Happy New Year- 2014 Goals

Better late than never! As I look back over 2013, I have accomplished and experienced so much! Looking forward to everything 2014 will bring. There are many challenges ahead that I've been able to mentally prepare myself for such as the baby and my husband taking on a new career (yes all at once, bring it on 2014!). There will also be many surprises as life always brings, bracing myself for a big year of change!

My goals this year primarily revolve around healthy habits (isn't that always the theme though!):

• I've enjoyed having practically non-diabetic blood sugars during pregnancy. I don't expect to keep them quite as rigid, but certainly close to it! 
• I've decided to make clean eating a priority. I've been doing a lot of online reading on eating clean and talking to my husband about meal plans. We created a grocery list and meal idea list to keep on our fridge. This will hopefully make grocery trips easier as well as being able to quickly think of healthy meals for dinner.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• I look forward to getting back to a great fitness routine. I expect it to be a challenge with the new baby.  Since being in shape for me is 80% nutrition and only 20% exercise, when it comes to prioritizing if I only have time to prepare clean meals I will be doing that over working out. This will be hard for me because I can be a little addicted to my workouts.
• Speaking of that new baby. Sleep is my other priority. Getting as much of it as possible, even when it's impossible!
• More stretching and yoga to sleep better and feel better.
• Drink a gallon of water a day.
• Play. I told my husband that we have to make sure we continue to be active with our baby. Keep climbing, surfing, hiking, traveling and adventuring!
• I made a calendar and goal list to help me keep track of clean eating, workouts, and when I've had a "cheat meal".
  

The big picture goal is to take great care of myself so I can be the best mother and wife to my boys!! I'm nervous excited for the changes coming in 2014!! Trying to enjoy the calm before the beautiful chaos.

Type 1 Diabetes and Pregnancy: Final Weeks

I have finished up my final growth ultrasound. Baby is still showing up in the 50th percentile and I sure hope it's accurate (I've heard it's not!). I'm seeing my regular OBGYN for the weekly NST and checkups. In the next week if baby hasn't made his debut we will start discussing and scheduling an induction! My next update about diabetes and pregnancy will be post-baby! 

A few last pregnancy pictures (37 weeks)! We had time before we rushed off to a dinner date to snap these at a ranch by our house!! Finally a few non-gym clothes AND not taken on the iphone!

A sweet quote that my mom recently sent. Some good thoughts as I prepare for this new journey.(The more I read it the more I think this can be applied to any aspect of life, not just raising a child!)

If I had my child to raise over again,

I'd finger paint more, and point the finger less.

I'd do less correcting, and more connecting.

I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.

I would care to know less, and know to care more.

I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.

I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.

I'd run through more fields, and gaze at more stars.

I'd do more hugging, and less tugging.

I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.

I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.

I'd teach less about the love of power,

And more about the power of love.

It matters not whether my child is big or small,

From this day forth, I'll cherish it all.

- Diana Loomans

Sweet Stuff

We've had a plethora of things to be thankful for lately as we prepare for a newborn!

1. Beautiful Christmas celebrations with friends and family. 

2. It was the sick taking care of the sick in our home for a little while. My husband had a cold for a week after Christmas. Then one day I was having headaches and dizzy spells. I was suppose to make him soup that day but was in bed myself, so he made it! Here he is checking my blood pressure. Checking at home as helped ease off worries of if I'm developing pre-eclampsia. My blood pressure was fine and I eventually slept off my symptoms.

3. We were both feeling better just in time to go to the beach! A nice little romantic night away in Carmel, CA. The "zen" hotel had bamboo fountains in the rooms, outdoor fire pits, and chocolate strawberries by the bed. It was a lovely mini-vacation for my husband and I to connect before baby arrives! The Carmel beach was the warmest it's ever been when we've visited and walking along it made winter feel very distant!

 

4. Baby Showers with my preschool co-workers and one with my family. My co-workers are phenomenal and had the cutest Dr. Suess baby shower for me. My family and close friends threw me a nautical themed shower. Max and I are completely spoiled. We are beyond bless by the family and friends we have in our life.

Nursery Decor

Our nursery is ready and awaiting baby! I'll be the first to admit decorating does not come naturally to me. I had to rely on friends and Pinterest to keep me from totally ruining this room. It developed into a traveler/nautical theme.  I started with a color scheme more than anything and a budget. I kept it simple and hope to add pieces over time, including a rug eventually! I wish it had a decorators touch, but given my skill level it's good enough! (The paint on the wall is Benjamin Moore Bleeker Biege.)

• Graco Stanton Crib: $150.00 (ours happened to include a free mattress)
• Crib Sheet: The red one is a hand-me-down. I also have a blue one and a white one with blue ships ($14 Buy Buy Baby). My husband doesn't love the bold pop of red, it surprises me that I do!
• National Geographic Map: $25.00. A map was the first thing we agreed we wanted in the room. My husband was debating map type (political, geographical, etc.), while I just cared about it having mostly neutral color tones. We saw this one in my dietician's office and both left the appointment only wanting to talk about "that map". We'd also both memorized the label on it and I found it on National Geographic's website later. You have to sign up as a member to browse and purchase, which is free.

• Lazy Boy Recliner: Free. My dad's hand-me-down. We've had it for almost 5 years now and every time we move my husband wants to get rid of it! I think it's super comfy and have refused to let him! It reclines and rocks. Made it a little prettier with a $14.00 throw pillow from Marshall's. (Now that it'll be a rocking chair my husband loves it as much as I do, just didn't love how much space it took up in our living room)
• Side Table/Nursing supplies station: $60.00 TJ Maxx Home Goods. I wanted a table I could store nursing supplies like burp clothes, creams, nursing covers, and low blood sugar snacks. I've been told lows are common after nursing and I don't want to have to get up to get something! I had all the drawers filled with baby stuff and a spot for "my" things. While giving my husband a tour of how I'd organized the room he looked at the side table and said, "What about me?". I felt awful and immediately cleaned out the bottom drawer for "dad" supplies. I don't know what that'll be, but he's right, whether he will be feeding our little one in that spot or just rocking baby and bonding he needs a place to keep his things too!!
• Tug Boat Piggy Bank: $17.00 Petroglyph Ceramic Studio. I painted this while on a fun outing with my cousins and sister-in-law!

• Nautical Themed Quotes: $24 and $10.00 on Amazon.com. I also got the frames on Amazon for $20.00 each. 
• Lamps: $40.00 each from Lowe's.  
• Dresser: $130.00 Amazon
• Closet Organizer and Shelves: Bought these at Orchard Hardware Supply with a 20% off coupon and I think the total was around $100.00.
• Map name letters: Each letter was $2.50 at Michael's, I used mod podge, and printed maps off the internet. I followed the model provided here: http://jaxdoesdesign.blogspot.com/2013/06/diy-maritime-map-letters.html

• Changing table and changing pad: Handed down to me from a co-worker. We already had the baskets and received the changing pad cover off our registry. It is blue with anchors and probably way too nice for diaper changing! Love that it fits nicely in our spare bath! Between the fan, diaper genie, and a Scentsy we hope to minimize any unwanted odors.
• Rock n' play bassinet was also a hand me down!
• Globe: $15 TJ Maxx Home Goods
  

Entire nursery furniture and decor budget around $700.00!

Type 1 Diabetes and Pregnancy: Week 32-35

Almost nine months!! Starting to count down the days. Needless to say I'm ready to meet this baby soon! 

Doctor Appointments:  There are so many now I've lost track! 

• I go weekly for a Non-Stress-Test (NST) and check-up with my doctor. 
• I had another growth ultrasound at 34 weeks. Max was an estimated 5lbs and still in the 50th percentile. My high risk doctor said I was doing so well that he didn't need to see me again until right before delivery. Yay!!
• My high risk doctor did order an abdominal ultrasound of my right quadrant to look to see if I had gallstones that might be causing my persistent pain. It revealed nothing, which wasn't a surprise based on my symptoms and other testing. Also, the pain pretty much went away completely during the winter break. This points to it being muscle related and probably work/stress related! 
• I had another A1C completed for December which came back at 5.9, up from my last two at 5.5! My regular OBGYN was still very happy with it even though I was feeling a little bummed it went up so much. I had to remind myself 5.9 is still beyond stellar (heck anything under 6.5 is stellar). Also, I survived the winter holidays and still managed to stay below 6%, nice! 

Keeping baby in the 50th percentile hopefully and blood sugars in goal range!

How far along: 35 weeks

Gender: Boy

Maternity clothes: Everything is maternity! Refusing to buy anymore clothes so I'm doing laundry twice a week just to have gym pants!

Stretch marks: No.

Belly button in or out: Definitely out.

Sleep: Sleep requires massive amounts of pillows that I then have to climb over multiple times a night to visit the bathroom and drink more water. Naps needed!!

Best moment this week: Mini-vacation to the beach with my husband. Our last romantic getaway before becoming parents!

Worst moment this week: Right up until our mini-vacation my husband was very sick all week. Together we made one pathetic mess of trying to take care of each other!!

Miss anything: Holiday cocktails and being able to do my workouts in their entirety!

Movement: I think he has been practicing his kick boxing and soccer moves. We can see my belly moving now.

Cravings: More like splurges. On holiday food. Starting the New Year off with clean eating goals!

Queasy or sick: A little nauseous if I don't eat regular healthy meals. Mostly fatigue.

Looking forward to: Full term status around the corner and meeting this baby!

35 weeks and not in pajamas or gym clothes. Probably should have documented the moment by using a better camera!!