Pregnancy PT: Before, During and After (Part 1)

Taken one month before I was preggers. 

I'm finally getting around to this post about fitness before, during and after pregnancy. And it's going to be a 3-parter! Woohoo! After I had my daughter, I was frequently asked about my fitness regimen and how I lost all the baby weight so quickly. Well, sorry to break the news to you, but my workouts didn't start after I had my baby. My plan actually started way back when my hubby and I were trying to conceive. So, I figured that would be a good place to start this 3-part blog post. My fitness regimen during the "Trying To Conceive" days.

I think normally when women begin the journey of “trying to conceive” they start taking their prenatal vitamins and take their activity level to a lower level. When my husband and I decided that we were going to get started in the baby making business, I didnʼt want to compromise my active lifestyle. I was already signed up for the Chicago Marathon and had started my training. I told myself that even though I was trying to get pregnant I was still going to go about my normal level of training. If during the training I did get pregnant, then I would drop out of the marathon and talk to my doctor about exercise, specifically running, during pregnancy.

My marathon training consisted of running 5 days a week at varying distances and I took 2 days off to rest. During this time I started taking pre-natal vitamins and those yummy fish oil pills. I continued to eat my normal diet which, due to all the running I was doing, consisted of a lot of carbs, protein and whole grains. I continued to have a couple of cups of coffee in the morning and also indulged in a cocktail here and there. Really, the only thing that changed while I was trying to conceive was taking the extra vitamins. I didn't adjust my level of physical activity at all.

As it turned out, I got pregnant (but didnʼt know it yet) during the most strenuous part of my marathon training. I was doing my long runs on the weekends which ranged anywhere between 15-20 miles. I think itʼs amazing what our bodies (and embryos) can endure. I was definitely putting a lot of stress on my body during that time and the little babe turned out perfect.

Iʼve read about women who have run marathons while pregnant and Iʼll admit that I thought about giving it a go. However, taking into consideration the fact that I was already 39 and didnʼt want to risk miscarrying at such a late age and also my doctor didnʼt condone running 26.2 miles while pregnant, I thought it was best for me to pass on the Chicago Marathon.

In a nutshell, my philosophy was to stay healthy and not lower my level of physical activity just because I was trying to conceive. Worked out pretty well.

xxoo-
K

Baby Shower Registry: The Must-Haves!

 
Since giving birth to Betty Jane, it seems that I'm always being asked by expecting mommies what they should include on their baby shower registry. I always tell them that they should register for items that they'll need immediately as well as things that they'll need 6 months down the line. In actuality, I found that you really don't need that much for a newborn. Yes, you can bypass the wipes warmer and the fancy gizmos. Seriously, they'll end up taking up space and you'll be sending them along to Good Will in no time.

Before I get to my list, here's another tip. I would not only register at a Babies R Us/Target, but also at a higher end store like Land of Nod or Pottery Barn Kids for a few special items. Close family members and friends might want to contribute a larger, "nicer" item for your little one's arrival.

Now... On the the coveted list. The envelope please...

• Aden and Anais muslin blankets. They come in packs of 4 and you really don't need more than that. They are wonderfully large and their uses are endless.
• A diaper changing pad with 2 covers.
• Diaper caddy. It's not necessary, but I found it useful just to keep everything in one place.
• Diaper Rash Paste
• Infant Tylenol
• Baby Bliss Gripe Water
• Mylicon
• Aquaphor
• Thermometer. We have the Exergen temporal thermometer that we love.
• Infant Hygiene Kit. This should include nail clippers, nail files, a brush and a nasal aspirator.
• Baby Wash. I loooooove California Baby and Burt's Bees!
• Wash cloths and hooded towels.
• Baby Bath Tub
• Bath Thermometer
• Boon Frog Pod. For when your little one graduates to the big tubby.
• Lansinoh for the nursing mommies.
• My Brest Friend or The Boppy (with 2 covers). I preferred The Boppy over My Brest Friend. It's really a personal preference. Even if you are bottle feeding, it's good to have one of these on hand.
• Bottle System. We used Dr. Brown's in the beginning and then switched to the Evenflo glass bottles. Dr. Brown's worked great for gas problems.
• Bottle Warmer
• Burp Cloths
• Bibs
• Breast pump and storage bags if mommy plans on pumping.
• Pacifiers if you plan on using them.
• Baby Carrier. I had the original Baby Bjorn, which I loved, but I would get one with lower back support.
• Mobile
• Crib Sheets
• Crib
• Glider/Recliner. Definitely take the time to find a comfy one. You might me spending a lot of time in it.
• Mattress
• Mattress Pad
• Video Monitor
• Car seat with an extra base if you have multiple cars.
• Snap and Go or your choice of travel system stroller.
• Diaper Bag
• Pack and Play
• Pack and Play sheet
• Onesies
• Kimono Tops. Seriously, I could not get my hands on enough kimono tops. They are so easy to put on.
• Infant Sleep Gowns
• Pants
• Socks
• Sun Hats
• Beanie Hats
• SwaddleMe Wraps (3-5)
• Sleep sacks for when they are older.
• Sleep Sheep or a white noise sound machine.
• A good night light or lantern so you don't have to turn on any lights for those middle of the night diaper changes.
• Humidifier
• Diaper Genie with a few packages of liners.
• High Chair. Get it now. You'll be using it before you know it.
• Bumpo
• "Cooking for Baby" cookbook, if you plan on making your child's baby food.
• Baby Wipes
• And last, but not least... DIAPERS!

Those are the necessities. It's up to you to add your little personal touches. You might have noticed that I didn't include any swings or bouncers to the list. My advice would be to either borrow these items from a friend or grab them off Craigslist. Why? Because your little one may not be a fan of the swing/bouncer and why waste the money. However, if you are dead set on getting one, then by all means, do so.

xxoo-

Day of the Dead!

Yep! That's right! One of my most favorite events is happening next Saturday, October 22nd. The Hollywood Forever Cemetery presents DIA DE LOS MUERTOS. This is some great fun for the entire family. The alters that folks create are absolutely out of this world! Last year Jeff and I took Betty Jane, who was then only 5 months old. We could only stay about an hour, but it wore her out! Here are some pictures form our outing...

The color and art were awesome!

One of my favorite alters.

This woman was great!

I think they were taking requests.

Me and my peanut :)

Hope to see you there!

xxoo

iThank You, Steve...

The  other day I was at The Grove and I passed by the Apple Store. It, of course, was packed and doing great business but there was also a little memorial in front of the store for the late Steve Jobs. Everyone, including myself, was taking pictures of it ( with their iPhones, of course). As I was reading all the heartfelt messages, I started to think about Steve Jobs, what he has created and how his innovation has enhanced my life.

I must have been around 13 or 14 when my dad bought us our very 1st home computer for Christmas. The Apple IIe! My sister (5 years old at the time) and I had been begging my parents for a computer all year long. One night I was babysitting my sister and we sneaked around the house looking for our Christmas presents. I being the older sister knew of all the great hiding places. I opened the attic door and there it was. A brand spankin' new Apple IIe computer. The sis and I were stoked! Now we just had to last until Christmas morning and not spill the beans that we know what the great Santa Claus is leaving for us... Fast forward to Christmas morning. My dad sent me over to open "the big present". Before I could even get the bow off my sister yells "It's a computer! Yay!"... Well, that about sums it up. She didn't quite get the logic that I had to unwrap the present FIRST before acknowledging what the present actually was. At any rate, the Apple IIe opened up a whole new world to me.

Now, I've got my various iPods in which I store and play all my favorite tunes and videos. I've got my very 1st iPod (the model before the click wheel) in my daughter's room where my husband and I have sung countless bedtime songs to her as she sweetly falls asleep on our shoulder. Now at 17 months she likes to play "DJ" and flip through the songs herself. I have another iPod for my running and have used it the LA and NYC marathons. I've got my iPhone which I use every day for scheduling, listening to music in the car, playing the ever popular "Words With Friends", entertaining my daughter on the plane with little videos and "Peek-a-boo Barn", oh yeah, and let's not forget talking with friends and family. The iPhone was also how I communicated (text, Facebook, calls) to the outside world when I was in the hospital giving birth to my beautiful daughter. That leads me to my MacBook Pro. Not to mention that I've used this computer to get a President elected, write scripts and edit several short films. But... this is also the machine that I used to edit and e-mail the photos of my daughter the day we brought her home. This machine edited video of her 1st spoken word as well as her 1st steps, lets her see and hear her grandparents who live across the country and assists her mom (that's me) document every sweet, special landmark of her young life.

Thank you, Steve Jobs... For your innovation... So that this mom can create such lasting memories. RIP...

  

xxoo

Rub-dub-dub...

A few of my favorite (baby) things for the... Bathroom! Along with plushy, soft towels and washcloths here are some of my top picks for tubby time.

I'm a huge fan of California Baby products! In a recent study, more than half of the baby products tested by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics were found to contain trace levels of formaldehyde and dioxane. Can you believe it? It's true. Here is a link to the list of those products that tested positive:

http://consumerist.com/2009/03/baby-products-now-with-formaldehyde.html

There are a lot of really wonderful baby bath products out there. I'm crazy about California Baby because they smell delightful, they are made in the USA, they do not contain formaldehyde or dioxane and, well, I live in California. Tee hee...

I have used this since Betty Jane was born. Loooove!

This is great for giving baby massages!

The Boon Frog Pod is pretty rad. There is a storage for your bath products and tubby time toys. Plus, there is a drainable scoop which helps in avoiding soap scum and mildew issues.

The Ecowool Sheepskin Rug (long natural length) is something I never would have thought of getting. I received it as a baby shower gift and we have used it every night until Betty Jane was about 15 months. It's so soft and cushy. Great for after bathtime when your giving baby massages and getting baby ready for beddie bye. I highly recommend this sweet, little item!

 Wishing you loads of tubby time fun!!! xxoo

Yummy, Nummy Mac & Cheese!

Ok, so I'm not that gifted in the area of cooking, BUT... thanks to this delicious recipe in COOKING FOR BABY by Lisa Barnes I can make a mean mac and cheese! It takes about 30 minutes to make and you can freeze it or you can pop in the fridge for up to 3 days. I altered the recipe a little bit and used vegetable wheat pasta plus I added a bunch of broccoli. I also didn't add any salt or pepper. In my opinion, it really doesn't need it. Oh, and the added bonus... My kiddo loooooooves it!

Bon appetit!

P90X... It's not just for adults!

Who says that P90X is only for grown-ups? Betty Jane is obviously proving them wrong. Introducing... B(aby)90X!!!!