This is the post I would say most readers look forward to in a families pregnancy!
With Hunter it was THIS post.
We posted the news about Hayden HERE.
Sorry to burst your gender reveal bubbles but we won't be sharing that news today... or for the next 20 weeks!
However, today we did get to see our little baby at our 20 week appointment and we are so happy that he OR she is growing healthy!
It was scary thinking that we might accidentally reveal the gender but our UltraSound Tech was awesome at making sure we looked away anytime she thought the sex might be revealed.
10 fingers, 10 toes, strong 4 chamber beating heart and "tall" in fetus terms!
Our baby measured 21 weeks moving our Due Date to Jan 2nd.
Since we aren't revealing baby's gender, I thought instead I would share my Top 5 Must Have Pregnancy Products - The 20 Weeks Along Version.
Number 1. Boppy Body Pillow.
At 16 weeks, sleep became impossible! I was so uncomfortable and tossed and turned all night. Luckily, I was able to find my body pillow, I've had since I was pregnant with Hunter, buried in the basement storage.
Usually I am a belly sleeper, so adjusting to my side takes me a few weeks.
I fell in love with the Boppy Body Pillow because within a few days my body is adjusted.
I love the head pillow and pillow that positions to go between your legs.
The contoured pillow is designed to follow your body line for maximum support on your neck, back, belly and hips.
I love that the cover is removable and machine washable.
For around $55 it's an awesome investment. One that may even last you THREE pregnancies like mine!
Number 2. Belly Lotion.
Maybe my first pregnancy I was paranoid about stretch marks but with baby #3 on the way, stretch marks have been the last thing on my mind.
However, I have loved having a belly butter that I know is giving moisture to my already stretch marked skin and helping prevent future skin damage as my tummy grows.
I've been using Palmers Cocoa Tummy Butter for the first half of this pregnancy, mostly because I had it leftover from my pregnancy with Hayden, and it is more of a healing cream verses a preventative cream.
With Vitamin E, Collagen and Elastin plus a soothing Lavender smell, it's been the perfect addition to my post shower routine before bed each night.
For around $5 its an excellent product for helping minimize stretch mark itchiness and appearance.
Number 3. Oat Mama Lactation Bars.
I really struggled to breast feed Hunter and Hayden and ended up pumping for only four months to bottle feed them both before switching to exclusively formula feeding. Knowing this could very well be my last baby, I've really tried to focus and educate myself on how I can increase my supply and really try to breast feed (or at least produce more milk) with this baby.
I was given some Oat Mama bars at an event I attended and fell in love with this product.
Oat Mama makes Lactation Granola Bars in several flavors that are geared and packed full of Galactagogues, which are foods known to help increase lactation.
You can find ingredients like rolled oats, ground flax, toasted almonds, cashew butter, sunflower seeds, honey, organic coconut oil, vanilla in cinnamon in all of their products.
Although I'm not lactating yet (TMI??) I figured it wouldn't hurt to start pumping in some incredible super foods into my diet to help prep my body.
These bars are seriously so yummy. Who can resist Chocolate Almond Coconut or Apple Cinnamon Raisin.
Be sure to check out their website if you're expecting and get your Oat Mama Bars before baby arrives!
For around $36 you can get a 12 count variety pack.
Number 4. Gummy Pre-Natal Vitamins.
With my first two pregnancies I could NOT take Pre-Natal vitamins. They made me so nauseous and I HATED swallowing those two big pills.
When I found out I was pregnant this time around I asked my Dr. for an alternative and asked about gummy vitamins. My Dr. is really great and said to take whatever my body could handle. He said that any type of vitamin was better then none, in his opinion.
I found VitaFusion PreNatal Gummies at the store and decided to test them out.
They've been awesome. No nausea. No yucky swallowing!
I've been so happy that i've been able to get the extra nutrition I need with this pregnancy with how busy our lives have been this first 20 weeks.
The flavors of the vitamins are great. They are easy to chew and I actually look forward to taking them every morning.
I would definitely recommend this brand to anyone who is looking for that extra nutrition and boost, pregnant or not!
For around $10 you get 90 gummies.
Number 5. Tums.
The answer to EVERY heartburn problem!
I have a big bottle at home and a small bottle stashed away in my purse!
Heartburn can be the DEATH of a pregnant lady when it hits unexpectedly and Tums work quickly to travel directly to the source of the burn!
Not to mention they are kinda tasty right?
DON'T LEAVE THE HOUSE WITHOUT TUMS!
For around $4 buy 10 bottles.... you'll use them all before baby arrives.
Well that's it friends.
Really, this pregnancy has been pretty low maintenance while everything else around us has been crazy.
I'm excited for the next 20 weeks to watch and feel baby grow!
PS. We're definitely open to any girl name suggestions... preferably starting with H because we gotta keep the pattern going right?
We have a list of potential boy names but are stuck with girl names. Gotta be prepared!
Thanks for popping in for a read!
This past week I made a home cooked dinner every night for my family... for nine days in a row!
I've always been comfortable in the kitchen and growing up with a master chef for a mother, I've also always felt I had a hand up on most of my newly married wife friends when it came to cooking yummy dinners for my husband.
(Not counting you Ashley N.)
However, over the last few years as my family has grown I've definitely slacked off in the kitchen arena... blaming growing human beings or raising said human beings for making me entirely too tired to have a homemade meal on the table for dinner when my husband got home from work.
Now, I cook almost everyday, but there have been a handful of times it was boxed Mac N Cheese, quesadilla's, frozen chicken nuggets, or "breakfast" for dinner when I just didn't have the energy to spend HOURS in the kitchen.
That handful of times turned into weekly happenings.
(Lately, I blame moving and pregnancy)
I learned several things this week as I challenged myself to have dinner made each night and I'm going to share my top 5 experiences with you.
Number 1. I did NOT save MONEY meal planning.
Now, Maybe I just did it all wrong.. or used expensive ingredients, but I really thought I would save $20/$30 maybe even $50 of my grocery budget by planning ahead.
No. I spent EXACTLY what I spend every two weeks I grocery shop.
This was OK for me because it assured me I am not wasting food or money on meals. However, the hopes of saving money and not was a little tragic.
Maybe I'll try couponing or price matching next week?
Number 2. I felt way less STRESS every day knowing I had a PLAN for dinner.
I challenged myself, this last grocery shopping trip, to make a week long meal plan and buy specifically for those meals. This helped me have everything bought for each dinner and a meal schedule posted on the fridge ready each day.
Knowing ahead of time what I was cooking helped me to not only feel less stress, but also to manage my time better. I could know I would be spending 30 minutes in the kitchen or 2 hours in the kitchen and this is a huge deal for a mom with little kids. It was either, play in the backyard for a bit or lets turn on a movie.
When I'm less stressed, the kids are better behaved. Isn't that weird how that works out?
Oh, I'm pretty sure meals taste better when their made stress free to!
Number 3. Involving the KIDS in cooking is FUN (and educational)
I really want to teach my children to be comfortable in the kitchen and I know I learned that skill from a very young age.
I've read tons of articles about including children in the kitchen and I made a goal all week to have Hunter and Hayden help with at least one part of the meal.
Generally, Hunter is my little helper almost always, so to have him in the kitchen was familiar. We worked on counting ingredients, setting the timer and measurements.
(I think 4 is still a little young to completely get the concept of measurements. When I pulled out the 1/4 cup he said "that's the one I get chocolate chips in to snack on")
Hayden also did great. She wanted to help so badly when she saw her big brother and was awesome at mixing ingredients and adding toppings.
They were both great test tasters and table setters also.
Kids in the kitchen = messes. So What?! Honestly... most of the time I make messes and spend an hour after dinner cleaning up anyways.
When the kids ripped open the jello pack or sprinkled cheese all over the floor we all just laughed. I could tell a huge difference in Hunter and Hayden's willingness to participate each day as they realized mommy was happy to have them helping and wasn't worried about keeping the kitchen spotless.
Plus, teaching kids in the kitchen to cook also means teaching them to help clean!
It's all part of the package!
Number 4. HUSBAND was HAPPY.
I may sound a little old fashioned here, however I've always been a big believer of ROLES in a marriage. As a wife, one of my MANY roles is to feed my husband who sacrifices his whole day in an office working his bootay off to provide our family with everything we need and want.
I like this role of mine and it's definitely been noticed this week that Kev was happier when he came home to dinner, he automatically did dishes every night and had more time to play with the children.
I may have gotten a few extra kisses this week for being so awesome!
It was totally worth it.
Number 5. It's OK not to cook dinner EVERY NIGHT.
As rewarding as it was to hear tender words of sweet affirmation from my husband each night he came home to a hot homemade dinner, it was even sweeter to hear that I didn't have to keep it up forever.
Now, maybe some of you don't need to be told that but again, dinner is my role and sometimes that pressure to have dinner made every night is real.
That being said, Taco Tuesday, Drive Thru-Thursday and Saturday Take Out are just as great also!
We are all hard workers. Husbands and wives equally, and some days $1 Taco's just might be the answer.
I know my children definitely don't complain when we have Mac 'N Cheese twice in a week or when Kev has to make dinner and we have eggs and french toast.
I know I NEVER complain when we go out to dinner for date nights either.
My motto lately is "You Gotta Do You" so whatever works for you and your family is what is best!
One of my favorite meals during this week's challenge was Sundays 2 Hour Crock Pot French Dip Sandwiches.
Sometimes Crockpot dinners can take HOURS and some Sunday mornings I just want to sleep in and not get dinner going at 9am!
My mom has this AWESOME easy and quick recipe for the most delicious French Dip Sandwiches I've ever tasted.
And here it is for you all to try.
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Super Shelley's 2 Hour Crock Pot French Dip Sandwiches
1 lb Sliced Italian Roast Beef (from the DELI)
1 can Beef Broth
1 can Campbell's French Onion Soup
1 onion
1 red bell pepper
6 slices of Havarti Cheese (or cheese of choice)
1 6 count pack of French Hoagie Rolls
Put roast beef, beef broth and french onion soup in the crockpot on low for 2 hours.
Right before serving sauté onions and bell peppers on stovetop and toast hoagie rolls.
Serve roast beef on rolls and top with cheese and veggies.
Use extra juice in crockpot for dipping.
Enjoy!
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Hope this weeks challenge inspires you to have some fun in your kitchen.
Involve your kids, your husband and make dinnertime a time of the day that everyone looks forward to.
Happy Eating Readers.
