy when most of that weight gain was experienced during the first trimester. On average, a woman should only gain about three to six pounds in the first trimester (12 weeks). After that a gain of one pound per week is recommended, or about 24 pounds. Now, how long does it take to lose the weight gained during a normal pregnancy? At birth a woman will lose on average 10 1/2 pounds. This weight is represented by the new baby, placenta, and amniotic fluid. During the first three to six weeks postpartum, weight gained in the uterus, blood, and extra water stores will diminish. Weight gained in the breasts and as body fat will diminish during the same postpartum time depending on whether or not you breastfeed. In my first trimester I gained around 4 lbs. I was on the border of underweight and average for my body mass index (BMI) pre pregnancy according to different pregnancy websites and books that help you calculate how much is a healthy weight to gain month by month.  When you begin the second trimester you are supposed to gain about 1 lb per week. Each trimester is a little over 13 weeks... And in the third trimester again on average you should be gaining about 1 lb per week.  So far im on track for a healthy weight gain, my Dr. has always been pleased with how we are doing (: Sleep: My sleep is pretty much the same as it has been. I wake up a lot for bathroom breaks as well as to switch sides because my shoulders get sour sleeping on them all night.  I have the pregnancy pillow now (thanks to my sister kelsey), which helps me fall asleep but not stay asleep.  I know its only going to get worse in this last trimester so im not complaining about what im getting right now. Wedding Rings: On Cravings: Peanut butter, and SUGAR.. i currently have a major sweet tooth, im cravings all things chocolate and loving vanilla frozen yogurt w/ cookies or chocolate covered pretzles from trader joes.  I try to eat fruit with chocolate or something for dessert.. this way im getting a little nutritional value out of it for my little guy. Movement: He is still a mover.. not as much as he use to, i think hes slowly running out of room week by week.  He has his moments though when he will just go wild, and then he falls back asleep. I feel a lot of little movements in my pelic area so im wondering if thats where his legs are or maybe his hands? Belly Button: OUT! Its definitely out there, and you can see it in almost everything i wear. .. but i think its cute and so does my hubby ( ; Excited for: Doing a 4D ultrasound in a few weeks probably. Im trying to decide on when we should do it.. I am so eager to see him but I dont want to go too soon when he isnt plump and has those oh so cute chubby cheeks! Im also so excited that both of our baby showers are coming up in a couple weeks! And a maternity shoot my sister (kelsey steindler photography: www.kelseysteindler.blogspot.com) who is an amazing photographer, will be shooting them! Thats coming up next week! Missing: not really anything lately.. im really loving being pregnant right now. Im at that fun stage when people can tell im pregnant and everyone gets so happy to see my little bump! It brings me joy and im just so grateful for this life growing inside of me.. its really made me so happy to think about. Exercise: I havent been exercising as much as id like to lately because i've been sick and also tired (probably because my body is fighting off this bug).  Its tough to work out when i get that numb/heavy leg cramp as well.  OH and i had a big juice drink from Mothers market before i worked out the other day (trying to avoid getting sick) and i literally had to stop 3 times to go to the bathroom in just a 30 minute time frame while trying to do some cardio.  Normally i take 1-2 bathroom breaks in an hour at the gym.  Im proud of myself for sticking with a routine though, as hard as some days are, im continuing to try to stay healhty and active for me and this little boy. Stretch Marks: None so far.. I have been using mama mio body butter and oil, bio oil, coconut oil, and Palmers cocoa butter throughout my pregnancy at different periods. I apply one of these or a combination 2 times a day (morning and night). How big is baby: The size of a cauliflower! Babies on average are 2.5 lbs and 15 inches at this stage. At our 21 week appointment (our last ultrasound) he was measuring a couple weeks ahead..BIG! So im wondering if hes slowed down or if hes still a big baby.. we wont know until our last ultrasound with our Dr. around late 30's. Or if we do a 4D scan somewhere we can try to find out how big he is.  {By this first week of the third trimester, your baby looks similar to what he or she will look like at birth, except thinner and smaller. The lungs, liver, and immune system still need to fully mature, but if born now, your baby would have a very good chance of surviving.} Feeling: Great overall.. i was really emotional around 25-26 weeks though. I definitely had my first week where i felt "pregnant" emotionally... the littlest thing would bring me to tears.. and im not typically a crier.

Healthy Recipe's and Ideas: What I've Been Eating Lately

Healthy Recipe's and ideas: What I've Been Eating lately:

Dinner: Soy Ginger Marinated Cod Filet:  Cod filet is from trader joes premarinated, grilled it on the stove with coconut oil, made cauliflowermashed potatoes by steaming cauliflower and then smashing it and adding in a little almond milk, garlic, and butter (or EVOO or conconut oil)- salt and pepper to taste.  A side salad with sliced amonds, goatcheese, pears and cranberries with trader joes raspberry vinegar dressing, and a baked sweet potato with cinnomon and coconut oil.

Dinner: Grilled Cheese: grilled sliced pears in coconut oil, goat cheese, and spinach on cinnamon raison ezekiel bread. DELICious! Serve with tomato bisque

Dinner: Stuffed Spicy Mexican Peppers: shredded chicken (i used a routisserie chicken already cooked to save time.. you can always use a crockpot or grill your chicken and shredd with a fork), coucous cooked with a hint of salt and pepper and a little minced garlic, added in raw chopped mushroom, chopped spinach, tomato, half of a yellow onion, corn, jalapenos, and minced garlic...i tend to eyeball my recipes and dont really measure things unless its necessary.. so put as much veggies as you'd like.  I then added in homemade taco seasoning (or you can purchase trader joe's taco seasoning, its pretty delish): 

•  tsp. salt
• 2. tsp. onion powder
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
• 1/2 tps. garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp. oregano
• 1/2-1 teaspoon ground cumin, depending on your preference

I also added in a splash of mild salsa and a tsp of tapatio

Add all the ingredients together and mix in a bowl.  Then cut the bell beppers (i recommend 4) in half legnth wise and gut them (take out seeds and stems).  Stuff in the above ingredients and add on top a layer of three cheese mexican blend.  Spray the baking pan with olive oil and place the peppers on. Cook for 25-30 mintes.  Eat with a side of greek yogurt! So delicious! If we have left over filling we eat it the next day with cheese on top and no pepper, its still healthy and so yummy!

Dinner: Ground Turkey Meatloaf:  1.25 lbs 99% Lean ground turkey thawed, cut up raw chopped spinach, chopped raw mushroom, 1/2 a yellow onion, 1/4 cup oatmeal, half a bell pepper, 1/4 cup whole wheat crackers smashed, 2 eggwhites, 1 tablespoon ketchup, a dash of basil (1-2 tbsp), a dash of salt, a dash of pepper, a dash of oregeno (1 tbsp), a dash of onion poweder, 2 cloves minced garlic, 1 tsp spicy brown mustard if you want, 1 tsp worcestershire sauce, and a tiny splash of tapatio.  In a bowl (with clean hands) smoosh all ingredients together.  Mold into a loaf in a casserole dish (spray the bottom with olive oil). Layer the loaf on top with 2 tablespoons of ketchup.  Preheat oven to 350 and cook for 40-45 minutes.  Serve with a side of veggies or a side salad. I grilled asparagas with garlic and olive oil (salt and pepper to taste).

Dinner: Spicy Shrimp Mango Tacos: Whole wheat tortilla, fresh shrimp (take out the vein and take off the shell, wash and set aside on ice), cook the shrimp in 3 tbsp of mild salsa, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1 tsp tapatio, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, EVOO, sprinkle of onion powder, and a dash of salt and pepper. Cook until shrimip is no longer opaque (DO NOT OVER COOK THE SHRIMP). Chop up lettuce (we used spinach for the nutritional value), chop up yellow or green onion, we used yellow onion, tomatos, 1 whole mango diced, and a side of limes.  Add on a dalop of greek yogurt, and a sprinkle of three cheese mexican blend.  I always put some of the shrimp sauce on top as well as a couple limes squeezed.  This is always good if you add black beans or corn or cilantro to the recipe. I like to change it up each time.  My hubby loves the mix of sweet (magos) and spicy!

Dessert: Baked Pear:  Preheat oven to 325.  Cut the pear in half and remove the core (you'll have two sides now). I used 1 pear for this and made two servings. In a pan cook 1/4 cup orange juice, 1-2 tablespoons brown sugar (or any sugar youd like), 3 tablespoons raisons, 1-2 tablespoons of butter or coconut oil, 1 tsp of cinnomon, nutmeg, and you can decide if you want walnuts, pecans or almonds (i only had almonds available so i used those) (you can grill the almonds in coconut oil and sugar first if you'd like...mine were already sliced so i just left them like that), and i added in sliced green apple and cooked it all together.  First simmer the sugar, orange juice, and butter or coconut oil until its boiling..then add in the nuts and fruit. Cook for a couple minutes until its a thicker consitency. Take your mixture and spoon it into the two pears.  Place on a baking sheet and cook for 15 minutes. Serve with whipped cream, by itself, or if your pregnant and want ice cream go for vanilla frozen yogurt AND whipped cream (:

Breakfast:  Banana and Banana Chocolate Pancakes:  Whole wheat pancake mix (follow serving for 5-6 pancakes) 1/2 cup mix, use unsweetened applesauce (1 single serving cup that come in the togo containers) instead of oil, 1/4 eggwhites, 1/4 of a large banana, 2/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk. Mix together. Heat stove on medium and cook when a drop of water sizzles on the pan.  Use coconut oil or olive oil spray each time you place a new pancake on the grill so they dont stick.  Pour 1/4 cup serving for each pancake. Before you flip (when bubbles appear all over the pancake) place the rest of the large banana (sliced) ontop of the pancakes. Then flip and let the other side cook.   I wanted half just banana and half with banana and chocolate so i cooked 4 banana pancakes first and then added in 1-2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder to the mix and cooked those.  I served these with sugar free maple syrup and orange juice.  You can add in flaxseed into the mix or on top for the health benefits if you'd like ( i usually do but forgot to this morning)

23 & 24 Weeks Pregnant Update

Pregnancy Update: 23 & 24 Weeks Pregnant

Hubby and I on the fairy headed to balboa island fun zone, day date <3

 23 Weeks pregnant

24 Weeks Pregnant (6 MONTHS)

Good Friday with our families

24 Weeks belly update

How far along: 23 & 24 weeks pregnant

Symptoms:  that funny line is moving up my belly slowly but surely! Still feeling good.. a little swelling this week in my thighs bum and lower back, my belly is definitely noticeable, belly button is out at the top, still fit in my normal clothes but having to get creative with shirts that now show the bottom of my tummy (lol), getting braxton hicks daily, and he is wild as ever! He moves constantly! We have an active boy on our hands. I can see him moving from outside my belly which is pretty neat to witness and my husband gets to feel him pretty much every day as well. This trimester has been so much fun, it seems real now that there is a little person in there with a fun personality..we cant wait to meet him and smother him with love and affection!

Cravings: Chocolate chocolate chocolate. The citrus phase has gone and now all i want is cookies, chocolate covered pretzels, and chocolate anything!

Wedding Rings: on

Belly button: out

Exercise:  Still going strong with the usual routine

Sleep: lately sleep has been worse, I think my back is starting to hurt even more which makes me really uncomfortable at night. I really hate sleeping on my side and find myself rolling onto my back throughout the night, which in turn kills me in the morning.  My husband has been waking up really early for work now and that wakes me up and its hard to go back to sleep.  Im going to invest in a pregnancy pillow soon, my hubbys hands are getting sore from all these back rubs (LOL) i need a new remedy!

Maternity Clothes: So far i've purchased 5 maxi skirts (non maternity), a couple dresses, a couple shirts, 1 pair of leggings, some work out shorts that arent too tight for my tummy, bigger sports bras to support the growing lady parts, and my sister got me maternity jeans for christmas and im borrowing my other sisters maternity jeans.  The rest of my clothes are my normal clothes that im trying to make due with.  I know as my belly gets bigger i may have to find some other options.

Excited for: My baby showers on May 5th and May 11th as well as our preparation for child birth classes. I dont know why but im so excited for labor... of course to meet our little one but also just to experience what God created our bodies for.  Its just a bizarre part of being a woman i suppose.

Missing: I really missed sushi tonight.  I miss my pre prego body, seeing so many cute summer outfits and people getting in shape for summer is not fun when you are only going to get bigger and bigger and not be able to wear anything cute for several months...but i know its all worth it!

We can't wait to meet our little baby boy! Im getting so eager!