Bodhi's One!

I can’t even believe I am already writing this post, my baby is ONE!

I have dreamed of this moment for years, and it has always seemed so far away.

The last year had flown by, but it has also encompassed so much physical, emotional and mental change that it seems like it’s been a lifetime.

The beginning of my postpartum journey was really challenging, (for reasons I have yet to discuss publicly) and it was super lonely. I was moving through so much as a new mom, caring for my brand new baby with virtually no support expect for my sweet Husband, that had to go back to work at 4 weeks. Luckily, I met some incredible Mama friends with babes the same age as Bodhi and they have offered me an immense amount of support over the last 12 months.

Becoming Bodhi’s Mama has been the absolute best gift ever, and by far the most incredible thing my Husband and I have ever done.

Watching him grow, explore, and view the world with wonder and excitement is something I will never get over.

I know many Moms say that having a baby is the biggest blessing, but it honestly has been. Over the last year (and even the 10 months I was pregnant before that) I have been able to see myself in a new light. I have been able to shed layers, people, and things that simply no longer serve me. I have been able to get rid of body image issues I had for 20 years, and finally see my body for the incredible, beautiful, and resilient thing that it is. I have been able to shift my mentality from work-work-work and do-do-do to be-be-be.

Thanks to Bodhi life now is all about BE-ing more, and DO-ing less.

Putting my phone down, canceling meetings and working less so that I can be fully present for my family.

It’s been a beautiful journey - albeit there were lots of tears and lessons - it has been beautiful.

Thank you B for choosing me to be your Mama.

Photo By JOntel Chere

Letter to my baby boy...

Sharing a few snippets from a letter I wrote to my baby boy…

Baby Boy,

Thank you for choosing me to be your Mom. I have prayed for you all my life, and can not wait to meet you earth side very soon. You and I are already so connected, and I will miss having you so safe & close to me.

Being your Mom is the greatest blessing of my life, and I already feel so connected to you. I can not wait to see our connection blossom and grow. I promise to do my best to guide you, protect you, and love you. 

My only wish for you is that you find true happiness within yourself, and you share that happiness and joy with the world. The world desperately needs more joy and kindness, and I can already tell your little soul is the kindest, most gentle soul I’ve ever known.

I can not wait to meet you in a few weeks or days…we are ready when you are.

All my love,

Mom

Photo By Jontel Chere

6 Pregnancy Must Haves

As I near the end of my pregnancy {but like how am I already 9 months pregnant?!?} I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite “must have” pregnancy items!

I have a lot of Mama’s and Mama’s-to-be to read my blog, so I hope some of these items will come in handy for you!

My Top Pregnancy Must Buys

1. This pregnancy pillow has been everythinggg the past 9 months. It helps to take pressure off my low back and my belly now that baby is almost fully grown.

2. My favorite prenatal vitamin, I talk more about this HERE

3. This lotion is clean, non-toxic and is verified by the EWG. Not only do I feel safe using this lotion during pregnancy, but it is so hydrating on my skin it’s the go-to lotion for my whole family! We will be using the unscented version of this lotion on Baby Boy.

4. Living in South Florida, shorts are a must…even in February! These jean shorts have been my favorite this pregnancy, and I swear I wear them weekly.

5. As a yoga teacher I live in leggings, they are my go-to and that hasn’t changed at all during pregnancy. I personally love the Zelle pregnancy leggings from Nordstrom and the BLANQI pregnancy leggings. They both feel so supportive on my bump without being too constricting. I also found two awesome alternatives for you under $20 if that’s more in your budget.

6. I like to keep my wardrobe fairly simple and neutral, and then add a jacket, jewelry or handbag to change up the look. These simple maternity tee’s have been essential during my pregnancy, and have allowed me to feel somewhat put together (ie: no belly showing) in the last few weeks.

These are a few of the items that I find myself reaching for on the daily or weekly during my pregnancy! I hope they help you sleep better, feel fabulous, and stay hydrated during your pregnancy.

Photo By Jontel Chere

these are commissionable links, and I will receive a small commission when you click and purchase from them. This post is not sponsored or affiliated with any of these companies, I only share products I actually use and love. Thank you for supporting my small business.

A healthy approach to the glucose tolerance test

We are days away from the 3rd trimester and the 7 month mark (yay!)…but you know what that means…glucose tolerance test time.

Honestly, I was dreading this test even before I got pregnant. The ingredients and chemicals in the glucose drink they provide you are scary! I would never put those ingredients (or 50 grams of sugar) in my body pre-pregnancy…so why should I put them in now that I am pregnant? It doesn’t make any sense to me.

keep in mind that 50 grams of glucose = 12.5 teaspoons of sugar, sounds great right?!?

I am a huge fan of patient advocacy, and so at my 6 month check in I spoke with my Doctor about the Fresh Test glucose mix I found. I had to show pictures and explain that the Fresh Test is FDA registered as an equivalent product for this test. I went in with all my stats, and honestly wasn’t going to leave until she said yes (I’m the best patient haha), but to my surprise she agreed right away! It was much easier than I expected, and I was instantly relieved.

A question that comes up often is “do I have to do the glucose tolerance test” and the answer is no. All testing is up to you, although I would highly recommend working with your Doctor or a qualified medical team when making these decisions. It is your body, your choice. Personally for me my regular glucose level is well under 80 and my A1C is about 4.5, so I am not overly worried about gestational diabetes. That being said, our bodies change so much during pregnancy and even though I monitor my levels every few weeks it was important for me to do this test to be proactive for my baby and ensure he is healthy and safe. I always recommend doing your research and listening to your intuition. Once I found the Fresh Test I felt much more comfortable with the glucose tolerance test, knowing I was not inundating myself and my baby with unnecessary chemicals.

The Fresh Test only has 4 active ingredients, compared to a laundry list in the typical glucose drink. The Fresh Test also has a board of physicians who have overseen and worked on this product to make it as safe as possible for you and your baby. You can learn more about the Fresh Test HERE.

I posted my whole journey with the glucose tolerance test earlier today, and you can check it out in my Instagram stories.

The Fresh Test was very sweet but didn’t actually taste bad, it had a very subtle and mild flavor to it. The toughest part for me was waiting for the blood draw. The 50 grams of glucose gave me a huge spike in my blood sugar, causing me to be jittery and overall just uncomfortable. I’m sure baby boy was feeling it too. Interesting insight - insulin does not cross the placenta but glucose does!

After the test (so one hour after drinking the glucose drink) I felt exhausted, super run down, and ready for a nap. It was my body signaling that the spike in glucose was dropping and I was about to crash.

My biggest tips after the glucose tolerance test are:

• drink your greens - they will help to balance your blood sugar levels

• have a snack ready to go in your car as soon as your blood work is complete

• the snack should include: fiber & protein

• avoid sugar for the rest of the day

Sugar is a drug, and once you give the body some…okay more like 50 grams… your body will continue to crave more and more sugar. So if you had a sugary treat post glucose tolerance test, your blood glucose levels would spike back up, only to drop again a little while later. Sugar is not only a drug in our bodies, it actually creates more acidity in our system - essentially creating a more desirable place for disease and illness to thrive, awesome. That’s why I always recommend a high fiber and high protein snack after the glucose tolerance test. Protein and fiber will help your body eliminate this extra glucose, regulate your blood sugar levels, and curb any sugar cravings you may get.

Here are a few ideas of high protein and high fiber snacks:

Mary’s Crackers and guacamole

Veggies and hummus

Dried Apricots and almonds

RX Bar

Protein shake with chia seeds

Along with a snack I would recommend drinking plenty of water to flush out your system, 100 oz would be my goal. Lastly, if you have time sneak in a quick power nap after you eat to help reset the body!

Take aways… don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself, this is your body and your baby. Have a healthy snack on hand to eat right after your test, so your can begin to balance your blood sugar levels and avoid a sugar hangover.

This post is in no way sponsored by Fresh Test, these are simply my own thoughts and opinions as a Certified Holistic Nutritionist and Mama-to-be.