Growing Ghoens: Week 26 Bump Date

#26Weeks = six & a half months

That's how long we've been hanging out together, baby girl!

I've gotten so used to having you around as my little buddy.

Spending every moment together.

Knowing you're in my belly makes me feel like you're safe.

Your kicks & squirms reassure my heart.

So when I didn't feel you for over half a day last Monday, my heart sunk.

I was overcome with worry.

Knowing that God created my body to be a home for you to grow in.

But being aware that there's nothing special I can do to keep you safe.

.. that's hard to accept sometimes.

I told your daddy about how fearful I was. And that I was really trying to surrender my feelings to the Lord.

You know what he did?

He prayed for us. Touching my belly.

Giving it all to Jesus.

..your daddy is the best.

Over the next several hours, I tried everything I could think of to get some wiggles from you.

laying in every position I could think of // reading the bible to you // praying with you // squishing my belly // eating breakfast // drinking ice water // having some sugar

None of them seemed to work.

So we decided it was safest to call the Doctor & see what they said.

They asked me to come in right away for an NST (non stress test).

Of course, as SOON as I pulled into the OBGYN parking lot, I began to feel you squirm for the first time in what felt like forever.

I told the nurse, but she said we needed to check on you anyways.

I sat back in a recliner & the nurse found your heartbeat.

Oh sweet girl, that is one of my favorite sounds.

She gave me a "clicker" & told me to press the button anytime I THOUGHT I felt you move..

We sat there for about 30 minutes before we saw the midwife.

She looked at the results, your heart rate pattern & gave me a quick exam.

She encouraged me to follow my gut with moments like those & told me I did the right thing calling/coming in.

She then told me that everything seemed just fine!

What a sense of relief!

Thank you, Jesus.

Last week kicked off my latest bible study through the book of 1 Samuel. It was such a timely serious of readings with life's happenings as of late - between my dear friend patiently waiting for answers with her health & the women I've been getting to know who are in a season of wait for a baby.

Let me encourage you.. if this is you!

Download the First 5 app & start this study with me.

WOW, such a powerful message.

On another note, this week was officially the start of my little sister Leigh Ann's WEDDING WEEK!! She came over on Tuesday to finish some last minute details & spend some time together before she moves to Mississippi.

We played some cards, practiced wedding dances while we worked on a playlist, ran some errands & went to dinner. These two are a riot together!! If you follow me on Facebook, I'm sure you saw their dance off :) 

This week was pretty great in terms of nutrition!

I took some time to food prep, whipped up some yummy salads & made great snack choices.

Can I just say how much I love kiwi with the skin on now?

So surprising because I was weirded out the first time I tried it!!

Being in another online challenge/accountability group helps me SO much with staying on track. I'm so excited about the 16 women in my #GBMarchChallenge who are working out, drinking shakeology & eating healthy alongside me.

If you want information on how to join us, shoot me an email to lindseykollar@yahoo.com so we can chat!

Chalene Extreme (the program I just announced I'm working through) is going great!

The weight lifting to failure has been a challenge, but a welcomed one. The workouts are also a little longer than I'm used to, but Chalene Johnson (the program creator/trainer) is SO motivating that it seriously flies by!! I appreciate how much she takes the time to talk you through each exercise & educates you on what you're doing each day.

I can't wait to see what kind of progress I make at the end of the first 30 days.

Stay tuned..

Friday morning was the kick off for the #ToddTheKnot wedding festivities. I completely unplugged for about 2 days to soak up family time & it was WONDERFUL!!

Over the course of Friday & Saturday, we had a bridal brunch, the rehearsal, dinner, a girls sleep over, a morning of family DIY set up, the ceremony, the reception & a family dinner afterwards.

Leigh Ann was such a beautiful bride.

The wedding was special.

And we are so blessed to welcome Travis into our family.

Our hearts are full!

So here's to week 27..

I can't believe we're almost done with trimester TWO.

Almost to the home stretch, baby girl.

Until next week!!!

Growing Ghoens: Week 25 Bump Date

Oh sweet girl, we just wrapped up week 25.. my heart bursts with joy thinking about how big you're getting & that in just a few months, we'll be holding you tight.

Here's what we did together this week.

Monday, our sweet friend Hollen welcomed baby Ezra into the world. So we whipped up a pan of lasagna & took it over on Wednesday night to hug momma & baby. What joy new life brings!!

I chuckled each day as I added to my magazine stack. Normally I just get my shape magazines. Now, we get lots of family & maternity magazines. Times are changing already around here & I love it!!

I finally went to get my hair done after almost 7+ months of neglect.. Oops. I couldn't wait any more because your Aunt Lou is getting married in a WEEK!!! Your momma & aunties are bridesmaids & your cousin Finley is a flower girl. If you were here, you'd be in it too, pumpkin!

At the end of the week, we took your oldest sister, Moose-girl, to the vet for all of her shots. Hoisting her up in the car is an interesting task with a belly our size now. I mean, I've got a cauliflower baby in my tummy now :)

Otherwise, we wrapped up another round of 21 Day Fix Extreme workouts & finally decided on our next strengthening program.. announcement coming soon!

We partnered with another dear friend & momma who join our #GracefullyBalanced coach family.

Welcome, Lauren!

We wrapped up our bible study in Judges. And are gearing up for 1 Samuel.

We helped minister to Hollen & her family as they've gone through some very hard times since the baby was born at the beginning of the week.

(Please pray for them, y'all!)

And we started planning what will probably be your dad & I's last little get away together as a family of two in April.

#SoSurreal

 Okay, I'm keeping this post short.. so this is all for now!

More to come later this week on mama bear's new program that is going to usher us into trimester 3!!

I love you to the moon, baby girl.

Zucchini Noodle + Pesto Chicken Bowl Recipe

I'm a few days behind on this recipe.. you've gotta forgive my foggy brain, please!

This recipe was actually whipped up mainly by the HUBS, so I can't take full credit.

Thanks, boo!

It was EASY, flavorful & healthy.

PLUS, you can definitely tweak it to your tasty or modify the ingredients depending on what you have at home.

Ingredients:

Zucchini (spiralized)

Chicken Breast (cooked & shredded)

Pesto Sauce

Mushrooms (sautéed)

Sun Dried Tomatoes

Garlic (minced)

Himalayan Salt + Fresh Pepper

First of all, we spiralized 2 large zucchinis.

Which fed both of us 3 times each.

You could definitely do a quick sauté & season on these, but we decided to go raw with ours & let the topping warm the "noodles!"

We also used two (large) boiled then shredded chicken breasts, which was the perfect amount for two zucchinis.

Sorry this is how I measure.. or don't measure.

It's mostly guesstimating!

In a pan, we sautéed sliced mushrooms with the minced garlic & then added in sun dried tomatoes. The sun dried tomatoes we had were stored in olive oil so we squeezed them out a bit so they weren't saturated!

Then, we tossed in the shredded chicken & coated everything in pesto sauce!

Top off with some red pepper flakes if you like a little SPICE!

This was awesome night one.. & even better as leftovers!

Give it a try & if you make any tweaks, let me know.

I bet some artichoke hearts or sautéed spinach would be AWESOME in here too!

Go crazy.

Growing Ghoens: Week 24 Bump-Date

It's our week 24 bump date & we're officially SIX months into this pregnancy, y'all!

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We kicked things off during week 24 on a video chat with momma's business partners.

Then we dove into work!

We made LOTS of videos this week for some gals (fellow mommas mostly!) who are ready to dive into coaching to serve their families while they help others.

How cool is our job!?

I get to be home with YOU one day, while supporting our family financially, because we're helping women be healthy & start businesses that make a positive impact on other people!!

#BLESSED

Otherwise, this week was full of breakfast food, some exercise (I missed 2 of 7 days), outdoor time & a fun day with family. Your Aunt Tecia & cousin Olivia came to see us from Georgia. ALL 9 of us girls got together for dinner (for THREE hours at Chick Fil A.. HA) to catch up & LAUGH!!

They even got to feel you a couple of times!!

Besides that, we had some mega heartburn, continued insomnia & achy hips/pelvic area.

Ofcourse there are not my favorite symptoms during pregnancy.. but they're awesome, in a way.

It's amazing to me how I haven't really changed my routine much at all, but my body continues to change all on it's own for YOU on a weekly basis.

And these symptoms are just a natural part of that process.

Anyone who thinks our bodies as women aren't MADE & equipped for childbirth is cray.

I was literally MADE to be your momma, baby bear!

On Tuesday we met with a midwife & really liked her.

She encouraged us to pursue a natural birth if that's what we really wanted & explained how she specifically would support us. She told us that the best ways to prepare for your arrival are to learn + practice breathing techniques daily & to research how the female body functions during labor so that I understand the process once we're in it.

I loved something that she said.

"ELIMINATE fear"

She told us not to listen to people's negative/horror stories.

There's truly nothing to fear in birth.

YES, it's going to be the hardest thing I've ever done.

And there will be pain.

But that my hardest experience in life is going to reward me..

..with my GREATEST gift!!

She is SO right..

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Momma's special friend, Hollen, hit her due date this week.

So we decided to take her dinner to make things easier while they wait for their baby boy to arrive. I hope you two will be pals while we live here!!

We are truly so blessed to have such wonderful friends, baby girl.

They love you & pray for you often!

Over the weekend, we got to go sit by our neighbor's pool & do some reading.

Look how much mommy's body is changing!

We're going to need a maternity bathing suit STAT. Check out my belly button.. and widening hips!

Making room for you, little cantaloupe <3 font="" nbsp="">

Your Aunt Uli, Uncle Jeff & cousin Aspen showered you with some special gifts this week too. You even got some cute newborn hand-me-downs you'll get to wear in a few months! Hopefully, we'll get to visit with them again soon.

Your nursery is beginning to feel more & more like YOUR room rather than just A room. It's such a special place in our home now!!

That's it for now, I think.

Next time I post our weekly bump date it's going to be MARCH.. & before we know it, JUNE will be here!!

We're ready for you, babe.

Well, almost.

You keep growing healthy & strong in there.

Take your time.

And come when the time is right.

But we can't wait to smooch you!!