Confession Thursday

Hello All! It's Thursday, and I am so glad, with all my heart, that it is almost Friday. This week has been such a long one. Working as a social worker can wear me out. Physically and mentally.

Somethings I must confesss:

* I have only done my yoga work out 2 times this week (neither time in the morning). I will, I MUST do better. :)

*I have been such a negative Nancy lately. At work, at home. That type of attitude is not helpful for anyone, and is certainly not healthy for the pregnancy. I need to love and be more positive, for my own well being and the well being of others.

*I have had 3 (yes! 3) cheese burgers this week. I LOVE cheese burgers. In fact, I'm sure the food that I will want in the hospital and after the birth of Captain Jack will be a sonic cheese burger. I love love love them. However, I know that I need to limit my consumption of this food. Next week, I am only allowed 1 cheese burger. :)

Those are all the confessions that I have for now. I can't remember the rest (baby brain! A valid excuse, actually. Its scientifically proven that pregnant women have word finding difficulties and more problems with memory.)

Now, here are some pictures from week 19 of our pregnancy:

Next Tuesday, we will have our first ultrasound. We could not be any more excited as the countdown began. :) I'll definitely update the blog that day!

That's it for now! I also wanted to include this picture of Shelby, her fiancé Chris, and myself at their caterer's tasting. Ha. So glad they thought of me to invite me to this time of good food and wedding decision making. Ok, so maybe I begged to go. Regardless, I am glad I was there.

-Mary Allyn

Taking care of myself (and Belly Tuesday!)

First, some pictures of my belly at 18 weeks!(photos by Megan, my amazing office mate and friend)



Isn't that just amazing! I feel like I'm growing bigger every week! I catch myself just staring down at my belly as I walk around the hospital at work. ha.

I also wanted to write a blog about how I am attempting to take care of myself during this pregnancy. There have obviously been some major changes in how I treat my body, although, I don't want those changes to stop after we have Captain Jack. I hope to continue more healthy habits and a way of thinking about my body and the way I look.

I'll start with my perspective on my body. It has been very difficult to plan to grow bigger. Most of the time, its hard (and often painful) to feel my body grow and stretch and make room for Captain Jack. My mind is saying, "Mary, this is great! Its a miracle what's happening to you!" My heart just can't follow that thought. My co-workers have been wonderful. Everyday, I have women telling me how amazing and good it is to grow. And, it is. God has made this body in such a way to make room for an amazing thing to happen! A baby is growing (hopefully growing healthy and strong) and I have been charged with caring for Captain Jack now, and for the rest of my life. So, with all that said, I'm learning to see my body as beautiful, no matter how big I get! I have to, really, because there is no going back. Its also much healthier for me to think that way too.

Now, since we found out we were pregnant and "with child" if you will, I had to make some changes with how I take care of my body. I have obviously changed the way I eat (staying away from certain fish, heating up lunch meat, limiting tuna and coffee and so on). I had to give up most medications to help my chronic tension headaches. Lets face it, Tylenol does little to no good for headaches or any other aches (although, I have started loving Tension Tamer tea, a heating pad, and regular pre-natal massages to help with those things :) )

I think the most important thing that I have done for my body is getting involved in Belly Yoga at Belly Bliss in Denver. This has been so good for me! I wasn't very active before, but I knew I needed to incorporate some exercise (other than walking at work--many miles a day!) It has been so nice to go to Belly Bliss (where I will also take other classes such as Cloth Diapering and Blissful Breastfeeding) to meet other pregnant women and really care for my body. Yoga for the expecting mother helps her prepare for labor as well as for after birth. It certainly helps with mindful breathing through labor as well as focusing on what the body is doing doing the birthing process. On a side note: this sounds like it's coming directly from a pregnancy book. And that makes me laugh a little. There are MANY reasons why prenatal yoga is helpful. And, I'm thankful it's something I can participate in that is restful and refreshing. SO, I have decided to get up (hopefully) every day and spend time with the Lord and in prayer as well as do 20 minutes of yoga. I have been so tired lately, but this is something I'm committing to! I need to start my mornings with Jesus and just learn to breathe a little better. So, just putting this on my blog (whether people read it or not) will help me in the mornings.

Lastly, to really care for myself, I'm trying to spend as much time at home with Chad as I can! He is definitely a source of strength and someone God has blessed me with! I really do love staying at home with the boys (Chad, Ripley and Willis). I wouldn't have it any other way.

In other news, Chad and I got back from a really great weekend in Breckenridge with his mom (Grammy) and some of her friends. It was a good weekend of skiing and spa time for me.

Also, I plan to post some pictures of ideas for the nursery and would love, no NEED some feedback. :)

Chad and I are about to go grill. Food (this may be a theme in my life?) tis a'calling!

Lucky Me!

I know I said I was going to start doing "Belly Tuesdays", and, I promise, I will. This past week I was a tad busy spending time with my parents! It was their first time to see our home and only their second time to see Colorado! I sure do love them. We were able to clear out the room that will be the nursery as well as switch around some rooms in the home. We made a MASSIVE Goodwill run and made all 4 rooms in our home functional! We now have a master bedroom, a nursery, a guest room, and an office. Perfect! We were also able to go to Boulder one day and have a mom/daughter and dad-in-law/son another day. Dad went skiing with Chad while mom and I shopped Arvada and bought some maternity clothes. Mom, Dad, and myself went to Black Hawk to see the casinos. I came away $35.00 richer, Dad made .40 and Mom, not so much. We were also able to see my Aunt Carol and Uncle Glen and the cousins, Syd and Hailey. It was a good trip, filled with naps. I am a lucky woman to have such an amazing family. :)
Here are some pictures from their trip (including a "Belly Tuesday" picture--at the basketball game!)

Chad and Dad skiing at Breckenridge. Apparently, it was just amazing that day. Dad hadn't been skiing since we left Santa Fe 15 years ago! Go Dad!

Belly Tuesday picture! Not the best picture of Chad after his game (Sorry Hubs!), but the best picture of my belly and the four of us.

Dad and I at Chad's weekly basketball game! Gotta love the hat

Chad and my Mom at Woody's! It's one of my very favorite places to eat in Colorado! The very BEST pizza I have ever had. seriously

This is Mom and I at Woody's!


That's it for now! Just wanted to make sure I update on a weekly basis! More to come! Right now, I'm heading to a tasting with Chris and Shelby! When there is food calling, I better answer.

Belly Tuesday!

Following the advice of my sister-in-law, Carrie, I have decided to start doing "Belly Tuesdays" and provide a picture update of my belly's growth progress. I feel like my belly has just POPPED! Seriously. I feel like I woke up last week and thought, "well, this isn't a pee belly". Its really there. The baby is growing and is healthy, as far as we know!
Here's me at 15 weeks:

Crazy, huh? You probably can't see it like I can see it. Its strange to have this new belly on me. But, be excited! I will try my very best to post a new picture every Tuesday!



In other news, I had my 15 week check up and Triple Screen on Monday. This test is to test for birth defects and genetic disorders like Down Syndrome. This test is optional to everyone, but is becoming more of the "norm" for expecting mothers now a days. The heart beat was strong and healthy at 140! They say (whoever "they" are) that a heart beat at 140 and below may be a boy. We'll see! My ultra sound is March 23. I'm super excited.

Chad and I just returned from Oklahoma to celebrate his grandparent's 60 wedding anniversary. Isn't that amazing? 60 years! I pray that Chad and I can be celebrating that one day with our family surrounding us.

Also, Papa Jim and Nana Sue (my parents) are coming to visit this weekend. We are very excited. The hope is to get the nursery cleaned out so it can become a "blank canvas".

I also thought I would add a few more pictures of my life as of late.


Here is me with Nana Arnold this past weekend:









Then, here is Shelbs and I at the boy's b-ball game last week. Shelby is getting married August 15 to Chris. We are so excited for them. I love having one of my very best friends so close. I love her, for sure. As a side note, as you can tell, I obviously love that hoodie.





Well, I'm off to take a nap with the newly groomed puppies, Willis and Ripley.

Blogs to come (and I promise, they will come eventually):

The Should Dos
Belly Yoga
Nursery Updates
Belly Tuesday!

It's Been a While

So, this technology thing gets me sometimes. I know its been a while since I have blogged anything. This is not a new pattern. I haven't updated my twitter in so long, I can't remember my password. With that said, I promise to update more often. If not for all you readers out there (6, maybe?), for me. Its therapeutic to blog, really.

I have ideas for a few blogs to come. Here's what I'm thinking:

The Should Dos (regarding advice for pregnancy and life)

Belly Blues (about the growth of my belly, clothing, and the like)

The "I Really Really Want This List" (some things Chad and I have spotted that we really want for the baby)


For now, i thought I would talk about one of my biggest cravings (surprised much? I obviously love talking about food!) I have been craving, in an unhealthy way, Eggs Benedict. I was actually just introduced to this amazing breakfast item this past summer at Papa Jim and Nana Susan's house (AKA: my parents). I LOVE IT. Well, let me restate this: I LOVE IT (sans ham). A few weeks ago, I realized that I have all the ingredients (all 4) that it takes to make Eggs Benedict (again, without ham). I called up Papa Jim, who is the best cook I have ever met, and obtained the recipe and talked to him as I made my very first batch of Hollandaise sauce. The first batch did not turn out so well. I used all my butter that night making the second batch. IT WAS AMAZING. My taste buds were so happy that night. My stomach, on the other hand, not too fond of the two Eggs Benedict I consumed in an unprecedented amount of time as well as finishing off the rest of the Hollandaise Sauce batch with asparagus. I may have paid for that later. But that is besides the point. It was incredible, really.

With ALL of that said, I wanted to share the recipe with you all!

Source: I actually have no idea what cookbook Papa Jim got this from

HOLLANDAISE SAUCE

Servings: 4

Prep time: 20-30 minutues

Equipment needed: Double Broiler and wooden spoon (per recipe)

Ingredients: 4 egg yokes
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 Pound butter (2 sticks), melted
1/4 teaspoon salt
a little dash of pepper

Directions: 1. Fill double broiler with water. DO NOT HEAT before adding ingredients (this was my downfall the first go-round)
2. Beat egg yokes in top of double broiler (at this point, you can turn on the heat, but make sure that the water NEVER boils. It all needs to heat VERY slowly)
3. stir in lemon juice
4. add butter little at a time once egg/lemon juice is heated up
5. stir constantly until thick
6. add salt and pepper

And that's it for the sauce!

Now, for the rest of the Eggs Benedict, this is what I did:
1. Lightly toast english muffin
2. Fry 2 eggs sunny side up (although, you are suppose to poach the eggs)
3. Layer egg on top of muffin, pour sauce over egg and muffin (ham, obviously optional).

Like I said at the beginning, it was amazing. I just wanted to share with you all.


In other random news:
Chad and I are starting to clear out the baby's room and organize the office. All VERY exciting. I will take before and after pictures, for sure.
Chad's basketball team, the infamous Team Uni, is undefeated. I'm about to head to their 5th game now.
Grammy (aka Chad's mom) just left after a good visit. We looked at baby things, and it was slightly overwhelming, but soo fun!
Papa Jim and Nana Sue are heading this way in a week and a half, and I am SO excited.


That's all I got! Off to cheer on Team Uni!

More blogs to follow. :)

It'll make your heart skip a beat

I've been trying to describe this part of my pregnancy to folks, but I find it hard to describe most times. I am 11 weeks pregnant now, and its a time where I feel pregnant. I am exhausted and, at times, I have to put my head down on my desk for a 10 minute nap. I even fall asleep typing my notes at the end of the day. I know that my office-mate, Megan, has caught my head bobbing as I try desperately to stay awake through the last couple sentences. My chest hurts, and I'm experiencing, for the first time in my life (as my dad has so graciously reminded me) what having larger breasts feels like. My roomates in college and I would always joke that I have always been the president of the A club.

So, yes, I know I am still pregnant, because the tests and my body says so.

But, I just don't know what is going on down there. I cannot feel the baby growing (although, my books say that Captain Jack is now the size of a plum), and I'm not really "showing" yet. Chad a and I were so grateful for my doctor's appointment this past Monday.

I went in to see my PCP (whom I think is quite wonderful) for a OB Exam appointment. They do the typical urine sample and a physical exam to make sure things are moving along all right. When we went, I was under the assumption that we would be able to hear Captain Jack's heartbeat at this appointment. However, the CNA said that they could try, but tell women that it might take until the 12th week to hear the heartbeat (a precaution, i guess, against worry). My PCP did the exam, and notified us that all my labs are normal and things were "progressing just fine". Not a lot of comfort when, again, I just have no idea what is going on in my belly. My PCP was able to get out the dopler and in less than 5 seconds of trying, was able to pick up the heart beat.

It was incredible. I cried. Chad and I giggled a bit, knowing that a baby was in my belly and not knowing, really, how to react to this moment. Our baby was healthy. There was a heart beat in this little person no larger than a plum. What a miracle. What a blessing to know that all is well.

I'm told this feeling will never get old. I hope it doesn't, because it reminds me of God's ability to create and to be in that moment with us, two very frightened, excited, emotional (ok, maybe crabby more than emotional for me), people. That He is able to venture with us through this incredible experience. We are truly blessed. I really hope hearing our baby's heart beat does not get old.

On another note, I have discovered that I still love, and I do mean love, Sonic cheese burgers, McDonald's chicken nuggets, french fries, and Dad's pot roast. I'm currently waiting on homemade trail mix recipes from my Mom and Dad (or Captain Jack's Nana and Papa)

Also, I am reading a book given to me by an amazing co-worker, Amy, called "Sippy Cups Are Not for Chardonnay" by Stefanie Wilder-Taylor. Very funny and refreshing. Quite the change from the typical pregnancy books (which I am very thankful for). Reviews to come.

For now, I think I'm heading to bed. I'm not sure what it is about typing that makes me so sleepy, but my head was definitely bobbing these last few sentences.

a few of my favorite things

I'm 10 weeks now. So crazy! This pregnany thing has been so strange on many levels. It was a complete surprise, so I wasn't ready for some of the changes that come with a baby growing inside of me . Of course I've been emotional, which is no surprise. I cried during the 10 o'clock news the other day. During the ENTIRE 30 mintues. Chad said, "the news is really tough for you today, isn't it?".
I've certainly had some conflicting emotions about having a baby. Its scary. Terrifying, really. I've had fears about things not going well with the baby. We have our first OB exam on Monday, and we'll get to hear the heart beat. I think that will relieve a lot of the fears I have about something being wrong with the baby and pregnancy. On the other hand, I've had a fear that everything will go perfectly with this pregnany and we will have a baby in August, something I have not been able to wrap my mind around. After talking with many friends and family, I've found that these emotions are something a lot of women experience. I'm sure i'll write a much longer post about this in the future, as I think being honest about pregnany and motherhood is something all women should promote. .
I think the strangest thing, and something that affects me on a daily basis is this "adversion to food" that has overcome my belly. I haven't had any morning sickness (thank goodness!), however, there are some foods, foods that I LOVED perviously, that make me feel queasy. Here are some of the following of my very favorite foods that I just cannot force myself to eat: Mexican food (except for chips), soups (of ALL kinds), a cut of meat, noodles, cream sauces, and, most sadly, bacon. I've had to completely re-adjust the way I eat. I've been aiming at eating more fruit, sting cheese, and yogurt. I start my mornings wtih a bagel and yogurt with frozen mixed berries in it. Below is a picture of my favorite foods so far in this pregnancy:



I love hot chocolate during this time. I've cut WAY back on caffeine, but during this extremely cold winter (-31 windchill? Not too pleasant for this Louisiana girl), hot chocolate has certainly soothed my soul. I know I love these things so far (I call them Captain Jack's energy food): ice cream (expecially orange push pops), pickles (yes, its true!), clementines, fruit strips (all natural, of course), orange juice, gold fish and all crackers in general, chips, bread, artichokes, and pistachios. I hope I discover more things, as these foods cannot sustain me and I have to force myself to eat more.
In other news, we will be seeing the Baudiers in Breckenridge tomorrow. I'm super excited to see my old friends. We got a new clutch for the Corolla (White Thunder as I affectionaly call it). The Corolla has been with me since I was 16 and has 176,000 miles on it. Hopefully it keeps going for several more years (another car payment is not in the plans at this time). And we bought a new couch for our sitting room upstairs. We've had loveseats for the last couple years, so this was very exciting for us. I think the picture below is a bit dark, but hopefully you get the gist. Its a green color, and we love it quite a bit.

I plan plan to post more often, and espceially more after our doctor's appointment. Right now, I'm heading upstairs to get an orange push pop.