FIRST TRIMESTER BUMPDATE with Q + A

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Well hello there! If we’re friends on Instagram or Facebook you may have heard the news that we’re expecting baby #3.

I announced at 10.5 weeks this time around which is the earliest I’ve announced but you guys, my bump is totally noticeable and I hated how I kept complaining that I was sooo tired on IG stories, ha. I even had a friend ask, “Why are you so tired all the time!!”

I know it’s a bit risky announcing before I’ve even heard a heartbeat (my first ultrasound is coming up on Tuesday) but I’m choosing not to fear and trust that baby is a-ok. The first trimester can do a number on your fear/anxiety but I keep telling myself that it is out of my control….which is so hard for me as a control freak but that’s what parenting is all about, letting go of control and trusting God. Yes you do the best you can for your child but we ultimately are not in control. They will grow up and become their own person and make their own decisions (which I reallllly don’t want to think about right now!!)

I thought it would be fun to do a Q+A with this pregnancy so I put it out on my instagram stories and here were some of your questions…

Will you find out the gender?

Yes!! When we talked about #3 I suggested that maybe we don’t find out this time but James veto-d that and we’re going to find out. I’m a planner, so finding out is what I usually do but we already have a boy and a girl so I thought a surprise tie-breaker might be fun. BUT I’m excited to find out around 20 weeks. I want to do a fun reveal again because London’s was so fun!!

Was this little one a planned pregnancy?

Yes it was fully planned! I wanted more than 2 kiddos. 4 would be amazing but honestly I think we’ll be done at 3 as I love working and don’t think I could commit to working and have 4 children. Also this pregnancy has been TOUGH with nausea and fatigue…don’t know how I could do that again with 3 kiddos.

Did you have any c-sections?

Nope! Both Luca and London were vaginally delivered. Here is Luca’s birth story and here is London’s. Both completely different births but beautiful in their own way. Hoping for another vaginal delivery (with an epidural of course!)

Any good prenatal vitamin recommendations?

Ha, I’m probably the worst at this because I have a huge problem swallowing pills so I just get gummy ones from Walmart. When I was pregnant with Luca, it was impossible to find them in Canada and I’d have to go to Target and stock up but thankfully these days I can find them anywhere!

FYI- Gummy ones don’t have iron in them…which usually is good for you if you are super sick as iron makes you more nauseous. I usually have an iron deficiency, so I’ll take a powder/liquid iron come second trimester (mine was making me sick first trimester).

Tips on catching your breath…I’m always out of breath.

Ha, I’m always out of breath so I’m no help! It’s usually the first sign how my friends can tell that I’m pregnant.

How have you been feeling?

August was a hard month. My nausea has gotten worse with each pregnancy so this pregnancy has been the hardest. I don’t puke but I’m constantly nauseous and very, very tired. I feel a bit better now that I’m nearing the second trimester. Hoping the nausea goes away for good soon!

How did you find out?

My cycles can be pretty irregular so we tried over a week window. I had a rough estimation of when I should test but I tested early because I always do ha. The first test was negative and I waited a few days and tested at night and there was a faint positive. The above pic was from the test from the next morning. I was almost 4 weeks when I found out.

Thank you for all your congratulations. We really are so thrilled to be expecting baby #3…and my sister is due 2.5 weeks ahead of me! How exciting!!!

XO,
Laura

WHAT I WANT TO TEACH MY DAUGHTER ABOUT BODY IMAGE

A SWIMSUIT BODY IS A BODY WITH A SWIMSUIT ON IT.

Wear the suit. Rock the bikini. Have fun at the beach this summer.

Because little eyes are watching. Little ears are listening and tuning in to not only what we say to other but what we say to ourselves.

I grew up hating my body. At 11 years old, some kid called me fat and I never looked at my body the same. I hated my body for years- through my teens, early twenties and a few years into my marriage.

Finally one day my husband called me out on it. I was speaking truth and love to many women and girls yet I spoke nothing of the sort over my own body.

After many months of fighting lies and speaking truth over myself, the self loathing went away and I finally started to love and was kind to the body I was in.
In more recent years, my body has stretched, shrunk and stretched again and if I'm not careful, those old lies try to make their way back into my mind. So I have to FIGHT back because I'm determined to teach this little lady to love her body.

And sometimes fighting means taking off the baggy shirt and rocking the swimsuit. So let's be brave together. Because London needs you, I need you and a whole world of little girls watching needs you too.

WHAT WE REALLY THINK OF OUR POLYSLEEP MATTRESS

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This post is in partnership with Polysleep but all opinions expressed are my own.

Fun fact about my husband and I. We’ve been sleeping on a double since we got married. YES. We slept on a double through not one but TWO of my pregnancies. We thought we would sleep on a double for life but as all you married people know, the honeymoon season fades and even though you loooove your husband, you also looooooove personal space when you sleep :p

So we upgraded to a queen!! We went with Polysleep and I’m so so glad!

THE MATTRESS:

Polysleep is 100% Canadian made mattress. It ships directly to your door in a box! It’s a pretty fun process to take it out and see it take shape. Our kids loved playing on it. The top layer is made of antimicrobial hybrid foam so it conforms to your body to identify and help relieve pressure points. It also helps regulate your body temperature!

OUR THOUGHTS:

So funny story…James was sooo skeptical when we first received the mattress!! He loved our old set-up (even though it was a double) and was not looking forward to trying a new mattress! They do warn you that it takes about 2 weeks for your body to get used to sleeping on the mattress. James’ body adjusted quicker and he loved it and then after about 2 weeks I started to love it as well.

Polysleep has an amazing 100 day trial where if you sleep on it for 100 days and don’t love it, you can get your money back!

We’ve been sleeping on it for over a month now and we are IN LOVE. It honestly is sooo comfy yet firm enough for our bad backs. I 100% recommend this mattress! And it’s Luca and London approved too!

USE CODE SSHEART to save $$$ off your mattress!

HEALTHY PEANUT BUTTER BITES

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Hello healthy peanut butter bites! These guys hit the spot when I needed something sweet during my no dessert lent.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 rolled oats
2 tbsp coconut oil
2 tbsp peanut butter
1/4 cup maple syrup
1tsp vanilla
1/2 cup almond flour
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 cup chocolate chips.

Directions:
1. Blend the oats in a blender until they become flour like.
2. Combine coconut oil, peanut butter, maple syrup and vanilla in a mixer. Mix until smooth. 
3. Add in the almond flour, oat flour, and salt and mix until combined.
4. Fold in chocolate chips.
5. Roll into small balls and set on a parchment lined plate or baking pan.
6. Place in the freezer for about 15 mins and then enjoy!

WHAT WE THINK OF CAULIFLOWER PIZZA

This post is sponsored by Caulipower but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

I guess I’ve been hiding under a rock or something, but I have never tried cauliflower pizza! I’ve had cauliflower rice and LOVED it but when it comes to pizza I was a bit skeptical….because pizza is well, pizza and I’m usually not even a fan of gluten free ones!

We found Caulipower at Thrifty Foods near our house but you can also get it at Loblaws (Superstore), select Sobeys, Metro, Longo's, Walmart, Costco, Whole Foods, and many independent retailers!

Our first take on Caulipower pizza was that it was DELICIOUS. Honestly, I couldn't believe I was eating cauliflower crusts!! And the kids just devoured it! Caulipower pizza comes in three flavours, Veggie, Margherita, and Three Cheese. And they also sell the crust on its own so you can make your own pizza!

We eat pizza almost every Friday so you can bet your bottom dollar that we will be switching to Caulipower! I absolutely love that they use real cauliflower as the #1 ingredient and nothing synthetic, creating vitamin-rich and naturally gluten-free options that are lower in calories, sugar, fat, and sodium.

I'm so happy Caulipower is now available in Canada and is also made in Canada. We will definitely eat it again, very soon!

xo,
Laura