31 week baby bump.

it's that time again.  ready?  here we go.

24 weeks

26 weeks

28 weeks

31 weeks

and there you have it.  31 weeks and counting.

Guess what i'm reading.

stay tuned for my thoughts and opinions about this book.  have you read it?

ps
thanks sis your getting it for me!

Favorite exercises during pregnancy.

i have been taking boxing and kickboxing exercise classes since 2007.  let's be clear, these are fitness classes.  no sparing for me.  if i couldn't continue to go to my gym throughout my pregnancy, i'm pretty sure some form of sadness/depression would ensue.  i figured that some of you may be curious as to which exercises i did throughout my pregnancy.  but first, here is a pic of my favorite boxing/kickboxing instructor, anthony.  he's a goofball.  this picture is so wrong in so many ways.  what was he thinking trying to punch a pregnant woman! lol. 

check me out parrying his punch!  hehehe.

at 30 weeks, i'm not boxing much anymore.  i do like to go to the classes and do my own thing.  there is a certain energy level when you exercise with others that you just cannot get by exercising by yourself.  here are a few of my favorite exercises i did and am still doing to make sure i maintain some sort of muscle tone.

1. squats/lounges
2. pregnancy push ups
3. planks and side planks
4. any type of arm exercises.  i like to use 3 lb weights.

just listen to your body and don't over do it.  drink lots of water before, during, and after your workout. as long as you were active before and your doctor gives you the A-OK, exercising throughout your pregnancy is one of the best things you could do for yourself and your baby. 

and here is a much better photo of anthony and i.  this was taken today after the noon boxing class i like to go to.

Christmas decor circa 2012.

2 days ago, i had asked the husband to take out our christmas storage box from the garage so that i can evaluate if i needed to buy wrapping paper and gift tags with the intention of wrapping all my gifts that day.  being a good husband that he is, he gladly obliged and then off to work he went.   i started to rummage threw my old christmas decorations and ornaments of the past with no intention of actually decorating our house.  but as i sorted threw things, i had a sudden urge to whip them out and display a few christmas-y items around our abode.  no, we did not get a tree.  but i do have a humungo wreath on my stairs that can be 1/4 lit up!  does that count?

i used to hang this wreath on the outside of our previous house.
since we don't have an outside banister, i hung it inside.
it's several years old, hence only 1/4 of the lights work.
i think i'll be retiring this one after this year.

i also decided to use my old outdoor lights and wrap them around my stairs.

please don't mind my treadmill at the bottom
left hand corner.

next up, we have our stockings.  it just wouldn't be right without stockings hung on our fireplace.  to think, at this time, next year, our 2 stockings, will grow into 3 =)

here we have my 3 little angels that i bought on clearance post holiday season from pier 1 imports a long time ago.

and here is a photo, to keep things "real" of my christmas mess that i have accumulated which consists of boxes, gifts, wrapping paper, etc.  this is on my to-do list.

after all that decorating, hitting the gym, and running errands, i had the energy to whip up dinner!  i wanted something easy so i initially settled with chicken afritada made in my crock pot.  recipe adapted from here.  but, by the time i got home it was too late to wait 4 hours to finish cooking dinner.  so i just threw everything in my big, black pot and cooked it for 1 hour.

i added salt, more soy sauce, and some sugar to taste.  and since i love carrots because it adds sweetness to any dish, i dumped the whole trader joe's baby carrots bag into the pot.  husband loved it, brother loved it, and so did i.  i ate mine with quinoa since i'm trying to stay away from rice.  here is my plate:

 husband's contribution to our dinner, was a fresh strawberry and orange drink via our vitamix!  it was so yummy and refreshing!!

it does feel good to make a home cooked meal for my loved ones.  i'm trying to be more consistent and better at it.  once gabriella makes her grand entrance into this world and starts eating solids, cooking   nutritious meals for my family will be one of my top priorities.  what are your top go-to meals?

In need of a holiday dress?

a a pea in the pod is having a sale on dresses.  they are offering 30% off until 12/11.  I bought this dress for full price (unfortunately) for a wedding in november.

via

i received a lot of complements when i wore the dress and it was extremely comfortable.  since it was pricey ($170), i decided to wear it for our christmas card photo as well, even though i just wanted to wear pants.  it's on sale for $90.99!  if you are pregnant and in need of a holiday or wedding dress this winter, i would recommend this dress.  i paired it with black, opaque tights and black pumps.  and here is another photo of me in the dress with my sister-in-law and john's cousins.

and here is a photo of husband and i <3

and since i have my baby shower coming up in january, i thought i would take advantage of the sale and buy a dress that i've been eyeing for awhile.  i bought this dress:

via

i've always loved paisley prints.  and i love the color purple with hints of yellow.  i'll probably add a skinny belt and wear it with boots.  the best part of the dress is the price.  with 30% off, it came out to only $41.99...score!  happy shopping!

Favorite maternity clothes.

since i am a nurse, i'm lucky to not have to buy corporate style clothes.  if you have to dress up for your job, this post may not be for you.

i have always been a tank top, jeans, and cardigan type gal.  so i had a ton of sweaters that i still use to this day.  adding a long sweater/cardigan has a slimming effect ;-)  oh so important when you're feeling large.  shall we start?

H & M
i bought several of these tanks in different colors for only $5.95 in a size large since
these aren't maternity tanks.

target
like the tank tops, i bought 3 of these long sleeve maternity tops in different colors
  for only $14.99.
since they are maternity tops, i bought a size medium.  i wear these to work,
to run errands, and to work out.  definitely a staple in my wardrobe.

old navy
love, love, love these yoga pants.  i bought 3 of these pants.
yes, i wear yoga pants that much.  these pants are comfortable and very flattering.
i bought a size small and the  length was perfect for me.  i'm 5'6''.
in my opinion, full panel is the only way to go.
and for $24.94, it's a must buy.  i think i even got it for 30% online.  

motherhood maternity
i posted about skinny jeans here.
but i especially love the black, skinny, ponte, full panel pants.
these pants are very flattering and they are not skin tight like leggings.
plus the fabric is thick which hides unsightly lumps and bumps.
fyi, unfortunately the prices have gone up on these pants and the skinny
jeans i bought.  they used to be only $29.99 =(

if you follow my blog, then you know that i'm all about my blanqi and compression stockings, so i don't have to go into detail about those items.

there you have it, my maternity wardrobe.  i don't plan on buying anything else for the remainder of this pregnancy.  what were your maternity wardrobe staples?

Second trimester reflection.

i really enjoyed this trimester.  i felt good.  my energy level sky rocketed compared to the first trimester. and all my horrid GI symptoms magically disappeared.  except maybe the gassiness.  sorry hun!  i still haven't had any "cravings", except for the occasional bear claw danish here and there.  but overall, i think i ate pretty healthy and continued to exercise, all the while listening to my body and not pushing it too much.  as i think back on the last 29 weeks here is what i would say to another newly preggo mama and/or remind myself for next time.

1. watch what you eat.  you only need an extra 200-300 calories during pregnancy.  keeping your weight down really, really helps with feeling comfortable in your growing body.  plus, i think it helps with minimizing stretch marks.  
2. stay active.  ideally, it would be great if you were in the best shape of your life right before you get pregnant.  but if you were like me, and wishing you were just 5 lbs lighter before this journey began, at least stay active.  i think that exercising, stretching, and strengthening my core has helped me move despite a big belly, keep the aches and pains at bay, and keep my energy level up.  sometimes john even forgets i'm pregnant!
3. buy maternity clothes early.  but only the necessities.  i bought 3 pairs of full panel maternity pants by the end of the 1st trimester and have worn them consistently since then. i feel i really got my money's worth.  even though they were a little too big back then, i can't tell you enough how comfortable they were/are.
4. listen to your body.  if you're tired, take a nap.  but if you feel great, then go for it!  i jogged, albeit slowly throughout my 2nd trimester and i'm glad i did.  nowadays, i walk fast on an incline on a treadmill.  but i know that after i deliver baby gabriella, my endurance isn't going to be shot.
5. try not to obsess over your weight.  i am still struggling with this one.  i weigh myself every few days.  but i think once a week, or even every 2 weeks to keep track of it would be sufficient enough.
6. drink lots and lots and lots of water.  it sounds counter intuitive, but when you feel bloated, you actually need to drink more water.  plus, being dehydrated can cause contractions.  so drink lots of fluids.
7. support wear.  i posted about this topic here
8. don't over use dr. google.  this is a hard one for me.  but the info on the internet can make you go crazy.  

i think that's it.  if i think f anything else i'll be sure to let you know.  it'll be interesting to see what the next few months have in store for me.  we shall see!!

PS

I apologize there are no photos in this post.  i know...baaaad blogger!

**addition**
     9.  panty liners.  good ones at that.  i like the poise brand.  just trust me on this.

Something extra.

i completely forgot to post this picture in the previous post.  as i was practically skipping to the elevators because i was ecstatic from the awesomely awesome news the radiologist gave me (you know, that baby gabriella was healthy), i walked past this window and did a double take.  please excuse the lovely window pane decor, the hospital is old.  however, if you look past the diamond shaped pattern, you can catch a glimpse of the beauty of san francisco.  gosh, i love this city.

Update on fundal height.

remember when i posted about a higher than "normal" (i put normal in quotation marks, because...really...what and who is exactly "normal") fundal height at 28 weeks? because i am who i am, i completely rearranged my schedule so that i can get an ultrasound sooner than thursday.  i got one on tuesday.  and yes, 2 days makes a difference for me.  i ideally wanted it to be on monday, but the clinic could not accommodate me.  sorry, let me cut to the chase.  everything is "normal".  i'm actually kinda glad i got another detailed ultrasound at 28 weeks.  gabriella is much bigger now and doesn't look so much like an alien anymore.  wanna see some cool ultrasound photos?  wait, lets recap, because you know i like doing that ;-)

4 weeks: it all started with a simple, faint, blue
+ sign.

6 weeks: no blighted ovum here!
we have a yolk sac people!!

8 weeks: is that a fetal pole i see?!
aaaaaaaand we have a heart beat!!

14 weeks: finally, we have a baby =)

28 weeks: and now we have a bigger baby.  estimated weight
is 3 lbs.

and here is a video in 4D of her smiling.  we both think she looks like me.  she has my filipino nose and big lips, lol.

we are so over the moon and grateful that baby gabriella is healthy.  the sonographer not only measured her size and amniotic fluid levels, but she also took images of all her major organs.  and when the radiologist came in and told me everything looked great i must have had the biggest smile on my face.  third trimester...bring it on ;-)

A manly, yet stylish diaper bag.

remember when i posted about my diaper bag conundrum?  well, john had a diaper bag conundrum himself, lol.  like i mentioned before, i had registered for the black diaper dude messenger bag from babies r us as seen here.

when i was on gilt and looking at the baby & kids section, i came across this grey faux suede diaper dude bag.

husband was immediately drawn to its aesthetics and stylishness.  i swear, he's way more hip than me.  plus it was only $50.  this bag is usually ~$100.  so we bought it and removed the other diaper bag from our registry.  you know i'm going to ask...did your husbands want their own diaper bag?  or did you share???

2012 Christmas card outtakes.

with john working 6 days a week, mondays being his only day off, i was pressed for time to take some photos for a christmas card this year.  i usually don't send holiday cards out, but since we are "expecting" i thought it would be a nice way to let our family and friends in on the great news.

i still have all my christmas decorations in a box in the garage.  i am hoping to whip them out soon, but with work, and all the things on my to-do list for december i'm not holding my breath for a very festive house this year.  BUT (and that's a capital B-U-T), i ran over to michael's today and bought some stencils, twine, and red ribbons and conjured up my very own homemade merry christmas sign to use as our backdrop for our christmas card.  my brother's gf graciously obliged to be our photographer.  let's just say, taking pictures with our fur babies was an "experience".  here are some outtakes.  enjoy!

 

Hello third trimester! 28 week baby bump.

shall we recap?

24 week baby bump.

26 week baby bump.

28 week baby bump.

i saw my ob this morning.  there was some good news and some so-so news.  good news: i passed my OGTT!  no gestational diabetes for me.  my weight is good...16 lbs gained so far, and my blood pressure is within normal limits (116/48).  the heart rate of baby gabriella is strong and right where it should be.  so-so news: then, she measured my fundal height and it's a little higher than she expected it would be for 28 weeks.  she then said that i should get another ultrasound just to make sure everything was ok.  being a pediatric nurse and having google at my finger tips, my thoughts began to race from having a huge baby to having polyhydramnios.  my thoughts have calmed down now, and i've decided to stay positive and not to think about it too much.  my ultrasound appointment is next thursday.  i'll keep you posted on the results.  i was planning on writing a reflection, but as you can imagine, i'm not in the right mood to write one. till next time friends.

The diaper/undiaper bag conundrum.

i registered for the diaper dude messenger bag for john and i.  i figured it would be better to get a "masculine" bag for both of us rather than a cute, feminine one that he'd feel uncomfortable carrying around.  plus it got pretty good reviews on amazon and from the various blogs i read.  here is a pic of it...

however, i really wanted to register for the skip hop versa diaper bag too.  again, the great reviews and appealing looks of the bag drew me to it.  you can see for yourself here...

but then i got to thinking about what makes a bag a diaper bag.  2 overarching characteristics that i have come up with are that diaper bags are bags that are (A) large and (B) have a lot of pockets or sections.  can i add that diaper bags aren't cheap.  the diaper dude bag is $59.99 at babies r us.  and the skip hop versa diaper bag is $69.99.  i know, crazy right?!  the bags aren't even leather.  as any human being  would be, i was  on pinterest gathering ideas and inspirations for my life in general and came across this...

kf baby diaper bag organizer
it is only $14.88 on amazon.

but then i stumbled upon this "pin".

via

bingo!  i kinda had an "aha" moment...i mean, not really...but you get how excited i was.  i have been wanting another longchamp le pilage large shoulder bag for awhile now since bubba, chewed up my black one and broke the zipper.  can i say how sturdy this bag is?  i still use it everyday for work.  and when i went back to school i used it then too.  this bag carried my laptop, books, papers, and food.  i have spilled a ton of drinks and food in it as well, and all i have to do is wipe it clean.  it still looks good after all the wear and tear.  and considering how bubba can tear things up if he thinks there is food in something, the zipper was only minusculy broken.  after my experience with this bag, don't you think it would make an excellent diaper bag?  the only thing is, is that it lacks pockets.  but, if i buy cheap, clear pouches or even the kf diaper organizer, i think i can make it work.  can i introduce you to my 

diaper bag of choice?  ta-da!

in bilberry since i already have the black one.
it is the perfect shade of dark purple, almost black.

i just received it in the mail.  thanks to 2 bloomingdale's gift cards, a 20% friends and family sale, and free shipping and handeling, i got this new bag for less than $30.  what a steal wouldn't you say?

you know i'm going to ask...what kind of diaper bag did you end up using?

Pumpkin smoothie.

after OD-ing on all the carbs from thanksgiving, i made an attempt to eat a little healthier today.  half of my brain was determined to eat clean, but the other half was calling to eat the last piece of chocolate cream pie in my fridge.  luckily i had one can of pumpkin puree in my pantry and decided to make a pumpkin smoothie.  pumpkin smoothies have been popping up on pinterest ever since fall started and it always intrigued me.  so i whipped out my ipad and browsed pinterest until i found a healthy pumpkin smoothie recipe.  props to ms. martha stewart for coming up with the recipe.  i took her recipe and tweaked it just a bit.

here's what you'll need:

1.  1/2 cup of pumpkin puree..which is very low in calorie and fat btw

2. 1 cup of fat free greek yogurt.

3. 1/2 cup of almond milk

4.  cinnamon (i put a lot of cinnamon.  did you know 

cinnamon speeds up your metabolism?)

5.  stevia to taste

6.  ice cubes

directions:

just throw all your ingredients in your blender and enjoy!

this smoothie really hit the spot.  not only was it delicious, but it's the perfect low calorie, low fat, high in calcium and protein drink for a preggo mama-to-be.  try it!

PS

if you want to add an extra "oomf" to his drink, i think graham crackers would be the perfect addition.

PPS

i have filipino pork loin adobo (healthy version) cooking in my crock pot as i type this post.  stay tuned for the recipe ;-)