mark your calendars!
Posted: July 29, 2010 at 6:16 pmMark your calendars! August 26th will be here faster than we think. For what? To find out if the baby bean is a boy or a girl. What a great birthday present, since my birthday is the 23rd. I can’t wait. Even though I already know it’s a boy. Okay I don’t really know, but it’s what I think. Mother’s instinct counts for something, right? Just as the instinct to listen to my body counts for something.
As I mentioned before, I do not feel it is important to know the # on the scale or how much gain I have during pregnancy. I trust that I will gain just what I need to for the baby by listening to my body, eating when hungry, eating what I crave, making healthy food choices most of the time, and being moderately active. I simply want to know if my gain is healthy or if it needs to be adjusted one way or the other.
I told all this to my nurse when she weighed me. She said everything looks perfectly healthy and that I stayed the same. Didn’t I just say don’t tell me anything? I told her I didn’t need to know that and she made a point that the midwife might want to mention it. Okay. Fine. The midwife did mention it. She said everything looks great but there will need to be some gain by the next visit. I had to assure her I’m not afraid to gain weight. Heck no! This whole thing isn’t because I’m afraid of the scale. I just don’t believe in it. I trust my body. My 90/64 blood pressure, strong baby heartbeat, and popping belly tell me all is well. That is what I need to know. Not a number on the scale. Plus, my body went through this same process with baby M. I gained most of my weight then during months 5-7.
She should also know that I do eat. Within 10 minutes of getting home from my appointment I inhaled this large bowl of deliciousness. Quaker Oat Squares + Blueberry Crisp cereal.
I have yet another thing to mark my calendar for. On Monday I am finally getting to the hair salon. My hair seriously demands a trim. I also am wavering with the idea of getting my hair died back to its natural color. I either need to do that or get highlights done again since my roots are B.A.D. I am sick with the upkeep (and cost!) of highlights. How do you think I would look with slightly darker hair? Not dark because my natural color is sort of a dark blonde, very light brown.
Now one last day to open up on your calendars. A day to whip up the Stuffed Bell Peppers I made last night. I will admit something. I learned that I don’t care for cooked peppers. I adore raw peppers, but the cooked wasn’t for me. However, the filling made me quite proud. So, if you like cooked peppers, this is a winner for you! If you don’t like cooked peppers…make a batch of the filling and use it in a wrap or just eat it out of a bowl with some extra veggies. Yum!
1. Take your bell peppers and slice them around the top, pulling out the center, membranes, and seeds.
2. Place them topside down in a microwave safe dish. Cover with plastic and microwave 2 minutes to soften the peppers.
3. Dice up onion, zucchini, and mushrooms. Sautee in a pan with a smidge of olive oil until tender.
4. Add tomato sauce and brown rice to the veggies. Stir evenly. PS – love the No Sugar Added Ragu. Much cheaper than other tomato sauces with recognizable ingredients. This girl’s on a budget!
5. Simmer mixture for an extra 5-10 minutes. Spoon evenly into the four bell peppers. Bake for 20 minutes in a 450 degree oven.
6. Let cool and eat! The filling had so much flavor. And would be good with so many different veggies.
Ingredients (Refer above for how to use them)
- 4 bell peppers big enough to hold filling
- 1 medium yellow onion
- 1 large zucchini
- 10-15 baby bella mushrooms
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 c tomato sauce
- 2 c cooked brown rice
Time for me to wrap up this post. A thought to leave you with…Never forget all the blessings you have in this life. Food to eat, a shelter to live in, a body to move, people to love, and so much more. All we should ask of God is our “daily bread” or our daily needs. Yet he gives us so much more, including his own son. Not because we deserve it or because he has to. Simply because He loves us. Help that thought cheer up your day. And know that I love you and sincerely hope you all have joy in your lives.
- What is a food you thought you would love, but realized you didn’t? I used to adore cooked peppers so I was shocked last night. I still had a great dinner though.
- What things or thoughts help cheer you up and bring you joy?
- Help on the hair decision! Please!
Please CLICK to read my tips on staying cool in the heat. This one goes for anyone! Click click click!
I love stuffed peppers! When it’s cool enough outside to use my oven again, I’ll be making those!! (good tip on the no-sugar tomato sauce, too!) I really am loving raw peppers right now, too– my salads feel naked without them!
I’m thinking of going back to my natural hair color soon, too. I’m naturally medium-brown, but I tried blonde this summer for fun. Too bad it’s so expensive to keep up! I think natural hair color ALWAYS seems to look good, though… so don’t be scared to go back to that! Especially since you probably don’t want to be visiting the hair salon too much during your pregnancy to keep up the highlights!
I hope you’re having a boy so that they can play together! Not that they can’t play together if your baby’s a girl, but if they’re both boys they can play with cars and trucks and trains. 😉 And we can share boy tips with one another!
Your stuffed peppers look really good! It’s been forever since I’ve made them.
About to go look at your article on staying cool in the heat!! I need all the tips I can get right now!! 🙂
you just made my day with that wrap-up…seriously though! the thought that God sent his son to die for me when I REALLY don’t deserve even my daily needs is huge 🙂 and i think you would look beautiful either way, but i totally understand the expensive upkeep on the hair. if you’re tired of that i say go natural!
I really love your approach to your pregnancy – and I am excited that you will find out the sex of the bub so very soon!!!
I haven’t made stuffed peppers in so long and these look so easy and good! I will have to make some soon.
I think you would look beautiful with darker hair! I’m a huge fan of natural hair colors.
I always appreciate a reminder to be thankful for everything I have – so thank you :). It truly is simple things that give me joy (even though I often think material things make me happy) – a beautiful day, talking with friends, the kindness of a stranger…
I agree. When we truly think of what brings us joy it is the basics. We all have at least a few things to be thankful for, even in the darkest times.
Yum, I love stuffed peppers – thanks for the recipe!
I agree – I think your hair would look great died a light brown. You’d look pretty regardless.
I have that same flower bowl, I love it. It always cheers up my day – much like your posts. 🙂
Aren’t these feelings about which gender we’re having funny? I’m convinced I’m having a boy, too! (We find out on Sept. 2.) I hope we’re both right!
As for your nurse, I’d be furious with her. Furious. You’re a better woman than I am!
I think you’d like great with darker hair! I switched to using an at home semi-permanent dye kit to save on the cost and I’m always amazed at how well it turns out for $8!
I’m jealous of people who can do the at home dye kits! I have tried my share of them and they always turn my hair brassy looking. No matter what brand, color, etc. Then I end up spending more to have it fixed. They work great for my mom and sis though. Go figure.
Yea! I can’t wait to find out what the bean is!!!!
Finding out what you are having is always exciting! I LOVE stuffed peppers! Yours look delicious! You would think I would like avocados, but I just do not. I feel like I should. Oh well…
My boys laughing is the best thing ever!
I’m sorry people aren’t being all that understanding about your decision not to know your weight while you’re pregnant, but I REALLY admire you for it!!! 🙂
Yea it is annoying, but at the same time I can kind of understand where she is coming from. She did have to check to be sure I wasn’t trying to keep from gaining weight since I bet most people who opt not to know do so because they get upset about it. I also think once there is a gain they will just say I gained and not X amount. At least that is what I’m telling myself, so hopefully in the end I still won’t know. I just want to practice what I preach and live by an example that trusting your body is enough.
I will definitely be making this recipe! It looks delicious!
How exciting to know if you’re having a boy or girl!
I’d like to add you to my blogroll, is that alright with you?
By all means! And that reminds me I have been meaning to spiffy my blog list up too. Maybe I’ll get the chance to do that sometime today and this weekend.
I think it’s a boy too 🙂
I thought I would love Amy’s frozen burritos, but I just don’t.
I think you would look great with darker hair. Truly!
And those peppers look really delicious. Thanks for such a yummy-looking (and meat free!) recipe:-).
It has been SO long since I’ve had stuffed peppers, now I want some!!
I would go with darker hair if I were you. It’s always good to shake things up a little 🙂
Thanks for stopping by my blog! I’m just starting to get to know you, but here’s a congrats on the baby!
I like your spirit. You shouldn’t be afraid of gaining weight during pregnancy (well I can’t really say for myself because I’m not married yet). But if you listen to your body, your body will take care of itself and of you. It will gain what it needs, then disappear.
Most definitely! That is 100% my mindset on things and why I’m trying to not know. LOL The nurses and midwives just don’t seem to get it. I want to be an example that trusting your body and not focusing on a number will be all it takes to be healthy. I had to assure my midwife I eat. Oh boy do I eat. Haha.
I say change it up and go dark! Cannot wait to hear the sex of the baby. I know you are over the moon excited and it simply radiates in your posts. You are such a huge inspiration!
Oh, and I wanted to thank you for your comment tonight. I won’t have time to reply to everyone. But I know you’re right about the eating out. I am going to try to enjoy the fact that there will be multiple *gasp* vegetarian options even. That is something to look forward too 😉
Aw, congrats on the pregnancy! That’s really annoying about the nurse though.
No surprise here that I love you as a blonde, but I do understand that the upkeep can be hard. For me, I do mine myself. What you say? Your hair isn’t natural? Well it’s like this, my hair from birth to about 18 was always platinum blonde as it looks now. Then it started to get a little darker on top and rather than changing my hair color after 18 years and letting it grow out a darker blonde, or pay big bucks to get it highlighted, I experimented with walmart hair color. And it worked. My hair is as it was since I was born. Funny thing is, people always ask me who does my hair. I say a $7 box from walmart. haha. I’m excited about when you find out that your baby is a boy! lol
That’s really cool about your intuition telling you that the baby is a boy! Intuition is a fascinating thing to me. At 4 months, my boyfriend’s pregnant sister swore she was having a girl, and one month later–her intuition was confirmed! I can’t wait to see what your “baby bean” turns out to be 🙂
Girrrrrl, I’m right there with ya on the hair! Mine gets cut/colored tomorrow and it’s in DIRE need. Not many can pull off blonde (myself included), but you have just the right coloring for it! Blonde is hard to keep up though, so if you’re going for low maintenance, shake things up and go the darker route. Either way, you’re so beautiful that either would look stunning on you 🙂
I’m not a huge fan of cooked peppers either, but I think they’re delicious raw.
Definitely listen to your body – doctors don’t know everything about everyone! Good for you for feeling empowered enough – sometimes the doctor/patient situation can make a person feel disenfranchised from participating in their own health, no?
Go darker! change is always fun
It’s funny because I actually love all these nurses and midwives and almost more so for their comment. I know that the things they are saying are because they are trying to assure me and care. If that makes sense. I just have to in turn assure them that I really just don’t care about the scale and its not a fear thing. LOL
maybe a little bit darker on the hair? Otherwise, I wouldn’t change too much, you look great!
Keep listening to your body, you’re doing the right thing!
at the risk of you hating me, i say stay blond girl!!! honestly, after you have a kid (or you will have had 2!) you need a lil spring in your step and i just think being blond keeps that spring goin’. That sassy-ness that comes w/ being blond and i also think that after yrs of seeing yourself as blond, when you go darker, it’s depressing. I tried the whole darker/less maintenance thing right after skylar was born, using same logic you are, and i felt awful about myself. In addition to leaking milk, fighting off PPD, lochia, and my hair sucked. LOL Stay blond is my .02 🙂
Totally get that! I think that is partially why I want to give it a shot now. So if I hate it, I can go lighter again by the time the baby comes and at least have something to feel pretty about. You know we need all the help we can get those first few months. 😉
How nice to meet another Christian food blogger!
I love stuffed peppers! They’re so tasty. Last time I made them in the crock pot, YUM!
There aren’t too many foods that I don’t like, so I can’t even think of anything that I didn’t end up liking, LOL.
Jenn
Honestly, I think you will look beautiful with either hair color. Personally, I’d go with your natural shade for simplicity’s sake. That is why I keep my natural shade and keep it long. Less time!
Hmmmm…I can’t think of a food I don’t like! 😀
You’re living such exciting times!
Stuffed peppers are delicious 🙂
First of all, congrats!
Secondly, I think that people look most lovely with their natural color. Not because they can’t look great with other colors, but my reason goes along with what you were saying about trusting your body. I totally think that the shade our body creates on it’s own is the one that matches our skin, and goes best with the rest of our coloring. 🙂 That said, I have totally played with my hair color tons of times. Right now it’s natural though, and I really love not having to think about color. Simple is good.
Either way, do what makes you happy.
That is a really good point. I should look good with the hair color I’m given. I just went “DUH!” to myself and that I shouldn’t be afraid of it looking horrid.
Oh and something else funny! I made stuffed peppers for the first time last week. Ewww! My hubby loved them, but I thought the peppers tasted horrible. And I love peppers raw and stir fried. Just thought it funny that you like them too, but not roasted.
Great recipe! I love getting my hair done! I think it makes you feel so much better – it brightens you up!
Also, sooo excited to find out if baby is a boy or girl!
🙂
So is your natural hair color like the shade of your eyebrows? I bet you’d look great. I do like the color you have now, it suits you so well, but I get it about the upkeep.
the head shot photo you put of yourself in this post is really, really pretty. is it a new one? if so, you’ve got that glow, baby! 🙂
i am totally making stuffed peppers tonight. not sure if i’ll add zucchini. i have half a large zuke left in the fridge. someone gave it to me. i don’t like zucchini (except in cookies! 🙂 ) but I’m kind of trying to like it. I put some in my homemade salsa the other night, and it wasn’t so good.
excited to find out what you’re having. I KNEW logan was a boy, but I also had a very strong conviction that jordan was a girl, so we’ll see. I even wore pink to my U/S the day I was to find out the sex.
i’ve been a bad buddy lately because i haven’t been commenting that much. I’ve been reading, though! just quickly. been busy around here getting the house ready!
My birthday is the day after yours 🙂
I love stuffed peppers, but I think it is mostly the filling that I love. I like the idea of using the filling for other things.
Can’t wait to find out if your bean is a boy or a girl!
I’ll eat those stuffed peppers for you. Yum.
How exciting about the 26th!!! My Birthday is the 28th, yay for August Birthdays!
I think your hair would look nice a shade darker, and it’s always nice to take a break from the constant touch ups. However I’ve been at my natural color for a few months now and I miss my highlights!
You would look stunning wtih a darker shade! I bet even a hint of red in it would be really flattering. I’ll be going darker soon too. Can’t wait to see what you do!
And I love your approach to pregnancy weight gain. Glad you are healthy!
I admire your healthy outlook on pregnancy and hope to have that outlook, too, when it’s my time:)
As someone who changes their hair color as often as the seasons, I’m all for mixing it up a bit! After all, it is just HAIR and you can always change it if you don’t like it. I think you mentioned you have green eyes, so I’m going to side with Teri- red would be beautiful! I just colored my hair SUPA’ DUPA’ RED a few weeks ago and LOVE it, but for simplicity’s sake, going back to your natural hair color during pregnancy would be easiest. You have enough changes going on as it is and can always go back blonde afterward:)
I desperately need to cut my hair . . .
Your stuffed peppers look delicious!
I love stuffed peppers! I love your healthy attitude towards pregnancy! It is so refreshing!
Yay! How exciting!! I loved the tips in the article. With all this heat, the article was perfect timing!
It’s summer, embrace the blond for a few more weeks. I went brown for awhile and I did like it, but my friends and hubs do prefer me blond. Or maybe lots of low lights, dramatic hair tends to frighten my friends haa but it’s your head, have fun!
I can’t wait to hear the sex. My friends do the sex-reveal parties where people where pink or blue depending on what they think the baby is, then the parents say what they’re having.
I don’t adore stuffed peppers either. Actually, I don’t really care for stuffed vegetables in general. Sure they look neat, but they’re a bitch to eat. I rather just have a bowl of the filling with the veggie cooked in 😉
I think it’s a boy too. Because, you know, my opinion means so much more than yours 😛
Go natural! I’m going natural right now and it’s sooooo nice not to worry about dying it. You’ll notice your hair will get healthier, and I bet as your hair grows out it will get some natural highlights.
Hey thanks so much for your comment a few days ago. I REALLY appreciate the encouragement. I had more of a loss this month than I was expecting, so I’m ready to kick it into high gear this month! Thanks again!
Julie
Great post, girl. I can completely understand where you’re coming from with the whole number on the scale thing. I’m pretty sure I will be like that when I am pregnant one day, too, because I’m kind of like that now – I don’t weigh myself very often because I just don’t care about that number! 🙂
Also, love what you said at the end… “Never forget all the blessings you have in this life. Food to eat, a shelter to live in, a body to move, people to love, and so much more.” SO true.
If you liked cooked peppers before, try them again after you have the baby. Each pregnancy of mine a different food that I would normally eat didn’t appeal to me at all.
Your hair will look fantastic whatever way you decide to color it. 🙂
Those stuffed peppers look delicious. Believe it or not, I’ve never had a real one. Probably because I don’t love ground beef so I love that yours are all veggie. I might have to try them this weekend.
That’s really frustrating that the nurse disregarded your request. My little sister is currently pregnant and she is naturally thin and she didn’t put on much weight during her first two trimesters. She finally started to gain weight when she entered her third trimester but a lot of people still comment on her size. Amy is healthy, her baby is healthy and the doctor told her she has nothing to worry about. You know that you’re taking care of your body and your baby so don’t worry about what anyone else says. But you already know that. 🙂
I think you’d look great with light brown hair!
I absolutely adore stuffed peppers – I’d probably eat them every night if I could! (Although it’s not exactly the speediest meal). I’ve never been pregnant but I’ve also heard that tastes change (you’re probably an expert on this) so maybe after this pregnancy you’ll be back into your cooked pepper-loving ways!
Thank you so much for the little bit at the end about blessings – it’s so easy to take these things for granted and it’s great to have a little reminder! 🙂
How exciting! I can’t wait to hear if you are cooking a boy or girl in there. 🙂 I vote for a bit darker hair. I could be a tiny bit biased lol. Also, I used to hate bell peppers but last month, I thought I’d give the stuffed bell pepper a whirl. Surprise, surprise! I loved it!
You look absolutely beautiful, darling! I think you’d look great with darker hair! That is, afterall, what God gave you 🙂
I <3 light ragu!
I have the same natural hair color as you but keep blonde highlights in it all the time.
I was a brunette for a few months once and I just felt wrong!
So my opinion is to stay blonde. 🙂
I’m getting my hair done tomorrow too! My roots are looking horrifying.
Very late to the party here Tina but CONGRATS on the soon-ish to be new addition AND the column!