Just a quick {update}

Things are good.
I feel good.

Really though, this morning has felt... like... like I can breathe! Of course the simple fact of it being a Wednesday and not Tuesday or Thursday helps quite a bit.
I can breathe.

Read that again, just one more time; okay make it two.
The second time read those three words slowly, and as if you yourself feel like you can finally breathe once everyone in the dog-pile gets off of you and you finally have your breath after running as hard and as fast as you could for five minutes.

Do you understand now?

The feeling is so relieving, and exciting.
and terrifying. 

'What? Girl, why you sayin' it's terrifying??' (that's you asking me)
Because that means that at any moment the creeping fog will come in full force. Maybe slowly, maybe fast, maybe lightly or maybe so thick you can't see through it. That is why I try not to think about those moments where everything feels great, I can breathe and the mornings are smooth.

I have, however, been attempting to pay more attention to what I'm feeling these past few days so that I can provide a decent analysis for those of you reading. Over the past few days I've been feeling better, lighter if you will.

  (The weather is beautiful today, which also helped to keep my mood up. It's tremendously important to get out for even a few moments; especially when the sun is shining and the wind is beautiful.)

I've been taking vitamins regularly, incorporating supposed depression-fighting foods into my diet, as well as making it a point to ride my bicycle again. This morning there was even enough time to wake up to do a quick routine of morning yoga. (which I'll be doing again this evening as I've noticed my hips are getting a little tight.)

(We all know one of my strong points is confidence and over exaggerated vanity. Which is a bi-product of hiding my depression for so long...  Yet with that being said, it's important to find beauty in yourself. It's important to be silly and goofy.)

Unfortunately as hard as I try to keep some sort of routine going in my life it doesn't seem to fully stick. It's there, it's just not... exceedingly consistent. I'm currently seeing a handsome young man whom I find a little bit of comfort in his routine; it's actually a huge help for me. It's comforting and relaxing to know that I can rely on the knowledge of when I will hear from him. Yes it sounds silly, but it's true. I'm making a large conscious effort to build and maintain a set-ish schedule and routine. Apparently routines are a big help in our battle.
Thus far I know that keeping 2-3calenders is a big help for me staying on track. In each of them (well I try to keep them all synced) my attempts are to have most of my day scheduled, of course with room for movement.
For example I have:

• Morning yoga
• Shower
• Wake-up/Start getting LittleMiss ready
• Leave
• Study Time
• Class.....

and so forth... Keep in mind each day is different, this is a simple rubric I attempt to keep.

This all leads to....

Rule Four:
Establish some sort of a routine for yourself. Read my above routine again if that gives you so help. Keep it simple and short to start with. Maybe wake up every morning at a set time, follow it with morning reading/yoga/coffee/tea/walk what have you. Maybe take lunch at a within a set time frame everyday (such as between 1130 and 130, giving you wiggle room should something come up to hinder your leaving time). Maybe, just maybe your routine needs to be reading or journaling for thirty minutes everyday. 
Don't worry if at first it doesn't stick. This is all trial and error, do not, do not  stress about setting up and find your routine. Starting small is always easiest, always best. By starting small we are able to find what really works for us, what truly fits the best. 

;

'I work out!'

Hopefully that song is stuck in your head ;)

Like I mentioned in my previous post, I had a fantastic hippy time Sunday hiking with LittleMiss and Miss Barr, which inspired me to really get going with getting back in the gym. :)

Our hike was four miles of ups and down, twist and turns. Thank God no wild animals wanted to join us :) I honestly was worried we would meet a mountain loin or a bear or snake. The only wild life we ran into: an armadillo {aka living road kill ;) 

I'm hoping to go every Sunday, because I'm a little bit too chicken to go alone, I really really hope I can convince someone to come with me when Miss Barr is unavailable. :( 

The hike really reawakened my love of working out :) the soreness of my muscles, the deep breaths of air that expanded my lungs and the sense of joy was superb. Not to mention the scenery was beautiful. :) 

So Monday I very happily went to the gym to do cardio. I love cardio :)

This a picture after my hour of treadmill(running intervals) and stearmaster. I was much sweatier than I look! 

As you can tell from today's apparel, I don't care what I look like AT the gym because I am there to feel better about myself.

 Last year I actually worked for a gym, so it became even more of a pet peeve to see all the girls come in looking for a husband (cutesy work out clothes, make-up, nails and hair done). I have yet to know what my weight is, and I'm not really worried about it. Life isn't about that number on the scale, it's about how you feel. 

Do you feel healthy?

Do you feel confident?

Do you feel happy?

I care more about how my clothes feel than what the scale says. Besides, muscle ways more than fat. True story, remember it. I'm very thankful that working out is also bringing my appetite (for healthy foods) back. 

Cloth Diapers #2

 

Guess what I got in the mail this morning! Really it was yesterday, but I tend to slack on my postal box checking! I was so excited to see that little key they slide into your slot so you can open those bigger boxes! Now I'm also expecting a package from my Grammy so it was a toss up of which one it could  be...       

Free Tuesdays: Homemade Peanut Butter

I made this a few weeks ago and it was delicious!!! Better than any store bought peanut butter I have ever had. It was airy, slightly crunchy but still so smooth.

a VERY important pregnancy exercise

Kegels. 
These are great for pregnancy and even if you are not pregnant!! Personally I suggest starting these as soon as you find out you are pregnant. They are great at helping control bladder and bowel movements, can help with sexual pleasures, as well as possibly help with non tearing while giving birth.

Baby Viena Sausages

a.k.a My toes.

My tiny little fat viena sausage toes. So fat. I guess I really should say bloated, shouldn't I?

Sciatic Pain, thanks babe.

This is something that 99.9% of all expecting moms will have sciatic pain. I didn't post about this before because well I was rather busy prior. But a girl posted on a facebook group I am apart of about her sciatic pain.

One thing that I mentioned for her that I did was to actually sleep on the side that hurt. For some reason that helped me. As well as always sleeping with a pillow between my knees. Other moms posted using ice packs or heat packs on the lower back, but only use which ever one works (of course).

Broccoli Quesadilla??

I would like to think that this will be toddler approved. Because I love it. And if I love it, SweetPea is going to have to eat it. Right? ;)

About a two weeks ago, I bought some broccoli to make Broccoli Cheddar Bites (don't worry at some point I will make this and give you the recipe!!). Needless to say I have not made the bites. I would like to blame it on the fact that my shredder is still lost in transition from moving. Either way I needed to use it, wanted to use it and am kinda craving it.

Peanut Butter

That's what I should call this child in my womb, not SweetPea. All I can think about is peanut butter. Smooth creamy delicious peanut butter. By it's self, on icecream, in icecream, in cookies, in sandwhiches, in smoothies, by it's self. Wait I already said that... It's been...I don't know maybe two weeks since I've had any. Look at me!! I sound like an addict!! Quite literally all I crave, have craved for this whole pregnancy, is peanut butter and avocado.

Pooping.

I really did try to think of another way to title this post. Going the direct route seemed to be the best! Plus I'm sure it will catch your attention. ;)  This is a post for pregnancy and after birth. (another bit of research I've done)

Most pregnant ladies have this problem. I won't lie I've had a day or two where I can't say I've gone. Being constipated can be very uncomfortable and unhealthy. A great way of fighting constipation is to stay hydrated. As well as eat a healthy diet with lots of fiber!

Varicose Veins

Although not very pretty, varicose veins practically affect everyone. Women tend to get them especially when pregnant. But don't worry girls after birth it is 'reported' that most will go away. Varicose Veins are swollen veins, that generally develop or worsen when pregnant. Since pregnant women have a higher blood volume the pressure is pretty high in our legs, since the circulatory system is trying to pump the blood back to our heart.

Baby Research

I have been working on my registry ((almost)) all day. And in just doing that I am fighting off a headache and doing a ridiculous amount of research. Don't worry, I will share quite a lot of it with you!! From diapers, to rash creams, to breast feeding tips, to room décor. It's a bit overwhelming, so I am going to try to keep it sectioned. No promises though. Not to mention I will revise it. Fix it, adjust it, and add more to it.

Lets see first off....

Unknown Exhaustion and Pain Relief

Last night I went to a prayer meeting with some girlfriends at a fantastic local coffee shop! But about half an hour into our get together little miss SweetPea would not stop pushing up on part of my ribs. I was pushing and prodding back to no avail. New mommas let me tell you, that is very almost painfully uncomfortable. My biggest fear (because I know a woman this happened to) is that she may brake or crack one of my ribs.

Just your friendly trip to the Hospital

I thought about writing about this earlier. But stress and superstition held me back. Ready set here we go...

This is going to be a little bit long...

Since Saturday morning I have barely felt SweetPea move. She has moved just a little, slapping my bladder once in a while, but nothing like pre-Saturday.

Food Safety During Pregnancy

This is very important!!

Now that you're expecting everything you eat effects that little one growing inside you. Remember in my post about gestational diabetes? Keep in mind that you need tons of fruits and vegetables to stay in top shape. But when it comes to meat, if your a die hard carnivore, you have to be very careful!

Beautiful Saturday

We have been blessed with some beautiful weather today!!!

Gestational Diabetes

I apparently have it.

It makes me angry. I eat very healthy (most of the time). I'm pretty sure it's because I had a banana strawberry smoothie the night before (literally only a banana and four strawberries) that caused my reading to be a bit off.

Smoothie or Perfectly Melted Icecream?

Breakfast began calling my name this morning. My cabinets are a bit under stocked, a grocery trip is being planned. I need to make my two to four week menu plan and write out the grocery list that is going to be needed.

Anyways! Sorry I ramble so much, one of my pregnancy side effects.

I decided on a shake. My blender had a perfectly different thought.

New Diet

So fun story!

Not only am I sensitive to gluten (it makes my joints hurt), but I am also lactose intolerant. So no more ICE CREAM. No more CREAM BASED ICINGS. Pizza I can have, ricotta I can have, and I'm pretty sure yogurt won't hurt me, but I'd rather not chance it to be honest.

And because it is SO HARD for me to find any good recipes or snacks this blog is going to have a lot of food stuffs going on!! I hope you're as excited as I am. :) !!

Lets start with snacks! Oh and Red Lobster.
I had lunch with a friend yesterday at Red Lobster, ordered the shrimp jambalaya, was very disappointed. It was way to oily, had a dairy based sauce which wasn't listed in the details(yes I should have asked,but I've never heard of a jambalaya like that). So I do not recommend it.

I forgot to grab some snacks and a lunch from my house before work, so I stopped by a very awesome gas station with a sweet grocery market. I grabbed some yummy foods: a few larabar's, almond yogurt, and almond thins.

This one not so great. It's the cookie dough flavor. It has a little bit of milk because of the chocolate chips.

this one is delicious. Chocolate is not quite the best for dairy free but for gluten free its amazing.

 This was my lunch yesterday. Oh my gosh. The banana bread flavor is yummy. The almond yogurt is delicious. The consistency is a little different but not far from dairy yogurt.

Well I've got to head over to spin class and then the grocery store! Hopefully I can at least talk mom into coming out with me. :)