Quick Healthy Recipes for Pregnant Women Or Those of us that Need Something Easy

Quick Healthy Recipes 

Dinner: MELT IN YOUR MOUTH CHICKEN- you can make this with chicken breasts or tenders.  Ingredients you'll need for the chicken: 4 boneless/skinless chicken breasts, 1 cup plain greek yogurt (I used Oikos), 1/2 cup parmesan cheese - grated, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper. Preheat oven to 375.  Combine in a bowl the greek yogurt, parmesan, and all other ingredients.  Line baking sheet with foil. Coat each breast or tender thickly with the mixture (i used clean fingers and a spoon).  Bake in the oven for 45 minutes.  If they are tenders depending on how big they are, you'll have to cook them for less time, keep an eye on them and cut into one and make sure the chicken is completely cooked through.  Artichoke is easy to make in a big pot with a little water or you can steam them (they are a little time consuming but i was craving them). Delish! A must try recipe.  Make the chicken early in the morning and then just preheat the oven and cook it when you get home from work! Simple!

Dinner: Lemon Rosemary Salmon. I bought fresh salmon from Ralphs, through it on a skillet with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, a whole lemon juiced on top, a couple shakes of dried rosemary, 1/2 tablespoon of fresh minced garlic, and salt to taste. I used Tj's 3 minute microwavable frozen brown rice and added on olive oil butter spray (ralphs) and fat free parmesean with salt and pepper to taste.  A side spinach salad with fresh feta cheese, fresh peaches (because they are delicious, hubbys favorite fruit, and are in season).  You can use any dressing you'd like but I used a homemade recipe: 

Dressing recipe: 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, 1/2 cup olive oil, 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, dried basil, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 1 tablespoon dijon mustard (you can always add 1 tablespoon of honey as well if you like a sweeter taste).  Shake in a jar until all ingredients are mixed well and keep refridgerated  

Dinner: Tader Joes does it again! I bought their frozen "Linguine with Pesto and Tomatoes". It comes in a red bag in the frozen section.  All you do is heat and serve! It takes 7 minutes max on the stove with a little added olive oil.  I decided to add in some chicken (shredded off the bone from a rotisserie chicken i bought that week for easy healthy meals) and fresh sun dried tomatos. I cooked them in a separate pot on the stove top (i try not to use the microwave if possible) with Fresh pesto sauce (Trader Joes also sells this over where they keep hummus). The one i buy is called "Trader Giotto's Genova Pesto".  I also added in a little fresh minced garlic and stirred it around until everything was heated.  I then added it into the pesto linguine mix. I purchased this Tomato Olive bread from TJ's as well and heated it for a couple seconds to just keep it warm. I made a simple side salad with fresh green apples, mediterranean feta (from TJ's) with baby spinach and a homemade dressing. 

Dressing recipe: 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, 1/2 cup olive oil, 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, dried basil, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 1 tablespoon dijon mustard (you can always add 1 tablespoon of honey as well if you like a sweeter taste).  Shake in a jar until all ingredients are mixed well and keep refridgerated  

Dinner or Lunch: I made this for dinner after coming across the recipe one evening while shopping at Traders.  I purchased their roasted frozen corn, organic canned black beans, three cheese mexican blend, fresh tomatos, romaine lettuce, green bell pepper, i added spinach to make it even healtheir, and instead of their cilantro creamy dressing that they sell i used lemon juice and tapatio hot sauce for a kick.  Trader's sells THEE BEST marinated carne asada so all you do is throw it on the grill. Its ready fairely quickly.  This left us with a ton of left overs. You can eat it as a salad or a taco or mix it into a burrito later in the week.  We ate it with a side of corn/wheat mixed small tortillas from Ralphs (They're a corn and whole wheat combination.. theyre really soft and yummy!). Id usually use brown rice tortillas or whole wheat but we wanted to try these out.  Serve with a side of light sour cream or greek yogurt.

35 Weeks Pregnant

35 Weeks Pregnant

Baby bump at 35 weeks

Comparison of the baby belly at 5 weeks, 25 weeks, and 35 weeks pregnant

Front view of the prego belly

How far along: 35 Weeks pregnant, almost 9 Months Pregnant (one week away)!

Weight Gain: 21 lbs (gained +.9 lbs this week)

Stretch Marks: none

Belly Button: OUT

Wedding Rings On/Off:  On

Movement: Yes still very very active.. during the day and especially at night. Sometimes his movement hurt.

Feeling: Really good still!!! So grateful to have had such an easy pregnancy thus far.

Mood: really happy still. extremely grateful. enjoying every moment of being pregnant and appreciating our family of two for this last month.. then we'll be a family of three!

Cravings: chocolate. chocolate. chocolate. Its bizarre but the only sweets i want now is chocolate.  I also sort of craved a burger this week (i satisfied this craving by having a bite of my hubbies one night at dinner, i had chiptole prawn tacos instead).

Symptoms: Still a little acid reflux (burning in my throat) but not really that intense, and hasnt led to that dreaded heart burn a lot of mommies talk about. Im still eating spicy foods, late at night, and big meals and havent had too much of a problem yet. I have a numbness on my right upper rib under my right breast. I read this is common for a lot of moms and its just my uterus pressing up against my other organs  cramming them.  It can also be your skin streching but i dont think thats the case with me, it doesnt feel tight up there just yet, theres still room. The belly is growing by the DAY! Im getting BIGGG! Especially after meals.  Im hungry in the mornings especially now.  

Pre labor signs:  I have had cramps in my lower abdomen (on the right side only by my hip) twice this week while doing cardio (not braxton hicks, not contractions).  It sort of feels like its stretching, like a pulled muscle (but it doesnt feel like round ligament pain).  I also have had this pinching, sharp, tickly feeling in my cervix area (kind of feels like scratching almost). I've had that three days in a row this week. Its getting harder to walk, each step i take i have the urge to pee (its not going away even after i do use the restroom). So i think his head is going lower and lower.

Missing: being small, i feel huge! But im just enjoying it and trying not to think about how difficult its getting to find something i feel like wearing that also fits!, it will all be over and we'll have our little boy in our arms soon enough!

Looking Forward to: Our next dr's visit. Its on monday. Maybe we will be able to check if im effaced or dialated at all? We shall see!

Sleep: its the same. I wake up at least 2 times for bathroom trips. (2-3 most nights now). I drink a ton of water at night, this is probably part of the blame. I aim for over 8 glasses a day. I'd like to hit 12 but most of the time I reach 10.

Exercise: still going strong. . This week I did 2 light weight training days, and 6 days of moderate cardio. With the urge to pee, crampy feelings two days this week, and that numb heavy leg pain in my right leg it is definitely getting harder to push myself to complete a good work out but im sticking to it until my body tells me otherwise. I've slowed down a lot during cardio, I take as many breaks as needed, and during weights i've gone down a couple lbs the last few weeks. 

Update: Im on maternity leave, its official!!!! So this week my to do list is to: have carseat installed (make an appointment with fire department to show us the correct safe way).  Pack and collect all things for the hospital bag for myself, baby, and my husband.  Clean the house (deep clean).  Wash all of the babies clothes. Purchase his glider and dresser. Start planning meals i can cook and freeze for the first 2 weeks after hes here (most women dont feel like cooking or have the time to those first few weeks).  Get my car recalls done (doing that today).  Get my husbands car cleaned out as well as my trunk. Make sure all insurance stuff is taken care of for me and the baby. Those are my "musts" this week.

Count down: FULL TERM IN 2 WEEKS!!!! Due in 5! Which means he could come safely any time between 2-5 weeks from now!

Honeymoon in St. Lucia

Honeymooning in St. Lucia:

Caribbean Island Honeymoon-

Watch this quick cute clip I put together of all the footage i managed to take on our Honeymoon in September (2012). We stayed at the Sandals Grande St. Lucian. It was a perfect getaway to say the least! I took mostly pictures, but here is a glimpse of a teeny bit of video fun that i captured...




Honeymoon in St. Lucia from tessa armstrong on Vimeo.
We cannot wait to go back one day! We had so much fun and will never forget the memories we made there on this beautiful Caribbean island.

Until next time.. <3



(St. Lucia Grande Sandals Resort is an all inclusive couples resort.. check it out here: http://www.sandals.com/main/grande/gl-home.cfm)

34 Weeks Pregnant Update

34 Weeks Pregnancy Update:

Oh my goodness..this belly has POPPED!!! 

Pretty neat comparison: 4 weeks, 24 weeks, and 34 weeks pregnant!

Its fun to find comfy and cute clothes to dress the bump, but im definitely excited to one day soon be able to just throw something on and not have to worry about it being uncomfortable, hot, or show my belly. 

How far along: 34 weeks! 8.5 Months Pregnant!

Weight Gain: 20 lbs (he had a growth spurt this week...hence the HUGE BUMP)

Stretch Marks: none

Belly Button: OUT

Wedding Rings On/Off:  On

Movement: ALL THE TIME! He is starting to kick or elbow or knee my sides (not sure which body part of his it is but its something pointy!) and ill feel a little foot or something sticking out of my left side about a half an inch (You can even see it poking out).. pretty neat!

Feeling: Really good! im waiting for the week that I feel miserable and am dying to get this little guy out.. hasnt happened yet but people keep telling me its going to come! So far my comfortability level is about the same. Its hard to bend down, and my lungs are squished so it makes it tough to get a deep breath in (sometimes i feel light headed or like im going to pass out/nauseas from lack of oxygen)

Mood: really happy. extremely grateful. enjoying every moment

Cravings: chocolate. sweets! Ive been loving trader joe's dark chocolate covered pretzle thins, and cookie dough! Yum!

Symptoms: same... a little acid reflux (burning in my throat) but not really that intense, and hasnt led to that dreaded heart burn a lot of mommies talk about. Im still eating spicy foods, late at night, and big meals and havent had too much of a problem yet. (crossing my fingers!). Hungrier lately, maybe hes just getting nice and plump! They say the last trimester is when you really need to up your caloric intake. I  dont track or count calories so I am just eating whenever im hungry and trying (as best as  pregnant woman can) to eat healthy for the most part. I've also been getting leg cramps (charlie horses) in my calf when im sleeping, ill wake up from stretching my calf because of the pain (this is a common complaint of a lot of preggos).

Missing: muscle tone. when youre pregnant because of water weight, lose ligaments (due to hormones), and added cushion,keeping muscle tone up is a challenge. I stil have muscle, but im definitely softer than im used to.

Looking Forward to: Our next dr's visit. Its not this monday but the following. Maybe we will be able to check if im effaced or dialated at all? Im also really looking forward to going on maternity leave (just one week left of work!). Although i have a couple clients ill be doing phone sessions/skype with most likely here and there.

Sleep: its the same. I wake up at least 2 times for bathroom trips.

Exercise: still going strong. Im just taking it one day at a time. This week I did 2 light weight training days, and 6 days of moderate cardio.

4D Ultrasound

31 Weeks Pregnant: 4D Ultrasound

Heres a short clip of sort of what it looks like in 4D to see them moving around. Here is our little boy trying to eat his own umbilical cord. Haha. (we didnt add in the cheesy music, that just comes with the dvd 'Picture An Angel' gives you)

I couldn't believe we got to see his little face!!!! This was a few weeks ago now but it still amazes me and I still look at his pictures almost every single day. I cannot wait to meet you my precious little boy! I highly recommend you getting a 4d ultrasound if you are contemplating it. It helped my husband and family members to bond with the cute little man growing inside my belly. It was so sweet to see him in action and definitely made my hubby and I fall even more in love with him! He is just the most precious thing I have ever seen and I cannot believe he is all ours and will be here so soon! 

Count down:

3 1/2 weeks til im full term!

6 1/2 weeks until im due! 

33 Week Pregnancy Update

33 Week Pregnancy UPdate

Baby bump

Belly comparison, from 13 weeks, to 23 weeks, to 33 weeks!

Most normal length shirts show a little of the belly so I have to constantly tug on them and pull them down. But im making due for now and not going to buy any maternity clothes.

Front view

How far along: 33 weeks! 8 Months Pregnant!

Weight Gain: just about 19 lbs gained (18.8 lbs)

Stretch Marks: none

Belly Button: OUT

Wedding Rings On/Off:  On

Movement: ALL THE TIME! I love feeling him moving around in there, it never ever gets old! His movements are so crazy to watch from the outside. Some of them are starting to hurt when his little feet feel like they are trying to stretch outside of my skin!

Feeling: Really good still. I have had a few more days this week of feeling really tired and an afternoon nap is always calling my name, although i never take naps.  I should probably start to!

Mood: really happy. I love pregnancy still. I know this will most likely change in the next couple weeks as i get even more uncomfortable but so far this journey has been one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I am so so happy to have this great joy and blessing growing inside of me and get to share that with my husband and family/friends.

Symptoms: same as last week (one day when i had a little heart burn but nothing too bad, didnt even take a tum).  Newest symptom is being out of breathe... my lungs are squished and and i have moments when i just cant seem to get enough air and almost feel nauseas, hot sweats, and like im going to pass out. I havent had any trouble with not being able to breathe during cardio (which i find interesting) but lifting light weights is becoming a challenge due to lack of oxygen.

Missing: a flat tummy.. its summer so thats probably why

Looking Forward to: meeting our little man

Sleep: its the same. I wake up at least 2 times for bathroom trips still.

Exercise: still going strong. I am tired and get that darn leg heaviness in my right leg so its getting more difficult but still able to keep it up one day at a time (:  This week so far ive done 4 days of cardio and 1 day of light weights ( ill probably do cardio today or tomorrow, so lets just say 5 days).

UPdate: Our Dr.'s visit went amazingly!  The ultrasound was a nice long one, we check out all of our little guys oregons, his weight, his height, and my amniotic fluid. On Tuesday he was measuring 4.5 lbs, we were told he has realllllly long legs (thank you daddy), and my amniotic fluid is 14 (they like it to be anywhere between 10 and 20, so im right in the middle. which is great). The baby's heart rate was perfect, his four chambers in his heart are healthy, his kidneys, lungs, diaphragm, bones (in his arms and legs), his brain, and his bladder all looked PERFECT according to the ultrasound technician and the Dr.  YAAAAY! AMEN PRAISE JESUS! THank you Father for a healthy baby! Oh and his weiner is still there (:

They said i probably slowed down in weight gain because i have a small frame and am a small person, so im going to do my best not to worry from now on (: 

I'd like to add something special:  I just wanted to say how blessed I have felt these past few months to carry this beautiful angel in my womb. I anticipated pregnancy would be much harder to cope with all of the changes and my bodys transformation. I really feel grateful for a healthy little boy and to be able to conceive and carry a baby 9 whole months.  I feel beautiful and have embraced all that my body has become to sustain this little mans life and continue to keep him safe and healthy. I never knew what it would be like to be pregnant, what itd feel like, or how id cope with all of the changes... and i believe i had a negative outlook on how hard itd be.. so going into this i didnt really know what to expect but i can say now that this is truly the best experience of my life, its given me a whole new purpose, a new reason to wake up and have joy each day and treat myself well because im nurturing my son through doing so. I feel connected to God, our creator, in such a wonderful way, as well as my husband who created this tiny person with me.  I cannot wait to meet our son and experience what its like to become a mother.  So to all you pregnant women out there I hope that you take every day as a gift, knowing that some women who cant carry a child would trade places with you any day, and this truly is the most wonderful joy that God has given us with our spouse.  We have made a life with our soul mate and with our Lord.. thats pretty spectacular!

Count down:  FULL TERM IN LESS THAN 4 WEEKS! Due in less than 7!! 

32 Week Pregnancy Update

32 Weeks Pregnancy Update: 

Baby Bump Comparisons from 12 weeks, 22 weeks and 32 weeks pregnant. Amazing to see the growth and how our bodies just know what to do! 

Tummy Shots: 32 Weeks Pregnant

I always post the bare belly, but i thought id share what it looks like in every day clothes so here are a couple of my OOTD

32 Week Pregnancy Update:

How far along: 32 weeks! 8 Months Pregnant!

Weight Gain: 18.3 lbs gained so far

Stretch Marks: none

Belly Button: OUT

Wedding Rings On/Off:  On

Movement: ALL THE TIME! I love feeling him moving around in there, it never ever gets old! He is such a night owl, around 9 oclock he gets going and doesnt stop until around 12ish and then finally settles down. I know im going to miss this. I love having him with me at all times (:

Feeling: Really great actually. I have a day or two in the week when the exhaustion catches up with me but im not complainin.  I still have a ton of energy! Im trying to get everything done ahead of time so those last few weeks i can just relax. Im beginning to shop for things ill need for my hospital bag (i can do a post on this later).  And getting all his diapers sorted, putting together his swing, stroller, etc.  Theres just so much left to do! I need to order a glider still, a breast pump, wash all of his clothes (any suggestions for detergents you like for babies are welcome!), and the list goes on  and on. We also need to decide where we will be moving when our lease is up in September (a month and half after hes here! Ugh moving with a newborn does not sound fun).

Mood: really happy. I love pregnancy! i couldnt say that in the first trimester but the second and third have been an incredible experience i wouldnt trade for anything. I feel so good and so thankful. I havent had any moody moments as of late (thank you hormones for giving my husband a break lol). Ive had a great pregnancy thus far with no real complications aside from extreme nausea in the beginning.  I love having a bump. Its fun to dress even though its getting way more challenging as of late due to my shirts being so short. I stick with wearing mostly non maternity clothes (dresses, maxi skirts, longer shirts, and just having fun with it).

Symptoms: heart burn a couple times a week but its not unbearable and i havent really had to take anything other than a couple times i had a few Tums.  Im starting to have difficulty wearing normal bras (underwire is just a no no now). They dig into my rib cage while im sitting because my uterus has taken over my entire tummy and pushes up against my ribs. Its making it harder to breathe but its mostly just when i sit down. I get leg cramps when im sleeping if i point my toes to stretch my leg really quick (feels sort of like a charlie horse, OUCH!). Its hard to bend down now and get out of bed. I have to roll to the side to avoid using my abs (which hurt from my tummy stretching).  Other than that i feel the same and have no new symptoms.

Missing: being able to lay on my tummy and cuddle my hubby close (we have a huge belly in the way of us now). ahah. I miss just doing normal things like bending down easily and getting out of bed without having to roll to the side like a whale hahah.

Looking Forward to: our drs visit on tuesday..we get an ultrasound  to measure his growth thus far. i love seeing him! Its also always reassuring to have the Dr check everything out and tell me he looks "Perfect".  Speaking of which, we went to a 4D place last sunday and got to see our little cutie pies face! Ill share a few pics in another post! These are too cute and too neat to miss!

Sleep: its the same. Its hard to put myself to bed when my mind starts racing with a thousand things i need to do (pay a bill, clean the dishes, make my husbands lunch, fold clothes, you name it).  And when my husband wakes up at 630am for school it wakes me up no matter how quiet he is and its so hard for me to fall back asleep.  I also wake up 2-3 times a night for bathroom trips depending on how tired i am or how much water i had right before bed (thats when i down a bottle or so to make sure im hitting 10-12 glasses a day).

Exercise: still doing moderate cardio 5 days a week and 1-2 days of light weights. This week i managed to get in all of my cardio and 2 days of weight training woohoo! Every time i finish a work out i am proud of myself. At 8 months i wasnt sure how i would hold up and some days are so hard to get started but i just tell myself "do what you can and be proud of yourself for how ever little or much it is" and i end up doing pretty well at the end of it.

UPdate: we finished our preparation for childbirth class this past wednesday! We did learn a lot and mostly took away tools for Coach (dad) to use to help the woman in labor (relaxation techniques like guided imagery and breathing tools). It was worth the money.  I feel a lot more ease going into this, especially knowing my husband is also so prepared and educated.  Next on the list, we start our infant safety class in two weeks!