My long awaited Christmas Present

Reebok easy tone tennis shoes! It's balance ball inspired. It is supposed to shape your legs, glutes, calves and thighs.

I hope it works, because those areas always need to be shaped!

They were sold out everywhere the weeks before and after Christmas. But Grant (bless this man) has called every morning since Christmas to see if the stores have gotten their shipments in. They finally arrived. Today.

I hope these really work! Heck, even just a little bit!

Real Food for Mother and Baby

Here is another excellent book by Nina Planck. I wrote about another one of her books last year- Real Food What to Eat and Why. It was so inspirational that I pre-ordered her Real Food for Mother and Baby before I was even pregnant.

Again, she did not disappoint. It definitely echos the sentiments in her first book, but focuses on what do eat for fertility, pregnancy, nursing and babies first foods.

I love how she breaks down the three trimesters into very simple categories: first trimester- vitamins and minerals (this is where baby is forming all those body parts); second trimester- calcium and protein (this is where baby is building bone and muscle); third trimester- good fats, especially fat from fish (this is where baby's brain is being developed and her fat stores are being built up).

What does this boil down too? Lots of milk, dairy, meats, and eggs for me this trimester. And lots of fish for the next trimester.

It's basic, common sense guidelines- eat what your ancestors ate.

Highly recommend this book and her other book. Life-changing stuff it is.

Food, Inc.

Grant and I watched a documentary on food production in the U.S. last night-- Food, Inc. I recommend watching it if you want to know where your meat is coming from and who is really running food production in America.

It certainly didn't surprise me. The way they raise chicken, cows and pigs are outrageous and very cruel. Not to mention the way they bathe our meat products in ammonia and what not.

It touched on the food conglomerates in our country, the basic lack of power within the FDA and politicking in general.

It's sobering and overwhelming. And the whole time I was watching I was sitting there thinking "but how can one person make a difference?" I mean really. And at the end of the film they answered that question. We don't all have to be lobbyist to make a difference- we vote with every meal we make. We vote with every item we purchase. We can make a difference. And Walmart is an example- did you notice that they now offer organic milk and yogurt products? It's because people were wanting those products and were willing to buy them. So, when you go to the store buy the organic products, buy the items that are in season, and if all possible buy local.

And I know there's the sound argument that organic is expensive (and even fruits and veges are sometimes more expensive then filling junk food). Well, that's fine and it's true, but I'd rather spend my money on healthy foods now then for medications down the road. And I will always opt to spend more money on veges and fruits then the cheaper chips, crackers and cheeseburgers. It's the choices we make now that will determine our health in the future. It's the choices we make now that will dictate where and how are foods are being produced.

I am far from perfect in my eating, but I am more convinced now then ever to continue spending money on free range/antibiotic-free chickens and eggs and pasture fed beef and pork products (not only for the health benefits, but for the lack of cruelty towards the animals). I will also make it my goal this year to continue to get most all of my fruit and vege products from the farmer's market.

With every bite we put into our mouth, we are choosing how food production continues in America.

Baby L at 19 Weeks

So, here is Baby L at 19 weeks. S/he refused to look at the ultrasound wand. And I mean refused- I was buzzed and turned upside down, but to no avail. Baby L, you are developing a stubborn streak, I do believe. So, s/he was hiding its little face the whole time.

(Can you see its face- ear, nose, mouth?)

Here s/he is taking after his dad- the gun show is that way.

Baby L is healthy and everything is functioning correctly- yay! Can't wait to meet this little one!

18 Weeks

Well, 18 weeks has come and gone. And sadly without a picture to document it. It was around Christmas time, and despite all the picture taking, Baby L got dissed.

Not much has changed this week. I'm still dealing with strange bouts of insomnia. They leave me tired all day, so I'm a little frustrated.

I feel s/he moving around more- little kicks and jabs. It's quite fun.

Boy, do I get hungry around lunchtime. I can eat several small meals in one sitting!

We splurged on an organic crib mattress this week. It was one of the things I would not compromise on (even if the link between regular mattresses and SIDS death isn't true (and who really knows what the deal is about SIDS), the logic behind a organic mattress makes enough sense to me).

We had another ultrasound yesterday and things are pretty good. I'll post a picture soon. The pics are not great as s/he refused to look at the ultrasound wand, but it still is pretty neat.

Brideshead Revisited

I am still wondering why this novel by Evelyn Waugh made it to both lists. It was just okay in my opinion. It had a nostalgic feel to it. It left me with questions. I was a little sad (more about the Marchmain house than the characters themselves). I don't know-- it was just okay.

It wasn't a fast read, but it wasn't too difficult. I honestly don't have much more to say on the subject.

I am going to watch the movie that was recently made. I'm hoping that the movie will be better than the book.

Honest Scrap!

Here are the rules:

1. Must thank the person who gave you the award and list their blog and link it.

2. Share "10 Honest things" about yourself.

3. Present this award to 7 others whose blogs you find brilliant in content and/or design, or those who have encouraged you.

4. Tell those 7 people they've been awarded HONEST SCRAP and inform them of these guidelines in receiving the award.

***

1. The person that gave this award to me was Kellan Vernon! We've known each other for a long time! We both danced together at Providence Baptist Church and attended a ballet class together (many, many years ago)! She's a new mommy to a precious little girl. You should check out her blog (linked to her name)!

2. 10 Honest Things about me:

(i) For the most part I do not care for music. There are very few songs that grab my attention and move me. Very, very strange, I know. I can't listen to the radio while driving because it makes me crazy, so I listen to books on tape instead. I have, however, really enjoyed the Glee soundtrack. One of the first CDs that I actually like (almost) every song on the list.

(ii) I love almost all vegetables and fruit. I grew up eating them and love them to this day. It's hard for me to name a vege or a fruit that I don't like- hmm, not a huge fan of green bell peppers or ripe bananas. That's all I can think of. Ooh, a salad would be so good right now.

(iii) At first, I didn't think I wanted children. Even when I was a kid, it never really crossed my mind. I'm just not a "kid" person per se. But then we had a change of heart! Although, I'm still not comfortable with children not related to me, I love to pieces my nieces and nephews and already adore my own soon-to-be-here child.

(iv) My favorite tv show is So You Think You Can Dance. I am so in awe of what those dancers can do. Sometimes I get inspired and stretch for an extra 20 seconds!

(v) I grew up wanting to be a veterinarian. I am a paralegal. What went wrong?

(vi) I love surprises. I hate when people spoil something for me. I never peek at wrapped presents. I never search for unwrapped gifts. I wait until the last possible moment to "open"/"know" my surprise. Hence, my lack of desire to know the sex of our baby. I know some women count down the days until they get to know what gender their baby is. Strangely enough, I have no such desire at all. I can't wait to be surprised on the day that he or she decides to join our family. (Disclaimer: I totally understand why people want to know though, and I would never judge anyone's decisions!)

(vii) I don't feel like I have a hometown. I also don't feel like I can attach myself to any one label- Southerner or Westerner. I was born in dairy farm country in Texas, grew up in middle class Hawaii, but have lived the majority of my life in North Carolina. I don't feel particularly connected to anyone state. I love them all for different reasons. So don't ask me where I'm from, because you get many answers!

(viii) I never eat in my car. I think it's gross.

(ix) I can only fold clothes on a freshly vacuumed carpet. I don't know why. I don't try to understand why.

(x) I am super excited to cloth diaper my baby. I hope that it is something that the baby likes too, because it sure can save us a lot of money. We bought a new washer/dryer system in 2008 with a sanitary option on it, in preparation for cloth diapering. Can you tell it's been on my mind awhile!


3. I am not going to name 7 bloggers to do this. But, if one of my readers wants to do it, just leave me a comment so I can see what you've got to say!

17 Weeks

17 Weeks! Not a lot has changed this week. Getting a little bit bigger. I got a fetal heart monitor for Christmas, so we are able to hear the heartbeat at home-- so neat and reassuring!

We finished painting the nursery this week and got most of the furniture in the room. It is lacking decorations, but it is definitely coming together.

Christmas

Grant and I had another fun-filled Christmas.

Here is our extremely tall Christmas tree. Grant had to get on a ladder to decorate the top for us. It really didn't look that tall at the Christmas tree store!

Opening up some presents! I got lots of maternity clothes this year.

I couldn't help myself with one of "Grant's" gifts. They are little massage hands and when the store clerk tried it out on me I was sold! So, I bought some and wrapped it up as one of Grant's presents and gave it to him. Knowing fully that I would never use it on him (he doesn't like that stuff) and that they would only benefit me! He was a good sport about it!

Pillowcase Dress #3

My last pillowcase for Christmas. Went with a "tropical" theme here.