I figured that I would go over some things that I love to help me stay healthy throughout this pregnancy. The first 18 weeks were extremely hard for me because of the nausea, throwing up and major food aversions. I worried about what I was eating, because I couldn't stomach any type of meat and looking at the leafy green vegetables that I needed to eat for calcium (since I cannot have dairy), made me want to run out of the house. After a while, I wasn't just feeling sick because of the nausea, I was feeling really run down because I wasn't getting enough protein, iron and calcium (amongst other things).
Luckily my meat eating abilities returned before my iron levels dropped too much, but the lack of calcium still made me nervous. I've taken a supplement since the beginning, but I still believe that food should be your number one source for your vitamins. Enter my husband, the maker of my amazing green smoothie (he still makes these for me even though I can look at veggies again...love him for that).
While I couldn't look at cooked vegetables without feeling sick, for some reason I could handle them in blended form (maybe because the berries over-rided the vegetable taste?). Here is what you can usually find in my smoothie:
- 2 handfuls of kale (steamed)
- 2 handfuls of spinach (steamed)
- frozen blueberries & raspberries
- an apple
- almond milk or water and some ice
I found steaming the vegetables to be key, as your digestive system is already running slower when you are pregnant and this helps alleviate the chance of stomach cramps/ bloating/ indigestion. No reason to add any more discomfort to yourself. Also, a green smoothie a day helps keep the constipation away (yeah I went there).
I usually get 2 large shakes out of this, which means I only have to make them every other day. Sweet!
This is the calcium supplement I take in case you were wondering:
For my prenatal vitamin, I went with the Rainbow Light Prenatal One. I love these because they don't make me nauseous (they have a ton of really good reviews in this respect), you only have to take one a day, and they are gluten and dairy free (score!). They are also free of yeast, eggs, so, nuts, fish and shellfish if you were wondering. Love, love, love these.
I also take Vitamin D3 supplements (since I live in the northeast and it is winter and I'm a pale, pale person), along with Super Omega-3 EPA/DHA supplements. I use Carlson Vitamin D3, because it is a quality product, and LifeExtension Super Omega-3 EPA/DHA with sesame lignans & olive fruit extract. I love this product because it does not smell or taste fishy at all. I've taken other fish oil supplements, which ultimately went to waste, because could not handle the fishy aftertaste. This one is pure awesomeness.
Then there is my beloved water bottle. Everyone knows you have to drink lots and lots of water especially when pregnant, but I was finding it tricky keeping track of just how much I was drinking since I have a job where I am on my feet or driving most of the day. So I went in search of a water bottle that met the following criteria:
- Had measurements on the bottle
- Was BPA Free
- Was thin enough to fit in a cup holder
(You can get so much water drinking done while stuck in your car! Why are so many water bottles ridiculously wide?!?)
- Had a straw
( I am clumsy enough... I don't need to spill water all over myself. Also straw = easier to drink in the car)
With regards to exercise, I've mostly been sticking with walking every day, since prenatal yoga actually made my weird hip pain worse. I did just buy a prenatal bellydancing dvd in the off chance that it helps relieve some of the pain. I haven't tried it out yet, but will make sure to review once I do.
So, that about sums up my healthy pregnancy regimen. Let me know if you have any question!
**I was not paid to review any of these products. These are just what I found to help after a lot of research.
I decided to jump on the "Our Love Story" bandwagon started by From Mrs to Mama. So, here it goes!
This is my version. I think I'm going to have Ryan tell his version later this week :)
1. How long have you and your significant other been together?
Since September, 2006. I'd tell you an exact date, but I'm horrible with dates (except for all of our friends' wedding anniversaries. 3.5 years in the wedding planning business, and I remember every. single. one.) Ryan on the other hand remembers even the most obscure dates. I'll have to ask him tonight!
2. How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?}
During the summer of 2006 I hung out with a group of friends in D.C. mostly made up of VT/UVA/JMU and WVU alums. For the most part we participated in "summer series," which was a schedule (yup, we had a schedule) of happy hours in (mostly dive) bars around the city. Classy. We also did fun things like go to 80's cover band concerts (in bars), camping & tubing in Harper's Ferry, and attending Nationals baseball games (they never won...no surprise there).
One night we were all out in Arlington at Whitlows on Wilson (for any D.C. folks) and The Reflex, my favorite 80s cover band, was playing. In walked a very cute guy. He instantly caught my attention, and needless to say I was quite excited when I realized that he was a friend of someone in our group. We spent the entire night talking, but never exchanged phone numbers. I didn't think I would really ever see him again.
Fast forward one month later, and the group had a tubing trip in West Virginia/followed by dinner at my apartment/ followed by another Whitlow's outing (The Reflex was playing again) planned. We liked to keep our days busy I guess! I was hoping that Ryan might join his friends for this, and was pleasantly surprised when he did. I decided to ignore him for a bit (I was a bit miffed that he spent an entire night talking to me without asking for my number), but that lasted all of maybe 10 minutes. He was too good looking and I caved. We spent most of the day and night talking and then he kissed me. In a bar. I think the band was playing "Walk Like An Egyptian." Somewhere out there, there is even a picture of this kiss.
Needless to say, this story will definitely be edited when our little ones ask how mommy and daddy met.
I made sure that he got my number after he pulled that one. I even put myself under the VIP section of his contact list.
He called the next day to ask me out on a date. A few days after that he asked me to be his girlfriend. 3 weeks after he kissed me in the bar, he told me he loved me (in Spanish...(he lived in South America for a while)...aaannnnddd I had no idea what he was saying at first). 4 months after that kiss he told me he wanted to marry me while we were watching "Walk the Line." And a whopping 9 months after we started dating, he asked me to be his wife.
I said yes. Hands down the best decision I ever made.
The 1st time we met.
Nothing says romance like the sweet, sweet sounds of "Don't Stop Believing" playing in the background.
The night Ryan 1st told me he loved me.
I believe his actual words were, "Te amo muchisimo."
3. If married, how long have you been married?
We were married on July 26th, 2008...so a little over 3.5 years.
4. If you are married, where did you get married at?
Our ceremony was at Saint Joseph on the Brandywine Catholic Church in Wilmington, Delaware, followed by an outdoor reception at Bellevue Hall (an old DuPont Mansion).
5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another?
Not really. We'll use the occasional babe, and I'm one of the few people that call him Ry. However, in our cell phones, we're listed under our full names (first, middle and confirmation). A bit quirky I guess!
6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey
- How much he takes care of me (especially now). He forever puts me first...even during the last six weeks when I've been stuck sleeping in a recliner (which we have to keep in our living room because of our narrow old house steps), he makes sure to sleep next to me on the couch in case I need something or have a bad dream.
- He's always a gentleman. He still opens car doors for me even after 5 years of being together.
- His unbelievable cooking skills. I always joke with him that I married him for his guacamole. But seriously...marrying someone who is an amazing cook is one of the best things EVER. Especially when you find out shortly after getting married that you have crazy food allergies. I probably would have starved that first year if not for my husband.
7. Tell us how he proposed?
He took me on a scavenger hunt around Virginia Beach (his hometown), which ended with him getting down on one knee on the beach. Followed by a yummy dinner at Steinhilber's.
Thanks for the rock, Ry!
Engagement Photos:
8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?
Neither. I'm weird and don't like Valentine's Day or New Years (guess he lucked out with that!). I'm a huge fan of the 4th of July though (I believe the latest this baby can come is July 3rd which better be true because I am going to eat hot dogs like no other on July 4th). OMG HOT DOGS. (sorry pregnancy craving).
He's more likely to send me flowers on a random day to let me know that he's thinking of me, or surprise me with a cleaned house and a wonderfully cooked dinner. I'll take these things any day of the week!
We're also not really big gift people (we like traveling and experiential things more), so we're more likely to put our money towards those things.
Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Cliffs of Moher, Ireland
9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or popa movie in and relax on the couch?
Again, not really either. But I'll go with sunset dinner on the beach because I love food and the beach. I tend to fall asleep during movies, so that is a waste.
10. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere?
I'd spend the morning in Croatia, the afternoon watching VT play UVA in football (at Lane Stadium of course), and the evening eating dinner in Anguilla (because that is where the majority of Ryan's "favorite meals of his life" were).
Eating in Anguilla
11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day.
Well I'm home with a bad cold, and since most cough medicine is a pregnancy no-no, there's no chance of this happening (which Ryan is probably thankful for ;) ):
12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day? Nope. But if somehow Ryan had the power to take away my crazy hip pain so I could sleep in a bed again, I would totally cash in on that. Oh bed...I miss you as much as a 100 hot dogs in their mustardy-relishy glory.
13. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love.
Always be each other's number one priority.
14. Show us a picture of what love means to you.
McNugget's very 1st picture at 5.5 weeks.
I had to go to the hospital because they thought I may have had appendicitis (luckily I didn't). It was a crazy night, but we got to see our baby (who was just a flickering little heartbeat at the time).
