The Nursery

This post is long overdue. I know.

The nursery that I spent so much time dreaming about, planning for, & creating won't even be slept in by our little lady. Why? Because we are moving.

Shocking, I know. It's so sad, but also exciting. We finally have direction for this next year of our life that we have been praying for the past couple of months. Here are the details of all that:

We came to Buchanan originally because I had a great paying nanny job, a 2 bedroom loft apartment for an amazing price that I could walk to work from, & it was close to Andrews University [a potential grad school option for Matt]. He applied ONLY to Andrews last fall after we found out we were pregnant because we didn't want to move with a newborn if he got into a school far away. Andrews isn't working out for this fall. I won't go into details, mostly because I would say very unkind things about the unorganized people in the admissions office there.

Anyways - we are leaving this sweet, sweet town & heading to Greencastle, Indiana. 40 minutes west of Indianapolis. & moving into a 2 bedroom, 2 floor rental house on my in-laws' property [rent free. thank you parents]. It will be great for us financially & for Matt academically as he will take a couple classes this fall & next spring to make his application for grad school more competitive. It would also be great if he could get into one of the physical therapy programs in Indianapolis because we wouldn't have to move AGAIN. So it's a good location for us. Socially... not so much. We will be a 1/2 mile from Matt's parents, which will be nice, but also a little overwhelming [for me]. We are also leaving behind an AMAZING church [Grace Church in Granger], & AMAZING Bible study/small group who we love spending time with, & other AMAZING friends within 20 minutes of us. It will be sad to say goodbye to those people, but we know that this is an open door that we have to walk through.

So I get to re-design Jori girl's nursery once we move. & can even do some painting!

Here is the original nursery. Once we are settled & organized, I'll do a nursery take 2 post of her NEW room. What a lucky lady, 2 nurseries in the first 2 months of her life. What a spoiled girl :]

To the left of the door: Cutie "J" sign made by the lovely Stacey Dalby & hooks for diaper bags & the Solly wrap [Thank you Alyssa Allen]

Above the closet: Sign made by Matt's Aunt Jennifer - she even hand made the baby booties!

We got this changing table/dresser for $100 on Craigslist. They even delivered it for us! The baskets on top hold shoes, socks, & hair accessories. All cloth diapering supplies are just under & to the right of the changing table. There is enough storage space for most of her clothes & receiving blankets/burp cloths/swaddle blankets.

The play corner! The tree was a gift from the wonderful Brenda Eubank [my second mom] & was up at the baby shower. The little bins hold toys, the wooden crate holds special books, & the pink trunk holds nothing at the moment, but was a cute little book shelf!

These signs hang between the windows. The top sign was a gift from our good friend Jenna Jones [we love it!!!] & the bottom sign is a chalkboard sticker put on a piece of wood. We are using it to document her growth every month - those pictures are coming!

Re-used this lamp that was at the reception of my best friend's wedding. Thanks!

The crib. I hand made the banner & owl pillow that you can barely see sitting in the crib. & no she doesn't sleep in this yet.. so no one freak out that there is a blanket & stuffed animals in her crib. 

So that's the nursery! I'm slightly nervous about how we will fit it all in her new room that will be MUCH smaller... but it just gives me a chance to be creative. 

Any paint color ideas? 

Until next time...

Is This Real Life?

I have a 4 month & 2 day old baby. She will be 1 month tomorrow. Shouldn't we throw her a little party or something? Cupcakes & balloons? I guess we are attending a wedding tomorrow, so I'll consider that half her party & half a party for the soon to be Mr. Cam & Mrs. Dayle Brundage.

I really want to continue with this whole blogging business - & now the focus will be on fitness & health while parenting, other mommy things, crafts we do together, & general recordings of our life.

Now that I have 4 weeks of learning how to be a mom to our sweet girl under my belt, I feel like I'm ready to start writing again. I feel amazing. I expected to be a walking zombie for the first couple months, but I really took to heart the whole "sleep while they sleep" advice & take morning & evening naps with my lady & spend the afternoons awake just looking at her & doing other non-important things [AKA house work, taking a shower, watching TV, etc etc]. It just feels natural. What the heck was life like before this little beauty made her entrance into our life? I can't even remember what I thought about or did before pregnancy/her arrival. Actually I can... i dreamed of future babies while taking care of my little Henry that I nannied for. That was not nearly as good as it is now.

Anyways.

Here a few thoughts on our first four weeks as a family of three & random "accomplishments" in Jori's tiny life.

1. Babies are incredible. They are tiny humans. With all their bones & organs so tiny & little crammed into their tiny little body frames. Kind of mind-boggling that this little thing will be as big as me some day!

2. Babies heads are huge. I don't know if you've ever noticed, but Matt & I joked that her head must weigh at least 3 of the 7 pounds that she was born with.

3. Breastfeeding... not as easy as it seems. It seriously takes practice. I won't go into details on the frustrations we had, but golly I wish someone would have warned me! If anyone wants the inside scoop, just ask & I'll gladly share with you.

4. Jori is an eating machine. She weighed 7 pounds 1 ounce at birth. Weighed 6 pounds 12 ounces when we left the hospital. In 2 weeks she gained back more than her birth weight & was up to 8 pounds 3 ounces. Her pediatrician was impressed. I'm curious as to how much she weighs now.

5. Jori sleeps like a superstar in her little pack n' play bassinet next to our bed at night & like a little cuddler in my arms during the day. Until she stops sleeping well at night, all her naps will continue to be in my arms [or more of them]. Those are my favorite times. I know it won't last forever, so I'll take every baby cuddle I can get while I can. Dishes... what dishes?

6. I miss my husband. Our little girls is my favorite person ever [second to my husband] but sometimes I just miss the times where he would come home from work & we could go for a run together, cuddle on the couch while watching The Voice, & go out on dates with ease. Even going to bed at the same time is uncommon, which we did 98% of the time before her arrival. I would never wish Jori away, but it will be nice when we can have a date night without my worrying about her waking up crying, needing to eat, or having to change a diaper.

7. I'm not sure how I'll ever send Jori to school. On the rare occasion I put her down during her day time naps in order to do some things around the apartment, I miss her like crazy. Yes, I will be that mom who obsesses over her child. Shut up. :]

8. We have more clothes than we can get her into. She has started growing out of newborn sizes & that is incredibly depressing. Some outfits she only wore once! So a tip to all you pals without kids who buy gifts for new moms... go for bigger sizes!! Or at least give a gift receipt if you buy newborn size so that moms can return the unworn items :]

9. 2 more weeks & I SHOULD be cleared for physical activity. Hollaaaaaaaaa.

10. 2 weeks post baby I had lost 20 of the 30 pounds I gained. I think I'm close to my pre-pregnancy weight... & I am determined to get my 6-pack back! Baby boot camp, here I come.

11. Jori has started little grins [while awake. she is a pro at smiling in her sleep]. She hasn't mastered the skill yet & can only do it once in a while, but she's learning!

12. She ROLLED OVER! Don't call me a liar! It's true! She rolled from her belly to back on our bed the other night. I know it's kind of cheating since a bed is easier to roll on than the harder floor, but whatever. She rolled. We have a motor genius, people.

13. I can't believe this is our life. Our baby. She will be with us forever. I don't have to give her back to anyone. The strangest thing is seeing her name on mail. Or her having a social security number. She has an identity that someone could steal. Whoa. Jori Marie is OUR baby. Can someone help me wrap my mind around that?!


We are so blessed :] Thanks for reading & following our journey through the pregnancy & now life with our girl. If there is anything in particular you'd like to read about/see, please comment or email & let me know!

For your viewing pleasure, a picture progression of our lady since birth!

A few hours old!

A day old! 

A couple days old!

2 weeks old!

3 weeks old!

4 weeks old!

Looking Ahead:

-The nursery [that she doesn't sleep in yet... but I finally uploaded pictures!]

-Reflecting on labor

Jori Marie is Here!

May 22nd, 2013

Jori Marie Owens 

10:39 am

7 pounds 1 ounce

20.5 inches long

13.25 head circumference

Like I promised in the post about our goal of having a natural childbirth experience, here is our labor story. I'm posting it a little later than I expected to, but I've had better things to do - like cuddle with my baby and take naps.

At 5am on Wednesday the 22nd I woke up in full blown labor. There wasn't much build up of slower, low intensity contractions. They were the type of contractions that I couldn't walk through, move through, or respond to questions through [sorry Matt]. The first contraction woke me up & lasted about 45 seconds. 3 minutes later another one. I woke Matt up & said "I think maybe I'm in labor" so he instantly popped out of bed & started getting the apartment tidy & bags packed. For about an hour the contractions continued. Between contractions I was able to move around, eat some food, & pack up last minute things. As soon as I felt another contraction starting I had to stop everything and either lean on the bed, counter, table, etc or sit on the yoga ball and rock my hips back and forth.

With our plan being a natural birth, we wanted to labor at home as long as possible so that the time at the hospital would be limited. This would give less opportunity for medical intervention if things were taking too long [according to the medical professionals]. I expected that we would be home for most of the morning & make our way around lunch time. Silly me. We would have had a home birth if we had waited much longer! My midwife said "you will know when you need to go to the hospital. Just listen to your body & you will just feel like it's time".

At 6am I started feeling more intense contractions & knew it was time to go in. By the time we got loaded up & to the hospital it was after 7. We went to the triage room so they could make sure I was in active labor. Duh. I absolutely was. & was 5cm dilated. We sat in the tiny triage room for an hour & the contractions continued to increase in intensity. At this point I had started moaning through them & even shed a few tears. I had to really focus & repeat to myself "relax, relax, relax" through the pain or my whole body would tense up, which isn't helpful & would make them more painful.

By the time we got up to the labor room I was really working hard. The contractions were close together & lasting a minute or longer. It was about 9am when I got into the shower in our labor room & sat while the jet shower heads ran on my lower back. That was amazing & really helped me stay relaxed even through the most painful of contractions. Things really started picking up & I began to doubt myself. With it being our first baby, we were expecting to be working most of the day & having a baby around dinner time. Our midwife felt the same way & hadn't made her way to the hospital yet. I wondered how the heck I was going to make it through contractions of that magnitude & frequency for many more hours & decided I'd probably need an epidural or I'd be too exhausted to push when the time came. During this time of doubt, I remembered what I had read in my natural childbirth books about this "emotional signpost". It it is a typical sign that the body is in the transition phase [when the cervix dilates from 8-10 cm & pushing is within an hour] when the woman begins to doubt her ability to continue. I put that thought out of my mind though, because I couldn't believe I could actually be progressed so far.

After about a half hour in the shower I moved to the labor tub. It's a big square tub with water that fills up high enough to submerge baby bellies & is big enough to be on hands & knees - which was my position of choice. Labor was really intense now & it took a lot of focus & determination [and yelling] to not lose control during contractions. After about 10 minutes in the tub I felt the urge to push. When I told the nurse this she was pretty relaxed about it, told me not to push, & checked me. "oh... your cervix is gone!" After only 2 hours, I went from 5cm dilated to fully dilated & ready to push... not typical for a first time childbirth experience. The nurse became less relaxed & started paging & calling the midwife saying she needed to get into the hospital right away.

I got out of the tub & into the bed & people started coming into our room in prep for pushing & baby time. The only person missing was our midwife. This was the only time Matthew started to get nervous. As I was getting into bed I had a contraction & my water finally broke.  Unfortunately, there was meconium present in the fluid, which means Jori had a bowel movement. This was terrifying because if she ingested any of it, it could have been harmful to her health. So the NICU was called in to be ready in case we had a baby who needed emergency attention. There were probably about 12 people in our room at this point, but the only person I wanted to see was Kristin, our midwife. When I heard them say that there was meconium present, I knew that wasn't good & it is the only time I was on the verge of losing control & panicking. Enter my amazing husband - he said everything I needed to hear to get my breathing back under control & prayed for our lady. We got back on track & had more contractions while we waiting for Kristin.

I was told to not push since Kristin wasn't there yet & that was the hardest part of the whole thing. I couldn't do what my body needed & wanted, but finally Kristin showed up & things got rolling. As she came in she said "wow! let's have a baby!!" Her plan was to come in around lunch time, check in on me, & expected to deliver later in the afternoon/dinner time. Surprise! :]

I told Kristin right away that I needed to push & she encouraged me to do so. With her amazing coaching, encouragement, & my loving husband giving me all the support & help he could, we started pushing. Wow. Talk about feeing the burn. After about 15 minutes & multiple pushes that slowly moved our lady down, she was born! I think because I was able to feel all the pain, I wasn't able to push for long periods of time & with high force, so she slowly worked her way out & prevented me from tearing. No stitches. Hallelujah. After 5.5 hours of labor, we had our girl & she was perfect.

Good news - the meconium scare... she was fine :] after she was born, she cried within seconds, meaning she hadn't ingested anything & I could hold her right away. Within 15 minutes of being born & cuddles with me she started nursing. The first hour of her life she was cuddled up on me before they had to take her away to be cleaned up, measured, weighed, & double checked over. After that, Matt was finally able to hold her & that was one of the most memorable, beautiful moments of my life. They were perfect together & he was so smitten with his tiny lady. It truly was a great day & an amazing experience.

our first family picture. poor Jori destroyed her face with her sharp baby nails before we were able to get a good picture. what a stinker.

cutest baby feet i've ever seen

our tiny lady hours after she was born

Labor Plans

It's the big day - Due Date Day.

I sure do feel frustrated! I just want to meet our little girl. I've continued to have random contractions the past few days, but nothing progresses to more frequent or higher intensity contractions. We found out at my midwife appointment on Tuesday that I am already 3cm dilated [33% of the way to 10cm & it didn't even hurt! :P] & 70% effaced. If you don't know what that means, basically my cervix is thinning out & opening up. Yahoo!

Last night I got to thinking a lot about labor & I feel so ready for it. As I've been out & about with this big baby belly, it's rare if someone doesn't ask about my due date. Lately, usually middle aged women, will ask if it's my first child, & then quickly tell me just to go into the hospital & ask for my epidural right away...

My body was made to do this. There are multiple reasons why, for me, I want to avoid an epidural & other medical interventions if possible. I'm not going into it with a "natural only" mentality because I know things will not go as planned - but deep down my true desire is to have this little lady naturally & here are a few reasons why.

1. I want to feel as in control as possible. Being hooked up to an IV & sitting in a bed hours with minimal or no feeling in my legs gives me terrible anxiety. I want to feel as if I am in control of my body, Jori's position as she prepares for her entrance, & to experience childbirth the way God made it to be.

2. I want Matt to be able to be involved. He has been a superstar husband through this whole pregnancy experience & he is really looking forward to his role as "birth coach". We've done lots of reading & feel so prepared for him to help me through each contraction that will get us closer to holding our girl. This is OUR baby & OUR labor process - he can't wait to help do is his part in it all. [lucky fella, his part is going to be a little easier than mine :P]

3. I don't want Pitocin. Sometimes when women start on an epidural, it can slow labor down significantly & something needs to be done to get it going again - but without the ability to walk or move, the drug pitocin is used to get contractions going again. This can be strenuous on the little babe as one of the drugs slows things down & the other speeds things up. For some women this is a truly great option for them & gets their baby in their arms quickly & safely. I don't mean to sound critical or negative about it - it's just something for me, I don't want to have. [that was a little disclaimer so that no one thinks I'm judging their childbirth experience].

4. C-Section: NO THANK YOU. If the situation occurs where little lady is all tangled up in her cord or some other emergency type situation occurs, then yes, cut me open & get her out. Otherwise, I don't want a lack of progress to be the reason why I have a C-Section. Not always, but often, it is more likely to have a C-Section after being on various drugs for pain than if the whole experience is natural. If you weren't aware, C-Sections are major surgery & take weeks to recover from. I don't have the luxury of having family close by or a husband who can easily be home for a couple weeks to take care of me - that will be things very tricky coming home.

5. When it's time to push, I want to feel what I'm doing. I've read that for some mom's it can be tricky the first time around to try & push without much feeling of what's actually happening. Many women do it no problem, I just don't want to be one of the ones that can't do it because I'm lacking feeling from the epidural. Sure it's going to hurt... but it's only temporary. & the reward is well worth the work.

There are other little things I could mention, but those are the biggies. God created my body for this & as long as everything goes like it should, we will have this lady drug-free [but if my labor is going on 30 hours... you better believe I'll be considering an epidural]. It shouldn't be a shocking thing, it doesn't mean I'll give myself a gold star of accomplishment & prance around thinking I'm better at giving birth than someone who used an epidural... it just means we had a baby without drugs. & that would be awesome.

That's my epidural vs. natural birth post for anyone wondering what our plan would be like. I hope that people can be encouraging of our decisions & avoid comments like "oh my gosh it's going to hurt so badly" "you're crazy!" or "i hope you can actually do it....[with a cynical attitude]. Those comments aren't helpful. & kind of discouraging.

After she's born, I plan on writing a post on our whole experience. Hopefully it goes as we hope it will & we can be an encouragement to anyone wondering if they can do a natural childbirth & how the heck they can get through the hours of labor. We have a plan, & I'll share that plan & how it worked out for us.

Until that day comes - please be praying for my mental well-being. I'm feeling a little crazy. Uncomfortable. Bored. Anxious to hold our lady that we've been waiting for for 9 months. & I just want this amazing labor/childbirth experience to begin!

Waiting

39 weeks & 1 day. Due date is next Friday, only 6 days away. I have learned that I really don't like the system of "due dates". Of course it's known that the chances of babes actually coming on her due date is highly unlikely, but I'd prefer a better way of knowing when to expect her to be here. I wish I was told "you'll probably go into labor sometime in the middle/end of may" and then I don't have a date in mind that I can't stop thinking about!

Ever since 37 weeks [when babes are considered full-term & safe to come] I've started going to bed thinking 'tonight could be the night!' but then waking up sad that it wasn't. Every day I go out hoping that I won't have to come home, but can just make my way to the hospital & have a baby. Then I come home from whatever errands I ran feeling a little sad that there wouldn't be a baby in my arms that night.

The real kicker is that I thought I really was going to have Jori this weekend. Thursday night around 12:30 [4 hours after drinking 2 tablespoons of castor oil mixed with a glass of orange juice. The texture is horrendous.] I had some contractions. They weren't crazy painful, but pretty uncomfortable. Throughout the night the contractions continued. I slept when I could, but woke up almost every hour from them. Around 6:30am they slowed down significantly, so my darling husband got up at 7:30 on his first day off of his week long vacation & took a nice 40 minute walk with me. The contractions picked back up while we walked & were pretty regular, but not increasing in intensity. Minutes after we got back to the apartment & I sat down the contractions stopped & never started up again. Talk about disappointment. In both of our minds, this was early labor & that eventually, maybe later in the afternoon or early evening we'd have to make our way to the hospital & meet our little lady. But here we are. Still at home. Two of us waiting, praying, & begging our little girl to come be with us. We really will be great parents, Jori, I promise you'll be happy when you meet us. :]

So this is my dilemma. I feel as if I'm walking on a very fine line of trusting God, because ultimately He has already chosen her birthday, & trying to control the whole situation. We've tried quite a few of the old wives' tales that potentially get labor started. Spicy food, walking, 'cuddle' time, & even the dreaded castor oil [I vowed I wouldn't take until I was a week late but caved in & took anyways]. Essentially it doesn't matter what I do because God's plan for her birthday will be the deciding factor in her arrival date. I can't help but think "maybe if I get the spiciest wings at BDubs that'll do it" or "if I walk for 3 hours, certainly that will start contractions again!" But really... does that actually do anything if God's timing for her is to come "late"?

We will just have to keep playing the waiting game until the REAL contractions start. You can be praying for & with us about it as it has been a very frustrating time for me/us. I don't want to wish away the last few days/weeks we have as a family of two, but I also cannot wait to be a family of three.

Jori Stats:
-39 weeks, 1 day
-could be between 18-21 inches long
-could be over 7 pounds in weight.
-she measured at 37.5 weeks at my last midwife appointment [so potentially a 6-7 pound baby yahoooo!]
-my total weight gain is at 32 pounds & still feeling good enough to walk/jog in short intervals [& at a very slow pace]
-little girl is fully prepared for her arrival to the world as far as her development goes

Looking Ahead:
-The Nursery!

36 Week Reflection

Is it even possible I have been pregnant since last August? [only aware of it since September] I used to think that May was years away & now we are quickly approaching Otter girl's due date in 4 short weeks. I still feel amazing physically [most of the time] & love that I'm able to still exercise with minimal difficulty. It still amazes me every time I get kicked, punched, & nudged by the baby in my belly because it is still surreal to me. It will probably still be surreal even after she's born & I carry her around in my arms instead of my belly.

There are a few changes I'm looking forward to once we welcome Jori Marie into our world...

1. People looking at my baby, not my belly. People will say things like "she's beautiful! How old is she? she's adorable! she's amazing! she's the sweetest!" & I won't hear things like "how far along are you? are you sure there aren't two in there? are you sure your doctors have the correct due date? you must be due "yesterday!" there's no way you're making it to your due date! you're about to explode! you're huge! she's so low!" for all my pals out there - these are things you should avoid saying to an emotionally vulnerable pregnant lady. We don't like it [I'm assuming all pregnant women feel this way about these comments]. Your intentions might be good, but it's not nice. & we don't like it. How about "good luck! you look great!"

2. Putting on shoes & pants- it's so hard!

3. Painting my toenails - it's ALMOST impossible! Thank goodness for a loving, humble husband who will pamper me so I still feel fabulous :]

4. Caesar salad - I don't think I particularly LOVED this type of salad before pregnancy, but the whole "you want what you can't have syndrome" has hit & I sure could use some good caesar salad dressing! [it's encouraged to avoid it during pregnancy because of the raw eggs in the dressing, which can be harmful to little babes - for all you who didn't know]

5. Clothes that fit - a pregnant belly sure is cute. Except I have reached a point where its just too darn big for MOST of my shirts. No one wants to see a preggy belly hanging out under a shirt. Not too classy. I also don't want to drop $100 buying 4 new shirts that I will only wear for a couple more weeks. Talk about a dilemma!

6. Sleeping on my belly or back - It might seem silly, but this is no joke. I NEED to sleep on my back. I love it. But I'd rather not cut off blood supply to my legs & baby by letting all her 5.5 pounds compress the main arteries in my back.

7. Intense workouts - While I've remained active throughout this pregnancy, I sure would like to go do some high intensity workouts that my body simply cannot do anymore. I'd even love to do a burpee. Which is saying something because after I retired from soccer I vowed to never do one again. If you don't know what that is, do some research, try it out, & prepare for your butt to get kicked.

8. Hugging people - stinkin' belly gets in the way! & depending on the person, it's kind of awkward...

9. Wine - I'm no alcoholic. We rarely have beverages in this home. But I sure do love cranberry wine & you better believe I will be treating myself to a glass as soon as I'm able.

10. Holding my lady. I think I'll miss her once she is born. I'll miss her little slides around that make it look like an alien is trying to crawl out of my belly. I'll probably even miss her scraping on my ribs [which is NOT comfortable] But my heart is aching with anxiety to have her snuggled up to me. Even more, I cannot wait to see Matthew holding his little girl. He sure is going to be an amazing father.

In other news - we had some maternity pictures done with a good friend from church & our small group. She is amazing. Check them out here!

This is my favorite of the bunch. But I LOVE them all equally. So it's really not my favorite of all since they're all my favorite.

Cheers to only 4 weeks left of baby belly kicks, too-short shirts, rude comments, encouraging comments, & unseeable feet. Baby Jori, we cannot wait to meet you <3

Healthy Lunch Tips

I love lunch. Mostly because I love food. Now that I'm home [almost] full time I'm trying to find clever ways to make lunches that are quick but full of healthy benefits [& have minimal clean up time]. Here are a few ideas for you - & that you can eat at home or in the office.

1. Add hummus: This stuff is great [especially when it's on sale 2/$6 at Meijer!]. & if you think you don't like it, try Sabra brand supremely spicy or sweet red pepper. So. Stinkin. Good. 

        -I use hummus on my sandwich instead of mayo & mustard - the calories from hummus

        are MUCH better than in mayo & adds some protein to your diet. 

        -I usually hate raw baby carrots. But dip those bad boys in hummus & I could eat a 

        bag! Really ANY raw veggie is great in hummus - carrots, broccoli, celery, cucumbers,

        bell peppers... A great side to your lunch [and SO quick to pack!].

2. Enhance your sandwich: This is the most classic of all lunch items. But it also has the most potential to make you snore with boredom. Again with the hummus, add it on there & enjoy. I also LOVE adding veggies galore to my deli meat. Spinach [much better than plain ole lettuce that has no nutritional value], tomatoes, onion, cucumber, bell peppers... all of it. Add some cheese slices [it's most economical to buy block cheese & slice it yourself, rather than pre-sliced cheese... we like to keep things cheap around here] Also, keep the bread whole wheat. Don't be fooled by "enhanced" or other fancy words on the packaging. If the first ingredient isn't whole grains/whole wheat, you're being tricked. Or, if you're sick of bread or want to cut down on carbs, use whole wheat or spinach wraps. So tasty.

3. Leftovers: Purposefully plan dinners so you have yummy extras for the next day. This is especially easy with soups & chili. It's also easy for us since we only cook for 2 & usually have leftovers. 

4. Fruit: Bananas, apples, & oranges are the easiest thing to throw into a lunch box & have with your lunch. We purchase ours at Aldi [we never get the red apples, they taste like wax] & it's so economical! Add a little peanut butter to your banana or apple & make it more filling. Other fruit is great too, just more time consuming when you have to chop it up. 

5. Add some crunch: Chips. Yum. Instead of doritos, or my favorite Lays sour cream & chedder, choose kettle chips. If my mother-in-law eats something, I have no guilt indulging as well [she is the healthiest lady I know. She NEVER eats sugar. & makes EVERYTHING from scratch. Even her bread. What a woman]. Anyways, she LOVES kettle chips. We also get these at Aldi for half the price of the bigger chain stores & they're delicious! Our favorites are jalapeno & BBQ. Put your chips in a small baggy or bowl so you don't accidentally eat half of the bag. Trust me, it can be done. 

6. Make a super salad: We try & put super salads into our dinner menu a couple times a month [& probably should do it on a weekly basis]. For ours, we just load it up with lots of stuff. Our salad base is spinach leaves & romaine lettuce mixture [because I love the crunch of romaine & the health benefits of spinach]. Then we just pile on the veggies & sometimes meat. Like chicken? Cook some up the night before with a few herbs on the stovetop, shred it, & throw it on top to make the salad a little more filling. Tuna is also great to add. Even some deli meat is good. Also tasty to add - apples & nuts. It makes the salad more filling & also adds more health benefits. You'll feel better throughout the day if you give your body the best fuel possible.

7. Skip dessert: You don't need it. If you need something sweet, suck on a peppermint or chew gum [your colleagues or children will thank you]. Adding cookies or other treats to lunch every day is nice, but is adding a lot of unwanted yucky calories to your diet. Just don't buy it & you won't eat it! 

One last benefit to making your own lunch - it saves money. Serious money. The assumption is that produce is expensive & it's not economical to eat healthy. False. We buy most of our food at Aldi & spend about $60 a week on food [depending on the type of food we buy].  & that includes breakfast, lunch, & dinner food. Eating out for one meal a day, 5 days a week [for one person] & eating a meal that is $5 would spend $25/week...$100/month... $1200/year yikes. I'd rather use that money to buy some cute clothes. Or things for my baby. Or pay bills.

Those are only a few ways I've thought of for having a tasty, QUICK, & healthy lunch - anyone have any additions to the list that you love for your lunch menu?

Jori Update:

-35 weeks today! whoa. This baby is around 5 pounds & 20 inches long. What a mini woman! 

-The nursery is NEARLY done! Only a few more touches & organizational things... & you'll be treated to a full post of nursery goodness.

-Cloth diaper supplies came in - the pre-washing process began & I can't wait to put these on our little girl!

-Feeling SO good & working out 5 days a week. Bam.

Looking Ahead:

-The Nursery

-Vaccine Research Update

Vaccines/Immunizations

This is a very touchy subject that I hope to approach in a respectful, informative manner. Many times when this topic comes up it's very uncomfortable as opinions on what is best can be at two different extremes.

For us - we are choosing to not vaccinate our little girl [we still need to do more research & may find a few that we believe will be beneficial]. We are making this choice after many conversations with informed people, doing some research, & prayer. Please read this post with an open mind & a kind heart towards us if you disagree with our decision. My hope to is encourage discussion & longer consideration on such an important decision that has a huge affect on a child's life.

I won't go into all the vaccines & why we aren't choosing to give them to Jori because that would be an obnoxiously long post that no one would care about. Instead, I'm just giving the general reasoning behind our decision in hopes that other parents & future parents can at least take the time to research for themselves the pros & cons of immunizations rather than simply taking their doctor's word that it is necessary for a healthy, protected child.

1. There is an incredibly strong correlation between the increase in vaccinations given in recent years & the increase in autism during those same years [the numbers are something like 1/50 children now have some form of autism]. There are many stories of children who were happy, healthy, & "normal", but then had dramatic changes in personality & cognitive development/growth after a mega dose of vaccines. There probably are cases where vaccines were not the culprit of a child's autism developing - but the statistics & graphs showing this correlation are very discouraging & one reason we have chosen to avoid them.

2. There are "mega doses" of vaccines given to children that contain multiple types of immunizations - then the parents are expected to watch for signs of allergy... So if there is an allergic reaction, how can it be determined which vaccine caused the allergic reaction? I just don't like the idea of putting a lot of drugs into a tiny body that doesn't even have a fully developed immune system... talk about overload!

3. Some can cause allergies to develop to various things that were otherwise not there before the vaccine was given.

4. There is a link to SIDS.

5. Breast milk provides immune system building properties for babies naturally. Lord willing, I plan to nurse Jori girl for at least a year & will build up her immune system in that way.

6. God has a plan for our little girl. This idea was shared with me by a close friend who also chose to not immunize their baby at all. As morbid as it might sound -  we feel better about keeping her un-vaccinated & susceptible to potential illnesses that vaccines claim they protect against than to put those drugs into her body, being responsible for any poor reactions she may have to them, including death. God has a plan for her life & we trust him to protect her & feel we are putting her at unnecessary risk by doing vaccinations.

One example of unnecessary vaccines I want to share is about Hepatitis B. This vaccine is given to babies as early at 12 hour after they're born & the third dose by the time they're 18 months old. Hep B is contracted through blood/bodily fluid & is associated with a risky lifestyle of drugs [sharing needles] & unprotected sex. Why are babies be given this vaccine only 12 hours after birth when their immune systems are still weak [making them more susceptible to bad reactions] & the chances of them doing intravenous drugs or having sex is none... The interesting part of this is that in a study, the Hep B vaccine was shown ineffective in many kids by the time vaccinated babies reached their teenage years where this behavior is more likely to occur. According to the article, there are 60 Diseases and adverse reactions associated with this vaccine - yet it isn't even effective for what it's supposed to prevent.
Follow this link for the full article [article will open in a new browser window] & more in-depth info on this specific vaccine.

I understand people wanting to trust their doctors & think that they have what's best for the children they treat in mind. Unfortunately we don't live in a perfect world & money is power. Drug companies have unimaginable amounts of money & therefore have influence over what doctors do/give to patients. I'm not implying all doctors are puppets of big drug companies, & many probably do believe vaccines are best for children - but not all doctors are pushing vaccines on parents & claiming they're harmless. This is part of what encouraged us to do our own research & make our own decision.

I want to encourage my friends to do research before they take their doctor's word as ultimate truth. I am not judgmental to any parent who has vaccinated their child - I was vaccinated & I think I turned out ok :] I don't think you're a bad parent or think any less of you. I wrote this post as an encouragement to dig a little deeper into the drugs that are being put into our children's bodies & to make an educated decision, not an ignorant one, on whether or not the risks of the vaccine outweigh the benefits.

& who knows - after all our research is complete, we may find a vaccine or two that we decide to give to Jori girl :]

PS: the argument that schools won't allow students to enroll if they're not vaccinated is simply not true. The process is different by state, but there are forms that can be filled out to work around an unvaccinated child.

Jori Update:
-33 weeks & 4 days - about 4 pounds & 18-20 inches long! [that's the "average" at this stage]
-had my bi-monthly check up with the midwife yesterday: up 30 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight. Nothing to sweat though - midwife says I started kind of small so I have a few extra pounds to add without harm. phew!
-otter girl is measuring at 32 weeks, but growing at a consistent rate so she is right on track to be a healthy 6 or 7 pound lady. hallelujah.
-i have been plagued with heartburn finally
-starting to get asked if my due date was yesterday. ha ha. this is going to get old REALLY fast. [word to the wise, don't tell a pregnant woman she looks like she is about to have a baby... it makes her feel huge. & we already know we are. ]

Looking Ahead:
-quick & healthy lunch ideas
-3rd trimester workouts

Stewardship in Pregnancy

I get a little nervous writing posts about being a good steward because there is a chance someone could be offended. Please don't be. But this is something that's been heavy on my heart since that little pee stick said positive. 

Being a mother is a huge responsibility that involves mega sacrifice. I never realized how great that sacrifice was until becoming a mother myself & life for the Owens' changed dramatically [and Jori isn't even here yet!]. The first realization I had - my body will never be the same. Selfishly I cried about it for about twenty minutes after we realized we were pregnant, instead of doing a happy dance. I'm over that now... mostly. Then, it occurred to me that I am no longer eating food solely for my own health, but for the health of a seed-sized baby without any means of giving itself the best nutrition for growth & development. I've written before that I started hearing things like "you're pregnant! you can eat what you want! enjoy your cravings!" & that bothered me a little. Sure, I CAN eat what I want... but SHOULD I eat what I want? If I had it my way I would eat Reese Eggs with ice cream for every meal. It's not just food that I considered, but how active I stayed even when I was tired & the kinds of things I put into my mind & soul. 

I think of it this way... God has entrusted me with the innocent, tiny life of HIS daughter. He has given her to us as a gift & that is not something to take lightly. Like the parable with the talents found in Matthew 25:14-30, to the one God entrusted much, much was expected. I want to do the best with what God has given me - that being the life of my daughter. 

What does it look like (to me) to be a good steward of my pregnancy & little Jori girl? 

-Healthy Diet: Bye caffeine [which is safe in low amounts, not as much in the first trimester, but why give a 3 pound person an energy rush?], Bye sugar [as much as possible... I still LOVE my ice cream & Reese Eggs], Hello veggies, fruits, whole grains, & protein. This should be part of a normal diet, but is even more important for my growing lady. Do the research, see what babies needs, & see what foods are best for that - i guarantee McDonalds is not on that list. 

-Regular Exercise: This is a little bit more for me than Jori, but an active body just feels better. The weeks I have been more lazy with exercise are the weeks where my body is achier. Exercising during pregnancy helps promote steady & healthy weight gain [good for mom & baby], helps with labor, helps shed the pounds post-partum quicker, & will be VERY beneficial when I'm carrying a growing girl up 4 flights of stairs. yikes. Our bodies were meant to MOVE, even if it's just a 20 minute walk. Or some push-ups & squats a few times a week. 

-Spiritual Growth: I am responsible for the spiritual development & growth of my babe. I want to be an example of a godly woman to my tiny lady & that means I need to be more absorbed in God's Word & living out the life He called me to live. When she is old enough to ask questions regarding faith & God, I want the knowledge of God's Word to be so engraved in my heart that I can answer confidently & correctly to whatever she may ask. I want her to see her parents loving God & living a Christ-centered life so boldly that she desires the same. 

-Emotional Stability: Full disclosure: I've cried. multiple times. & not about cute babies on tv commercials but full on laying in bed crying because it can be so dang hard being pregnant! [if any pregnant woman says this did not happen to her, she has to be lying. I don't care how strong you are.... pregnancy is SO hard! and amazing]. It can also be so dang overwhelming to know that things will be changing for our growing family once our Otter arrives. [to make myself feel better I sometimes blame hormones]. I recognize that the first few months of being a family of three will be so difficult, exhausting, overwhelming, & unpredictable. I want to be as confident in myself as a woman & mother during those times that I am still emotionally strong for our girl. Even when my body is recovering from labor & I don't have my glorious 6 pack [if I ever get that back] & I haven't done my hair in weeks, I will want to feel confident in myself. When she is crying all night for no reason other than she is just needing a good cry [who doesn't need that sometimes!?], I want to be confident in myself that it's not because I suck at being a mom. As she gets older, Jori needs to have a mom who is sure of herself, happy, laughing, & positive. I haven't quite made a plan on how to be all those things to her [I'm sure just being around her will make me feel that way] but it's a goal. 

I guess 50% of this blog is written for myself - to remember what I truly desire to accomplish & be during this pregnancy season & beyond. But also 50% for my pals who are also growing little cuties in their belly to try & make the most of it. Your child depends on you for everything so why not give them the best? Be a good steward of your own life & of your unborn, but soon to be born, baby.

Jori Update:

-this little girlfriend is a kicking machine. especially in my ribs. I sure love her. But I don't love when she does that. Future soccer player? :]

-I'm up 23 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight. Average weight gain the last two months is a pound a week - putting me at 31 pounds gained [if i stay on track] & hallelujah that is in the 'ideal range' of 25-35 pounds. 

-She is HEAD DOWN!! no breach baby here! She is facing forward, so eventually her little tush needs to be along the front of my belly, but she has plenty of time to get switched around.

-Jori weighs around 4 pounds now. whoa. & could be around 20 inches long. whoa. Although she is measuring at 30 weeks when I went for my appointment Monday & I was at 31 weeks & 4 days [a little on the small side]. Midwife Erin says she could be a 6-7 pound baby. again, Hallelujah. 

-Officially starting my 8th month of pregnancy, 2 months to go!

Looking Ahead:

-Vaccinations 

-Quick [HEALTHY] lunch ideas

Jori Update

It's been far too long since I've been in the blogging world. Sometimes I forget. Sometimes I don't feel like it. & sometimes there just isn't much to report. So after a few weeks of silence, here are some updated stats on our little lady for anyone who is as obsessed with my daughter as I am :]

-29 weeks & 5 days! She is about 15 inches long, almost 3 lbs [according to all those baby websites & apps I obsessively read every morning]

-at my last midwife appointment [Monday] I was up a total 18 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight & still on track for the glorious 25-35 pound weight gain!

-passed my glucose test with flying colors - scored 65 & the goal is to be under 140. hallelujah.

-Jori girl is measuring at 28 weeks [she's been measuring a week smaller ever since this belly got big enough for the tape measure technique of keeping track of her growth] & I don't mind that one bit. I'll take a tiny healthy baby. In fact, I had a vivid dream she weighed 6 lbs 9 oz at birth. Now it's on record & we can see how accurate my dreams are.

-i've started having more serious braxton hicks contractions. They're real contractions, but just don't lead to full-on labor. Basically like my uterus is warming up before the big game. It's just starting it's warm up a little sooner than I'd like because these things are NOT comfortable. [I've also been told this could mean short labor. let's see how accurate THAT statement is in 10 weeks & then maybe I won't be minding these as much]

-we are starting the process of finding a pediatrician for our little girlfriend that is accepting patients, as well as accepting patients who will not be having any immunizations before they are 2 years old [that is for a different post so don't harass me before you hear our reasoning behind not getting her immunizations. I know it's a touchy subject]. & also insurance [since I'm still enough of a babe to take advantage of my parents' family plan that has amazing coverage] [anyone know where to start on baby insurance for people who are not making millions of dollars a year?]

-the nursery crafting has stalled. Mostly because I'm working too much. But when it starts up again you can bet there will be posts galore of all the little things I'm making for Jori.

That's all :] A very short post for you all, but I'm sure many of you have been on the edge of your seats waiting to hear an update, so this is for you [probably just my mom. & maybe a friend or two].

Looking Ahead:
-to immunize or not to immunize
-stewardship during pregnancy

Working Out & Pregnancy

Even before the discovery of Otter girl, working out was a priority in my life. Now, I value it even more & believe it is a necessary component of a healthy & enjoyable pregnancy. I've been thinking a lot recently about the variety of benefits that working out has & try to encourage other mommy's-to-be to get moving [because it feels so good!].

I should also be more specific on what I would consider a workout. A workout doesn't have to end with you soaked in sweat and short of breath. I would actually discourage that during pregnancy as it isn't wise to push yourself to exhaustion. Any activity that gets the heart rate up a little bit for an extended period of time is an appropriate workout for the pregnant gal. A 20 minute quick walk, a [stationary] bike ride, the elliptical machine, doing some light weight lifting, yoga, or body weight workouts can all help prepare the growing body to carry & support increased weight throughout daily activities & for post-partum activities as well.

Benefits to working out while pregnant:
 1. Prevents lower back pain - As baby grows & weight increases around the abdomen, posture can be affected & the strain of carrying that weight can cause back pain. Also, having tight muscles & ligaments from a lack of movement also causes lower back pain. Even a simple 20 minute walk, 5 days a week, can help the body build muscle to support the baby & prevent the back from over-arching, which causes pain. Stronger muscles help maintain better posture; something I've seen that can go out the window during the last couple months of pregnancy [shoulders hunched forward & too much lower spine curve].

2. Controls weight gain - It is suggested that women gain 25-35 pounds during the 9 months of pregnancy. Gaining too much weight increases the chance of developing high blood pressure or gestational diabetes [which puts the baby at a higher risk of developing diabetes later in life]. Other problems can include a large baby, which complicates labor, & premature labor. It also helps post-partum to lose the weight quicker because there is less weight to lose [mostly the weight of the baby, placenta, & water retained which is gone just after birth].

3. Relaxation - There are many things to be stressed about during pregnancy, & wacky hormones don't help either! I find that after I take the time to workout, I feel better emotionally. Even when I'm tired, but choose to workout, I feel much more energized & refreshed than before. There is scientific proof that working out boosts emotional well-being...  endorphins are released during a workout, which are "feel-good" hormones & provide a natural "high".

4. Prevents late night leg cramps - I've been warned that now is the time [starting the third trimester] that leg cramps can start haunting me in the middle of the night. I haven't had one. Cramps are caused by fatigued muscles [& other factors, like dehydration]. Spending a day on your feet with extra baby weight can be exhausting for muscles that aren't used to doing that kind of work. By working out, legs will become stronger & daily activities won't be as exhausting for the muscles. End result = less likely to be woken up with agonizing leg cramps.

5. Self-confidence boost - I want to feel good about myself & how I look while my belly continues to balloon.  Becoming a mother isn't an excuse to "let yourself go" but an even better time to really take care of your body [for yourself & your baby!]. I'm not scared of getting a puffy face or ankles during the last couple weeks of carrying around Jori girl because water retention is just part of the last phase of pregancy. But I do care that I don't put on excess pounds & fat that will affect how I feel about myself.

I could list even more benefits, but will save that for another day.

[disclaimer: it is never my intention to offend or seem as if I'm passing judgement on someone who isn't "doing pregnancy" the same way I am... My goal is to just give out ideas to consider for a healthier life & easier pregnancy]

Healthier Food Alternatives

Here is a small list of some of my favorite foods: french fries. bread/pasta. ice cream.

& if I wasn't careful I could easily be packing on some extra pounds now that I'm a washed-up, former college athlete that will never do a dead-lift or burpee again. & pregnant. It makes running tricky now that I'm belly heavy.

I've come up with a small list of suggestions on how to still eat some of your favorite foods, but in a better version of them. It's not all about weight loss, but about putting food into your body that keeps in functioning & feeling its best [but also a little bit about weight management].

1. French Fries: Choose sweet potato fries &/or red potato wedges. French fries sure do taste good. but are also fried. & don't have much nutritional value. Sweet potato fries are taaasty & so so easy to make! Lightly coat in olive oil, add some paprika [just a little, that stuff has a kick of spice!], and cook them up for about 20 minutes at 400 degrees... yum. Even good dipped in a little ketchup [which is good for fulfilling ketchup cravings]. Sweet potatoes are cheap, full of vitamins, are a good source of potassium & iron, & contain kerotins=good for eyes. Red potato wedges are also a better option; slice them up, lightly coat in olive oil, add some salt/pepper, & cook them up in the oven. These also contain significant vitamins & minerals good for the body.

2. Bread/Pasta: This is simple. Get the white out & switch to wheat/whole wheat. Be aware of sneaky bread companies that claim their bread is whole wheat, then the first ingredient they list is not whole wheat but "enriched wheat flour". You're not getting what you think you are, so look for 100% whole wheat [& double check that label]. Pasta also comes in the wheat option. It may take a couple tries to get used to the different texture, but your body will thank you for switching to a better carb. & it still tastes amazing with some spaghetti sauce & parmesan cheese.

3. Ice cream: [notice I did not cross this one out. because I love it. & still eat it.] Oh sweet sweet goodness I love ice cream. Especially with peanut butter. The key to this, in my own little opinion, is portion control. We have adorable polka dot dishes that are meant for ice cream & don't allow me to fill up a cereal sized bowl with 800 calories. We also don't buy it on a regular basis, maybe once a month. [Now that Jori girl gives me unstoppable ice cream cravings I've given in a few more times a week than I normally would. I justify it by claiming she needs more calcium. I just need my vanilla & peanut butter goodness]. An alternative to ice cream is smoothies. Cold, sweet, & creamy. But with natural sugars & a lot less calories! We buy extra fresh fruit sometimes & just freeze it up. We found this to be more economical than buying frozen fruit. Add a little low-fat vanilla or plain yogurt to the fruit in a blender & mix away. Use bananas, cocoa powder, & peanut butter for an amazing treat & a massive boost of vitamins & minerals.

These are only a few of multiple ways to replace the foods you love with healthier, but similar options. Got any other tips? I'd love to hear them :]

Jori Marie Update:
-25 weeks [26 weeks on Friday & a week away from the third trimester]
-Tiny girlfriend is the size of an eggplant, almost 2 lbs, & over 13 inches long! what a woman.
-She is kicking my bladder. a lot. but I haven't peed my pants yet [I hear this could happen!]
-Weight gain weight gain :] At my appointment Monday, the scale showed that I gained 8 pounds since my last appointment 4 weeks ago. Which is SO good. The last time I had lost 3 pounds. So I'm now within the 11-19 pound gain suggested for 25 weeks that keeps me on track for 25-35 total gain. [my total is now 14 pounds!]
-A couple instances of mild cramping... hoping this goes away & not that I'll have to end up on bed rest before my due date. How boring.
-I love her more than I could have ever imagined.

Nursery Update

It has been busy for the Owens the past couple of weeks - AAU bball tourny for my husband's 6th grade team & I worked a couple 50+ hour weeks. However, I still found some time to do some crafting & Craigslist browsing for nursery furniture. My plan is to create Jori's nursery with as many home-made things as possible to save some cash but also because I just love having reasons to make things. The first two projects I took on were an adorable little owl pillow [not an owl themed nursery] & a banner to hang over our little girlfriend's crib [that we don't have yet].

I found my inspiration for the owl pillow from a Pinterest. I've never made a pillow before, or even put together anything out of felt, but it didn't seem too complex so I just 'winged it' & am super happy with the results!

I started with the face - eyes first, then layered under it to get the right portions. I lightly drew out the shape I wanted with pencil on the felt & eyeballed it the rest of the way while cutting. 

Next I used the size of the head to cut a proportionate body shape & top head feathery thing [I really have no clue what that is for on real owls... extra feathers? it just looks cute.] 

Before sewing the owl to green fabric, I hand sewed the individual pieces of the owl together to add a little dimension to it. After all the pieces were together, I sewed around the outside of the owl to the green fabric square.

This is the back of the pillow, & the main colors of her nursery :]

The other project I've completed [& so far my favorite] is our Jori girl's name banner. I made a banner that says "Mr. & Mrs. Owens" for our head table at the wedding & it now hangs above our bed. How perfect that our tiny girlfriend will have one too above her crib :]

I cut the banner triangles & letters from fabric I purchased from Hobby Lobby with their wonderful 40% off coupon. The letters are the same fabric as the back of the owl pillow. 

I sewed the banners to a string of twine [with the extra light green triangles, same as the green fabric on the front of the owl pillow & some cute mini ones between each flag]

I just can't wait for her crib to be under the banner [sure would love it if it was gifted off our registry!] & to have our sleeping girl cuddled up & cute in her bed.

Another area we've started to set up is her book/reading area. I bought a bright pink trunk my freshman year of college & my husband really couldn't think of an appropriate place for it to sit in our grown-up apartment pre-baby. Now I can pass on this cutie trunk to our little girl & encourage her to be a baby genius :]

I picked up the metal bird book ends at a garage sale for $2 a couple summers ago - they even made an appearance at our wedding. The trunk sits on the floor between two, 10 foot windows, & are considering putting mini shelves above the trunk, between the windows, for more books. 

& lastly, here is the beauty of a Craigslist treasure we purchased a couple weeks ago. We originally wanted a simple dresser that would double as a changing station because these things are expen$ive - we found this glorious changing station/dresser/shelving unit for $130 & it's basically new. There is one tiny scratch. Bonus: The top piece comes off for when we want it to look more like a dresser & not the place we used to wipe her butt :] I cannot wait to put little baskets multiple shapes & sizes up top & possibly put different/fun knobs on the drawers.

& that's the nursery so far :] Current projects include a heart garland that is basically done, just needs a home for hanging, a little wall decor with some letters & fabric-filled cross-stitching rings, & curtains. 

Looking Ahead:

-25 week appointment update

-Small eating habit changes that make a big difference

Veggie Quesadillas & Jori Update

Here's a suggestion - go vegetarian for two or more meals a week. Why?

1. It saves $$ - we usually only purchase one package of meat [typically ground beef or chicken] each week. We make it stretch a couple meals & go meatless for our other meals

2. It saves calories - veggies are GOOD for you. & good tasting :]

3. Encourages cooking creativity :] When we first starting cooking together, we put together meals that were based around the meat. Now we we think more about the variety of veggies & whole grains we can get & add some protein to that. [because yes... you can get protein from more than meat. research it.]

So here is a quick little meal I made up this week based on things we had around the house & needed to use before they went bad. I was pleasantly surprised with how tasty it was [and quick]! They are veggie quesadillas. 

Ingredients:

-whole wheat tortillas [you can you flower tortillas, but the whole wheat tortillas are a healthier option, & better tasting, in my opinion]

- 1/2 yellow onion

-fresh mushrooms [one package]

-green & red, orange, or yellow peppers [or all four kinds! but that would be a pepper overload] we used half green, 3/4 yellow peppers

-1 can of refried beans [check the label for lard & avoid that. & check sodium levels as well]

-chili powder

-garlic powder

-crushed dried red pepper flakes optional

-thinly shredded cheese. Mexican blend is good. or cheddar. whatever you prefer

-sour cream optional

-salsa optional

[this made 3 quesadillas, Matt & I had 1 & half each and were VERY satisfied with that amount, plus our side of chips & salsa]

Directions:

-thinly slice onions & peppers. About half an onion & one full pepper. Mixing & matching pepper colors makes for a more interesting quesadilla. Mushrooms can be purchased pre-slides & don't need to be cut thin

-sautee all veggies together in olive oil over medium heat with a few pinches of the seasonings, depending on how many veggies you're cooking [I didn't measure when I did it]. The red pepper flakes add a little spicy flavor [which I wish I would have used!]. 

-while the veggies are cooking, spread a thin layer of the refried beans on half of the tortillas, thick enough that you can't see the tortilla through it, but not a massive pile - you need room for veggies!

-when the veggies are soft, put a single layer of veggies on the beans & cover with a thin layer of cheese. Fold in half.

-on a clean pan at medium heat, place the quesadilla on it for 2-3 minutes. [tip: putting another pan on the quesadilla while it cooks will heat it through quicker & keep everything sealed together]

-flip & heat other side 2-3 minutes- can be some browning on the tortilla to firm up the quesadilla, but it is done when the cheese is melted and beans are warm

-it will be a tiny flimsy, but shouldn't fall apart. add a tablespoon of sour cream to the top, &/or salsa, if you like. & enjoy!

we have chips & salsa as a side dish, but seasoned brown rice would be another good side option. 

Current Stats:

-Jori is almost 24 weeks [on Friday] & kicking up a storm! I finally got some bladder kicks that weren't the most enjoyable, but I still loved.

-She is the size of an ear of corn & weighs a little over a pound

-The nerve pain in my sacrum is back. dangit.

-Current weight is unknown, but weight surely has been gained since my sad midwife appointment two weeks ago where I lost weight. 

Looking Ahead:

-Nursery update

Otter's 'Not-So-Secret' Name

I'm weak. I can't keep a secret. I had this brilliant plan to keep our lady's name a secret until we announced her arrival. However, I'm so dang excited about it I've been dying to spill the beans since we chose it!

So after begging Matt nearly every day, he told me he didn't care either way if people knew or didn't. So here is her naming story :]

When I originally posted about choosing a baby name, I kind of lied. The name we had then is not actually her name. I was too anxious that it wasn't the right name & questioning it frequently. This was enough for me to decide this was not her name. That name was Ella. We still love the name, but don't love the sound of "Ella Owens" [kind of choppy]. I also didn't like that some college friends still call me Bella. Mama Bella & baby Ella. Did not love that at all either. And lastly, both my friend & brother have dogs name Ellie... a little too close for comfort. So in the end, Ella became Otter again.

People were saying "wait until she is here! you'll know when you see her!" I'm sure that's amazing advice for some people & I can see how it could work. But for this obsessive planner... not happening. So one night my loving husband willingly laid in bed with me while I read name after name from the world's longest list of baby names. Most of them were impractical, but we needed inspiration! Then I saw it. A name I had heard only once before when meeting my best friend's roommate, & had  LOVED it then. I had never considered using it for my own child [this was a few years ago, before I even had a ring on my finger]. The second I read it was like a breath of fresh air. I told Matt [with a little too much excitement] how much I loved the name & he seemed to like it too.

Before I got my hopes up too high, we had to check the meaning of the name. When we first found out we were pregnant [much to our surprise], we decided that a name meaning "gift" or "blessing" would be a perfect fit. We had found other names we like, but when we saw that they meant "bitter cow" or "lazy", we no longer loved it so much. So when the meaning of this special name was "abundant blessings down-flow from above" When I saw that, I couldn't imagine her with any other name.

& that's how we named our sweet girl, Jori Marie Owens

[Jori comes from Jordan [or Jordon, Matt's middle name] in reference to the Jordan river, which is where "down-flowing" comes from. Marie has always been my choice for my first daughter's middle name. It's my middle name, my mom's, & great grandma's]

I love the meaning. I love carrying on the family name of Marie. & I love the uniqueness, but not strangeness, of her first name. I can't wait to meet our little Jori.

21 Week Appointment

[by now I'm nearly 22 weeks, but better late than never!]

I visited my midwife Monday & had a normal appointment:
-pee test
-weigh in
-blood pressure
-quick chat about any questions/problems.

Everything checked out great.

Except my weight :/

I am now down to 126 pounds from my last appointment's 129 pounds.
In a normal world this would be wonderful for most people. & I'm in no way complaining that it's been hard for me to gain weight... but it is of concern because little Otter girl needs me to grow while she grows! My midwife isn't too alarmed since I still have 3 months & a week to reach  my goal weight of 145-155 pounds, but instructed me to get a higher caloric intake these next 4 weeks [before my next appointment] so I'm up at least a couple pounds next time.

More calories = more food. Not candy bars, ice cream, pop, & all things fattening. Unfortunately I've heard stories of women who need to gain weight so they take this as a cue to eat 2 Snickers bars a day. That kind of weight gain is not beneficial. They are empty calories that do not benefit the health of growing baby or mama.

My goal these next few weeks is to be more aware of when I'm hungry & eat healthy, but higher caloric snacks - like almonds, peanuts, yogurt with granola, etc. Getting more protein in my daily diet will help as well.

We were also updated on the ultra sound results - Otter girl looked just as she should for the number of weeks she's at :] :] :] :] :] :] :] :] :] :] :] :] :]

Now on a completely different topic - THE NURSERY! Some supplies have already been purchased/re-used for our sweet girl's room. My hope is to document the process of creating her little space & posting as the crafts are completed. Currently she has a bassinet we bought on Craig's List for $20, a pink trunk [from my college days] used as a mini book shelf, a paper lamp [from my best friend's wedding], & a handful of cutie outfits gifted to us from friends & family. I'll dedicate my next blog post to all things nursery [thus far] including a craft I've nearly finished & what we hope to do with it as we prepare for our little lady's arrival in May.


One last question: for all you pro bloggers... HELP! I tried making a button but cannot figure out how to link it up to my page so viewers can click on it to subscribe to my blog/put the button on their page... Any good tutorials for me to watch/read?

Current Stats:
-Otter girl is the size of a pomegranate, about a pound in weight
-Physically feeling great, working out, sleeping comfortably
-stronger kicks & pokes from Otter & at predictable times of the day :]

Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is a huge bummer - especially when your job is semi-strenuous or you want to be active & exercising. This is a very common problem with pregnant women because of all the strain of a growing belly, shifting hip bones, & a shift in posture to accommodate the change in weight placement [a little front heavy for those farther along!]. I've had problems on and off throughout my first 20 weeks with back pain & I've done tons of research to try & calm down the pain. For general lower back pain, these are a few suggestions that may alleviate &/or get rid of the pain. I also don't encourage the use of medication such as Tylenol or Advil... those things mostly just mask an underlying problem [& really not safe for growing babies in the womb!].

1. Stretching: Seems too simple, but it really does help. The hamstrings are the main culprit for lower back pain due to their attachment point at the posterior [back] side of the pelvic bone. When hamstrings are tight, they pull on the pelvic bone, which causes stress on the lower back. Doing simple hamstring stretches a couple times a day [consistently, like every day!] can make a huge difference. Hold the stretching position for 30 seconds & maintain a normal breathing rhythm [some people forget to breath while they're stretching]. There are various positions in which you can stretch your hamstring, here are a few:
     -On the ground, one leg out at an angle, the other bent in at the knee [like a checkmark]. Reach toward your toes, but keep your upper body up straight! A lot of people tend to hunch over when reaching for their toes... this isn't as effective in stretching the whole hamstring. Switch & stretch the other leg. Do this 3 times on each leg.
     -Using a partner, lay on your back. One leg goes straight up in the air, the other bent or flat on the ground. Have your partner hold one hand on your knee [to keep it straight] & slowly guide the leg in the air towards your head. Have them stop pushing when you feel a stretching sensation, but not pain. Obviously do both legs. Again, 3 times each leg.
    -While standing, put one foot onto a chair or the couch & keep the leg straight. Again, reach for the toes while keeping upper body as straight as possible. Keep the shoulders back. Do each leg 3 times.

     [I tried getting diagrams online so I wouldn't have to use so many words... but the internet is horribly slow tonight. Sorry pals]

Another stretch I like [& that makes me feel so silly when I do it] is something I like to call "happy cat/angry cat". I actually borrowed stole this phrase from my athletic trainer in college who helped me through some back/hip problems during my senior soccer season. Getting down on all fours [hands & knees] let your back/belly relax so your back is arched & head is looking up. This is happy cat pose. Hold it for a couple seconds then round your back upwards, tucking the chin under towards your chest. This is angry cat pose. Repeat this as many times as you want. I usually do about 30. This helps loosen up & stretch the muscles in the back.

2. Avoid standing for extending periods of time: Maybe with your job this isn't possible. So make sure when you are standing, use good posture by keeping the shoulders pulled back, butt tucked under [avoiding a sway back], & spread body weight evenly between each leg. If you have chance, do a quick stretch to break up the standing.

3. Heat: This is my favorite. It feels like heaven. Warmth will help loosen up tight muscles that can cause pain. **Especially for pregnant women** Do not lay on a heating pad. Do not put the heating pad directly on your skin. Do not use the heating pad for more than the instructed time. It is important to be cautious about raising the body temperature because it can be harmful to the tiny person you're carrying! There are electric plug in ones or ones you can make yourself with fabric/sock & rice. All you need is a microwave to get these warm [a luxury we don't have!]

4. Drink water: A lot of stiffness can occur when water consumption throughout the day isn't high enough. Most people don't have more than one cup of water a day [if that!]. It is recommended to drink at least 64 oz. of water a day minimum [more if you're very active or of larger stature]. Staying hydrated helps keep things like fascia [fibrous tissue that connects some bones/muscles & helps with some muscles move in a smooth gliding motion]. When you're dehydrated, the fascia are affected & become more sticky-like, causing stiffness. Also, water helps flush out toxins in the body which can affect how your muscles feel.

I hope if you're currently having lower back pain problems, these tips can help you. The key is consistency. Don't expect results overnight either. These stretches [especially happy cat/angry cat] can also help with sciatic nerve pain. That's a whole different post though [& a pain in my butt... kind of literally]


Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor. I have studied the human body & have a degree related to  fitness & the well-being of the body... This is something that has affected me & the techniques I've used to manage the pain. That's all :] I also read. A lot.

PS: This is not just for mommy's to be... but can be applicable for any pals with general lower back pain.


Looking Ahead:
-21 week midwife appointment update [tomorrow!]
-Otter Girl's first nursery craft