It wouldn't be called the 24 Day CHALLENGE if there wasn't something "challenging" to it. The Challenge is always something different depending on who you are. The point is that you are doing something to "challenge" yourself to improve your health in some way.
Maybe the challenge is drinking enough water.
Maybe it's getting in a workout.
Maybe it's giving up things you love like coffee, candy, or french fries.
No matter what challenge this brings to you, the end goal is that you are able to incorporate some new healthier changes in your life from here on out. (And usually lose some weight in the process!)
I thought it would be helpful to list some strategies that I have found helpful or that others have shared with me. (Just another thing to love about Advocare...such a positive, supportive network of people to surround yourself with. Everyone WANTS you to SUCCEED).
~ Use a gallon jug of water to track how much you have drank through the day. Decorate it up nice and pretty with positive sayings to keep you going.
~ If you're not a morning person and find you need to get up earlier, start off slow. Set the alarm for 15 minutes earlier for a couple days, then another 15, until you reach your destination.
~ Prep anything ahead of time that you can. I find if I get our lunches for the next day ready and packed the night before, that saves me a bunch of time in the morning.
~ Read up. Prepare for the Challenge before you begin. Know what you're going to be eating and doing each day. Ask questions!
~ Rethink the workout. Depending on how you have worked out before, or if you never have, you may have to do something different than you were used to. (A whole post coming about this!)
~ Surround yourself with positive people, who want you to succeed. This is something we try to teach our middle schoolers. You become who you hang around. If you are constantly surrounded by negativity, you will become negative. Positive people are more fun!
~ Rethink recipes you already have. Mix your own taco seasoning, swap out brown rice for white rice. Try spaghetti squash??? (I'm giving that one a whirl this time :)
There you have it. Hope these help! Anyone else have a tip that works for them?
Here's a rundown on the food for the last couple of days.
Breakfasts: Have been consistent on the egg white scrambles, oatmeal, and fruit. Feeling good starting out the day with a super breakfast!
Lunch: Usually leftovers from dinner. When I put away leftovers, I always portion everything out into individual containers for easy grab and go lunches. Meal replacement shakes and bars are wonderful on busy days or when we are out of leftovers.
Dinner: Made Cajun talapia with creole sauce over brown rice for dinner last night. Tonight is hamburger patties (made with 96% ground beef) and sweet potato wedges.
Snacks: Ethan has really liked the apples and peanut butter, so he's been really consistent on eating that. I've tried to mix up the fruit a bit with apples, oranges and bananas, but still try to get the protein or healthy fat from peanut butter or almonds.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Monday, January 6, 2014
START!
In order for something great to happen... you first have to START.
In order to have success at something... you must BEGIN.
In order to reach a goal...you have to SET IT.
HERE. WE. GO.
Today is day one of our Advocare 24 Day Challenge. We start with a 10 day cleanse. Ethan and I will be doing this together, however ours will be a little different since I am still breastfeeding and will be doing a modified challenge so I don't lose my milk supply.
I am realistic. I know there are going to be parts of this that are more challenging than others. It helps if I identify them, and point them out so we will be more than ready. Besides how fun is it to reach a goal without any challenges? If there isn't something to challenge you toward your goal, it isn't a goal.
My Challenges:
Breakfast: Egg white scramble with peppers and onions for Ethan, tomatoes and spinach for me. 1/2 cup oatmeal with banana and a TBS of all natural peanut butter.
Snack: Banana and two TBS of peanut butter for me, apple and two TBS peanut butter for Ethan.
Lunch: Meal replacement shake for me and meal replacement bar for Ethan.
Snack: After workout recovery shake (a whole post coming on this later!)
Dinner: Chicken taco bowls with black beans, cilantro lime rice, and homemade guacamole. YUM!
Tomorrow... a cleanse friendly recipe and some tips for dealing with those challenges!
**If the Advocare 24 Day Challenge is something you would like to try or would like more information on let me know or visit my website**
In order to have success at something... you must BEGIN.
In order to reach a goal...you have to SET IT.
HERE. WE. GO.
Today is day one of our Advocare 24 Day Challenge. We start with a 10 day cleanse. Ethan and I will be doing this together, however ours will be a little different since I am still breastfeeding and will be doing a modified challenge so I don't lose my milk supply.
I am realistic. I know there are going to be parts of this that are more challenging than others. It helps if I identify them, and point them out so we will be more than ready. Besides how fun is it to reach a goal without any challenges? If there isn't something to challenge you toward your goal, it isn't a goal.
My Challenges:
- Time management: I am taking on quite a lot at the moment. Returning to teaching after 9 weeks of maternity leave. Trying to establish a morning routine with TWO girls, under the age of two, one who is completely dependent on either Ethan or myself, and the other who is determined to be independent, but lacking the skill to do so. A full day of teaching, without forgetting to eat. Trying to fit in a workout at least four days a week. Cooking dinner. Normal housework. Getting food ready for the next day. Blogging. Oh...and sleeping somewhere in there...
- No Wheat. During the Cleanse Phase we will be avoiding wheat and dairy (except for Advocare products). I love, Love, LOVE all things wheat.
Ethan's Challenges:
- No Dairy. Ethan loves his milk and cheeses. Although he will get to add this back in after the cleanse in moderation.
- No Dips. Ethan is a big dipper. This will also challenge me to find ways to fix foods where he doesn't feel like he wants to dip it in BBQ or Ranch.
- Veggies. Ethan doesn't like cooked veggies. He will eat them raw, but that can get old (and even quicker when there's no Ranch to dip them in...) Many of the meals include cooked veggies
Breakfast: Egg white scramble with peppers and onions for Ethan, tomatoes and spinach for me. 1/2 cup oatmeal with banana and a TBS of all natural peanut butter.
Snack: Banana and two TBS of peanut butter for me, apple and two TBS peanut butter for Ethan.
Lunch: Meal replacement shake for me and meal replacement bar for Ethan.
Snack: After workout recovery shake (a whole post coming on this later!)
Dinner: Chicken taco bowls with black beans, cilantro lime rice, and homemade guacamole. YUM!
Tomorrow... a cleanse friendly recipe and some tips for dealing with those challenges!
**If the Advocare 24 Day Challenge is something you would like to try or would like more information on let me know or visit my website**
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Our Journey 24
I know it is a cliche to talk about wanting to lose weight and become more healthy at the start of each new year, and tomorrow, the first Monday of 2014, Ethan and I begin our journey with Advocare's 24 Day Challenge.
I have done the challenge before and fell in love with Advocare and their products. I am doing another challenge, not because I stopped being healthy all together, but I need a little jump start in losing the rest of the baby weight (in particular around my hips and thighs which is causing none of my pants to fit.)
I have also taken on another goal. To try and share Advocare with as many people as I can. I LOVE the products and how they make me feel. I want everyone to feel as great as I do while taking them. I want everyone to have the opportunity I am hoping for as well.
I have had this blog for little over 5 years now and I share much of my life with the friends and family who read this. It only makes since to share my journey with Advocare here as well.
So for the next 24 days I will be sharing our experiences with the 24 Day Challenge. Tips, recipes, highs, lows, favorites, results, and much more. My hope is that anyone wanting to make a change, try something new, and challenge themselves will allow me the chance to share these wonderful products.
I have done the challenge before and fell in love with Advocare and their products. I am doing another challenge, not because I stopped being healthy all together, but I need a little jump start in losing the rest of the baby weight (in particular around my hips and thighs which is causing none of my pants to fit.)
I have also taken on another goal. To try and share Advocare with as many people as I can. I LOVE the products and how they make me feel. I want everyone to feel as great as I do while taking them. I want everyone to have the opportunity I am hoping for as well.
I have had this blog for little over 5 years now and I share much of my life with the friends and family who read this. It only makes since to share my journey with Advocare here as well.
So for the next 24 days I will be sharing our experiences with the 24 Day Challenge. Tips, recipes, highs, lows, favorites, results, and much more. My hope is that anyone wanting to make a change, try something new, and challenge themselves will allow me the chance to share these wonderful products.
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Just a Typical Trip to Mass
Dear Woman who sat in front of us tonight during Mass,
I would like to apologize for our 20-month-old daughter.
You see, we went to a different church tonight. We do go to Mass every week, even though I am sure it looked like our little girl had never seen the inside of a church or been told to sit more for more than 5 minutes at a time. As I am sure you noticed...she doesn't do that. Ever. But we do go to church. Every week. And we go through this, every week.
We really really tried, again, to keep her quite and sitting down. I packed her favorite book. "Brown Bear, Brown Bear." She LOVES it at home and will sit and look at it ON HER OWN, completely in to it. Not at church. She didn't care what Brown Bear saw. I am sorry, that it ended up in your pew. She tossed it there. I tried to catch it. I missed.
I am really sorry that she smacked you on your back as you sat, quietly listening to the reading. She has NEVER done that one before. I tried to stop her. I missed.
(On a positive note, she did try to pick off the loose hair sticking to the back of your shirt before she slapped you on the back.)
I am also very, truly sorry for any little bits of cracker that you might shake out of your coat tonight when you get home. You see, we don't normally go to church at this time. It is dinner time. She didn't get a snack after her nap this afternoon because all she wanted to do was sit in her high chair attempting to buckle and unbuckle the strap on her seat. So she was hungry. I pulled out the little peanut butter sandwich crackers in an attempt to stop her from screaming because she couldn't hold her new baby sister. She did stop screaming. However, that came at the cost of her pulling apart the sandwich to lick the peanut butter out of the middle and then shove the rest of the cracker in her mouth. That resulted in little bits of cracker falling in the pew in front of us. Where you were sitting. Again, I tried to catch it. I missed. Sorry.
I would also like to apologize for the gurgling noises during the homily. She was drinking her juice nice and quietly and then all of a sudden she throws her head back and starts to gurgle. I know, that sound should only ever be heard when brushing teeth, and never by a toddler...in church. All I can say is at least it stayed in her mouth...
I promise you we that we really do try to work with her on staying quiet. She just doesn't get it, and she isn't old enough to understand bribes, such as "if you stay quiet during mass you can have some fruit snacks, or ice cream, or ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS!"
I promise we try.
God Bless You and your quietly sitting boys,
The noisy family behind you
I have read article after article, blog post after blog post on how to keep a toddler quiet and attentive during mass, and how even though they are moving and crying and trying to escape up the aisle and trying to dip their entire arm in the holy water, they really are absorbing the information. I just keep reminding myself that this stage of life will pass, she will eventually sit and listen, until then, I will continue to pack "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" and write apology letters to the people sitting in front of us.
Sunday, November 17, 2013
A New Bag of Tricks
We were blessed to welcome another beautiful, healthy little baby girl into our family on November 2nd.
Her name is Katerina.
Not that I will ever boldly attempt to say that I have things figured out as a mother, but the second time around brings about more feelings of confidence. Kind of like teaching. The first year, you're barely hanging on, figuring out things to do with your students sometimes hours before the come waltzing into your classroom. The second year, brings new challenges, but you at least have a "bag of tricks" you developed that first time.
I have my bag of tricks.
Problem.
Katerina is not Jackie.
My bag of tricks was for Jackie.
Sure there are general tips that are pretty much the same for every baby. Have the new diaper ready to put down before getting old diaper off, how to get a good latch for nursing babies, teething rings, bibs, timeline of when to take baby to doctor check ups, and so on...
However, I am quickly learning how two sisters may look very similar (despite one having GOBS more hair than the other) but be two completely different babies, and how even small differences and send that "bag of tricks" out the window.
As it just so happens, the two biggest differences between the girls is also the biggest issues parents of newborns face right off the bat. Sleeping and eating. Although, to be fair, that is about all a newborn does. That an poop. But doin' just fine there...lots of poop.
When it came to sleeping, other than being a very LOUD sleeper, we pretty much hit the sleeping baby jackpot with Jackie. When she was a week old, we could no longer handle the grunting and squeaking that came from our little princess. She was swaddled nice and tight and put to bed across the house in her crib. Best. Move. Ever. From that point on everyone in the house was getting four-hour chunks of sleep at a time. Every single transition we have made with Jackie that involved sleep has been a breeze. She now goes to bed (or takes a nap) in her "big girl bed" without a fight or fuss.
Katerina a sleep is a different story. She likes to sleep, and sleeps very quietly. She is just picky about where she sleeps. We started off right away trying the crib. No dice. Tried the swing. Nope. The longest stretch of sleep in either of those two places is about two hours. Kat likes to be where the action is. She doesn't want to be off by herself. I want her off by herself. I want her sleeping in her crib. I can be stubborn. However, the other issue of eating has caused me to bend in my stubbornness and for right now, Kat sleeps soundly in her car seat on the floor of our room. We start off the night with anywhere from 4-6 hours of sleep and from that point on, we get up about every two hours. It is still a work in progress, while I try to update my bag of tricks to include things for miss Katerina, she will eventually sleep in her crib...
I thought Jackie was a good eater, and compared to my other mommy friends she was very typical. The nurses at the breastfeeding clinic were impressed the first time I took her in when they discovered she was eating 2-3 ounces in about a total hour feeding. This continued for 2-3 months before she was finally efficient enough to cut that time in half. We struggled big time in the beginning to get just the right latch and position so she wasn't making me want to cry every time she latched on. It was a very long process.
Now here is where my bag of tricks first came in handy. I knew how to get Katerina to latch on correctly and the best way to hold her. Within a couple days the soreness was gone and she was eating like a champ. The first trip to the breastfeeding clinic to get weighed shocked everyone. She was eating 2.5-3 ounces in half an hour! Wow! We have ourselves a super eater.
Having a super eater should be great, and it is because I know she's getting what she needs. However, this has provided a new set of problems. My milk has come in faster and in greater supply, Katerina is super-efficient. This means she is eating too much too fast. Causing our little one to spit up in great quantities multiple times a day. It has been a crazy, milk-soaked week trying to figure out how long to feed her, how long to prop her up, how often to burp her, and guessing how much she is eating. Tomorrow we are heading back to the clinic to see what advice they may have for this problem. Until it is solved, I just don't feel comfortable having her sleep across the house in the crib. I don't want to have to change crib sheets as often as I'm having to chance Kat's clothes! :)
I know as time goes and Katerina shows us more of her sweet little personality, I will add many new tricks to my bag. I just hope the love that Jackie shows her little sissy stays around for a long, long time!
Her name is Katerina.
Not that I will ever boldly attempt to say that I have things figured out as a mother, but the second time around brings about more feelings of confidence. Kind of like teaching. The first year, you're barely hanging on, figuring out things to do with your students sometimes hours before the come waltzing into your classroom. The second year, brings new challenges, but you at least have a "bag of tricks" you developed that first time.
I have my bag of tricks.
Problem.
Katerina is not Jackie.
My bag of tricks was for Jackie.
Sure there are general tips that are pretty much the same for every baby. Have the new diaper ready to put down before getting old diaper off, how to get a good latch for nursing babies, teething rings, bibs, timeline of when to take baby to doctor check ups, and so on...
However, I am quickly learning how two sisters may look very similar (despite one having GOBS more hair than the other) but be two completely different babies, and how even small differences and send that "bag of tricks" out the window.
As it just so happens, the two biggest differences between the girls is also the biggest issues parents of newborns face right off the bat. Sleeping and eating. Although, to be fair, that is about all a newborn does. That an poop. But doin' just fine there...lots of poop.
When it came to sleeping, other than being a very LOUD sleeper, we pretty much hit the sleeping baby jackpot with Jackie. When she was a week old, we could no longer handle the grunting and squeaking that came from our little princess. She was swaddled nice and tight and put to bed across the house in her crib. Best. Move. Ever. From that point on everyone in the house was getting four-hour chunks of sleep at a time. Every single transition we have made with Jackie that involved sleep has been a breeze. She now goes to bed (or takes a nap) in her "big girl bed" without a fight or fuss.
Katerina a sleep is a different story. She likes to sleep, and sleeps very quietly. She is just picky about where she sleeps. We started off right away trying the crib. No dice. Tried the swing. Nope. The longest stretch of sleep in either of those two places is about two hours. Kat likes to be where the action is. She doesn't want to be off by herself. I want her off by herself. I want her sleeping in her crib. I can be stubborn. However, the other issue of eating has caused me to bend in my stubbornness and for right now, Kat sleeps soundly in her car seat on the floor of our room. We start off the night with anywhere from 4-6 hours of sleep and from that point on, we get up about every two hours. It is still a work in progress, while I try to update my bag of tricks to include things for miss Katerina, she will eventually sleep in her crib...
I thought Jackie was a good eater, and compared to my other mommy friends she was very typical. The nurses at the breastfeeding clinic were impressed the first time I took her in when they discovered she was eating 2-3 ounces in about a total hour feeding. This continued for 2-3 months before she was finally efficient enough to cut that time in half. We struggled big time in the beginning to get just the right latch and position so she wasn't making me want to cry every time she latched on. It was a very long process.
Now here is where my bag of tricks first came in handy. I knew how to get Katerina to latch on correctly and the best way to hold her. Within a couple days the soreness was gone and she was eating like a champ. The first trip to the breastfeeding clinic to get weighed shocked everyone. She was eating 2.5-3 ounces in half an hour! Wow! We have ourselves a super eater.
Having a super eater should be great, and it is because I know she's getting what she needs. However, this has provided a new set of problems. My milk has come in faster and in greater supply, Katerina is super-efficient. This means she is eating too much too fast. Causing our little one to spit up in great quantities multiple times a day. It has been a crazy, milk-soaked week trying to figure out how long to feed her, how long to prop her up, how often to burp her, and guessing how much she is eating. Tomorrow we are heading back to the clinic to see what advice they may have for this problem. Until it is solved, I just don't feel comfortable having her sleep across the house in the crib. I don't want to have to change crib sheets as often as I'm having to chance Kat's clothes! :)
I know as time goes and Katerina shows us more of her sweet little personality, I will add many new tricks to my bag. I just hope the love that Jackie shows her little sissy stays around for a long, long time!
Monday, October 7, 2013
Jackie and her Daddy
To say that Jackie is a "Daddy's Girl" is a bit of an understatement. I thought I would post a little about the two of them, so that one day, when he is saying "No, you can't date that boy..." She will know just how much he loves her, and how much she loves him.
"Da-da" was the first word out of her mouth. Once she realized that the sound "Da-da" made daddy smile so big, she was hooked.
It wasn't until a couple months ago that she started saying "Ma-ma." However, "Da-da" still gets the sweetest little smile to accompany it. :o)
After a weekend at home over the summer with daddy, I would go in on a Monday to get her out of bed and she would just look at me with this stare, "Why are you not daddy?" and then look over my shoulder to the door waiting for him to come in behind me. When he didn't, she would race to our bedroom door and stand there insisting that "Da-da" come out.
As SOON as she heard the little "beep-beep" that the alarm on the door makes when someone opens it at the end of the day, she will drop ANYTHING and race to the garage door, squealing. Get a hug from daddy and then proceed to help him take off his shoes. That is a must. Shoes must come off!
Even now, when I am the one who gets home later and he's with her most of the evening. She will come see that I walk in the door and then abruptly turn around and go hug daddy's legs.
Even how they wake up in the morning is the same. Grunt. Stretch. Roll over. Peek out one eye and glare at me. Close eyes again. Roll around. Grunt. Then finally sit up.
They are both "big dippers." Jackie wants to dip everything she eats. In katsup, salsa, sour cream, anything. She saw that first from daddy.
Spice is nice! I've known Ethan was a spicy guy for a long time...and I like things spicy too and ate them while pregnant with Jackie. (So maybe this one is my fault). The other night, Jackie ate an entire hot link. Last night it was spicy Rotel dip (with the HOT Rotel) and added jalapenos from the garden. Don't even think about giving that girl something bland... she won't touch it. I imagine family dinners in my future with the following "This is a good recipe, but the chicken could use a little something more...it's a tad bland." That could come from daddy or Jackie.
You will never see popcorn disappear faster than trying to have some with one of them. I have NEVER seen anyoneeat shovel popcorn the way my husband does. Even the first time he made popcorn for our movie date, I had to be fast about getting some, or I would miss out. (That is unless I wanted the little trail of kernels left in the chair when he got up.) That is until I saw Jackie eat popcorn. Didn't take her long to figure out that one piece at a time is nice, but a FIST FULL of popcorn is even better. Even her babysitter commented on it!
There is something so sweet about a little girl's love for her daddy. I sure hope he's ready to have TWO fingers wrapped around TWO little girls :)
"Da-da" was the first word out of her mouth. Once she realized that the sound "Da-da" made daddy smile so big, she was hooked.
It wasn't until a couple months ago that she started saying "Ma-ma." However, "Da-da" still gets the sweetest little smile to accompany it. :o)
After a weekend at home over the summer with daddy, I would go in on a Monday to get her out of bed and she would just look at me with this stare, "Why are you not daddy?" and then look over my shoulder to the door waiting for him to come in behind me. When he didn't, she would race to our bedroom door and stand there insisting that "Da-da" come out.
As SOON as she heard the little "beep-beep" that the alarm on the door makes when someone opens it at the end of the day, she will drop ANYTHING and race to the garage door, squealing. Get a hug from daddy and then proceed to help him take off his shoes. That is a must. Shoes must come off!
Even now, when I am the one who gets home later and he's with her most of the evening. She will come see that I walk in the door and then abruptly turn around and go hug daddy's legs.
Even how they wake up in the morning is the same. Grunt. Stretch. Roll over. Peek out one eye and glare at me. Close eyes again. Roll around. Grunt. Then finally sit up.
They are both "big dippers." Jackie wants to dip everything she eats. In katsup, salsa, sour cream, anything. She saw that first from daddy.
Spice is nice! I've known Ethan was a spicy guy for a long time...and I like things spicy too and ate them while pregnant with Jackie. (So maybe this one is my fault). The other night, Jackie ate an entire hot link. Last night it was spicy Rotel dip (with the HOT Rotel) and added jalapenos from the garden. Don't even think about giving that girl something bland... she won't touch it. I imagine family dinners in my future with the following "This is a good recipe, but the chicken could use a little something more...it's a tad bland." That could come from daddy or Jackie.
You will never see popcorn disappear faster than trying to have some with one of them. I have NEVER seen anyone
There is something so sweet about a little girl's love for her daddy. I sure hope he's ready to have TWO fingers wrapped around TWO little girls :)
Sunday, September 8, 2013
This One vs. That One
Jackie is almost 18 months old.
I have no baby book for her.
Haven't started.
Don't mistake that for a lack of pictures. We have LOTS of pictures. Just no organized scrapbook chronologically marking every "first" for her to read through later in life.
I just kept saying "I'll get to it."
Yeah...in the mean time, I'm now 8 weeks away from little Katerina joining in with Jackie and all the fun thing they will get into growing up so close in age.
So, I figured I would start now by comparing pregnancies, since Jackie's is still pretty fresh in my mind. If I try to wait until baby #3 comes along, I might forget it all. (That might be a good thing...)
So here's a comparison of "This Pregnancy vs. That Pregnancy" or "Jackie vs. Kat"
Getting Pregnant:
Jackie: Took four months. I thought it would happen like THAT. I know that still isn't very long in comparison to other couples who tried for many, many months before getting pregnant, but I figured it would be no time. (I guess I just had to wait until "God's Time.")
Kat: Boom. Like THAT. This time I thought it would take 4-6 months for it to happen, so we started trying a little early. Maybe she will be the "punctual" one! :)
Finding Out:
Jackie: Had sort of "given up" for the month of July and put it out of my mind. But 3rd Annual Mystery Weekend was about to start and I needed to know. Took a test (an old one given to me from a friend at school who she insisted "didn't need anymore."). It said negative. No big surprise. SURPRISE later when I saw the test in the trash reading positive. Confused. Googled false positives. Drove to store to buy a new test. This time digital. No needing to figure out any line crap. Got a two pack. "Pregnant" read out loud and clear. Called Ethan at work. Called doctor. No alcohol on 3rd Annual Mystery Weekend.
Kat: I was in the "we are trying" mode, meaning not drinking unless I'm sure I'm not pregnant, already taking prenatal, and waiting until I was a week late to take the test. Even though I was pretty sure I was. Used #2 test in the pack of two bought before. Positive. Yelled to Ethan from bathroom. Called Doctor. No alcohol all summer...
Symptoms:
Jackie: Had about a week and a half of "Knock-you-off-your-feet nausea" and did nothing but lay in bed the entire first week of August. Started teaching and coaching just in time for the "So-tired-even-blinking-is-exhausting" stage. Came home from practice at 6ish... and went to bed. Threw up a few times if I ate too fast. I'm a teacher. I eat fast at every meal. Had to learn to SLOW down.
Kat: No real long period of nausea, just would hit me from time to time, usually in the evening. Barfed off and on. Tiredness in first trimester again, this time, there's no going to bed after getting home from school. Had a one-year-old to take care of. (Although, I have found that the first trimester tired and coaching is nothing like the third trimester tired and coaching.)
Sleep:
Jackie: Didn't have too much of a problem probably until the last month or so. Had a hard time getting comfy and sleeping long enough. I woke up a couple times a night to go to the bathroom. Heart burn was only a problem if I ate too late before going to bed. I snored.
Kat: Take everything I said about Jackie, multiply it by two and then speed it up about 4 months sooner. I hit the uncomfortable sleeping stage back in July. Last night I got up every hour (on the hour) because my bladder urgently required me to. That's a pretty normal night. If I eat much after 6:30 I can pretty much assume I'll be up 'till midnight. Heartburn a nightly problem, even if I just eat ice. I snore.
Cravings:
Jackie: Any and all things peanut butter. Just couldn't get enough of the stuff! And milk. We went through twice as much milk.
Kat: Ice. Not just any ice, our ice from our freezer. You know, the dense cloudy type that gets nice and soft once it sits in the water for just a little while. I know it doesn't make sense, but my mouth actually starts to water when I see that my cup, filled with ice, is just at that perfect chomping stage.
Mood Swings:
Jackie: Eh...not so much.
Kat: About the same.
Seasons:
Jackie: I was "big pregnant" during the winter months and that was actually pretty great. I remember being worried that I would slip and fall on the ice, but luckily that was one of the "warmest" winter's we have ever had. I didn't have to worry about ice at all.
Kat: Ugh. Big pregnant during August, September, and still to come, October. I actually lucked out with this being one of the coolest Augusts on record, but that didn't mean the heat didn't come. It did. We're in the middle of it now. I was so worried about slipping on the ice, but turns out, coaching is just as dangerous. I tripped during our first game and stumbled onto the bench, hitting my face on my manager's shoulder. Good thing the parents sit up in the mezzanine and couldn't see how red my face was.
Things-To-Do:
Jackie: We started building our new house about a month after we found out Jackie was coming. We closed on both the new and old house on Christmas Eve. I was almost at my 7 month mark. Get new house ready, Jackie's baby room ready, showers, and plan for a long-term sub (who would be giving my kids their state assessments). Yep. Busy.
Kat: Transfer Jackie to new room (current transition in progress...night #1 has started). Coach volleyball. Teach. Got everything ready for sub before school started (whoo hooo...go me!). Plan baby shower for Sister-In-Law. SIL has baby 9 weeks early. Plan baby shower for later in September. And most recently on the list, redo all of sub stuff due to hard drive crashing. Last week was a rough one. It will all get done...it will all get done...it will all get done...
Things-To-Buy:
Jackie: Everything. We had nothing, but a crib.
Kat: Winter clothes for newborn - 3 months. We may have two girls, but when one was 3 months in July and the other will be 3 months in February, those hand-me-downs aren't gonna work!
Feeling Baby Move:
Jackie: I felt the first little flutter right around 18 months. I know because that's when I had my sonogram and she was moving and turning all over the place and I was just feeling little tiny movements. Ethan could feel her move for the first time when I was 22 weeks along. I distinctly remember this because it was Thanksgiving. :) Jackie continued to be quite the mover, but only when I was resting. If I was up moving around she was almost rocked to sleep.
Kat: I felt her for the first time around 15 weeks, just tiny little punches. Ethan could feel her by the time we had the sonogram at 18 weeks. Since then it has been NON STOP MOVEMENT. Big movements. I swear at night it looks like she is trying to escape from the left side of my belly. I am definitely blaming her on my stretch marks! Oh, and she doesn't "rock to sleep" when I'm moving. She's moving too. Such a different sensation!
Showing:
Jackie: My goodness, I think I still had people coming up to me in January (7-8 months along) saying how I didn't look pregnant at all.
Kat: HA! My Father-in-Law asked if I was sure I wasn't have twins by the time I hit the 7 month mark.
Time:
Jackie: Everyone kept saying how pregnancy goes so fast. It's 9 short months (actually...10). It didn't feel fast to us. We just kept waiting, anxiously. Ethan would constantly tell her that it was time for her to come out so he could hold her.
Kat: I stupidly thought this pregnancy would "feel" like it went faster because we were busy with Jackie. Nope. Not at all. I am so excited for her to come and meet us all that it seems like time is dragging on. Not to mention I've been uncomfortable longer than I was with Jackie, and I still have 8 weeks to go.
I have no baby book for her.
Haven't started.
Don't mistake that for a lack of pictures. We have LOTS of pictures. Just no organized scrapbook chronologically marking every "first" for her to read through later in life.
I just kept saying "I'll get to it."
Yeah...in the mean time, I'm now 8 weeks away from little Katerina joining in with Jackie and all the fun thing they will get into growing up so close in age.
So, I figured I would start now by comparing pregnancies, since Jackie's is still pretty fresh in my mind. If I try to wait until baby #3 comes along, I might forget it all. (That might be a good thing...)
So here's a comparison of "This Pregnancy vs. That Pregnancy" or "Jackie vs. Kat"
Getting Pregnant:
Jackie: Took four months. I thought it would happen like THAT. I know that still isn't very long in comparison to other couples who tried for many, many months before getting pregnant, but I figured it would be no time. (I guess I just had to wait until "God's Time.")
Kat: Boom. Like THAT. This time I thought it would take 4-6 months for it to happen, so we started trying a little early. Maybe she will be the "punctual" one! :)
Finding Out:
Jackie: Had sort of "given up" for the month of July and put it out of my mind. But 3rd Annual Mystery Weekend was about to start and I needed to know. Took a test (an old one given to me from a friend at school who she insisted "didn't need anymore."). It said negative. No big surprise. SURPRISE later when I saw the test in the trash reading positive. Confused. Googled false positives. Drove to store to buy a new test. This time digital. No needing to figure out any line crap. Got a two pack. "Pregnant" read out loud and clear. Called Ethan at work. Called doctor. No alcohol on 3rd Annual Mystery Weekend.
Kat: I was in the "we are trying" mode, meaning not drinking unless I'm sure I'm not pregnant, already taking prenatal, and waiting until I was a week late to take the test. Even though I was pretty sure I was. Used #2 test in the pack of two bought before. Positive. Yelled to Ethan from bathroom. Called Doctor. No alcohol all summer...
Symptoms:
Jackie: Had about a week and a half of "Knock-you-off-your-feet nausea" and did nothing but lay in bed the entire first week of August. Started teaching and coaching just in time for the "So-tired-even-blinking-is-exhausting" stage. Came home from practice at 6ish... and went to bed. Threw up a few times if I ate too fast. I'm a teacher. I eat fast at every meal. Had to learn to SLOW down.
Kat: No real long period of nausea, just would hit me from time to time, usually in the evening. Barfed off and on. Tiredness in first trimester again, this time, there's no going to bed after getting home from school. Had a one-year-old to take care of. (Although, I have found that the first trimester tired and coaching is nothing like the third trimester tired and coaching.)
Sleep:
Jackie: Didn't have too much of a problem probably until the last month or so. Had a hard time getting comfy and sleeping long enough. I woke up a couple times a night to go to the bathroom. Heart burn was only a problem if I ate too late before going to bed. I snored.
Kat: Take everything I said about Jackie, multiply it by two and then speed it up about 4 months sooner. I hit the uncomfortable sleeping stage back in July. Last night I got up every hour (on the hour) because my bladder urgently required me to. That's a pretty normal night. If I eat much after 6:30 I can pretty much assume I'll be up 'till midnight. Heartburn a nightly problem, even if I just eat ice. I snore.
Cravings:
Jackie: Any and all things peanut butter. Just couldn't get enough of the stuff! And milk. We went through twice as much milk.
Kat: Ice. Not just any ice, our ice from our freezer. You know, the dense cloudy type that gets nice and soft once it sits in the water for just a little while. I know it doesn't make sense, but my mouth actually starts to water when I see that my cup, filled with ice, is just at that perfect chomping stage.
Mood Swings:
Jackie: Eh...not so much.
Kat: About the same.
Seasons:
Jackie: I was "big pregnant" during the winter months and that was actually pretty great. I remember being worried that I would slip and fall on the ice, but luckily that was one of the "warmest" winter's we have ever had. I didn't have to worry about ice at all.
Kat: Ugh. Big pregnant during August, September, and still to come, October. I actually lucked out with this being one of the coolest Augusts on record, but that didn't mean the heat didn't come. It did. We're in the middle of it now. I was so worried about slipping on the ice, but turns out, coaching is just as dangerous. I tripped during our first game and stumbled onto the bench, hitting my face on my manager's shoulder. Good thing the parents sit up in the mezzanine and couldn't see how red my face was.
Things-To-Do:
Jackie: We started building our new house about a month after we found out Jackie was coming. We closed on both the new and old house on Christmas Eve. I was almost at my 7 month mark. Get new house ready, Jackie's baby room ready, showers, and plan for a long-term sub (who would be giving my kids their state assessments). Yep. Busy.
Kat: Transfer Jackie to new room (current transition in progress...night #1 has started). Coach volleyball. Teach. Got everything ready for sub before school started (whoo hooo...go me!). Plan baby shower for Sister-In-Law. SIL has baby 9 weeks early. Plan baby shower for later in September. And most recently on the list, redo all of sub stuff due to hard drive crashing. Last week was a rough one. It will all get done...it will all get done...it will all get done...
Things-To-Buy:
Jackie: Everything. We had nothing, but a crib.
Kat: Winter clothes for newborn - 3 months. We may have two girls, but when one was 3 months in July and the other will be 3 months in February, those hand-me-downs aren't gonna work!
Feeling Baby Move:
Jackie: I felt the first little flutter right around 18 months. I know because that's when I had my sonogram and she was moving and turning all over the place and I was just feeling little tiny movements. Ethan could feel her move for the first time when I was 22 weeks along. I distinctly remember this because it was Thanksgiving. :) Jackie continued to be quite the mover, but only when I was resting. If I was up moving around she was almost rocked to sleep.
Kat: I felt her for the first time around 15 weeks, just tiny little punches. Ethan could feel her by the time we had the sonogram at 18 weeks. Since then it has been NON STOP MOVEMENT. Big movements. I swear at night it looks like she is trying to escape from the left side of my belly. I am definitely blaming her on my stretch marks! Oh, and she doesn't "rock to sleep" when I'm moving. She's moving too. Such a different sensation!
Showing:
Jackie: My goodness, I think I still had people coming up to me in January (7-8 months along) saying how I didn't look pregnant at all.
Kat: HA! My Father-in-Law asked if I was sure I wasn't have twins by the time I hit the 7 month mark.
Time:
Jackie: Everyone kept saying how pregnancy goes so fast. It's 9 short months (actually...10). It didn't feel fast to us. We just kept waiting, anxiously. Ethan would constantly tell her that it was time for her to come out so he could hold her.
Kat: I stupidly thought this pregnancy would "feel" like it went faster because we were busy with Jackie. Nope. Not at all. I am so excited for her to come and meet us all that it seems like time is dragging on. Not to mention I've been uncomfortable longer than I was with Jackie, and I still have 8 weeks to go.
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