Yoga + Mama = Yoga Lovin' Baby

For all of you who know me (which is hopefully everyone who reads this blog) know how much I love Yoga, if you don't know see all my posts here! (pop quiz-how many times did I use the word "know")

At any rate, today was the first time that I actually was able to do yoga for a longer period than 15 minutes and let me tell you, it was refreshing! I followed this DVD:



source found here:

It's amazing that my entire outlook on life and my well-being is totally different after a yoga/meditation workout. The prenatal yoga is definitely an exercise that will help with delivery and the changes that my body is going through. With everything changing and being out-of-wack with my emotions running wild, my belly is ever-changing into it's own, and my anticipation of the actual labor itself becoming a reality and really scaring the be-jabbers out of me! Yoga has a way of calming all of the above. I feel normal. I feel empowered. I feel connected with the baby.  I feel beautiful.  

Because I'm Horrible!

Remember my 19 Week recap post that was lacking a picture? Yeah, I'm bad at two things. One, to actually take pictures of me, and two, to upload them before my recap week on Wednesdays. Hopefully since Wednesday is only 2 days away, I'll be pro-active in getting a picture with the post at the same time :) .

Here is my 19 week pictures:



It's amazing that I am way more comfortable in my skin while being pregnant, but maybe that's because I'm supposed to have a belly :).  Even though some may say, "whoa! Have you popped! How many weeks are you?" and when I tell them, their eyes pop out an their jaws drop. Others don't even know I'm pregnant.  I tend to love the first reaction-it's way more fun that way!


Enough about me,  how are you?

Amazing.Video.Ever

After my last post, I remembered a video I saw this past week and it expressed the material things and such. It is an amazing video that I think it's too important not to share.

*If you have a slow internet speed, please let the video load completely and watch it while it streams constantly.  

Baby Necessities VS. Baby Accessories 101

This morning it dawned on me that I am only 3 days away from being halfway done with this pregnancy. In 20 more weeks or so, we will have a little us to complete our family :) . It's amazing and overwhelming to think about everything that needs to happen before then.


I have been looking through a multitude of baby books and internet sites to give me an idea of what the necessities are for a newborn, and what the accessories are, things that would be nice/comfortable/fun to have, but not things that we don't necessarily need.


Here is the breakdown of what the necessities are:

Clothing:
*onsies
*winter-outfit (for travel back to WMO)
*socks
*sleepsack
*diapers (preferably cloth)
*One comfort blanket/stuffed animal
*baby sling


Feeding Supplies:
*breast pump I found a good one here
*pacifier (with holder & wipes)
*bottles with extra nipples (BPA free) click here for what we are getting
*nursding pads
*nursing cover


Health:
*thermometer
*nasal aspirator
*baby shampoo (organic)
*hooded bath towel
*baby nail clippers

Although it's fun to look at all the necessities we need...It's even more fun looking at for exciting accessories!

Here is the breakdown of the accessories we have been looking at:


Fun:
*Bobby
*Bumbo
*Carters Jamies
*an excessive amount of cute baby clothing/accessories such as booties and cute knitted hats
*walker
*swing
*plush toys
*playmat of some sort
*rattles
*and for the final fun, cute, accessory: the PeaPod Portable Self-Inflating Travel-Bed (click the link).
 As much as I want to put this item in the necessities section, I think we need to spend our money on things we need.

This is obviously a rough draft list of the things that we are needed/wanting for our baby. I'll keep updating this list as time goes on and I find other stuff :).

19 Weeks!!

I love the saying "Time does fly by when you're having fun" but seriously, time doesn't just fly by when your having fun, but when your busy it sure goes by fast too! I'm on my third week in a row going to teacher trainings. I am drained. Exhausted.  But. The best thing about this week?

I am 19 WEEKS!! People-That is 1 week away from being half-way through my pregnancy...I can't believe how fast it has happened, and how much I have grown!

Here is the 19 Week Update:

How far along? 19 weeks!!
Total weight gain/loss: Not quite sure, but I'm still truckin' along with the exercising-doing the body (and baby) good.
Sleep: Haven't slept a full night's sleep. It's not pregnancy related, I hate being away from my husband.
Best moment this week: Celebrating our 3rd wedding anniversary!!
Movement: Still quite a bit.  Getting more and more potent as the days pass.
Food Cravings: Not so much cravings, but I have been carbo-load
Gender: Still quite not sure :) But feeling blessed we have a little one on the way
Labor Signs: thank-goodness..None.
Belly Button in or out: In, although it's stretching and quite frankly, very ugly.
What I miss: Being able to sleep on my stomach
What I am looking forward to: being able to say I am halfway done with my pregnancy, and also being back home with my husband for more than 3 days...
Weekly Wisdom: To Husband: Even if I had cried each time we have been away, you have to be supportive and sensitive to my feelings :) Thank you. That is all. Your lovely preggo wife.
Milestones: Being able to feel the flutters like a butterfly movement in my tummy.

Here is the information from babycenter.com

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.


Okay, you would think that I would learn after 3 weeks to bring a camera for my weekly belly shot, but alas, I am not. I will as soon as I can.

Drumroll Please :) ......

You Can Bet...

...that our little one will be wearing this:

Striped Beanie:


And of course these....

Baby Strappy Booties:


found here

You can bet that I will be looking at some more cutesy stuff there is out there for little munchkins.  Now, the trick is to start actually purchasing some supplies. In fact, I should start buying stuff now, believe it or not it's only 5 months away!!! 
************************************************************************************
On another note:

Last night, we were invited by some friends to go on a night fishing trip.  It was a very nice boat ride, and it wasn't a total bust (meaning, we didn't catch any silvers), because I was able to play with their little guy who just turned two.  We played pick-a-boo, and played with trucks. Getting some practice in :)

It was a very relaxing boat ride, and on the way back, Clint had something on his line.  We thought it was a big silver, but low and behold it wasn't...Take a look!

This is a huge Pike....A "trophy" Pike in fact:

Clint with his catch:

WARNING! AVERT YOUR EYES IF YOU HAVE A WEAK STOMACH...

Seriously....I'm really, really, really warning you....

Okay.....


Are you sure?


Here you go then...


Are you sure?


Here is it....

 Clint was "investigating" the Pike.  It was disgusting, but he found a small trout, half eaten in his stomach :S

Flawless Love...

"Love is patient: love is kind and envies no one.

Love is never boastful, nor conceited, nor rude; never selfish, not quick to take offense. There is nothing love cannot face; there is no limit to its faith, its hope, and endurance.  In a word, there are three things that last forever: faith, hope, and love, but the greatest of them all is love."

{1 Corinthians 13:4}

 I am fortunate to have some pretty amazing love in my life and that's something I don't, for one second, take for granted.  I have the love of a man who still, after 4 years together, takes my breath away when he walks into a room (mushy I know, but it's my blog, my thoughts :). I also love and have the love of some pretty amazing family members, although, as most of you know, love is never easy all the time. But it's still an aw-inspiring love.



As I ponder the thought of bringing another life into this crazy, scary, amazing, and beautiful world, which lately has been and endless stream of dreams-including day dreams, I can't help but think about the love I already have in my life and how it's going to change a gazillion times more-maybe even more than that!


One of my most favorite passages from the bible is 1 Corinthians, the quote stated above.  As I go through with this pregnancy and enter the realm of mommy hood (gosh, it still seems so surreal) I am going to instill from day one, that our lil' one experiences and knows that his/her mommy and daddy love.  Once we have established and have created love. We will teach our lil' one how to create stronger bonds with love.  The way to do this?

* Be patient and kind: Be kind to everyone and everything in life. Everyone deserves a smile rather than a rude comment.

*Avoid selfishness: Although sometimes it's okay to put yourself first sometimes, it is truly more important to think of other first.

*Do not be rude or boastful: This goes hand in hand with the first concept. If you practice being patient and kind, you will automatically be rid of rudeness or boastful.

*Be supportive and avoid envy: Be supportive and happy for everyone who seems to be doing better than you. 

*Fill your heart with trust: The strongest love has the most trustful relationship.  If you don't trust the ones you love, you will never be truly happy.  Trust is perhaps one of the most important elements.

*Believe in the power of love: If you truly love, you will have the power to overcome an negativity--if you believe in it. 

*Celebrate the love you share: Don't take love for granted.  Just don't do it.  Make time to celebrate the love you have.  We will create our own holidays to celebrate love!

There you have it.  Some of my thoughts on teaching our lil' one love.




Photo Credit: here

18 Weeks!!

18 weeks....18!! 18.....Today marks the day that I am 18 weeks exactly! It's amazing how fast it's going by. Every week that passes is another week closer to meeting the lil' one :). We are beyond excited...

Here is the 18 week recap:

How far along? 18 weeks :)

Total weight gain/loss: I have no idea yet, but hopefully it's not too much


Sleep: I have not been sleeping good as this is the second week in a row that I am away from my bed, although this week I was able to sleep next to my husband and lil' fur babies

Best moment this week: Having people tell me I don't look pregnant and I am glowing (It's nice to know that I don't look as big as I feel).

Movement: A lot. I am feeling movement everyday.


Food cravings: I desperately needed some chocolate a few days this week.... Needed.

Gender: It's a surprise!

Labor Signs: None


Belly Button in or out? In.. I don't think it's commin' out. But it sure is stretching!

What I miss: Running long distance, and sushi...

What I am looking forward to: To snuggle with my lil' belly bean...And so see my Hubbs become a father.

Weekly Wisdom: You are not eating for two. You are eating for 1 and a 6 oz. baby. Don't pig out.

Milestones: our baby is the length of a bell pepper (5 1/2 inches long).


From babycenter.com


How your baby's growing:

Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

Picture of the week:

Are you tired yet?

I sure hope you aren't tired of looking at these beautiful pictures. If you are, well, tough luck anyway because you're getting more!

Enjoy:







































Some of my favorite pictures are the ones with my Inlaws (Especially the one with my Father-in-Law, Mickey on stage.  Mickey, thanks for that wonderful evening!  It was such a blessing to have had the time to go on a road trip with them. I will never forget the time we had together :) . Thank you for that!

More Summer Fun....

Here are some beautiful pictures and some of my favorite ones from our road trip :).

Enjoy:







































That's all for now :)