Monthly Goals - April 2011

April!!  Not sure where to begin with my list of to-dos and food goals.  I've been adding to the list for the last month.  Plus I'm learning more and more about GAPS.  And it's hard to get it all organized/wrap my brain around it.  But I'll do my best.  Hopefully this baby won't surprise us and come early or put me on bedrest.  Else I'm in trouble :P  Here goes.

FOOD

1. Eating for pregnancy, specifically the 3rd trimester - omega-3 fats - fish or fish oil.  Continue to eat seafood at least once a week.

2. Eat mostly GAPS-legal food (more to come on this in another post...and some of the other food goals reflect it.)

3. Eat grain free (aside from a splurge for Rebecca's birthday cake :).

4. Eat coconut oil daily and plenty of other healthy fat (butter, lard, EVOO).  I can tell my tummy feels better when I eat plenty of butter and coconut oil.  I found a recipe for peanut butter fudge that uses coconut oil that sounds good.  May have to try that for a once in a while treat.

5. Reduce sugar intake.  Sugar feeds the bad bacteria in your gut.  This is a struggle right now.  Hormones and sugar go hand-in-hand :P  But I'm trying.

6. Eat raw egg yolks more often.  This is easy to digest protein that is very healing and nourishing.  I'll try to mix them into yogurt more often.  And eat fried eggs more.

7. Make/freeze/eat regularly beef broth.  I still have quite a few soup bones from our side of beef.  Time to make some nourishing bone broth.  That is the biggest gut healer.

8. New probioitic - When I ordered the GAPS book I also ordered a new probiotic (brand recommended/designed by the author).  I am using up my last few pills from my old bottle.  Then I will switch to the new probiotic.  I hope it's effective but doesn't cause another big round of die off.

9. Avoid foods that I'm sensitive to:
potatoes, oats, rice, raw apples, bananas, carrots, raw spinach, black beans, any raw food that is really hard.

10. Baking.  I have a lot of baking projects this month.  Most of it is prepping ahead and freezing for things to come.  Better to do it now when I have the time and energy.

*cake/frosting/deco - for Rebecca's party (cake is baked already, but I will still have to make frosting and decorate it)
*special dessert for Justin's birthday - maybe pudding
*work treats for Justin to celebrate his birthday, graduation and the new baby (already made brownies and bars.  Might make one more thing)
*treats for Kindermusik family night in May (if we can make it :) (maybe cookies)
*hospital and early days at home easy snacks for me - not counting on the hospital to have any nourishing food/GAPS-friendly stuff. (gf breakfast bars, gf granola, crispy nuts)
*snacks for Rebecca and guests while I'm in the hospital (graham crackers, cookies, easy breakfast items, popcorn)
*birthday treats for Kindermusik and gymnastics? (cookies, bars, brownies?)

11. Continue Sunday night fun/finger food night, and do breakfast one night a week.

12. Freezer foods - plan, make and freeze all of the meals for Rebecca, Justin and grandparents while I'm in the hospital and a few easy meals for when I get home (I'm sure the meals people bring us won't be GAPS/gut friendly) (meal plans almost set).  A few items I for sure want to get in the freezer for easy post-baby meals- gf fish sticks, french fries, soup/broth, gf chicken nuggets.

HEALTH

1. Healthy lifestyle series - gluten/grains/GAPS - I want to do a separate post about GAPS and where I'm at instead of including all of the info in my goals post.
2. EFT - continue to do it at least 3x a week.
3. Kegels - continue to do them every day.
4. Continue reading/writing rational thoughts.

FAMILY/PERSONAL

1. Be creative - 1 birthday cake

2. Activities and Outings

a. Kindermusik
b. nursery cmt (meeting April 18, nursery duty April 3, 24)
c. MOPS (meeting April 15)
d. Gymnastics - done at the end of April
e. OB appt. - April 13 (36 week u/s!!!), April 20, April 26 or 27)
f. birthdays - Justin April 5, Rebecca April 17
g. birthday/graduation party - April 16
h. girls' day out - April 2

3. Rebecca - some things to do with Rebecca this month:

a. Keep working on potty training.
b. Keep working on letters, numbers, spelling/sounds, counting, math, etc.
c. Keep working on napping in her room.
d. 3 year check up

4. Baby prep

a. clean toys
b. pack hospital bag
c. buy a going home outfit
d. put carseat in car
e. put pack 'n' play in bedroom
f. stock house supplies (TP, soap, toothpaste, etc.)
g. clean/prep house for guests/get basement ready
h. write daily instructions/meals for grandparents
i. research vaccine schedule/discuss with ped
j. stock meds (probiotic, CLO, vitamins, etc.)
k. make email/announcement list
l. organize freezers

5. Clean - anything :)

6. Birthday party - wrap presents, cook food ahead, make cake, clean

7. Finish basement bathroom - get/hang shower curtain, spray on shower sealer, clean, hang towel rod?