Friday Favorites

Is it weird that I am still SO happy it's Friday, even though I've been home all week? There is just something about the energy on Friday that makes me so excited for the weekend! Tonight, we have youth group, and then NOTHING ELSE planned except for church on Sunday morning. Ohhhhh glorious....

Tomorrow, hubby and I are planning on working a bit more on the baby's room (just a few more finishing touches!) and then I really want to go to a local salsa night, but I'm not sure how conducive my 36 weeks pregnant bump will be to salsa dancing. We might just enjoy a quiet night in or a movie! Either way, I'm super excited for the weekend. 

I had so many favorite moments this week, it's hard to pick just a few! 

1. Childbirth classes. One highlight of this week was attending our first of two childbirth classes! We went to our local hospital for the classes since the hospital we are delivering at was already full. But the class was so great and full of amazing info for both hubby and I! 

2. Our 2 year anniversary! We celebrated our two year wedding anniversary on Wednesday, April 19th. I can't believe it's been 2 years since we got married! My husband took the day off and we went to our prenatal check up, then went to Huntington Gardens and frolicked in the pretty flowers! Followed by an awesome dinner at a restaurant by our house that we've been dying to try. 

But the highlight of the anniversary was definitely the surprise Vasken planned for me. I woke up to petals of roses leading me downstairs to the kitchen. By each petal there was an index card of qualities he loves about me (my top love language is word of affirmation, so this made my heart explode), and the final card was a picture of eggs and bacon (we are true foodies). He also cooked me a pancake breakfast before our prenatal appointment. I've got a keeper, folks!

3. Strawberries. I have been all about the strawberries this week. Pretty sure I've gone through 4 cartons by myself. I really should just go get a big flat of them from the local farmer's stand we have. That's going on my to-do list for the weekend. 

4. Resting. Ok even though this isn't necessarily a favorite of mine this week, it is a concept that is growing on me. At our prenatal check up, Baby Emma was measuring a bit smaller than what my OB was comfortable with. She had caught up with her growth a few weeks ago, but is falling behind again, especially in the belly. So I am now going in for NST tests 2x/week (non stress tests for the baby) on top of weekly ultrasounds to check on her growth. My doctor also recommended that I take it easy and lay down more often throughout the day on my left side. He said walking is fine, but he definitely wants me to rest. So I have embraced some new Netflix/Amazon prime shows (thankful to friends for the suggestions!) and have parked myself on the couch for most of my days. I'm not on strict bedrest or anything, but I know that I have to slow down on my movements (our 3 story townhouse is activity enough, those stairs are getting tougher and tougher!) I plan on going on walks to enjoy the weather and resting; a balance that is OB-approved! :) 

For now, I am finishing up an episode of the Royals while sipping on some coffee, then am headed to my first NST appointment! The rest of the day may consist of a mani/pedi, getting some work done at a Starbucks for my private clients, and of course, resting on the couch! I hope you all have a fabulous Friday! Share some of your favorite moments from the week in the comments below, I'd love to hear! 

Daily Manna: Baby Emma updates and eats

Hey there everyone! I hope you all are having a fantastic week. Can you believe we are already in mid-March? Baby girl is due in exactly 2 months, and time is flying by! I am so excited to meet her! She's been kicking like crazy lately, and is also preventing mommy from eating too much at one time. Which is why meals have been often and small. I've been getting crazy amounts of indigestion that have kept me up at night and leave me waking up extremely nauseous. Since my weight gain is below where my doctors want it to be, I am determined to still fuel my body properly by eating smaller, nutrient-dense meals throughout the day! I thought I'd write up what a typical day has looked like for me lately!

4:30/5am: I usually wake up between 4:30 and 5am naturally every day. I love early mornings and am quite motivated to workout, have quiet time with Jesus, pack a healthy lunch, and work on my business before heading off to my day job. Not everyone is a morning person, but I LOVE mornings and have decided that in order to be more productive, mornings are my most prized time of day.

Gluten free toast with some jam before my workout

I seriously throw a party for myself every time I finish a morning workout...I feel so accomplished at 31 weeks pregnant!!

5:30-6am: Workout! I am doing the 21 day fix program right now mixed in with some kickboxing and other maternity workouts. I am loving moving my body and keeping myself health and (hopefully) in shape for labor! Sometimes, I have a quick toast before my workout if I'm feeling hungry! 

6-6:45am: shower and then head down to make breakfast while packing our lunches! Sometimes, I have a Face time date with afellow coach from our team and we chat and have some tea while we get our day started! It's crazy how quickly you can connect and become such close friends with people you have met on social media! I absolutely love it!

Superfood shakes are LIFE

6:45-7:15am: get dressed, hair, make up. I've been trying to spend more time in this department lately...I'm usually a super low maintenance gal, but trying to up my game a bit (I'm 28 years old, it's time lol).

7:30am: head off to work! I usually blend up my shakeo superfoods deliciousness at this point and take it with me to work! Helps start my day with a boost of nutrition, and chocolate! The best of both worlds. 

8-4:30pm: work! I'm a renal dietitian at Davita, so work is full of educating patients, meetings with coworkers, and lots of charting! Today, I was at a new facility so I spent some time getting to know the staff and patients and getting used to the place! I also went on a short walk to get outside and get some sun. I try to go on walks on most days to keep myself a bit active. It's so easy to be glued to your chair at work, isn't it??

I also pack a ton of snacks and food with me at work to keep myself eating every 1.5-2 hours. At 31 weeks pregnant, I have been getting nausea and heartburn and find that if I eat smaller meals more often, my tummy is more settled!  

On this particular morning, snacks included hard boiled eggs and strawbs, followed by carrots, and then polished off by oatmeal bites! Shortly after these (I'm telling you, I'm eating almost every hour! ) I had lunch! Dolma is one of m favorite meals! Stuffed zucchini with beef, rice, and spices! 

More afternoon snackage included an rx bar (recycled picture because I forgot to snap one!) and some nuts that I also forgot to snap a picture of. Sorry about that, friends!

4:30pm: When I got home from work, I was pretty tired but also felt like baking something delicious. I have been SO frugal with our grocery budget, but I was able to whip up this delicious chocolate chip oat bread! That I cut into bars, so I guess they are chocolate chip oat bars! Recipe coming soon! They were DELICIOUS, they are gluten free, and totally a healthy treat! 

5:30pm: I had a busy rest of the evening, with a team video call with our coaching team, then heading off to a Mommy group I was invited too! I had a small dinner during our team call, which was rice, ground beef, and veggies that my grandma cooked up! Grandma to the rescue!

6:30-8pm: Soon after the video meeting, I headed off to the Mommy group. Can I be honest? Being a mommy excites me, but also scares me like no other! I want to make sure I do everything I can to make Emma feel loved and safe. It makes me cry just thinking about it. Going to the mommy group tonight was such a God-thing! They had a speaker come in who discussed everything from parenting to discipline to not passing down your own baggage to your child. It was great! There was also a legit dinner, since the dinner I had at home left me a bit hungry. SO I definitely didn't stick to my gluten free diet and indulged in pasta, a roll, veggies, salad, pound cake (MY FAV) and strawberries! Feeding baby is priority right now!

Speaking of which, Baby Emma and I are doing well! She is a "small baby" according to our high risk doctor, measuring JUST below average but still not too far off! Our doctor did say that could just be because my husband and I are not big burly people, because the nutrition going from the placenta through the cord to the baby is still strong (they measure the strength of the blood flow, so crazy and cool!) 

The doctor DOES want me to eat more protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats. Basically more of everything! Even though I feel like I've been eating SO much food, I am trying to shove a little more in here and there, even with the nausea and heartburn that has come on the past couple weeks! He specifically said not to fill up on junk, because we want GOOD nutrition to go to the baby! So I'm trying to feed myself good, wholesome food, while indulging a bit here and there if a craving hits. I am up 9 lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight, which is behind schedule, but I'm trying! Our next appointment is next week to check on her growth progress...prayers would be appreciated! 

8:30-9pm: After the mommy group, I headed home to see my husband and prepared some ground turkey for us for the rest of the week. What a guy! He headed off to the gym and I cleaned up the kitchen a bit and packed my lunch for tomorrow. Packing my lunch took about 5 minutes, but now I'm prepared for tomorrow since I have to be at work crazy early tomorrow! Now, I'm just finishing up typing this post, then headed to bed for some reading, then sleep! Today was such a blessed day filled with a good day at work, good wholesome meals, and meeting a bunch of new, lovely people at the mommy group! I definitely collected on God's manna and blessings! Hope you all have a wonderful night too and get a chance to reflect on your blessings today! 

Food & Fitness Plan: 12/5-12/11

My motto for life has always been, fail to plan and you plan to fail. Maybe that is control-freaky of me, but I love having a plan of attack and knowing what to expect in my day, week, or even month. Granted, I know life throws curve balls and we have to be flexible with our plans, but having a plan just sets my mind at ease and helps me go about my day with some structure? Anyone else? 

With that sad, pregnancy has been a major curve ball for me! Going from working out daily and cooking fresh meals and posting new recipes, to being exhausted all the time and eating goldfish crackers for dinner is a BIG change from the old me. Last night, I went to bed thinking "who am I???" As hard as I try to stick to a healthy lifestyle, pregnancy has required some tweaks and changes. For example, I've been instructed to put my feet up and rest more, and only do light walking. So that has been a big change for me from what I am used to. But, baby is worth it! So as far as my "fitness" plan goes this week, I'm going to walk when I can (lunch, breaks, at the mall) and rest for the rest of the time. 

As far as my food goes, I am going to focus on veggies and fruits this week! I have been eating pretty unbalanced, which I know can happen during pregnancy. I'm taking my prenatals and showing myself grace, but I also know that I need to nourish my body fully. Growing a human is no small task! So with that said, here is my food plan for the week! 

Breakfast: egg wraps, oatmeal w/fruit and nut butter, toast w/nut butter

Lunch/Dinner: we are having some lunches provided for us at work this week, which is nice! Some other things I plan on making are: chicken tortilla roll-ups (recipe coming soon!), tilapia w/potatoes, and turkey burgers w/brown rice and broccoli. I usually lump lunch and dinner together when I plan, because hubby and I are big on leftovers and we usually pack them for the next day!

Snacks: veggies, string cheese, nuts, fruits, crackers, larabars

I feel like these foods will nourish me while still keeping them aversion-friendly and satisfying! As a dietitian, I know how important it is to nourish your body well, especially during pregnancy! So I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little bit frustrated with my lack of nutritious foods during this pregnancy! But I am feeling much better than the first trimester so I know things will just get better from here! 

If you have trouble planning your meals or figuring out how to stick to a plan to reach your goals, I'm only a click away! I work with my clients to help them reach their goals while developing menus and encouraging them to stick to their plans! Click here to review the services I offer and see what would be a good fit for you! I'd love to begin working with you! :) 

I hope you all have a fantastic week!

December Goals

Weeee it's December, friends! My favorite month of the year. I absolutely love Christmas time and the anticipation of a fresh, new year! Everything just seems more magically, cozy, and warm. Don't you agree? 

I am looking forward to lots of trips to the mall, listening to Christmas music, caroling, spending time with family, friends, and church peeps, and cuddling up watching our Christmas tree with Vasken. The weather has been cold here too! Which is so nice for us So Cal peeps...I'm really enjoying wearing some fall/winter clothing! 

As is my typical custom at the first of each month, I have some goals for the upcoming month. There are many areas of my life that I want to grow in, and why not start now instead of wait till 2017? December is the new January in my opinion. 

GOALS

1. Eat at least 4 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruit each day. The non-pregnant me would have had no trouble with this; I used to have over 12 servings a day of fruits and vegetables! But the pregnant me is having a really hard time with fruits and vegetables. I have a huge aversion to veggies and even fruits gross me out from time to time. Pregnancy is so funky! But I am going to try my best to find ways to sneak those veggies into my day because I know that they are good for me and my growing baby! 

2. Fitness-wise, my goal is to walk walk walk! Whether that's a short 20 min walk outside or a trip to the mall, I'm going to focus on walking and light movements!

3. Reading for fun! I read a ton of personal development and business books as I am building my own private practice, but I also want to read for fun! I have a few books on my list that I've been waiting to dive into, so that will be happening this month as well! 

4. Putting my phone on airplane mode before I get into bed. This one is HUGE for me. I used to do this all the time, but lately, I have gotten into bed and just scrolled the night away on articles or social media. So my goal is to put my phone on airplane mode BEFORE getting into bed, then read or just let myself doze off without the use of an electronic! I'm already nervous about how this will go, but I'm determined to try!

5. Entrusted Bible Study. I started Beth Moore's new study on 1 & 2 Timothy and have been slowly working my way through it. I want to be more diligent with this study and spend more intentional time with God. I have realized that since my morning sickness days, my quiet time got put on the back burner as I tried to muster up the strength to get up, not throw up, and get to work. Now that I am feeling better, I want to give that time back to God. 

I feel really good about my goals for this month! I hope that you have set some personal, wellness, and life goals for yourself as well! Setting goals is one of my favorite ways to motivate myself to do the things I always tell myself I want to do. And making them public helps even more with the accountability! If you'd like, share some of your goals in the comments below! 

Pregnancy: Weeks 6-9

By now, we would have probably announced that we are pregnant! My hubby and I are so excited to be welcoming little Baby Verano in May 2017! We can’t wait for our little addition and for the new adventure of parenthood!

I wanted to start blogging my way through the pregnancy but made these posts private at first. But now that the cat is out of the bag, here they are! I plan on blogging throughout the pregnancy on the same questions (found these on another Mama blog and loved them!) to see all the changes! This is my first pregnancy and I am excited/nervous for what is to come!

How far along are you?

I am 9 weeks and 2 days today!

Gender:

Don’t know yet…not sure if we will find out but we are leaning towards yes!

How big is the baby?

According to my trusty app, the baby is the size of a pecan this week

Total weight gain:

I have actually lost 6 lbs since my pre-pregnancy weight. Hating food can do that to you…

How am I feeling?

SO nauseous. The nausea started at the end of week 5 and is only getting worse by the day. I never want to eat, and even talking about food makes me want to gag. I haven’t actually thrown up yet (thank God) and I hope it stays that way! But food is definitely not my friend right now, and eating has become a chore.

Maternity clothes?

Yep! I know it is still SUPER early, but no one ever tells you about how BLOATED you are during the first trimester. I know my “bump” is mostly bloat, but it was enough to make regular clothes very uncomfortable for me. So this week I started wearing my new maternity black pants to work! WOOO!

Favorite workouts:

We found out very early on that we were expecting, so those first couple weeks before morning sickness (more like all day sickness) hit, I was doing some circuit training and light weight lifting. But ever since the nausea has started I have only been able to go on one walk and on gym session on the elliptical. I always saw myself as having a very active pregnancy, but between the fatigue and nausea, I have only been wanting to rest. I am hoping to get back into a regular workout routine soon!

Stretch marks:

None and I hope it stays that way!

Cravings:

Nothing, absolutely nothing. OR I will have a fleeting craving (biscuits, Armenian cheese, Chinese food) and then have an aversion to it by the time my husband orders it or I make the food I was craving. It’s quite sad.

Food aversions:

Basically everything, especially raw vegetables (salads…blegh) and meat/animal protein.

Sleep:

I am sleeping pretty terribly actually. I am tossing and turning all night, and I don’t even have a belly yet. Hopefully I can get some rest soon!

What I miss:

Working out 100%, eating healthier (why is it that junk food is the only thing that helps with nausea?) and COFFEE, even though the doctor did clear me for one caffeinated beverage per day. I have only been having coffee or tea once a week since we found out.

What I am looking forward to:

Seeing the baby at our ultrasounds, getting bigger and watching my body change, and feeling the baby move!

Well, that’s all for now! Stay tuned for more updates! :)

Pregnancy: Weeks 10-12

Week 10-12 have flown by, and I can’t believe I am almost to my second trimester! Being a first time mama, everything about this pregnancy has been so new and unexpected! I can’t wait to see what the second trimester brings! 

How far along are you?

12 weeks and 4 days today! 

Gender:

Don’t know yet…not sure if we will find out but we are leaning towards yes!

How big is the baby?

The baby is the size of a tangerine or a large apricot! Using a variety of apps now ;) love seeing how much Baby V is growing each week! 

Total weight gain:

I still haven’t been able to gain weight and am down 6 lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight. Everyone is saying this will get better soon, so I’m trying not to worry! 

How am I feeling?

The nausea eased up a little at the end of week 11, then came back full force the beginning of week 12. I’m feeling a bit better today which is a good sign. I’m hoping for more good days than bad days in the coming weeks, especially with Thanksgiving coming! 

Maternity clothes?

Still just my pair of work pants. I’m lucky that the styles this season are a lot of loose and long sweaters so I’ve been able to wear those over leggings. It’s also been quite warm this week so I was able to wear some dresses too. This one made my bump very noticeable! 

Favorite workouts:

I am loving at-home workouts lately. I spent some time as a Beachbody coach last year and have accumulated a ton of workouts, plus have access to some maternity workouts as well. Most of them have been 30-35 mins long and included light weight lifting. I want to start walking regularly too, but it has been so easy to just workout at home especially when I’m not 100% well in the morning with nausea. Hopefully I’ll be able to add some walking in soon! 

Stretch marks:

None and I hope it stays that way! I’ve been using bio oil and a “bump cream” I found on Amazon. Hopefully they help! 

Cravings:

The only craving I’ve had is our family’s yogurt soup recipe! I craved it late one night and after talking to my mom, my aunts, and my grandma, I made the recipe and it was delicious! Sadly, that has been my own craving…

Food aversions:

Basically everything, especially raw vegetables (salads…blegh) and meat/animal protein. If it is just put in front of me, I can usually stomach it. Unless it is a salad or Mexican food (my nemesis right now). But if I think about what I want to eat, I get grossed out even more and have a harder time choosing. 

Sleep:

No change here! Still sleeping terribly and tossing and turning. My OB says this is normal, so I guess I’ll just have to deal! 

What I miss: 

Same as before…working out 100%, eating healthier (why is it that junk food is the only thing that helps with nausea?) and COFFEE, even though the doctor did clear me for one caffeinated beverage per day. I have only been having coffee or tea once a week since we found out. I also miss my clear skin. My face has been exploding with break outs and it is really getting to me. I used to use retin-A but since that’s a big no-no (it can cause birth defects), I’m just tying to keep my face clean, use minimal make-up, and not stress too much about it. 

What I am looking forward to:

Same as before! Seeing the baby at our ultrasounds, getting bigger and watching my body change, and feeling the baby move!

Well, that’s all for now! Stay tuned for more updates! :)