Twenty-Somethings

Today I hit the 20 week mark in pregnancy, which is exciting for me because it marks the halfway point. It's all downhill from here!

It's also special because Sawyer is 20 months old (as of last week). My two babies are both twenty-somethings :)

In celebration of these milestones I thought I'd give a short update (or not so short since I've been MIA lately...)

So, the first trimester felt like a really bad dream. It was so real while I was going through it, but now that its behind me I think it seems more like a distant memory. It all started around 7 weeks and I was nauseous ALL DAY and threw up 2-5 times a day. There were a few days I only threw up once, but those were rare. A few times I threw up blood from wearing out my esophagus. Yeah, those were dark times. But, at 16 weeks it left as quickly as it came. I can't tell you how beautiful it is to feel like a normal person again!

I felt the baby first move at 15 weeks. It was a definite roll that was unmistakable. Ever since then it has been an active little one. Aaron has felt it move on a couple occasions, I love to see the grin on his face when we both feel the baby kick or roll around. It's this special moment the three of us share together. 

We went to the anatomy ultrasound a couple weeks ago. I was sooo close to finding out the gender this time (Aaron said he would rather wait, but ultimately it was up to me). When the time came to find out the gender I changed my mind. It just wasn't as exciting as I imagined it would be, at least not compared to finding out the moment the baby is born.  I'm sure for other people it is an amazingly exciting moment, but for me it was lacking a lot of the excitement I felt when I was about to meet Sawyer for the first time. 

I remember pushing him out and Aaron yelling, "It's a boy!" He was then immediately handed to me and he was all mine. I could hold, touch, smell, and gaze at him all I wanted.  I didn't have to wait 5 months before getting to hold him and look at him. That's the part that was disappointing for me at the ultrasound; I realized that once I found out the gender I wouldn't be receiving my little boy or girl, I would get a crappy B&W photo and go home and dream about what it would be like to hold my baby girl/boy. I would want to pick a name, but how can you pick a name when you've never actually met the person? When you've never looked into their little face and seen what they are like.

I once peeked at my presents before Christmas because I couldn't stand the suspense, but it didn't make me feel better. I knew what I was getting, but it didn't change the fact that I couldn't play with it until Christmas. After that I never peeked again. It was much more exciting to open my gift and be able to play with it right then. That's how I felt when I was at the ultrasound, I realized it would be that Christmas all over again :)

Sawyer is the apple of our eye. We feel like we love him so much our hearts might burst. My favorite time of the day is sitting on the rocking chair and going over his day with him. He looks forward to this ritual and as soon as we sit down and I asked "how was your day?" he starts spewing out words and phrases that describe his day. I love it. It's so fun to see what things really stood out to him. 

He still loves to read all the time, but he is anxious to get outside and get moving. Because he's such a lightweight we got kind of indulgent and left our ways of baby led weaning. We started to feed him whatever and whenever he wanted. Ironically, this made him more picky and he just wasn't gaining weight. Finally, I put my foot down and decided he was going to eat what we were eating and cut his snack intake to 1-2 snacks a day. Well, guess what? He gained a pound in only 2 weeks. Turns out that he needed a little structure and needed to feel hungry at meal times to eat well. I guess the French were right (again).

Some of the biggest news is that we are in the middle of purchasing a house! If all goes well we will be closing the end of April. We really, really love the house and feel so blessed we found it just in time. I'll post more about it (along with pictures) when we actually move in. 

Tweet

Pin It Now!

40 Weeks - Full Term!

"It’s right around this time that there’s a slooow shift from you being perceived as a glowing woman that is creating life, into a fat husk that’s hoarding that adorable baby they all want to see."

- The Pregnant Chicken blog

That pretty much sums up how I feel right now...

Overall the past few weeks have been pretty good; my blood work has been the biggest issue, just because the platelet count fluctuates so much, but the OBs at University of Washington have ruled out any serious issues and have said that I look perfectly healthy. It's just a case of pregnancy-induced thrombocytopenia (low platelet count).

My mom and sister came on Wednesday to help me prepare and to give me some company, which I really need!
We have been making bows and bow ties and planning all kinds of fun stuff, like a birth announcement video (it is a complete experiment which may or may not turn out!).

At my prenatal appointment yesterday I asked the midwife if there is anything I can do to help the baby come a little faster so it can be here when my family and Aaron's parents are here. You could definitely see the amusement in her eyes, I'm sure she gets that question from every. single. mother.

Anyway, she said she could check my dilation and strip my membranes, if I wanted. We could also try evening primrose oil and acupuncture. However, if my body and the baby aren't ready yet the natural methods won't make much of a difference.

Aaron and I discussed it and although we are SUPER excited to see our baby and it would be convenient for it to come this weekend, we decided that it would be best not to push my body--or the baby--when it's not ready. We just had the feeling that we need to trust my body and be patient, so we decided not to have my membranes stripped, at least not yet.

However, after 41 1/2 weeks we're going to be a little more demanding ;)

Luckily, my body is getting prepared for childbirth: I was dilated 3 1/2 cm and 75% effaced 10 days ago (I didn't ask to be checked yesterday), and at the appointment yesterday the baby had dropped a whopping 3 cm into my pelvis, so it's just matter of patience at this point.

Since this will be one of my last posts about pregnancy, I thought I'd include a list of my essential pregnancy items. A few of these items are from other bloggers' lists and I found them very helpful.
It was really nice for me to know what has helped other women survive (and enjoy!) their pregnancies, so I hope this may help some future mommas :)

1 | Vitamin Code Prenatal Supplement
2 | Yogi Mother to Be Herbal Tea
3 | Coconut oil and natural bristle brush
4 | Toms Shoes
5 | Gap Maternity Supersoft Leggings
6| The 100 Healthiest Foods to Eat During Pregnancy
7 | Yoga for Pregnancy

1. I love these vitamins. They are naturally derived and they have ginger to help with morning sickness, as well as probiotics to help with digestion. They are a little pricey (about $40 for 3 month supply), but well worth it! Also, they are capsules which are digested in the stomach versus tablets which have to be metabolized by the liver. Which means is easier on your digestive system, especially during the first trimester.

2. This saved my life when I had morning sickness! Seriously, if I didn't have this once a day I would get nauseous and sick.

3. I haven't gotten any stretchmarks from this pregnancy and I attribute it to dry brushing and applying coconut oil to my skin. Before you boo me and say it's because I don't have the genes for stretchmarks let me explain: my mom got stretchmarks, and I have gotten random stretchmarks on my bum and thighs, so I know that genetics are not on my side! The only reason I can think of for not getting stretchmarks is my daily routine of coconut oil and bi-weekly routine of dry brushing.

4. Toms shoes are so comfortable for walking around! Plus, if you buy them at Nordstroms they have a lifetime guarantee. No joke. I told the clerk about my first pair wearing out and she said that as long as I have the receipt or the same credit/debit card I used to pay for them she could look it up and give me a new pair. Their return policy does not have a limit.

5. I only bought one pair of these, but I really wish I bought like 3 or 4. I wear these all the time because they are soft, stretchy, and they look classier than sweats.

6. I read this entire book all the way through and wished that I'd had it earlier in my pregnancy. It gives a list of healthy foods to eat during each trimester and breastfeeding.

7. I started getting mild sciatica during my first trimester, as well as back aches. So I decided to do yoga everyday and see if that helped (visiting the chiropractor once a week was not an option), and it really helped! I can't say enough good things about doing yoga during pregnancy. It helped my achy joints and back, and it really helped me relax. Even if it is just for 10 minutes a day it will help tremendously! I like this book because you can adjust it to what you want to do that day, as well as your skill level.

Tweet

Pin It Now!

Irish Fish Chowder

Having access to unlimited fresh seafood was one reason I was so excited for when we moved to Seattle; Aaron and I both love seafood so much! I have quite a few recipes in line to post on the blog, so if you love seafood as well keep checking up for some of our favorite seafood recipes.

In other news, our neighbor was giving away his grill for free, so some of those recipes will be grilled :)

I've been reading the book 100 Healthiest Foods for Pregnancy and have learned a lot about the benefits of fish. In fact, the author asked a fellow nutritionist this question: "If you could wave your hands and make one single dietary change that would benefit the world the most, what would it be?" And this was his reply,

"I'd put every pregnant woman on fish oil supplements."

Studies have found that the DHA in fish oil is greatly beneficial for the baby's developing brain, and it is linked to higher cognitive abilities in toddlers. It is especially important during the last trimester of pregnancy as your baby's brain is growing (60% of their brain is fat).

It is recommended that pregnant women get 300 mg of DHA per day, or 2-4 servings of fish per week.

Personally, I prefer to get the 300 mg per day by eating fresh, wild fish and taking a fish oil supplement. I only take a portion of the supplement and eat about 2 servings of fish per week.

Not all seafood is created equal. In general, wild is best. Farmed fish are fed grains and other foods that are not part of their natural diet. However, if you can't find or afford wild, farmed is better than nothing.

Also, some seafood can be high in mercury, so refer to this list by the Mayo clinic when choosing seafood while pregnant. 

• Shrimp
• Crab
• Salmon
• Pollock
• Catfish
• Cod
• Tilapia
• Sardines

Canned light tuna is another good choice — but limit albacore tuna, chunk white tuna and tuna steak to no more than 6 ounces, or 170 grams, a week. Source

Here is one recipe that Aaron and I are currently obsessed with. Don't forget the smoked salmon, it's what really makes the recipe delicious!

Irish Fish Chowder

Extra virgin olive oil

6 oz bacon, diced (optional)

3/4 cup celery, chopped

1 large onion, chopped

3/4 lb Yukon Gold or russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch pieces

4 cups chicken stock

3 cups milk

1 lb skinless mixed fish fillets, such as salmon, haddock, or cod, cut into chunks

6 oz smoked fish, cut into chunks

2 tbsp chopped chives and parsley

In large stockpot, heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium heat. Add bacon and fry 4-5 minutes until fat renders and the bacon is crispy and golden brown.

Add onion season lightly with salt and pepper, and saute for 5 minutes. Add potatoes, stock, and milk and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 3 minutes, or until potatoes are cooked halfway.

Stir is fresh and smoked fish and simmer another 3 to 4 minutes until the fresh fish is just cook through and the potatoes are tender. Season with salt and pepper and stir in chopped herbs. Serves 4-5. 

Note: smoked seafood is okay for pregnant women to consume only if it is cooked in a dish, such as this chowder. Otherwise, it is not recommended that pregnant women eat smoked fish because of the risk of listeria.

Tweet

Pin It Now!

8 Months

Well, only 4 weeks left before we get to meet our little baby.
We are getting pretty anxious, to say the least...

It's been a while since I posted a pregnancy update because of moving and such, so there is a lot to catch up.

Here is the scoop:
Our baby is about 18 1/2 inches long and 6 lbs! It will be considered full-term by the end of this week! Right now it is gaining a lot of fat, and I can tell because I have the appetite of marathon-running teenage boy.

Honestly, I have had a pretty easy pregnancy. Here is a list of pregnancy symptoms I have and haven't had in the past 8 months:

NO/NOT YET:

• Swelling
• Stretchmarks
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Acne
• Excess weight gain
• Mood swings

YES:

• Morning sickness
• Braxton Hicks (I have them all the time, but they are mild and I can only tell I'm having one when I touch my belly and feels like a rock)
• Bleeding gums
• Lower back ache
• Mild insomnia
• Heartburn every once in a while
• Cravings! Cold things, like popsicles and refrigerated watermelon, and I've also had cravings for cheese.

Also, here are some highlights:

• Took some maternity pictures to document my first pregnancy.
• I tried riding a bike, but the top of my knees kept hitting my belly :)
• Everywhere I go random people will say "Congratulations!"
• Random people will also throw out their guess on the gender: so far girl is winning the tally!
• Aaron and the baby have already started to form a little relationship: Aaron will tap on my belly and the baby will kick or punch back. If the baby is awake and active it will almost always respond. It is so cute! It's really fun to see the brain function and motor ability developing.
• We went for our first prenatal appointment with our Seattle midwives. They were so great and knowledgeable! We are really excited to deliver with them. The thing I really like about them is that they are "alternative" but not too much.
• When the midwife measured my belly I was a little bit smaller than average, but she said it just feels like the baby is on the smaller side. Her exact words were "Well, you won't be having a 10 lb baby."
• As far as preparation goes, we have packed our birth bag, washed the baby clothes, and set up the "crib" (it's actually a pack-n-play since that's the only thing that will fit in our studio apartment).
• The other day Aaron said "I'm going to miss your belly when it's gone." He really does love to rub my belly and feel the baby move. I love it!

Ladies: What kind of symptoms have you had? What have you craved? Any tips or suggestions for the last few weeks?

Tweet

Pin It Now!

The Most Important Meal of the Day

I promised in this post that I would share some recipes that are packed with essential nutrients for pregnant ladies. So here it goes! These are a few of my favorite breakfasts that Aaron and I eat on a daily basis.

• Greek yogurt with fruit and/or rolled oats (you can also use homemade granola)
  Greek yogurt is packed with more protein that regular yogurt, and it also has a good amount of calcium. I buy plain yogurt because most flavors have as much sugar as a candy bar... Rolled oats taste great mixed in and do not have as much sugar and oil as granola.
• Breakfast burrito with eggs, salsa, and avocado
  I buy pastured eggs from a local family (only $2 a dozen!) so the nutritional content is higher than commercial eggs (read here). There is a whopping 6 grams of protein per egg, along with substantial amounts of vitamin A, vitamin B12, phosphorus, selenium, and omega 3 fatty acids. Along with 2 scrambled eggs, I put 1/2 of an avocado which has 5 grams of fiber, 7 grams monounsaturated fat (the kind needed for healthy brain growth), potassium, folate, vitamin K, and vitamin E. Salsa also has nutrients, but it's mainly for flavor :)
• Oatmeal (made with rolled oats) with ground flax, walnuts, honey, and milk
  Ok, pregnant ladies know that it can be a challenge to maintain a healthy digestive system. That was putting it nicely. Oatmeal a few times a week is enough to help maintain a healthier digestive system, here's why: 1 cup of rolled oats has 11 grams of protein (wow!), 8 grams of fiber, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and manganese. Flax and walnuts have healthy monounsaturated fats as well as fiber and iron. Yay fiber!
• The "Real Deal" Cereal with nuts and dried fruit
  I found this recipe from one of my favorite blogs, My New Roots. This cereal is 50% millet and 50% quinoa. The thing I love about this cereal is that it is great for people with a gluten-intolerance. Millet has a neutral taste and is one of the easiest grains to digest. Quinoa has protein, fiber, iron and folate. The cool thing about these two grains is that they not only blend well together, but they can be cooked together as well.
• Huevos Rancheros--corn tortilla topped with cheddar cheese, egg (flipped over), black beans, salsa, and avocado
  I'm not going to repeat the same info from the breakfast burrito (eggs, avocado, salsa), so what I'm going to focus on is the black beans (1/2 cup, cooked). These amazing little guys were made for pregnant women: 9 grams of protein and fiber, folate (37%), iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and manganese. With all those nutrients combined with the egg and avocado you have a powerhouse breakfast for you and your babe.
• Green Smoothie
  Since there is a lot of variation in the fruits and greens you can add to a smoothie, I will not even attempt to list the different nutrients. However, during the summer when fruit and greens are in season this is a no-brainer for breakfasts or snacks. Greens veggies have tons of vitamins and minerals, as well as fiber. Here is my favorite basic recipe for green smoothies!

*I only mention a nutrient if the food contains over 10% of the daily recommended intake

RECIPES

Breakfast Burrito
Serves 2

4 eggs (pasture/free range is best)
2 whole wheat tortillas
1 avocado
salsa
cheddar cheese (optional)

Heat skillet and mix eggs together with salt and pepper to taste. Cook eggs in pan and when done sprinkle cheddar cheese over top. Fill tortillas with eggs, avocado, and salsa.

Oatmeal (the healthy kind)
Serves 2

2 cups water
1 cup rolled oats
Mix-ins: dried fruit, ground flaxseed, nuts, milk, sweetener of choice (maple syrup, brown sugar, honey)

Pour water in small pan and bring to boil. Add rolled oats, cover, and turn heat down to low. Cook for 5 minutes. Once done, turn off heat and let sit, covered, for an additional 5 minutes.


The "Real Deal" Cereal
Visit My New Roots blog for the recipe!

Green Smoothies
Here is my favorite basic recipe for green smoothies, straight from the Diva Dish!


Huevos Rancheros (my version)
Serves 2

2 corn tortillas
2 eggs
1/4 cheddar cheese
1 cup black beans, cooked, rinsed, and drained
1 avocado
salsa

Heat skillet and heat tortillas until warm and slightly browned on both sides. Place in sealed bag to keep from drying out. Next, cook eggs according to preference (flipped over, sunnyside up, etc.) and in the mean time warm up beans in the microwave. To prepare: sprinkle cheese over tortillas, place hot eggs over cheese, and then layer beans, avocado, and salsa over the top. Eat with fork or hands :)

Tweet

Pin It Now!

The Fourth Month

14 Weeks
I was kind of secretly hoping that my morning sickness would subside by now, but alas it is worse than ever. A lot of ladies have told me that it lasts until 20 weeks... So I may have a long way to go. On the bright side, I can finally feel my uterus popping up above my hip bones! It's a hard little ball that seems to change size depending on the time of day. Sometimes I just sit and poke it :)

15 Weeks
Baby is about 4 inches from head to rump and weighs 2.5 ounces! Seems like my body is trying to catch up with all that growth because I am constantly starving. I've been buying a lot of fruits and veggies to keep on hand, along with cheddar cheese :) Interestingly, I haven't craved sweets AT ALL. I crave savory foods, though, like chips and salsa and cheese. Oh delicious cheese... Moving on.

16 Weeks
Ever since the middle of week 15 the baby has consistently been moving 4-5 times per day, wow!
The movements are really gentle and feel a lot like butterflies and popcorn popping! One night it felt like it was doing little somersaults and I started giggling :) I can tell Aaron gets a little jealous, but pregnancy isn't all about the trials, there are some rewards as well.
I'm including a picture since a few people have asked, but seriously, I still don't look pregnant. I'm hoping my belly will "pop" out soon because it's getting quite cramped in there.

A little note:
We have decided we will not find out the gender until it's born. Yes, we are mad, raving lunatics that have no sense of planning whatsoever :) Actually, we are dedicated planners, but even if we knew the gender we were still planning on buying gender-neutral gear so we can reuse the gear for future babies. We've gotten a lot of questions about that, so I thought I'd address it before I reach 20 weeks and get LOTS of questions.

17 weeks today!

Tweet

Pin It Now!

Fetal Origin Theory

Okay, I know that I write a lot about babies, but I can't help it! I hear about them in classes, I read about them in textbooks, and I write about them in papers... It is exhausting.

Anyway, I want to write about my new fetish, the Fetal Origin Theory. I was at the Provo library yesterday, returning a photography book, when a bright blue book entitled Origins practically assaulted me. I picked it up and started reading the description.

Fascinating.

It all started a few weeks ago when I saw a brief preview for the BBC documentary The Nine Months That Made You. This documentary is about the Fetal Origin Theory; a theory which that is based on the idea that the susceptibility toward certain diseases (e.g. diabetes, cardiovascular, etc) are actually determined by your environment in the womb. I wasn't so sure about the validity of the theory, so I never watched it. However, after I started reading Origins I thought I would give the documentary a second chance. I watched it last night and was blown away. I definitely recommend watching it. However, keep in mind it is only a (new) theory, and  research has only been conducted in the last twenty years.

If you are interested in watching the documentary, it is located on youtube. It is in four parts, each is about fifteen minutes. Once you start the first part the other parts will follow automatically in playlist style.

Out of the two, I think the book is better. It answers more questions, has (more) evidence to support it, and the authors writing style is very interesting. The author is a science journalist and has written for The New York Times and Discovery. The book is organized by chapters that are in chronological order (month one, month two, etc), and each chapter is based on studies and evidence found during that month of pregnancy. If you have ever thought about what happens to (and effects) the fetus during the nine months you are pregnant (or what happened while you were being created) you will enjoy this book. I highly recommend it. Like I said, it's just a theory, so I'm not promoting this as a scientific truth, it just gives you something to think about :)

Do I read any books that do not involved babies, children, or families? Yes, sometimes.

Tweet

Pin It Now!