16 weeks and I feel…

HOW FAR ALONG –  16 WEEKS and some odd days

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TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN-    Last OB appointment was on Tuesday and thus far…from beginning till now….I’ve gained 5 lbs! I’ve got some growing yet…

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MATERNITY CLOTHES?-    Working myself into the sundresses that aren’t technically maternity…but yea..I’m getting there!

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STRETCH MARKS?-    NO NO NO! Still uber POSITIVE!! CREAMS GALORE! MUSTELA AND BIO OIL LADIES! Massively applying the creams to my upper thighs and hips and tummy!

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SLEEP?-  Kinda insomnia. But when I sleep it’s been so much better than last week…SO FAR!

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BEST MOMENT THIS WEEK?-    The ultrasound…Finding out the gender…and naming our sweet girl!! Also..getting Elsie’s crib.

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MISS ANYTHING?-     Super sweaty workouts. THE SUNSHINE!!! Regular clothes. My golden tan. <—-Still all of that.

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MOVEMENT?-  Not yet! I’m searching for it!

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FOOD CRAVINGS?-  PRETTY MUCH GONE!<—-still!

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FOOD AVERSIONS?-   Gone!

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GENDER-    GIRL!!!!!! I was way wrong.

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SYMPTOMS-    PURE HAPPINESS! Anxious. Super happy again. Hair growth in weird places. Starting to see a faint linea nigra! Ahhh! Insomnia. Some headaches…nothing major.

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WEDDING RINGS ON OR OFF?   ON :)

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LOOKING FORWARD TO-  Getting out of this house and into a bigger one!!

Week 16 belly!!!

Sorry so late! Here is my Week 16 belly shot I took last week 🙂

It’s been really cold here this week and all I’ve wanted is beach weather, so I put on a sun hat and pretended! afterglow-9

It’s a WHAT!?!?!

Can you tell from the photos what gender baby Potuck is? Frankie and Bruce got super excited and decided to dress the part 😉

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YEP! We’re adding a girly vibe to our tribe! IT’S A GIRL!!!!!!!!!

The boys are excited, we’re SUPER excited, and now it’s on to the name game. We thought for sure boy, and so we have no idea what to name this sweet little fairy child! We’ll keep ya updated. Woo hoo!!!!

Our little baby girl!

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Here she is shying away from the camera! A shy girl for now…

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And I just thought this was the cutest idea! (although not our baby girl in the pic because she didn’t like her profile shot taken haha)

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15 weeks and I feel….

HOW FAR ALONG –  15 WEEKS and some odd days

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TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN-    HAVEN’T WEIGHED MYSELF SINCE LAST OB APPOINTMENT. I am thinking I’ve gained probably 5 lbs total at this juncture. Again, could be way more, could be less. (I doubt the less part)

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MATERNITY CLOTHES?-    Not yet! I’m growing to HATE wearing my skinny jeans. They fit everywhere except my belly which isn’t a huge deal except I hate the belly bands. They work but they are a nuisance for me. I have been doing the loop trick on the button with a hair tie, but ehhh…I’m doing mostly stretch pants and dresses anyways! Spring is here after all!

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STRETCH MARKS?-    NO NO NO! Still uber POSITIVE!! CREAMS GALORE! MUSTELA AND BIO OIL LADIES! Massively applying the creams to my upper thighs and hips and tummy!

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SLEEP?-  My sleeping is just poopy. I sleep great only if I take Tylenol PM…which I’ve kind of had to do a few times this week due to some crazy pregnancy headaches. Don’t worry, they’re normal! Otherwise, I wake up after every dream for about 20 minutes! UGH! This isn’t fun considering I’m dreaming waaaay more.

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BEST MOMENT THIS WEEK?-    My handsome huzzy coming home from Austin for SXSW! He had such a fun time and I’m real glad he went. But man did I miss him!!!!!

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MISS ANYTHING?-     Super sweaty workouts. THE SUNSHINE!!! Regular clothes. My golden tan.

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MOVEMENT?-  NOT THIS WEEK! Although, next week I’m supposed to start reaaaaallly feelin’ it!

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FOOD CRAVINGS?-  PRETTY MUCH GONE!<—-still!

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FOOD AVERSIONS?-   Gone!

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GENDER-   ALL THIS EXTRA HAIR GROWTH? I MEAN…THIS HAS GOTTA BE A BOY!!! <—– STILL feelin’ it.

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SYMPTOMS-    PURE HAPPINESS! I’m so giddy allllll of the time! I mean, super excited and anxious.  A few uterus cramps on and off from the growth. Apparently week 15-20 is a doozy. I’m gonna feel some crampin’ due to maaajor growing! Headaches like crazy. Good energy levels!

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WEDDING RINGS ON OR OFF?   ON :)

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LOOKING FORWARD TO-  FINDING OUT BABY POTUCKS SEX TOMORROW GUYS! TOMORROWWWWW!!!!!!!

Belly at 15 weeks!!

Hey! Hi! Heeeeere’s the belly. It looks bigger in certain clothes, and most definitely by the end of the day. I’m still waiting for it to look more like a preggo belly 🙂 In due time..in due time! I still feel like it’s done a lil’ poppin’ but these morning shots don’t do it justice by night time! afterglow-7

OH! and just look at this cute super hero infant cape our good friend Bronwyn made for us! Baby P as a super hero! I can believe it.

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What I’ve been nibblin’ on!

Hey y’all! I just remembered that I promised to let you all know a tiny bit of what’s been in my kitchen cabinets and fridge lately (for the soon to be mamas who care). Like I said in the last post, I’ve been keen on being a lot more healthy this trimester now that my love for nutritious food has returned! I feel like baby Potuck is wondering why all the yummy junk food went away. It’s for your own good baby!

So, here goes! :

**I’ve been loving the eggs from Willow Egg Farm in Summertown, TN. I pick them up at the local Whole Foods or Turnip Truck. They’re a family owned farm, and the hens are completely free range. The little hennies can even eat bugs if they want to! MMMmmm…more protein! I literally eat an egg every day. Whether I scramble or boil it! Gotta get that baby it’s protein and good Omegas 🙂

A little more about them? click on ME

**I have been a big Trader Joe’s fan this pregnancy. It’s inexpensive food for a healthy minded human. My fave’s from there? 

The Fresh HOT salsa. It’s super chunky and is made pretty darn fresh. It goes bad fast, but I eat it faster than that!  I dip thickly cut cucumbers in it a lot these days, and well…tortilla chips too!

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I’m loving on almond butter with sea salt. I don’t add much salt to my diet, but for this it’s needed. I hate almond butter without it! I add this on my Ezekiel bread in the morning or dip little baby carrots and celery in it for for a protein filled snack!

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And the Cinnamon Raisin Ezekiel bread is my jam! I LOVE IT SO MUCH!

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I usually eat these with whatever burger bun I can find that is HUGE and FLUFFY. I am not picky about buns when I eat a burger, probably seeing as I don’t eat them often. I just need them to fit the burger, and not get soggy. Without further adieu …I love these Trader Joe’s Turkey burgs! Nummy!

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Onto another Trader Joe’s YUMMY in my tummy snack. These bad boys are a little indulgent. Sometimes I reach for the raw unroasted almonds from TJ’s, but most times, I reach for these…

TJs Sesame Honey Almonds

Steering away from Trader J’s….

THIS might be one of my fave non-guilty preggo foods..

Spark of Life (an awesome nashville based company) that creates raw dishes/desserts has a raw apple pie that I eat a couple times/week. Chopped Fresh Apples tossed in their own Applesauce with Chopped Medjool Dates, Organic Raisins, Local Raw Organic Honey (humanely harvested), Ground Flaxseed, Fresh Lemon Juice, Vietnamese Cinnamon and Organic Vanilla Extract. OMG! There’s more!  The crust is very similar to the Great Balls of Fiber recipe and the topping is an Oat-Crumb mixture made with our Raw Sprouted Cranberry-Almond Granola, then sprinkled with Chia Seeds.  Can you believe a dessert like this can actually be GOOD FOR YOU?!  Believe!  Check out where to buy this and other foods I love from this company HERE

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Besides the certain brands mentioned above, I’ve been digging on veggies chopped up and tossed in white balsamic vinegar. I leave it to soak overnight and then munch on them throughout the following day.

And salads…LOTs of em!!!!

I hope all you pregnant mamas are enjoying your sweet time being pregnant, and trying to be mindful of what baby is getting to eat via YOU!

Staying in shape while growing a human..

Is this even possible?

I laugh at myself after what I now consider a “workout”.  But you know what? I do it. I have to remember that healthy momma equals healthy baby. Also, I want it to be easy for me to bounce back into pre-preggo shape faster than a microwave minute.

So what am I up to these days in the fitness department? Well, I’m not going to lie, I can be doing so much more (came to this conclusion after googling images/blogs of super mommies on the internet…don’t do this to yourselves).

Here were my health stats PRIOR to finding out that I was going to be a vessel for human life:

Weight– 120lbs at 5′ 4″. I am always teetering between 115lbs and 120lbs…I was on the “heavier” end (haha) because I got pregnant during food season a.k.a. Holiday Season!

Workout routine: I had a membership to my local YMCA which is now been terminated due to baby budgeting. I was at the gym seriously 5 days a week. I always made time for at least a quick 30 minute workout. I was an elliptical machine freak. If anyone decided to ellipticize near me, well, let’s just say  that I made a competition out of it. Pathetic, I know. I loved seeing people look at me like I was crazy (or about to fall off from going too fast).  2-3 times a week I did medium weights and leg workouts. Basically, I was what doctors considered pretty darn fit.

Diet:

I am a health freak, but not vegan/vegetarian/anything that requires LOTS of attention haa 🙂 Sorry Veggie friends. It just seems like A LOT of slicing and dicing.  My daily diet consisted of salads and lean meats and fishes galore! I live right near a Whole Foods, which has the biggest and best salad bar in the world!  I always made a huuuge salad that last me throughout the day until dinner. I always included lean meats/fish on it. I never use salad dressing. I’m weird and love the taste of greens. Sometimes I’d splash a bit of white balsamic if I felt “crazy”. I love fruit and eggs and normally for breakfast would have a variation of that with some Ezekial flourless bread as toast. My dinner was sometimes another big salad or some kind of protein/veggie mix. I was undoubtedly a health nut. I still loved my desserts, though. I always had to have SOMETHING sweet. Mostly dark chocolate or black licorice..mmmm!!! But, that was my diet, y’all. NOT anymore haha.

So there’s that.

Oh- P.S.  Darren and I were super social bugs. We drank out 2-3 nights a week. Not anymoooore! 😦 Well, no cocktails and wine when we are out!

**I’ll post a couple before baby photos for y’all to see where I was comin’ from, and where I plan to get back to after baby and before summer 2014**

OK….So that was BEFORE and this is now! :

Weight: 122 lbs as of last OB appt. Gained 2 lbs first trimester! I’m certain as I type this that I’ve gained another couple lbs. I would put money on it. I’m supposed to gain 25-30 lbs over the course of the pregnancy. I should be catching up this trimester! I FEEEEEL like I’ve gained 10 lbs however. It doesn’t feel pretty y’all.

Workout Routine:  Hahaha. Routine. What a funny word that escapes me. At least it did the first trimester. I have been gaining my energy back the last 2 weeks, and now my friends, I am feeling like I might be starting a “routine” this month. The first trimester all I did was like three 30 minutes walks/week. Without my Y membership, I kinda lost my mojo. I did weights..never. I lost that. I was fearful of hurting myself. I wish I didn’t worry so much that first tri. I would have jogged instead of walked! New mammas are so uninformed. I thought slight jogging could hurt my baby. Well, this last week I started very light jogging again. Still, mostly a walk/jog situation. I do this 5 times a week now, and about 45 minutes each time. I now lift weights 3 times a week…lightly. I do less weight. 8 lbs instead of 15lb weights. Smaller sets, too. AND GIRLS!!….I’ve been lunging like a crazy fool. Leg lunges and lifts all day everyday. haha. I am trying to keep my appendages in shape since I can’t control the middle section. OH, and kegals. Tee hee hee.

 Diet: Compared to what I ate like before I found out I was preggo, I feel like I’ve just lost control. Again, the first trimester is tricky. You have to give into your crazy cravings or else you will just…want to die. I don’t know how else to put it. Darren always made sure I was taken care of. Poor guy. I ate lots of eggs and fruit for breakfast, and then throughout the day I would derail into an abyss of junk, sugar, starch, and transfat. Which is why I am surprised I only gained 2 lbs. Those little walks must have helped some. Well, let me put this out there : I never ever ever ever eat fast food. I have on road trips and that is it. So that helps me out. I did drink a fair amount of water,too!

The second trimester I’m gaining some clarity and losing the cravings. My aversion to salads has gone away. I am back to salad heaven, but I’m still managing my slight cravings for sweets. Diabetes runs in my fam, so I’m extra mindful. My diet consists of any of these …eggs/fruit/nuts/greek yogurt/granola for breakfast. Salads and veggies with avocado dip for lunch.  Almonds/pistachios/pretzels for snacks. Water. LOTS OF IT. Dinner has been on and off healthy. Some nights we get lazy and order something..anything. But, we have been at home cooking a whole lot more. So, lots of lean protein/quinoa/some fish/veggies for dinner. We’ve been mixing it up. Like I said,  3 nights out of 7 we are NOT caring about healthy and we have just whatever we want.  Desserts…..slowly cutting them out (minus figs and dark cocoa and frozen yogurt)!

I hope that this helps preggo babes like me feel like there is a light at the end of the first trimester tunnel. I also am adding another post after this of my fave brands of food that I’ve been munching on. Just remember..you’re normal. Everything you’re doing is *hopefully* normal 😉

Remember- only 300 extra calories/day is all baby needs! That’s like..a banana and a yogurt! Perspective..ahhhh! Keep a food journal if you must.

And stay active somehow. Those little walks can help tons!

xo

Here’s me the summer before baby!photo-36 photo-35

Last summer without kiddos….

Like most expectant mammas, I’m slightly freaking out about the fact that in 6 months I will no longer be able to vacation (or well do anything) (with my husband) without a cute little sidekick attached to my hip.  ……enter freak out mode…… We have to get as many getaways in before this little bundle of love/expenses arrives! My mind has been on overdrive trying to figure out ways to plan free weekend adventure opportunities.

We have river trips/bbqs galore planned. This is a summer must. I feel pretty confident that without a drink in my hand I can keep a kayak afloat! I’m just not so sure I won’t sink it…an embarrassing thought.

I thankfully have a sweet beach trip with my sister planned for April. Aims (my awesome older sister) and I are going to Destin, FL.  We’re going to pretend I’m not pregnant while sipping on virgin pina coladas, getting my belly a little golden, and recounting childhood memories leading up to babytown 2013. I can’t even wait! I get teary eyed just thinking about this. I’m such a basket case right now.

OK. SoOooOOooo…..The huzzanator and I need a real deal vacation getaway before Baby P arrives so we researched and found the most amazing beach in America was calling our name! SIESTA KEY!! Have you guys ever heard of this magnificent beach? It’s in southern Fl on the gulf coast. It was named America’s best beach numerous times, and looking at the photos, I can see why. Apparently the sand is 99.99% white quartz..whatever that means. All I know is it’s cool to the touch and will be perfect for my overheated pregnant bod.  We have officially booked our stay at an amazing boutique hotel ON THE BEACH and it just happens to fall a couple days before Darren’s  bday. That’s how we roll, y’all.

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Belly at 14 weeks!!!

Hey ladies and gentlemen, but mostly ladies I’m sure!

 SO! Here I am at the 14 week mark.  I’m starting to feel as though I’ve put a “bump-it” in my belly. Some angles I just look..well…bloated. I am enjoying watching the growth. It’s crazy if you go and look back at my 5 week photo on here.  I don’t feel like there’s been much change UNTIL I review the belly time-line. So exciting 🙂 🙂

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14 weeks and I feel…

HOW FAR ALONG –  14 WEEKS

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TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN-    HAVEN’T WEIGHED MYSELF SINCE LAST OB APPOINTMENT. I think it’s probably no real weight gain since. Possibly a lb. Could be wrong!

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MATERNITY CLOTHES?-    No! Wore stretch pants this whole week and my skinny jeans only once (uncomfortably I might add..hence the once part) I definitely have days that I’m bigger than others! Pregnancy is SO WEIRD!! 😉

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STRETCH MARKS?-    NO NO NO! Still uber POSITIVE!! CREAMS GALORE! MUSTELA AND BIO OIL LADIES! Adding the creams to my upper thighs and hips!

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SLEEP?-   Had a few nights of great sleep and a few nights of AWFUL sleep. Had a nightmare (not baby nor husband related). Then just a couple of nights of waking up at 4am for NO reason. No pee…nada.  So annoying.

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BEST MOMENT THIS WEEK?-    Seeing my husband’s hilarious LAZERSNAKE pilot that was finally finished in production.  I will post it soon if he will let me! It’s so funny y’all!

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MISS ANYTHING?-     Super sweaty workouts. THE SUNSHINE!!! (coming soon..thanks springtime).

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MOVEMENT?-  NOT THIS WEEK!

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FOOD CRAVINGS?-  PRETTY MUCH GONE!

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FOOD AVERSIONS?-   These are going away almost completely…PHEW!

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GENDER-   ALL THIS EXTRA HAIR GROWTH? I MEAN…THIS HAS GOTTA BE A BOY!!! <—– STILL feelin’ it.

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SYMPTOMS-    PURE HAPPINESS! Energy is coming back full force!!!

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WEDDING RINGS ON OR OFF?   ON :)

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LOOKING FORWARD TO-  FINDING OUT BABY POTUCKS SEX in 10 days!!!!!!