Weekly Eats 6/24/12

Sunday - Chicken Tortilla Soup, freezer meal courtesy of Jess (amazing!)

Monday - Veggie Pizza, I just bought refridgerated pizza crust, regular old pizza sauce and motzerella, with bell peppers, tomatoes, onion, mushrooms, banana peppers

Tuesday - Lemon Shallot Baked Salmon, wild rice, roasted broccoli

Wednesday - Mushroom & Swiss Burgers & side salad, leftover burgers from my shower Saturday

Thursday - Spicy Garlic Cashew Chicken, sauteed zucchini, jalopeno cornbread (unfortunately the cornbread was dissapointing, by the chicken was awesome! recipe coming soon)

Friday - we made nachos with the leftover chicken from Thursday, so good!

Saturday - Green Chili Chicken Enchilada Casserole, I honestly thought this would be better! 

Weekly Eats 6/17/12

Sunday - Stuffed Green Peppers (made these for our freezer meal swap Tuesday)



picture courtesy of Simply Recipes (I always forget to snap a pic of a recipe I've already made!)


Monday - leftovers (on our way out the door to birth class!)

Tuesday - Fish Tacos & corn on the cob (a new recipe I tried - post coming soon!)

Wednesday - Margarita Pizza (freezer meal courtesy of Heather!)

Thursday - Morrocan Salmon Salad & balsamic and parmesan roasted green beans (recipe coming soon!)

Friday - PW's Grilled Chicken, grilled zucchini, & roasted pesto potatoes   (recipes coming soon!)

Saturday - our first baby shower!  Three of my awesome girlfriends threw us an amazing BABY-Q with all our friends!

32 Weeks

June 18-24

So I've been having a little bit of anxiety with these braxton hicks contractions.  I was sort of confused in the beginning whether they were BH or the baby's little bottom or head pushing out since I was noticing them in a certain area.  And I'm still not sure whether those were BH or baby.  But I started to notice them more while on vacation last week, happening maybe a few times a day, especially in the afternoon/evening.  I didn't pay a whole lot of attention and just attributed them to moving around so much during the day and not getting enough water on the beach, etc. 

Then on the plane ride home Thursday night, my first flight was delayed causing me to cut it close to making it on the second flight.  I was stressed and as I sat in my seat, waiting to depart, I noticed I couldn't get comfortable.  I felt like my stomach was totally tight and wouldn't let up, multiple times in a row.  I was panicking as I worried I was going to go into labor on the plane and without my husband (he stayed in Florida a few days longer than me for a bachelor party).  Finally once we took off I was able to get up and use the restroom and calm down enough to fall asleep (I can sleep anywhere!).  (By the way, I had absolutely no questions what so ever flying...neither of the airlines even acknowledged it beyond a few stewardesses and security women congratulating me!)

I was a little concerned once I got home, even though I wasn't having anymore, because the rule of thumb is to talk to your doc if you have more than 4-6 in an hour.  Luckily I had my 32 week appointment the next afternoon, so I took it pretty easy until I could talk to her about it.  She asked me the circumstances, but was pretty comfortable with it since they can be brought on by stress and dehydration.  She just told me to watch for more to happen when I'm not in those settings.

Then both Saturday and Monday I had occurances where more than 4 happened in an hour.  But, I could attribute it to the same causes (stress/not enough water).  Now its Tuesday and I had no issues today.  Corey and I talked about it and I'm going to see how it goes and call if I have the same thing happen.  It just makes me feel so anxious not knowing and its also very strange to not have control over your body!

Anyway!!!  My doctors appointment was pretty normal otherwise.  Blood pressure, urine was all normal.  I measured right where I should and she felt my belly and told me that baby is head down!  Yay!  Baby's heartbeat was strong at 152 :)  I'm still at 19 pounds weight gain.  And I didn't really have any other questions for her besides the BHC and just general discomfort and making sure these things are normal.  I noticed also last week that sometimes toward the end of the night I'll have some sharp bladder pain like I have to go pee really bad, but I don't.  Its really quick and normally a couple in a row.  She said its just baby's head pushing down on my bladder (I'm not having any bladder infection symptoms). 

Something I have noticed this week being back to work is I am starting to get pretty uncomfortable sitting all day at my desk.  If I don't get up often to walk around I have this weird pain in my upper back / ribs area.  Its almost like they are stretching apart, but being squished all at the same time.  I have found that it really helps to do a few cat/cow stretches! 

I've also felt a little sensitive this week.  Oh the pregnancy hormones!  I am starting to just get the itch for the pregnancy to be over.  Not that I want to rush it, and I know things will be oh so different with baby in the picture.  I am starting to feel the uncomforts I think, when I've generally been pretty lucky so far, and I'm starting to look forward to not being pregnant again, oh and getting to meet our baby!!!

Birth class this week was on medical "interventions" such as your pain managment options, C-sections, etc.  It was again a lot of good information, but a lot that I already knew/didn't need to know.  I am a big learn what I want to know and go with it type of person.  I am not a research all possible complications, etc. etc. type of person.  There were a few people who asked so many questions about things that could go wrong.  I guess I sort of feel like we'll cross that bridge if we need to, not scare myself for no reason about the possibilities of what might happen during labor.  It will all happen as God's plan so I don't feel too worried about it (yet at least!).

Also we got to take a hospital tour.  I can't remember if I said this yet but my friend Jess who is a labor and delivery nurse took me on a tour a few weeks back when I had an appointment.  It was so nice to be able to just look around and have her show me and take our time!  The maternity floor is so nice and home-y and I really like how you get to stay in your room for the entire stay (with the exception of a C-section if neccessary).  I was glad Corey got to see it too before the big day!

31 Weeks

32 Weeks

32 Weeks

32 Weeks

Weekly Eats 6/10/12

Sunday - we got into Ft. Myers, found our hotel, and stumbled upon a little casual seafood restaurant.  We were so looking forward to fresh seafood this trip!  We split calamari as an appetizer and the fried gulf shrimp meal with salad and onion rings.

Monday - we went to the grocery this evening to get a few items for the week (since we had a kitchen we were able to make our own breakfast and lunch).  We made chicken fajitas for dinner in our room.

Tuesday - Nervous Nellie's for dinner.  We split crab and artichoke dip for an appetizer and got the crab leg meal which was huge and amazing!

Wednesday - Fresh Catch Bistro for our last night.  We split a bowl of clam chowder and an amazing cajun shrimp dish with parmesan risotto, andouille sausage, and veggies (don't worry I'm going to try recreating at home soon!).

Thursday - grabbed some McDonald's on the way to the airport to fly home!

Friday - I was home alone so I had a quick dinner of a cheese quesedilla, a strawberry poppy seed salad, and a greek yogurt.  Corey was still in Florida for Stefan's bachelor party!

Saturday -  Deborah & Tyler's wedding!!!

31 Weeks

We just got back from vacation and had the best time!!!  It was so relaxing.  Pretty much everyday  we slept in, had breakfast in our room, went down to the beach all day, came upstairs to shower and take a nap, got ready, and went to dinner or fixed dinner in our room (we had a little kitchen).  Honestly I thought it would go by too quick since we were only there 4 days and 4 nights, but it was so relaxing that the days seemed much longer.  (Even though you wouldn't have had to force me to stay longer) it was the perfect amount of time and the perfect vacation just the two of us before baby comes! 

While we were there, I realized Wednesday, the 13th was 2 months until baby arrives!  I think somehow, it still doesn't feel like that's real life!  Not too many other updates this week other than how much everyone is starting to notice belly.  So many sweet strangers have such sweet things to say.  I went to the doctor Friday and have a few other things related, but I think I'll save those for 32 weeks since it was really my 32 week appointment.

at our good friends' Joe & Becca's wedding in Kansas City!

grabbing lunch at a tiki bar on the beach

dinner at Nervous Nellie's in Ft. Myers

gorgeous view and good music!

crab leg feast!!!

we drove over to Sanibel Island for the day

view from dinner the last night, Fresh Catch Bistro

last day on the beach before flying home

30 Week belly

31 Weeks

31.5 weeks

31.5 weeks

30 Weeks

I had my 30 week appointment on Tuesday, it felt like I just went now that I go every two weeks, its pretty exciting!  Same routine thing, weight, urine sample, blood pressure, listen to baby's heartbeat, measure my belly, and questions.  Everything looked great!  I've gained 19 pounds now which was up 4 pounds from 2 weeks ago, quite a jump in my opinion (maybe baby had a growth spurt!?).  She didn't tell me what the baby's heart rate was, which I was sad when I realized after the appointment, but it was good and I measured right on track. 

She felt my ankles and belly for swelling and said she felt a little in my belly and told me I needed to be drinking more water.  I feel like all I do is drink water all day, so I guess I just need to pay more attention to that and fit in even more somehow!  We picked our pediatrician so we discussed that.  We went with the one she had suggested after me and Corey reviewed her credentials, etc.  The doctor thought our personalities would work well with hers.  I'm not the type to research these things and meet with her previously to interview her.  I figure if we have any issues for some reason we can always find a new doctor!  I also got the final clear for vacation next week from her and got a doctor's note just in case the airline has any questions.

We also had our birth class start Monday night.  Honestly it was pretty much just the basics of birth that I already knew about from my pregnancy book along with meeting everyone in the class.  I'm a little bummed that we have to miss next week because its all the breathing and coping exercises, but our teacher gave us all the material and video to watch at home.  I'm looking forward to the third and forth weeks as well because I think they will have a lot of good information.

Before I was pregnant, and even in the beginning of it, I always wondered why pregnant women had their hand(s) on their belly all the time.  Now I get it, they were feeling the baby move!  To me, its such an instinctual thing to immediately want to feel her when I feel her moving inside.  Its just comforting and such a good feeling.  I totally look like the crazy pregnant lady though :)  One cool thing that happened this week was feeling the baby's hiccups for the first time.  We were laying in bed at night and Corey was feeling her move down low on my belly and it was like with his hand on there it really echoed her movement to me (if that makes sense) and we both realized they were short, rhythmic movements - duh...hiccups!

29 Weeks



29 Weeks (and a half!)




30 weeks (and a half oops!)




30.5 Weeks (belly looks a little lopsided due to the angle I think!)




30.5 Weeks



Weekly Eats 6/3/12

Sunday - I had a bridal shower for my good friend Katie in Chicago and had tons of awesome food there, so wasn't too hungry when I got home, Corey had Chicken Parm, freezer meal courtesy of Jess!

Monday - went out to dinner to celebrate my sister's birthday!  Sushi it was!  (don't worry I only had the cooked kind, but it was amazing!)

Tuesday - Salmon, carrots, potatoes - baked these with olive oil, garlic powder, basil, S&P (we didn't go to the grocery this week because we are leaving on vacation Friday morning, so you'll see it was a clean out the fridge and eat from the freezer type week!)

Wednesday - BBQ Chicken Salad (using homemade bbq sauce, recipe coming soon, pinto beans, green pepper, blue cheese, and ranch dressing)

Thursday - breakfast for dinner!

Friday - rehearsal dinner for our good friends Joe & Becca's wedding in Kansas City at Jack Stack BBQ!!!

Saturday - the wedding!!!

Weekly Eats 5/27/12

Sunday - Chicken Enchilada's, freezer meal courtesy of Heather!


Monday - Ribs, Corn on the Cob, Pasta Salad (recipes coming soon!)

 

Tuesday - dinner with my alpha phi girlfriends at Ally's house!  We had yummy chicken, salad, veggies, and potatoes

Wednesday - Chicken Taco Salad

Thursday - Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo (amazing...)

Friday - leftovers

Saturday - out to dinner with Corey's parents to Noah Grant's (so good!) I had blackened mahi-mahi and Corey got shrimp scampi

29 weeks

In the past week or so I started noticing this "tightening" in my stomach and I thought for a few days that I was having braxton hicks contractions.  They start at 6 weeks and continue throughout pregnancy, but most women don't notice them until the 3rd trimester, if even at all.  They are harmless and irregular and don't indicate you are going into labor.  But I realized that the "tightening" was only in certain areas, almost like a ball in my stomach, at the top, bottom, or side.  Then I started to think about it and wondered if it might just be the baby's bum or head or even back just sticking out based on how she's laying in there.  She's still pretty small (around 2 1/2 pounds) and has plenty of room to flip all around.  Now I'm pretty positive that's what it is and notice it happening at least once a day.  I even notice when she does it with a knee, or something smaller.  She's so cute I can't even handle it!

One of my friends asked me last night if I'm in love yet and it really got me thinking.  Of course I am!  I think I really started to feel connected/attached to her the week I was sick (23 weeks).  I was home in bed most of the week feeling absolutely miserable.  Prior to this week I just wasn't feeling her move a ton yet and was feeling a little anxious about it.  This week she really picked it up.  Maybe it was because I was laying around all day, therefore able to pay a lot more attention, but it was so awesome.  It was the most comforting feeling, even though I was so sick, getting to feel her all day.  I just felt like she was keeping me company.  And I think that was the week that I really got attached.  Now she's moving non-stop and always reminding me she's in there!

We had a bit of frustration last week that I forgot to write about with our rocker/glider.  The fabric we ordered it in is on hold and they have no idea for how long.  We were given the option of waiting a few weeks to see if it was in yet, or ordering it in another fabric.  Unfortunately that was the only one we liked, so we are going with the risk.  We figured its better to not have a chair for a few weeks after she comes rather than be stuck with a chair we don't like for forever.  (The original estimated date of delivery was July 6 - August 6).  Wish us luck!

I finally got the rest of my lab results from last weeks appointment and everything looked great!  I have very slight anemia (which I kind of suspected), my level was 11.8 and normal range starts at 12.  Not too big of a deal at all. but not good if left untreated.  My doctor suggested some over the counter iron supplements.

28 Weeks

29 Weeks (don't mind the pjs)



29 Weeks



29 Weeks