Month: August 2012

Oh Sleep…what’s that again?

/ Anna @ Piper's Run / 5 Comments

Sleep: A natural periodic state of rest for the mind and body, in which the eyes usually close and consciousness is completely or partially lost, so that there is a decrease in bodily movement and responsiveness to external stimuli. Reference The Free Dictionary.com

Really ? People still do this ?

Oh right, I’m pregnant and we have a toddler. Now I understand.

Let’s breakdown Sleep:

Single Person Sleep: Whenever you want, however long you want.

Married Couple Sleep : Whenever you want, however long you want, with your significant other.

Pregnant with First Child: Whenever you want, however long you want, nap time increases and early bed time starts. When someone tells you to sleep now (while pregnant), listen to them – they are not kidding.

Sleep as a Parent: When you get it, nap when they nap, tag team extra sleep.

Sleep with 1 toddler and pregnant: When you get it, nap when they nap, tag team extra sleep and pass out when physical exhaustion takes over your pregnant body (THIS IS ME).

Let me break down my sleep for you:

Pre-Pregnancy #2: Lilly started sleeping through the night at 18 months (Christmas 2011). I started sleeping through the night consistently 🙂

First Trimester (Spring 2012): I would pass out between 5:30pm – 7pm when my husband was home and would sleep until 6:30am. Now, that wasn’t a full night’s sleep as when you are pregnant and in your first trimester you get up to pee … a lot!

Second Trimester (Summer): A little less sleep needed but still early to be by 9pm, up at 6:30am.

Last night, clearly I was exhausted. SaĂŻ bathed Lilly at 7pm and I passed out in our bed at 7:20pm. Around 8pm, my husband came in and said “you should get in your pajama’s and go to bed for the night – your body needs it”. So I did. I slept from 7:20pm until 6:15am. Hit my snooze button on my phone 3 times and then got up completely refreshed.

Apparently, at 25 weeks pregnant I needed a little extra sleep. And I feel great this morning … we’ll see how the day progresses.

Third Trimester (Fall): Since I’m a few weeks away from this, my game plan will move back to “Pregnant with first Child” Stage. Sleep when I can, nap when our toddler naps and early to bed when needed. Wish me luck.

When baby #2 arrives in December (or November): sleep when I can.

What “stage” is your sleep at ?

When did your child start sleeping through the night?

If pregnant, are you sleeping at all? Or tossing and turning all night (like me)

What is your sleep advice for parents to be?

 

photo’s from google images.

Quick Breakfast Combo’s

/ Anna @ Piper's Run / Leave a comment

As I get further along in this pregnancy, I am needing to find new combinations of foods to eat to keep me going throughout the day. I came across this picture on Fitfluential’s facebook page and thought I would post about it.

What’s your favourite breakfast combo ?

I’ve been digging craving Raisin Bran with skim milk for weeks now but every so often I change it up.

Sometimes it’s grapefruit and whole wheat/multi grain toast with peanut butter,

Yogurt, granola and berries etc.

Does working out make you eat more ?

What food combo’s give you the energy boots you need?

If  you are pregnant (or when you where pregnant),

what was your weirdest combination of foods (breakfast or not)?

I’d love to hear about it in the comments below ….

 

Vegan Waffles…in no time

/ Anna @ Piper's Run / 4 Comments

This past weekend I woke up and thought it would be nice to have some home-made (vegan) waffles. At roughly 25 weeks pregnant I get these random cravings great desire for certain foods. Now, some of these cravings are kind of normal but maybe not:

  • Watermelon – as cold as it can get without freezing
  • Jr. Mints – stored in the fridge … okay, so this is a normal thing for me not pregnancy related
  • Lay’s Ketchup Chips – this was during the first trimester only during a 3 week period; I no longer crave them
  • Snickers Bars – again after they have been in the fridge (this one ended a short while ago)
  • Pad Thai – have managed to have twice this summer …. and counting
  • Red Grapes – yes you guessed it … as cold as can be
  • Coconut Yogurt with blueberries/strawberries

You get my point….I have random specific cravings these days.

Sunday morning, we all got up a little late (thank you Lilly). Lilly and I went to the kitchen and my husband, Sai went out for a quick walk with our dog, Maclean. Their walk usually takes about 10 minutes around our little block.

I decided that Lilly and I would make Vegan Waffles provided I could find the recipe under our mess of a kicthen storage/side table. Just our luck … I found it. Out came the waffle maker or cooker as Lilly calls is and we found all the ingredients in minutes.  I sat Lilly on the stove (no it wasn’t on and yes I was right beside her) to help me mix the ingredients – she LOVED it!

My mother had printed this recipe a few years ago, so I had to go looking for the original source:  www.boutell.com

Vegan Waffles Ingredients

1 ripe banana, mashed

2 cups of water

1 1/2 cup of whole wheat flour

2 teaspoons Baking Powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon nutmeg  (I didn’t have any)

vanilla extract to taste (optional)

Other: I also added 3 tablespoons of ground flaxseed.

Steps:

  1. Mix Banana and Water together.
  2. Add dry ingredients and mix, leaving lumps in the water.

FOR WAFFLES:

Cook in a waffle iron, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

This makes about four waffles – however we got about 7 out of them. I made a few small ones for Lilly.

FOR PANCAKES: 

Pour 1/2 cup of batter into a hot, lightly oiled frying pan. When bubbles rise through the middle of the pancake and break on the top, flip the pancake and cook until browned underneath. You can get the original recipe here.

By the time my husband got home (10 minutes), we had them in the “cooker” and the first round was ready to come out. This recipe is really easy to make and tasty.

These would be perfect to make and freeze for another day. Mental note – make before baby arrives and freeze to have on hand for breakfast …. make that “to have on hand for any time of the day”.

Enjoy!

Motivation Monday #33

/ Anna @ Piper's Run / 4 Comments

Motivation Monday #33

Pregnant or Not …..

I read this quote and think “What’s your LIFE worth?”

If we can avoid illness by being active … SIMPLY by being active – then why wouldn’t you be active?

I’m not saying you need to train for a marathon but you need to START MOVING.

 

 

My work out Sunday night:  I went for a 1/2 hour walk and did 10 minutes of exercises on my stability ball …. almost 25 weeks pregnant.

 

Does the thought of you being ill someday make you more active?

 

Piper’s Run

 

Picture found on Pinterest – linked to Back To Her Roots Blog.