Friday, March 11, 2016

20 Weeks: Whoaaa We're Half Way There!

All week long I've been hearing Bon Jovi in my head -- "Whoaaa we're half way there, whoaaaa livin' on a prayer. Take my hand and we'll make it, I swear. Whoaaa livin' on a prayer"

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever associate that song with baby making. It was always the go-to beer pong or flip cup anthem of my college days and of course the ultimate windows-down road trip with your girlfriends sing-a-long song. But now, it's taken on a whole new meaning. And somehow, is still perfectly 100% relevant. Every morning feels like a blessing. Every morning I say a little prayer to the Universe -- thank you for choosing me for this journey. I can't get over the fact that this is happening inside of my body and that I'm half way through the process already. Time just seems to be flying by, so I find myself journaling and trying to stay present and capture the minutes and moments in between. 

Some of you beautiful readers of the Zen Girl blog are just finding this information out for the first time, as this is my first time writing about this new chapter in my life here online. So, if that's you -- welcome! And surprise!! :) Zen Girl is having a Zen Baby! For those of you that have been following my journey for years, thank you for all your love and support along the way. Most of you know from my articles that I have spent the last two years aggressively pursuing my own personal "fear detox" to release some of my deepest fears so that I can fully step into the woman I'm meant to be. I haven't talked about this much online, but the main motivating force behind my years-long fear detox was to clear out space in my body, mind, and soul for a little one. I've always wanted to be a mama, but knew that there were lots of insecurities, doubts, and blockages in my being that were coming to the surface and making it obvious that I needed to do this deeper soul work in order to make space and let the Universe know that I was ready. I'll definitely be writing more about this in the coming months, as just when I thought I was all done with my work, a whole NEW set of fears have popped up like, hello! we're not finished with you yet!! Oh how funny to think we're "done". Isn't that the beauty of life though right? We're never truly done. There's always some new way to learn, expand and grow!



In the meantime, I'm just excited and thrilled that we've made it this far. What an adventure it's been! This little one was conceived on our 5 year wedding anniversary trip to Hawaii back in October. (side note: technology is crazy!! It can tell you almost the exact day/time of conception, it's wild!) My husband Devin and I had always said we would start trying on our 3 year anniversary, back in 2013, but my yoga/travel career was picking up steam and he decided to start his own law firm that year, so needless to say, we pushed it back a bit. One year turned into 2 years, but finally, around August 2015, our passports were totally full of stamps, we had accomplished tons of professional goals, and finally made the big decision to start trying for a family of our own. Luckily, it didn't take long and by mid-November, I got a positive reading on the pregnancy test (or more historically correct: I got an "embarazada" because it was a Clear Blue digital en espanol I picked up the weekend before in Baja). No words can describe how we felt at that moment . . .  relieved, excited, scared, nervous, fulfilled, divinely timed, and so so right. 

Since then, this little babe has already helped me lead 3 yoga retreats in Mexico, 4 goddess circles, helped me teach tons of yoga classes here in San Diego, and in the past 5 months, has been on 6 flights. One thing's for sure: she's already got that yogi-wanderlust-adventurous-gypsy soul in her!

Here are the questions I get asked most often:
  • How are you feeling?  In short, I feel absolutely wonderful! I haven't been sick once, still teach all my daily yoga classes and have been able to stay super active throughout the first and second trimesters. 
  • What were your biggest fears?  Honestly, I was most afraid of losing my yoga practice, having no energy, and not being able to teach or show up for my students. I naturally get car-sick and sea-sick easily, so I was convinced that I would be a prime candidate for debilitating morning sickness. Luckily, this is not the case at all and even with all the flights and travel overseas, no sickness to date!
  • Any crazy cravings?  I went through a turkey sandwich phase for a few weeks back in December. I drove all over San Diego trying to find the perfect turkey avocado panini and ate them non-stop. Pre-baby I was mostly plant and fish based in my diet, so it's odd that I've been ravenous for meat, but I take that as my body telling me that I need more animal protein to support the growth of this baby. 
  • Any tips for yogi style pregnancy? I place so much value on solid nutrition for the growing babe and myself. One thing that I think has been a game-changer for me is starting out my day with a huge green smoothie every morning. My daily smoothie is super simple and easy to digest: banana, coconut water, organic hemp protein and a big heaping scoop of Moringa. I credit Moringa 100% with my lack of morning sickness. I strongly believe that it balances out my hormones and adrenal system, warding off fatigue also keeps my energy high. I also make a point to have a big healthy lunch and take my pre-natal vitamins and prenatal DHA (fish oil) pills with lunch to make sure they are absorbed fully in my body. 
  • Favorite moment thus far?  Feeling the baby move for the first time! Just last week, I was lying down in bed trying to fall asleep and felt the "flutters" -- it was the most amazing feeling ever and now since 19 weeks on, I've been able to connect with her and feel her moving every day.
  • What's the next few months look like? Birthing classes, learning as much as we can about going the all-natural route (I'm planning on a water birth!), picking out a name (eeek!!!), staying active, continuing to listen to my body, teaching as much yoga as I can, hosting a few more woman empowerment events while I have this divine feminine energy growing inside my body. Also -- planning our Baby Moon (thinking of taking it full circle back to Hawaii where it all began), connecting with friends and family in person as often as possible, looking forward to turning 30 in May, and welcoming this baby girl into the world sometime around the end of July!
  • Mantra? I AM READY
Thanks for reading and always following along on my ever-changing journey :)

If you have any natural baby tips, please send them my way! I love being a total amateur and am so wide-open to any advice or guidance along the way. 

3 comments:

  1. This makes me so happy! Can't believe you are already half way there! Thank you for sharing your beautiful story <3 <3

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  2. " What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you." Emerson I wish Devin luck in keeping up with you x 2. LOL

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  3. I have been looking into Moringa and found some things saying that it's used traditionally in India and such as a natural birth control and that it wasn't healthy if you're pregnant. I'm just curious since I was looking into it myself and don't know too much about it, did you research it or talk to a midwife or obgyn and they said it was safe to use?

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