Growing Ghoens: Week 35 Bump Date

35 Weeks of #GrowingGhoens & apparently you're the size of the cutest coconut ever right about now!

You're getting so big, sweet girl.

I bet your "house" feels teeny right about now.

Your movements in mommy's belly are starting to feel different.

It's less of a wiggle & more of BIG movements where I can actually feel your little arms, legs, hands & feet.

We LOVE laying down at night to watch you move. I can't wait to see you squirm like this when you come out & know that is what you were doing all of these months in my tummy.

This week, your dad & I took a quick trip to NOLA for our final get away as a two-some before you come join our party. We walked around hand in hand around the city, explored some new sights & ate lots of good food!! I'll be sure to blog about that trip & where we went SOON! (stay tuned!)

Goodness though - the heartburn struggle is REAL with food! And I definitely paid for all of the treats we had those two days we were away. I think because of how high up you are & how things have shifted around that the most random stuff causes heart burn & reflux.. which basically means that your mommy feels like a fire breathing dragon on the daily. Haha.

When we got home, I started trying to detox right away. So we meal prepped some healthy options! And I kicked my sweet tooth with apple, peanut butter & granola + some extra chocolate shakeology!

After we got home, mama got to go meet up with one of her accountability partners who has helped make sure I've stayed on track with my workouts during pregnancy. It was the very FIRST time we had ever met in person, after almost a whole year of our online fitness groups!!! I'm so grateful for the friendships I've formed within these groups!!

Megan, I am SO glad I got to squeeze your neck FINALLY!!

Speaking of fitnassss.

Your mama bear finished another block of her workouts (the PUSH series) over the weekend & started another this week (called the LEAN series). It's actually the FINAL 30 day block of this 90 day program called Chalene Extreme.

So for the next month, that's week 35 thru 38 of pregnancy, we'll be knocking out more weightlifting - the upper & lower body at the same time! We're having to modify a lot since these require stability/core work, but it's getting done!! And I'm so proud of us for NOT letting up!

I seriously can't imagine how much harder pregnancy would be mentally & physically if we weren't taking care of ourself!

Ladies out there who are expecting little ones OR are trying to conceive a baby - don't you dare let up. Keep on with what you're doing!! Listen to your body & do your best!

Time is ticking away.

So it's work work work all day & rest rest rest all night (feet UP at 9pm!! HA).

Some of the baby prep I did this week included shopping for maternity photo dresses + working on gifts for the nurses & midwife that are going to help deliver you in a few weeks.

Your daddy has been working on picking a stain for your nursery shelves.. oh, and reading to you from Genesis at night while mommy rests. You guys even jam out to music sometimes at night in bed together! It's pretty darn cute to listen to him sing to you while you dance around.

Okay, sugar.

That's all for now.

Mama loves you to the moon & back.

See you soon!

Growing Ghoens: Week 34 Bump Date

34 weeks of growing this precious little human..

238 days of being baby girl's mama..

5,712 hours of anticipating her arrival..

Can you tell we're excited + counting down!?

Baby G :

Even your sisters are CLEARLY ready to snuggle up with you. Tannyn, your spotted puppy, may not understand that you're hiding under this big ole belly of mine, but she sure does love to cuddle it!!

Momma loves having you as her workout buddy, but how big you're getting is making things a little more challenging. I sure am learning to modify movements each week!! You know what's really cool though? Our midwife totally supports what we're doing & she encouraged me this week at our appointment to keep going!! She believes in the female body.. so do I!

This weekend we finished another 30 day block of Chalene Extreme - that's 8 weeks straight of our strength training program. We've gotten it done by streaming our workouts using Beachbody On Demand from home or on the go.. no excuses! These tools, they work. Not just for our body, but for our lifestyle. I believed it before, but now more than EVER I believe they can truly help ANYONE who wants & needs it!!

Want to know more about how to get started with me?

Email lindseykollar@yahoo.com

Food is still the same.. breakfast foods (often twice a day), watermelon, mexican food. But RANDOM things will give me heart burn. This week, yogurt was causing flare ups! But I couldn't kick the itch. I had my yogurt bowls & even had our treat meal on Friday night, which was LOADED frozen yogurt. I realize now that I can't really handle all that sugar. But it was still a fun date night in with your daddy!

You know what my new obsession//craving is?

Coconut milk macchiatos from Starbucks!! But I'm keeping them to a minimum right now to avoid too much caffeine + sugar. They're still a great pick me up though on the days I'm zapped from not sleeping at night.

See this sign in your nursery?

We've been brainstorming & designing it for several weeks now with a local small business called Cottonwood Company. Now it's here & we LOVE it!! This verse we chose has given us so much confidence & comfort as you've been growing, sweet girl.

Jeremiah 1:5

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. Before you were born I set you apart."

We love you more than we can explain, sugar. But regardless of how much we love you, your Creator & heavenly Father loves you even more. We can't wait to teach you all about Him & watch you come to know Him!

Our highlight of the week?

Well, you & I got all dressed up for our very first ball with my prince charming, your papa bear. It was the 49th Annual EOD Memorial Ball to honor the men in the community who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

Your Aunt Lauren actually works for the foundation that hosts this event, the EOD Warrior Foundation, so we got to visit with her & your Uncle Jason a little while we were there. My feet couldn't handle busting any moves on the dance floor after hours in heels, but you certainly were dancing it up in my belly all night!

It was such a special evening we got to be a part of.

What else what else..

Here are a few more #GrowingGhoens weekly facts!

- We've gained 23.5 pounds so far

- My hips are LOOSENING up big time

- Our midwife confirmed you're still head down (and facing back)

- We scheduled maternity photos

- We're planning a last minute baby moon to NOLA next week

- We still haven't picked out your name.. and I kind of love the anticipation

- We placed our last baby order

- Hospital bags are starting to be packed

- We mostly only fit comfortably into dresses now

- You're favorite hang out spot is under my ribs

- Daddy (& mommy ofcourse) is reading to you & praying over you often since you HEAR so much now

- You have absolutely no sleep pattern. You're UP whenever you feel like it!

- You're a CHAMP with my workouts & stretches

- You love when I rub my belly with lotion

That about sums things up!!

Girlfriend, we're just passing time & getting things done while we wait for you! Your dad & I are both full blown nesting now. Between pressure washing, organizing cabinets, cleaning blinds & wiping down walls.. we're keeping busy busy out here!!

While we're having a blast spending time together & dreaming of life when you arrive, but we're to the point now where we just want to hold you. To take you along on our little adventures. And do the day to day with our baby girl.

Just a little more over a month before you're in our arms!!

I hope you're as excited to meet us as we are to meet you.

Don't be too comfy in there.

Just a few more weeks!!

Growing Ghoens: Week 33 Bump Date

Oofta.. thirty-three weeks!!

You & mama are growing every single week, little one.

Your daddy & I have been spending extra time lately with your fur-sisters since all of our focus will be on you in a few weeks! 

Sunday afternoons we love to cuddle for a while after church - we can't wait to snuggle up with you too!

Moose & Tannyn know that things around here are changing, but gosh we can't wait to see how curious your smells & noises make them. Some of our good friends came over this week with their little baby & your sisters loved getting to visit.

Mama kept up with her workouts this week. I officially finished SEVEN straight weeks of strength training with Chalene Extreme!! Although, a couple of the cardio routines were making my tummy tighten LOTS so I drank extra water & took some breaks to make sure that you stay in there cooking as long as possible. These workouts are keeping my body healthy & get stronger so I can take extra good care of you, pumpkin!

Since you're growing so much, I'm EXTRA hungry. So right now we eat almost every hour & a half! And because you're growing so much, I'm extra sleepy. I actually had to cheat a little this week & indulge on some caffeine for a pick me up. Did that little kick make you ping off the walls in there? Our new favorite drink is the coconut milk macchiato.. #heavenly

We have been chipping away at our list of to do items before you arrive.. writing our birth "plan," stocking diaper bags, getting the rest of your registry items, picking up stuff for our hospital bags, making a list of freezer meals to whip up, writing our wills & so on. Almost there!!

I also made about 26 of these on Friday.. I'll tell you more about them one day, baby girl. But basically, they're going to help momma heal up quicker after you arrive! I've heard these gems make ALL the difference for new mommies. Never thought I'd have these items on the counter and in our deep freezer. I guess that's mom life now :)

This house is full of SO many precious little baby items & girly things now. Your aunt Brittany actually sent you a box of frilly, sparkly, puppy goodies this weekend. Every time your dad & I fold your laundry & put stuff away in your closet//bathroom, things get more & more surreal. You're really coming!!

 We're ready for you, sweet heart.

Whenever God decides that it's time for you to come.

T-Minus 7(ish) weeks!

Growing Ghoens: Week 32 Bump Date

You know what 32 weeks means!? We're EIGHT months pregnant, y'all!!

Holy SMOKIES! Everyone keeps telling me that things are going to start slowing down anytime now, but your dad & I both feel like time is still FLYING by!

Baby girl, how do YOU feel in there? Apparently you have your eyes open all the time, see light & are starting to pack on a bit of fat!! I can't wait to smooch your cheeks, arms, legs, hands, belly & feet!!

Alright. So week 32 kicked off on Easter SUNDAY, which was super special. We celebrated serving our risen, LIVING Savior with our friends in Tennessee by going to church together & then enjoying a really beautiful brunch.

This is just a SMALL snap shot of the tasty spread we partook in!

A couple days after we came home from our TN trip, we had the honor of attending a graduation ceremony for a couple of our friends who are now officially co-workers of Nate. Although we only got to be near them for a short season, I'm so grateful for the special friendships we've been able to create & the moments we've had to soak up together.

You know who you are - we love you guys SO much, are praying for this next adventure ahead of your families & hope our paths cross again down the road!! GOOD LUCK you guys!

Then - we went to see our midwife again. Everything sounds//looks like we're right on track & we've only got one more bi-weekly appointment before we start going weekly. WHAT!?

Side note.. do you know how grateful I am that (1) this guy has been available to go to every appointment with me (2) he WANTS to go - even when I try to tell him he doesn't necessarily need to. It means so much to me that he wants to be as involved as he is. I don't know what I'd do without his unwavering support.

Love you, tots! You're going to be.. no, you ARE the best papa bear!

I have to tell you guys..

Baby girl DEFINITELY has my taste buds, from what I can tell so far.

Mexican 5 times & breakfast daily, plus anytime I could squeeze it in besides during the mornings.. these are our two favorite food groups!!

See this belly, you guys!? We're POPPING more & more each week..

Little girl & I have been cranking out our workouts, like normal, & are HALFWAY through this push phase of Chalene Extreme. I can still handle the heavy weights, but my squats definitely aren't as deep as they were before. My belly catches my thighs pretty early on the way down now. So wild!

Not letting anything stop us though..

We're in this until the end, right girl? Doing our very best with every bodily change that comes our way as you grow big & strong!

Baby G, your fur sisters LOVE being in your room now. They like to smell everything we put in there.. and I think they MIGHT be a little jealous of all the cool toys we put in there. Tannyn, the spotted one, actually has been taking little naps beside your crib when I accidentally leave the door to your room open. It melts my heart because I'm pretty sure you two are going to be best buds!

OH! You know what else?

Momma's breast pump came in this week.

Talk about OVERWHELMING pulling out each item & having no clue how to use them!! I actually face-timed with your aunt Lauren so she could tell me what each piece was!

Thanks, sis, for calming me down & sharing your knowledge with me.

At the end of the week, mama & papa bear decided to spend some time outside!

 We know that things will be very different once you join us, so we're making time for a few of our hobbies now!! I can't wait for you to be big enough to do these things with us though. I was thinking about one day getting to strap you to my chest when we go on hikes, sitting with you under a tent on the beach & playing in the sand or holding you one day when we go out on the water.

Your daddy & I LOVE adventures - I have no doubt that you will be one of our greatest!!

After our time outdoors, we treated ourselves to some FRESH, tasty seafood. I've been cravings some crab & shrimp for a while now, so we finally made it happen.

It was such a WONDERFUL week, little one.

Even though I'm tired. Even though I'm getting pretty uncomfortable (achy back & ribs galore).. I still cherish ALL of your kicks, wiggles & squirms. I love you so much, little pumpkin!!

We'll see you in a few weeks!