Weeks 35 to 37

I am technically 38 weeks.... but I don't have a picture for that yet so....

Let's get right to it, shall we?

Pregnancy Weeks 35 to 37:

Feeling: As to be expected at this point. I'm very tired, I don't sleep well at all due to the discomfort and having to pee constantly, heartburn is so bad I've almost thrown up a couple of times, and just a general feeling of BLAH. Nothing out of the ordinary though... just your regular end of pregnancy woes that most women go through.

Cravings: Citrus fruit, which I never seem to have in the house. I always seem to want oranges and grapefruit. I also still want carbs: pasta, potatoes..... since the heartburn is getting worse I think carbs sound so good because they're so mild in my stomach. Obviously the citrus craving makes absolutely NO sense to me since I have such weird heartburn. I have also been on a cereal kick lately. Kashi makes this crunch cereal with berries that I pour vanilla almond milk on and it's amazing. Been my breakfast for awhile now. I also have this craving for congee. If you don't know what it is, it's an Asian rice porridge and it's definitely a comfort food. I throw in tofu, fresh spinach, and edamame. Add a splash of soy sauce and sriracha and you've got yourself a bowl of yum!

Aversions: Still eggs.... just the thought of them makes me ill. Since I don't really eat eggs this isn't a problem.... but it's weird that just thinking about them makes me want to puke. Must be a consistency thing. Other than that.... everything I normally eat is still OK.

Belly/Weight Update: Still haven't gained much. Just that last 7 pounds I updated from before. Just holding steady where I am, which again, totally fine with me. The belly is getting bigger though. I swear it's bigger every day. In fact, Andrew and I went to run an errand the other night and I wore a tighter shirt and Andrew went "Good God" because HOLY BELLY. He obviously didn't mean it in a mean or degrading way.... it's just HOLY BELLY.

I am definitely ready to meet Dean. At this point it's a waiting game and I still have a couple of weeks left. It's so, so hard not to get impatient at this point because you are so uncomfortable and you are so ready to be done and have your little miracle in your arms. Plus, I know so many people that go early.... WHY CAN'T I GO EARLY! Hahahahaha. Either way, whenever he decides to come out, I'll be fine and he'll be perfect and happy.

Then I get the joys of breastfeeding and no sleep again. WOO. Bring it on. I'm actually looking forward to breastfeeding again. I feel that this time it will be a lot easier and smoother since I know what to expect. I'm hoping that being more relaxed about it will also give me a larger milk supply. I could barely keep up with Carson for the 8 months he breastfed. I was also new to it and probably doomed myself by being so anxious about the whole thing. I think that by knowing what to expect and knowing how it all works, it will be a lot easier for Dean.

Belly Pictures!!

Week 35

Week 36

Week 37

I promise that Andrew and I do make our bed.........

......sometimes.

I Can't Be Quiet Anymore

There are a lot of things happening on social media right now. Mostly politics and the negativity surrounding everything that is going on. I, for one, always keep quiet about my opinions and only discuss those topics with the people closest to me. Like my husband... or Walter. Yes, Walter is a GREAT listener.

However, one thing I am getting tired of keeping my mouth shut about is my dietary choices and people continuously telling me "But bacon is SO GOOD" and "You going to eat weird the rest of your life?" and "Where do you get your protein?" "I could never do that." "I love meat too much." "Humans were made to eat meat" and a slew of other comments that I just absorb, ignore, and walk away from.

Do you know how irritating that is? If you were to go out to dinner with me, I would order my food and you would order yours. We would talk, eat, have a good time, pay for our meals, and go our separate ways. I would not sit at the table and go "OMG! You're going to eat that? It's so gross. How can you stand it. I could never do that." I don't lecture people on their choices.... why do I have to be lectured on mine or made to feel weird because of it?

I'm going to go ahead and put to words how I feel about certain statements:

1) Humans were meant to eat meat
Really? So, without weapons or fire..... you could go out, catch something with your bare hands, kill it, then eat it's skin, tendons, muscles and all and not get horribly sick AND enjoy it? I don't think so. Evolution of humans has made it so we CAN eat meat, but it doesn't mean our bodies were made to do it. The acid in our stomachs does not work the same as the acid in a meat eating animal's stomach. They are designed specifically to KILL their prey and EAT IT RAW and then digest it. End of story.

2) Animals for human consumption are killed humanely
Bullshit. Absolute BULLSHIT. Read the book Slaughterhouse. Watch the documentary Vegucated or Forks Over Knives. You really think animals are killed humanely?! Slaughterhouse workers have admitted over, and over, and over again about the horrible practice and abuse the animals go through during the killing process. How they intentionally abuse these animals because they have to make themselves numb to the killing and the pain they put the animals through.
Some slaughterhouse workers even talk about how the pigs will come up to nuzzle them and be pet right before hooks are shoved through their asses and they are hung up to have their throats cut. Nice huh? Pigs are not only cleaner than dogs, but they are smarter. Think about that.....
Almost every slaughterhouse worker has a problem with substance abuse and domestic violence in the home because they have no escape from the horrors of their job. Those workers will be the first to admit that the animals are NOT dead when they are being boiled, skinned, gutted.....
And the babies? Have you ever seen how they castrate baby pigs? No? Go find a video. No anaesthetics, no care or concern, they just RIP their testicles out and cut them off and throw them back in their "pit".
When you chose to eat meat, you are eating the fear and anxiety of that animal.

3) It's not healthy to eat only plants, grains, beans, and seeds
Another bullshit. I can't tell you the amount of people that were so concerned with the health of the growing fetus in my belly because I wasn't eating meat.

I have had the healthiest pregnancy because of my choices. My blood work is fantastic. My blood pressure is low and right where it should be. Hell, I've only gained about 6 or 7 pounds this entire pregnancy and my OB is thrilled. I also have no swelling. I retained water BAD with Carson.... not this one. I looked miserable with Carson. Not this one. I was puffy and bloated and unhealthy with Carson. Not this one. Here's your proof. Picture on the left was Carson, picture on the right, Dean. Same week of pregnancy. Tell me which one looks healthier?

There have been studies, upon studies, and stories upon stories of people being cured of their diseases or having their health issues go into recession because of a plant based diet. Diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, gout..... you name it.

This is why I am doing it. My health. The American diet is getting so disgusting and it is killing us. It's no wonder the cost of insurance and health care is through the fucking roof. We are the most unhealthy people and we don't seem to care. Got a problem? Eh, I can take a pill for that. Got another problem? Surgery! Sure!

How about we just eat healthier and live cleaner lives and maybe our bodies would take care of us for a change? I have felt so much better. Yes, in my last weeks of pregnancy I have had some odd cravings and I did give into them. One of them being buffalo wings one night. Do you know how horrible I felt the rest of the night? My heartburn, stomach ache, and overall feeling like lard..... it wasn't really worth it.

Plus, one thing I didn't get into was the fact that we are ruining the earth with the mass production of meat and if we used all that fucking land to... I don't know... plant crops... we could solve a lot of hunger problems and stop ruining our water, land, and ozone.

If you took the time to read all of this, kudos to you. The reason I am posting this on my blog is because, well, it's mine. This is my place to vent my frustrations and get some things off my mind. Once again, each choice you make in life is your own - but understand that my choices are different than yours and I'm not stupid. I have read so many books, watched so many documentaries on the Western Diet and the reasons to not eat that way are so overwhelming.... how can I ignore it? How can I ignore how much healthier and happier I've been? How can I ignore the change in my energy and overall body image. As a person that's struggled with her weight her entire life, how can I ignore the fact that even while at the beginning of pregnancy I lost 17 pounds and was still eating anything I wanted?!

Here are some of my book recommendations for anyone curious about what I read:
How Not to Die
Skinny Bitch
The Happy Herbivore
Slaughterhouse
Vegan's Daily Companion

Also, the Food for Thought Podcast by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau is amazing and worth downloading ALL episodes

I'm not asking that everyone be like me. Again, you make your own choices in life. I'm just asking that people respect the choices I've made, understand why I do them, and then just say "Ok, I respect that. I'm glad you feel good." I've actually turned down going out to eat with people because I hate explaining myself. I shouldn't have to and neither should you.