Breastfeeding Preparation Class Complete - Month 7

Parenting Class Two Out of Four Complete week 29 Breastfeeding Prep Everyone has their own reasons for breastfeeding or not (and I respect this) - this post isn't about how awesome breastfeeding is and to make people feel bad - sometimes moms don't get the option or their breasts aren't working right. For me, the main reason I want to do it is for the health of our baby. I was a breastfed baby and I think of...

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Homemade Pizza

Turn your pizza into something healthy! Homemade Pizzas serves how many you make recipes found in...my head. I just load up on vegetables! There really isn't any set ingredients for the pizzas I show below. Whole wheat crust Yummy pasta sauce Pizza cheese And a ton of veggies, anything from... Basil Spinach Mushrooms Tomatoes Red, green, orange, yellow bell peppers Italian sausage black olives banana peppers artichokes, etc Have fun...

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Tuscan Soup with Potatoes, Kale and Bacon

Think Olive Garden's Soup Tuscan Soup with Potatoes, Kale and Bacon serves a bunch recipe found on Snacking In the Kitchen Blog Tastes like that soup from Olive Garden (just not as buttery) *Beware: no set ingredients...measure at your heart's content 1. In a large soup pot saute diced onion and chopped garlic. 2. Add sausage (I used a spicy sausage variety, but you should feel free to use the kind you like). Saute sausage and onions...

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Chicken & Sun-Dried Tomato Orzo

Chicken & Sun-Dried Tomato Orzoserves 4recipe found in Eating Well.com Kind of looks fancy, doesn't it? 8 ounces orzo, preferably whole-wheat1 cup water1/2 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes, (not oil-packed), divided1 plum tomato, diced1 clove garlic, peeled3 teaspoons chopped fresh marjoram, divided1 tablespoon red-wine vinegar2 teaspoons plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed ...

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Welcome to the Third Trimester - Month 7

28 weeks Making it to the Third Trimester... and all those thoughts that come with it By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can open and close her eyes, which now sport lashes. This movement is more of a reflexive blink than a deliberate opening and closing, but it won't be long before she's batting those beauties at you.  (www.babycenter.com) Me...

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Test for Gestational Diabetes - Month 7

week 28 Passing the Gestational Diabetes Test I was warned I'd be drinking the grossest sugary drink of my life, and I'd have two gross options to chose from: orange or fruit punch. I prepared myself for nasty, but the drink really wasn't as bad as everyone made it sound. I swear some people just love making new moms squirm. I had five minutes to drink the orange sugar drink down The nurse in the lab filled up my cup and told me I had...

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Book News and Writing Update - Not Giving Up!

Where do I go from here? I started my writing journey almost two years ago. That seems forever ago, but at the same time it feels like yesterday. February 2010, I saw an ad for a writing class in a Shakopee Community Ed book that came in the mail. After some pondering, I decided to sign up. Writing a book was my dream after all and the chance to make it a reality was staring at me in the face. Hello. Time to get real. It doesn't...

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What Goes in a Diaper Bag and Car - Month 7

week 28 Enter: Diaper Bag Thanks to all the frequent emails I get from several mother-to-be websites (and yes, I subscribed to another magazine....this time Fit Pregnancy), I decided to start putting together a list of all the goods we'll need in our diaper bag and make sure Karl and I have stocked cars just in case any blowouts happen. Trying to get this all done when I have the energy and time! Items filling...

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Three Great Pregnancy Books - Month 7

What to read while pregnant? Currently I'm reading about seven different pregnancy books, a romance novel (sorry, I need some steamy romance in my life) and a Christian-type of book. And so far I have three faves out of the seven pregnancy books. Here's the secret I've learned up to this point in my pregnancy. Nobody can really prepare you for pregnancy or what's about to happen. Nobody. No person. No book. No video. Etc....

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Car Seat Safety Class for Baby - Month 7

Parenting Class One out of Four Complete! week 28 Car Seat Safety at St. Francis Hospital in Shakopee I would've never imagined myself taking a class like this. But, the statistics are alarming. Over 83 percent of parents install the car seat wrong (which would totally be me) and car accidents are the leading cause of children's death. Practicing on a little doll Those numbers had my attention, even though most people giggled...

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Pasta with Chickpeas and Garlic Sauce

One of Karl's Favorites! Score!!! Pasta with Chickpeas and Garlic Sauce serves 4 recipe found on My Recipes.com 2 teaspoons olive oil 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper 1 (15.5-ounce) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained 1 (14-ounce) can fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth 1 1/2 cups uncooked medium seashell pasta (about 6 ounces) 1/2 cup grape tomatoes, halved 2 garlic cloves,...

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Being Pregnant and Going to a Concert, Vegas and a Magic Show - Month 7

27 weeks This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were...

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Orange-Beef Stir Fry

Wok and Roll Orange-Beef Stir Fry serves 5 recipe found in Fitness Magazine, January 2012 Lots of flavor in this dish! 1/2 lb top round steak1/2 cup beef broth2 T soy sauce1/4 cup orange juice concentrate2 T lime juice1 T sesame oil1 T minced garlic1 T minced fresh ginger1 T cornstarchNonstick cooking spray1 T canola oil3 small bell peppers, thinly sliced1 small Vidalia or red onion1 cup broccoli florets3 scallions, thinly sliced 1. Place...

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Orange-Dijon Salmon with Almond-and-Herb Couscous

Get those Omega-3s Orange-Dijon Salmon with Almond-and-Herb Couscous serves 4 recipe found in Fitness Magazine, January 2012 Refreshing salmon recipe! 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon whole-grain mustard1 tablespoon orange marmalade1 1/4 pounds salmon, cut into four equal portions3/4 cup couscous2 tablespoons sliced almonds, toasted1 cup fresh chives, chopped1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped1...

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Toasted Angel Hair with Sausage and Peppers

A Pampered Chef Recipe Toasted Angel Hair with Sausage and Peppers serves 4 recipe found in 29 Minutes to Dinner - From Everyday to Gourmet (The Pampered Chef) Karl says this dish is in his top three 1 lb bulk hot Italian sausage 2 medium red bell peppers 1 lb uncooked angel hair pasta 3 garlic cloves, pressed 5 1/4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth 1 cup fresh basil, divided 1 oz Parmesan cheese 1. Place sausage...

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Baby Shower Number One - Month 7

Feeling rather lucky these days 26 weeks The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp...

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