Baby Shower numero uno

My business friends, who are all wedding vendors, attended a baby shower hosted by Jay and Andrea at their lovely home in Sedona. Andrea, owner of Sedona Cake Couture, created my wedding cake (best cake ever) and I have the opportunity to photograph her cakes often. This cake was a miniature of the cake she made on The Food Network recently (show airs later this year) where she won second place in their mystery cake challenge. VERY COOL! Katrina Wallace of Sedona Bride took this shot for me :)

GREEN SMOOTHIES

OH oh, I've got to tell you about GREEN smoothies... they are the best. I've been eating so much Kale and collard greens it's ridiculous. I read this book, Green for Life, which talks about all the benefits of green leafy vegetables and how we humans don't eat enough ... so the magic solution, because otherwise greens require cooking, which can lead to losing some nutrition, is to blend 4-5 leaves of any green (kale, collards, dandelions, romaine, spinach, NOT arugula) up in a blender with 8 oz juice + 2-4 oz water, (juice like apple, orange, grape-- preferably something without added sugars) and then add 1-2 bananas and slowly add 1-2 other pieces of fruit: mango, apple, kiwi, orange, pineapple whatever OR (1/2 cup to 1 cup frozen berries), it will appear green but taste like bananas and strawberries AND you are getting all the amino acids of GREEN leafy vegetables, which helps digestion, bowels, REDUCES GRAY HAIR, defies aging and promotes increased stomach acid and has helped people to have more energy and less craving for bad foods. The trick is to change your vegetables daily and mix up your fruits. Too much spinach or anything is never a good thing. Kate & Norm and Matt & I drink at least one a day, 16 oz, if not 32 oz. This way you never have to eat greens. It's great for kids, but start them slow because it can mess up their digestive systems if you add too much greens too fast. Sometimes kids want it to taste a little sweeter so I add a teaspoon or more of agave nectar (it's got way less glycemic index) or maple syrup. I have it for breakfast and it's quick, easy, portable and CHEAP. You can make them at night, shake them up in the AM and they are ready to go. They will keep 1-2 days in the fridge. TRY IT!! I'll post a photo.

Bigger at Trader Joe's

Candid shot by my friend Dawn as I search for wholesome foods....at Trader Joe's in Phoenix (ha! I'm looking for chocolate covered goodness). I promise to post soon about my new findings on painting the baby room and toxic chemicals, microwaves, baby friendly cleaning products, my rage at the episiotomy rate in the US, and my humorous home birth supply list.

Personal update: I'm 31 weeks -- PHEW... but still feeling great. Started cross-country skiing and have been having a blast with that. THINK SNOW! Had a 28 week ultra sound and everything checked out great. We ended up doing another one despite my slight concerns over the lack of research on ultrasounds. We did it because I came up at 20 weeks with low amniotic fluid (apparently a very objective measurement at 20 weeks) and at 28 weeks, I "felt" find to the midwives and measured perfectly with great weight gain. They felt confident I was fine, but it's always nice to have a medical reassurance. The baby weighs in at about 3 pounds 9 oz (educated guess by radiologist) and s/he is really beginning to look like a baby. It was my last ultrasound. The little bean is moving more now but seems to like one position best-- head down (thank goodness). I made it through all the holiday parties without a drop of alcohol but I am already looking forward to parties next year. I didn't however make it through the holidays without gaining some weight 6 pounds in two weeks. YIKES!! I gained 6 pounds in a month last time. OUCH! So I'm cutting the sugar, increasing the healthy stuff and even went swimming with Matt this week. I look hilarious in a swim suit-- I'll take a photo.

Recommendation of the week: support hose. I kid you not. If you stand a lot (or sit at the computer) and are pregnant, hose worn to the knee can really REALLY help with circulation and keeping the edema down. I love my Dansko clogs as a complimentary helper.

Less than 10 weeks to go.