Pregnancy, Week 9

What happened to week 8, you ask? Well, I went to my first doctor's appointment last Friday and based on the measurements of the little one I was at 9 weeks. Either that, or I am growing a linebacker (sometimes I think it's the linebacker option). But visiting the doctor we also learned I have a healthy baby in my tummy with a steady heartbeat. Hoorah!

Physical Symptoms: EXHAUSTION. I wake up tired. Growing a baby is hard work folks. Lately I have been needing to eat almost every hour to not feel sick. I am the snack queen. In general I just lack energy which sometimes makes it seem I am in a bad mood or sad.  I am none of those, I just dont have enough energy to smile, walk fast or control my body from doing anything than sitting on the couch.

Food Weirdness: Today I craved Chef Boyardee. And when I say crave, I mean, had to have it immediately. It's totally terrible for me, I know, but it sure tasted good. No shame. Still eating grapes like crazy. It seems I crave anything really cold like juice, grapes, sushi.  I really want sushi but cant bring myself to eat if because they advise against eating raw fish. No aversions really except gamey meat like deer. I think it is the gamey smell more than the taste.

Size of little bug: Strawberry (little ones, not the genetically enhanced ones you but at the store)

Workout: When I have the energy Ill do a workout video, walk, or run. I hope to be more consistent once I hit the second trimester and hopefully not be as tired.

Preparation: Was glad to finally have our first appointment. Now that we know the baby is so far healthy and normal we get to tell our families. So that is what we are doing this week. I also will need to get some maternity pants this weekend or at least bigger pants because everything is so snug!

Discovery: Well, we discovered we are almost 2 weeks further along than we originally thought.  That was surprise enough for the week!

Funny Moment: Chris asked my stepson Jbug (7) how he felt about me being pregnant. He said "excited and stressed out." My hubby was a tad concerned about the "stressed out" statement and asked him to explain what he meant. Turns out he really meant "shocked!" He has seemed really excited about it since we told him so we are not too worried about him being stressed out.

Feelings: At our first appointment everything became real. Seeing the baby on the ultrasound and hearing the heartbeat, wow, crazy, this is real. There is a human growing inside of me. How crazy is that? After the appointment I have found myself getting more excited and less fearful. And I have been appreciating my body more and giving myself a break for feeling chubby. My body is churning up a human being. Crazy. So crazy, So pass the ice cream, lets celebrate!

Pregnancy, Week 7

Physical Symptoms: Bloated like woah.  Already hard to fit into my jeans and can't really wear any form fitting dresses or shirts.  Not looking pregnant just looking fat.  Good times. Really haven't dealt with any more morning sickness which I am happy about but it is also kind of scary. I hope everything is okay! Still exhausted and smelling every good and bad odor in a 10ft radius around me. The only weird thing that happened is that my stomach was really tight for a few days. I described it as a high hernia even though I have never had a hernia.  Just seemed like someone was taking the upper part of my stomach and stretching it out.

Food Weirdness: The food aversion weirdness has subsided for the week. And remember when I was craving healthy foods? Now I am craving more comfort foods. Really bringing out my southern cooking as of late and the casserole dish is getting used a lot more often. Also, still on the grape kick. Grapes anytime and all the time. Oh and I have been craving ice cold orange juice.

Size of little bug: Raspberry

Workout: Still just working out when I can find the time. But I do not like doing things that require me to stretch my stomach out because of the tightness I have felt in that area.

Preparation: We got a Costco membership. Have a feeling we will be using that A LOT to buy things in bulk like diapers and wine (for after the baby comes). And to follow up from last week, I decided not to take the job I was offered.  Our budget just cannot handle the decrease in pay to reach our previous savings goals. Add a baby on top of that and we really need that extra income. Praying for a better opportunity to come my way with the right pay.

Discovery: Pretty much everyone I know is pregnant. It seems I find out about someone else every week.  Be careful! There is something in the water! But glad I am in good company.

Funny Moment: Was volunteering at Youth Group (YG) and they sat out a huge bottle of ice cold orange juice for refreshment.  Proceeding to drink many cups which was then proceeded by a major stomach ache.  Whoops! I need to have some control.

Feelings: I cry when I am overwhelmed, when watching cute dogs doing cute things, when watching something extremely funny or heart warming. Pretty much I cry way too easily and I can't control it. It just happens. Also, I have been way too emotional and sensitive which then induces crying. Poor Chris, he takes it so well.  But feeling a lot less stress since making the decision about the job offer.

Stuffed Peppers

Stuffed Peppers

The other night we had our good friends Doug and Emily over for dinner at our apartment for the first time.  Chris suggested I make stuffed peppers since we bought 6 peppers with our new Costco Membership which we are slightly obsessed yet reasonable with.  Main rule of thumb with Costco is to only get items that can be stored for a long time or fresh foods which you know you will use relatively quickly.  And only get what you need though they are so tempting with all those free samples!

I really wanted to impress our guests since Doug is an excellent cook.  We usually go to their place just because we know we are going to eat what I would consider gourmet food but we wanted to give them a break this time. Though we did make them bring dessert with the requirement of his homemade whipped cream. Yummy!

Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients:
6 Peppers (I like multi colored ones)
1/2 medium onion
1 tbspn olive oil
1 pd ground beef or turkey
1 cup cooked white or brown rice
8 oz can of tomato sauce
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp cayenne
1 pinch of paprika
2 pinches of salt
Sprinkle of pepper
1 heaping tablespoon of chopped fresh cilantro
Sprigs of cilantro for garnish
Grated Mexican cheese

*I'll note I completely forgot about the rice this meal so it is optional if you are trying to make this carb free meal. But I am adding it in the recipe because I usually prefer to add rice.

Turn oven on to 350 degrees
Cook rice
While rice is cooking cut the tops off of the peppers (save the tops) and clean out. Soak in water while rice is cooking. Some people boil the peppers to make them softer, I personally like them crispy.
Chop up tops of the peppers (minus the stems)
Chop up onion (I always like to chop an entire onion and save half of it in the refrigerator because it is usually guaranteed ill need chopped onion again later in the week.)
Saute' onion in a tablespoon of Olive Oil until onion is slightly transparent
Add meat and simmer until almost completely cooked
Add chopped pepper and mix in
Add chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, oregano, cayenne, paprika, salt and pepper and mix until meat is will coated
Add tomato sauce and rice, mix together
Add chopped cilantro and let simmer for 5 minutes (if things start getting a little dry just add a little bit of water)
While simmering line up peppers in a deep casserole dish. Make sure it is coated in olive oil or Pam. (I try to use a dish small enough to where the peppers lean against one another to help them stand up)
Take meat mixture and fill each pepper halfway
Sprinkle a layer of cheese over the meat filling
Fill the rest of peppers to the top with the meat mixture
If there is extra filling put it around the peppers in the bottom of the casserole dish
Bake for 10 minutes and then add cheese on top of the filled peppers
Make for 10 more minutes
Take out of oven and  garnish with cilantro

Everyone cleaned their plates so I consider that a win!! Enjoy!!

Comfort Food

Last night we had what my husband calls comfort food.  Homemade chicken tenders and boxed macaroni and cheese. It was delicious.  I was going to makes some broccoli to try to make it healthier but at the last minute decided not to.  We can save the green stuff for another day!

Here is the recipe I used for the chicken fingers:

Baked Chicken Fingers

1 lb of Chicken Breasts
2 cups of Panko Bread Crumbs
3 Eggs
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Pepper
1/2 tsp Onion Powder
1 tsp Garlic

Heat oven to 450 degrees
Take you chicken breasts and slice them into long 1 inch pieces
Crack eggs into small bowl and beat together with a fork
Combine bread crumbs, salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic in a medium bowl
Coat chicken pieces in egg and then roll in bread crumb mixture and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper
Repeat with the remainder of the chicken
Bake for 20 minutes.

Also, do you want to know the secret to the perfect boxed mac and cheese?  I learned this from a friend I met years ago and though I didn't know her for long before she moved and we haven't kept in touch I will be forever grateful for this tip that has made my favorite comfort food even more awesome!

Add some (not too much) pepper to the macaroni and cheese after mixing the cheese, butter and milk. Try it, you wont regret it! It's revolutionary!!! I take my boxed mac and cheese seriously.

Chris may have called it comfort food but I felt like a kid again! It was a fun and yummy meal.

Pregnancy, Week 6

Physical Symptoms: Morning sickness has waned for the most part due to (I think) with me now trying to eat something every couple of hours and not taking my vitamins at night before bed.  Many people take them at bedtime because if the vitamins make you feel bad it is best to sleep through it.  This did not seem to work for me though because I woke up feeling terrible. Vitamins at lunch time work better for me!

I am exhausted. I actually took a nap on the couch on Sunday. If you know me, you know that I never ever nap unless I am sick. Well I took a great snooze that day and could of probably slept longer!

Also, I am so bloated I already look pregnant. Finding something to wear to work is always fun. The other day I wore khakis that fit in the morning and I could not even button them by that afternoon. Good times.

I smell everything! Walking Bailey the other day I smelled the air freshener in someones closed up car parked on the street. Also, I work in Westwood and usually go out and walk around during my lunch hour. People, Westwood does not smell good, it smells dirty. Gross.

Food Weirdness: I ate chocolate again. In fact I devoured a piece of chocolate cake like it was the first time I had ever eaten chocolate. So I guess that aversion is over. Mostly my aversions come very randomly. Every time I am faced with food I either really want or want it as far away from me as possible. But I am eating grapes like a champ. I can never get enough grapes.

Size of Little Bug: Blueberry

Workout: Many times I am way to exhausted to work out but I am trying to do what I can even if it is lifting a few hand weights or doing a few squats.  But Chris and I are going to do a 5k together in November which I am excited about!

Preparation: Trying to decide if I should take a job that would allow me to have a closer commute but my pay would be decreased a significant amount. The convenience would be nice but Chris and I are not sure if we can take the decrease in pay especially knowing baby expenses will be a lot! Its a really hard decision.

Discovery: Baby is now developing a spleen and some blood has begun to move through his/her body! Also the app called Pregnancy+ is awesome! Check it out!

Funny Moment: Found out one of my best friends is due the same day I am! How crazy is that!?!?! I ended up telling her about being pregnant (even though we were going to wait) because it was just to uncanny! It's funny comparing notes with her on the daily.

Feelings: The stress surrounding the job situation is probably the hardest thing for me to handle right now. Once a final decision is made (no matter what it is) Ill be much more at peace. Also, kind of funny, but I have no filter. I have been very direct with people, especially at work. I am usually not that way but am secretly enjoying it!

Pregnancy, Week 5

Physical Symptoms: "Morning Sickness" hit me like a ton of bricks. And who ever named it "Morning Sickness" is a complete fool.  It is all day and all night. I feel like throwing up all the time but nothing ever happens. I do not have much of an appetite for anything. I force myself to eat small meals or snacks. And last but least, headaches. Or shall I say headache, because it never ends. Needless to say, physical symptoms have ramped up a lot.

Food Weirdness: I do not have an appetite for anything. I manage to stomach very bland things like plain chicken, oatmeal, muffins, applesauce, sweet potatoes and grapes. Right now red meat or anything super sugary and sweet makes me gag. Along with rich foods. Last night I ate a handful of Raisin Bran before falling asleep because they (my pregnancy app experts) said it may help with morning sickness. I woke up feeling okay this morning so maybe it really did.

Size of Little bug: Appleseed

Workout: I have managed to get a couple of workouts in this week but mostly I have sat on the couch. Walking my dog or getting fresh air always helps with feeling sick.

Preparation: Trying to find a doctor closer to our home. We cannot seem to find anyone in our network currently so we are going to keep the appointment at UCLA on Sept. 26th and ask her if she has any recommendations.

Discovery: I have discovered a new found respect for expectant mothers. Its crazy how something so small can create such havoc in your body.

Funny Moment: Chris and I feel that we both needed support from people who have recently been through pregnancy so we reached out to our friend Bobby and Suzanne (who is a few months ahead of me) to join us for dinner. We wanted to surprise them with our news. They had given us a very thoughtful wedding present full of wine for a couples firsts (home, date night, fight, etc.) There was a bottle of Martinelli's Sparkling Cider in the basket for first baby.  During dinner Chris brought out the Cider along with glasses and said, "well, this is cause for a celebration." B & S looked super confused and told us that the Cider is for when you guys have a baby not us! To which we responded "Surprise, we are pregnant!" It was an awesome and really funny moment. It was so great to talk with them about their experiences so far and now I feel like I have a woman I can go to talk about all these crazy things happening to my body.

Feelings: Its been a tough week.  Its really hard keeping this news from people because I have to hide how terrible I feel. Especially at work it is hard. But I am thankful that I can just sit quietly at my desk if needed. I have some big decisions regarding my job I need to make quickly and it is hard to think clearly plus there has been stress at home (stepson is sick). I know it will all work out but it's all really weighing on me. This in between stage is hard. I feel very strongly about not making announcements to people until after the first doctors appointment but (i hope this makes sense) it makes me feel like I am not allowed to feel as physically terrible as I do. In my mind, I should still be able to function normally because to everyone else there is nothing different going on with me right now.

Leftovers Breakfast Burittos

I slept in and woke up feeling hungover even though no drinks were involved the night before. I have been experiencing vivid dreams the past week which cause me to wake up every few hours. Pregnancy is weird. Such random symptoms. 

I decided to make eggs for breakfast but realized I only had 4 eggs. Hubs can take down 4 eggs himself. So I wondered what awesome egg dish could I make with the leftovers in the fridge. I found leftover rice, avocado, salsa, wheat tortillas, Mexican cheese, cilantro and chopped onion, all things that are perfect for a breakfast burrito! 

Sautée the onions in the a little olive oil, add the eggs and then all the other ingredients quickly because you never want to overcook eggs. I toasted the tortillas in another hot pan for just a few seconds on each side. After your leftovers mixture is finished place the mixture on the toasted tortilla add some hot sauce and presto you have breakfast burittos! And you have less leftovers to worry about in the fridge. 

The only difference I would make next time is to add a little sour cream or Greek yogurt to add a little creaminess in the mix. 

Pregnancy, Week 4

Physical Symptoms: Still a little bit of cramping but it is not bad. I get somewhat dizzy especially in the middle of the day, breast tenderness and overall I just feel bloated. The jeans are squeezing a little tight. I am still exhausted but sleeping like a champ! Oh and running to the bathroom every hour but it could be from all the water I am drinking.

Food Weirdness: Still have not touched chocolate, nor want to. And healthy things still seem more desirable than unhealthy things.  Why can't it be like this when I am not pregnant? I didn't even want a Slurpee... who am I?

Size of little bug: Poppyseed!

Workout: Trying to get activity in everyday even if it is just a long walk. I have been finding long walks or running helps keeps my mood stable. Better mood and trimmer waistline, not a bad combo!

Preparation: Started taking pregnancy vitamins aka. horse pills. and made a doctor's appointment for September 26th! That day we will meet with the doctor and do an ultrasound. I have also started keeping records in my Ovia Pregnancy App. And I read, read, read about stages of pregnancy all the time.

Discovery: This week little bug turned into an Embryo! Wow! It's getting real!

Funny Moment: Found out Carrie Underwood is also pregnant. Dreamt about our babies being best friends along with Carrie and I being BFF's. It was kind of funny/weird how excited I got about her being pregnant too.

Feelings: The emotions are real. I have went from being scared of pregnancy to now being scared something with happen in these very fragile weeks. I cry a lot more than usual. It's also a struggle for us to know when it is appropriate to share the news with friends and family. It's hard keeping such a big secret! Chris is great, reassuring me about everything and keeps reminded me he is not going anywhere. I have the best husband ever. I'm sure this is just the beginning of the crazy emotional roller coaster. Strap in!

Test #3. Just to make sure.