Planning Ahead

This past week, a fire really got lit under me to get prepared for this baby.  I spent most of the day on Tuesday trying to figure out my maternity leave (what dates it would ideally take place, what effects it would have on my pay, when my short term disability would kick in, etc.).  Let me tell you, taking 12 weeks of maternity leave as a teacher is no joke.  I have 12 weeks worth of lesson plans to create for my substitute.  It is going to be so hard to release control of my classroom to someone else for that long.

I also took a FREE online breastfeeding class offered through my OB/GYN and picked up a breastfeeding book from the library (American Academy of Pediatrics New Mother's Guide to Breastfeeding).  I'm hoping that having the facts straight will help me be relaxed about breastfeeding.  I am really looking forward to having that time to bond with my little girl.

I started looking for a pediatrician this week as well.  I had hoped that this process would be short and sweet for us, but after my first interview, I'm not so certain.  The pediatrician that I interviewed this past week was recommended to us by both my OB/GYN and a family friend who has been taking her boys there for years.  I also made sure that the doctor would be covered on our insurance.  I went in with a list of general questions that I found here on the Bump.com.  Everything was going ok (except for the fact that I thought the building and its furnishings looked a little old) until I brought up vaccinations.  My husband and I have decided to follow an alternative vaccination schedule so that our baby isn't being injected with as many as 6 vaccines at once.  We prefer the vaccination schedule suggested by Dr. Bob Sears which you can learn more about here.  When I brought up this alternative vaccination schedule, the pediatrician I was meeting with told me that the practice would still see Aubrey and would allow this schedule but that they would continue to encourage me to adopt a traditional vaccine schedule.  I want to take my little girl to a reputable doctor who is going to respect the decision my husband and I have made and not force their own ideologies on my family.  I plan to keep looking next week.  My fingers are crossed that I will find the right fit.

I embarked on what will probably be my last sewing craft of the summer: a circular playmat for Aubrey.  The tutorial for the playmat can be found here on a great blog called Gluesticks.  It's a cute little playmat/changing pad that fits easily into a diaper bag and has hidden storage.  As seen in the tutorial, it can hold a small package of wipes, an extra onsie, and a few diapers around the sides and still fold up to be very portable.  My fabric all came from Walmart, so this was a really affordable project.  I probably spent $18 in all.  Even if you do not have a little one of your own yet, this would make a nice gift for a friend.

One little detail that I added that is not in the Gluesticks tutorial is covering and adding a bow to the elastic closure.  I also cut two little birds out of my excess fabric and patched them onto the back so that both sides would tie together.

Here's my weekly update (excuse the horrible picture):

How far along? 26 weeks

Total weight gain: 17 lbs. 

Maternity clothes? All bottoms and some dresses and tops.

Stretch marks? No.

Sleep: I have to say I have really been sleepy this week.  I find myself often needing a nap.  I guess my body is trying to load up on sleep now since it will be deprived when Aubrey gets here.

Best moment of the week: Finding out that my maternity leave will keep me home with my little one until February 7th if all goes as planned.  I want to stay at work as long as I can before delivery.  I also enjoyed picking up my new glasses (seen above).  I am having a hard time adjusting to what I look like in the frames; hopefully, it will grow on me.  I also found a dress for the wedding!  My next post will have a picture of me in it.

Miss anything? Eric makes himself an occasional margarita at the house and he will always make me a non-alcoholic version.  I must admit...I kind of miss the real thing.

Movement: Lately, Aubrey has been kicking me "down there."  I'm never expecting it, so it kind of throws me off.  I guess she is preparing me for the pain that awaits me on her birthday.

Food cravings: Cereal...I love some Maple and Brown Sugar LIFE.

Food aversions: ??  I am not especially grossed out by much right now...just ask my scale.

Gender: Girl

Labor signs: I think I may have had my first Braxton Hicks contraction this week.  I just felt a sudden tightening feeling in my abdomen that I have never felt before.

Symptoms: My feet are wimps; they are sore most of the time.  I have also had some cramping down the backs of my legs.  Eric's massages do help a little.

Belly button in or out? In, but a little more shallow than normal.

Wedding rings on or off? On.

Looking forward to: We leave on Friday for vacation!  I'm so excited to see some of Eric's family and get away with him for a little while before a new school year starts.  I will miss my dogs though.  Oh and I almost forgot....I get the pleasure of taking my glucose tolerance test on Thursday.  Can't wait to get that over with.

My next post will most likely be when we return from vacation.  Until then...enjoy what's left of the summer!

You Gotta Eat

Are you ever in the mood for something quick, easy, healthy, cost-effective, and delicious to make for dinner?  Um...YES.  Do you want your kids to like it too?  Duh!  I have the recipe for you.  It's from one of my all-time favorite cookbooks (Taste of Home Healthy Cooking Recipes), and it's called "Kid-Pleasing Taco Pizza."

Here's what you need:

• a refrigerated pizza crust
• 1 lb. of lean ground turkey
• 3/4 cup of water
• 1 envelope of reduced sodium taco seasoning
• 1 can (16 oz.) fat free refried beans
• 6 oz. of shredded cheese (pizza or taco blend)
• 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
• shredded lettuce to top

Optional Toppings: (use your imagination)

• crushed tortilla chips
• chopped jalapeno peppers
• black olives

Here's what you do:
Spread the pizza dough onto a greased 15 x 10 x 1 inch. pan.  Bake 425 for 8-10 minutes or until edges are brown.

Meanwhile, brown turkey in pan.  Drain meat and add taco seasoning and 3/4 cup water.  Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 mins.  Stir in the refried beans until mixture is blended.

Spread turkey mixture over crust.  Top with cheese and tomatoes.  Bake at 425 for 5-7 minutes or until cheese is melted.  Top with lettuce and other toppings.  Serve.

This recipe makes 10 servings and takes about 30 minutes to prep and bake.  Did I mention that each piece is less than 350 calories?  :-)

These cookbooks were a lifesaver for me when Eric and I first got married.  You don't have to buy the cookbook to enjoy the recipes.  They are available for free at tasteofhome.com.  You will just have to narrow your search if you are looking for only the healthy recipes.

We all know a pregnant lady has got to have her dessert.  If you are looking for something simple to make that will satisfy your sweet tooth, here's one of my go-to's.  It kind of tastes like key lime pie without all the work...or calories.

Lemony Cream Pie
Here's what you need:

• 1 can of Eagle Brand milk (opt for the low fat...it's just as good)
• 1/2 cup of lemon juice
• 8 oz. of Lite Cool Whip
• Graham Cracker Pie Crust (look for a large one)
• Optional: Cherry or Strawberry Pie filling to top

Here's what you do:
In a medium bowl, whip together the first 3 ingredients.  Once mixture is smooth, pour into pie crust.  Refrigerate or serve immediately.  I always serve the pie filling on the side so that guests (or you) can choose whether or not you want the extra fruit (and calories).

After 25 weeks....

How far along? 25 weeks

Total weight gain: 16 lbs.  (Which is why I have been searching for healthy recipes.)

Maternity clothes? All bottoms and some dresses and tops.

Stretch marks? No.

Sleep: Still doing some tossing and turning at night.  I am also starting to need an early (2 am) morning pee break.

Best moment of the week: Hearing Aubrey's heartbeat at the doctor's office yesterday.  I never get tired of that sound.

Miss anything? Being able to shave my legs (and delicates) in the shower like a normal person.  I will say my trusty new razor has made things a little easier in the delicate department, but I still hate that it takes me so long to do it.  Seriously, if you don't already have one, get a Schick Quattro with a bikini trimmer.  It's awesome!

Movement: Yep.  She is a squirmy little girl.

Food cravings: I think I may have said this a time or two before, but ICE CREAM.  I did pick up some low fat ice cream bars from the grocery store on my last trip so at least my serving will be limited.

Food aversions: Typically...beans.  But the taco pizza recipe above didn't bother me.

Gender: Girl

Labor signs: None.

Symptoms: I have been having cramps in my right butt cheek.  I'm not sure why it's limited to that side butt (LOL) it's kind of annoying.  I also woke up this morning with very spotty and blurred vision.  It finally went away after I had some breakfast, but it was a little scary.

Belly button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On

Looking forward to: Vacationing with my honey and his family at the end of the month.  We have a wedding to go to and I really want a new dress.  I really like this one from Motherhood:

Hopefully I will have a dress by my next post.  Have a good week ladies!

 

Mommymobile

So Eric and I both have small cars; Eric drives a Kia Rio and I HAD a Honda Civic.  We had been thinking for a while about the type of family car we would purchase.  We considered a Toyota Highlander, Chevy Equinox, or Kia Sorento.  We hate the idea of a car payment, so we planned to buy used.  Here's what we ended up with:

We got a Mazda Tribute with low mileage and a great trade-in on my Civic.  It looks a lot like a Toyota Highlander but is less expensive.  I'm confident that we will have plenty of room for Aubrey now!

How far along? 24 weeks.  6 months baby!

Total weight gain: 14 lbs.  According to the book Your Pregnancy Week by Week, I should have gained 16 lbs. by week 26 to have steady weight gain and end up with a total of 25 lbs gained (my goal).  Helping Joy get her house move-in ready has had me eating lots of junk.  I'm hoping I can get back on track this week.

Maternity clothes? All bottoms and some dresses and tops.

Stretch marks? No, but I'm still packing on those pounds.

Sleep: Still having really strange dreams and difficulty getting comfortable.

Best moment of the week: Getting my mommy car on the 4th!

Miss anything?  Having some stamina.  I come home so tired every day.  I can only imagine what it will be like when school starts again.

Movement: LOTS :)

Food cravings: Pretty much all dairy...ice cream, cereal, you name it.

Food aversions: Beans...they don't like me and I don't like them.  I think that's why I have been so opposed to Mexican lately.

Gender: Girl

Labor signs: None.

Symptoms: Besides my aching feet I've also experienced a positive symptom...bigger boobs.  I went up a cup size.  Yay!

Belly button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On

Looking forward to: I finally scheduled our Confident Childbirth class for August 25th!  I'm also looking forward to Joy's big move on Thursday...although I won't be much help.

One Hot Momma

Whew!  The heat over the past few days has really been hard to handle, but I have to say it hasn't slowed me down this week.  Eric and I finished the remodel of this childhood dresser for Aubrey.  Here's how it turned out:

BEFORE

AFTER

At first I was really nervous that it would stick out like a sore thumb and not be the right color, but I have to say it blends right in.  I especially love the little porcelain rose handles.

There are a few other little accomplishments for the week:

• We had a great time at the Braves game on Tuesday.  Gotta love it when your team wins 8-1!

• I gave our dog Sadie a haircut for the first time and she survived (and looks pretty cute if I do say so myself).

• I made a little something for my desk in my classroom.  My inspiration came from Pinterest a while back.  The only materials you need are a piece of cute scrapbooking paper, a cheap wooden frame, some paint for the frame, hot glue, your inital printed to the desired size, pencils, and a good sharpener.  All I had in the house was a tiny sharpener that you have to twist the pencils in by hand, so my thumb was a little sore after.

• I hosted a Premier Jewelry party on Friday night.  Although a few people were not able to make it, some neighbors came over to compensate.  It's crazy to think we have been in this house for over a year and I still haven't met some of my neighbors.  I have to share the recipe I found for these unbelievable chocolate peanut butter cupcakes.  They are to die for...and I'm not just saying that because I'm pregnant.  Just click on the picture below.

• We also picked up a new bookcase for our home office.  Not to sound like a walking advertisement, I really love Hobby Lobby.

Here's what's new in the baby department:

• How far along? 23 weeks
• Total weight gain: 12 lbs.
• Maternity clothes?  All bottoms and some dresses and tops.
• Stretch marks? No.  I'm trying to slow my weight gain down so they don't start creeping up.
• Sleep: I still toss and turn a lot at night.  I'm not really having to get up in the middle of the night for bathroom breaks yet though.
• Best moment of the week: Just tonight I got news that a good friend of mine will be having a little one in March (she'd due on Eric's birthday actually).  I'm so excited for Aubrey to have another playmate.  I have to say that hearing my best friend will officially be living a mile away from me on Friday was also really cool.  Now I get to help her decorate!  :-)  Seeing Magic Mike yesterday wasn't so bad either.  Although I have to say Matthew McConaughey was a little creepy in this movie.  Channing Tatum made up for it though.  In short...it's been a good week.

• Miss anything?  Lately I really have been missing sushi...California rolls just don't cut it.
• Movement: Aubrey is a little tease.  Most of the time when I grab Daddy's hand to try to let him feel her move, she stops.  I constantly feel her moving around though.
• Food cravings: Ice Cream
• Food aversions:
• Gender: Girl
• Labor signs: None.
• Symptoms: My feet are killing me...constantly.
• Belly button in or out? In
• Wedding rings on or off? On
• Looking forward to: Lunch with my coworkers tomorrow, dinner with friends on Thursday, our friend's birthday celebration on Friday, and seeing Joy's house come together.  Oh...and fireworks on the 4th!