7 Months Postparum: Thankfulness, Joy, & Loving Yourself!

7 Months Postpartum: Thankfulness, Joy, & Loving Yourself!

Weight lifting/Strength training 1-2 times a week. My favorite class 

 Walks with my little guy & my man are the best kind of work out though.

He gives me the greatest joy... i would have 1,000,000 kids if it were possible. Being his mama has made living so rewarding, so fulfilling, and so joy-filled!

Hikes w/ these two

Not sure if my uterus will ever be back to how it use to be, I definitely have to tighten my tummy to hold it in. I think thats just what might happen after babies though. My moms had 5 kids and she always talks about how it never went back. Its so worth wakling around looking 4 months prego though! (;

I thought it would be interesting to see a side by side of 4 weeks pregnant (basically prebaby) and of me 7 months postpartum. You can definitely tell im still exclusively breast feeding lol! My ribs are wider (i think) and I have a little more skin below my belly button. My belly button has changed its shape a tiny bit too! 

Heres what I had to say this month:

Hey ladies, I reached that 7 month postpartum mark last month and have been meaning to post but wasn't sure about what I wanted to write this month. I try to use these posts as a platform to talk about something important, not just share about fitness, or exercise, but to be really honest, to reach other woman who are right here on this journey with me.

This month I recieved a lot of emails from some of you. Most of the emails were about you guys struggling either currently or in the past with body image and your self worth.  My heart broke as I read every word you shared. I want to thank you again for your courage and for sharing a part of your story and your lives with me. You are so inspiring.  I hope its okay that i share just a piece of what one of you ladies sent me, i'll be sure to keep it annonymous..

One reader shared with me how my blog has reminded her of another blogger she use to read years ago..she shared with me how this blogger was simply thankful for life and how that helped her break free from the bondage of the shame she felt for her body. Heres what she said,

" to be thankful for all those small things that her life was filled with... Those pictures and articles made me want to be thankful, made me want to heal.

When I found your blog, it made me remember that girl. How without knowing it, she saved my life. Following your blog is like reminding me how far I came and most importantly how happy I am. 

......




Our live's are filled with miracle babies, wonderful life partners and precious moments. And the thing I realize is that you've got to love yourself if you want to be able to see all that!"







Her words inspired me so much. She pointed out the importance of how loving yourself can free you in so many ways. It helps open your eyes up to see the beauty in the world around us. If we have shame, hatred, or disgust for our bodies, we stop loving ourselves. We start bashing ourselves. We begin to look in the mirror and make agreements with all sorts of lies the enemy whispers to us.."you're ugly, you're fat, you aren't good enough, you'll always be like this, who will ever want you or love you, you have to be thin to be loved". The list goes on.  When that is your focus, when that becomes the way you see yourself how can you see clearly when you are believing lies about yourself?




If we develop an attitude of gratitude, if we  begin to "TRY" to just accept and love ourselve on the inside and outside.. our hearts change. We become thankful. And then we can fully appreciate all that God has given us. We can begin to really live this life abundantly as He calls us to. 




Choose Joy today. Choose to be thankful.






The Winner of the iphone Case giveaway with the Psalm 139 verse is "K-Photography", comment on here leaving your email so I can make sure to get your address for shipping. Congratulations love, and thanks to all who entered! 




What would you guys like to see offered for a giveway in the future? What do you think about this post?

4 Months Postpartum, Body Talk: Healthy Eyes To See

4 Months Postpartum, Body Talk: Healthy Eyes To See

*These photos were taken several years ago by the fabulous photographer Whitney Schey *

(I love her creativity & this was a few years after coming out of that place I was in so I thought these were fitting)

Im writing this midway through my 4th month, closer to 5 months postpartum actually, because I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to write. I knew I wanted to use this time as a platform to speak truth and positivity into you ladies. I knew I wanted to lift you up, lift myself up, and lift women up in general when it comes to the hardships we face about our bodies.  I knew I wanted to post more about my own journey, my story, not just postpartum but in life when it comes to how I have valued, viewed, and nourished my body in both healthy and unhealthy ways. I guess there was just so much I wanted to say that I didn't know where to start. Maybe each month I can choose a different topic instead of overwhelming you with all of my thoughts now on the subject.. we shall see. But one thing I do want to say is I hope you come here to this place, this space & feel lifted up today, not torn down. I pray that you feel empowered and that you are not alone, that we are all in this journey of life together, through the happy times and the more challenging times.  I want my little blog to be a place where you can feel refreshed, connected, and understood and a little lighter when you leave here.

With that said, I've decided to start with sharing more of myself. Going a bit deeper into my own story. All of my childhood I was petite, I was told I was "little, tiny, petite, thin, and always chosen to do gymnastic demonstrations with our instructor (which I hated and it gave me performance anxiety), I could run fast because of being light, I had friends tell me they wished they could be smaller like me, my mom had to sew all of my pants because I couldn't fit into teenager clothes and refused to continue wearing kids clothes in jr high.. Being "small" became something people labeled me with so much at such a young age that it became part of my identity.  I never knew this was happening, it just happened. As a therapist who works with young adults and teen girls, i see it happen with girl after girl after girl. Not just the girls that are "petite", but also to girls that are labeled "chubby, too tall, too boy-ish" you name it.  You tell someone something enough times and it leaves a mark.. they start to allow it to penetrate them.. to become a part of how they see themselves and identify with themselves. "If people are telling me this over and over, well then it must be true, and therefore it must be important for me to accept".  Which results in little kids believing they are fat, ugly, stupid, gay, a giant, etc etc etc. In my case, it made me believe that being thin was part of how people saw me, so if that ever changed then who would i be? would people still like me? would i become unloveable? If they made my appearance such a big deal, then it must be important for me to always be that..

As a child, our brains are not capable of cognitively understanding whats slowly occurring. My weight became something I valued, something I began to identify my worth by. It was more on the surface for me then, but as I got older it slowly went deeper and deeper into the core of who I was.  I remember the first year I started to really become a woman and saw my body change was around Junior year of high school. Up until then I looked like a little boy, no boobs, no hips.. you get the picture.  So this transformation was hard for me to accept. Thats when I started to struggle with loving my body,  finding my worth in my appearance, not in who I really am as a human being.  I would say my first couple years of college were the most difficult, not only had my body completely changed since childhood (in a woman) but I was now supposed to be a responsible adult and discover who I am and who I want to be ...for the rest of my life! Well, so I thought at the time.  Oh little girl, if I could have just had an hour with my old self, the things I would say to help her through those hard times!! I would just hold her, tell her shes loved, not because of her appearance, but because of her soul, her heart, her personality, her God given characteristics and soley because she is HIS CHILD and HIS CREATION.

I later began a journey of healing, a journey of allowing the Lord to show me through His eyes just who He made me to be. God was able to heal my woundeness, the places in my heart that had been damaged from the world and its views it imposed on me as a young child. We all have brokeness, sometimes it takes some exploring, sometimes it takes time to figure out, sometimes we try to deny our hurts and pain and push it deep down (i did this for many years) but when I finally worked on accepting and embracing myself, my body included, I found freedom. I was able to love myself, although imperfect according the worlds standards, I knew I was perfectly loved unconditionally by my Heavently Father, and His opinion of me was all that I needed to focus on.  Its so easy for us to try to be who the world tells us we "should" be, its much more difficult to be who God calls us to be & go against the current.  Loving myself as I am has allowed me to experience joy and peace in ways I could have never  experienced before because i was striving for something that wasn't attainable, to be perfect and the way other's told me I should be.. especially the media.  I feel terrible for the girls growing up in this world today, for those that are in jr high and high school right now, I pray for you, its even harder today than it was when I was there.  I commend you for your efforts to stay true to who you are.  I am honored to sit with these girls and counsel them because at their age, I dont know that I would have been brave enough to really look within or smart enough to know my heart needed some desparate healing.

Lastly, because im reading Bread & Wine by Shauna Niequist, as I previously posted here My People, The Gift of Friendship, & A Vow Renewal , I wanted to end with some of her beautiful words that again, touched my spirit in a kind and gentle way:

 "..I'm learning to practive gratitude for a healthy body, even if it's rounder than i'd like it to be. I'm learning to take up all the space i need, literally and figuratively, even though we live in a world that wants women to be tiny and quiet.  To feed one's body, to admit one's hunger, to loook one's appetite straight in the eye without fear or shame-this is controversail work in our culture.

Part of being a Christian means practicing grace in all sorts of big and small and daily ways, and my body gives me the opportunity to demonstrate grace, to make peace with imperfection every time I see myself in the mirror".  

Her words are so refreshing, so true, and bring me peace.

"demonstrate grace, to make peace with imperfection every time I see myself in the mirror".. We can use these honest words not just for our bodies but in all areas of ourselves that we tend to be critical of.

So my update about being 4 months postpartum is short and sweet because it doesnt really matter does it? I have now lost all of the weight that I gained during pregnancy to house my little guy. I feel strong, I feel different, I feel like I have an even greater sense of respect for my body after having Cash. I am grateful for pregnacny and how its changed me for the better.  I don't look exactly the same and probably never will, but I don't mind in the least and that is the honest truth. I just want to be a healthy role model to my sons and daughters and love myself enough to experience the freedom He offers. I don't know that this would have been my view on this had I not gone through the difficult struggle with my body image in my teens.  I can now appreciate and be grateful for my health and all that my body is capable of.. espceially creating a life.

I'd love to hear from you.. i get several emails from you guys about weight, body struggles, etc and always welcome conversation. I love each of you and if you ever need prayer or someone to talk to you know where to find me! I only hope and pray that we can be a community that lifts one another up, prays for each other, and is supportive and transparent.

I hope you enjoyed reading a little part of my story and what has brought me to be the woman of faith I am today.  If you enjoyed reading please let me know by commenting, sharing, liking, or emailing me. I love to know your thoughts, and I appreciate knowing you guys are taking away something positive from my little world over here.. i want to hear about you & want this blog to be about your lives & your thoughts as well (;

xo

2 Months Postpartum & My View On Losing The Baby Weight

2 Months Postpartum & My View On Losing The Baby Weight

2 Months Postpartum (cant wait for that dark pregnancy line to fade away!)

Oh boy I'm a little behind on my posts because I have a few giveaways in the works for you lovely readers. So Needless to say, the above picture is from a few weeks ago and my sweet boy is now 10 1/2 weeks old! They just grow so quickly (ill try my best to finish his 2 months old post as well this week). 

My little work out buddy 

This is 8 weeks postpartum after a cardio session, feels so good to sweat again!

I lost 19 pounds of my gained pregnancy weight by 3 weeks postpartum. Since then I haven't lost any more weight. I gained 21 lbs while pregnant so I have 2 lbs to go until I reach "pre-baby weight". I just think "pre-baby weight" is such a silly term because although you might reach the same weight, your body can look & feel completely different than "pre-baby". I think I have a few lbs of body fat to lose & a few lbs of muscle to gain back. Our society has this strange fixation on getting back to "pre-baby weight" ..of course theres weight to lose since you have to gain a healthy amount while pregnant, but the biggest difference is toning up and letting your body adjust from having a huge baby inside of it (not necessarily losing that last bit of weight). For example, your uterus has to go back to its normal size (it goes from the size of a watermelon at 40 weeks pregnant, to the size of a pear while not pregnant) this takes at least 3 months after you've had your baby. I think it's about feeling confidant and great in & out of clothes again. And maybe it's a new confidence as a human that has now birthed another human?!. My point is, weight shouldn't be the goal.. The number on the scale really doesn't mean much & shouldn't define us. I aim to be strong, to be healthy & happy for my husband & son, to be an example & light for my Savior to use, & to feel great inside & out while taking care of my body so I can live a long joyful life with those i love while feeling good and energized. That's MY goal. I've done the whole "I'm hunnnngry and starving and cranky all the time" thing & the "overwork yourself and miss out on life" thing AND the "eat crappy and feel crappy" thing. Its a mess, it makes you feel like a mess, and its no way to live life abundantly the way we are meant to, the way God intended for us to. 

So if you are coming on this journey with me lets look at this from a healthy lens and encourage and lift each other up to be our best selves, love and embrace ourselves, and get to a place were we feel confident, and for lack of a better term,.. g r e a t. 

Making time to work out is tough and requires a bit more planning than when you can just pop into your car and go whenever you want (pre baby).  I have to either plan it perfectly for him to be napping (hes still young enough to do this and take him along in his carseat while i work out really quick), or on nights when my hubby is home early enough for me to go really quick, i will sometimes go but its hard to miss out on time alone with my husband while the baby is sleeping.  I work out probably 4 days a week doing cardio and i've been trying to do weights at least 1 time a week in a class..sometimes i can get in 2 times a week.  

I havent been as focused on getting back in shape (or more toned rather) than i have been on being happy and enjoying these moments with my family & juggling going back to work twice a week & spending quality time alone with my husband. Its tough when you also cook & clean and JUST moved a month ago and still have so much that needs to be done.  I slowly but surely will get to a place where im completely satisfied with my level of fitness and strength, but right now its not on my list of top priorities and i think thats a great thing.

I will work out when I can, stay motivated, and be okay with that.  I feel great right now, I may not look the same as I use to prebaby but I feel so amazing for just having made a life and getting to spend every day with my two boys. I feel healthy.. minus my stinkin sweet tooth (i can thank breastfeeding for that one).  I feel like my body is naturally going back to its shape somewhat, and i didnt have expectations of how long that would take or what the end result will be. Im not on any diet, im actually eating a little less healthy than i use to just because my cravings are really strong for fatty foods and sugar while breastfeeding but im okay with that too. My goal is to not be hard on myself and to ENJOY living in the present with my family.. because why strive so hard and stress myself out when i could be gone tomorrow and lose out on the really important moments with my two favorite people sharing giggles and cuddles.  

I havent noticed that much of a change since a few weeks ago, other than my uterus shrinking day by day (not using a wrap or anything for it just letting my body naturally do what its supposed to).  I think i'll kick up trying to tone up maybe in a few months when we're more in a groove of doing things around here and when we can establish more of a routine as he gets older and my husband and i figure out working and babysitting etc.

Stay tuned for my 3 month postpartum check in next month! I love doing this journey with all of you other mamas. Share your thoughts below!

30 Weeks Pregnant, Bump UPDATE

30 Weeks Pregnancy Update:

30 Week Baby bump

How far along: 30 weeks (and 3 days now) 7 1/2 months pregnant

Symptoms: A little acid reflux 2 days this week but not bad.  Definitely feeling more full after meals now.  My dad says im waddling now a little bit but no one else sees it? haha. Still not really any new swelling (i think i retained a little bit of water in my legs and hips in the beginning of the second trimester but nothing new). Its 102 degrees today so im hoping that if i stay inside and drink lots of water and continue to get some movement each day that i can ward of any real swelling (a common pregnancy complaint in the third trimester). 

Cravings: none.. Actually finding it more difficult to find something i want to eat. Eggs are still a turn off for me.

Sleep: Still difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. Uncomfortable.

Exercise: Still keeping up my routine,  i did 5 days (4 days of cardio, 1 day of light weights) this week. Its getting difficult to get myself to the gym and to want to complete a full work out, so im taking it slow and modifying each week to how my body feels.  I've been doing lighter weights listening to my body and finding the bigger it gets the harder it is to do anything.

New this week: We had our first "Preparation for Birth" class on Wednesday last week.  It went really well. I'd say i knew 80% of it and my husband even knew a good portion of the information already as well.  We have two more classes and hoping thats when they talk about all the good stuff and show us breathing techniques etc.  Our baby showers these past two weeks have been so much fun and such a blessing feeling so much love being poured onto our little boy. It was great to see all of our friend and family and made this little boys coming so much more real. Our home is filled with baby stuff and i've already put most of it away and sorted it out into piles of what needs to go into storage, the clothes and blankets that need to be washed, and a pile of necessities that need to be put together and built before he arrives (stroller, car seat, swing, etc). 

Missing: nothing really

Wedding Rings On/Off:  On

Belly button in/out: Out

Dr visit: We went to the doctor today (monday) and the babys heart be is perfect, my uterus is measuring on time, but my weight hasnt really changed in 3 weeks so we are scheduled for an ultrasound at our next visit in 2 weeks just to see where the babies growth is..the Dr. was not concerned but just wants to be on the safe side.  I read online that alot of women plateau for a bit from 30-31 weeks and dont gain and then start to gain again once the baby starts to go through its last growth spurt.   I wanted to do a 3 D ultrasound this week but not sure when we will get any time! My hubby has been so busy with school and work but we are determined to do one.  Results came back from our glucose test and I have nothing to worry about, also found out im not anemic. YAY!

Babys progress: He is now 3-4 lbs, 15.7 inches! He is the size of a head of cabbage.  He is surrounded by a pint and a half of amniotic fluid, that volume will derease the bigger he gets as he takes up more room in my uterus.

My mood: My mood has been pretty normal, good lately! No mood swings this week (:

Weight gain: 17 lbs.  Weight gain has slowed a i mentioned above. I was gaining a little less than a lb a week in the second trimester pretty consistently but it seems to have slowed the past few weeks that i've begun the third trimester. I never expected that to happen, since everyone i know told me you gain the most in the latter part of the 2nd and the 3rd trimester.  I guess everyone is different. We will see in  weeks how he is growing (: CANT WAIT TO SEE HIM!

Looking forward to: our next dr.'s visit. I look forward to hearing his little heart beat, being able to ask questions, and being reassured he is growing at a healthy rate.  I also look forward to our classes this week on Wednesday and what more we will learn!

I cannot believe i've hit 30 weeks! I never thought this day would come. Its been a long haul but such a beautiful one! Its going to be surreal when we finally meet this little boy my bodies done all this hard work and changing for.  Our whole lives are going to change. And it will be so weird not having him inside my womb anymore and not being pregnant.. people have continuously told me to "enjoy it now because i will miss it" and i never believe them, but im starting to really become attached to his little movements and the connection we have, there will probably come a time when i really do miss this baby belly and being pregnant.

Later this week ill post on our baby shower.. also im waiting for my sis to send me more maternity photos to share with you all!

21 Weeks Pregnant Update

21 Weeks Pregnant Update (5 months, 1 week):

We had our 21 week appointment and here is a shot of our babys "CUTE AS A BUTTON" side profile from our ultrasound

As we were fixated on our baby side profile the ultrasound technician suddenly surprised us with a 4D shot of his face!!!!!! I was in complete shock, i instantly became extremely emotional and started tearing up uncontrollably. I didnt expect to see his face, i was not prepared for it. Its like meeting the little baby you've dreamed of your whole life without knowing that you are about to meet him! We felt so grateful and blessed that she was able to share this moment with us, she said its rare that she gets the baby in the perfect position for a 4D shot. So we felt so thankful! He has his mommys nose! And he seems to have daddys beautiful lips! The ultrasound technician said this is still early to tell what he'll look like because he still has 19 weeks of growing and fattening up to do! He is the most incredible thing I have ever seen, my heart is completely in love.

She confirmed it... its a BOY!!!! Yay! We are so happy that we have a healthy baby boy. The technician told my husband he should be proud of that package.. oh boy! 

Belly shots

How far along: 21 Weeks (5 months 1 week)

Symptoms: That funny dark line has started to appear from my private area up halfway to almost my belly button now! Speaking of belly bottons, mine is not only flattened but its popping out half way at the top!!! I thought that happened way later but I guess im lucky! lol.  I feel like i've popped! This bump is showing and I no longer have to keep my hand on it so people don't just think I have a beer belly. The first half of pregnancy is making space for this little man, and now he is filling in that space. QUICKLY! I havent had much round ligament pain since weeks ago, so thats good! I had my first identifiable braxton hicks at 21 weeks and 1 day. It didn't hurt at all just got really tight and my stomach was in a tiny little ball. 

Hes kicking like crazy now. And I mean big big kicks that even my hubby can feel. Sometimes I can see them on the outside of my tummy.

Cravings: bagels, bagels bagels. I had been craving a bagel for over a month now and was trying to ignore it but this sunday I gave in.  I tried to add on some veggies (bell pepper, onion, and tomato) for my little babe growing, and the cream cheese and bread were for mama! I do try to make sure he gets great nutrients at every meal in some form. I am responsible for him, thats a lot of pressure to keep myself healthy when I know everything i do is impacting him. 

Adversions: none

Wedding rings: On

Sleep: getting up for bathroom trips 1-2 times. Tossing and turning to get comfortable. Sleeping with 4 pillows- one in front of the belly, one along my back, one between my legs and one for my head of course.  My sweet hubby gives me bag rubs and massages nightly for the back pain that usually starts as im sitting on the couch late at night or right when I lay down for bed.  Not really that comfortable these days sleeping but I know I shouldn't complain because I hear it only gets harder.

Excited for: I cant wait to see what his eyes look like! In the 4d shots you really arent able to get a good look at their eyes, they just look like giant holes. Baby shower and beginning the nursery!

Missing: my summer bod. Its beginning to warm up and im seeing all these cute clothes that I wont be able to sport for a while. So im definitely missing my pre baby bod a little bit here and there. Especially when my nightly back pain shows up!

Movement: I have a nudger inside! He is fully active and nudging on my insides. I get so excited with every movement I feel. I jerk my husband with my elbow and demand he put his hand on the belly to experience the joy that im experiencing. Its pretty magical and I just want everyone to feel it!

Dr. update: He is 100% healthy, no abnormalities or causes for concern. He is perfect and I cant not be anymore grateful. We feel so blessed and our hearts are full of joy to get these incredible results. The halfway ultrasound and all of our lab work and screenings show he is honestly a perfect little boy. We found out his head is a week and a half ahead, his body and growth is 3 days ahead of his due date (when the due date was july 21st).  So the Dr. moved his due date back to July 19th! YAY! Im hoping his head is going to slow down while everything else catches up..for my sake! My sisters baby had a big head, and OUCH, that looked painful! 

Exercise: same as last week... 1-2 days light weights, 4-5 days cardio if I can. I think Im doing well keeping it up, I know as I go i'll just keep on adjusting to how my body is responding and feeling.

20 Weeks Pregnant Update: HALFWAY!

20 Weeks Pregnant Update: Halfway!! 5 months!

Belly shot comparison from 4 weeks (1 month pregnant) to 20 weeks (5 months pregnant). Its amazing to see how this little baby is growing so quickly!

I was taking pics of the belly and my hubby happened to be watching and wanted to jump in for our halfway shot..so heres a sweet one to celebrate!

This past Sunday we went on a beach walk and had a picnic. I love summer time because we get to go outside and enjoy all of Gods creation in a whole new way. We have always loved going on beach walks together and talking about our future and our dreams with one another, its just something we've done since we met over 4 years ago, and I know it will be something we do when we are old and gray (we just might be sitting instead) (:

Beautiful Southern California 

How far along: 20 weeks (5 months pregnant, halfway baked!)

Symptoms:  Headaches are way less often. I rarely get them now. HURRAY!  I feel our baby moving around so much now, its the most incredible feeling.  Im still always hungry, I think this week I was even more hungry because he was going through a growth spurt (im sure there will be plenty of these in the weeks to come).  My leg is still doing the heavy/numb thing when i work out and now even when I walk. Im going to ask the Dr. about it next week.

Cravings:  Lately i've been craving chocolate- cookies & ice cream.

Adversions: none

What I'm missing: my comfortable body, being able to sleep well, and sit for more than 30 minutes without back pain.

Excited for: our 21 week appointment is next week and we get to see our little one, baby shower planning, decorating the nursery, and feeling more baby kicks!

Exercise: still pushing myself to do 1-2 days of light weight training and 4-5 days of moderate cardio.  I have definitely been having to go at a slower pace lately, even lighter weights, and slowing down on the speed of what i can do for cardio (partially due to my right leg going numb).

Feeling great, I have a lot of energy, im not anywhere near as tired as i was in the first trimester, and embracing my new curves.

18 Week Pregnancy Update & Babymoon!

18 Weeks Pregnant: Update & Babymooon!!

We hiked 3 pools, 7 falls Santa Barbara hiking trail. This was the  most beautiful hike! We had such a fun time just talking and laughing along the way. Right when we got there we had to turn around so i could go to the bathroom. Then halfway up the mountain AGAIN i had to pee. Haha, i think my hubby really reaized how often pregnant women need to use the restroom on this trip.

This was on our way to Santa Barbara. We stopped for lunch in Malibu because we took the coast line from Orange County to SB. It was a gorgeous drive! We ate lunch at John's Garden (you will see a pick below). Delicious!

18.5 weeks pregnant.  This was when we got home from our trip after a late night work out. My bump really started to pop this past week!

18.1 Weeks Pregnant. We stayed at the beautiful Fess Parker on the beach in Santa Barbara. My little man kicked for the first time (noticably) on this trip! SUch a special moment to share with my man

Stearns Wharf Santa Barbara 18 Weeks, 2 days pregnant 

Stearns Wharf

Hiking.. isnt he handosome.. and look at that view! In awe of Gods beauty!

The beautiful Santa Barbara beach outside our hotel

Sunsets, one of my favorite things to do is go down to the beach and watch the sun set. My hubby and I watched it go down every night we were there. It was so beautiful!

On our way! Road Trip to Santa Barbara!

The Chase Lounge. Delicious! I had Halibut crusted in lemon and caper sauce with a side of spaghetti! To die for! My husband at Shrimp Scampi and we both were more than satisfied. Its a must try when you visit Santa Barbara. The whole restaurant is lit up with cafe lights and there are famous musicians on the walls which are both so fun to look at and very romantic.

John's Garden in Malibu.  The surfer princess turkey sandwhich is so good! With blood red oranges...mmm

Lounging by the pool. We had such great weather! Thank God because there was a chance of rain.

Cajun Kitchen is a must when you are visiting! I had done some research to find the best places to grub while we were there so I knew this would be a place we'd enjoy. They serve breakfast all day. We had a delicious brunch. Hubby got eggs benedict (his absolute favorite), I had an egg white scramble with veggies and cheddar cheese on top with a side of fruit. Mmm mm!

Drivin up the coast line

Walking along the beach on Sunday is so fun because they have a little outdoor market!

Opal Restaurant And Bar.. this is where we ate the first night of our stay. It was so yummy! We'd definitely go back! I had chicken stuffed with goat cheese on top of argula salad with avocados. My husband had a delicious pasta and we ordered the battered shrimp appetizer you see above to start.

Gorgeous sites on the way there!

An afternoon of shopping with my best man

Lunch at Silver Greens. My guy had the Ahi Salad and I had the half salad half sandwhich combo. So healthy and so good! I wish we had these in orange county!

Overall we had the best time! It was so nice to relax and get away with each other. We would love to go back once the baby is here and old enough. Summer would be absolutely stunning in Santa Barbara but we were so thankful that the weather was spectacular in February! 

I didn't take a belly shot for 18 weeks since I usually do it on Fridays and we left early that morning. So these pictures will have to do.  

How far along: 18 weeks

Symptoms:  Headaches have been less. I need to be drinking more water (Dr. said 12 8 ounce glasses). I havent really had any new symptoms. I get emotional whenever I see babies, especially my new nephew Canaan, I get really teary eyed and excited to meet my little one. 

Cravings: chocolate and sweets lately. Edamame Hummus from Trader Joe's (OMGSH), Meditterranean bread, green cold seedless grapes.

Adversions: None

Excited for: Feeling more of babies kicks!

Movement: Yes! I felt him move at exactly 18 weeks in santa barbara and then 3 days later when we got home.

Belly button: Going flat and trying to poke out

Sleep: I have to sleep in the buff because anything touching my tummy feels restricting and uncomfortable.

Exercise: Its getting really difficult! My right leg feels especially heavy, sort of numb, as though I have 50 lbs of added weight wrapped around my thigh. Its so uncomfortable but im pushing through it and I try not to think about it while Im working out.

My best friend Kelly had her baby boy this week! He is darling and a perfect mix of mama and dad. Im getting so eager to meet my baby after seeing 3 of my girlfriends have their babies this week!