Gender Reveal Ideas

Today is the day that we find out if we are expecting a little boy or a little girl into our family. I am really hoping for a girl, because well, my mom is so excited to make cute little girl clothing, but after 2 boys, I am ready for a girl! And of course Matt is hoping to make it a trio of boys! The more men the better he says! But we shall see today. I'm looking and looking at all the ideas on cute gender reveal ideas and here are a few of my favorites I found over at PINTEREST!

(Diary of a Fit Mommy)

HERE'S WHAT WE WENT WITH! 

See more at our Gender REVEAL Announcement post! 

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Summer Activities for Kids

After going through Spring break and honestly, surviving. I am already starting to look at some fun summer activities for kids that won't break the bank! Check out this link fun activity ideas! Oh this is just the beginning of summer fun for us in the Allen house!

12 Summer Activities for Kids

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Bump Update: 18 Weeks

I can't believe that I am already almost half way! I thought in the beginning how slowly this pregnancy was going and then BAM! It's almost the end of April and I am almost half way. Happy day! 

I am seriously so excited for FRIDAY! We get to find out the gender of this baby and I get to share it with you all (hoping that the baby is willing to show us! I will be downing an Icee before we go!) This past week went pretty well. We had some great family time over the weekend. And both Mason and Collin love saying "Hi" to the baby. Mason loves talking to the baby all the time! My weight is starting to go up, I gained 2 pounds in the last month, so half a pound a week, for a plus size girl that is pretty AMAZING! I am loving this healthy and fit pregnancy. It is totally different than when I was pregnant with Collin. I had the exercise down but not the eating. Now combining the two I am having the healthiest pregnancy yet! LOVING IT! 

Total Weight Gain: 5.5 pounds 243.1 pounds.

Symptoms: Headaches/migraines. I had a bad one on Monday and couldn't eat anything. Made me sick to my stomach. My appetite hasn't really been good since. But still eating healthy when I can!  

Baby’s Size: Sweet Potato/Artichoke

Maternity Clothes: Yes, bottoms need to wear maternity or stretchy pants. Tops still good to go on regular shirts! 

Stretch Marks: I already have a ton that I got when I gained weight years ago. So nothing new.

Gender: ??? FRIDAY! We find out! 

Sleep: I am only waking up once a night to go to the bathroom. But started having some crazy weird dreams!  

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

Cravings: Peanuts. Like trail mix. Yeah, totally loving on that stuff. I do pre-portion it out though so I don't eat the whole bag in one sitting cause that would not be good! 

Aversions: nothing yet

Excited About: Feeling the baby move a ton! Finding out the gender on FRIDAY! YAY! 

Workouts: Getting in my workouts 5 days a week, which is awesome! Still getting lots of massages from Matt for that. I have been doing 21 Day Fix yoga, Cize, Diary Of A Fit Mommy's Fit For Two 2nd Trimester and the Beachbody On Demand Active Maternity 2nd Trimester workouts. 

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How To Add Healthy Carbs To Your Everyday Life

This week in my ongoing group we are having our educational theme week! KICK THE CARBS! It is all about learning why bad carbs are bad and how to add more healthy ones to your diet. Todays post is on healthy ways to add carbs to your everyday life! Try these tips for adding healthy carbohydrates to your diet:

1. Start the day with whole grains.
Try a hot cereal, like steel cut or old fashioned oats (not instant oatmeal), or a cold cereal that lists a whole grain first on the ingredient list and is low in sugar. A good rule of thumb: Choose a cereal that has at least 4 grams of fiber and less than 8 grams of sugar per serving.

2. Use whole grain breads for lunch or snacks.
Confused about how to find a whole-grain bread? Look for bread that lists as the first ingredient whole wheat, whole rye, or some other whole grain —and even better, one that is made with only whole grains, such as 100 percent whole wheat bread.

3. Also look beyond the bread aisle.
Whole wheat bread is often made with finely ground flour, and bread products are often high in sodium. Instead of bread, try a whole grain in salad form such as brown rice or quinoa.

4. Choose whole fruit instead of juice.
An orange has two times as much fiber and half as much sugar as a 12-ounce glass of orange juice.

5. Pass on potatoes, and instead bring on the beans.
Rather than fill up on potatoes – which have been found to promote weight gain – choose beans for an excellent source of slowly digested carbohydrates. Beans and other legumes such as chickpeas also provide a healthy dose of protein.

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Never Miss A Monday

Happy Monday Mamas! I hope all of you had an amazing weekend!!!! Well, I personally take Sat and Sun off from working out. My goal is 5 days a week but still do something active with the family on Saturday. 

Today, is WORKOUT DAY! Here are 4 simple rules to help you stay on track! For me personally, if I don't workout on Monday, I will miss Tuesday, it is always a given and I don't know why, but that is what always happens. So I make it a huge goal to NEVER MISS A MONDAY! And as we know, exercise while pregnant is so important for us and the baby!

• Reduce risk of pregnancy complications: In one 2012 study, women who participated in fitness programs four times a week were less likely to develop gestational diabetes and less likely to have unplanned cesarean sections than those who didn’t exercise.
• Lower odds of delivery complications: In another study on women in Spain, women who exercised three times a week gained less weight during pregnancy and were less likely to have macrosomic babies (or babies weighing more than about nine pounds at birth). Having a heavier baby, in turn, can lead to complications for both mother and baby during delivery. 
• Speed post-delivery recovery: The more you increase your pregnancy fitness, the faster you'll recover physically after childbirth, the more fit you'll be after delivery. In the same 2012 study, women who exercised recovered faster after labor (even after controlling for delivery method), resuming household chores faster than  those who didn’t exercise.
• Boost your mood:  Women are more susceptible than ever to depression during pregnancy, with an estimated one in two of all women reporting increased depression or anxiety while they’re expecting. But research has found that exercise during pregnancy reduces depression, releasing endorphins that help improve mood while diminishing stress and anxiety.
• Lower blood pressure: Blood pressure occasionally does go up during pregnancy, but too much and it can be a warning sign of preeclampsia. Staying active — in one study, simply walking regularly — has been found to keep blood pressure from rising.
• Ease back and pelvic pain: It’s no secret that your growing baby bump puts extra pressure on your lower half, resulting in lower back pain and an achy pelvis. Exercising, however, may result in less lower-back and pelvic pain during late pregnancy.
• Fight fatigue. Low-level tiredness plagues many women during the first trimester, then again late in the third trimester. While it seems paradoxical, sometimes getting too much rest can actually make you feel more pooped. So while you should never push yourself to exhaustion, a little nudge — say, an easy walk or try a prenatal yoga class — can make a big difference in your energy level.
• Improve sleep. While many pregnant women report having a harder time falling asleep, those who exercise consistently (as long as it's not near bedtime, which can be too energizing) say the quality of their sleep is better and that they wake up feeling more rested.
• Relieve constipation. An active body encourages active bowels. Some women swear by a brisk 30-minute walk to keep them regular, while others say even a 10-minute stroll helps get things going.

So....what workout are you doing today?

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!