A few of my favorite things: pregnancy edition

I will be celebrating thirty one weeks of blissful pregnancy this weekend. Okay, so not every moment of this pregnancy has been blissful. The back aches, weight gain, leg and foot cramps, bladder infections, fatigue, contractions... Oh I'll stop there. All these things don't always make me want to jump for joy that I'm preggers, but once I see this baby's face, hand, foot, leg, heart beat on that sonogram I am reminded that this little guy growing inside of me is truly a miracle. I am truly blessed and I am eternally grateful to be able to carry a healthy baby. In the moments in which I find myself lamenting my current condition and wishing for a cure for my ailments, these are the things I have reached for and found comfort in...even if it's only a few moments of comfort.

Preggie Pop hard candies: I loved these things when I was pregnant with N and was very glad to find them for my pregnancy with Baby #2.They truly relieved pregnancy nausea for me. Even it if it was a temporary relief it was relief nonetheless.





Mama Mio Tummy Rub Oil: I started lathering this oil on from day one...even before I started showing. It smells good, it feels good and I believe it works. Even though it's a bit on the pricey side, it's worth it!!





Loving Comfort Maternity Support Belt: "Loving Comfort" is definitely the right name for this support belt. At week 26 my back started caving due the extra weight of carrying the baby. After searching the web and local stores I found this one. I could not run fast enough to the store to get this!!! It can be worn comfortably under your clothes and does not irritate your skin. It truly does provide extra support. I am glad the clerk at the store gave me a quick tutorial on how to put it on because it does consist of three pieces and could be confusing to put on w/o help.


Kathy Smith's Pregnancy Work Out (Circa 1980's!)
Okay, so this is where I say don't judge a book by it's cover. I know the leotard work out clothes, mall bangs and colored tube socks SCREAM 1980's! The maternity rap song Kathy and her girls perform is even more hysterical (think Super Bowl Shuffle), but the work out is great. It's just the right amount of intensity and challenge you need while pregnant. Kathy's energy is great and her instructions are impeccable. Monitoring your heart rate when exercising while pregnant is really important. There are two segments built into the video that show you how to calculate your heart rate and even time you so you do it with the video.

Another exercise video I like is also from the 80's (think mauve decor and biker shorts). This one is Buns of Steel: Pregnancy and Post Pregnancy Workout. The instructor in this one (Madeleine Lewis) has done some choreography for Kathy Smith's videos. If you've done any of Kathy's videos it's pretty obvious that she uses quite a few of the same movements in her videos that have been used in Kathy's, but it's still a good video. Madeleine has a little bit more of a dance routine to her workout, so they can be a little tricky the first time through, but she's good at talking you through them. Once you get the routine it's fun to dance/workout along with her.

One last video I really like is a Prenatal Yoga with Shiva Rea. I am currently forbidden from exercising per my doctor... Ugh. However, I have been doing this yoga tape from time to time because it's mostly stretching and very low impact, fluid movements. This tape is relaxing, easy to follow and helps to ease some of the aches and pains of pregnancy.






Other than that, I am thankful for Caffeine Free Diet Coke, Cheese It's, Ghiradelli 60% chocolate chips and my body pillow, which at this point, gets more cuddle time than my hubby.