…auf weidersehen, good-bye…Song of Music, anyone?? This will be my last post for this week, but I will be back for a few posts at the beginning of next week before heading out for trip #2. So, please…don’t cry for me Argentina bloggie readers, the truth is I never left won’t leave you. Okay, okay. I’m done with the musical lyrics. Be thankful you can’t hear me sing them. That would assure you would never come back here ever again and I don’t want that because…

Now, I’m really done! If you can’t already tell, I’m feeling a bit better today. I don’t know what is up, but the past couple of days I have been feeling way more energetic in the morning. Normally I wake up already fatigued, but this week that has not been the case. I think it may be because I am succumbing to naps and getting more hours of sleep at night. If it allows me to feel like my normal self until lunchtime I will be certain to get that extra sleep! I do still feel like crap by 3 pm and still have taste-buds that are all sorts of wonky, so it’s all relative.

Just because I am not at my best, however, doesn’t mean I can’t still always do my best under the current circumstances. It would appear that since being pregnant I have just succumbed to the “eat whatever I want and not give a tiny rat’s @$$” mentality. Well, I guess that would be partially true, because I do always eat what I want and what I enjoy over what I “should” anyways. Now, the things I want (or to clarify, anything that isn’t on the “I simply CANNOT eat that right now” list) aren’t always as wholesome and nutritious as I like. So, what’s a gal to do? Recognize that it’s okay and still choose the best options of those that appeal to me as often as possible. I never believe in force feeding yourself something for any reason, pregnant or not.

Since the “I simply CANNOT eat that right now” list I mentioned above is fairly limited, I have been eating pretty much the same things day in and day out for the past few weeks. And there is some sort of semblance of healthy living in the meals, so I go with it. It helps balance out the Mexican & DQ so I’m not in maternity clothes at only 2 months pregnant.

Although, I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. They may not be the most attractive, but those stretchy waistbands are heaven! Moving on now…

A typical day for me goes something along the lines of waking up at 6:00 hahaahaha 7:00 and reading my Bible/praying before rolling out of bed in time to get Makenzie up. Then we quickly get dressed and eat breakfast. My breakfast of choice lately? A honey wheat bagel with cream cheese and some homemade local grown strawberry jelly…thanks to the sis-in-law. Oh, and the requisite prenatal vitamin on the side.

After breakfast, I determine if the gym is a go. I always get dressed in my gym clothes so that way it is easy to head out to the gym if I am feeling up for it. Since my get-more-sleep revelation, I have been making it to the gym per my normal schedule. Yesterday I did spin, today I did Power, and tomorrow I am hoping to get in some Kick. After the gym, I come home and refuel with a big banana.

Bananas are typically one of my least-favorite fruits, but not now. I HAVE to have one a day. Mmmm, bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S! I couldn’t help myself!!!

I spend Makenzie’s morning nap getting my blog post organized for the day and doing other little household chores. Then, once she wakes up it is time for some lunch. My lunch adoration these days? Grilled cheese and soup.

Yes, it is crazy hot outside in Georgia most days right now, but I still want soup. I am in L-O-L-O-L-O-L-O-V-E with soup. They may not be homemade (I may be crazy to eat it, but I’m not stupid enough to be slaving over a hot soup pot in Georgia heat people!), but they will do for now. In all their sodium-laden glory. And it is a way to get some semblance of veggies in there. While we’re at it, I even get some veggies in with my one daily handful of these babies.

I kid. I kid. I know potato chips aren’t a veggie! They still are good though. And salt + vinegar chips speak to me these days. I don’t feel bad. One handful won’t kill me. Just like one bowl of cereal a day for my afternoon snack won’t kill me either.

Mom’s Best Naturals Cinnamon Squares is the cereal of choice right now. I don’t know why, but kiddy style cereal is a nonstop craving of mine during pregnancy. I don’t foresee this bowl going anywhere anytime soon.

Amidst eating all of this, M & I do lots of playing before the 3:00 slump rolls around. Then we resign to the couch with piles of books and 20 minutes of Elmo’s World. I am so proud of her. She knows over half of her letters now. A, B, C, D, F, H, I, J, L, M, O, P, Q, S, T, W, X, Y, and Z! I guess pregnancy sickness does have it’s benefits because she just soaks up time with her mommy and her favorite alphabet book. All I have to do is answer her on each page when she asks “Whassat?” and she gets it so fast. I love my little bookworm!

After all that fun, and the occasional torture of reading Panda Bear, Panda Bear What do you See? a thousand times in a row (the most repetitive, dull book EVER but she loves it), it is time for dinner. Last night we opted for lasagna and I snuck in one of the 3 or 4 veggies I actually like right now -- sweet potatoes, corn, tomatoes (OH TOMATOES!!!), and peas.

Not too long after dinner, I chill on the couch and then go crash in bed. There you have it! It may not be perfect and I know there are better foods and options for things, but I’m giving my best effort and feel good with it. Now, it is time to say goodbye since I will be packing all day tomorrow and heading to bed early for our early start to Indy. Have wonderful weeks and I will see you all next Monday! 🙂

• Can you eat soups or traditional cold-weather foods during warmer months? Or what about eating icecream in winter?
• What is your favorite flavor of potato chip and your favorite kiddy cereal?

Evening ladies (and any gents if you’re out there)! As you are reading this I am likely enjoying a night of foodie  dreams…but you’ll just have to be patient to find out what. We have to rewind to the morning first. After all, play by plays start at the beginning.

I woke up this morning at around 6:15 and was a little groggy from being up later than expected last night. Because I was having too much fun with Peter setting up the new casa for Faith, Fitness, & Fun. How do you like it by the way? I hope you enjoy it and that it will be worth updating your readers/subscriptions, fixing blog roll links, having to remember to find me at a new place, etc. That was a hint to do those things, just so you know. 😉 I don’t want to lose any of my blogger buddies so I have to put it out there. You’re all fabulous and my life blogging wouldn’t be the same without you.

Since I was tired and had already put in some decent workouts this week, I opted for a rest day. Thursdays are generally a rest day and I love having that extra day during the week to enjoy a more relaxing morning. What better way to relax than with some Chocolate Covered Strawberry Oats and a cup of joe?

The flavor burst of the fresh strawberries, the extra chewy texture from the pinch of golden raisins + cranberries, and the decadence of Justin’s Chocolate PB made this bowl divine. Thanks Lisa for the Justin’s PB! I loved it.

After breakfast, we headed out for our morning activities. I had to go by our church to pick out a DVD to use in this week’s Sunday school class. I really like the message behind it. Andy Stanley videos are great and I look forward to using this one.

I hit up church first because then on our way back we could meet up with some friends from the mom’s group at the park. Just like every park day it was a lot of fun.

Of course swinging and slides were involved. After all, swinging is important. We also did some see-sawing and climbing. And screaming. There was a scary moment when someone’s jogging stroller tire blew and it sounded exactly like a gun shot. We all freaked!!  I don’t know why you automatically go to the worst case scenario. Reflex maybe? We were able to calm down from that debacle by going to the little lake in the park to feed the ducks. Ducks fighting for chunks of bread are more calming for the nerves than massage beds don’t ya know?

We stayed for awhile enjoying the company of our friends and the beautiful day. But growling stomachs and sleepy tots can only hold out for so long. At around 11:30 we booked it home to get Makenzie some lunch + a nap and to whip up a much craved snack for myself.

Why do green monsters taste so much better in pretty glasses? And almond bars look so much more appetizing on hot pink plates? I don’t know, but one thing I do know is my tummy did a dance for joy. It was perfect blogging fuel, which is what I did during Makenzie’s nap.

I had some lunch a couple hours later, at around 2:00. I tend to eat lunch at around 1 or 2 most days. I don’t know why but I don’t crave lunch food until then. Sadly, today’s lunch cravings were of the “I’m starting to feel the twinges of morning all-day sickness “ variety. Welcome my hodge podge lunch plate.

Morningstar Farms Buffalo “Chicken Wings”, some cheese, some grapes, some pretzels, and a square of my bottomless stash of Newman’s Own chocolate. Expect to see lots of things like this for around 2 more months. You just can’t help it during the early pregnant phases. Which reminds me I plan to include some of the fun & exciting nauseating & exhausting details related to my current state of pregnancy in a post soon. And oh! I need to do another intuitive eating post in the next few days. Don’t you love how my mind works?

After all of that, Makenzie awoke from her nap and we entertained each other in a variety of ways to wait until the Dada got home. We ran with Teddy and dressed him up in a hat. Played model with the wind blowing through our hair. Made messes, laughed, and read our favorite books.

Once “Dada” got home, I took a few minutes to finish and schedule this post so you can be reading it while I’m off tasting a ton of delicious food and having a blast here:

I will be sure to take lots of pictures for you to drool over in the near future. Have a great night everyone!

• Don’t forget to update your readers or subscriptions to www.faithfitnessfun.com! And tell me what you think about the new site.
• Do you think it is a normal reflex to have the worst possibility flash through your mind when something you are uncertain of happens like I did today at the park? Or do you just have a “meh no biggie” attitude automatically to things?
• Have you ever been to a “Taste of…” or “Flavors of..” type of event in your town? How was it?