Meal Plans Week of 3-20-11

Hurray for spring!!!  It's officially here.  And the weather is changing too.  We only have one tiny pile of snow left in the back yard.  And we were able to play outside every day for the last 5 days.  Rebecca is already thoroughly enjoying her sandbox :)  And getting to play with the neighbor often.

Hard to believe next week is the last week of March already.  The clock is ticking.  It's getting harder for me to keep up...but nesting is kicking in full force :P  So I've actually been very productive lately, especially with all of the little odds and ends that I normally put off (cleaning off my desk, picking up little piles of things on the counter, etc.).

We tackled some big things last week with baby prep/house work.  The biggest...Rebecca slept in her new room last night!!!  And so far she's doing great.  Went to bed well and is still sleeping soundly.  Which also means we got her room done.  It is aired out, her clothes are put away, etc.  We still have to find a clock.  And we might get curtains.  But other than that it's done.  We got out some baby gear.  I stocked up on a few more cloth diapers yesterday since they were having a great sale at our local store.  I ordered new nursing tanks and bras.  We did some baby gear research, so we're close to making our last purchases.  We need to pick which monitor we want.  We have to decide if we want a new swing or if we'll just buy a new motor for the old one.  And we have to decide on a double jogger.  We scheduled the tile work for our basement bathroom project (next week).  So that is almost under way as well.

Aside from that I got some birthday present shopping done...almost done with all of the gifts I need to buy for a while.  I did a little more party planning.  I made Rebecca 3 bibs and started on a princess bag to match her princess dress.  I baked regular breakfast cookies, sourdough breakfast cookies and made homemade chocolate chips.  I also froze a couple batches of soup.  And made another purchase that I'm very excited about...the GAPS (Gut and Psyhcology Syndrome) book!!!  I've been wanting it for a while.  But since I didn't get it for Christmas or my birthday I decided to just buy it.  After months and months of research and countless success stories I know this is the path I want to go down for healing my gut...and my mind.  And I've already incorporated quite a few things into my diet/life from it.  But I know there is a lot more to learn...which requires the book.  It will be quite a while before I can do GAPS from the intro to the end due to pregnancy and breastfeeding.  But I can get on the full GAPS diet (end stage) right away.  I know that won't totally heal my gut, but I do think it will help me feel a lot better.  In addition to the book I ordered some new probiotics that I think (hope) will be more effective than the ones I currently take.  This will definitely not be an easy journey.  It can take up to 2 years to fully heal on GAPS.  But it will be worth it.

So, on to this week.  It is even crazier than last week.  And it's getting harder and harder to keep up.  Physically things are challening.  Mentally they are challenging.  And I know it's better for the baby if I don't go overboard.  So I've been doing some thinking/praying, and I might have to cut some stuff out of our schedule.  The main thing is my book study.  I do enjoy it.  But it's just one more thing on my list and one more morning that I don't get to spend with Rebecca.  And I am so tense while I'm there that I feel awful the rest of the day when I go.  Not good for me or the baby (or Rebecca :P).  So I'm not planning to go this week.  And I may not go any more at all.  We'll see how I'm doing when it's time for the next meeting.  I was also invited to a Norwex (chemical-free cleaning products) party today.  But I just don't think I can squeeze it in.  So, what am I doing this week?  PLENTY!  I don't normally have this many evening activities in one week.  So this could be stressful for me.  It also requires lots of prep ahead meals.  Today is church, and I have to help with Little Lambs.  Monday is Harvest Health, gymnastics and a nursery cmt meeting.  Tuesday I think I'll do my grocery shopping instead of book study.  Justin has class.  Wednesday is Kindermusik, co-op pick up and a dessert social for a church thing.  It'll be tricky to work out co-op, dinner and dessert timing.  Thursday I don't have anything in the day (thankfully), but I will be getting my hair cut in the evening.  SO excited about that.  It's been 14 months...and my hair is driving me crazy :P  No style, just long straight hair.  I'm very ready for a change.  Friday morning I'm going to a local MOPS 2nd hand sale.  In the evening my parents will be here to watch Rebecca while Justin and I go to his MBA honors ceremony and out for dinner.  Saturday will be at home getting more stuff done.

What do I need to get done?  Plenty.  This week I want to get the nursery finished.  I also want to finish most of my sewing projects (princess bag, one more bib, cloth wipes).  I need to freeze more food, make fermented punch, cream cheese and mayo.  I would also like to try a new grain free breakfast bar recipe.  On the baby front I really need to start researching vaccines.  I would like to do a modified schedule this time around, so I need to figure out what that will be.

These last 7 weeks seem a bit overwhelming with everything that needs to get done.  Justin is so busy with work and class (and he's starting to feel if physically).  And I'm trying to keep up with baby prep, Rebecca, housework, daily activities, etc. while gradually feeling worse and worse as I get bigger and bigger.  Eating is getting harder as my stomach doesn't have much room.  Even sleeping is getting harder.  Woke up with awful charlie horses in both legs 2 nights ago.  Woke up this morning with numb fingers.  Who knows what nerves, etc. the baby is on :P  We're just trying to take it one day/one step at a time.  May will be here before we know it.  And then we can relax with our big girl and new baby.

I guess that's enough of a novel for this week.  Can you tell I have a lot on my mind? :P  Here's what's on the menu.  But before you check that I'll leave you with the "best" comment I got last week..."Oh, I thought you would have had the baby by now."  "No, I'm not due until May."  "Oh, that long yet?"  Gee, thanks.  As if I wasn't feeling huge enough already.
-------------------------------
S (prep lunch, cook beans, make cream cheese/whey, sewing, church, Little Lambs, party?, freeze chili, make mayo, make punch)
  B - leftover quiche and veggies
  L - ground chicken, bean, veggie chili, sourdough bread
  D - strawberry milkshakes, taco dip w/ tortialla chips, avocado, beans and salsa, corn, fruit

M (prep dinner, sewing, HH, G, Nursery Cmt, soak grains)
  B - leftover chili (me), crunchy granola bar, fruit (Justin)
  D - (early/easy clean up) - meatloaf in cp, peas, baked potato

T (prep smoothies, make oatmeal muffins, sewing, AC??, Meijer, class)
  B - cherry, blueberry, pineapple, avocado kefir smoothie (me), soaked oatmeal muffins, peaches (Justin)
  D - grain free salmon cakes, broccoli

W (prep dinner, make gf breakfast bars, KM, co-op pick up, dessert)
  B - gf breakfast bars, small smoothie (me), fruit (Justin)
  D - (light/early/easy clean up) - cp hawaiian chicken over rice

Th (prep smoothie, chop frtui, sewing, grind flour, make brownies, hair cut, make ranch and honey mustard dressing)
  B - kefir smoothie (me), sd english muffin, (Justin)
  D - (easy clean up) - tilapia w/ roasted corn, peas, chips

F (prep dinner, clean, MOPS sale, honors ceremony/dinner out)
  B - fried eggs, avocado, toast
  D - salad bar w/ chicken, nuts, dried fruit, croutons, carrots, avocado, cheese, dressing, sourdough bread (parents and Rebecca), out to eat (Justin and me Cygnus)

S (sewing, boil egg, laundry, Target, HF, make pb cups, soak beans)
  B - kefir smoothie (me), sourdough toast, fruit (Justin)
  D - leftover salad bar w/ chicken, nuts, dried fruit, croutons, avocado, cheese, dressing, hard boiled eggs