Pregnancy Update: 22 Weeks!

This baby deep inside of me, ever so small, is a child of God. A child that God gave to me to take care of whether for a day or for years. That care began at conception. Whether he or she lives or dies each day I am with him or her is a gift and has a purpose with eternal consequences. My baby is now a part of my life, my testimony. -Brenda Rodgers, "New Rules for Announcing a Pregnancy"

How far along: 22 weeks! Only 18 more to go! Eeek!

"developing senses, including touch, sight, hearing, and taste. ... He or she may grab onto the umbilical cord (there's not much else to hang onto in there) and practice the strong grip that will soon be clutching your fingers (and pulling on your hair). ... Though it's dark in the uterine cocoon -- and even with fused eyelids -- fetuses this age can perceive light and dark. ... [The baby's hearing] The sound of your voice and that of your partner, your heart beating, the whoosh-whoosh of your blood circulating through your body, those gastric gurgles produced by your stomach and intestines, the dog barking, sirens and a loud TV. ... [The baby's tasting] pretty much everything you're tasting (so pass the salad)." -What to Expect When You're Expecting, 4th Edition

Baby size:  "Forget about ounces, baby. This week we're talking about a whopping weight of 1 pound and a length of nearly 8 inches, about the size of a small doll." -What to Expect When You're Expecting, 4th Edition

Gender: We'll find out when he/she arrives in March!

Belly: I love this little baby belly! He/she prefers to reside on my left side most of the time which makes my belly rather wop-sided. It cracks me up! I can also tell that he/she is getting higher. There's not too much space between my ribs and his/her head now! I can only imagine how big we will get over the next 18 weeks!

Sleep: Sleep is ... well, it is what it is. I'm so thankful for the ability to rest or nap during the day when needed! We have gotten a laugh from the fact that I start getting tired and ready for bed at only 7:30pm each night! haha!

Clothes: This baby and belly are growing fast! Maternity clothes are now a necessity. I've done about as much shopping as this non-shopper can handle for the time being. Just overlook the fact that I wear the exact same five shirts every single week. I do wash them! Haha! This last shopping trip I pulled my poor sister (in law) into the experience. She did successfully convince me to purchase a few pieces, and I really enjoy their additions to the wardrobe selection. Unfortunately, this growing belly of mine bumped into something the first time I wore one of the shirts and it is now stained. Bummer. I suppose I've got to be a little more mindful of the belly now. haha. :)

Movement: Okay, so my  Pregnancy Fitness dvd is still sitting. We have at least gone for walks around the neighborhood a few times. Those walks, however, are getting fewer as the weather is getting colder. We decided to go for a gym membership for the two of us so that we could stay active this winter. As much as I prefer to be rather frugal with my funds, I also prefer for me to be able to keep walking and staying active throughout the pregnancy. It's also something we can do together, which is always a plus. We had been going for jogs together prior to finding out we were expecting, and so it will be nice to get back into doing that together again. (Okay, David will be jogging and I'll be demonstrating the slowest walking pace (especially if the baby decides to do his own exercising)).
     I'm still trying to incorporate the Bradley Method exercises into my daily routine. I've got a lot more improvement to do in the discipline area of exercise, but little by little it's going to happen. I know how valuable the benefits are and will be for the baby and I.  

Baby Movement- This baby is quite an active one! He/she wiggles and kicks constantly. It's amazing how such a little being can kick so hard sometimes! I rather wonder what he/she is doing in there.

Food aversions: I don't think there are any anymore. Anything and everything sounds and tastes fantastic. 

Food cravings: Pineapple!!!! Oh man, I'm loving fresh pineapple! Dare I say it? Yep, it's better than chocolate! haha

What I'm excited about: I love looking down this growing baby belly and feeling him/her there! It still astonishes me that we will have a little child in only a few months. I am still just so excited to watch him/her grow and discover the person he/she will be. 

I asked David what he's excited about right now in regard to the baby, and he said he's excited that it's getting closer to the time. He's ready to meet this little girl/boy already! Melt my Mama heart!

     

Comparison posts/pictures: 

*Note: Some of the products listed above contain affiliate links to Amazon.com. Reviving Homemaking is an affiliate of Amazon.com, and as such receives compensation for each purchase made through the links.  

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Menu Plan: Fall (Oct. 27-Nov. 2)

      It's been months since I've posted a menu plan! Some aspects of creating our menu plan has been adjusted a bit to account for my current energy level for preparing meals and the upcoming arrival of our first child. For instance, our lunches and dinners used to be interchangeable. I now prefer much, much simpler options for lunches but still maintaining them to be as wholesome as possible. (If you have any suggestions, then that would be fantastic!!!). I've been leaning more towards soups, sandwiches/wraps, and leftovers. I'm also pretty much repeating the same breakfasts and snacks each week. One or two may be different, but for the most part it's the same options over and over. On the plus side, that area of our grocery budget can stay pretty steady. 

      Speaking of budget, I've challenged myself to get our grocery spending down by at least $20 per week without sacrificing our real foods preference. I believe that real foods are possible by simply practicing preparing the right types of meals. (Similarly, hospitality is feasible on a budget by practicing the same principle, even with large groups. I'll post in the future about the meals we serve for as many as twelve people without going outside our budget). I hope these weekly posts will help to demonstrate how we achieve the real food on a real budget (and I do mean real budget) in our home. 

     There is now a photo album on the RH Facebook page just for food photos. If you like to see a photo of a dish to judge whether you want to try it or not, then follow the link to view the album. (I tend to like recipes & cookbooks that include lots of photos). Let's be honest, some dishes are just too pretty to not take a picture! ;) 

      I've also started pinning lots of recipes we use onto a "Food" Pinterest board. Many of the recipes listed below can be found there as well. 

Strategies

• Sunday mornings are usually a bit rushed for us, and some days we would leave without breakfast. We since begun making a greater effort for being prepared with quick grab-and-go breakfasts. For instance, a couple of weeks ago we made a big batch of whole wheat biscuits, eggs (then cut the same size as the biscuits), bacon and slices of cheddar cheese. We then assembled everything into sandwiches, wrapped in foil and froze them. Now, all we have to do is pull out a few biscuit sandwiches to warm in the oven while we get ready. So much better than drive-thru or nothing!
  
• We recently purchased a 1/4 of a cow from a nearby farm. If we use one package week, then our beef cost per week will be only $5. Not too bad for grass-fed beef! 

OUR MENU PLAN FOR THIS WEEK

*Note: I include links to the recipes if they are available online. Some recipes are from cookbooks we have at home, and while I can't share the recipe I can direct you to the source. Other dishes or meals are created by myself or my husband, and we can do our best to explain how to recreate it. If you'd like additional information on any of the meals or our menu planning, then please feel free to contact me. :) 

Breakfasts

- Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuits 

- Breakfast quinoa (quinoa with diced pear, dried cranberries, drizzle of honey and sprinkle of cinnamon).

- Oatmeal with blueberries and diced pear

- Green smoothie (adding strawberries and peaches)

- Homemade cranberry-almond granola cereal 

- Oatmeal with diced apple, sprinkle of cinnamon and chopped walnuts

- repeat Breakfast quinoa

Lunches

-  Shephard's Pie (leftover from last week)

- Repeat bbq pork meal

- Cheddar and apple sandwiches (on homemade bread), kale chips

- BBQ portabello mushroom quesadillas (using homemade tortillas stocked in the freezer), corn on the cob (stocked in the freezer) / One of our favorite meals!

- Beef stew (leftovers)

- leftovers

Dinners

- Pulled pork bbq, baked beans, cole slaw (some of the pulled pork will go in the freezer for a fast meal in the future)

- Seared salmon, braised broccoli, and bulgur wheat

- Beef stew

- Garlic chicken, brussels sprouts, brown rice

- Eggplant parmesan pizza (using homemade pizza dough & baking in the oven instead of grilling) 

- Butternut squash ravioli in an asian sauce (adding chopped bok choy to the sauce for an extra leafy green source)

Snacks

- yogurt with mixed berries (frozen)

-  banana with peanut butter

- apple and cheddar cheese slices

- cottage cheese with diced peaches (frozen)

- popcorn

- celery sticks with peanut butter

- sweet potato fries

- hard-boiled egg and carrot sticks

- roasted chickpeas

Weekly Menu Planning Sheet

*Note: Reviving Homemaking is not affiliated with any of the sites or companies included in the links, and was not asked to include or recommend them or their recipes in this post. (I simply like what they have to offer!)

What's on your family's menu plan this week?

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Pregnancy Update: Week 20

This baby deep inside of me, ever so small, is a child of God. A child that God gave to me to take care of whether for a day or for years. That care began at conception. Whether he or she lives or dies each day I am with him or her is a gift and has a purpose with eternal consequences. My baby is now a part of my life, my testimony. -Brenda Rodgers, "New Rules for Announcing a Pregnancy"

How far along: 20 weeks! We're halfway there! (The 20 week mark actually occurred on Oct. 16th).

Baby size:  "size of a small cantaloupe ... about 10 ounces and 6 1/2 inches (crown to rump)" -What to Expect When You're Expecting, 4th Edition

Gender: We'll find out when he/she arrives in March!

Belly: The baby belly is growing! The change is exciting to watch. I had previously said that it "seemed to get bigger every day," and now it actually does get bigger every day! Somewhere after 18 or 19 weeks was the turning point for rapid growth for this little one. I can now feel him/her moving above the belly button line. It's incredible how quickly those changes occur! There's no mistaking now that the belly is because there's a baby on the way! A cashier even asked when I was due, which was the first time anyone who didn't know has said anything. I rather enjoy seeing further evidence each day of this little one that is with us!

Sleep: Sleep has been so much better thanks to now using a body pillow. Oh man, that has been the best $13 spent!

Clothes: This baby and belly are growing fast! Maternity clothes are now a necessity. I went to get dressed one morning, and discovered that the rest of my non-maternity skirts are no longer possible and the shirt selection is getting mighty thin. I really wish I hadn't put off making maternity skirts! The sewing machine will be seeing a lot of attention in the coming week(s)! I picked up a couple of pairs of pants at the store until I can get some skirts and whatnot sewn. I've also added a few new tops, and I must say that It's nice to have pieces that are made to flatter the baby belly. Now I'm just waiting for the maternity lines to shift towards warmer pieces. It's getting chilly, and I'm ready for some sweaters! haha. 

Movement: Okay, so my  Pregnancy Fitness dvd is still sitting. We have at least gone for walks around the neighborhood a few times. It has been way too nice outside to choose a dvd over taking a walk! Now that we're doing the Bradley Method classes, I'm trying to include those exercises into my daily routine. Exercise is a tough habit to establish, but I know (and feel) its benefits for me and the baby. I also know that establishing the habit now will also make picking it back up much easier after the baby arrives. 

Baby Movement- This baby is an active one! It's incredible to think back to just two weeks ago when the kicks felt only as big as the tip of my pinky finger. Now, they're much larger and stronger. At times they will startle me from being so strong. It's incredible every time and I can't help but to pause to lay my hand on my belly and feel them. David mentioned one evening that he can always tell when I'm feeling the baby move because my face will suddenly brighten. It's true. I love the feeling of this little one moving within me, and the joy of soon welcoming him/her into our family!

Food aversions: I don't think there are any anymore. Anything and everything sounds and tastes fantastic. 

Food cravings: It's interesting how  a couple of daily food "fixes" have seemed to switch during pregnancy. Normally, I have a such the uncontrollable sweet tooth and prefer meatless meals to meat. However, during this pregnancy I've definitely been partaking of more meat meals and leaving out the sweets. Even salads have come to need to have chicken or bacon included in them! haha! We joke about this pattern being so characteristic of hubby than me, and so this baby must be a little David. haha!

What I'm excited about: 

      The growing belly and all the little kicks are so exciting to experience. I'm loving each and every moment!

     We started to brainstorm and plan on how we will rearrange the space in our home for this little one. It will be so exciting to see our home transform a bit to now include a little one (and then future little ones)!
      David still rushes over to feel the baby move and remains equally excited about our family now including this little girl or boy. It truly delights my heart that he is already such an amazing Pop. I always wanted a family man, and that's exactly what this little one and I have. I cherish that deeply. 

      We bought our first baby item while visiting our home state recently. Oh my, they are just too sweet! We thought a little TN Volunteer orange was a good start for him/her!  :)

     

Comparison posts/pictures: 

10 Week Post      /      12 Week Post      /      14 Week Post      /      16 Week Post      /      18 Week Post

*Note: Some of the products listed above contain affiliate links to Amazon.com. Reviving Homemaking is an affiliate of Amazon.com, and as such receives compensation for each purchase made through the links.  

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(Your name (first name + last initial) and comment may be used in the upcoming Reviving Homemaking ebook. If you wish for your name to not be included, then please simply use "anonymous" or "guest." Thank you for your input!)

Pregnancy Update: 18 Weeks!

Note to self: a white shirt against a white wall
doesn't make the best belly picture. :(

This baby deep inside of me, ever so small, is a child of God. A child that God gave to me to take care of whether for a day or for years. That care began at conception. Whether he or she lives or dies each day I am with him or her is a gift and has a purpose with eternal consequences. My baby is now a part of my life, my testimony. -Brenda Rodgers, "New Rules for Announcing a Pregnancy"

How far along: 18 weeks!

"baby is filling out nicely and getting large enough that you might even be feeling those twists, rolls, kicks, and punches he or she is perfecting. Another set of skills your baby is mastering now is yawning and hiccupping ... And your one-of-a-kind baby is truly one of a kind now, complete with unique fingerprints on his or her fingertips and toes." -What to Expect When You're Expecting, 4th Edition

Baby size:  "5 1/2 inches long and about 5 ounces in weight" -What to Expect When You're Expecting, 4th Edition

Gender: We'll find out when he/she arrives in March!

Belly: The baby belly is growing! The change is exciting to watch. It seems like it gets a little bigger each day! 

Sleep: Sleep is ... well, it is what it is. I'm so thankful for the ability to rest or nap during the day when needed!

Clothes: The time has come for doing some shopping. It would be so nice to just borrow maternity clothes, but that's not a realistic option for me. God has provided us with an avenue for a little extra income that will be to meet the clothing need and then perhaps another baby-related need later. :)

Movement: Okay, so my  Pregnancy Fitness dvd is still sitting. We have at least gone for walks around the neighborhood a few times. It has been way too nice outside to choose a dvd over taking a walk!

Baby Movement- Back at only 14 weeks, I was feeling a strange sensation that made me wonder if it was the baby moving. 14 weeks was a couple of weeks sooner than the expected time for feeling baby movements, and so I didn't think much of it. Plus, I had always heard it described as "flutters," and so that's what I have been waiting for. Then, last week it occurred to be that I had feeling yet another sensation since that previous time, and that must be the baby. It's no "flutter" though! It's much more like a "flipping" or "tumbling"! Nighttime must be playtime. haha. I'll say something to my husband about him/her moving, and he'll rush over to put a hand to my belly. I adore how excited he is for this little one! As of today I began to feel individual pokes. It's incredible every time!

Food aversions: I don't think there are any anymore. Anything and everything sounds and tastes fantastic. 

Food cravings: I seem to have taken a turn towards the ability to eat and eat and eat. I'm pretty much loving anything I'm familiar with and can eat in large quantities. 

What I'm excited about: So many things...

       I'm excited to just be at this place. I've witnessed yet another dear friend struggle to conceive and then lose the baby. It's utterly heartbreaking. I'm reminded of all the time when we desired a child and yet didn't receive one then, and how much my heart struggled. Though we've now made it to 18 weeks, I don't take a moment for granted. I realize just how precious it is to have this child. There are no guarantees,  yet somewhere through it all there must be faith. It's a hard attained kind of faith, and I'm not certain of the strength my own if faced with such difficulty. The quote with which I begin each pregnancy update is a reminder of this. These updates are a reminder to me to be present and embrace every moment. I'm so grateful to have the privilege of carrying this child for 18 weeks so far. 

     I'm also excited to finally be feeling better! I came down with a nasty sinus infection a couple weeks ago. Having all that crud in my head and chest while also pregnant really knocked me out. I got out of bed when I needed to go in to work the preschool (because when a job needs done, you do it!). Beyond those occasions, I rested. My midwife then prescribed an antibiotic which did the job at knocking it out. I usually resist conventional medicine unless absolutely necessary, but that ended up being the case (a fever isn't good for the baby after all!) and I'm so grateful! It's so good to feel more like myself. It's also good to get some housework done! haha. 

     We started a registry list on Amazon, and browsed the baby aisles at a physical store. It's quite overwhelming to me, and so I figured I'd better start early and just build the list slowly. I'm finding and thinking of a few things here and there that would be good to have. There is so much to consider! However, I intend to maintain a rather simplistic approach. 

     While we were walking and talking through the aisles, I asked hubby what he's excited about or looking forward most with this little one. He responded that he's just ready for him/her to be here! (I think I may need these next few months to get myself as ready. haha). It delights my heart to see how at ease and enthused he is for this little one. I'm beyond grateful that this child is so deeply wanted and loved... even at only 18 weeks. :)

    I'm also excited for the next ultrasound in a couple of weeks in which we'll get to see our little one once again. I so enjoyed getting to see him/her moving around in there at only 13 weeks. I imagine 20 weeks to be even more exciting! This would be the gender reveal ultrasound, but we're still resolved to wait until he/she arrives in March!

    There's just so much to be excited about right now! The growing "bump" and little movements are just such beautiful reminders of this season of life!

Comparison posts/pictures:

10 Weeks Post          /          12 Weeks Post          /          14 Weeks Post     /          16 Weeks Post

*Note: Some of the products listed above contain affiliate links to Amazon.com. Reviving Homemaking is an affiliate of Amazon.com, and as such receives compensation for each purchase made through the links. 

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Join Reviving Homemaking on Facebook!

Visit the Reviving Homemaking Etsy Shop!

Follow Reviving Homemaking on Pinterest!

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-Question for YOU!-*-*-*-*-

What is something you wish you had learned to do before getting married or having children? Why?

(Your name (first name + last initial) and comment may be used in the upcoming Reviving Homemaking ebook. If you wish for your name to not be included, then please simply use "anonymous" or "guest." Thank you for your input!)