Our Little Bean

Caden at the gym.

2010-12-18T13:12:00.000-08:00

Santa Baby...

2010-12-15T15:10:00.000-08:00

Caden loved Santa! More then any of the other children. She reached for his beard and glasses, chuckled when he tried to pull away and smiled for the camera.

Caden is very active, loves to jump in her "jumpy", loves books, "Violet" her leap frog friend and blocks. She is a very good eater; some of her favs include: chicken, peaches, spinach, sweet potatoes and bananas. She eat everything! I have yet to offer her something she didn't like...I think she gets that from her dad :)

Looking forward to Christmas. Sadly, the hubby has to work, but we will make due. He will get to see her in the morning opening her gifts from Santa and at dinner- the two most important times of the day. Looking forward to my sister-in-law coming to celebrate with us. Though I am going to miss my brother.

While eating is easy, Caden still feeds throughout the night and has been sleeping pretty terrible. No teeth. Just terrible sleep :/ I am sure it will come to an end soon. Until then, I stay caffeinated and artificially "pepped".

Fun with a 'stache.

2010-11-02T12:37:00.000-07:00

It's on tight.

Starts to come loose.

Uh oh.

And Ziggy takes it off and runs away with it.

New toy.

2010-10-29T16:49:00.000-07:00

1 month catch up.

2010-10-29T16:31:00.000-07:00

Boy, a month goes by really fast. Caden is approaching 6 months! It seems like not that long ago I was 6 month pregnant.

Stats~

Caden is rolling over (both directions) not crawling, but can maneuver herself in a circle by spinning (using her legs to push), can sit up without assistance (but not for a long time or unsupervised), loves her binki (pacifier) when going to bed, loves Ziggy, and to eat. I make Caden's food, we both seem to enjoy this! Her favorite foods are peas, bananas, apples and butternut squash. Caden catches her longest ZZzzz's between 7:30pm-1:30am to 2:00am. I have tried to keep her up longer to have her sleep later, but she is ready for bed at 7:30pm and I don't fight her. She has her 6 month appt Nov. 10th.

Picture recap of a Sept. 29-Oct 20, 2010

Caden getting ready for Halloween.

Helping mommy with laundry.

First time tasting watermelon.

Trip to LA to see Alex (turns 21 on Halloween!!)

Caden LOVES books (Christmas hint, thanks Lynn for the hand me downs!)

Hemingway (Alex's yellow lab) and Caden

Sleepy time

2010-09-29T12:18:00.000-07:00

This girl moves allllllll over in her sleep!

Caden's 1st concert

2010-09-29T12:14:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, 9/26, my mom, Madison, Caden and I enjoyed a FREE concert at Golden Gate Park put on by Alice 9.73. Lots of good performers!

We got ourselves a shady spot :)

Caden enjoying some love from grandma~

Laying on blanket with mom~

ink

2010-09-15T16:19:00.000-07:00

New ink for mommy...

DJ has an appointment Monday!!

Cereal Video

2010-09-09T09:04:00.001-07:00

Cereal!!!

2010-09-09T08:58:00.000-07:00

Caden had her 4mo check up yesterday and the Dr. gave us the "go ahead" to give her cereal!

Waiting...

Excited!!

So gooooood!!

Check up info:

Caden weighs 12.42lbs and is 25 1/4in long; she is reaching all her benchmarks and the Dr. noted she is VERY STRONG!

Bass Lake/Yosemite

2010-09-01T08:59:00.000-07:00

Being spontaneous, we took Caden to Bass Lake/Yosemite, thanks to an invite from our dear friends DJ, Mariela and Brody.

The water was nice but there was a lot of cloud cover and breeze so we didn't get all the way in~

3.5 hour car ride, I think I read this 10 plus times!! She loves it when I read to her and LOVES HER COW! I think I need to find another one so one is always in the car and one is always at home.

Coconut Flour Banana Muffins

2010-08-17T18:20:00.000-07:00

Made these today and they were delish!

Banana Nut Muffins (gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian)

makes 12 regular sized muffins

2 ripe bananas, mashed
7 eggs
1/2 coconut milk
1/2 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 coconut flour, sifted (this is a must -- coconut flour clumps easily)
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup walnuts, chopped

Preheat oven to 325 F. Spray muffin tin with cooking spray. Combine the bananas, eggs, milk, agave, vanilla and salt in a bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the sifted coconut flour and baking powder. Slowly add the wet ingredients into the dry and mix until all lumps are gone. Then, fold in the nuts. Pour evenly in muffin tins and bake for 20-25 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes before transferring to a rack.

Caden follow up sleeping

2010-08-17T18:17:00.001-07:00

Caden is sleeping in her crib and doing well! I am happy to say she is sleeping from approx 8pm until 3am, then wakes up for some food and a diaper change. Then wakes up around 5:30a for her "binkie" and gets up to start her day around 7am. Though there have been some wonderful mornings when she has stayed asleep until 8:30am! We are doing well creating a schedule, it's not perfect, but at least it's semi predicable.

Sleep

2010-08-05T11:28:00.000-07:00

Caden doesn't sleep in our bed but she does sleep in our room. I decided I should look up when she should start sleeping in her own crib and was astonished to find out some people start this as early as 2 weeks. Caden is 13 weeks today and I haven't started this. I am nervous. We have monitors, but I am still nervous. Plus, lucky me, Caden still doesn't sleep through the night...last night she woke up every 1.5-2 hours! Just like when we brought her home from the hospital. I am thinking that it's so easy with her right there next to the bed for these constant wake-up feedings but concerned she might not feel comfortable in her room alone if I keep putting it off. Perhaps I will start putting her in there for naps and on Sunday when we are both home we will introduce night time sleeping in her crib....not looking forward to it.

Growing girl

2010-07-21T14:38:00.000-07:00

Caden will be 11 weeks tomorrow, time is flying by!

Stats:

At birth Caden weighed 6lbs 10 oz; on Monday Caden weighed 10lbs 12.2oz! 4lb increase!

At birth Caden was 20in long, Monday Caden was 23.5in long! 3.5in growth!

I am still 5lbs from my pre-prego weight! I can't seem to shake it off, I have been stuck as this weight for 5 weeks tomorrow! I suppose I could add some extra running in my workouts and cut out the dairy free desserts...maybe I will just run :)

Caden and I went to our very first mommies/babies group today and had a really good time. Many of the moms/babies went swimming but I was a little nervous with the wind and it being so early in the morning (10a), so Caden and I hung out in the shade looked at the shadows of trees and only got our feet wet. It must have been a good time for her cause she passed out!

Nico (Rowlett) and Caden at the mommies/babies group~

Nico has a pretty cool Mo-Hawk, I am not sure what Caden is thinking :) But if that's a smile, she smiles like her dad!

Giveaway

2010-07-13T13:34:00.001-07:00

To commemorate my Half Marathon back in Feb, I am hoping to win one of these. So cute compared to the giant medal the organization hands out at the end...

There are other pieces you can enter to win, including some unrelated to running, check it out:

What do we have here? Why YES, it is the sweetest little necklace right now in my collection! I am very happy to announce my first giveaway and a partnership with fivecherries! Rebecca of fivecherries will send the lucky giveaway winner one of the adorable necklaces from her Etsy shop! If you're training for (or have completed) a half marathon or full marathon, I definitely suggest her 13.1 and 26.2 necklaces! What I love the most is that these craftsy charms are made out of SCRABBLE PIECES. I know, right? I love Scrabble. And running.

Here's a little bit that you should know about Rebecca:

"My name is Rebecca, I'm 31, and I live in Southern California. I've been married to my husband David for 11 years. We have five kids (thus the fivecherries): Kylie 8, Larkin 7, Matthew 6, Madeline 4, and Nathan 2. I ran track for one year in high school, then didn't run again until after our third child was born in 2004. David started running in 2008. Over the past few years, David and I have raced several times a year including one triathlon, a bunch of 5ks and 10ks and two Ragnar Relays. Then this year we decided to try the longer distances. He ran a half marathon in March, then in June we traveled (without the kids!) to Seattle for the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon where he ran the marathon and I ran the half. I loved the half and we're both planning to race in the Santa Barbara half marathon in November. We're hooked. I love sharing a love of running with the love of my life."

Thank you Failed Muffins for the Giveaway!

Caden's First 4th of July

2010-07-08T11:45:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the 4th we went to the parade in Novato then BBQ'd and swam at my aunt's house. It was a great day!

Great Grandma and Grandma~

Ziggy~

Daisy~

Dad, Aunt Eden and Caden~

2 months old!

2010-07-01T07:11:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it has been two months already! How times flies...our little girl is already looking different, more alert and loves to smile!

From Babycenter.com~

How your baby's growing:

Your baby can tell the difference between familiar voices and other sounds, and he's becoming a better listener. He can also show you that he's in tune with his environment. Notice how he looks to see where certain noises are coming from.

An ongoing conversation (although seemingly one-sided) can help your baby develop his sense of place. He may even watch your mouth as you talk, fascinated by how it all works. You'll be amazed by his ability to communicate with a growing repertory of coos (musical, vowel-like sounds), smiles, and unique cries to express his different needs.

I am 5lbs from my preprego weight, but have been stuck here for 2 weeks! I am not dieting, just watching what I eat and have cut out dairy due to Caden's digestion. I guess I could stop having non-dairy ice cream for dessert and get the 5lbs off :/ BTW before you think non-dairy ice cream is gross I challenge you to taste Coco Bliss, IT IS DELICIOUS!

June Recap

2010-07-01T06:58:00.000-07:00

Geez who is in charge of updating this blog?!

What a crazy month and I can't believe it's JULY!

Photo recap of June:

Caden was Baptized and DJ 's 1st Father's Day~

(Godparents Madison and Carl)

DJ's dad was in town and met Caden for the first time~

Wine Tasting with the family (Sad, Logan is leaving us today for Texas)~

Hand Stands at the Winery~

Day trip to SF~

(Too cold for Caden and grandma, they waited in the car)

June is going to be Busy...

2010-06-09T21:23:00.000-07:00

Caden is doing well. We are looking forward to many event things this month!! She is going to meet her Grandpa Roger, Grandma Maria and Uncle Michael for the first time (visiting from the East Coast)! On Father's Day she is going to be Baptized; she will meet her Great Grandpa Dick for the first time on this day as well.

I could not be happier with Caden. We are starting to have a routine! I love her smiles, even when they are at 3am! Since I am not working, Caden and I share many special moments throughout the day; we water the plants together (she LOVES to be outside), pet Ziggy, go to the gym, nap, have skin to skin time and of course feedings. I have become so used to holding her that when she sleeps or others hold her, I begin to miss her.

Here is one of her photos we took recently~

Bath time take 2

2010-06-02T14:20:00.000-07:00

This went a lot better then last time!!

1 month

2010-06-02T13:50:00.001-07:00

There are a few things I never thought I would do when Caden came along...

1. Miss so many days at CrossFit.

2. Tell myself "that wasn't ENOUGH puke/spit up for me to change" (who wants to do more laundry?)

3. Pee with her literally attached to me.

4. Breastfeed in a parking lot (and to top it off I wasn't wearing nursing appropriate attire...GET IT?!)

5. Sing in public (yes, I know it's bad and I don't care as long as she stops crying).

6. Dance in public (no music needed).

It will be one month tomorrow- Do I dare dream of what is to find it's way on my list?

Tomorrow Caden will be one month old. She is now sleeping between 3 and 3.5 hours at a time during the night, which is WAY better then the 45min/1.5 hrs she was giving me last week. I am sure I just jinxed this and she will be back to her old ways. I believe she takes over the house the most during the night- change her in the kitchen (she loves to hear water running and it keeps her somewhat sleepy and puts us back in bed quicker), nurse on the couch and then rock her if she still fusses in her room all to end with her sleeping in her bassinet next to the bed in our room! There are times when she doesn't go right back to sleep after this circus and instead fights sleep for up to an hour.

We have finalized her Baptism! DJ and I are both very excited. Plans seemed to fall into place, she is going to be Baptized on Father's Day, one day after DJ's dad arrives here from the East Coast.

And lastly, we took some 1 month photos today. This was WORK! She soiled 3 diapers, screamed until the photographers begged for breaks (yes, more then one) and nursed 4 times (all very quick; with so much stimulation she never completed her meal until the 4th time)...I am curious as to what we will come up with. I am hoping to have shots good enough to have invitations to the Baptism made plus announcements to send to family out of state. All those pictures and the DIVA is now napping :)

Dad and Caden

2010-05-27T11:13:00.000-07:00

Dad shows Caden how to use a drill...

She slept through the demo!

Caden's First Bath

2010-05-27T11:07:00.000-07:00

Caden had her first bath and was less then impressed...

Though, like any girl, liked getting her hair done~

Make it stop!!

2 weeks

2010-05-21T16:20:00.000-07:00

From Babycenter.com

How your baby's growing:

Your womb was a warm and cozy environment, and it takes time for your baby to adjust to the various sights, sounds, and sensations of life outside your body. You may not be able to detect much of a personality just yet as your baby spends his time moving in and out of several different states of sleepiness, quiet alertness, and active alertness.

The only way your baby knows to communicate is by crying, but you can communicate with him through your voice and your touch. (He can now recognize your voice and pick it out among others.)

Your baby probably loves to be held, caressed, kissed, stroked, massaged, and carried. He may even make an "ah" sound when he hears your voice or sees your face, and he'll be eager to find you in a crowd.

Caden is doing well. She likes to pick up her head and doesn't want me to try to help her. She loves to be held facing you so she can see your face or outwards sitting up so she can look around, no cradling. We aren't too sure what color eyes she has yet as they are very grey; I think they might turn blue though. We tried to go on a walk yesterday, but she wasn't in the mood, she prefers to be held then pushed. She enjoys sitting in her swing and looking around. Caden also loves to be read too, really she just likes to hear me and her dad talk :) Yesterday she went to the gym to look around, she enjoyed it, but we stay too long and she turned into a 2 headed monster- we quickly came running home!

1 week and 2 days old

2010-05-15T20:23:00.000-07:00

From babycenter.com

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's eyesight is still pretty fuzzy. Babies are born nearsighted and can see things best when they're about 8 to 15 inches away, so she can see your face clearly only when you're holding her close.

Don't worry if your baby doesn't look you right in the eye from the start: Newborns tend to look at your eyebrows, your hairline, or your moving mouth. As she gets to know you in the first month, she'll become more interested in having eye-to-eye exchanges. Studies show that newborns prefer human faces to all other patterns or colors. (Objects that are bright, moving, high-contrast, or black-and-white are next in line.)

I can't believe how different she looks in 1 week!

-How old? 1 week 2 days

-How big is baby? 6lbs 10oz at birth, 6lbs 5.5oz at first check up (up 1 oz from the initial weight loss)

-Sleep? Sleeping quite a bit during the day but eats a lot at night...

-Best moment this week? Lots of visitors and many meals being brought over.

-Belly button? Fell off on day 5; not sure where it went though....Ziggy?!

-What I miss? I thought I would miss feeling her move inside me, but having her here is so much better!

-What I am looking forward to? Nothing, every day is a gift. I am cherishing everyday with Caden.

-Weekly wisdom? None. Thankfully no one is pouring their opinions down our throats- yet.

Caden's Arrival

2010-05-12T09:31:00.000-07:00

On May 5th, I called DJ and expressed my concern my water had broke. DJ came home from work and I called L&D; I was told if a continuing leak occurred or contractions started to come in. Neither happened, false alarm. I felt awful that DJ had left work.

On May 6th, I was feeling very tired. I rested most of the day until it was time to go to the gym. I was debating if I should work out of not. I started late in the class and with Seth, a friend, decided we would split the workout. The workout was "Jackie" (row 1000m, 50 thrusters with a 45# bar and 30 pull-ups); Seth wore a 40# weighted vest to complete the workout "prego." We divided the workout in half; I would row the first 500 Meters and he would row the last 500 Meters. When he finished rowing I would do 25 thrusters and so forth until we were done with the workout. Well, I was about 400m into my row when all of a sudden this "gush" happened. I immediately stopped rowing and looked around, everyone asked what was wrong to which I responded "I have to pee". I closed my eyes and just hoped there wasn't anything on the seat. Thankfully Seth hopped on the rower and there wasn't anything there (I am also thankful I had black pants on)! I went to the restroom where my "pee" wasn't normal, it was somewhat green. I had a decision to make, I could either tell everyone my water broke or I could finish the workout. I was concerned to tell everyone my water broke because I didn't want another false alarm or for DJ to miss work. So, I walked out of the bathroom, went to the mirror, checked to see if anyone else could see my pants were wet down to my thighs AND I FINISHED MY WORKOUT! I finished the 25 thrusters and 15 pull-ups watching everyone to see if they could notice. After my workout I told everyone that I was having pressure and felt I should go home and was hoping they could cover class. They all said it was fine, so I went home.

As soon as I got home I called Labor & Delivery expressing my concern that my water had broke. I had no contractions (at the time) but felt I should be looked at. I asked the nurse her opinion on me driving myself as I didn't want to ask DJ to leave work. She stated she couldn't offer that kind of advice but if I felt fine, I wasn't the fist person to do it. I started grabbing all the "last minute" items I wanted to take to the hospital (brush, make up bag, face wash, cell phone charger etc...) and went to load up the truck. When I got outside my neighbor was mowing his lawn and I knew he would suspect something if he saw me loading the car with luggage. So, I moved the truck at an angle blocking his view and opened the garage to sneak everything into the car. I was on my way to the hospital at 5:15pm.

On my car ride there I didn't call anyone. I had 3 contractions that I was able to breathe through and just listened to music. Now, what I listened too exactly, I have no idea! When I got to the hospital I didn't want to park in designated Labor parking because I didn't want to take a spot from someone who may "really" be in labor. So, I parked on the 3rd floor of the parking garage and took the stairs. When I got in the hospital I walked toward the elevator (L&D is on the 2nd floor), I noticed another pregnant woman and her significant other carrying bags and their admitting paper work, I decided I wanted to get there first, so again, I took the stairs. Apparently I'm a bit competitive. I got there first, all my paper work was verified and I was sent in to be examined by a nurse.

During my examination contractions started to last longer, get closer together and were much more intense. I was there an hour before it was confirmed my water broke. As soon as the nurse verified that I was in fact in labor I called DJ- he didn't answer his work or personal phone so I called his work directly and asked that he be located and sent to the hospital. DJ called me back and said he was on his way and wanted to know how I got there and how I was doing. I told him I had driven myself and I swear I heard his jaw drop over the phone. After some fancy driving and some lights and sirens DJ showed up at the hospital.

Because I requested a midwife and requested no medication I was never checked to see how dilated I was, this is to avoid infection. DJ and I sat in triage until 8:15pm because I wanted ROOM 7. Room 7 is the water birthing room. After getting into our Labor Room contractions again started to get even closer together and were much more intense. By this time my mom had arrived and was with us.

The contractions were so intense that I asked to be checked. The nurse discovered that I was 7.5 cm dilated. Within 2min, I felt the strong urge to push, DJ told me not too as we were alone (the nurse stepped out and my mom was getting the video camera). When the nurse came back DJ told her I wanted to push, she told me not to and that I if I did I could tare, I asked that I be checked again. Sure enough, I was 10 cm and Caden was ready to come out. Everything happened so fast, there was no time to set up the tub or get the bed ready, I just started to push. At 10:28pm Caden was born.

Shortly after Caden was born the nurse I spoke with on the phone came in to tell me there was no way she thought I would be giving birth today let alone on her shift! She also warned that with the next one should I have any thoughts about giving birth I better get there quick!!!

Swagger Wagon?

2010-05-05T15:26:00.000-07:00

40 weeks + 2 days

2010-05-05T15:17:00.000-07:00

Is it just me or do I look smaller now then week 39?

How far along? 40 weeks + 2 days

-How big is baby? Dr. guesses 7 lbs

-Weight gain/loss? 33lbs last weigh in, don't have a scale at home, so I am not sure.

-Maternity clothes? Yup

-Stretchies? Nope

-Sleep? Sleeping great! And happy to have it!

-Best moment this week? Having fun trying all the induce labor stuff! It's entertaining and fun couple stuff :)

-Movement? Regular movement

-Food cravings? No cravings

-Gender? Girl

-Labor signs? Didn't go to the Dr. this week, based on last appt 1 cm dilated. Don't have another appointment scheduled until 5/10 (1 week late)

-Belly button in or out? Out and I hope it goes back in when she comes out!

-What I miss? Cold beer and red wine

-What I am looking forward to? Seeing Caden. Seeing DJ with Caden. SMELLING Caden!

-Weekly wisdom? None.

-Milestones? 40 weeks came and went...I am eager to see this little girl, but I know she will come when she is ready.

Mother's Day is Just Around The Corner

2010-05-04T12:22:00.001-07:00

Venting Session

2010-05-02T07:01:00.001-07:00

I thought I was going to snap yesterday! I couldn't go anywhere where someone didn't want to inform me of their labor, why I should breastfeed or that if I really wanted to "start labor" I should go on a walk! Walking might work for some, I am not doubting that, but I ran a 5k yesterday and NOTHING HAPPENED. After my run, I walked to the corner store (needed my chocolate milk fix) by the gym where a man proceeded to tell me I must breastfeed, all while he purchased a 5th of E&J Whiskey at 9:30am! I am sure he had other great parenting advice seeing as when he left he had a little girl in his car!

The man at Cost Plus World Market felt the need to get out of line and come tell me I had no business shopping alone in my "condition". First off, I wasn't a lone, Melissa was right there, and since when is being pregnant a condition which limits you from grabbing a few Mother's Day gifts!

The woman at Red Lobster showed me about 4 pictures on her phone of her 1 month old, who she was already trusting with a non relative babysitter. She informed me that had I been exercising during my pregnancy and walking every day, I would have had the baby already...LITTLE DOES SHE KNOW.

Lastly, the woman at the spa wanted to tell me about the birth of her triplets. She had a completely normal pregnancy until she went into labor 27 weeks pregnant. One of her baby's didn't make it. I suggested she not share that story with new moms.

Nonetheless, I am 40 weeks pregnant and I have no news to report.

Where can I get this shirt?!

39 weeks

2010-04-26T12:42:00.000-07:00

From the Babycenter.com~

Your baby's waiting to greet the world! He continues to build a layer of fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it's likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, a mini watermelon. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) The outer layers of his skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.

-How far along? 39 weeks!

-How big is baby? 6lbs? Dr. believes Caden will be between 6 and 7lb pounds at birth.

-Weight gain/loss? 33lbs+ (stayed the same for 2 weeks)

-Maternity clothes? Yup

-Stretchies? Nope

-Sleep? Sleep could be better, having more problems rolling/adjusting from side to side in the middle of the night, plus baby movement, usually around 1am.

-Best moment this week? Got quite a bit of gardening done :)

-Movement? She is running out of room, but keeps moving

-Food cravings? Somewhat loss of appetite. Eating smaller meals.

-Gender? Girl

-Labor signs? 1cm dilated and 50% effaced as of today. I am aware I could walk around like this for a week :( But I am hoping to make progress.

-Belly button in or out? Out and I hope it goes back in when she comes out!

-What I miss? Not being out of breath when I tie my shoes!

-What I am looking forward to? Seeing Caden. Seeing DJ with Caden.

-Weekly wisdom? Anyone have any wisdom to pass along?

-Milestones? Ever since I saw her heart flicker on the ultrasound, I have had it written down Caden was due May 8th. Today, I found out I have been mistaken. Caden is actually due May 3rd! They assure me they are not "moving up the date" but this has actually been her due date the whole time. How could I have added 5 days? Oh well. I guess I am a little closer then first anticipated.

I still feel really good. I ran a 5k last week in 33min, I am still following CrossFit and am super healthy. The Dr. insists I don't need to be seen next week as my pregnancy has been so "easy". I haven't had blood pressure issues, no anemia, no swelling, no diabetes, weight gain has been healthy etc...so, my next appointment isn't going to be until Caden is LATE (please don't be late), May 10th.

I have been having dreams about Caden. They are so vivid in the morning that I have to wake DJ up to tell him, because by the afternoon I forget parts or they aren't as "real". The last two I can recall involved her being born before Mother's Day because I had to run to the store and buy my own mother a card and the other one I could only remember she had dark hair (I can't remember her eye color) and she was breastfeeding with no latch problems. I don't care about the hair color, but I am hoping the date and latching are true :)

38 Weeks

2010-04-18T07:55:00.000-07:00

From Babycenter.com~

How your baby's growing:

Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.

Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)

-How far along? 38 weeks!

-How big is baby? 6lbs? Dr. believes Caden will be between 6 and 7lb pounds at birth.

-Weight gain/loss? 33lbs+

-Maternity clothes? Yup

-Stretchies? Nope

-Sleep? Sleeping has been great; I have been squeezing in a few naps here and there.

-Best moment this week?

-Movement? A little less movement, more like squirms...

-Food cravings? Chocolate milk, chocolate fudge, chocolate cookies....CHOCOLATE!

-Gender? Girl

-Labor signs? Having contractions, but nothing rhythimic.

-Belly button in or out? Out and I hope it goes back in when she comes out!

-What I miss? Cold beers and snuggling with my husband.

-What I am looking forward to? Dr.'s appointment 4/26 and seeing Caden's sweet face!

-Weekly wisdom? ...

-Milestones? Caden is full term and can come anytime.

Shopping cart cover

2010-04-17T12:12:00.000-07:00

Caden's stylish shopping cart cover. Thanks to Babysteals.com I get emails everyday on items that are 25%, 50% or more off! Luckily, I snagged this before it sold out.

37 Weeks!

2010-04-12T11:12:00.000-07:00

From the babycenter.com~

Your baby is now considered "full term," even though your due date is three weeks away. If you go into labor now, his lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb. (Some babies need a bit more time, though. So if you're planning to have a repeat c-section, for example, your practitioner will schedule it for no earlier than 39 weeks unless there's a medical reason to intervene earlier.)

Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

Diaper bag packed

2010-04-08T16:09:00.000-07:00

I decided there was no better time to get Caden's diaper bag ready then now! Thanks to a friend I was able to go off her list:

diapers and wipes - take one per hour you will be gone - this is overkill but better safe than sorry.
burp cloth - I pack one because the bib & extra blanket are backups when this is soiled.
changing pad - if your Diaper Bag is as awesome as you think it is, it probably came with one of these.
pacifier - even if you're against them: pack one. One (fussy) day it may look like a good idea to you.
A&D - this is my balm of choice after trying every cream, ointment, balm under the sun.
little toy - rattle, teether, etc.
hand sanitizer - feel free to squirt this on every stranger that attempts to put their ever grubbing hands on your child.
bib - 'nough said.
extra change of clothes or 2 for baby - sleep n' plays are my fave for space effectiveness.
pair of socks - because you never know when one will mysteriously go missing.
extra blanket - for warmth, breastfeeding privacy, spit ups, leaky breasts, blow out diapers.
tylenol, mylicon drops, teething tablets- still need to purchase.
sunblock & hat for baby during summer - need to purchase hats that provide shade.
a shirt for myself - again: spit ups, leaky breasts, blow out diapers make this necessary.
lipgloss for me :) ... just in case i realize that I left the house looking a COMPLETE mess.

I added a hair tie, bobby pins, travel size bath stuff for Caden and disposable breast pads! Anything else you think I should add.....?

Good Food

2010-04-08T14:45:00.000-07:00

Apparently, I have had some good food while prego!

Krispy Kreme BURGER:

Peanut Butter, Chocolate, Banana Ice Cream Sandwhich (couldn't wait for the cookies to cool):

I don't eat like this all the time, and often make up for it with workouts. Yesterday I ran a 5k in 35min, this is by far my slowest time, but I couldn't get my hips to move faster!

I wish I didn't love food so much :/ But these were worth every calorie!

36 Weeks!

2010-04-06T08:37:00.000-07:00

From BabyCenter.com

How your baby's growing:

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.

-How far along? 36 weeks!

-How big is baby? 5-6lbs?

-Weight gain/loss? 32lbs+

-Maternity clothes? Yup

-Stretchies? Nope

-Sleep? Haven't had any problems sleeping, just wish I could do more of it!

-Best moment this week? Baby shower with friends.

-Movement? A little less movement, more like squirms...

-Food cravings? None to speak of.

-Gender? Girl

-Labor signs? Braxton Hicks contractions more frequently, but not "regular" or "rhythmic"

-Belly button in or out? Out and I hope it goes back in when she comes out!

-What I miss? Cold beers.

-What I am looking forward to? Dr.'s appointment 4/13

-Weekly wisdom? Took a breastfeeding class and was told to really give it 3-5 weeks before stopping (should it get too hard or we have problems latching). Also advised to reach out to a lactation consultant should things get hard.

-Milestones? Bag packed. Now, where to put all these needed gifts?! :)

A few gifts have arrived!

2010-03-30T13:03:00.001-07:00

This beautiful knitted blanket from Grandma Kitty Joseph. She started working on it quite some time ago- I can't wait to lay it down for Caden's "tummy time".

Thank you Pop Pop Roger (DJ's Dad) and Grandma Maria! I am sure this little girl is going to get plenty of uses out of these bibs, burper blankets and jammies!

Fight For Air 2010/CF Sectionals

2010-03-30T12:30:00.000-07:00

The CrossFit Solano Group!

Doing our part to fight lung cancer and other related illnesses, DJ and I climbed 52 Flights of stairs! This was about 1,200 stairs! The climb took us 17:22.

Afterwards, a few of us drove to San Jose to watch the CrossFit Sectionals! It was a great event and I can't wait to watch the Regionals!

35 Weeks!

2010-03-29T11:13:00.000-07:00

From Babycenter.com

Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

-How far along? 35 weeks!

-How big is baby? Dr. guessed about 5lbs today.

-Weight gain/loss? 32lbs

-Maternity clothes? Yup

-Stretchies? Nope

-Sleep? Haven't had any problems sleeping, just wish I could do more of it!

-Best moment this week? Watching the CrossFit Sectionals!

-Movement? Tons!

-Food cravings? Fruit, lots of fruit...this isn't out of the ordinary though.

-Gender? Girl

-Labor signs? Braxton Hicks contractions more frequently, but not "regular" or "rhythmic"

-Belly button in or out? Out and I hope it goes back in when she comes out!

-What I miss? Snuggling with my hubby.

-What I am looking forward to? Our next baby shower is 4/5!

-Weekly wisdom? "Be flexible"

-Milestones? Packing my bag for the hospital.

Happy Anniversary!

2010-03-26T19:33:00.001-07:00

March 24, 2009 DJ and I eloped. We ran off to Tahoe and tied the knot!

Getting our License:

I DO:

Fun in the snow:

Who would have thought, 1 year later we would be expecting a baby??!! What a great gift!

Still Working Out!

2010-03-26T19:27:00.000-07:00

Little Bear:

"Little Bear"
You must complete all reps in a row without letting go of the bar, if you let go of the bar or the bar touches the ground you will have a 10 BURPEE PENALTY. The idea is to complete the wod with NO PENALTIES.

40 Deadlifts (yes, the bar can BRIEFLY TOUCH THE GROUND, NOTHING LONGER THEN 2 SECONDS), 40 Hang Cleans, 40 Front Squats, 40 Push Press, 40 Back Squats, 40 Back Jerks.

I used 55# and it took me 22:01 with no penalties!

Tomorrow is the "Fight for Air Challenge" in San Francisco; we are climbing 52 flights of stairs to raise money for the American Lung Association. This is all Dr approved!

A personal success!

2010-03-22T22:17:00.000-07:00

Our gym, that we own with some friends, is growing! We just added 1,000 square feet to our already exsisting location! We are so happy!

CrossFitSolano.com

34 Weeks...

2010-03-21T22:00:00.000-07:00

From the BabyCenter.com

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

Taken 3/2/2010

Quiztime!

-How far along? 34 weeks!

-How big is baby? about 4 3/4 pounds and is almost 18 inches long.

-Weight gain/loss? 27 lbs gained (last checked 3/1)

-Maternity clothes? Yup

-Stretchies? Nope

-Sleep? Sleeping GREAT, thankfully. It's about time to go to bed now!

-Best moment this week? We took our belly photos Tuesday 3/16, should be seeing proofs soon and can't wait!

-Movement? She loves to move, but only when she wants too.

-Food cravings? Fruit, lots of fruit...this isn't out of the ordinary though.

-Gender? Girl

-Labor signs? None

-Belly button in or out? Out and I hope it goes back in when she comes out!

-What I miss? Sleeping on my stomach.

-What I am looking forward to? Fight for Air SF Stair Climb this Saturday! I am going to climb 52 flights of stairs.

-Weekly wisdom? My Dr told me to have my bag packed by 3/27- almost there.

-Milestones? Next Drs appointment is 3/29

More baby room stuff

2010-03-17T14:32:00.000-07:00

Thank you to my mom, grandma and aunt for ordering Caden's bedding. It's not in yet, but here is a picture of what it will look like, minus "Lindsey 6-2-09"! Our blanket will have "Caden Ansley" written on it. ;)

Our dear friend Logan ordered this wonderful glider for us! DJ and Logan put it together last night, Ziggy didn't take long to let us know he wanted his bed right next to it!

Love all this baby stuff and so much of it is really needed- getting worried about where all of it will go!

Baby Shower with Family and close friends

2010-03-17T07:55:00.000-07:00

Thank you everyone for all of your great gifts! DJ and I are so thankful to have been given so much to help us out with Baby Caden! Without all of your great gifts and generosity, we would be very stressed out.

DJ's mom, Suzanne, made this quilt! It's lovely and on the back there is a heart, written in the middle "Made for Caden, love Grandma Suzanne 2010."

My little helper!

I just bought a sling...

2010-03-12T14:48:00.000-08:00

Is anyone still using their sling or should I return mine?

From the Bump.com

Friday, March 12, 2010: The Consumer Product Safety Commissionissued a safety warning today on the suffocation risks of baby slings. The safety alert comes in response to 14 separate infant suffocation cases in the last two decades, caused by various brands of over-the-shoulder slings.

The full alert, which is directed at parents of babies younger than 4 months, doesn’t single out one specific brand of baby sling, but it strongly urges parents to take extra precautions when using any over-the-shoulder sling with their newborn.

Read the full official warning from the CPSC below:

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning parents and caregivers to use extra caution when carrying infants younger than 4 months old in slings and make sure that an infant’s face is visible to baby wearers at all times.

When researching incident reports of sling use for the past 20 years, CPSC identified at least 14 babies who died since 1998 inside sling-style infant carriers. Three of those deaths were in 2009.
In the first few months of life, babies cannot control their heads because of weak neck muscles. When they are placed with their faces below the rim of a sling, they are not able to lift their heads to breathe. This can lead to two hazardous situations.
First, one particular risk occurs when the baby’s head is turned toward the adult. An infant’s nose and mouth can be pressed against the carrier and become blocked, preventing the baby from breathing. Suffocation can happen quickly, within a minute or two.
Second, when a baby lies in a sling, the fabric can push the baby’s head forward to its chest. Infants can’t lift their heads and free themselves to breathe. This curled, chin-to-chest position can partially restrict a baby’s airways, causing a baby to lose consciousness. The baby cannot cry out for help.

Almost 33 weeks!

2010-03-12T14:27:00.000-08:00

32 weeks and 5 days

Who's room is this? After taking the Newborn Care Class, we have been told it would be best for DJ to carry the baby in the house, and for me to be overly excited to see Ziggy. We aren't worried Ziggy will do anything to the baby, we just don't want him to feel shut out. So, to make Ziggy feel comfortable with babies he has been listening to babies via TLC (I can't watch these shows anymore, but I turn it on for him to hear crying) and we are going to put a small doggie bed in Caden's room. He loves her room and wants to be in there, even when no one else is!

Newest purchase! Other then hangers I really haven't spent money on things needed/wanted for the baby, but I broke down and bought this SkipHop diaper bag and love it! I love that it's not pink, it can be wiped off and came with everything I need inside to change Caden's diaper, plus tons of pockets to store stuff, including keys and cell phone! The handles are black, bad picture, but the grey handle is to a car seat behind the bag.

Quiztime!

-How far along? 32 weeks, 5 days!!

-How big is baby? Average is 15.2-16.7 in and 2.5-3.8 lbs.

-Weight gain/loss? 27 lbs gained

-Maternity clothes? Yup

-Stretchies? Nope

-Sleep? Sleeping well and through the night. So thankful that I can still enjoy a good nights rest plus a nap~

-Best moment this week? Hospital Tour!

-Movement? She moves a lot, more in the morning then at night now.

-Food cravings? Chocolate milk

-Gender? Girl

-Labor signs? None

-Belly button in or out? Out and I hope it goes back in when she comes out!

-What I miss? Snuggling close to my hubby.

-What I am looking forward to? My mom and sister are having a baby shower for me Sunday! Will post pictures. Let's hope the sun comes out.

-Weekly wisdom? "Success is just past failure"- not related to the baby or my pregnancy, but I heard this quote yesterday and now I can't seem to shake it.

-Milestones? Had the hospital tour and we are going to work with a midwife and pending the "tub" is available we are planning a water birth. Nonetheless, we are going to do this without meds. I realize this may sounds naive as I haven't given birth before, but after A LOT of reading and a wonderful documentary, we both believe this is truly best for the baby and me.

Recommendations

2010-03-08T12:33:00.000-08:00

I know I can google "packing an overnight bag for the hospital" but I have a feeling some of that stuff is unnecessary or they miss stuff that is essential...Can anyone tell me what was in their bag? Must haves v. must leave at home.

Caden's Room STILL coming along...

2010-03-04T12:18:00.000-08:00

Caden's Room~

Thank you to Jess, we have tons of clothes and a baby seat!!

More clothes...She will never have NOTHING to wear!

Shoes! Loving all Brooklyn's "hand me downs"...

Such little socks! And of course a CrossFit Beanie- Thank you Auntie Melissa and Uncle Carl! Aunt Caroline gave her the monkey bib =)

Her changing table will go against the wall (where the bouncy seat and car seat are)...Dad is working on it, should be stained and finished in a few weeks.

4D Ultrasound

2010-03-02T19:03:00.001-08:00

Thank you to our friend Shane, we were able to have a 4D ultrasound today of Miss. Caden Ansley! We went to Pregnancy Journey in Sacramento- highly recommend!!

31 Weeks, 3 Days.

Another insight to what Caden will look like?!

2010-03-01T12:08:00.000-08:00

DJ has been teasing me for a while about the "makemebabies.com" photo of what Caden would look like. He was convinced Caden looked nothing like us and that if he got to pick out the pictures used, she would look better. Better? :/ Not so much, but different...

I have decided it was best not to make these anymore and we will just wait until she gets here! We are however, having a sneak peek tomorrow at our 4D ultrasound appointment. Will post pictures.

Here is how Caden's room is coming along...Just need a mattress and bedding! So happy all the painting is done =)

Quiztime!

-How far along? 31 weeks+1 day!

-How big is baby? Over 16in

-Weight gain/loss? 27 lbs gained

-Maternity clothes? Yup

-Stretchies? Nope

-Sleep? Sleeping well and through the night

-Best moment this week? All Caden's clothes are washed and put away!

-Movement? Lots of movement, I think this baby has 8 arms!

-Food cravings? Chocolate milk

-Gender? Girl

-Labor signs? None

-Belly button in or out? Sometimes flush, sometimes OUT

-What I miss? Touching my toes and not being out of breath when I put on my shoes

-What I am looking forward to? 4D ultrasound Tuesday

-Weekly wisdom? Someone was so kind to show me what 10cm really looks like...

-Milestones? Figuring out our birth plan (who knows if it really sticks!)

31 Weeks

2010-02-27T07:40:00.001-08:00

How your baby's growing:

This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

Quiztime!

-How far along? 31 weeks!

-How big is baby? Over 16in

-Weight gain/loss? Not sure yet, appointment Monday 3/1

-Maternity clothes? Yup

-Stretchies? Nope

-Sleep? Sleeping well and through the night

-Best moment this week? Finished washing all Caden's clothes! they are put away!

-Movement? Lots of movement, I think this baby has 8 arms!

-Food cravings? Chocolate milk

-Gender? Girl

-Labor signs? None

-Belly button in or out? Sometimes flush, sometimes OUT

-What I miss? Touching my toes and not being out of breath when I put on my shoes

-What I am looking forward to? Dr. appt Monday and 4D ultrasound Tuesday

-Weekly wisdom? Someone was so kind to show me what 10cm really looks like...

-Milestones? Figuring out our birth plan (who knows if it really sticks!)

CrossFit Vallejo

2010-02-25T09:04:00.000-08:00

Working out at CrossFit Vallejo:

WOD:

21,15,9

Squat Snatches (65#)

Chest to Bar Pull-ups (I did regular pull-ups)

Time: 12 minutes and some change.

That's my friend Stacey to the right, she ran the half marathon with me too!

30 weeks

2010-02-22T21:32:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday marked 30 weeks! I am feeling really good and still staying active (CrossFit everyday, except rest days). I have had people ask me if I was ready for it to be "over with" and stated that they wished pregnancy was only 7 months...I am on the other hand enjoying this. I haven't felt overwhelmed with pregnancy and don't mind being pregnant at all. I am however growing more and more excited to see this little girls face. I am over joyed to think of her hands, feet, smile, eyes, her reaction to me and/or her dad walk in a room and to see what she thinks about Ziggy.

30 weeks, 1 day:

Took this from my friend Jessica's blog (but changed the info to me):

Quiztime!

-How far along? 30 weeks!

-How big is baby? a head of cabbage

-Weight gain/loss? 20 pounds so far, but will weigh again at the next appt. 3/1

-Maternity clothes? yup

-Stretchies? nope

-Sleep? sleeping well and through the night

-Best moment this week? my brother felt Caden move for the first time

-Movement? she loves to move and we love to play music for her

-Food cravings? chocolate milk

-Gender? girl

-Labor signs? none

-Belly button in or out? sometimes flush, sometimes OUT

-What I miss? BEER!!

-What I am looking forward to? so much! in march we are having a baby shower, belly pictures taken and a 4D ultrasound!!

-Weekly wisdom?

-Milestones?

Happy Birthday DJ

2010-02-22T21:16:00.000-08:00

For DJ's 30th birthday we went to Newport Beach for the weekend with our friends Carl and Melissa. Carl and DJ attended an Olympic Weightlifting Certification for CrossFit while Melissa and I shopped and relaxed!

DJ and Carl with Coach B-

I managed to go to Orange Coast CrossFit and workout with them. Great group of people!

Birthday dinner-

29 Weeks

2010-02-14T11:23:00.000-08:00

From The Bump.com

Baby's now the size of a squash!
Baby's energy is surging, thanks to white fat depositing beneath his skin. And since he's growing so fast (weight will triple by birth), things are getting kind of cramped in the womb. What all this means for you: Get ready for some more kicks and jabs to the ribs.

We didn't get as far as anticipated with the baby's room. Still have to wash and put away her clothes, assemble the crib and paint the accent wall. Tuesday is looking strong!

Will post a belly picture later or tomorrow.

Ice Fishing

2010-02-14T00:42:00.001-08:00

A few of us went to CrossFit One World for an ice fishing tournament (it's a rowing game)- we didn't win, but we had a good time!

L-R: Johnny, me, Taryn, Sampson, Freddy C, Logan and Kate.

It was a little awkward when Freddy announced who I was to everyone and stated "Lo is rowing pregnant, so to all of you that are here to "just hang out" YOU'RE A WUSS." Don't think that helped me make friends. I had never played the fishing game before and didn't last long at all, but any night with good friends, still makes you feel like a winner.

Insight to what Caden will look like? :/

2010-02-11T13:59:00.000-08:00

Caden's room is coming along. Not done, but coming along. We still need to paint the accent wall and I am waiting for the sticker to come in the mail. Tomorrow, I am planning on washing her clothes and starting to put them away. Can't wait! I have gotten so many "hand me downs" and haven't looked through them in a while, so tomorrow should be fun.

Did the "What will my baby look like" test online (uses a picture of me and a picture of DJ) and this is what it came up with...

INTERESTING...

Another recipe...

Stuffed Peppers:

4- 4 block meals

Ingredients:
4 bell peppers
2 cups chopped tomato
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup black beans
2 tbs (dry) barley
1 cup corn
1.5 lb lean ground beef (<10%)
cayenne pepper and curry powder (or other spices, to preference)
1 tbs olive oil
1 tbs sour cream

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 450º F. Slice the top off each pepper and remove seeds and membranes. Place cut-side down in a microwave-safe dish. Microwave on high 2–3 minutes, or until crisp-tender. Allow to cool. Place 1/4 cup water in a small sauce pan. Bring to boil and add barley. Cover and simmer till liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat. In a large skillet, saute chopped onions in olive oil until translucent. Add ground beef and brown. Add tomato, beans, corn and barley to beef and onions. Heat through. Add spices to your taste. Divide beef mixture evenly among four pepper bowls. Bake 15-20 minutes at 450. Serve with sour cream.

Notes:
Each pepper is a 4 block meal.

Caden's room is coming along

2010-02-09T16:38:00.000-08:00

Caden's room is all cleaned out, the walls have been painted (still have to paint the accent wall), we picked up the crib and dresser, waiting on the dandelion decal to arrive and everything seems to be coming along smoothly.

Dad painting Caden's room:

My "ticker" in the column seems to be off. According to my Dr. and The Babycenter.com I am 28 weeks and 2 days today, however my ticker is a week behind that. I am not sure what's going on, I tried to fix it and the last time I tried it said I was 6 weeks! WEIRD. Maybe this is Caden's way of telling me she is going to stay in there a week longer!!!

Officially in the 3rd trimester! From The Babycenter.com:

By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

Workout for yesterday was "Angie" (100 pull-ups, 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats)- I am still able to do pull-ups, plank push-ups and squats but had to sub knee-ups for sit-ups because I can't lay on my back. The WOD took me 27:45.

Today, Fran, 21,15,9 Thrusters at 65 pounds and pull-ups (you have to do 21 of each, then 15, then 9). We shall see how it goes...last time I believe it took me 9 minutes.

Here is a prego mom doing Fran with 55#s (Thanks Saki for posting on your site):

Atomic Crossfit - Pregnant Fran from ATOMIC CROSSFIT on Vimeo.

Not so sure I can beat her time or pull off those shorts =)

Half Marathon Over

2010-02-08T09:32:00.001-08:00

Our half marathon is over and boy is my body feeling it today! I am pleased to say that with the support of my husband, who ran along side me the entire time, we managed to run (jog really) the entire time with no stopping and completed the race in 2 hours, 33minutes and 31 seconds. Fourteen people from CrossFit Solano also signed up to participate (some ran a 5k, 10k and more ran the half), nonetheless, it was amazing to see all of them at the finish line cheering us on. To the best of my knowledge and what I could tell, I appeared to be the only pregnant woman running; it was great to have people come up to me and DJ after telling us how proud and amazed they were that I even did it.

The CFS Gang:

Getting ready:

My left foot at mile 4 (no, this isn't something I stepped in):

Shoe off:

I managed to have 2 of 3 blisters pop while running. I still managed to finish without stopping. The 3rd blister I have continued to ignore, but plan to remedy today.

Off to paint Caden's room. No rest for us!

2 days Until Half Marathon

2010-02-05T14:16:00.000-08:00

Little Eva

5 Rounds

400m run

20 Kettlebell Swings (35#)

20 Pull-ups

Took 31 minutes 09 sec.

Still feeling good, going to take a "rest day" tomorrow to get ready for Sunday's Half Marathon. Wish us luck!

GRACE

2010-02-04T20:14:00.000-08:00

My WOD (workout of the day) today was "Grace" for those of you who do not know what that means, it is 30 Clean and Jerks at 85# for time (mens weight is 135#), it took me 6min and 37 sec. I felt great before/during/after the workout and have been doing some really great stretching which has helped with my back, sciatic and legs. I haven't had a cramp in my legs in a few weeks and I am a few days clear with no sciatic trouble (thanks to the new stretches).

Here is what "Grace" looks like:

Before I was pregnant my fastest "Grace" time was 2:52.

Another recipe... I tried this the other day and fed it to a few people to see what their initial reaction would be without knowing...I made lasagna with "fake meat." It is a complete vegetarian meal, that sure tricked the hubby. I encourage all of you to try it, you still get plenty of protein and it's delicious.

Ingredients:

4 teaspoons olive oil

2 cups morning star veggie crumbles

2 cups tomato sauce

1/2 cup skim ricotta cheese

1 egg

2 tablespoons minced parsley

2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese

6 "no bake/boil" lasagna noodles

4 ounces skim mozzarella cheese

1. Preheat oven to 375.

2. In a large saute pan heat olive oil and veggie crumbles. Add tomato sauce and spices of your choice (I used dried basil, some chili flakes, salt, pepper and oregano).

3. In a small bowl mix ricotta cheese, egg, parsley and Parmesan cheese.

4. In a 11X7 in casserole dish- place a thin layer of sauce mix, then 3 noodles, followed by 1/2 the remaining sauce mix, 1/2 the ricotta mix and 1/2 mozzarella cheese.

5. Add 3 more noodles, the rest of the sauce mix, the rest of the ricotta mix and the rest of the mozzarella cheese.

6. Cover with foil and bake for 35min.

Let stand for 10min before cutting.

Makes 4-3 block meals.

Cindy Yesterday, Today REST

2010-02-03T14:41:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was "Cindy" (As Many Rounds As Possible in 20min of 5 Pull-ups, 10 Push-ups and 15 air squats). I got a total of 11 rounds plus 8 push-ups. DJ is editing a video clip he made for the post so we can show you all me working out. I felt really good during and after the workout- though the weight gain is starting to catch up with me. My pulls-ups were only 5 in a row a few times, the rest it was 3/2. Push ups have never been my strength and so 5/5 was how I managed. I do love some squats and look forward to them in workouts so 15 was easy to complete without stopping.

Today, thankfully is a rest day! No working out for me, though I am off to teach a PT class at Travis Air Force Base and then regular evening classes at CFS- not much of a "rest" but I don't plan on working out.

I have posted a few recipes and have had some positive feed back from them so I thought I would post another. It's a quick breakfast when you are looking for something sweet, delicious and fulfills both your Carb and Protein needs.

"Cheese Pancakes"
1c cottage cheese
3 eggs
1/4c flour
1 tablespoon canola oil

I personally add a little cinnamon and vanilla for flavor, but that's up to you.

Serve with 2 cups of strawberries on top. In ZONE words, it comes to 2-4 block meals. This recipe can be double with no consistency changes to the mixture. I recommend mixing the ingredients in a blender so it is smooth. Makes 8 pancakes (I use 1/3 cup measuring unit to make them all the same size).

Nursery

2010-02-03T10:01:00.000-08:00

Change in plans for the nursery. We were originally looking for doves but I came across a dandelion and we are going to use that instead. I also found the bedding for her room (registered for this at BabysRUs).

The dandelion for her room will be white on a sky blue wall, not black as shown.

5K Run

2010-02-01T14:33:00.000-08:00

Ran a 5k today and am looking forward to the Half Marathon. I realize the Half Marathon is another 10 miles on what I ran today, but I am confident I can do it. Finished the 5K in 28:18, not my fastest time, but then again, I am pregnant and I am not running for speed!

I thought I'd share a recipe- some of you have heard DJ and I talk about "The Zone" by Dr. Sears and used to follow it very strictly. I was in my best shape when doing this, however, since I am pregnant I allow extra "blocks" and snacks to be consumed throughout the day. I plan on going strict again once the baby is here. Anyway, delicious meal and enough food for 4 or left overs!

Ingredients:

1 pound of stew meat cut into cubes

1 1/2 cup diced onions

2 cups canned, no salt added, tomatoes

1 pound bag of baby carrots

1 cup sliced water chestnuts

1 red bell pepper

1 cup celery

1 tbls soy sauce

1/2 tsp salt

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 bay leaf

1 tbls dried basil

2 cubes of beef bullion

1 1/2 tbls dried parsley

Brown meat with onion and garlic. Once browned, add other ingredients plus 2 cups of water until carrots are tender.

Spring Salad and Strawberry Salad

10 cups greens

2 cups fresh strawberries

36 pecan halves; lightly toasted

1/2 cup "Annie's Naturals Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing"

Meal/Salad should be divided into 4 servings (4-4 block meals).

27 weeks!

2010-01-30T14:28:00.000-08:00

From Babycenter.com-

How your baby's growing:

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

What's going on with me...

I am still working out as usual. I will start posting my WODs (workouts of the day) and let you all know what I am doing to stay in shape. Today:

"Filthy 50"
50 of each...You must complete all 50 of each exercise before moving on to the next.
Box Jumps
Jumping Pull-ups
Kettlebell Swings
Walking Lunges
Knee to Elbows
Push Press
Back Ext.
Wall Balls
Burpees
Double Unders

Took me 37 minutes: had to sub knee ups for knees to elbows, all the rest I did.

Next Monday 2/8 and Tuesday 2/9 we are going to work on getting Caden Ansley's room ready- so far the room has been cleaned out and ready for all her stuff. What needs to be done: Prime walls, paint, pick out vinyl sticker (I have it narrowed down to 12), put together crib/dresser and start putting away her clothes.

But first...HALF MARATHON SUNDAY 2/7! I am really looking forward to it and am excited to say DJ is going to run it with me. I need to go pick up a belly band and a water fanny pack thing (I have no idea what it is called, but it looks like a fanny pack but holds 2 water bottles on either hip, plus a snack. Can anyone recommend one? I am looking for something not too bulky and light.

Tu-Tu

2010-01-27T19:38:00.000-08:00

I am thinking Caden Ansley is really going to need one of these...

And mom might need one of these...

Baby Girl has a name...

2010-01-26T16:12:00.000-08:00

It's official. DJ and I have been throwing names out there for some time and got quite a few responses. However, we decided to go back to the drawing board and have come out with something new. So, I am please to announce, after hours in the baby books, on-line and deliberation, we are going to name her- CADEN ANSLEY. I think she likes it!

Ok to RUN

2010-01-21T14:32:00.000-08:00

Dr. has confirmed everything is fine for me to participate in the half marathon Feb 7th! All the lab work went well this morning, should hear back about the GD testing soon- but I am not worried about it. I have a gained a total of 20 pounds, but the Dr. isn't worried about it, so neither am I! To be honest, I have no idea where the 20 pounds is! I feel comfortable in my size, workout regularly and do not use "I am pregnant" as an excuse to eat whatever I want (...well I don't do it everyday).

DJ and I think we have narrowed down our little girl's name but want to keep saying it at home before we announce just to make sure this is it. Granted we know we could wait until she comes, and I know quite a few people do that, but both of us want to get used to her name, talk to her saying her name and have her get used to it as well. According to some books and friends, babies can hear while they are in the womb and associate with their names sooner when the parents had given them their names in the womb. Let's see if this makes her a better listener!

CrossFit Ranch

2010-01-20T13:28:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday, 1/16, a few of us went to CrossFit Ranch to workout~ Here are a couple pictures...

DJ sadly wasn't able to make the trip with us.

Will post tomorrow about Dr's appointment and Dr's thoughts on the Half Marathon.

25 Week belly shot...

2010-01-17T14:15:00.000-08:00

25 Weeks!

2010-01-17T07:58:00.000-08:00

From babycenter.com

Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

No more fruit references...on to veggies!

What it's looking like inside...

I will post a picture my belly this afternoon.

Willing to take suggestions...

2010-01-16T07:20:00.000-08:00

I have been sleeping horribly~ I have tried everything "What To Expect When You're Expecting" says to do about leg cramps, but nothing is working. I am working out, drinking tons of water (haven't had soda or coffee since July '09), taking vitamins and eating kiwis (potassium). I woke up 7 times last night with cramps!! Help!!

Vote

2010-01-14T19:55:00.000-08:00

Vote for Baby Girl's name by click on the link to the right

............................................>

Half Marathon Feb. 7th

2010-01-10T13:45:00.000-08:00

24 weeks pregnant and making CRAZY decisions! So, it's not crazy to me, though I am sure some of you are going to be concerned. But...I have decided to run in a half marathon pregnant. The run takes place February 7th (in Davis, Ca) which will make me 28 weeks pregnant exactly. I have done A LOT of reading and based on what I have read, the training I have done at CrossFit, my Dr.'s approval and my stubborn attitude- this is completely do-able. So first thing to do is buy a heart monitor (or find someone who will loan me one). I have decided not to do any extra running and will not plan on "training" for the event. Rather, like many CrossFit articles, I am going to rely on what I have learned at CrossFit and put it to the test (CrossFit prepares you for ANYTHING; including a half marathon pregnant). As long as my heart rate stays normal, the baby and I will be fine. Should it increase, I will walk...my goal is to just finish.

For those of you that do not know, a half marathon is 13.1 miles. I participated in a 10K (6.21 miles) on Thanksgiving and a 5K (3.11) the week before. I feel completely confident and healthy in doing this run and hope all of you will support me. I am lucky in that some close friends from the gym (who have experience running a half marathon) are going to run with me and encourage me along the way. I am not doing this "for time" or to win any sort of prize. I am doing it because I feel great, because I want to tell my daughter I was strong while I carried her, because my daughter will one day be proud of her mother and I want to check it off my long list of "things to do" (mind you, I will do it again and get a faster time NOT PREGNANT, one day!)

I am following a blog called "Marathon Mommies" and getting tons of information and support. There are women who have run farther and much further a long in their pregnancies then I plan too.

I am excited.

"The fight is won or lost far away from the witnesses... in the gym, and out there on the road..." - Muhammad Ali

Next Appointment January 21st- 2 1/2 weeks before the half marathon.

What's sleep?!

2010-01-09T14:15:00.000-08:00

I expected sleeping to get cut short when the baby arrived, but I didn't think I would be having so much trouble now!

Baby Girl likes to play, around 11pm! She plays for just a little over an hour, almost every night. I try to prompt her to play earlier in the evening, but she doesn't care what I want. I am also awakened by leg cramps (mostly right leg) and frequent potty breaks. I guess I am prepping myself for those late night feedings and diaper changes...

I feel like I have had a relatively easy pregnancy so far; guess every day is different. What I didn't get in morning sickness, I am getting in leg cramps and a late night partying! If it weren't for ultrasounds I would swear she had 8 arms!

23 Weeks!

2010-01-03T18:55:00.000-08:00

Logan Avery Joseph appears to have won at the polls but we aren't 100% yet. We are really hoping to narrow something down this month!! I am feeling fine, no pains or discomfort. Still working out as usual and really enjoying it. My biggest trouble lately is rolling out of bed! It's a bit hard to roll sideways with a bowling ball on your stomach! Chocolate milk is my favorite thing! I don't go crazy if it's not here but I usually have a glass in the morning and maybe one in the afternoon/night. I can still fit into some regular jeans and wear mostly maternity shirts or size medium for comfort. Working at the gym has its advantages! Nike sweat pants and t-shirts! Have another appointment on the 21st of this month along with the GD test, wish us luck.

From Babycenter.com

How your baby's growing:

Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T12:34:00.000-08:00

If it is this much fun with Ziggy, it's gotta be a blast with a baby!!! We can't wait!

My How You Have Grown...

2009-12-23T13:57:00.000-08:00

Baby Girl Joseph at 7 weeks; our first glimps of her...

Baby Girl Joseph at 21 weeks, 2 days.

Baby feet, also 21 weeks...

How super cute!

2009-12-21T12:15:00.000-08:00

She is going to need these...

21 weeks

2009-12-20T11:00:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since my last post...lots going on! We had an event at CFS to honor our friend and fellow crossfitter, Matt Bishop, we raised almost $3,000 for his family! DJ and I had visitors (his father, grandmother and aunt from Delaware), we drove up 101 for DJ's sister's pinning ceremony and finally DJ felt the baby move for the first time!

As of today we are 21 weeks pregnant and looking forward to Christmas!

From TheBump.com

Baby's now the size of a banana!
Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion, and dead cells), which will fill the first diaper after birth. And, if baby is a girl, her womb is now stocked up with her lifetime supply of six million eggs (the number will drop to around one million by birth).

I had a prenatal appointment last week and have gained 13 pounds! The Dr. says it's a little high, but healthy. I don't feel like I am carrying that much extra weight and feel comfortable. I am still wearing regular jeans!! We have an ultrasound appointment this Tuesday and then have another prenatal appointment late January to check for GD.

19 weeks

2009-12-06T20:39:00.000-08:00

Today we are 19 weeks and growing!!

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.

I saw this and it made me laugh. How freakin' cute.

2009-12-02T14:36:00.000-08:00

18 Weeks

2009-11-29T11:07:00.000-08:00

Here are pictures from our 11/24/09 ultrasound- she is 17 weeks 2 days and growing strong!

She loves her hands at her mouth! There were a few times she had her hand in her mouth but we didn't get apicture of that.

Thanksgiving

2009-11-27T11:13:00.000-08:00

What a busy day! DJ and I woke up early (with others from CFS) and headed down to Solano Community College to run in the Solano Turkey Trot 10K (6.4 miles). I finished 14th (56min) in my age group and DJ finished 8th (55min) in his.

DJ and I found out Tuesday what the sex of the baby was but decided to wait until Thanksgiving to share. (I will post pictures from the ultrasound later.)

How it happened.

We made white cupcakes and in the middle put either a pink or blue gum ball (Thanks Jess for the idea). After getting everyone in the living room we had a count down and everyone bit into their cupcake at the same time...of course we had dessert first! There was a video and some how it is missing, I had wanted to post. I will post as soon as it is recovered- if it is recovered.

I feel like I have so much to be thankful for! I have a husband who loves me, we both have our health and now we are starting a family! I couldn't be happier starting our family with a little girl; now all that I ask is that she is healthy as well. DJ and I (and our unborn little girl) are loved and supported by so many, last night everyone was as happy and as excited as we were.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

The suspense is over.

2009-11-27T07:29:00.001-08:00

2 more days until we know boy or girl!!

2009-11-22T12:49:00.001-08:00

I have not had too many cravings, however I most pleased with ice cold water, apple slices with fresh lemon juiced squeezed on them, chocolate milk and ice cream (any flavor). For a while there I was eating ruffles with nutella, but that became old fast- I believe I was looking for something salty and sweet. Poor DJ is having a hard time with cravings, I do believe he is suffering from them!

I am beginning to grow anxious about the nursery, we have not done anything yet, however I am planning to jump start that project after Thanksgiving. We find out Tuesday Nov. 24, 2009 (2 More days!) if our little bean is a boy or a girl! Once we know the sex I am sure the nursery colors, bedding, theme, crib, dresser etc...will become easier to pick out.

Is it just me or it is weird Babycenter.com always associates the baby's size with food? Now I am hungry, but not for a turnip.

17 Weeks:

16 weeks 1 day

2009-11-16T17:10:00.000-08:00

For some reason the picture I took yesterday is no longer available. It was there last night and today it was gone- so here is another!

16 Weeks

2009-11-15T07:49:00.000-08:00

Our baby at 16 weeks, according to thebabycenter.com

How your baby's growing:

Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.

This might mess up my dinner salad tonight!

Gently Used Items

2009-11-11T17:06:00.000-08:00

Thank you Fathia for the bag of goodies and the pack n' play crib/bassinet. I decided to set up the crib yesterday to see how difficult it was.

Someone thinks it is for them...Look how happy!

A friend of my mom's also gave us a crib for the baby's room for free! Looking forward to working on the nursery, I have a lot to do.

Diaper bag

2009-11-08T15:07:00.000-08:00

I have not purchased anything for the baby yet...but I really want this diaper bag! It's super cute! Has anyone bought from Oioi before? Reviews? Good bag? Nice amount of space?

There are others with pockets on the front, for those moms out there do you find those to be better/easier? I love the design pattern.

Movement and Mobility Cert

2009-11-07T21:31:00.000-08:00

Today I met one of the CrossFit Originals! The bad ass Eva T!

CrossFit Santa Cruz Central hosted a Movement and Mobility Certification teaching all of us about stretching, improving form, time and overall performance. For all you fellow CrossFitters out there, you should sign up for the next one.