32 Week Pregnancy Update

32 Weeks Pregnancy Update: 

Baby Bump Comparisons from 12 weeks, 22 weeks and 32 weeks pregnant. Amazing to see the growth and how our bodies just know what to do! 

Tummy Shots: 32 Weeks Pregnant

I always post the bare belly, but i thought id share what it looks like in every day clothes so here are a couple of my OOTD

32 Week Pregnancy Update:

How far along: 32 weeks! 8 Months Pregnant!

Weight Gain: 18.3 lbs gained so far

Stretch Marks: none

Belly Button: OUT

Wedding Rings On/Off:  On

Movement: ALL THE TIME! I love feeling him moving around in there, it never ever gets old! He is such a night owl, around 9 oclock he gets going and doesnt stop until around 12ish and then finally settles down. I know im going to miss this. I love having him with me at all times (:

Feeling: Really great actually. I have a day or two in the week when the exhaustion catches up with me but im not complainin.  I still have a ton of energy! Im trying to get everything done ahead of time so those last few weeks i can just relax. Im beginning to shop for things ill need for my hospital bag (i can do a post on this later).  And getting all his diapers sorted, putting together his swing, stroller, etc.  Theres just so much left to do! I need to order a glider still, a breast pump, wash all of his clothes (any suggestions for detergents you like for babies are welcome!), and the list goes on  and on. We also need to decide where we will be moving when our lease is up in September (a month and half after hes here! Ugh moving with a newborn does not sound fun).

Mood: really happy. I love pregnancy! i couldnt say that in the first trimester but the second and third have been an incredible experience i wouldnt trade for anything. I feel so good and so thankful. I havent had any moody moments as of late (thank you hormones for giving my husband a break lol). Ive had a great pregnancy thus far with no real complications aside from extreme nausea in the beginning.  I love having a bump. Its fun to dress even though its getting way more challenging as of late due to my shirts being so short. I stick with wearing mostly non maternity clothes (dresses, maxi skirts, longer shirts, and just having fun with it).

Symptoms: heart burn a couple times a week but its not unbearable and i havent really had to take anything other than a couple times i had a few Tums.  Im starting to have difficulty wearing normal bras (underwire is just a no no now). They dig into my rib cage while im sitting because my uterus has taken over my entire tummy and pushes up against my ribs. Its making it harder to breathe but its mostly just when i sit down. I get leg cramps when im sleeping if i point my toes to stretch my leg really quick (feels sort of like a charlie horse, OUCH!). Its hard to bend down now and get out of bed. I have to roll to the side to avoid using my abs (which hurt from my tummy stretching).  Other than that i feel the same and have no new symptoms.

Missing: being able to lay on my tummy and cuddle my hubby close (we have a huge belly in the way of us now). ahah. I miss just doing normal things like bending down easily and getting out of bed without having to roll to the side like a whale hahah.

Looking Forward to: our drs visit on tuesday..we get an ultrasound  to measure his growth thus far. i love seeing him! Its also always reassuring to have the Dr check everything out and tell me he looks "Perfect".  Speaking of which, we went to a 4D place last sunday and got to see our little cutie pies face! Ill share a few pics in another post! These are too cute and too neat to miss!

Sleep: its the same. Its hard to put myself to bed when my mind starts racing with a thousand things i need to do (pay a bill, clean the dishes, make my husbands lunch, fold clothes, you name it).  And when my husband wakes up at 630am for school it wakes me up no matter how quiet he is and its so hard for me to fall back asleep.  I also wake up 2-3 times a night for bathroom trips depending on how tired i am or how much water i had right before bed (thats when i down a bottle or so to make sure im hitting 10-12 glasses a day).

Exercise: still doing moderate cardio 5 days a week and 1-2 days of light weights. This week i managed to get in all of my cardio and 2 days of weight training woohoo! Every time i finish a work out i am proud of myself. At 8 months i wasnt sure how i would hold up and some days are so hard to get started but i just tell myself "do what you can and be proud of yourself for how ever little or much it is" and i end up doing pretty well at the end of it.

UPdate: we finished our preparation for childbirth class this past wednesday! We did learn a lot and mostly took away tools for Coach (dad) to use to help the woman in labor (relaxation techniques like guided imagery and breathing tools). It was worth the money.  I feel a lot more ease going into this, especially knowing my husband is also so prepared and educated.  Next on the list, we start our infant safety class in two weeks!

31 Weeks Pregnant Update

31 Weeks Pregnancy Update:

How far along: 31 Weeks (almost 8 months!)

Weight: i think im still around 17-18 lbs gained ( i havent stepped on the scale since 30 wks and 4 days and i was at 17.2 lbs gained..that was 4 days ago so im guessing its gone up)

Symptoms: Frequent bathroom trips even more so, babies head is right on my bladder! Still having annoying heaviness in my right leg when i work out or sometimes even just from walking or going up stairs.  Braxton hicks allllllll thhhheee tiiiiimme. I guess thats just my weird uterus (:

Cravings: nothing new really

Movement: hes been SOOO active this week. He hasn't stopped moving these past few days, its like he never sleeps! Or his sleep cycle is shorter and hes awake more often now.  My nurse told me id feel less movement (less kicks) and more random rolling around as he gets more cramped in the belly as he grows bigger and bigger.  He'll have less space to move around so she warned me not to be worried if his movement slows a bit. That has yet to happen (:  His movements are starting to hurt a little and are frequently uncomfortable. Its really crazy to watch him move from the outside of my tummy, we can certainly feel little feet sticking out and his butt..its been fun to try to figure out what different body parts are.

Exercise: I havent exercised in a couple days because I AM SICK AGAIN! (third time being sick during this pregnancy and second time in this past month!).. my husbands long hours at work and school are causing him to feel warn down and thus he is getting sick repeatedly and keeps passing it along to me.. not. fun. at. all.!   This week i did light light weights (getting lighter and lighter the bigger this belly gets) one day this week, and did mild cardio  4 days.  I can still breathe and havent had any trouble breathing while working out (ppl say this tends to happen as your lung get more and more cramped in there).

Feeling: Im feeling great aside from being sick. I havent had any emotional moments lately, i feel pretty stable and happy. Im so so so eager to get everything ready for him as much as i can, and so excited to meet him!

Excited for: 4D ultrasound TOMORROW!!! stay tuned for a post on his cute little face... we havent had an ultrasound since week 21 .. when our US technician surprised us with a quick sneak of a 4D glimpse of his precious face.. i cried, so i know im going to be a hot mess tomorrow! He will actually have some fat on his little cheeks and his face will have matured so much since then! Im so so so eager to see if we can tell what hes going to look like..we are praying for a great picture and that he is in a good position!

Babys progress: Hes around 4 lbs and 16-18 inches! Hes the size of a cabbage or 4 navel oranges side by side. He's now processing information, tracking light, and perceiving signals from all five senses. He's also putting in longer stretches of sleep, which is why most moms start noticing more defined patterns of wakefulness (and movement) and rest (when he’s pretty still).

Missing: nothing really... i've actually really loved being pregnant this past trimester and the start of the third. Feeling really good and really thankful!

Additional update: We went to our second Birthing class this past wednesday and learned some new breathing techniques, watched a couple videos (O M Gsh.. i have watched plenty of births both live and on video and i must say, they truly picked some of the worst labor and delivery videos they could have possibly chosen..poor hubbies).  We learned different positions to labor in and talked all about natural methods, epidurals, and narcotic shot options.. The class made me really on the fence about getting an epidural. Id say before this class i was 80% sure id get one, but i did want to wait as long as i could without getting it so Labor could progress naturally and much more quickly then it tends to once you get the epidural (so ive heard/experience w family).  Now im thinking i would like to try to do without one.. i know i will most likely change my mind and could be one of those women screaming at 2cm dilated, "GET ME THE EPIDURAL AND SOME IMMEDIATE RELIEF ASAP!!!!!". But we will just see how it goes, ill take it one contraction at a time.  The most discouraging information i learned about epidurals is that they can lower the moms blood pressure, thus resulting in the babies heart rate dropping, and risking a potential emergency C-section. Id like to birth vaginally, so ill do whatever i can to not have to go through getting a c-section, and i want whats best for our little boy.  I guess im just leaving it up to how i feel the day of.  (: Im not going to stress it

Wedding rings: On

Belly Button: OUT

Clothing: mostly wearing just comfy dresses and maxi skirts or leggings. .. its too hot for jeans. Not really wearing anything maternity and havent botten anything in a long time. My shirts are definitely much shorter this week so i may need to invest in a couple longer ones that wont show my belly but that i can wear after pregnancy as well.

60 days or less left!!!! We have 6-9 weeks until he could be here. Im full term in 6 weeks and due in 9!

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!

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

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

Teriyaki Grilled Salmon: I didnt have time to marinate the salmon but you honestly could not even tell! Grill salmon in coconut oil or EVOO and then halfway through cooking each side add on Trader joe San Soyaki (my fav teriyaki sauce from Tj's).  We had made pasta a couple nights prior and I wanted to use the rest of our whole wheat noodles so i added in some parmesan and olive oil with a tiny bit of Trader Joe's fresh pesto sauce (Genova Pesto, comes in a small tub)... my husband honestly loved this..you could totally add in fresh tomatoes and basil if you wanted to.  I made a small side salad with a leafy blend, honeycrip apples, fresh strawberries, light feta, sliced almonds, and TJ's Cranberry Walnut and Gorgonzola salad dressing.  I added a salmon skewer that had big chunks of salmon, red and green bell peppers and onion on it.  These were also grilled in teriyaki sauce. I didnt really need the skewer but I had purchased them fresh from the seafood counter at Ralphs and wanted to use them while they were still fresh.  Really quick and simple meal! But so delicious and healthy!

My famous Banana Pancakes: My hubby dies for these and my healthy french toast (ill have to make that this sunday and post the recipe).  These banana pancakes are AMAZING and so easy to make.  They are made without any oil and with TJ's Multigrain  baking and pancake mix.  I made 6 pancakes (3 for each of us.. a serving is 150 calories for just the mix.. 230 cals prepared IF you follow their instructions and use whole eggs, regular milk and oil.  I used a little less than half cup of apple sauce instead of oil, almond milk instead of regular milk, and egg whites instead of the whole egg.  I also smashed in half a large banana into the mix and then diced up the other half to lay on top of the pancake while its cooking before i flipped them.  These are too die for! You can use blueberries or whatever fruit your little hearts desire. I make pancakes usually every sunday before church, its become our little family tradition, i cannot wait to make these for our son once hes here and can eat solids!

7 Layer Dip (Healthier version):  This was so amaze that it was gone in just 3 days between my hubby and I.  I first layered the bottom with whole organic black beans mixed with tj's refried organic black beans.  I cooked 99% lean ground turkey in trader's taco seasoning (used half the packet, 1 lb of meat), added in minced garlic (probably a clove or two), sauteed half a yellow onion all together in a pan with EVOO until cooked through.  I added the meaty combo on top of the beans.  Then i made a mixture of greek yogurt, a couple dashes of cayenne pepper and chili powder, and a tiny bit of lime and mixed that together.  I layered the greek yogurt mixture on top of the meat.  I then made guacamole with fresh avocado (1 1/2 small ones), lemon juice (1 tablespoon), 3-4 tablespoons of mild salsa and a dash of garlic salt. (As you can tell i make this up as i go so I never really measure things).  I then added on a mexican blend of mixed cheeses and on top of that did tomatoes, jalapenos,  diced green chills and salsa (i used red mild PACE salsa and TJ's salsa verde (green, my fav!). I baked this in the oven just to get the cheese a little hot (halfway melted), i didnt want it too hot because i wasnt sure how the greek yogurt and guac would hold up... but when we ate it the following two days i heated it and melted the cheese and it was to die for both ways!  We ate this with tortilla chips, you could do sweet potato chips for a healthier version or a whole wheat tortilla and make a burrito or taco.. its really up to you! This would be good in my taco lettuce wraps that i make as well! This is a must try though!

Grilled Chicken Salad:  Grill chicken in EVOO or coconut oil, add in 1 whole lime squeezed, salt and pepper to taste, 1 clove of minced garlic, and I used 2 tablespoons of honey.  I used left over kale salad (the recipe is sooooo yummy! its lemon, garlic, red pepper flakes, olive oil, and parmesan----simply delish), added the kale to a blend of leafy greens, chopped up some fresh pineapple, tomatoes, and feta cheese.  I made my own dressing using lemon, honey, olive oil, salt and pepper, and a little spicy mustard.  This was refreshing and we ate it all up!

Seafood Alfredo Pasta and Kale Salad:  My husband and I wanted to have a date night at home and cook a yummy meal together so we went and bought some fresh scallops and jumbo shrimp.  We sauteed the scallops carefully (YOU DO NOT WANT THESE TO OVERCOOK AND GET CHEWY) in EVOO and then set them aside and cooked the shrimp the same way and then set those aside.  I boiled whole wheat spaghetti noodles until they were cooked through and steamed chopped asparagus on top of the noodles while they were cooking.  I steamed up some spinach to layer my pasta on top of (I learned this a while ago and it helps fill you up! Spinach doesn't have much flavor so I hardly notice its there but get all the added health benefits!).  My hubby diced up some onion and tomato (along with a can of chopped tomatoes we purchased from the store and some light alfredo sauce).  In a separate pan i sautéed the onion, then added in tomato, asparagus, and 2/3 of the can of tomatoes, i added in a little bit of alfredo until the sauce looked like a good consistency (id say maybe 1/2 cup).  Once that has heated up a little bit add in the noodles and mix around in the sauce until covered, then gently add in the scallops and shrimp and fold into the sauce evenly.  Serve!

Kale Salad (Similar to true foods Kale salad)... I used a bag of organic chopped kale in a bag from traders already ready to go, on the side make a blend of 2 cloves of garlic, salt and pepper, half a lemon or more if youd like, 1/4 cup of EVOO.  Massage into the kale and let it sit for 15 minutes.  Then add in 1/2 cup of parmesan and a dash of red pepper flakes, mix around and let sit for 3-5 more minutes at room temperature.  Then serve! So yummy!

29 Weeks Pregnant Update

29 Weeks Pregnancy Update:

Belly shot

 Pregnancy Progression: 9 weeks, 19 weeks, and 29 weeks... cant wait to see what it looks like at 39 weeks! Amazing what our bodies are capable of isnt it?! I am loving this time, seeing my belly actually look pregnant is seriously surreal. I glance at pictures and I cant even believe its me and that theres a baby in there! This is such an incredible moment in my life, I hope I never forget how this feels.

And just a cute little shot of our little girl.. she is so excited to meet her brother so soon! This precious little kitty is smitten with this belly! This was taken this week after I woke up and found her cuddling with me (which she does every morning). Shes the sweetest!

How far along: 29 weeks, (7 months pregnant and 1 week)

Weight gain: almost 17 lbs (it fluctuates between 16 and 17 recently)

How many weeks to go: 8 weeks until full term, 11 weeks until due date (76 days from today!)

Due date: July 19th 2013

Symptoms: Well, I dont know if its just been a crazy stressful week or if its this third trimester finally hitting me, but ive been so so much more tired this week. Its been so hard to get myself to work out (i skipped a couple days in there) but i've been managing to at least get in a little activity and push myself even though i dont feel like going to the gym much.  A couple days i had a little acid reflux late at night after i had ice cream, i think my belly is finally getting to the stage where im going to be getting full quickly and have to look out for that dreaded heart burn! ugh! Leg has that numb heavy feeling once in a while during exercise or sometimes even when im walking. 

New updates: its getting difficult to bend over but I can still do it, it just feels weird now.  My shirts are all getting pretty short (its hilarious when i still wear them to the gym haha).  I am committing to hopefully not buying any more maternity clothes because i only have 11 weeks or less left.  I am definitely getting the itch to start nesting! Oh and i tried on my pre prego pants and they all still fit and i can button them again (baby moved up a little), although they fit i  am most certainly not wearing them because they are not comfortable when i sit as well as its been SO HOT lately! I just want to be able to remember that i was still able to fit in them at this point so i can compare with our next pregnancy in the future. Thats part of the fun of keeping track of all of this stuff, it will be so neat to see the differences with our next baby!

Cravings: not really anything this week..i've actually been having a difficult time finding things that i want to eat, not that i dont have an appetite or that im not hungry, just not desiring anything specific lately.

Adversions: Im not really grossed out by any food anymore like the first trimester but i still cant eat eggs (for like a month or two now) I think its because i ate them for a few weeks almost every morning and i just got sick of them.

Looking forward to: BABY SHOWER!! I have my first baby shower TOMORROW that my mother in law is hosting, i cannnnot wait! And then this wednesday we have our first labor and delivery birthing class.  Next saturday we have our second baby shower that my mama is throwing us.  I am so so excited to start nesting and cleaning and finding a place in our home for all of his stuff! Oh and the 3D ultrasound we will probably do next weekend!

Missing: being able to sleep like a normal person. Having easier work outs. Summer clothes that i cant wear right now.  Cold weather (its been like 100 degrees these past few days.. really hoping i dont swell, ive managed to stay away from any real swelling so far.

Wedding Rings On/Off:  On, still lose actually

Belly button: OUT.. its so cute and funny looking now

Baby: He is the size of a butternut squash, around 3+ lbs, 17 inches long! 

Feeling: im feeling really great! Im really enjoying this season of life. I havent had any real complications during this pregnancy and cant complain about how its going so far. I thank GOD that my nausea only lasted 15 weeks and that ive been healthy and happy. THis is just the best gift and such a blessing and im really enjoying it right now (i hope i can say this in a few weeks when i cant see my feet, lol).  I just feel really thankful and im so so excited to have our baby boy with us for the rest of our lives together. I cant even wrap my head around it! 

Movement: hes not as wild as he was weeks ago, hes slowed down a bit, especially during the day. Sometimes i get nervous thinking to myself "why is he not moving as much" but i guess its normal as the run out of room in there. He moves mostly at night and i feel low low deep little pokes in my pelvic area at work or while im sitting driving sometimes.  But mostly feeling him while laying down watchin tv at night or in bed.

Sleep: Same, its hard to fall asleep, i wake up 2-3 times for bathroom breaks, and its difficult to fall back asleep and get comfortable or shut my mind off in the morning when i wake up too early. My body must be preparing me for this little boy and his nursing schedule.

Exercise: doing the same thing, cardio, light weights (only got to do weights once this week...aiming for two times a week but this week was a tough exhausting one). Im proud ive been able to maintain my activity level at this stage, it feels good to keep my blood circulating and moving my body. I feel like Im not as fragile as people make pregnant women seem like, it feels empowering..i feel strong and yet feminine. 

HAve a great week! I'll be 30 weeks next week, home stretch, cannot believe it!