Neena Mae's Journey

Meal Planning

2009-10-28T15:02:00.000-07:00

I've been packing in the protein-- GO ME!! I've already had 76 grams today and I haven't even had supper. I'm going to keep this going--I have next week's dinner menu planned out and ready to go.

By the way, PLEASE check out mothering.com, it pretty much rocks.

Dinner plans for next week:

Monday: Tamale Pie (recipe from mothering.com--my newest obsession)

http://mothering.com/recipes/tamale-pie

Tuesday: We have our Bradley method class so we will eat a quick supper of leftovers.

Wednesday: Pine Nut Sage Spaghetti Squash (mothering.com)

http://mothering.com/recipes/pine-nut-sage-spaghetti-squash

Thursday: Huevos Rancheros with Fresh Avocado and Black Beans (I'm on a total Mexican kick! Once again, mothering.com)

(mouth watering, huh?)
http://mothering.com/recipes/huevos-rancheros-fresh-avocado-black-beans

Friday: Back to my parent's for our baby shower!!!

Maternity Photos

2009-10-24T22:13:00.001-07:00

I'm soooo happy with these photos! Andrea G did an amazing job. This is just the preview and I'm elated, I don't know how we're going to pick our faves!

29 weeks -- 11 to go!

2009-10-21T19:43:00.000-07:00

Getting bigger!

Lil P got the most adorable gift from Nico! Thanks, Nico and Nani. Can't wait to see you outside of your beautiful Momma's belly. XOXO! By the way, Nico, Lil P LOVES your rockin' nursery.

Well, well, well, this momma has been busy. I must apologize for the tardiness of this week's post.

This week has brought/is bringing with it some very exciting pregnancy-related things. First, we started our Bradley Method courses last night and we LOVE them. We've only been through one class (7 more to go) and we've already learned so much. Plus, the other couples in the class with us are awesome! I highly suggest Bradley Method courses to any future mommas.

We talked a lot about nutrition in our class last night and the need for LOTS (100 grams/day!) of protein. I realized I probably wasn't getting enough protein in my diet and figured a good way to fix that would be to track it publically. Hence, I will now be tracking my daily protein intake daily on this blog. Thrilling? No. Good for me and baby? Yes.

This Saturday we are getting maternity photos done and I could not be more excited and nervous. I really don't like getting my pictures taken. Yes, I'll admit, I'm a bit self-concious when it comes to standing in front of a camera lens. I seriously have Jake take at least 6-10 bump shots a week before I finally get one I like. I'm hoping this session will help me to come out of my shell and break free of my irrational fear.

And, finally, we have made even more progress on the nursery. The crib is put together and I adore it. Things are really starting to happen!

28 weeks -- 12 weeks to go!

2009-10-12T19:26:00.001-07:00

Jake is so proud of his future cyclone!

Shelly did such a good job of painting the white stripe in the nursery.

Changing table and white stripe. Looking good, huh?

Side view.

Front view. Sorry about the undies sticking out, I'm in lounging mode.

How far along? 28 weeks

Gender? Who knows!?!?!

Sleep: It really depends on the night. For the most part it's not great but it's not terrible, either.

Belly Button in or out? The picture above gives you a pretty good idea of what my belly button looks like right now. See the mole? Weird, huh?

Cravings: Apples, smoked string cheese (it has to be smoked), and chocolate

What I am looking forward to: My midwife appointment tomorrow and starting Bradley courses next week. And, our crib being delivered by the end of the week! Our nursery is getting closer to being done!

Weekly Wisdom: Make sure to relax and treat yourself.

27 weeks -- Third Trimester!

2009-10-05T16:58:00.000-07:00

Bare belly for my readers.

I'm not posting my weekly questions because the answers are pretty much the same as last week and I'm feeling a bit lazy because I've been working my butt off at work and school.

Anyways, we worked on the nursery this last weekend and we accomplished quite a bit. Thanks to my wonderful parents for helping out so much!

My mom and I got crafty and put together this great set of pictures for the wall. Thanks to my mom for providing the Dr. Seuss rhyming cards that we used for the pictures!

We managed to get room painted the perfect Dr. Seuss yellow(don't worry they wouldn't let me near the room until all the paint dried!). We haven't gotten around to getting the white stripe or vinyl circles and wall quote up, but that will come soon.

It's really quite surreal how close we are to having the baby! I cannot wait!

26 weeks - 14 to go!

2009-09-28T16:32:00.000-07:00

I love my bump!

It makes me giggle. :-)

How far along? 26 weeks- WOW!
Gender? Everybody thinks it's a boy. I've stopped trying to figure it out.
Sleep: Still so-so, but getting better.
Belly Button in or out? Even, if that makes sense. It's not an inny or an outy, just kind hanging level with my tummy. The weirdest thing is that I have a mole in my belly button and I never paid much attention to it until now--it's really quite funny looking.
Cravings: Apples, cheese, peanut butter, honey, and McDonalds(SHAME ON ME!!!)
What I am looking forward to: My parents coming this weekend to help put together the nursery and my 28th birthday tomorrow!
Weekly Wisdom: Enjoy being pregnant--it's pretty rad.

What's the little one up to? (babycenter.com)
The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.

Week 25 and Lil P's Loot!

2009-09-20T18:55:00.001-07:00

Week 25 in all its glory. I'm feeling pretty darn good!

Lil P's loot thus far. I love the decor we have for the nursery so far. I can't wait to start putting it all together in October!

How far along? 25 weeks -- 15 to go!!!!
Gender? I have no idea!!! Random strangers keep telling me I'm carrying like it's a boy. Huh?
Sleep: Eh. I've had better sleep. I've become quite the night owl. I seriously cannot fall asleep until at least midnight.
Belly Button in or out? Even, if that makes sense. It's not an inny or an outy, just kind hanging level with my tummy. The weirdest thing is that I have a mole in my belly button and I never paid much attention to it until now--it's really quite funny looking.
What I miss: I've stopped missing alcohol, I actually enjoy not being hungover on Sundays!
Cravings: Apples, apples, and more apples. Good thing it's apple season!! I've been diggin' on peaches too.
What I am looking forward to: Working on the nursery October 2-4!!!
Milestones: Viabilty at 24 weeks is pretty cool--it totally gives me a piece of mind. :-) We registered this wekeend and that was kind of fun.
Weekly Wisdom: Heartburn, constipation, and hemrhoids (yes, I said hemrhoids) suck, but ya gotta deal with them.

24 weeks -- 16 to go!

2009-09-14T08:50:00.000-07:00

4 months left of this amazing ride-- I can hardly believe it. I love being pregnant. I love looking down at my belly and seeing that little bump kick, roll, and punch. I love rubbing my belly and talking to my little one when I'm stressed or just need a moment to relax. It really is an amazing feeling.

I went shopping for Li'l P last week and stocked up on some onesies and the cutest little baby pants ever. I also bought five Dr. Seuss board books that I've already started reading to him/her. My new obsession has become finding books for Li'l P. I loved being read to and reading as a child and I want to instill that love in my child. Half.com is quickly becoming my new favorite website!

I love the way Jake loves our child so much. <3

Special Delivery!

2009-09-13T16:22:00.000-07:00

Special thanks to LJKC and Heatherjeany! Li'l P LOVES it! <3

Nursery Accesories

2009-09-07T19:33:00.000-07:00

This quote will be placed above the crib.

I couldn't resist this!

And, finally, we have decided on how we will paint the nursery. It will be a light yellow with a white strip in the middle (like room picture above) then cirlces and dots in orange, blue, and white will be placed on the white strip (like above). I LOVE IT!

Labor Day Bump (23 weeks)

2009-09-07T18:13:00.001-07:00

23 weeks

14 weeks -- what a difference 9 weeks can make!

Nursery Furniture- bought!

2009-09-06T17:09:00.000-07:00

Leksvik Crib and Changing Table/Dresser from Ikea. Simple and budget-friendly.

Homemade Baby Food -- Great Resource

2009-09-04T15:04:00.000-07:00

http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/

Thanks to a message board poster on the Green Living board at thenest.com I discovered the above website. Talk about a wealth of information!

22 weeks (and 4 days)

2009-09-04T12:20:00.001-07:00

Lazy blogger so you're getting this post at 22 weeks 4 days instead of 22 weeks. Oh the shame.

So, yeah, I'm 22 weeks pregnant. WOW! I think each week I'll just keeping saying wow. Just wait until I'm giving birth, that will be a WOW!

So, what's Li'l P up to this week? Lots of movement, that's for sure. Jake can visibly see the kicks and feel them. It's great to be able to share those moments with him. It makes us a giggle quite a bit. Li'l P has also been giving me indigestion. Nothing terrible, just makes me burpy.

According to babycenter.com Li'l P is ....

How your baby's growing: At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

1 pound?!?! Grow, kid, GROW!

Li'l P's First Road Trip

2009-08-30T18:55:00.000-07:00

On Thursday morning Jake and I packed up the Subaru and hit the road for Colorado. Eight hours later we arrived in the beautiful Rocky Mountain foothills and settled in for a very awesome weekend.

We went for a stroll in the foothills and couldn't resist this perfect photo-op.

Red Rocks Ampitheater is by far the best music venue EVER. Xavier Rudd and Yonder Mountain String Band put on incredibles shows to a sold out crowd. I'm pretty sure all 10,00 people were on their feet dancing.

Seriously, gorgeous.

We camped at the very gracious Tom and Jeanne's place along with other show goers from all over the country. Very good time.

21 weeks

2009-08-24T14:10:00.000-07:00

How far along? 21 weeks

Gender? I have no idea!!! It's funny how everybody else seems to already have an idea though. A lot of people keep telling me they think it's a girl. We'll just have to wait and see!

Sleep: So-so. I've been tossing and turning a lot and getting up to pee about every 2-3 hours.

Belly Button in or out? In and starting to look a little gapey.

What I miss: Shiraz and German beers. Is it sad that I miss alcohol? I've also been missing really intense workouts.

Cravings: None.

What I am looking forward to: Colorado this weekend (4 day weekend!) to see Xavier Rudd and Yonder Mountain at Red Rocks and do some camping!

Milestones: People are starting to notice I'm pregnant!

Weekly Wisdom: I must not be a very wise person because I can never think of anything to say here. :-)

Tired

2009-08-21T07:28:00.001-07:00

I don't know if it's Li'L P that's kicking my butt or the aftermath of the Iowa State Fair (funnel cake, caramel apple, chocolate covered bacon, and a taco salad), but I feel like poo today.

KICKS!!!

2009-08-18T20:30:00.000-07:00

I was taking a bath and Li'l P was moving around quite a bit. As I laid back to rest, I felt a little kick and saw my stomach move up a bit...then another! I called Jake into the bathroom and Li'L P gave us two more visible kicks!!! Sofreakingamazing!

Half Way There-- 20 WEEKS!

2009-08-17T08:14:00.000-07:00

How far along? 20 weeks
Gender? I have no idea!!!
Sleep: So-so. I've been tossing and turning a lot and getting up to pee about every 2-3 hours.
Belly Button in or out? In and starting to look a little gapey.
What I miss: Shiraz and German beers. Is it sad that I miss alcohol?
Cravings: Anything that is edible. Seriously. I could eat anything now!
What I am looking forward to: Pregnancy massage on Wednesday and our trip to Colorado in 2 weeks.
Milestones: Half way done! Li'l P is moving around a lot more--still no hard kicks or jabs.
Weekly Wisdom: I must not be a very wise person because I can never think of anything to say here. :-)

Here's a little info on what Li'l P might be up to this week (babycenter.com):

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

19 weeks and an Ultrasound

2009-08-10T16:17:00.000-07:00

We had an ultrasound and appointment this morning. Li'l P slept through the entire ultrasound(so our child, it was 8:00 a.m.--I would've been sleeping too). Seeing all the intricacies of such a tiny human being was amazing; the heart chambers, the tiny bones, the spinal cord, ALL AMAZING! We had a strong heartrate of 155 bpm and everything looked really good. :-)

Li'l P says "hello"
Alien child.

How far along? 19 weeks

Gender? I have no idea!!!

Sleep: GREAT!

Belly Button in or out? In and starting to look a little gapey.

What I miss: Shiraz and German beers.

Cravings: Anything that is edible. Seriously. I could eat anything now!

What I am looking forward to: Pregnancy massage next week- YES! Trip to Colorado in 2 weeks.

Milestones: Getting rid of that damn RLP. Feeling Li'l P roll and drop--it was awesome!

Weekly Wisdom: Hmmm...let me think on this one.

Painting Ideas

2009-08-09T19:37:00.000-07:00

I have paint ideas narrowed down to two ideas.

Picture 1: I really like this, but may tone down the blue circles by making them smaller.

Picture 2: WOW! Ok, so, I like the idea of painting our focus wall with the clouds and water and adding truffela trees in the middle. The quality of the mural painting in this pic is amazing. I can't imagine how much work this would be.

So, what do you think?

Things to do

2009-08-09T18:15:00.000-07:00

Will I ever get the motivation to get things done around the house? I realize I still have nearly 20 weeks before Li'l P arrives, but our list of things to get done with the house before the baby comes is rather daunting. And, considering the entire month of Septemeber is filled with weddings and family gatherings, it doesn't look like we'll get started on much until October.

Am I being a bit irrational in thinking all of this just isn't going to get done by the beginning of January?!

1. Paint, decorate, and organize nursery
2. Remodel and decorate basement
3. Paint and redecorate our bedroom
4. Retile the bathroom
5. Organize all closets and storage areas in the house

Is this beginning of my nesting impulses?

Are you pregnant, Ms. Jenn?

2009-08-04T15:13:00.000-07:00

Why, yes, I am!

I had 5 kiddos and 1 parent at the Club ask me if I was pregnant today. That little bump must be becoming visible to others. :-)

Shopping for Li'l P

2009-08-03T14:38:00.000-07:00

I bought several 4-packs of Gerber 100% organic cotton onesies (at $9.99 a pack these are a steal). My friend and I are going to be tie-dying and attempting to screen print some of them. I can't wait to see how they turn out.

These two adorable beanies are from etsy seller Ninishandmades. Being that Li'l P will be a winter baby a beanie is essential!

This dreamcatcher is made by an etsy seller whose stuff I costantly drool over, tamar

I bought a babymat from esty seller babymomo for my cousin's baby and she LOVED it. So, Li'l P MUST have one!

18 weeks

2009-08-03T08:19:00.000-07:00

I can't believe 18 weeks is here--I'm nearly half way done! So far, my 18th week has been rather painful. I've been experiencing round ligament pain (RLP) to the extreme. It was actually so bad on Friday that I ended up in the emergency room thinking something was wrong with the baby. Thankfully, the baby was fine but the RLP has yet to subside. I go through bouts of pain that last 20-45 minutes. The pain extends from my upper hip down to my lower abdomen. It's like menstrual cramps times ten! When I'm not having a long bout I'm just dealing with a dull ache. Only problem is, movement tends to make the RLP rear it's ugly face in full force, therefore, I'm spending a lot of time BORED out of my mind on the couch or in bed. I cannot wait for it to subside!

How far along? 18 weeks.
Gender? I'm having boy feelings this week. We still have 22 weeks before we find out so I'm not putting too much thought into it.
Sleep: Good, if I'm not dealing with the RLP.
Belly Button in or out? In but I can tell it's getting pushed out--weird. Plus, I have that dark line forming on my tummy.
What I miss: Shiraz and German beers. Being able to stand on my feet and do things.
Cravings: Root beer floats. Fruit.
What I am looking forward to: Next ultra sound in 1 week. Getting rid of the RLP.
Milestones: I'm 99.9% sure I've been feeling Li'l P move around. I can't wait for the big kicks and jabs. We bought our crib bedding too!
Weekly Wisdom: I need some positive wisdom this week. :-)

17 weeks

2009-07-27T11:43:00.000-07:00

I'll post a bump pic after I get home from work.

How far along? 17 weeks. WHAT?!
Gender? Oh, golly, I have a feeling it's a girl, but find that hard to believe considering Jake's family only seems to have boy sperm.
Sleep: Mostly good. I can't sleep on my stomach anymore so I'm getting use to sleeping while cradling a pillow--it's not too bad.
Belly Button in or out? In but I can tell it's getting pushed out--weird. Plus, I have that dark line forming on my tummy.
What I miss: Shiraz and German beers.
Cravings: None that I can think of. However, I have noticed my appetite is out of control!
What I am looking forward to: Next ultra sound in 2 weeks! Camping trip with our friends this weekend.
Milestones: I'm 99.9% sure I've been feeling Li'l P move around. I can't wait for the big kicks and jabs. We bought our crib bedding too!
Weekly Wisdom: Enjoy being pregnant---it's a pretty amazing journey. :-)

Protein

2009-07-22T16:38:00.000-07:00

Protein is a pregnant woman's friend. I try to get 100 grams of it a day, which is harder than you think. Let's just say I eat a lot of beans, string cheese, and peanut butter. Luckily, I have the internet at my fingertips, which has allowed me to find lots of protein-packed meals (many of which are vegetarian). This evening, I made a 15-bean soup that I came across on Fat Free Vegan Kitchen (you can find the recipe when you click on the link). The soup was good, but I don't think I added enough liguid, as you can tell by the way my soup looks and the way her soup looks. So, if you make this recipe, make sure to add more liquid to achieve that soup-like consistency.

If you want to find out more on why protein is so important during pregnancy, check out this great little article at babycenter.com.

Well Hello There 16 Weeks

2009-07-20T15:39:00.000-07:00

Looking a lot more bumptastic than I thought. :-)

How far along? 16 weeks
Gender? Oh, golly, I have a feeling it's a girl, but find that hard to believe considering Jake's family only seems to have boy sperm.
Sleep: Heavenly!
Belly Button in or out? In
What I miss: Wine at Sbrocco, feeling comfortable in my pants
Cravings: I haven't had any extreme cravings this week. I do eat a lot of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, though.
What I am looking forward to: Feeling the baby move! Our next ultra sound on August 10--3 weeks from today! The wedding Jake and I are going to this weekend. Wearing my cute new maternity jeans.
Weekly Wisdom: Enjoy being pregnant---it's a pretty amazing journey. :-)

Healthy Pregnancy

2009-07-19T13:42:00.000-07:00

During the first trimester of the pregnancy I was not very good at keeping myself as healthy as I should've been. The all day sickness and constant tiredness left me unmotivated. I ate mostly comfort foods, slept a lot, and hardly ever exercised-- SHAME ON ME! Once the second trimester hit, it was a whole new world; I wasn't sick anymore, I had energy, and I've slowly started to return to living a more healthy life. I started cooking healthy meals, walking regularly, and drinking lots of water. I'm still not to where I would like to be. I'm starting to take prenatal water aerobics classes, I downloaded a prenatal yoga class from yogadownload.com, and I've started preparing meals full of protein and other nutrients essential for the development of a healthy baby.

We recently signed up for childbirth classes. We've decided to go with the Bradley Method and have chosen a highly recommended instructor, Amy, from Before and After the Birth in Des Moines, Iowa. Amy's website is full of tips for a healthy pregnancy--I can't wait to see what she offers us in the classes.

I know how incredibly important it is that I live as healthy of life as possible for Li'l P. I'm hoping to chronicle some of the things I'm doing to stay healthy and keep this little one healthy and happy too.

I've Got Something Else a Growin'

2009-07-19T12:04:00.001-07:00

I planted this garden in April, 2 days after we found out we were pregnant. It's been neat to watch the garden grow over the summer. We planted 2 tomato plants, 1 cherry tomato plant, 2 bell pepper plants, 1 jalapeno plant, a row of onion, 1 (gigantic) zuchini plant, 1 eggplant plant, basil, oregano, cilantro, and dill.

A close-up of a little zuchini growing. We already ate one zuchini from this plant and it was delicious. Food taste even better when you grow it.

A few cherry tomatoes.

I ate these two straight off the plant. YUM!

Cute little bell peppers.

The zuchini plant that has taken over the garden.

Nursery Inspiration Pictures

2009-07-14T17:09:00.001-07:00

The Inspiration for it all!

Nursery Time

2009-07-13T17:20:00.000-07:00

One thing Jake and I are sure we want to do is instill a love of reading in our child. And, one of my all time favorite children's book authors is Dr. Seuss. His whimsy way with words and art has worked its way into millions of hearts. While trying to think of a nursery theme I came across this lovely Dr. Seuss nursery featured in Pottery Barn Kids and I think I'm sold!

I know I really want to have The Lorax play a large part in the nursery, so I'm going to think of ways to incorporate it! If you have any ideas, let me know.

15 weeks

2009-07-13T06:37:00.000-07:00

This journal has been created mainly for Jake and I to be able to document our first pregnancy, and someday share the contents with our little one.

Today marks the beginning of week 15! It's hard to belive its already been 15 weeks! In 5 weeks we'll be half way done with this awesome journey. And, I'm sure the due date will be here before we know it.

This morning I had my 2nd midwife appointment and I got to hear Li'l P's strong heartbeat (150 bpm)---I swear that is the best sound ever. You can't help but get a little teared up when you hear it.

I have a slight little bump just below my belly button, I'm pretty sure the rest of the bump is mainly bloat! Give it a month or so an I'm sure that bump will be blowin' up--never thought there would be a day in my life where I would actually want a nice, big round belly-ha! I'll be posting weekly pics of the bump so we can document the change. :-)

I will also be posting a weekly list of questions:

How far along? 15 weeks
Gender? Oh, golly, I have a feeling it's a girl, but find that hard to believe considering Jake's family only seems to have boy sperm.
Sleep: I'm actually sleeping pretty well- much better than the first tri.
Belly Button in or out? In
What I miss: Wine at Sbrocco
Cravings: Fruits, sweets, and black beans (lots and lots of black beans) I actually ate an entire cane of black beans in one sitting.
What I am looking forward to: Our next ultra sound on August 10--4 weeks from today!
Weekly Wisdom: Enjoy your pregnancy! I'm so relaxed with my pregnancy and I love being pregnant. Also, read books that take a positive look at childbirth and labor--you'll feel much better and be prepared.