Tales of Me and the Husband - Page 157 of 207 -

July 6, 2011

our 4th of july weekend, hooray!

We went to Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion show at Tanglewood in the Berkshires. It’s a blast. Especially when you watch from on stage. The guests this year were Steele sisters and Chris Thiele and Sara Watkins from Nickel Creek. Chris’s mandolin-playing was especially amazing. He played this song and had me feeling utterly talentless. The show was great. Hurrah!

Me & my shadow enjoyed a full day on the beach too. Watermelon, sandwiches, crackers and cheese, orange Izzes, cherries… Steve made sure we were fully stocked for a long day and the weather was just right. The kids are sun-soaked and water-logged and their cheeks are pink with the slightest sunburn. It’s been a good summer to us so far.

July 1, 2011

36 weeks (and a guest post).

the brown shirt again… girlfriend knows what she likes during pregnancy.

and i’m guest posting over at jora’s lovely blog today…

and some of you said i should just be brave and bare a bikini shot.

so i did.

aren’t you sorry?

June 30, 2011

while it’s pretty beautiful out today, this video is still worth saving for a rainy, crappy news day. oh, and i wish i could swing dance.

June 29, 2011

this is how i walk around my house lots of the time…

which brings me to the purpose of this post.

this is how i walk around a lot… in the comfort of my own home, peeps. “ah! she’s coming!” accompanied by the kids running and hiding and gracie covering her eyes, but honestly, pulling a tank down over an ever-expanding belly gets old. sorry dudes. my arms are getting tired. so, it rides up. and i keep it there. mind you, this tank you see is a maternity tank. yeah right. no really, it is. it’s just a crappy one. but calling it maternity lets them charge way more than a normal tank. so, i’ll let you in on some of my secrets. i had a formspring question weeks ago about maternity fashion (side note: i didn’t know i had a bunch of formspring questions over the past few weeks… sorry! i answered them all last night.). but i really wasn’t huge yet so i didn’t have much to share. well, i feel kind of huge these days, so i’ll share what i can. complete with it’s own logo… see??

1. target’s long & lean tanks. i pretty much buy another every time i go. gray, black, white, striped, floral. for $8 you can do that. yes, $8! and they are LONG (and i have a long torso). so, the actual “maternity tank” for $13 (the target liz lange version) has become my belly-exposing pajama shirt and the non-maternity one for $8 is my going-out-appropriate shirt. go figure. i’m wearing one here and here. and being mah big self in the summer months has made these a staple.

2. maxi dresses. i have bought a few from places like h&m and forever 21. non-maternity and they’ve worked just fine. they’re stretchy, they’re cheap (so you don’t mind if you stretch them to the point when you can’t wear them non-prego) and they’re comfortable. i think the one pictured above is actually the one i wore to my shower here but in a different print. this one is h&m (and i think was $17-ish) and so is this one.

3. ingrid & isabel rouched tank. the epitome of pregnancy comfort. SO long, so stretchy, so comfortable. i have worn mine quite a lot and would be happy living in it (bonus — it’s so stretchy it will definitely be fine pre-baby, post-baby, anytime. i bought one last year long before i was pregnant and loved it then too.). i’m wearing it here. speaking of ingrid & isabel, i say skip the bellaband. i never found it that comfortable and really didn’t wear it much (although, some people swear by it, so go figure.).

4. threads for thoughts v-neck shirts. i’ve had these for a couple years and it turns out they’re nice and long and work for pregnancy too. hopefully i don’t stretch these babies out permanently cause they’re some of my most comfortable and long shirts (can you tell, i have an obsession with length in shirts… curse of the long-torsoed tall girl). you can find them at whole foods and i’ve also gotten them at tjmaxx (for like $10) and nordstroms off the rack. i didn’t spend $32 on mine. i’m wearing one here and here.

5. belts, belts, and more belts. nothing can pull off a blah, tent-like outfit on a pregnant girl more than a stretchy belt can. many a time i have not been into the outfit i had on until, poof, i put a belt right under my boobs and it worked. plus, when you’re feeling rather large and in charge, cinching the smallest part of your waist with a belt can do wonders. or at least i think so. which is why i did it here and here and lots more times. most of my belts have come from old navy, h&m, or forever 21. like this dress for instance? it’s ok. put a belt around it and it is so much better than ok. hear hear!

6. old navy foldover skirt. they’re jersey so they’re comfy and stretchy and fold over. waistbands suck when pregnant, so stretchy ones like these are the bomb. i have a few and in the winter months, you can wear them with thick tights and flat boots, uggs, whatever, and summertime, nothing. bam!

7. other randoms. before it got hot, leggings were awesome. they stretch (how many times can someone say stretch in one post? i’m going for a record.) and i wore them with flat boots all winter long. i’m in them here and you can trust that i’m thinking in my head, “oh. i’m so comfortable. because of the stretch.” you don’t have to buy maternity leggings that get marked up 100% because they’re called maternity leggings. whatever leggings you have will most likely work unless junk in the trunk gets out of hand but even then… they… say it with me… STRETCH! jeans. i didn’t buy a pair of maternity jeans cause i knew i’d be my biggest in the hot months so i didn’t feel like spending the mula. and i got a lot of hand-me-downs from my sister who just had a baby in september. these are forever21 and are technically not maternity but they don’t have a button at the top… they have a stretchy waist band! score! what was that? stretchy! you can find them if you look hard at f21. these, on the other hand, are maternity… old navy. they’re ok. i actually prefer the non-maternity f21 ones. michael stars makes GREAT clothes all around. i love his stuff. his maternity stuff is so long and has rouching along the sides so it allows for your belly but looks cute in the meantime. and it’s one size fits all. here’s me in a top of his. maxi skirts… this is one of my favorite purchases of all time, literally. i’ve worn it a gazillion times. it’s from UO but i got it years ago (but keep your eyes peeled… you’ll always be able to find a long maxi skirt somewhere). it’s a skirt or dress and i have literally not gone on a big trip anywhere without this in my suitcase. pants… i say work with what you have (especially if you’re biggest in the summer like me). these and these are not maternity but are stretchy and/or drawstring at the top, and these are just a bigger size than my normal jeans (trying to be boyfriend jeans but maybe just looking frump-tastic) so they’ve worked throughout this pregnancy. they’re h&m and old navy & jcrew in that order. so, basically, i have gotten some hand-me-downs and otherwise worked with what i had. i seriously didn’t spend much money at all on maternity stuff and i don’t think you have to to feel good. work with what you have… the name of the game. and while i know my tips don’t help everyone because everyone gains weight differently in their pregnancies or is pregnant at different months (i.e. if i were pregnant in the colder months, i probably would’ve invested in an awesome pair of maternity jeans), they’ve worked for me. maybe they will work for you??

ok, this post took forever. hopefully some of you will find it worthwhile! i’m outtie.

June 28, 2011

a place we’re really gonna miss this summer.

we have come to seriously love lake winnipesaukee like a second home. we’ve done boating, tubing, relaxing, sleeping, water-skiing, swimming, eating, and drinking all with the lake as our beautiful background. its sunsets, we’ve come to love, its loons we listen for, the cool water has been a respite from the hot sun for us… we’ve been visiting the lake every summer since we got hitched. and steve used to take the kids before i ever came along (he says it’s one of his favorite places on earth. i think i’d have to agree.). it’s the best. but this summer, it has to wait. our due date falls right in the middle of our usual two-week rental. and boating with a big belly isn’t much happening this summer. but, the lake remains, and it will continue to until we visit again. which we will. i envision a first birthday party celebration right on lake winnipesaukee. this little boy will know it and love it, just like his dad, mom, brothers, and sister do. oh, and gracie too.

June 27, 2011

a rainy saturday.

June 24, 2011

35 weeks.

someone didn’t get to the bump pictures while there was sufficient light…

thus using a different lens and having them look a bit different.

i’ll get it together by next week. maybe.

oh, and my outfits just get fancier and fancier as the weeks go!

grungy hand-me-down maternity jeans and a tee! woohoo!

June 23, 2011

what to do with a hungry pregnant girl…

…why, take her to mack ‘n mancos of course!

she’ll do a happy dance

right on the ocean city boardwalk

and maybe even a squat or two…

optimal fetal positioning!

is this risky, putting these pictures on the interwebz?

keep in mind that this is straight off of a 3-day

camping trip where my hair had not seen a brush

and my face had not seen a mirror.

basically i’m looking like a beast (a really large one).

but, sometimes, such is the case.

like… every morning.

frightening!

June 22, 2011

Dear “Doctor” Marianne: Questions Answered!

Hi everyone. So, as you’ll see, my Mom is answering roughly all of your questions from the “Doctor” Marianne post below. Instead of addressing each one, she speaks broadly about each because there was a lot of overlap. Hopefully you’ll all find your answer, or close to anyway (if not, let us know)! Also, those whose questions were about breastfeeding/ birth/ post-partum/ child vaccinations… your answers are still coming and will be answered by my sister who’s a labor/ delivery nurse, and childbirth instructor (my Mom thought she was a bit more qualified to answer them since she had her last child in ’84 and things change all the time.). She’s a new mom/ works part time/ yada yada yada… thus, she’s slow. I’ll get on
her!

Now, I turn you over to my Mom:

I’ll begin responding to your various questions by giving you a short introduction — by way of explanation of what I can and cannot intelligently respond to — due to my qualifications and lack thereof. Next I will lay out what I consider to be general healthy routines and philosophies that I believe should be part of everyone’s daily regime. The majority of questions fall into similar categories. I believe that there are some very basic healthy guidelines for all. If you want to avoid most of the common ailments that plague people (and that are referred to in this blog), I suggest you start here. You will also hear from daughters who are more up to date on the subject of vaccinations and things relating to childbirth etc. Hope you’ll find this informative and catch some of my excitement. Make your health education a life-giving pursuit. Let’s get started….

Health and all things relating to health became my passion when I was pregnant with my first — who will soon turn 40!! I was a pretty sick kid and began questioning if there was a better way. And so it began. We went the route of natural childbirth. My husband was in the delivery room — the first one ever in our local hospital. Breastfeeding came next. That was a no brainer. Transitioning onto solid foods really got my attention. That demanded so much more thought. I needed to really start reading. I soon realized the importance and the impact of the choices we make on our overall health and well being. And so it continues. I read and enjoy anything and everything on the subject of health. Except for a few official courses along the way plus age and some wisdom — I have no real credentials!! I’m here to say that a healthy life style is worth any sacrifice (real or imagined) that is required. Where are we without our health? Every ‘body’ is different. But to the degree that we can influence our health — why wouldn’t we?

As I explain what I believe is a healthy daily routine in terms of meals, vitamins, supplements, exercise etc. , I understand that everyone is coming from a different place. Reading the various blog entries, it’s not possible to know the individual state of health of the person behind the question. But I consider these ideas to be basic for anyone who is seeking better health or wants to maintain their health. Initially, I thought I would answer each question individually. However, many of your questions are similar. I realized most of them were going to be addressed in the same way. Basically, the headache/migraine, bowel disorders, constipation, skin problems, yeast infection, allergy sufferers are going to get answered by reading on.

I laugh when I remember a comment from one of our sons-in-law. He was still getting used to us and listening to our lively conversations about nutrition, health, elimination. Nothing is off limits. He respectfully concluded that I must think the ‘gut’ is the center of the universe. After a moment of hesitation I agreed — that in fact I do consider it that important. Our second brain, if you will. To that end (no pun intended), here are some things that will help make life easier.

Proper digestion starts in the mouth. So start chewing your food thoroughly. Being the last one at the table is a good thing. The stomach won’t need to work so hard when the food arrives. In addition, skip drinking anything with your meals. It actually washes away the digestive enzymes. Occasionally sipping wine with a meal — unavoidable. For intestinal health–and certainly for anyone suffering with real bowel disorders–consider proper food combining. A new concept for some but definitely worth taking a look. I googled ‘food combining‘ and there was lots of information. Try this. And stay away from processed, packaged foods. The body requires whole food–but more on that later.

Sharing the spotlight on the importance of caring for the gut is saying NO TO SUGAR! I read “Sugar Blues” by William Dufty at the same as other lightbulbs were going on in my head. Like everyone else, I added a couple of teaspoons of sugar to my tea — a couple of times a day. After all, doesn’t everyone need an afternoon lift? I also had no reason to say no to desserts etc. I had not made the connection — WE ARE WHAT WE EAT. However, after seeing the truth in print, it was hard to ignore. Find a copy and enjoy a good read.

But for purposes of making a fast and powerful impact, read what Dr. Mercola has to say on the subject of sugar. Anyone with whom I have talked health to within the last 15-20 years has been urged to read Dr. Mercola. He’s an M.D. with a whole lot to say about everything regarding how we should be eating, exercising, eliminating and just about everything else too! You can sign up for his free online newsletters or search topics in his archive. I urge you to read what he says about sugar. Besides the obvious — obesity, diabetes etc. sugar can exacerbate, contribute to or cause everything from arthritis, to depression, to migraines, to bowel disease, to Alzheimer’s — he actually lists 76 dangers of sugar to your health. Read it–Please!!

Obviously, I became a real warrior. As the children went off to school (and out of my control) I really wasn’t any fun. My daughters have their various stories about how they managed their sugar fixes. Good nutrition was not part of anyone’s awareness in the seventies. I was really ‘out there’. Now we have come full circle and my children are raising their children according to the same principles with which they were raised albeit with more wisdom and grace. I managed to lose my sweet tooth. I’ve done a good job of saying no to sweets and desserts and do not consider it a hardship. I’m going to say that keeping sugar out of my diet is probably the biggest reason my weight has not changed in 40 years. To that I will add my good energy and healthy immune system. Praise the Lord!!

A proper discussion of what foods should be avoided is not complete without reference to grains — pasta, breads, cereals, pastries. Gluten sensitivity is just now getting recognition. Generally, our diets are so heavily laden with these foods and what was considered somewhat rare is now affecting way more people. People with gluten intolerance can suffer from obscure, undiagnosed maladies to far more common, everyday complaints. Again, I send you to Dr. Mercola here (linking to his info on grains) who will go into great detail. Personally, I know that if I eat a sandwich for lunch — I will immediately be sleepy. I also know that grains/gluten contribute to gas, bloating, indigestion, extra belly fat and are a strain on our systems during allergy seasons — contributing to our allergic reactions. So, even if you are not sensitive to gluten — keeping these foods at a minimum in your diet is going to keep you feeling good. Working on your gut health (see next paragraph) will help with gluten sensitivity.

As we move from don’t to do’s — a good probiotic is an essential addition to your health regime. It is a important for our gut immune system. Helps keep us regular!! If you are someone who has taken antibiotics, doesn’t always eat the most nutritious foods, gets colds etc., please consider taking a probiotic. Which probiotic you purchase is important. They are all not created equal. Again, I defer to Dr. Mercola (on probiotics). Let me say this about Dr. M: He sells on his website. But as he recently explained on the Dr. Oz show — his passion is health and if he was to continue spending his time educating and getting the country healthy–he could either advertise or sell on his website. He decided to sell–thereby guaranteeing us the very best in supplements. He is also controversial. Perhaps you won’t be ready for everything you read — just consider it ‘food for thought’ and file some of it away for another time. But don’t stop reading!

A quick word here about your daily multiple vitamins. I’m all about whole food vitamins. It just seems logical (more here). Far more digestible — thus more utilized. Eating properly prepared nutritious (organic as much as possible) whole foods is first. Let food be your medicine. But realistically speaking, we will not be getting everything we need from our diets — most of us will still need supplements.

The last addition to my daily regime is cod liver oil — your source of omega 3 fats. But it’s critical to buy the right kind of cod liver oil. It can easily be rancid. I’ve been using Carlson’s Lemon Flavored liquid but Dr. Mercola recommends krill oil and there are other choices available as you will see after reading the following paragraph and checking out the next website I mention. Read on.

Next on the list is eating smart/sensibly. There’s no mystery here. Keep your foods as close to whole as possible. As much as possible, avoid refined. Anything that comes out of a box has been processed and is lacking in vital nutrition. This isn’t meant to be a nutrition lecture. I’d like to introduce you to Weston Price. Who is Weston Price? He was an early pioneer who traveled to isolated parts of the globe to study the health of populations untouched by western civilization. His goal was to discover the factors responsible for good dental health. His findings in 1930-40 and subsequent recommendations are how our grandparents and great-grandparents ate. Explore The Weston A. Price Foundation. Also hoping you’ll be inclined to purchase a terrific cookbook authored and published by this group — “Nourishing Traditions”: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats by Sally Fallon. Educational, informative, fabulous!! Will set you straight on fats, carbs, proteins, and everything else you ever didn’t want to know about how to eat nutritionally. Again, you won’t be ready for all of it — what’s that? Fats are our friends? Seriously, keep the book nearby and refer to it often. Please explore this interesting website–very informative. It led me to the author’s blog. Recipes, videos….take a long look.

I’ve gone on too long. So much left unsaid. But I cannot conclude talking health without mentioning exercise. Everyone knows the importance and everyone has their favorite way of working out — whether or not you actually do it is another story. I have been a yoga enthusiast for a very long time and except for walking and gardening I pretty much stick to yoga. I prefer Ashtanga Yoga. It’s very vigorous. Anyone interested in yoga can begin with finding a good beginner’s Iyengar class. Iyengar is learned through a series of postures and breath control. You can progress safely from basic postures to advanced gaining flexibility and strength in mind, body and spirit.

That’s all for now. The remaining questions that are more specific will be handled separately. This is already too long!!