My headaches have diminished almost completely with the help of yoga, headstand, downward dog, lots of lemon water and coconut water, frequent healthy snacks, Odwalla Juice, maca root and my Amherst bracelet that my mom gave me.

Last week I took my sweet niece Brooke to the Taylor Swift concert and the best part was the finale. Tay Tay sang “We are Never Ever Getting Back Together” and Baby Claire went crazy jumping around in my tummy. So fun! Brooke and I think it means she likes Taylor as much as us!

I have been taking private yoga lessons with one of my very fave instructors, Lauren Browder. She is fantastic! I love being able to have the one on one focus during the pregnancy as every single day is different when you are pregnant. I feel so blessed to have this experience with Lauren and Baby Claire each week!

Right now my two favorite poses are Calf Smash and Pigeon Pose.

Pigeon Pose is a restorative way to open the hips up for child birth. We store tension and stress in our hips and it is interesting to see when the hips get tight and why. It usually means there is stress present in your life! I love releasing it through this pose. Check out Kristin’s how to on Pigeon pose.

My other favorite pose is called Calf Smash! This one if fantastic for runners! I learned this one from my teacher Lauren. Take a yoga blanket or towel and roll it up super tight. Place the blanket at the base of the knee and sit back onto your calves. I sit here for a couple minutes or so and then move the blanket a couple inches closer to my ankle, then to just above the ankle. Make sure to sit back, don’t lean forward. This opens up the calves and the front of the feet. I have noticed that at this point in my pregnancy my calves are super tight…

Here is a pic of me and one of my best friends Victoria at her law school graduation this past weekend! Victoria is an amazingly selfless friend, ambitious, smart and driven and I cannot wait for Claire to meet her one day and have her to look up to. Congrats Vic!

Here is Claire, Victoria and me at 21 Weeks!

Here is a pic of me and my little brother “Uncle Dave” at 18 weeks.  Little bump!

Claire loves loves loves yoga. Throughout my yoga practice she does little flips and jumps in my tummy with me. It is such a surreal experience. I cannot wait for my other yogi friends to experience pregnant yoga one day.  I am literally smiling the entire class because it is so special.  I am starting up private yoga lessons this week with one of my favorite teachers. I am so excited to have the one on one experience throughout the rest of my pregnancy and after Claire comes.

At dinner time she gets really active as well! It is almost as if she is joining Jake and me in the dining experience. Anyone who has ever dined with us knows we love dragging dinner out.  Jake gets home from work and we hang in the kitchen, listen to music, enjoy happy hour and cook and talk for hours.  She’s jumping and flipping the whole time which is so beyond special to us.

One night Jake and David were both in the kitchen talking and laughing while I was cooking and she was so excited by their voices. I totally believe she can sense the energy in the room and she just loved the Uncle Dave and Daddy energy.

Update on Momma Kelley!

I feel awesome! I have LOTS of energy, sleeping super well each night, no queasiness, and my morning jogs and my yoga practice are amazing and more enjoyable than ever. Seriously! I look forward to running or yoga every single day like you wouldn’t believe.

My only complaint is my epic pregnancy headaches… Its taken a few weeks, but I now have a few tricks that help alleviate them. I hope I can help someone else out there:

• I cut out white sugar and white flour completely. (I noticed about 30 minutes to an hour after eating white flour/white sugar I would get the most insane headaches imaginable. I am limiting my gluten intake as well….)
• Headstand! I practice yoga regularly and am now doing headstand or tripod headstand every single day. The reverse blood flow instantly cures the headache and helps prevents it. Check out Kristin’s blog on how to do a headstand.
• Maca Root! Thanks to my friend Kristin McGee I tried out Maca Root in my smoothies and in capsule form. Taking maca root every day has been wonderful for preventing headaches…  Kristin suggested this one and it has been super helpful.

Thanks to all the friends and family for all the joy! Jake and I feel so happy and our hearts are so warmed by all the love and joy we feel from you all. Thank you!

As a bonus...Avocados are magical for pregnancy!! What do avocados do for you?

• Helps prevent morning sickness… yes please! I am finally over the “all day sickness,” but if you are in the first trimester eat up!
• Packed with folate,…which is crucial in the early development of your baby.
• Avocados also help your body to better absorb the nutrients from fat-soluble fiber sources like vegetables.
• Dealing with pregnancy leg cramps? They help with that too! I haven’t experienced that yet….
• Help maintain blood sugar levels. If you are experiencing headaches your blood sugar levels may be the problem…

I served this soup with scallops because I love them and because scallops are packed with Omega 3′s and protein.

Omega 3′s aid in development of the baby’s brain, which is great!

Baby Claire is doing so well! She is moving and jumping around which is so surreal to feel. She loves her daddy’s voice. The second Jake gets home from work and starts talking she does little flips. I think she’s going to be a Daddy’s girl!

I have lots of energy now which is fantastic! My morning jogs have never been better! I love it!  I am starting up private yoga lessons in a couple weeks which I am excited about. I know it will be such a wonderful experience as Baby Claire grows.

Still comfortably in my jeans for now….  Thanks for all the love and joy!  We love all of you very much!

Here is a pic of Baby Claire at 16 weeks… She is the size of an avocado…. 

My latest creation is Faux Cookie Dough…made with chickpeas!

Chickpeas are packed with, fiber,  folic acid (aids development of the baby’s neural tube) and iron (necessary to the development of red blood cells…which carry oxygen throughout the body.)

More good news, Iron also helps alleviate pregnancy symptoms of  tiredness, irritability, and depression. Sounds good to me!

Basically think of this recipe of Faux Cookie Dough as Dessert Hummus. Jake liked it so I consider it a success. Enjoy!

Just for fun, here is a pic at 15 weeks after a morning run!

Jake and I are doing a lot of things to create a blissful home for Baby K, but one thing I am doing on my own is “Meditation Monday.” Every single Monday I sit down in my meditation space and dedicate 5 minutes or so to my meditation practice.

Sometimes I listen to one of Gabby Bernstein’s audio meditations and other times I create one of my own. Here is one of my own below:

Wash Away Stress Mediation

• Get comfortable in your meditation space. I like to sit on a yoga block, blanket or pillow to support my spine and allow the hips to relax. Light your favorite candle. Dab a little lavender oil on your wrists. Dim the lights if you choose.
• Inhale through the nose. Exhale out the mouth. Continue this cycle of breath.
• Picture yourself floating on a cloud. You are looking down at the world below you. Below you see any of the stressors of your life, your to-do list, whatever is on your mind and you pass right by it, leaving it below you. You acknowledge the stressor, then let it pass. Do not engage with it.
• Continue this visualization for several breaths. Continue to wash away any stressors that might pop up.
• To conclude: Inhale Positive Energy. Exhale Negative Energy. Breathe this breath three times.

I have also been choosing to put myself in happy, positive, situations more and more and avoiding situations that cause stress or any negative feelings.

I have this friend Stephanie Van Hoek who is absolutely amazing. Every single time I hang out with her I leave our little hang out feeling refreshed, cheerful, positive and happy. She does that to me! Her energy is contagious.  Find those people in your life and hang out with them more.

Make note of the situations that leave you feeling depleted and negative and try to avoid of those. These things could even be really small… For example, the other day I started watching a show on TV and the subject matter was absolutely depressing. I stopped watching the show. Deleted it off the DVR and moved on.

Be aware of the positive and negative energy around you, especially if you are growing a human!

Namaste. 

At last, the first trimester is behind us! I must say I am LOVING the second trimester. I have TONS of energy and the queasiness is gone. Thank goodness!!

I am so excited to share with you the healthy tricks I discovered over the course of the first trimester. Kristin McGee (my health and fitness inspiration!) announced she was pregnant when I was in the throws of the first trimester and her blogs helped me immensely. I hope I can help someone too!

Here we go…I was ridiculously queasy and super tired.  I don’t think I had it as bad as Princess Catherine, but it wasn’t good. The only foods that sounded appealing were sweets. Seeing as I am not one to sit on the couch and eat a slice of chocolate cake just because… I came up with healthy alternatives!

 Nuttzo Omega 3 Seven Nut and Seed Spread! Packed with the worlds healthiest and yummiest seeds and nuts this is a fantastic nut butter! I enjoyed it with sliced apples! Omega 3′s are fantastic for the development of the baby’s brain, which is  a wonderful thing!

Watermelon Slushie with Vanilla Silk Almond Milk: One day I was craving melon like a mad person. Lady on a mission, I drove to Central Market and loaded up on papaya,  watermelon, honeydew melon, cantaloupe,  strawberries… I came home, put on my favorite Glee soundtrack and just started slicing up the fruit and eating it faster than I could slice. I ended up freezing some pieces and making a watermelon slushie a few days later. Try it with other fruits too!

 Combine frozen watermelon chunks, Vanilla Silk Almond Milk and Stevia in a blender and enjoy!

Quite often Baby Kelley wanted desserts, desserts, desserts. When this happened I enjoyed Dark Chocolate Silk Almond Milk. Oh my goodness this hit the spot! I went to Central Market one day and they had run out. Bad news. I asked one of the employees to go in the back and find me more! Crazy lady!!

When Baby Kelley wanted dessert, yet again… I came up with this Greek Yogurt Sundae! So tasty and packed with protein and powerful antioxidants from the berries.

Combine 1 cup Non-Fat Chobani, fresh organic raspberries, local Austin honey, a sprinkling of dark chocolate chips and stevia. Enjoy!

I came up with the Green Gal Smoothie to give Baby Kelley the sweet taste, but also the protein from the chia seeds and the greens that Baby K needs to grow! I probably drank one Green Gal Smoothie a day in the first trimester….  Mixing up the ingredients of course.

Odwalla and Naked Fruit and Veggie juices became a go-to. Our fridge is literally full of them. Somehow when I felt queasy these made me feel better and the veggies and fruits are so good for me and Baby K.

“Odwalla Original Superfood” and ”Naked Green Machine” are my two favorites…

I got in the practice of packing a little mini cooler with snacks, cut up veggies and a Naked/Odwalla juice. I learned the worst thing you can do when you are queasy is to not eat. It gets worse…. We left church one day and I felt all kinds of queasy. I opened my little cooler and started drinking my Naked juice and I was cured!

I can’t wait to share the other things I learn! I am doing a Pilates for Pregnancy workshop that I can’t wait to share!

Thank you to all our friends and family for your prayers and thoughts. Jake and I are so very excited about this chapter in our lives and feel so blessed to share it with you all.

Here’s a pic at 13 Weeks… No Bump Yet!

]]> http://sk-fitness.com/2013/04/baby-kelley-and-my-healthy-pregnancy-tool-kit/feed/ 0 http://sk-fitness.com/2013/04/honey-panko-crusted-pork-chop-man-pleaser-meal/ http://sk-fitness.com/2013/04/honey-panko-crusted-pork-chop-man-pleaser-meal/#comments Mon, 01 Apr 2013 18:16:00 +0000 Stephanie http://sk-fitness.com/?p=2258 There is nothing I love more than cooking dinner for my husband, brothers, friends, anyone special! Cooking is one of my very favorite hobbies, but it is even more special… Keep Reading]]> There is nothing I love more than cooking dinner for my husband, brothers, friends, anyone special! Cooking is one of my very favorite hobbies, but it is even more special when you cook for someone you love.

This meal is beyond easy and fantastic for a week night as there is minimal prep work. The combination of the sweet from the honey and the salty from the pork is wonderful!

I served the pork with haricot verts and a Truffle Mac and Cheese from Pasta & Co, a local Austin pasta company. We don’t serve a lot of empty carbs at our house, but this meal was a special treat so we indulged.

Make this meal for the boys in your life and I promise they will love it!

Enjoy Honey-Panko Crusted Pork Chop!

The article sat on the kitchen table for a few days opened to the page on Gabby. Finally, I sat down and read all about Gabby and her books, her meditations, HerFuture.com and the following of women that are inspired by her. Then I saw that she had a new book coming out in January that takes you on a 40 day journey to a happier you.

This book is called May Cause Miracles and I will whole-heatedly say it has changed my life.

Gabby takes you on a 6 week journey. Each morning you have an affirmation that takes you through the day and a morning reflection. Perfect to enjoy as your sip your morning coffee or tea.

Each evening you have a little exercise or meditation that caps off your day. That’s right, I am meditating now!

No mater what you are going through in life, happy, difficult, exciting, sad, whatever it is… this book will get you through it and give you a new fresh perspective on life.

I am very happy with my life. I love my husband and the life we created, but there is always room for us to grow, and learn as humans.

I posted affirmations throughout our entire house. I share the affirmations and quotes from the book with friends, relatives, my students, my clients  and my husband. Here is a pic of my fridge with inspirations posted:

If you think you could use a little refresh on life, a fresh perspective, a happier cleaner outlook, please read this book.

You absolutely have time. Everyone has 5 minutes a day to make their lives more fantastic.

To close I share with you a quote from the book:

“Today I am grateful for the world around me. I am grateful for the lessons I have learned and the new growth opportunities ahead. I am grateful for my new loving perceptions of the world.”

To learn more check out my review of the book here!

Namaste!

Please meet my new favorite super-foods featured in this smoothie!! So excited about them!

•  Spirulina: 63% protein, the highest planetary source of protein, Vitamin A, iron and super detoxing. Learn more about it!
• Chia Seeds: Antioxidants, protein, fiber and omega 3 fatty acids, yes please! Learn more about it!
• Kale: This is an old favorite…. fiber, Vitamin A, C, Omega 3 and 6, it’s an anti-inflammatory from the omega 3, but best of all kale is thought to help fight/prevent many types of cancer… If you haven’t added this green to your diet… it’s time.

This smoothie is fantastic and you don’t even taste the kale. Don’t be afraid to add LOTS of kale. It will make your smoothie a beautiful green color. This smoothie is probably the healthiest smoothie you will ever drink. You will feel great too!

(If you don’t want to try the chia seeds and spirulina right now just omit and the smoothie will taste the same. Up to you!)

Enjoy,  Green Gal Smoothie: Kale, Strawberries and my new fave super-foods!

I love coming up with ways to make veggies less obstrusive. I hear so often that people don’t like the taste of veggies. This is another dish where the veggies don’t even seem like veggies.

Make sure to use a food processor, per the recipe to get the brussels sprouts and carrots finely chopped. You will feel like you are eating rice not a pound of Brussels Sprouts. Jake said this dish reminded him of the inside of an egg roll! No need to add rice. Superfulous carbs are one of my pet peeves. If you don’t need it. Don’t add it.

The chicken is marinated for several hours and is juicy, sweet and tender.

The Siracha sauce and the sesame oil really give this meal something special. Enjoy Thai Coconut Lime Chicken with Spicy Brussels Sprout Stir Fry!