Connect the Dots Ginger

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Bump Update: 30 Weeks

It's the final countdown! (cue synthesizer!) After this week I will be in the single digits of how many weeks are left until my due date. So mentally I am celebrating the fact that I can say 10 weeks, but I am also getting nervous. Not about birth or labor but about how much our lives are going to change with #3 here in the house. (I am one of the crazy ones that actually like birthing a baby, unmedicated. I feel strong and even more empowered and it is a total Badass moment for me!) But life is going to change so much. One more mouth to feed. One more direction to be pulled. One more child to love. It is exciting, but so very surreal at this point thinking of it.

Her nursery is almost done! YAY! I know she won't be using it for awhile, but it is still nice to have it set up and ready. And honestly, I didn't plan on doing as much as I am. like new crib sheets. I wasn't planning on getting new ones, but when you find some that are the exact theme, you have to get them! I can't wait to show you how it looks! I just sit in there after I put the boys down for bed and just soak it all in. Seeing my vision of 5 years on how I would decorate my little girls room come to life is pretty amazing!

Nesting has definitely set in. Remember when I mentioned that I just didn't care to clean or do anything? Well, I care now! My house is actually looking pretty dang good. Kitchen is being kept up with. Basement is picked up. I just can't stand messes right now. If it is cluttered it gets under my skin. We just have a couple more rooms left to organize and the house will be ready to go for Elyse to join the family, and family to visit! (10 weeks, family will be here! WOW!)

Total Weight Gain: Gained 16.7 pounds total. Weight as of this morning 254.4 pounds. Up .4 from last week! YAY! Trying to be Junk Free in July is WORKING! (it is our theme for this month in my exclusive health and fitness support group)

Symptoms: Minor heartburn this week. Trying not to eat too close to bed time. We are eating dinner around 5:30 pm most night instead of an hour later, like we do when I am teaching. So that has helped a lot. Peeing a ton! But I am making sure I am drinking tons of water though so I don't get dehydrated. My new rule, after every time I go to the bathroom I drink more water.

Baby’s Size: Butternut Squash (~17 inches inches, 3.1 pounds)

Maternity Clothes: Yes, bottoms need to wear maternity or stretchy pants. Tops I wear maternity now and my bigger t-shirts. Wearing my new Fabletics sports bra in these pictures and LOVE THEM and the fun colors! A ton more coverage and super comfy!

Stretch Marks: I already have a ton that I got when I gained weight years ago. So nothing new. I am using Honest Company belly balm right now though to help my belly stretch so I do not get any new ones.

Gender: GIRL!!!

Sleep: Sleep is like never ending for me. I am up at 11:30pm, 1:30am, and 3:30am without fail to use the bathroom. Then I have a hard time falling asleep again, and then Matt is up for work around 5am so I get up then too. Basically I am up every 2 hours to pee! Nights just seem to drag since I can't get comfy, or back to sleep easily. Oh and she likes to move A TON around the 11:30-midnight wake up. It is crazy how active she gets!

Miss Anything: Sleeping comfortably flat on my belly or back! Sleeping through the night.

Cravings: Veggies. Are really the only thing I really have to have with my meals. I really don't have any cravings of things that "I have to have". I just really enjoy eating good foods.

Aversions: Sweets taste too sweet for me, so I can only handle a little at a time. I guess that is my only aversion.

Excited About: This is the last week in the double digits for counting down the weeks. 10 weeks until my due date. It is getting real. I did get some of the nursery set up. Just waiting for a few more pieces and I will share with you what I did and what it looks like. Still trying to force myself from getting my go bag ready and setting up the pack-n-play. But waiting a little longer before I do that.

Workouts: Okay this week! I only got in 4 days this past week. My regular Workouts include: 21 Day Fix yoga & pilates. Beachbody On Demand Active Maternity and Diary Of A Fit Mommy's Fit For Two 2nd Trimester workouts in daily. Still trying to get in walks everyday for the kiddos at night, but it didn't happen every night with the rain and thunderstorms.

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey!

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Creating Healthy Habits

When you think of the word DIET, what do you think?

For me I think, calorie restriction. 1200 calories total. But after learning about how my body works and what it needs to function (when not pregnant) I require almost double that. RESTRICTING FOODS OR CALORIES LEADS TO DISASTER! Ever wonder why diets fail? THIS IS WHY! Your body needs fuel, it needs calories, and restricting will just lead you to at some point binge eat, then the guilt sets in, then the desire to continue can dissipate.

It's about making healthy habits rather than restrictions! Choose to eat healthy carbs instead of white bread, or regular pasta. Choose to eat fruit as treats, instead of candy. Because fruit is nature's candy! Choose to exercise for just 30 minutes instead of busting your butt in the gym for over an hour. It is all about finding that balance of good eating, enjoying what you are eating and doing the right kinds of exercise that will benefit your body the most!

You can go HERE AT CALCULATOR.NET to give you a rough estimate on how many calories you need to maintain your weight, to lose 1 pound, 2 pounds and so forth. Now I am not a calorie counter, because I follow the 21 Day Fix program where I use color coded containers for each food group. And based on my weight and height and other factors, I fall into a calorie bracket. Then it tells me how many of each container to eat. It is so easy and takes the guess work out of EVERYTHING!

And make sure to PIN for later or print out this FREE document to help you know what foods you should actually be eating vs what not to eat. This is using the 21 Day Fix containers but these are the foods you want to be consuming! If it isn't on the list, do not put it in your mouth. But isn't this list great! LOOK at how many things you can actually enjoy! (this is just one of the many documents you get access to in my free or EXCLUSIVE health and fitness support group! If you would like more info on how to join or what it is about please EMAIL ME so we can chat. I would love to help you reach your health and fitness goals and make a true healthy lifestyle change!)

Make the word "DIET" a bad word in your book. Diet's don't work, they don't last. A healthy lifestyle change is what works and will give you the results you want and deserve.

Today think about some healthy swaps you can make to your everyday life. Like, replacing your bread in the morning with 1/2 cup of oatmeal. Adding veggies to every main meal of the day (breakfast, lunch and dinner). Drinking more water when you feel cravings set in.

**Comment below with some healthy swaps that you can do! Share some ideas with all of us!** Also dust off one of your old workout videos. Pop it in and give it a go! See how it makes you feel. Remember that feeling and do it again tomorrow!

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Fit And Healthy Plus Size Pregnancy: Same Weight, Feel Amazing 3rd Time Around

Here we are. My crunch time in pregnancy. Tomorrow marks my final 10 weeks until my due date and with my last 2 pregnancies, the last 10 weeks I GAINED the most weight. Especially with Collin. Since I stopped marathon training and I just sat on my butt and really didn't exercise, and ate whatever I wanted. Look at these 2 pictures. I am the exact same weight in both of these pictures. 254 pounds. (which is a really scary number to admit to everyone but there it is.) The left is me with Collin at 39.5 weeks pregnant. The right is 29 weeks (last Wednesday) with Elyse. But...

BUT! I FEEL TOTALLY DIFFERENT NOW THAN I DID 2 YEARS AGO! 2 years ago I felt sluggish. I felt tired. I was hungry all the time and I ate whatever I wanted. I didn't really like how I looked, I knew I was pregnant but in my eyes I LOOKED HUGE and I FELT MISERABLE!

NOW, I feel amazing. I have more energy. I know I am feeding my baby the right foods and actually getting my veggies in everyday and superfoods that I never even knew how to get in my daily diet. I actually love how I look, which is a first for me.

I have completely changed my lifestyle of eating and exercise. I am working so hard to eat the right foods. The right portions. And yes, I eat other foods too, but I really try to limit how much "extra" I eat, and what I eat, unlike I did 2 years ago with Collin. I finally learned what to feed my body and I want to share all that information with you and support you if you are ready to make changes in your lifestyle too. Let's get you started today if you are tired of getting stuck in the same cycle of yo-yo dieting and are ready to make a life long change for the better! Let's chat. Email me or comment below!

Monday, July 11, 2016

6 Tips To Help Siblings Transition To Sharing A Room

We are now going on 3 full weeks of our boys sharing a room full time! I have been imagining this for years you guys! My two boys sharing a room and then the other room for our little girl. Now that Collin has moved into Mason's room full time I get to start working on baby girl's room! SO EXCITING...but onto what this is really about. How to transition siblings to sharing a room.

Mason is 5 next week and Collin just turned 2. To give you an idea on their ages. Collin moved out of our room as a newborn at 3 months because he could not stand being in a room with us. He actually slept better in his own room than in the room with us. Frankly, we all slept better. It was amazing. Considering that it took me 8 months to get Mason to sleep ok in his room by himself. I had been really nervous about putting the boys in the same room for this reason.

A few weeks ago we had a really bad and noisy thunderstorm and Collin was so scared to go to bed. It was 9:30pm and hour and a half past his bedtime and he was just screaming when I said it was time to go to bed. Mason had been asking to have a sleepover with Collin in his bed. I was hesitant because I didn't want Collin to get squished against the wall or fall out of bed. But I gave in because Collin was so excited when I asked him if he wanted to sleep in Mason's bed. Collin climbed right up and giggled and had a huge grin on his face (see above picture). It was too cute! And Mason was so excited too! That was the first night of them sharing a bed/room. For the next 2 weeks Collin continued to sleep in the bed with Mason, and taking naps in his crib so he could actually get some sleep during the day. It was crazy but it actually worked. The boys sharing a bed. Collin actually getting some sleep. The down side, they were up by 6am every morning without fail which is really too early for Collin, considering he was sleeping in until 8:30-9am everyday before that. Oh We had already ordered the bunk bed and just were waiting for it to be delivered.

After a 3 long weeks of waiting for the bed to arrive it did! And it was put together in less than 30 minutes. It was amazing. We hadn't planned on Mason sleeping on the top bunk until he was 5 and even pushing it longer because I didn't know how Collin would react to Mason being on the top bunk. But after a week and a half we decided, that the change needed to be done. Collin was becoming dependent on Mason being next to him to sleep. So we ordered our new Hyphen mattress for Collin on the bottom bunk and 6 days ago, the boys started sleeping in their separate bunk beds.

(Getting the room ready for the new bunk beds!)

Has it been easy? NO! Collin was very dependent and didn't understand why Mason was above him. And Collin wanted to be up there with him. We also do not have the ladder attached to the bed. Collin has already tried to climb up it, and for his safety we only pull the ladder out for Mason to climb up to the top. Mason knows how to get down safely without it. (and up, but not every time, unless he really wants it, then he can get up every time.) Collin still wants someone to cuddle with him as he falls asleep, and I did that for 2 nights, then decided he needs to get used to this. We have had to be more flexible and talk to him about it. We are doing things to make sure that they are really tired before they go to bed. And that helps.

6 TIPS TO HELP SIBLINGS TRANSITION TO SHARING A ROOM

1) Know that they might not sleep as long as they used to
All of you might be getting less sleep because they won't go to bed exactly when you want them too. Having too much fun talking or playing quietly. Plus they wake each other up, and waking up earlier in the day then they and you are used to. They are ready to play together first thing in the morning and they won't be afraid to let you know. We have had early wake up times as early as 4:30am. I have to talk to them and tell them that the sun isn't awake and they can't be either. And send them back to bed. But they don't want to...They want to play.

2) Make a new bedtime routine
We have made sure to do a big play time or walk before bed to wear them out. Then we have to get them ready for bed with potty, brushing teeth, prayers and then I sing a few songs for them. This seems to calm them down. And we are trying to stick to this schedule every night. We added in the walk and singing for them.

3) Be Flexible
We now have to turn off the light at the fan because Mason would get up and flip on the switch and wake Collin up if he had to get up to go to the bathroom. Collin would come in our room crying and mad because Mason woke him up. Understand that they are learning the new routine. And Collin, sometimes he doesn't like to go in his bed and he escapes. Just keep talking to them. Encouraging them to stay there and why it is so great!

4) Make new rules
For safety, we do not have the ladder, and we have to explain all the time why to Mason. It's for the safety of his brother. Another new rule, if Mason wants some alone time he can now escape to his bed, which is out of reach from his brother. Same with Collin. I tell him, that his bed is a safe zone and that if he needs a break he can go sit and play or rest on it.

5) Make it fun
Change is so hard for kids. They do not like it, as much as they act like they do, they don't like change. Make sharing a room the coolest thing since sliced bread. Congratulate them for sleeping in their bed. Be overly excited that they slept through the night. Make it fun for them and something that they look forward to.

6) Keep something the same.
With the sibling moving into the room, trying to bring something from his previous bed into the new bed so that it is familiar. It is so easy to just go straight into new bedding and a new setup, but you really have to ease them into it. Collin and Mason both sleep on a sheepskin blanket, so that was in there, but I also pulled Collin's favorite two blankets and his small pillow from his crib. It took about 3 weeks before we could transition to his big boy blankets without him wanting his other blankets. And he was so excited to get his big boy pillow.

(Final look after both Mattress are set up and room is DONE!)

It is an exciting thing for siblings to share a room! They have a friend to be around, as much as the other one might not want it, or act like they don't like it, they really do. Hang in there and before you know it, they will be sleeping soundlessly!

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey!

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Meal Prep Tip #5

Meal prep is going to make or break you from reaching your goals! If you want to succeed, you HAVE to plan and prepare. Check out Tip #5.

Friday, July 8, 2016

Meal Prep Tip #4

Meal prep is going to make or break you from reaching your goals! If you want to succeed, you HAVE to plan and prepare. Check out Tip #4

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Be Sexy And Believe It

Talk about total mindset change. Today, when I was taking my weekly bump update pictures, it is just me and a camera. I set up my tripod and put my camera on timer. Then, I basically have to smile at the camera and hope that they come out ok (and I am doing the pictures without my glasses so I am blind!) I generally think of a motto or thought to get my smile to be more genuine, normally I think about how happy I am about Elyse joining our family, or how much fun it will be to dress her. Well, today...a specific song popped in my head and would not leave! And it is one that I would never have thought of myself a few years ago.

I'M SEXY AND I KNOW IT!

Yep, you read that right. As I was taking these pictures, I kept saying in my head, I'm sexy and I know it! (yep full Pitbull voice and all!) This is all thanks to the positive books I read to help build up my own self confidence, self belief and self love. In the coaching arena we call it Personal Development and it really is. I have developed my mental thoughts to finally love me for me as I am right now in my life!

If you have ever doubted yourself, or just wanted that extra little boost in knowing how awesome you are...START HERE WITH THIS BOOK! You Are A Badass. Check it out, give it a read and feel the awesomeness take over your way of thinking! Don't question it anymore. Just do it! Know it! BELIEVE IT!

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Bump Update: 29 Weeks

11 weeks to go! The countdown has begun! Yesterday was fun! I got to see little miss! And she is doing so well! So I have been getting monthly ultrasounds every month since 13 weeks due to my history with all my miscarriages and the placental abruption that happened last year but after yesterdays appointment she is doing so well. And I am guessing based on the ultrasound yesterday that when she is born she will be 8-8.5 pounds! She was weighing in, based on her measurements and size, to be about 3 pounds. (These are only estimates as the ultrasounds can be off as much as 3 pounds in the end!) She is measuring in the 51% for her size, when a couple of months she was below average. So we are happy to know that she is so healthy, and BIG!

Mason and Collin have officially moved into the same room. Pictures have been moved over. New mattress (Hyphen, is what we went with and it is actually pretty comfy. Check it out here!) for Collin is in the bed and they spent their first night in the bunk beds last night with Mason on the top and Collin on the bottom. It didn't start out too well in the beginning with Collin freaking out about Mason being on the top bunk, and Collin was put in his crib until he could calm down and get a little tired out. I ended up putting him back in the bed about 30 minutes later and he fell asleep. When I went in this morning. Collin was not in his bed but he, at some point, fell out and had slept under his bed. Just his feet were hanging out. It was cute. I just wonder how long he actually slept on the floor. But he didn't cry once last night. The ladder is the other issue we are still trying to work out! Collin wants to climb up and be with big brother but I am not ready for that. So no ladder on the bed. We take it off once Mason is in bed and he knows how to climb down safely with out it but can't climb back in yet.

Total Weight Gain: 16 pounds total. Weight as of this morning 254.0 pounds.

Symptoms: HEARTBURN! Lack of sleeping well. Still have to take 1 nap to make it through the day And round ligament pain from my pulled ligament I injured during my last pregnancy. Feeling HOT all the time!

Baby’s Size: Small Cabbage (~17 inches inches, 3 pounds)

Gender: GIRL!!!

Sleep: Sleep actually hasn't been too bad, except for the heartburn at the beginning of the night and trying to get comfy. But once I'm out, I am out until my first bathroom break, then out again, until my second time I wake up to go to the bathroom!

Miss Anything: Sleeping comfortably flat on my belly or back! Sleeping through the night.

Cravings: Veggies? I really don't have any cravings. I just really enjoy eating good foods. I have been snacking on Peanut M&M's, maybe a handful a day, but I am trying really hard to have a junk free July.

Aversions: Nope. But sweets taste too sweet for me, so I can only handle a little at a time.

Excited About: Got to see little miss Sassafras yesterday! She was so active and not really wanting to take any good pictures. It was fun to find out that she is doing so well! Things are going so well for this pregnancy. Tomorrow is my next monthly check up with the doc and last monthly check up as I will probably be every 2 weeks beyond this point. I am now 11 weeks from my due date!

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Junk Free July Challenge

Good Tuesday Morning! Did you all have a wonderful 4th of July weekend? We sure did!

Now that the holiday is over I have a challenge for you for the next 21 Days. The remainder of this month I am really striving to be as healthy as possible. I am over 7 months pregnant now and only have a few more months left of being pregnant. My weight is creeping up there and the one reason why: FOOD. Even though I am eating pretty well, I am still indulging way more than I used to before getting pregnant. When I was in the height of losing all my weight. But since becoming pregnant, I have enjoyed too many sweets and treats. Yeah, I have kept it under control, but now this month, I am going to really keep it under control. No more stashes of peanut M&M's to snack on, no more chips that I don't need. More watching how many yellow containers I am really eating. And indulging in healthy fruit as my go to sweetness for the day. I AM GOING TO BE JUNK FREE IN JULY! STARTING TODAY! WANNA JOIN ME?

Make sure you "like" my special Facebook Page: Becky Allen - Connect The Dots Ginger. I will be posting tips and info to help you stay junk free! And be sure to keep checking here for more tips too! Are you ready?

If you want to take it one step further you HAVE to be PART OF MY EXCLUSIVE HEALTH AND FITNESS GROUP! You get access to:

~my exclusive tools that have help me lose weight prior to getting pregnant and actually control my weight gain while I have been pregnant
~have daily support and motivation
~one on one accountability
~Daily dose of superfood nutrition that cuts those pesky cravings for sweets and treats
~Easy to follow nutrition plan to finally eat and feel satisfied and still lose weight!
~30 minute workouts that are perfect for any level

I WANT YOU AND I AM READY TO HELP YOU! MESSAGE ME OR COMMENT BELOW TO LET ME KNOW YOU ARE READY! It's never too late to start and the first step to change is letting me know you are ready! EMAIL ME HERE! Or comment below!

WILL YOU JOIN ME?

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey today!

Go NUTS For Your Man's Health!

Healthy and fit families start with healthy and fit moms! I remember as a kid, when my mom was on a diet, we were ALL on a diet! Well moms, this one is for you to help your hubs or partner be healthy and fit too. Our men need us! My husband relies on me to feed him good, healthy foods, and have good workouts for him to do at home to be a great example for our boys and so that he can prevent any future health problems and be here as long as possible for me and our kids. I have really worked hard to teach him to pack his own HEALTHY, WELL BALANCED lunch so that he doesn't have to rely on the vending machine or spending his hard earned money on lunch made in the cafeteria at work. One of my favorite easy, mid morning snacks to have him pack is my take and go trail mix!

Take And Go Trail Mix

Ingredients:

10 unsalted almonds

1 Tbls pumpkin seeds

1 Tbls dried unsweetened cranberries.

Directions:

Combine and store in snack size Ziploc bags for grab and go!

When I make this trail mix I make 10-14 bags at a time. So that he can just reach in the pantry and pack it in his lunch! EASY and healthy!

Don't be fooled by this small snack though. I know it looks small and you are probably thinking, "how can this keep him or me satisfied?" But IT REALLY DOES! All thanks to the NUTS! Nuts are a great healthy snack to have. They are healthy fats, which our bodies really do need to be healthy to help maintain good blood sugar levels. But we don't need that many, and 10 almonds in this case, are THE PERFECT number to help you feel satisfied and to stave off that "I'm hungry feeling" between a healthy and much needed breakfast and a healthy lunch! Want to know why NUTS are so awesome for you and your man? CLICK HERE for HEALTHY SNACKS and HERE for HIGH PROTEIN SNACKS ideas.

And it is so good all the men in my household enjoy them too! Including my 2 year old!

With our help, our men can be just as healthy and fit as us!

Comment below: What are your favorite nuts to enjoy as a snack?

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey today!

Monday, July 4, 2016

Thank You! Celebrating 100,000+ Pageviews

And just like that, www.connectthedotsginger.com has hit 6 digits in it's all time page view history! Less than 3 years ago I started this blog. I remember when I was celebrating my first 20 page views and then my first 1,000 page views. I honestly didn't think anyone was going to be reading anything I had to say. But through being consistent and helping others, my blog has started to take off, and it is all because of you reading it! YOU ARE AMAZING! It has transformed a lot over the last 3 years and I am so proud of the blog that it has become!

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! for following along and sharing with your friends and family! I hope that I can continue to inspire and help others out there finally connect the dots to their fitness, health and life and help women live a fit and healthy life!

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey today!

Red, White and Beautiful 4th of July Workout

Ready to get your grilling on??? Before you go eat tons of yummy healthy grilled foods check out this easy workout for you to do today to start the day HEALTHY! ENJOY!

Hoping you have a safe and healthy Independence Day for those of you who celebrate it! Today we are grilling with friends and I'm brining the desserts! I'm bringing 2, why not?!? I'm taking my stuffed strawberries and this awesome, much healthier option for the kiddos to enjoy! A skewered fruit flag!

Friday, July 1, 2016

New Monthly Goals

Just because it is July doesn't mean you can't reach your summer goals! I love new months because you can set new goals no matter what they are! Take some time today to make some goals on what you want to accomplish this month. Need help in how to set goals? Check out HOW TO MAKE SMART GOALS HERE!

Go on a hike every weekend. Lose that muffin top. Go on a walk 5 days a week. Eat healthy unprocessed meals 5 days a week for the whole month. Anything. Make goals, write them down, look at them everyday and STICK TO IT!

Want everyday accountability, motivation and support? Join me in our Junk FREE July group this month. I want you if you are finally ready to reach your goals! FILL OUT THIS APPLICATION to let me know you are ready to get started!

Daily reminder tip to reach your goals:
Each morning remind yourself. What am I going to do today to reach my goal or be one step close to my goal!

Comment below with one goal you want to accomplish this month!

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey!

Thursday, June 30, 2016

Cream Cheese Stuffed Strawberries

One of my favorite little treats to make for my family are these awesome and totally yummy stuffed strawberries! But because there is cream cheese in it, I can only eat them occasionally. Since I follow the 80/20 clean eating rule. So any patriotic holiday I treat my whole family with these yummy popper size desserts where 1 is just not enough! Recipe below!

Cream Cheese Stuffed Strawberries
Ingredients:

1 package fresh strawberries
8 oz block of cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 cup confectioner's sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract
blueberries

Directions:

1. Remove the stems from the strawberries, and using a melon baller or 1/4 tsp, scoop out a hole from the top of each strawberry, you can also splice down the sides to make it split open like a star. Cut a small part of the bottom of the strawberry to create a flat surface for the strawberries to stand on.

2. Mix together the cream cheese, confectioner's sugar, vanilla extract and almond extract until light and fluffy.

3. Transfer the cream cheese mixture to a piping bag, I like using a star tip, and pipe the filling into each of the prepped strawberries. top each cream cheese with a blueberry. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes-1 hour for the cream cheese to set if taking to an outdoor event.

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey today!

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Bump Update: 28 Weeks

This week has been so hard. I have technically been a single mom for the past two and a half weeks. Just me and the kids and little to none outside communication besides Facebook and blogging. Matt has been out of town for work and military. I had a huge stress breakdown at church, in public, on Sunday. That was no fun! but I was thankful for the break I got sending the kids to nursery or class. Plus my heightened emotions and hormones didn't help much. I kept telling the other moms: "WHAT WERE WE THINKING! ADDING ANOTHER ONE?" My biggest fear came to pass at church. I was outnumbered with kids that weren't behaving and it was hard. The hardest thing I have been thinking about this whole pregnancy is the fact that we are going to be outnumbered. How do we do that? Anyways, it was nice to remember that I have friends here wanting to help me.

YAY! For the 3rd trimester. I want to say the last trimester but it isn't. Since there is a 4th trimester too, after baby comes. But the last trimester before Elyse arrives! Normally for me these last 12 weeks go by a little slower. But we have some fun things coming up in our family that we are looking forward to! Mason's birthday, family vacation, school starting. Hoping that those things help make the time go by more quickly. (the past couple of weeks has really dragged by!)

Total Weight Gain: 15.5 pounds total weighing in at 253.0 pounds.

Baby’s Size: Cauliflower (~16 inches inches, 2.5 pounds)

Gender: GIRL!!!

Sleep: HORRIBLE! I have heartburn like crazy at night, so I am sleeping propped up. That is no fun and not very comfy for me. I have been tossing and turning trying to get comfy too, and I have restless leg syndrome. I have been falling asleep to my hypnobirthing. And I am sleeping like a rock when I do that. Plus she is starting to move at night more and it wakes me up, or when I flip over it wakes her and she kicks me to tell me to go back to sleep. She is a feisty one!

Miss Anything: Sleeping comfortably flat on my belly or back! Sleeping through the night.

Cravings: Nope. I did enjoy a ton of Rainer cherries the other day, those were AMAZING!

Aversions: Nope. But sweets taste too sweet for me, so I can only handle a little at a time.

Excited About: 3rd Trimester! TODAY is day 1 of 3rd trimester. YAY! I'm super excited for my hubs to get back home. 3 weeks without him is hard! This momma needs some me time which I am getting on Saturday, thankfully! Oh, and I have an ultrasound this coming Tuesday! It should be my last one. The doc who does my ultrasounds said "since you are close to the magic number you get an extra ultrasound at 28 weeks!" Ugh, just another reminder that I am turning 35 this year. Doesn't seem possible but I am! (did you know I was almost 35?)

Workouts: AWFUL this week! I only got in 3 days this past week. I had planned on doing my regular Workouts which included: 21 Day Fix yoga & pilates. Beachbody On Demand Active Maternity and Diary Of A Fit Mommy's Fit For Two 2nd Trimester workouts in daily. We have done most of the walks this week though. With Matt being gone I need to get the boy's energy out so they go to bed when I need them to!

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