I like to move it, move it.

Let's talk physical activity. I know, it used to be like a guilt-ridden word for me. When I was in college, I never felt like I exercised "enough" or was active "enough". If I didn't get to the gym or exercise at least 30 minutes that day, I was a useless waste of space and would tell myself I would "make up for it" the following day. But really, is it worth living life beating up on myself for unattainable goals? NO!

While you are pregnant is no exception. The American Pregnancy Association says that if you followed a regular exercise program pre-pregnancy, that you can maintain that program to some degree during pregnancy. That does not mean that you should be able to, that you have to be able to in order to be healthy. It does mean that if you were fit before, you should be able to continue some exercise, but not necessarily all that you did before. In my first pregnancy, I learned that I couldn't set that expectation for myself, otherwise, I would be pretty annoyed. Before I had Sam, I was a 3-mile a day kind of girl. Once I was pregnant, I found that I had to go a lot slower, drink a lot more water, and take it easy. I even had to stop running and start walking as I got further along in my pregnancy. My lower back just couldn't handle that kind of working out! I would think to myself "what is wrong with me?" Ha. The answer was very clear--there was nothing wrong with me, I was just pregnant. So if you are a marathon runner, and you can do just as much as you did before. Great! Good for you. If you are like the rest of us, just do what you can and stop with any discomfort, breathlessness, or exhaustion.

So, what about if you are light on exercise before your pregnancy and now you want to get healthier? Great! That is a great goal to set for yourself. I would say, start really slow and begin with lower impact exercise. Walking, swimming, stretching and practicing yoga are amazing ways to move your body while you are pregnant and will help with your overall health and well being. It will feel good and should feel good to move your body. The goal is not to beat up on yourself, it is to move in ways that feel comfortable, uplifting and even fun!

Fun. Exercise, fun? Isn't that an oxymoron you ask? Physical activity can be fun, yes. It shouldn't be a chore or a punishment. That kind of physical activity isn't sustainable in most lifestyles. Ever wonder why most people use their treadmill as a coat rack? Movement doesn't need to be exhaustive or even planned as such. Movement can be a nice walk with your partner around the block, walking your dog, a relaxing yoga class to meet other pregnant friends, a romp in the snow with your other children, shopping with your sister or good friend (you can get a ton of walking in) or could even be cleaning the house! Even sitting on your floor and stretching everyday is beneficial. So, start thinking outside the box (and off your couch) and think of non-conventional ways you like to move!

Last but not least, while considering any type of physical activity, you should follow the American Pregnancy Association's guidelines I have listed below that I pulled directly from their website http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/exerciseguidelines.html:

• Listen to your body. Your body will naturally give you signals that it is time to reduce the level of exercise you are performing.
• Never exercise to the point of exhaustion or breathlessness. This is a sign that your baby and your body cannot get the oxygen supply they need.
• Wear comfortable exercise footwear that gives strong ankle and arch support.
• Take frequent breaks, and drink plenty of fluids during exercise.
• Avoid exercise in extremely hot weather.
• Avoid rocky terrain or unstable ground when running or cycling. Your joints are more lax in pregnancy, and ankle sprains and other injuries may occur.
• Contact sports should be avoided during pregnancy.
• Weight training should emphasize improving tone, especially in the upper body and abdominal area. Avoid lifting weights above your head and using weights that strain the lower back muscles.
• During the second and third trimesters, avoid exercise that involves lying flat on your back as this decreases blood flow to your womb.
• Include relaxation and stretching before and after your exercise program.

So, what are you waiting for? Find a way to go out and move (but make sure it feels good)!!!

In health and wellness,
Nicole

Nourish Yourself Outside of Food

This blog post is a bit different from my other ones because it is focused on other types of nourishment other than the food kind. Although what you eat is very important while you are pregnant, it is also almost equally important to nourish your soul. I thought since we are in the middle of the holiday season, which can result in a higher amount of stress and anxiety for a lot of people, that there is no better time than the present (pun intended).

When talking about stress, I could go into the physiological reactions in the body and the excretions of cortisol and different hormones and how they stress the baby, and blah blah blah...When it comes down to it, when we are stressed, it doesn't feel good emotionally or physically. It doesn't make our life feel good or make us feel happy. So, why not try to live with less of it? I tell you all to eat intuitively, so I will tell you also to live more intuitively and focus on living your life so that it feels nourishing. If throwing the Christmas party, getting out all your holiday cards, and shopping for each of your siblings is stressful instead of pleasurable, then maybe you should rethink about why you are doing those things. Is it because you think you should?

I think it is important to do a lot of self-reflection to figure out what your own stresses in your life are, and analyze them. Is it work? Is it family? Is it keeping your house clean? Is someone sick in your life? Is it just finding the time to get everything done? Do you have other children to care for? Is it meeting everyone else's expectations?

Start making a list. Seriously, take out a piece of paper and write the stresses down. Now, begin thinking creatively about how you can unload some of those stresses. Can your husband/partner take care of anything on the list? Can you ask someone else for help? Are some of them just simply unimportant? Are some of the things out of your control? Can some of the things wait?

I ask you these questions because sometimes life becomes overwhelming with the things we have to do...but many times we are stressing about things that we can't control or that we could simply take off the list of priorities.

So why is this so important for pregnant women or mommies in general? Because more often than not, most mommies I meet are just spent. They are overextended, exhausted, and they are undernourished because they don't take the time to focus on what they need because they are worrying about everyone else's needs. They have the whole world on their shoulders, and honestly, it doesn't need to be that way. Besides, can you really and fully be present for your babies/children in that overextended and exhausted state of mind? I know I can't, and when I try, "unpleasant Nicole" takes over again and then no one is very happy.

So how are you supposed to spend time nourishing yourself? Well, that is also individual. The amount of time you need and what you choose to do are up to you. Here are some of the things that I have found that help me recharge so that I can be there for the other people in my life that I love:

• Reading for fun (a non-children or pregnancy/work-related book)
• Taking a prenatal yoga class (every week!)
• Walking in a park or on a bike path
• Watching a sappy love story
• Taking a nap
• Taking a bath
• Drawing or writing in my journal
• Baking or cooking (I like it, but if it feels like a chore for you, it shouldn't be on your list!)
• Spending time with my husband, like a date or an evening connecting that doesn't involve the TV
• Going to a little cafe
• Curling up with a blanket and having a cup of tea or soup
• Stretching
• Meditating
• Making or giving a gift to someone
• Shopping for something I need that I have been putting off (like maternity shirts)

So, what can be on your list of nourishing things? What can you do today that will recharge you a bit, help you to relax, and help you refocus your priorities? Now do it! If you become well practiced at it, you will be able to continue when the baby is born and be a much better mommy for it!

ONE more thing...practice saying "no" and start setting some boundaries on how you spend your time. Say "no" to organizing the work holiday party or doing that extra project. Say "no" to hosting people at your house for New Years or taking your sister out to pick our curtains. Say "no" to whatever it is that is keeping you from having a little bit of time to recharge yourself. Your body, baby, and family will be glad you did. And, don't feel guilty. Guilt trips are free, but you don't have to take the ride. No one is going to take care of you, unless you do it.

Enjoy the holidays and nourish yourself!

In health and wellness,
Nicole

Snacking It Up and Homemade Toasty Granola!

So, I don't know about you, but I am a snacker or a "grazer" as some people call it. I do enjoy my 3 main meals of the day, but I do need at least 2 snacks (sometimes 3) in between meals to keep my blood sugar from taking a dive and creating "crazy" Nicole. Do you know anyone who fights on the way to a restaurant? Well, that's me. If my blood sugar takes a dive, I am not a pleasant person to be around, much less dine with. So, I have found that snacking helps me to maintain my blood sugar and the more pleasant Nicoleness that most other people prefer.

The great thing about snacking, I find, is that it is a way for me to insert more fruits/vegetables into my day. Believe it or not, but the daily recommended intake of fruits/vegetables for anyone over the age of 2 years is 5-10 servings (a serving is a 1/2 cup of most fruits/veggies and 1 cup of leafy greens). I don't know about you, but before I became a health-conscious eater, I did not even come close to that amount. I got maybe 1-2 per day, and sometimes none! Now-a-days, I use my snacks to increase those fruits and veggies and give me a natural energy boost to keep me going through the day. The other things I like to incorporate into my snacking are proteins and whole grains. They keep me fuller longer and keep my blood sugar from spiking and crashing.

For pregnant ladies, keeping a steady blood sugar level and getting all of our fruits/veggies becomes even more important. The foods we eat are the basic building blocks for our baby's growing body. I would like to think I am growing my baby from whole, natural, vitamin-filled foods instead of artificial flavors and ingredients.

So, with our busy lives, what are some good snacks to eat throughout the day that boost our energy, keep us fuller longer, and give us so many of those vitamins and nutrients?

• Celery or carrots with peanut/cashew/almond butter (add some raisins if you'd like)
• Whole wheat pita with hummus and taboule
• Leftover veggies warmed up from the night before (I LOVE a warm bowl of leftover squash)
• Whole milk plain yogurt with granola, fresh fruit, dried fruit, and/or nuts
• Handful of nuts or dried fruit or both (trail mix)
• Banana/Apple with yogurt or peanut butter
• Whole grain toast and peanut butter
• Any piece of fruit (grapefruit, banana, apple, oranges, nectarines)...list is endless. Try to get fruit in season as it tastes better and brings you nutrients you need at the right time of year. Right about now, I am eating my share of grapefruits, tangerines, oranges, and pomegranates)
• Cucumbers, tomatoes or any salad with oil based dressing
• Whole wheat couscous or quinoa salads
• Avocado smeared on whole wheat toast
• Avocado sliced on tomatoes
• Hard-boiled egg
• Homemade air-popped popcorn

The great thing about this list of snacks, is that they will translate into great snacks/meals for kids when they get into their toddler/preschool years. If you introduce them to these types of snacks at a young age (rather than the goldfish/cheerios types of snacks) they will begin with better eating habits and set up their little palettes with a taste for healthier, more natural foods.

Homemade Granola
I altered this recipe that was originally created by Sara Foster from Foster's Market. I love the sweeteners she uses and the shredded coconut. I prefer to cut the oil, changed some of the nuts and dried fruit she calls for, and cut the cooking time a bit because otherwise it came out too dark. My husband and son LOVE when I make granola and it makes a great snack that keeps for a while. So then, I can grab something quick and healthy when I am on the run. It is delicious on plain whole yogurt, on fresh fruit (like berries or bananas), or for a snack on the go.

Ingredients:
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup pecans
1 cup dried shredded coconut
1 tsp sea salt

1-2 tbs grape seed or expeller pressed canola oil
3/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup honey

1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup raisins

Directions:

1. Bake the first 4 ingredients at 275 degrees for 10-12 minutes on ungreased cookie sheet. Place in large bowl.
2. Mix oil, syrup and honey in a small bowl and pour over the baked oats and nuts and mix with wooden spoon.
3. Spray the cookie sheet with olive oil.
4. Spread oat mixture onto cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Stir while baking to prevent it from sticking to the bottom.
5. Pull it out of the oven and mix up. Add the cranberries and raisins. Mix up and break up the chunks while cooling.
6. Once cooled put in air tight contain and store at room temp.

Enjoy!

In health and wellness,

Nicole

Aversions and Cream-less Creamy Broccoli Soup

So, equally important to discuss cravings in pregnancy, it is also important to discuss the ever present aversions that occur sooner than you can shake a pregnancy stick.

In my first pregnancy my strongest aversions were to eggs and tea of any kind, so I was interested to see what my aversions would be the second time around. Sadly, I was distraught to find out that anything green typically fell into the aversion category. I used to eat kale and eggs for breakfast! So, as you can imagine, as a holistic health counselor who basically couldn't stand the smell of greens, nevermind put them anywhere near my mouth, I was in a bit of a dilemma. Do I eat these things that I know are healthy and good for me and good for my baby? Or do I skip them until I feel up to eating them and eat something else?

The answer was, a resounding, "skip it". While I do teach my clients the benefits of eating greens as a daily staple in the diet, I also discuss the concept of intuitive eating. Intuitive eating is basically a way of eating that relies on listening to your body and using it as a guide to a healthy and balanced diet. I tell my clients if they hate milk and have to force themselves to eat dairy to get their calcium because they think they "should", I tell them to stop and see if their symptoms feel better. If you are in the mood for red meat, eat a bit. If in the mood for salad, eat it. Basically those messages mean your body wants/needs something or doesn't want or need something. You get the idea. So when it came to being pregnant, I thought I'd better listen to my body and eat what it says, not what my brain thinks it should eat. And the aversions will change daily. So follow your nose and your instincts daily, your tummy and baby will thank you.

So, if you are pregnant and you have something you are averted to, but are eating it because you think you "should", stop it! Greens and vegetables are typically an aversion in the first trimester, and you can try them again in a few weeks. In fact, skipping them may help your nausea. If you can't stand milk, but you are holding your nose to drink it down, there are plenty of other ways to get your calcium--sesame seeds, homemade chicken stock, grains, beans, and broccoli are all examples.

So, now that we discussed what you don't want to eat--here is a recipe you may want to eat. It is a healthy soup I whipped up when averted to most veggies. It helped me feel comforted, while giving me some of those vitamins/minerals I was missing from my other greens.

Cream-less Creamy Broccoli Soup

Ingredients:

1 good sized carrot

minced clove of garlic

1-2 tbs olive oil

head of broccoli

good tasting veggie or chicken stock

sea salt and black pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Dice carrots into small pieces, and mince garlic. Place into saucepan with olive oil.


2. Saute for roughly 5 minutes until carrots are tender.


3. Cut up broccoli into small florets and dice up the stalk. Add to saucepan.


4. Add stock until just covered or a bit less.


5. Cover and boil for a several minutes until the broccoli is soft and carrots are cooked.


6. Place in food processor and puree until smooth.


7. Add more stock to desired consistency. I like mine pretty thick, so I use less stock.


8. Add salt and pepper to taste.

You can add other things like onions, mushrooms, and/or peppers when you saute the carrots, but I like mine pretty simple, especially during the earlier weeks of my pregnancy. I also made other versions with butternut squash and sweet potatoes, depending on what I was in the mood for at the time. You could make something similar with asparagus or pumpkin too. The options are limitless.

The other good thing about this recipe is that, with a couple of tweaks, it could be baby food. So you can get rather good and make the veggies plain with water--and you will become an expert on homemade baby food.

Enjoy!

In health and wellness,

Nicole

Cravings and Recipe for Buttercup Squash Bread

Cravings. The most cliche topic for pregnant women, but they are real and important to address. The definition for craving is "an intense desire or longing for something". I am not sure I would use that dramatic or romantic a definition to describe food cravings, but more like a nagging. A nagging for me to eat a food that will not seem to go away. All other foods seem less appetizing, and until I get it satisfied, I can't seem to think of much else. Any one else empathize?

The thing about cravings is that they are actually messages from your body about what to eat. Your body pretty much has most things handled. We never have to tell our bodies to make the heart beat or to heal a cut, or to breathe. We don't even have to tell it how to create the perfect little life that is growing inside of us, but yet, for some reason sometimes we don't care to listen to it when it tells us what to eat. Interestingly we listen to popular culture more often than we listen to our bodies.

Cravings for different types of foods may actually be your body asking for a nutrient, or a way of letting you know that our foods and/or lives are out of balance. This doesn't stop at just pregnancy either. Learning to listen to your body's desire for certain foods can be a helpful cue into your health and overall well being.

Lack/need for nutrients is one of the main causes of cravings during pregnancy. For example, in my first pregnancy with Sam, I craved a lot of red meat in the form of meat sauce and meatballs. I also craved spinach. I would come home from work, open up a package of frozen spinach and eat the entire package in one sitting. So what was my body telling me? Not so subtly, it was saying "I need iron". And indeed, my iron levels were borderline anemic. Had I not given into those cravings, I may have indeed become anemic, which would have required intervention via medication and additional supplementation.

Here are some common cravings and possible nutritional explanations:

• Pickles or other sour fermented foods like sauerkraut: B12. These types of foods help the uptake of B12. Examine your intake of animal foods and give into the pickle cravings.
• Dairy including ice cream: Calcium
• Red meat: Iron and B12
• Vegetables (spinach, broccoli, greens, carrots, etc.): Variety of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants
• Fruits (berries and citrus): Variety of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants
• Salty foods: Salt and other minerals

Now, the lack of nutrients will account for most cravings that pregnancy brings and it is important to listen to those cravings and eat the healthiest versions of what you are craving. But is there really a nutritional need for M&M's and Frito's? It is less likely. So what are other causes of cravings?

1. Protein may be out of balance. This can cause cravings for sweets. When we do not have enough protein we crave more food and your body knows that fastest and surest way towards more calories is fat/sugar. According to Chinese Traditional Medicine, when we are having too much protein (which is yang) we swing back the other way and crave more sugar (which is yin) to balance the your body.
2. Comfort. Sometimes when we are sad/lonely/scared, we reach for the comfort foods. They can be foods from childhood or the nearest snack or sweet. Really think about your state of mind when having a craving to see what you think you are really craving. It could be a cuddle and reassurance from your sweetie instead of that pack of cookies you are grabbing.
3. Stress. Your body's chemistry literally changes when you are stressed. You release cortisol and adrenaline, which changes your state of mind and your nutritional needs. Many people reach for food in order to deal with stress. If you are feeling very stressed, it is time to re-evaluate your lifestyle especially in time for baby. When baby comes the world will slip away and you will be focused on other things. Maybe it is time to look at your job and begin setting new boundaries there. Maybe it is time to relax and let a bit of the housekeeping go (or hire someone to offload the burden) or shuffle some of the household responsibilities with your significant other. But really taking time for yourself will be better for you and better for baby. Your pregnancy and labor, not to mention transition into motherhood will be better for it.
4. Water. Sometimes we get hungry when we are really thirsty. So keep yourself hydrating and take a sip of water before reaching for any sweets. You may find the craving goes away.

Now, that is not to say we should never give into our sweet cravings, but maybe we can attempt to eat the healthiest versions of what we are craving and dig a little deeper into the reasons we think we are craving those foods. I crave baked goods occasionally, and I try to make some healthy versions that will deliver some whole grains and important nutrients while at the same time satisfy my sweet tooth. I often do that in forms of breads made with fruits, veggies, and gentle sweeteners.

Buttercup Squash Quick bread with Flax

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour (pastry if you have it)

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

2 tbs flax meal

3/4 cup honey

1 cup buttercup squash cooked/mashed (can replace with pumpkin, butternut squash, or kumbacha)

1/2 cup grape seed or canola oil

1 beaten egg

1/4 cup water

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp ginger

1/4 tsp cloves

opt: chopped walnuts

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine first 4 ingredients (dry) in a bowl.
3. Combine honey, squash, oil, egg, and water in separate bowl. Stir in spices.
4. Add the dry mixture into the wet mixture and mix until just combined.
5. Scoop into 5x9x3 greased loaf pan.
6. Top with chopped walnuts if desired.
7. Bake for 50-60 min until toothpick comes out clean.
8. Serve with a little drizzle of honey to sweeten it up.

Makes one loaf but you can double the recipe and freeze one to save for another craving day!

Fighting the Nausea with tips and Warm Apple Ginger Oatmeal

Contrary to my first pregnancy, for the past 8 weeks or so I have been battling nausea. I have had that "iffy" feeling you have in your stomach right after you have a stomach bug when you question "is it safe for me to eat?" and "does my stomach hurt again, or am I just hungry?". So I have sought out a number of ways to deal with this particular ailment in healthier ways.

The good (or not so good) news about pregnancy is that people are always willing to offer you helpful tips and advice! In this case, I found it very helpful when other moms shares tips of how they got through the first trimester (and in my case, into my second trimester) nausea. I also did a little homework online to come up with a list of things to help me through:



Tip #1: Keep blood sugar level by having small meals more often throughout the day. Don't let yourself get too hungry or too full. When your blood sugar is low and you feel really hungry, it is easy to fall into nausea. When you get too full, it is easy to get heartburn and just feel really uncomfortable.

Tip #2: Listen to your body when it comes to aversions! If it is one thing your body knows, it is what it does/doesn't want you to eat when you become pregnant. I will have an entire posting about this topic in later weeks, but I found that if it doesn't look appetizing, then do NOT eat it. Even if it is something that you are encouraged to eat in those pregnancy diet books, or if it is something that "never bothered me before", I am avoiding all of those foods. Examples for me: seafood (except tuna), dairy, tomato sauce, greens (which I used to eat for breakfast), beans, quinoa. I find that whenever I decide to plow through and eat it anyway, I am always sorry.

Tip #3: Eat what you crave (within reason). Again, your body knows what it needs. I will have another whole post on cravings as well, but it also helps fight the nausea to listen to what your body wants. In many cases your body is asking for the nutrients it needs at the moment to help grow that baby!

Tip #4: Avoid strong smells. I don't know about you, but my sense of smell became very keen when I got pregnant. One day I walked into my dad's house where he was cooking some tomato sauce and I asked him if he used beef broth in it. He looked at me surprised, and said "yes I did, how did you know?" and I said "I could smell it immediately walking in the front door". My husband is still amazed at the smells I can detect. This presents a problem some nights at dinner time when I need to cook something. We went through an entire week of eating leftovers and ordering out because I could not bear to smell anything or open the refrigerator. But I figure, these weeks will happen and it is better than getting sick!

Tip #5: Always have remedy supplies on hand at home and on your person for unexpected nausea. Keep the supplies in the house that settle your stomach. I had "night sickness" more than "morning sickness" and my husband had to run out at night more than once for my nausea remedies. When going out throughout the day, carry something that will not be too rough on your stomach that will help increase your blood sugar and ease that stomach.

Tip#6: The remedies. This list is one I got from friends and family and a posting I did on facebook for helpful advice. This list is obviously not exhaustive and you need to do what works for you. I tried to stick to the healthiest options with the fewest additives and resort to medication only as last resort.

• Reed's ginger ale (doesn't have the high fructose corn syrup or other additives of regular ginger ale)
• Crystallized ginger
• Ginger teas (I am adverse to this one, but others swear by it)
• Mint teas (This one made me sick during a meeting one morning, but others swear by it)
• Homemade ginger tea (with honey and ginger root)
• Gingery oatmeal
• Gin gin candies (contain sugar and glucose syrup, but not as strong as other ginger candy)
• Something sour or any hard candies (try to find ones without high fructose corn syrup, dyes, or additives)
• Perrier water (the sodium bicarbonate content is supposedly better than other waters or sparkling waters)
• Motion sickness bands on wrists
• Ginger ale on ice with bitters
• Saltines
• Sliced lemons with or without water
• Apples
• Tums (last resort)

Recipe: Warm Apple Ginger Oatmeal

I love this breakfast, as it warms me up, settles my stomach and steadies my blood sugar with it's whole grain goodness. The pectin in the apples is said to also settle stomachs as well as the ginger.

Ingredients:
1 cup rolled oats
2 cups water
2 tsp ginger root--grated
1/2 cup of apples peeled and cut small
Pinch of salt
opt: Dried cherries or dried fruit of your liking
opt: Walnuts or other nut you prefer

Directions:

1. Place water, oatmeal, ginger, apples, and salt in small saucepan and put over medium high heat.


2. When water starts boiling, turn down to a simmer and cook until it gets nice and creamy (about 10 minutes). Stir occasionally so that it doesn't burn or stick on the bottom. The longer you cook, the creamier it gets and the less you cook the chewier it is. I prefer mine creamy over chewy.


3. While the oatmeal is cooking, toss a few walnuts or other nuts into the toaster over to enhance the nut flavor.


4. When it is cooked to the consistency you like, scoop the oatmeal into a bowl and top with a few dried cherries and the toasted walnuts.


5. Warm up and enjoy!
   

I hope this helps you or others you know with that nauseating feeling during the first few months and some healthier remedies to get you through!

In health and wellness,
Nicole

Welcome to Baking a Healthier Bun in the Oven

Hello all,

Welcome to my new blog. I have been toying around with the idea of writing a food/recipe blog for quite some time, but never quite got around to it. When I got pregnant, I started rethinking about it and wanted to blog about my pregnancy and healthy eating. Then I had that lightbulb moment--why not combine the things that I love the most-- my new brewing baby, all the challenges pregnancy brings with decisions about healthy eating, and my love of cooking! Voila, a new blog is born!

I waited to start this blog until I felt comfortable enough that I had told everyone the good news, so I am 14 weeks along and still adjusting to the changes in my diet and my expanding waistline! I am due on April 18th and hope to continue blogging throughout the first year (if I can manage to do it between naps!). So I hope you enjoy reading my adventures of cooking and eating while pregnant as well as the other adventures that pregnancy brings!

In health and wellness,
Nicole