Week 30

Major events: None... this week was pretty uneventful!

Size of baby: A cabbage

Sleep: "Good"... meaning as good as it can be. I have come to realize though, that during my pregnancy with Heidi sleeping was much more painful that it is this time around. I really struggled to get comfortable, was always trying different pillows and positions and waking up constantly because my HIPS were in so much pain! I forget about that now when I am complaining about having to get up 1-2 times per night to pee... if that's my biggest problem with sleeping - so be it!

Cravings: Cookies and cream ice cream

Aversions: None

Movement: Tons and tons

Belly button in or out? In

Weight gain: 20 lbs.

Missing: Nothing...?

Best part of this week: Announcing our little guy's name!

Hardest part of this week: Nothing comes to mind...

Looking forward to: Getting more things off of this never-ending to-do list checked off!

Emotions: Loving every minute, despite the fact that things are getting more uncomfortable... already feeling sad about this pregnancy coming to an end - although having baby in my arms is the best I DO love carrying them in my belly.

Naming Baby Boy

We have finally decided on a name and are ready to make it public...Baby boy's name is Wells Allan Kresta.

How did we come up with his name you ask? Here are ALL of the details surrounding what this name means to us, how it was decided on and when we picked it!

It all started back in the fall of 2013. I was a few weeks pregnant with Heidi, but we didn't know the gender quite yet. We were laying in bed and something came on the TV regarding events surrounding the September 11th terrorist attacks. It was a story I had never heard of about a man who had died in the attacks while rescuing many people. The man's name was Welles Crowther. There was something about that name... I immediately added it to our "boy" name list and told Ryan that would be a consideration if we ended up having a boy. We soon found out that Heidi was a girl, but that name remained something that I always thought about. I always knew we would have a son at some point, but when that time would come was still an uncertainty.

Very rarely are you moved enough by a name (especially the name of someone who isn't a family member and also a person whom you have never met) to name another human after that person. But there was something so special about this name and the story behind it. It's not really anything I can explain other than it was just something that I knew in my heart.

My "boy name" list has always been very short. For some reason, boy names come way easier to me than girl names so the list is short and decisive. (I think my "girl name" list is about 50 names long - just a bunch of names that I have heard here and there and think are semi-cute. It's very random.) So when we found out that this baby is going to be a boy, Ryan and I discussed the list (which consists of about 3 of 4 names, if that). Obviously, a name should be something that Ryan and I both love and agree on, so I of course asked him if he had any other names he wanted to add, or any names already on the list that he wanted to veto and what his opinions were on the existing list of names. For those that don't know my husband personally... he is a super over-thinker/planner/ducks-in-a-row kind of guy. "Naming another person is a strange concept/a big deal!" he always says... So he really didn't give me ANYTHING to work with and I had no idea where he was at with all of this. I am ready to commit to a name the second we know the gender (I think it helps me to bond with the baby growing inside of me, and helps me put a "name to the face" in a way). So by the time Christmas had rolled around around I started to get a little impatient. I didn't want to nag him to death, but every time I asked him he gave me nothing!! I finally told him that I was going to give him a deadline if he waited much longer to give me his thoughts. He said he would tell me what he was thinking "sometime" by the end of the year. I could live with that.

On Christmas morning, Ryan had one more present left for me to open... I opened up the small flat package to find this book:

Obviously, knowing what it meant I immediately started sobbing. I can't really even describe all of the different emotions that I was feeling at that moment (and still feel now) knowing the strength behind this name we have chosen for this baby boy. In the days following Christmas, I felt totally smitten and my heart so full every time I thought about the name we had finally decided on. A few days later we picked his middle name - Allan - Ryan's father's name (and also Ryan's middle name). (Also, we have decided to take the "E" out of the original spelling of the name, just to make things a little easier. After growing up with an impossible maiden name, I am very much into names that you don't have to explain to people how to say it or spell it!)

After we told Ryan's family, we took some silly pictures so that I could text my mom and sister about our decision. This kind of started off as a joke with the chicken, but I now I kind of like it... and it always makes me laugh because it's so goofy!

(Yes this is STILL one of the baby chicks from Easter 2013 for those of you who are wondering!) 

Below is the ESPN special on the story of Welles Crowther. I would really like to encourage you to watch it. This man and his legacy spoke so deeply to us - even if you don't care that our baby's name has anything to do with this - this story deserves to be shared and passed on.


The Man in the Red Bandanna ~ Welles Crowther | Edward Burns ESPN HD from Bluefoot on Vimeo.

We couldn't be more thrilled to share this special news with you and the meaning behind it. I know the weight that this name carries and I can only hope that our son can come even a little bit close to displaying the strength, courage and love that this name represents. My heart is so full knowing that Welles Crowther's story will continue to live on forever - and that my baby can be a part of sharing it as long as he lives.

Week 28 and 29

Week 28

Major events: Nothing major this week - our lives are finally slowing down from a super crazy fall and holiday season... at this point our calendar is almost completely clear between now and when baby comes - yay! Time to finally get started on that nursery... the clock is running out!

Size of baby: Eggplant

Sleep: Fine...

Cravings: Orange juice?? Not sure if that is an actual pregnant craving or just an exercise induced craving... (during a 10 mile run I kept passing a lot of citrus trees with a bunch of ripe oranges. All I could think about was drinking a nice cold glass of OJ at the end of the run!)

Aversions: None

Movement: Yes yes! I have been experiencing some pain as well...Most of the time baby boy's feet are way off in my right side. Lately, a lot of times when he kicks a certain spot on that side it sends a line of pain straight across my lower belly. It feels like a knife slicing me straight across, or like someone has a piece of barbed wire around me and suddenly yanks it tight from behind. It is hard not to react to these pains but it often is hard not to, with gasps or facial expressions. Since these "zingers" only last 2 seconds or so at a time and seem to come and go based on his position I think this is just him stretching me too much sideways from the inside. I know he is stretching out because I can also feel his head poking my left side simultaneously. It is very uncomfortable. Also, (and this is not totally movement related) but I am really feeling the pressure of my uterus and other organs moving upwards. I have been feeling a lot of neck and shoulder pain - exactly what it feels like after abdominal surgery when there is a lot of air trapped inside of you and it presses all of your organs up and into the muscles in your neck and shoulders. Ugh it's such a gross and uncomfortable and painful feeling. Luckily this is not something that I have been feeling regularly though - just a few times. 

Belly button in or out? In

Weight gain: 20 lbs.

Missing: Feeling like I have to pee only when I actually have to... I have officially entered the stage where I rush to the bathroom and immediately think "That's it?!?" after I only go like, 2 drops. Oh geeze. 

Best part of this week:  As I was making Heidi's lunch one morning before she went to MDO, she was sitting in her high chair eating her breakfast. She kept calling me over to give me a big hug and/or a big kiss. I just couldn't handle it and basically cried the whole time I was making her lunch. I just love her so much!! I didn't even care that it took me like, 20 minutes to actually make her lunch. 

Hardest part of this week: VERY draining and exhausting day at the mall. it was awful...Super duper long story but I ended up spending 4+ hours at the mall waiting for an appt. at The Apple Store only to find out they were going to make me wait another 2 hours to get my phone fixed. Heidi was with me and this was between 3pm and about 7:30pm... luckily Ryan was able to come to my rescue around 5:30/6:00ish... but I was physically and emotionally drained (also running off of a PB&J sandwich I had eaten around 1pm). I lost it on the Apple people (which I hate doing) but the situation wasn't going to be rectified if I had just walked away. In the end I ended up getting what I felt was fair but I didn't exactly mark it as a "win" because of how upset I had to get. I cried the whole way home and pretty much just cried until we went to sleep that night. It was so awful and I was just so glad that the day was over. I felt so bad for making Heidi do that (even though she was such a good girl) but at the same time I was so grateful that I didn't have to face that day alone and that she was with me. I was so overwhelmed with how happy it made me to be with her and have her there.

Looking forward to: Running a half marathon next week (and it's a CHOCOLATE half marathon!!!) and announcing our new baby's name (hopefully) in the next week or so. 

Emotions: Some days are more emotional than others, tiredness/exhaustion drastically affects this as well. 

Major events: Glucose test; ran a half marathon!!

Size of baby: Butternut squash

Sleep: A little better...

Cravings: None

Aversions: None

Movement: Yes, still experiencing the same zinging pain across my lower belly when he stretches out sideways

Belly button in or out? In...but starting to look very shrively and gross. 

Weight gain: 23 lbs

Missing: Bending, laying on my stomach... the physical discomforts of not being able to move normally are starting to set in! 

Best part of this week: Successfully running a half-marathon in a semi-decent amount of time (2 hours 12 minutes!) and getting to spend lots of time with my man! Also had some awesome dance parties with Heidi and at one point she just rested her head on my shoulder as we danced around. I loved thinking that I was dancing with BOTH of my babies.

Hardest part of this week: Heidi got pretty sick so that was a little tough (2 nights of her getting ZERO sleep due to so much coughing) and we left her with my in-laws for part of this time. Even though she doesn't really ever act like she's miserable (she still runs around like a complete maniac) it was still so hard to leave her behind. Evenings are consistently hard for me. Not any one evening in particular... When I wake up in the morning I feel great. My stomach and organs all feel normal and I don't feel that crammed or full. However, by the time the evening rolls around and Ryan gets home from work, I feel SO full. I literally feel like I just ate 6 Thanksgiving dinners even if I haven't eaten in hours. At dinner, I am stuck in this weird place of being really hungry, but also having a stomach ache and feeling like I can't put another crumb inside of my body. It's very strange. After dinner, I am usually feeling pretty rough. Just SO full. I have definitely reached the point in this pregnancy where I am questioning how it's possible to still have 10 weeks left of growing... something I thought wouldn't happen this being my second time to go through this. (With my first pregnancy, I can remember looking at my tiny 20-something week belly thinking "I'M HUGE!!" and then at 39 weeks realizing how small I was in those pictures haha.) I can really feel my uterus and other organs pressing into my stomach and it doesn't feel good when this is occurring. Evenings are rough, which is hard because there are still plenty of things and chores that need to "get done" (cooking dinner, bathing Heidi, straightening up, folding laundry, etc.) and laying on the couch doing nothing isn't exactly an option (even if my husband insists that it is - I refuse to make him do everything)! 

Looking forward to: Having more free time, preparing more for baby and actually MEETING baby!! Can't wait for that first skin-to-skin and that first latch.

Emotions: I have had a few emotional days where I just feel overwhelmed or like crying for no reason. Again, a lot of times food, a shower or sleep will help with this (much like during postpartum)!!

A few pictures from the race....! (P.S. I highly recommend this race to anyone looking for a "smaller" half. It's a womens' only race in San Antonio and only about 550 or so ran the half. The perfect size in my opinion!)

The best thing about a "Cocoa Run"... chocolate at the finish line!!!!!

29 weeks pregnant.

Also pancakes at the finish line... I made a chocolate pancake taco - a pancake filled with chocolate chips. YUM!!! (Also not pictured: lots of hot chocolate and breakfast tacos!)

More Pregnancy Thoughts

The world has programmed women to believe that pregnancy is supposed to be a torturous time of miserable discomfort, unpleasant symptoms and side effects (both mental and physical) and something to just get through. But it doesn't have to be that way.

"We have to totally change our thinking by renewing our mind with the Word of God on the subject of having babies, the same way we renew our mind concerning finances, health, and everything else. We can no longer think the way the world thinks if we want to have the results, the promises and provisions that have been given to us as born-again believers. We have to find out what God thinks on any subject and begin to think and talk the way He does. Romans 12:2 says 'And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.'"

- Jackie Mize "Supernatural Childbirth"

God is good.

Last Year's Resolution - Part 2 (Easy,Semi-Healthy,Creamy Chicken Enchilada Recipe!)

Continued from previous post: Last Year's Resolution - Part 1!

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

Minutes to prepare: 15 minutes
Minutes to cook: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings 

1 pint (aka 2 cups) greek yogurt  (The original recipe called for sour cream - but I opted for the healthier alternative. Both work!)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 (4 ounce) cans green chillies, diced
6-10 flour tortillas (whole wheat or regular)
12oz -16oz shredded cheddar cheese (or 1 small package - I personally prefer to grate my own!) 
3 chicken breasts pre-cooked and cut up OR a Rotisserie Chicken! (I always have cooked shredded chicken hanging out in the freezer in 2 cup portions, so that's what we used! Next time I will probably use a little more than that though.)
1-2 t paprika
1-2 t cayenne pepper
1-2 t cumin
2 T chili powder

Preheat oven to 350*F. Combine soup, sour cream, chilies and spices in a bowl. Take 3/4 cup of soup mixture and slather the entire bottom of a 9x13 casserole dish. This will be a thin layer that will help the enchiladas from sticking to the bottom. In each tortilla, layer soup mixture, cheese & chicken. Roll up and place in casserole dish. Top with remaining soup mixture and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake for 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly and cheese is melted.

I haven't quite figured out how to get the tortillas a little crispy yet. I wouldn't want them to be stiff or chewy... and actually I really didn't mind them being so soft and raw, but it probably would have been better if they were slightly toasted or something... Hmmm... Next time I suppose!

Here is the recipe I based this off of, before adding my own alterations: http://numstheword.com/creamy-chicken-enchiladas/

Last Year's Resolution - Part 1

SO. I finally did it.

Last January, I made a resolution to cook one NEW recipe every week. That's 52 new recipes people. It definitely wasn't easy and frankly, kind of got to be a pain in the butt after about 6 months - finding new recipes is not as easy as you would think! At first, it was easy but really there are only so many recipes on Pinterest that look appealing and also fit all of my "criteria". To me, that means nothing that's going to take me hours to make (or create a zillion dishes to wash - ain't nobody got time for that!) is relatively "healthy" and contains mostly raw ingredients (very few canned, prepackaged or frozen items, although I have gotten a little more comfortable with frozen fruits and veggies - as long as there are ZERO preservatives, coatings, chemicals or other ingredients listed) and also looks GOOD!

I will say that I learned a lot. I feel like I have gotten to be a better cook. I also learned just how amazing it is to meal plan WAY in advance. The first week of the month, I would sit down and make a meal plan for that whole month - including the 4 new meals for that month. This made making the grocery list each week WAY easier! Instead of trying to figure out meals and what was needed for them, all I had to to was just pull up the recipes I had already picked out and make a list of needed ingredients. SO worth it you guys.

Researching new recipes took some time - so it really paid off to get that out of the way for the month all at once. I pulled a lot of recipes from Pinterest and the internet (sometimes I would crave some random combination and just google until I found a recipe I liked - for example goat cheese and salmon!) I found a decent number of recipes after digging through some old (unused) recipe books that have been sitting on our bookshelf for years and years. I also went through some old emails my mom had sent me when I was in college. Many of them contained multiple recipes, where I had only tried one at the time. These were great to look back on. Thanks mom!!

I also learned that it is super helpful for me to have designated nights for different types of meals. I did this first of all to break up all of the chicken meals. We tend to cook a LOT of chicken around here and I don't know about you but I prefer to not have chicken 4 nights in a row. I also want to make sure that we are eating a variety of proteins. Here's what that looks like for us: Monday - Chicken; Tuesday - Church Small Group; Wednesday - Shrimp/Fish; Thursday - Chicken; Friday - Ground beef, ground turkey or pork; Saturdays and Sundays were kind of wildcards or eating out days. Sometimes leftovers bumped the back a day and that would also help fill the weekends too (on the rare occasion that we are at home and have no plans).

We had a lot of good new meals, a few not so good (although nothing that was just repulsive) and I have definitely added many to our regular rotation! Here are some pictures from the very last new recipe!

Many of you have asked for this recipe - so I have included it in a follow up post HERE!

Week 27

Major events: Officially picked baby's name! (We will be sharing this at some point in the near future.) Assisted with the coordination of a NYE wedding and Ryan (somewhat unexpectedly) got a new-to-us truck!

Size of baby: Head of cauliflower

Sleep: Not great. Waking up minimum of 2 times to pee... one night it took over an hour and a half to fall back asleep...and now I feel like my belly is getting big enough where it needs to be more supported during all of this side-sleeping - sometimes the weight of it is painful. But honestly, I don't think I really have THAT much to complain about...From what I remember, I was much more uncomfortable sleeping by this point during my pregnancy with Heidi.

Cravings:  None

Aversions: None

Movement: Yes! It started getting weird this week...New Year's Eve he started getting MUCH more active and body parts poking out here and there. He also started hard kicks waaayy out on my right side - kicking my obliques! I remember Heidi doing this and it often takes my breath away. It feels so yuck! I love feeling him move though, even if does feel really uncomfortable or gross sometimes :). He is still ALL over the place in there - which drives me nuts not being able to tell what position he is in or what's what poking out! We still have a while for him to have his freedom in there though...

Belly button in or out? In

Weight gain: 20 lbs.

Missing: Starting to miss laying on my stomach and also bending in the middle... putting on shoes is getting a little more difficult now!

Best part of this week: Getting to spend so much time together as a family!

Hardest part of this week: Nothing really...I suppose physically things are getting a little more difficult but nothing super crazy (yet!) I also have had a cough this past week, and I am getting reeaallly sick of peeing myself every time I cough or sneeze. This is something that improved over time after I gave birth to Heidi, but now with the added pressure - it's back. So that's been annoying as heck. At least I still have a few months of running without peeing myself left...maybe...

Looking forward to: Sharing about our baby's name and how and why we picked it!

Emotions: I have felt much more emotional this week. I feel like crying often, although usually it's over thinking about something that actually is emotional or a semi-big deal (haven't been crying over any random commercials or ordinary events or anything like that).  I also have been feeling VERY clingy and attached to Heidi lately. I'm not sure if it's just the back-to-school-blues (after 2 weeks of no MDO I was so sad to think about her going back to MDO for 5 hours twice a week - haha yes I know that is ridiculous) or if I am just uneasy knowing that she won't always be my one and only.  Or maybe it's just that she's getting older and more independant. I'm not totally sure... but I do know that I miss her SO much when she isn't with me - even when she is just sleeping! And although it always is nice to have those little breaks to get stuff done while she naps (or nap myself!) or have some quality time with Ryan in the evenings after she goes to bed... I often find myself going through pictures and videos of her because I miss her so much - and she's right upstairs!! I have no doubt that my heart will grow to love another baby. That's not something that I fear. But I know that these long days spent just the two of us being together will be coming to an end very soon and I will for sure look back on these days and miss them so so much - just like I know I will miss the time that I get to spend with my next while he is growing inside of me!