I love being pregnant. My body is a vessel for the Divine. I will never be more connected to life itself. While I may be uncomfortable at times in my pregnant body, (from heartburn to the lower back pain), I love myself all the same. My body is strong. My body is a miracle. I have learned to love and respect it now. That is a beautiful thing. Size: According to What to Expect, baby is the size of a head of lettuce, 19 inches long and 4 lbs. this week. If you have been following my journey, you know that during our doctor’s appointment at 30 weeks baby was already measuring at 3.89 lbs. so it is difficult to say how big Baby Dow really is at this point. 90th percentile baby on board!!! Weight Gain: 13 pounds gained still! It’s amazing, every day I feel like my belly is absolutely a little bit bigger, but I am truly carrying all of this pregnancy in my belly. Symptoms: Still complaining of hip and groin pain ladies! My back pain really comes and goes… it’s not a consistent pain anymore, which is great. I am still sleeping really well at night, which is also a big plus! I have noticed that I am getting tired a little bit earlier each day. During my 4 pm clients, it is absolutely getting harder for me to stay on my feet. I just bought a pair of Fresh Foam New Balance… hoping those will help provide a little extra cushion under my feet. Favorite wardrobe piece to wear right now: This one isn’t so easy this week… with my growing bump it is getting more challenging to get dressed and be comfortable. Lacing up my sneakers or pulling on my boots is a challenge, and finding pants the fit comfortably under my bump, but don’t fall down my butt is an even bigger challenge. I am sending an SOS to any moms or moms-to-be that can provide some advice on this challenge that will only become more difficult over the next 6 six weeks. Nursery Update: The nursery is really coming together. My baby shower took place two weekends ago and we were showered with so many wonderful and thoughtful gifts. Now I just need to take some time each day to find the perfect home for everything. I plan to get a lot done this weekend, so I will be sure to post some updated pictures in the next couple of weeks. Pregnancy related item I have loved this week: My yoga blocks. Taking time in the morning when I first get up to stretch and breathe has really helped to ease my hip and groin pains, not to mention my mind. One moment I love about this past week: This past week was so wonderful. Between having my baby shower and being surrounded by so much love to having my best friend visiting from California for the week. We spent some awesome quality time together that I found to be so special knowing that the next time we see each other the baby will be here and it will make having as much time as we did this visit a bit more challenging. Also, over last weekend Timmy was working at the New York Boat show and I took the opportunity to get away for the weekend and go visit him in Manhattan. Although he was busy working and it didn’t allow for much time together, we did get out to dinner for two awesome date nights and to have some fun in the city, just the two of us! One thing I plan to do for myself this week: This week I plan to start getting together my bag for the hospital. Personally, I would rather just have that all set and ready to go by week 35 so I am prepared for whatever little man decides to throw our way. I will be sure to post what is inside!
Food cravings: So I feel like I have been totally boring in this category throughout my pregnancy, but I am really not having any cravings! Citrus fruits still taste amazing and I consume them daily, but everything else is pretty much the same as before I got pregnant. The other day someone did ask me what meal am I looking most forward too post baby, and without taking a breath I was able to say sushi from Blue Fin in Chatham, with my favorite martini! (Milagro, straight up, splash of grapefruit with a lime) YUM! Currently working on: Staying calm. It is very easy to let my mind get worked up and to feel very anxious as the weeks add up and we get closer and closer to my DD. Staying calm, remembering to breathe and taking moments for meditation daily are truly keeping me anchored in the present and assuring me that everything will be just fine. Have you been following my journey? I would love to hear from you. Also... if you have any ideas on dressing the bump third trimester please leave them below. Thanks ahead of time! 7 weeks to go! xoxo
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Nutrition is without a doubt one of the MOST important things to consider during pregnancy. Everything we put in and on our bodies directly affects the little one growing inside of us. Many of you have asked me about my nutritional habits during pregnancy, so today I wanted to share with you some of the Essential Nutrients During Pregnancy and how you can make sure that you are getting everything that you need for you and your little one! First things first, quality Prenatal Vitamins, a good prenatal vitamin is a great thing for any women to be taking if having kids is something that you see in your future. A good prenatal contains all of the essential vitamins and minerals you need for you and baby! Make sure that your prenatal has DHA (omega-3s) and if it doesn’t you will want to add a DHA supplement too. Calcium. This is so important, especially for me because I don’t tend to eat many dairy products. Adding a calcium supplement to your routine can help to assure that you are not calcium deficient. Believe it or not… 68% or women are already calcium deficient and when your body isn’t getting enough calcium from your diet, your baby’s calcium needs will be met by taking calcium from your bones. This can lead to serious complications for mama later on with causing bone health risks, think osteoporosis. Most prenatal vitamins supply 30-40% of our daily calcium need, so that’s why it is important to either supplement or make sure you are getting enough in your diet. Have a dairy intolerance? Don’t worry, there are actually a lot of non-dairy foods you can consume that contain calcium. Edamame, broccoli rabe, sautéed greens like kale or mustard greens, white beans, butternut squash and almonds all contain good levels of calcium. Protein. I am pretty good about getting protein at every meal, but I pay close attention now that I am pregnant. Protein is really important for developing baby! Maybe you don’t eat meat?? That’s okay, try a protein shake! I had a serious aversion to grilled chicken in my first trimester, and I would supplement with homemade protein shakes to help me make sure I was getting my daily recommended amount, without eating meat. Iron. This one is HUGE. Iron plays a crucial role in your baby’s brain development. Getting an adequate amount is so important. You can be sure to get enough iron through your diet by including things like red meat in limited quantities, eggs, beans, spinach and lentils. Folate. Okay… this is another big one! Having enough folate in your diet is crucial to avoiding neural tube defects in your baby. Be sure that your prenatal vitamin has folate in it so that you can ensure you are getting enough. Foods that contain folate are asparagus, dark leafy greens, broccoli, citrus fruits, avocado, beans, lentils and brussel sprouts. Probiotic. Many of you know that I experienced some G.I. issues about a year ago that required me to do some serious cleansing and healing of my gut. That being said, I think taking a quality probiotic is a great idea for anyone to help regulate things in your microbiome and keep your system running smoothly… literally. A few things I would recommend when choosing a probiotic are to use one that needs to be refrigerated, this ensures that the bacteria are alive. Also use a probiotic that has several different strains of bacteria. One brand that I really life and find very effective is Metagenics. Whenever you are thinking of changing anything or introducing a new supplement into your daily routine, be sure to reach out to your doctor and discuss. Your OBGYN and/or midwife will be able to guide you in the right direction and instruct you on all the nutrients you need for your pregnancy. Mamas are different and every experience is different, so be sure to consult with them before implementing any changes.
I send so much love and wish you a very happy and healthy pregnancy! xoxo I love finding inspiration for baby showers, nurseries, and home décor from different bloggers out there. I also love sharing some of my ideas with you, in hopes that it may inspire you when you are creating your own nursery or putting together a baby shower. Today I want to share with you my beautiful baby shower that took place over the weekend to celebrate our baby boy, Baby Dow. What was the theme of your baby shower? Our shower took place at Chatham Bars Inn in a beautiful room that over looked the beautiful ocean and really gave the shower a Cape Cod Nautical theme. Sailing, beach, ocean and all things nautical are such a huge part of who Timmy and I are, so I knew I wanted to incorporate a nautical theme for the day. The location was excellent at setting the stage, and the decorations were perfect, the flowers were absolutely beautiful (designed by New England Gardens), and the back drops and focal points of the shower brought tears to my eyes. Who put your shower together? My Mother, mother-in-law and sister were the eyes and creators behind the beautiful day. The shower was held at the Chatham Bars Inn in Chatham, MA. The space is called "Harbor View" and is connected to the room, "Charles Hardy." The main dining room over looked the beautiful landscape and ocean views of Chatham and was connected to a second room, where the food and bar were located, and that room had a beautiful fire place and cozy feel. It was the perfect place for this shower! Did you have any games for the guests and if so, what were they? We did have a few games that took place during the shower. On the invitation it stated, "A little squirt is on the way! Bring a package of diapers in any size of your choice to win a prize!". Guests that brought a package of diapers were asked to try to guess how many diapers were inside of a basket. Then, everyone received a quiz that had a list of statements and each guest had to choose either Mommy or Daddy. While I opened gifts, a ball of blue yarn and scissors was passed around the room giving everyone the opportunity to guess how big my belly is. Did you do cake or cupcakes? We had a beautiful cake and cookies. Both were created by Amazing Cakes, located in Lakeville, MA. Is there anything else you want to share? We decided to have a buffet style brunch and an open Mom-osa and Bloody Mary bar. We sent every guest home with a small bottle of champagne that had an adorable tag reading, "Pop when she pops!" The tags matched the invitation design. Decorations were done by the amazing, Morgan Miller-Jones, and matched the nautical theme perfectly. List of all sources used for the shower and links: Event space: Chatham Bars Inn, Chatham, MA Flowers: New England Gardens, Harwich, MA Cake and Cookies: Amazing Cakes, Lakeville, MA Decorations: Morgan Miller-Jones, https://www.facebook.com/morgen.millerjones Again, so many thanks go out to the beautiful woman that made this day happen. It was so wonderful for Baby Dow and Mama to be surrounded by so much love!
xoxo I have to say… simmering a pot of chili for hours on a cold winter Sunday while we curl up on the couch and watch football is on my list of favorite things to do. I am sure many of you have heard of this new kitchen toy that seems to be all the rage- The Instant Pot. What is the Instant Pot? Essentially it is an electric, programmable, pressure cooker with a lot of extra functions like sauté, steam, pressure cook and it can even make yogurt. Basically you can cook anything you can imagine in this one pot. I have to admit that at first I was totally skeptical. Would the fast cooking time rob my dishes of their deep flavors that my family and I love?? The Answer: Nope! We were first attracted to the Instant Pot because it could replace our slow cooker, and it has even proven to provide better results in far less time. Its multifunctional use is also super convenient in our cozy kitchen where storage space for all sort of kitchen toys is limited. The Instant Pot is also a huge time saver. I can cook a slow cooker recipe that would usually take 6-8 hours, and in under an hour I can have the same meal ready and on the table. This is tremendously helpful on long, busy workdays and I can see it becoming even more critical once the baby arrives! I was also really impressed with how easy the Instant Pot was to clean. Not only did I make this chili all in the pot without needing any additional dishes, but when it was time to clean the pot, the stainless-steel pot was very easy to clean by hand. However, it can also be placed in the dishwasher if you wish. I would say my only reservation so far is that it can be a little bit intimidating. I didn’t have any prior experience to cooking with a pressure cooker, and while the Instant Pot seems to be much easier to use than many pressure-cookers, it is a new style of cooking that definitely has a learning curve. Okay, so let me share with you my Turkey Chili Recipe that I made using the Instant Pot in under an hour. You can also try this recipe in your slow cooker or crockpot, just cook on low for 6-8 hours. Ingredients
Toppings for serving: shredded cheddar cheese, sliced scallions, diced avocado, sour cream
I decided to top mine with a dollop of greek yogurt and shredded cheese. Obviously, we don't do chili night in this house without some home made corn bread too.... Do you have an Instant Pot? Share your favortie reciepe below. If you give my Turkey Chili a try please be sure to let me know what you think too! xo Size: We went for a check in with our doctor during week 29 and had a stress test and ultrasound done to check the growth of our son… turns out he is in the 90th percentile and weighing 3.89 lbs., which is the weight and length you would expect of a baby at 32 – 33 weeks. So it looks like we are a little ahead of the game. We will have another ultrasound in a couple weeks to monitor his growth. Weight Gain: 13 pounds! The scale finally budged a pound during the last couple of days and I am at 13 lbs. gained since conception. Symptoms: Same ole’ same ole! Back and hip/groin pain. Boy is growing like a weed and my back is paying for it, but other than that I feel great! The heartburn has totally subsided and I am sleeping well still. I had a few nights of sleeplessness last week, but luckily that didn't stick around. Favorite wardrobe piece to wear right now: My Mammut long down jacket that I received from Timmy for Christmas. Its perfect with the sub zero temperatures we have been experiencing and has plenty of room for me and baby. Nursery Update: Well, we added a bookshelf with bins from Big Lots for better organization of books and supplies. My goal over the next two weeks is to get the changing table stocked and organized, the closet organized and some of our gifts we have received put away in the appropriate places. Over the next couple of weeks things will really come together here in our nursery and I will be sure to take pictures and share with you all! Pregnancy related item I have loved this week: I have revisited a piece of my teenage years the last couple of weeks, and not in a good way. Pimples, breakouts and oily skin, oh my! My face regime, but more specifically, my Face Oil #1 has been an all time life saver. This citrus-scented facial oil quickly absorbs and penetrates skin to awaken and replenish. The proprietary blend of seven natural oils moisturizes and improves radiance. Omega-rich marula oil provides intense hydration while antioxidant vitamin C brightens and evens skin tone. We all know that I am a huge fan of Beautycounter, and I don't like to bring it up too often in my posts because I fear that I am coming off to "salesy"... and we all know that can make us feel like we are being pressured to try or buy something that we may not need. That being said, I am incredibly passionate about safer solutions for my skincare. I find that so many people disregard the toxic load they are absorbing through their skin with the skin and body care products they use and just focus on eating healthier and exercising. While eating healthy and exercising are huge components to leading a healthy lifestyle, my goal is through education, make people more aware of their toxic load and simple ways in which they can decrease it. Just in myself alone, I use about 15 different products a day from shampoo, body wash, toothpaste, deodorant, lip balm, makeup etc. Imagine all of the toxic build up I was putting on my skin everyday before I started this journey?! Its scary... but thankfully we have so many wonderful options out there to help us decrease our toxic load and make safer choices for ourselves and our families. If you are interested in learning more about safer skincare please feel free to shoot me a comment below and we can chat more! Beautycounter is one of the brands that I know, love and trust, in addition to many others, and if you have ever wanted to try any of our products I am more than happy to send free samples! One moment I loved about this past week: Date night at Bluefin with my babe. Our date nights out are so special to us. We both live crazy busy lives (like most of you) and its so nice to just unplug from the world and enjoy a couple of hours with each other uninterrupted. One thing I plan to do for myself this week: This past Saturday, Timmy and I went to have pedicures at my favorite nail spa. He had never had one before and now he finally understands what all the hype is about, they are absolutely amazing! Hot stones, hot towels, massage… what’s not to love?! This week I plan to carve out some time in my morning routine and do a short yoga sequence to help center my mind, ease back pain from a night of sleeping and start my day on the right track. I figure if I can get into the practice now of carving out short periods of time for myself, it will be easier to do so once I am in mommy mode and a 15 minute hot shower or yoga session will be crucial for my well being. Food cravings: No real food cravings, but I am absolutely loving grapefruit. They are so delicious this time of year and I have been enjoying one every morning. My mornings usually start with ½ a grapefruit and either a bowl of oatmeal with walnuts and banana or 2 eggs scrambled with a Ezekiel bread English muffin and nut butter. Currently working on: Thanks to so many awesome mamas that belong to the Modern Mamas tribe on Facebook I just started a new book, The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. There are SO many books out there and I have created a collection of my favorites based on recommendations and my personal thoughts on each read. Maybe it would be helpful to create a blog review on my favorite books that have been apart of this journey. Do you have a favorite book you have read about pregnancy, breastfeeding, baby, or raising children? I would love to hear. So thats a wrap for weeks 29 & 30! We are approaching the debut day faster than I could have ever imagined. Stay tuned for more updates! Categories |
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