29 Weeks of Pure Bliss!

I have to be honest. I am so glad the holidays and new year are well on their way to being behind us. It feels good to have a routine back in place and after our trip next week to Phoenix, we won't be going anywhere for a while. It feels good. I am also glad to have hit the third trimester of this pregnancy and FINALLY have my normal food pallet back! The entire first and second trimester were rough. Nothing ever sounded right or good. I just ate because I needed to and most of the time I wasn't reaching for the best things on the shelf. Welcome back fruits and veggies. I have missed you.

This third trimester has also been strange in that I have found a weird sense of energy. I have been walking more and just getting lots done around the house. Minus the Christmas stuff that is still up. Darnit, we have got to get those decorations down. Oh and we have GOT to get that nursery in better shape. We have 10 weeks. 10 weeks! Yikes!

For Christmas I received a Ninja blender. Can I just say...I am in love! It is so wonderful and makes me wish I had one a long time ago! If you like smoothies you really need to go find one and begin saving money tomorrow on the creations you can make at home instead of paying others. Then you can thank me. Anyway, I thought I would share some of my recent smoothies. I am no pro, but I am enjoying the exploring and learning!

Berry Smoothie

Frozen berry mix

1 Banana

1/2 cup of greek yogurt

1/2 cup of Cranberry juice

Green Peach Mango Smoothie

1 Cup of spinach leaves

1/2 cup of Orange Juice

Frozen Peaches and Mango chunks

1 banana

Peanut Butter Protein Smoothie

Advocare Chocolate Protein Powder

2 Tbl of Peanut butter

1 Banana

1/2 cup of Milk

1 tbl of Honey

Ice

To be honest there is no real method to my smoothie making. I kinda make it up as I go and hope it tastes good. I learned a couple good rules of thumb. You should pretty much always do a cup of whatever green veggie you choose, 1 1/2 cups of your fruit of choice, 1/2 cup of yogurt and a 1/2 cup of chosen liquid. You can include ice, but I choose frozen fruit instead. You should typically blend your veggie and liquid first and then add the rest and blend. I don't always use yogurt. I don't love the creamy texture it gives a fruit smoothie. You should stack smoothie ingredients from soft to hard and liquid last. Finally, you could easily substitute greek yogurt and add chocolate powder for my last smoothie recipe if you don't have a chocolate protein powder. ENJOY!

29 Weeks!!

This week, baby is the size of a: Butternut Squash

Due date: April 1, 2014

How far along: 29 weeks

Next appointment: January 28th

Gender: It's a BOY!!

Total weight gain/loss: roughly 30 pounds

Stretch marks: None so far! I LOVE my lotion!

Swelling: nothing. 

Maternity clothes: I did get a few new shirts. Would like 1 or 2 more pants. 

Belly button: Still the smashed look. 

Sleep: Hit or miss. Some nights I sleep great, other nights it's awful. I did finally get a body pillow which has done wonders! I love it!

Food cravings/aversions: None here! My pallet is feeling very normal again! 

Movement: Lots of movement.  

Wedding ring: Still fits great! Hoping that lasts!

What I miss: a full nights sleep. I guess I should get used to that??  

What I'm loving: everything. Truly it is an experience I cherish everyday.     

What I'm looking forward to: Baby showers over the next few weeks. Can't wait to see my friends in Phoenix and celebrate this life we are bringing here in 10 short weeks! give or take!

Best moment this week: Yesterday's doctor appt. I love hearing him.   

Milestones: Making it to the third trimester. Hooray! Down hill from here!

A Very Special Prayer to Grady Cole Austin

Have you ever noticed how the "new" of anything is the best day of that existence? New relationship, new job, new baby, new friendship, new house, new car, new place. Your euphoric state is at an all time high and eventually over time, use, distance something changes it. The beauty you once placed in that person or object has faded and been replaced with discontent, short tempers, and the need for something new. This is breaking my heart and has lead me to a desperate plea for Grady Cole Austin.

Dear God,

You have given me a gift that is very exciting right now. Every emotion that surrounds the tiny heart inside of me is only there because of the excitement and anticipation that rests in what is to come. I will never stop praising you for this gift of life...I hope. You see that is my prayer today. God I pray I never forget these feelings of joy. I pray I never forget how special he is in my heart. I pray I always cherish the life of his that has been trusted to me. I pray I place as much detail on his 25th birthday as I do on his first. I pray I find just as much content in attending every SINGLE sport of his as I do just thinking of them today. I pray when my tempers run short and my fumes run high that I remember the blessing he is in my life. I pray I never forget how important he is to me. but Lord more importantly, because I know I will fail, I will forget, I will lose my temper, and I will become discontent, I pray for mercy. Lord, I pray he shows me mercy and grace on those days I fall short. I pray that I am quick to show love again when I know I have let my flesh come through. I pray there never comes a time when he doubts the love I have for him. Lord this is an easy prayer today. Father it is the same lip service that can sometimes come so easy in my relationship with you, but Lord just as you have taught me, "faith without action is dead", I pray that you would continue change my heart so that my actions always add up to my words. God, I pray that I would not forget the blessing my life should be on every person that comes across my path. My husband, my family, my friends, my co-workers, and even strangers, Father I pray for the actions that will show them that my life has been transformed by an almighty God. That because of your grace, love, mercy, and forgiveness I can be made new and walk in that light and they can too. I pray you would keep my flesh from running rampant and instead allow your spirit to lead my life. And I pray because of the eternal life change you have on me that my son walks in those same footprints. The footprints of Jesus.

In Jesus' name,
Amen

2014 Will Be The Best Yet!

Sunday I encouraged you to think about what you want 2014 to become.  Today I thought I would share some things that are on my list for 2014. I personally am a fan of categories. It seems more manageable than making a random list of things. My categories are spiritual, relational, professional, financial, and personal.

Spiritual
1. I am finally putting this on my list, completing a 365 day devotional. It isn't a read the bible in a year. It is more focused on different aspects of the bible.
2. Get back in the church serving on a regular basis.

Relational
1. Host more dinners with friends at our home.
2. Connect and re-connect better.

Professional
1. Obtain my PHR Certification.
2. Help 25 people achieve better health through both my fitness classes I hope to start teaching and Advocare.

Financial
1. Finish off our remaining CC's and the truck payment. Yikes!

Personal
1. Complete my next half marathon.
2. Learn to sew.
3. Obtain my Group fitness instructor certification.

These are just a few of the things on my list. Some are pretty vague, but vision is not my strength. I really struggle thinking so far in advance if it isn't 100% doable. Other things I am looking forward to in 2014 are becoming a mommy, watching Zeb become a daddy, and spending more time with family because of the new addition.

I hope everyone has a safe and beautiful New Year's Eve! I have already popped my bottle and the bubbles are flowing! ;)

A Very Long Way of Saying, Make 2014 Count!

Much like many will begin to attempt in just a few short days I started my 2014 facelift with the blog. Nothing fancy, just some background changes and a new header to highlight the biggest change to come this year.

Now wait, are you one of the ones thinking right now; "Sasha I am not worried about a facelift for 2014. Or resolutions. Or goals. Or One Word! Ya you know what I am talking about. The one word resolution instead of making real resolutions. Nope not interested. That was so yesterday." Or are you the one thinking, "I have goals or facelift ideas, but I don't need a new year to force me to state them or write them down."

You see, I would venture to guess many of you are on one of those tracks. The new year, schmew year, roll your eyes and cross your arms track. You see these donuts? Well I am eating another one! and I am going to keep eating them into the new year!

Ok I know I am taking it a little far, but this is the cynic attitude I have heard recently and I am here today to challenge you to maybe think twice. Even I was kind of on that track over the last two years when I morphed to my one word theme. For the record, I like the one word theme and if anyone was wondering my word for 2014 is "Content", but I also like the resolution theme and the goal theme and the "it's a new year and time to make some changes" theme. Or at least think about them anyway.

This morning Zeb and I did church at home. In fact, since Thanksgiving we have been doing church at home and watching Lifechurch.tv online. There hasn't been any real reason other than maybe just being too tired to actually dress ourselves and make it out the door by 9:30, so PJ's, french press coffee, and our couch have made a great alternative. There were three weeks of a series called "Fear Not" by Craig and this morning featured guest speaker, Christine Cain, in a one week series about the "Maker of Miracles". The four weeks have been both engaging and convicting. Sometimes I believe there are reasons the Lord has you visit other avenues to hear his word. I believe I needed to hear what was said over the last month.

So what does this have to do with the new year and whether or not you should consider making resolutions? Well there were a few themes to the series, but one that spoke so clearly to me. Small steps make big differences. The small things matter. The lull between the miracles are where the growth happens. The magic is only a moment, everything else is in the making.

2014 doesn't need to start with a laundry list of all the reasons you need to do better and be better. It doesn't need to include 10 things you will forget you were trying to accomplish by February. It doesn't need to be about letting your image, job, friends, or lack of dictate what defines 2014. However, I would challenge you to think about the coming year and what it could amount to. I would challenge you to think about what small changes could take place to make big differences in your world. And then call them what makes you comfortable.

If you wanna hear the cynic in me, I believe our society is falling apart because we have forgotten the value of small steps. We think goals for the new year are silly. We have become so incredibly unhealthy because we don't value the small things like a few minutes outdoors to get the heart pumping and moderating our intake of "the good stuff". We don't pick up the phone for an awkward 5 minute conversation with the long lost friend or relative in hopes of one day creating a special bond that will make 5 hours feel like 5 minutes. We don't stick out the small spaces or old things until we can afford the bigger and better. Instead, we go broke dying to keep up with the Jones' or the crowd on Facebook. I am not preaching here folks, these are all things I need to hear too.

I recently attended the funeral of a man I never knew. His son is good friends with my husband, but I never actually met him. However, as I sat in that sanctuary for almost 2 hours I learned a lot through the stories of people that loved him. There were two common themes in his service. He worked hard and you never doubted the love he had for his family or anyone who crossed his path. He greeted everyone with a big smile and a firm handshake. He loved talking on the phone with people to check in on them. He valued the time with his family and made special memories through things that required more than an electronic source. Friends, I believe he knew the value of smalls steps and big differences. I wanted to know that man by the time I left that church.

Two more things I came across recently through social media and then I am closing it up.

"I hope you press talk more than you press send this year."

"Relative gather from across the country to stare at screens together."

It may seem as if nothing I just wrote goes together, but I believe it is a ripple effect. The apathetic ripple of not needing to write down a resolution has drifted into our everyday life. We have less heart and motive behind our actions because we are consumed with things that are temporary.  

All I am trying to encourage is a more intentional thought process for the new year. I am encouraging you to write down some resolutions and when you are doing it to know that it is today and this small step of putting the pen to the paper that could make the big difference for 2014. 

Happy New Year!

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!

My goodness! Where did 6 weeks go?? Every week I have been meaning to get on and write and everytime it seems I find something else to absorb my time. So lets re-cap the last few weeks!

1. Shortly after my last post we found out what we are having! See below for more.
2. The very next day we took off to Phoenix for 11 days where we watched one of my very best friends get married, spent time with my family, held a baby shower for my sister, and watched all the boys jump out of a plane!
3. The first weekend in December we watched our poor OSU Cowboys lose to OU! BOO! But finished off the night with painting the nursery!
4. Two days later we welcomed Zeb's friend and his wife into our home for 4 days and finished that weekend with Christmas parties and baking!
5. The very next week was spent with working a half week and making our way to Oklahoma to do an in-law Christmas. The weather ruined the plans I was looking forward to most, The Christmas Train, but we got plenty of time with the family and left with a new jogging stroller, Trisha Yearwood cookbook, a few new OSU baby clothes, and Zeb's golf travel bag!
6. That brings us to this week, which has been mostly work. Once Zeb and I got off work on Christmas we opened our presents to eachother and then did a google hangout with my family in Phoenix to open the remaining presents from each other. P.S. if you haven't checked out Google hangout and you have family far away, I highly recommend it! It is wonderful. I was pretty excited about my new kitchen items: pyrex dishes, cast iron set, Ninja blender, and the most recent Pioneer Woman cookbook. Not to mention the heart rate watch I have been wanting, a few gift cards to my favorite places(Target and Starbucks), and a prenatal massage with Pedicure! Zeb's Christmas theme was Golf, so he ended up with this cool golf swing analyzer, a net to practice with, some new OSU balls and tees, along with an OSU hat for him and baby, and some new jeans! I would say we are pretty darn blessed! We finished off the night with a nice church service on Lifechurch.tv and a big ole' ham, scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole, deviled eggs and rolls. And yes it was way too much food for the two of us so now we have dinner...and lunch...and maybe even breakfast for the rest of the week!

There you have it! 6 weeks of updates that have been crazy busy and super wonderful. I have found myself lately in this constant state of wanting to freeze time. I don't want to lose this time or forget it and so instead I'm sad when it's over because I just know it will never be this way again.

Example: I was a little sad to be spending Christmas, yet again, by ourselves. Just the two of us. However, with a baby on the way I also knew it would more than likely never be this way again. For at least the next 18 years and then some it will never be JUST the two of us again. I used that as my incentive to soak it in.

 I can hardly believe we are under a week away from 2013 closing. There is so much to look forward to in 2014! So with that I hope everyone had a Merry, Merry Christmas and looks forward to a Happy New Year!!

26 Weeks!!

This week, baby is the size of a: Cauliflower or Cucumber depends which app you ask :)

Due date: April 1, 2014

How far along: 26 weeks

Next appointment: January 14th and then from there we go to every two weeks! 

Gender: It's a BOY!!

Total weight gain/loss: 28 pounds! Yikes!

Stretch marks: Nothing new that I have noticed. I just got this excellent creme. It smells wonderful and I hope it works! Let me tell you though, if I end up without them then every pregnant woman in America should invest in this creme because I am destined to have stretch marks!

Swelling: Not too bad. I know my face feels puffier and maybe I am seeing a little bit, but nothing too out of control.

Maternity clothes: I need more! Badly! Shopping this week!  

Belly button: It just kinda looks smashed from stretching, but not poking at all. 

Sleep: Hit or miss. Some nights I sleep great, other nights it's awful.  

Food cravings/aversions: Nothing out of the ordinary. This time of year I always want lots of good treats and it is no different. 

Movement: He moves quite a bit these days. However, it seems everytime I want him to move he quits. Stubborn already! 

Wedding ring: Still fits great! Hoping that lasts!

What I miss: Being able to go and go and go without much complaining. Yesterday I was in the kitchen for 3 hours and I am not kidding my feet felt like someone had put pins in the bottom of them by the end.  

What I'm loving: The slow accumulation of baby stuff. We haven't gotten far, but it is exciting every time we do.    

What I'm looking forward to: Baby showers with the people I love and seeing others I haven't seen in a while! We have 4 on the calendar over the next two months! So blessed!

Best moment this week: Probably last week's doctor appt. Just to hear his heartbeat again and know how close we are getting to him being here.  

Milestones: Passed my Glucose and got a name! Grady Cole Austin, we can't wait to meet you!