I was waiting until I had some photos to post with this. But sadly they are still on the camera. I'm going to have to have a talk with my tech guy about this! :) So without pix...
It's official - we're having a little girl. We just had our ultrasound. What an amazing experience! I couldn't help but tear up a little. This is the first time we get to really see our little one. She's so little and perfect! And she's got her little feet right on my bladder - well she did that morning. It was so comforting to watch Missy, the ultrasound tech check out all her little working parts. It looks like she has all her fingers and toes - and did you know that down syndrome babies usually keep their hands in fists rather than opening and closing those little fingers. Our girl was moving everything! And she checked that all the chambers of her heart were working correctly and that her brain was developing well. Plus they measured her - head, tummy and limbs. So even though we didn't have the special tests, we can be fairly confident that she's normal - well normal until we get a hold of her.
It's so fitting that it was pouring on Wednesday. The first time I felt her move a few weeks ago, it was pouring and thundering in church. I think maybe she can sense that I like storms or that rainy days make me sad and I need a little love. :) Wishful thinking I'm sure.
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Speaking Her Mind
Last night I watched the Miss USA Pageant. Maybe it's the little girl in me but I still enjoy watching these pageants. I love seeing the beautiful hair and stunning dresses. And I can't help but be a little envious of these gorgeous women. I definitely exercised today!
Each year I watch, I hope that Miss Nebraska might make it into the Top 10. But sadly, I've never seen it happen. In fact, the same states get picked almost every year. Even though Nebraska didn't make it, I was pleasantly surprised that the Top 15 was more diverse than previous years. Florida, DC, Hawaii and Oklahoma didn't make it. I predicted that Miss California would win because California is one of the standard winners in years past. But J predicted that North Carolina would win and he was right! I think he was just lucky.
Here are some pictures from NYDaily. Or the main Miss USA site. I wanted to post a picture but didn't want to do it illegally. :)
So here are my two major observations/opinions about the show last night...
1. How in the world do they pick the judges? And do these judges really pick the winner? Last night they had some previous beauty pageant girls, some executives I've never heard of and some random celebrities. The celebrities always seem like silly picks. What do Holly Madison, Perez Hilton or Kenan from SNL know about beauty pageants?! There are always some in the line up every year that don't make sense, especially if they're judging on more than which girl they think is pretty.
2. The final question. The topic of the final questions vary from year to year. Sometimes the questions are equally hard without being on the same topic, and other years they are completely unfair. This year they were all political hot button issue questions. And when I say hot button I mean controversial. Poor Miss California choose judge Perez Hilton to ask his question and he asked her about gay marriage rights.
There was really no way for her to answer this question smoothly. This is where I began to wonder if they would be judged on whether they gave the 'right' answer or based on how (poise, confidence) they answer the question. I applaud Miss Cali for speaking clearly and actually answering the question (unlike Miss Arizona) and stating her personal conviction. She's believes marriage is between one man and one woman. The judge, PH about had a fit on camera and I heard he actually did off stage. Miss Cali also did not win but was rather runner-up.
I do not understand how these pageants work. Oh well. I just watch to enjoy the glamor! Do you watch pageants? Did you watch last night? Any thoughts about the night?
Each year I watch, I hope that Miss Nebraska might make it into the Top 10. But sadly, I've never seen it happen. In fact, the same states get picked almost every year. Even though Nebraska didn't make it, I was pleasantly surprised that the Top 15 was more diverse than previous years. Florida, DC, Hawaii and Oklahoma didn't make it. I predicted that Miss California would win because California is one of the standard winners in years past. But J predicted that North Carolina would win and he was right! I think he was just lucky.
Here are some pictures from NYDaily. Or the main Miss USA site. I wanted to post a picture but didn't want to do it illegally. :)
So here are my two major observations/opinions about the show last night...
1. How in the world do they pick the judges? And do these judges really pick the winner? Last night they had some previous beauty pageant girls, some executives I've never heard of and some random celebrities. The celebrities always seem like silly picks. What do Holly Madison, Perez Hilton or Kenan from SNL know about beauty pageants?! There are always some in the line up every year that don't make sense, especially if they're judging on more than which girl they think is pretty.
2. The final question. The topic of the final questions vary from year to year. Sometimes the questions are equally hard without being on the same topic, and other years they are completely unfair. This year they were all political hot button issue questions. And when I say hot button I mean controversial. Poor Miss California choose judge Perez Hilton to ask his question and he asked her about gay marriage rights.
There was really no way for her to answer this question smoothly. This is where I began to wonder if they would be judged on whether they gave the 'right' answer or based on how (poise, confidence) they answer the question. I applaud Miss Cali for speaking clearly and actually answering the question (unlike Miss Arizona) and stating her personal conviction. She's believes marriage is between one man and one woman. The judge, PH about had a fit on camera and I heard he actually did off stage. Miss Cali also did not win but was rather runner-up.
I do not understand how these pageants work. Oh well. I just watch to enjoy the glamor! Do you watch pageants? Did you watch last night? Any thoughts about the night?
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Healthy Ideas
I just read this interesting article from SELF Magazine via the Today Show. Please read the full article at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27069944/ for more info and to find out where their research is from. I just outlined the main points.
9 ways to lose weight without dieting
Self magazine on how to shed the pounds and not stress over a single bite.
Great news! You can ditch your diet for good and still hit your happy weight. Science has finally proven what you've probably suspected for years — that following a restrictive food plan can make you more likely to overeat. We at Self have a better way to slim down: nine simple lifestyle switches that will help you shrink your waist effortlessly!
Eat more good stuff. Focus on healthy foods and eat fiber.
Go to the dogs. Volunteering at the pound could help you lose pounds.
Sleep it off. Getting enough sleep can keep your body from storing fat. Sleep deprivation increases cravings for sweets and starches.
Spice things up. The spices like garlic and pepper make people focus on the sensory characteristics of the food — its smell and taste. The foods were more enjoyable, so people felt fuller faster and didn't eat as much.” Sniffing the dishes was key because 90 percent of what you taste is determined by what you smell.
Give yourself props. Simply applauding your everyday calorie-burning activities can help you shed pounds. Previous research suggests that having a positive attitude may help reduce overall stress levels — which can make eating healthy easier.
Eat when you're hungry. Women who eat when hungry and stop when satisfied have a lower average body-mass index than those who eat for other reasons. Women who are satisfied with their body are more likely to eat when they're hungry, and vice versa.
Breathe away weight. Inhale, exhale and then step on the scale. Meditating before and during meals helped the dieters eat less and enjoy their dishes more. In other words, enjoy your food instead of scarfing it down.
Surrender the salt shaker. Salt may be calorie-free, but it can still contribute to body fat — and not only because it piggybacks on greasy snacks such as fries and chips. Salt leads to thirst. So if you indulge in something salty, don't wash it down with something sweet.
Savor a good laugh. Watching a funny show caused adults to experience a 20 percent jump in heart rate and resting metabolism in a study at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. Laughing uses up a lot of energy because it engages a variety of muscle groups, including your abs.
For more health and fitness tips, visit Self.com
So I found this article interesting. I feel like most of the 9 steps are helpful even though some of their suggestions are silly. And they're all such easy and obvious tips. I mean, who doesn't need to laugh some more! I've been trying to exercise more and be more conscious of what I eat. I never paid much attention to what I ate or how much exercise I got as long as my jeans still fit. But my husband has pointed out that fitting in your clothes or staying at the same number on the scale doesn't mean your in shape. Earlier this year I did my first "competitive" run. Even though I waited until the last minute to start running was still happy to participate. I was proud that I ran the entire 3K without stopping. Believe me, I wanted to stop. I hadn't run consistently since a few early morning bleary-eyed adventures with my roommate and before then not since Jr. High track. I was hoping that this would inspire me to have a love of running and a desire to do it a few times a week.
Sadly this didn't happen. I found that I do enjoy running but only when it's not too hot or cold. I enjoy the fresh air and the sense of accomplishment I feel went I make it back to the house in one piece. But I am very easily distracted and fill my time with other things. So this month, Heather asked me to do another race. I am once again putting off preparing to run until the last minute. This time it's a 5K so some training might really come in handy. I am praying for discipline and nice weather for the next 2-3 weeks! :)
9 ways to lose weight without dieting
Self magazine on how to shed the pounds and not stress over a single bite.
Great news! You can ditch your diet for good and still hit your happy weight. Science has finally proven what you've probably suspected for years — that following a restrictive food plan can make you more likely to overeat. We at Self have a better way to slim down: nine simple lifestyle switches that will help you shrink your waist effortlessly!
Eat more good stuff. Focus on healthy foods and eat fiber.
Go to the dogs. Volunteering at the pound could help you lose pounds.
Sleep it off. Getting enough sleep can keep your body from storing fat. Sleep deprivation increases cravings for sweets and starches.
Spice things up. The spices like garlic and pepper make people focus on the sensory characteristics of the food — its smell and taste. The foods were more enjoyable, so people felt fuller faster and didn't eat as much.” Sniffing the dishes was key because 90 percent of what you taste is determined by what you smell.
Give yourself props. Simply applauding your everyday calorie-burning activities can help you shed pounds. Previous research suggests that having a positive attitude may help reduce overall stress levels — which can make eating healthy easier.
Eat when you're hungry. Women who eat when hungry and stop when satisfied have a lower average body-mass index than those who eat for other reasons. Women who are satisfied with their body are more likely to eat when they're hungry, and vice versa.
Breathe away weight. Inhale, exhale and then step on the scale. Meditating before and during meals helped the dieters eat less and enjoy their dishes more. In other words, enjoy your food instead of scarfing it down.
Surrender the salt shaker. Salt may be calorie-free, but it can still contribute to body fat — and not only because it piggybacks on greasy snacks such as fries and chips. Salt leads to thirst. So if you indulge in something salty, don't wash it down with something sweet.
Savor a good laugh. Watching a funny show caused adults to experience a 20 percent jump in heart rate and resting metabolism in a study at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. Laughing uses up a lot of energy because it engages a variety of muscle groups, including your abs.
For more health and fitness tips, visit Self.com
So I found this article interesting. I feel like most of the 9 steps are helpful even though some of their suggestions are silly. And they're all such easy and obvious tips. I mean, who doesn't need to laugh some more! I've been trying to exercise more and be more conscious of what I eat. I never paid much attention to what I ate or how much exercise I got as long as my jeans still fit. But my husband has pointed out that fitting in your clothes or staying at the same number on the scale doesn't mean your in shape. Earlier this year I did my first "competitive" run. Even though I waited until the last minute to start running was still happy to participate. I was proud that I ran the entire 3K without stopping. Believe me, I wanted to stop. I hadn't run consistently since a few early morning bleary-eyed adventures with my roommate and before then not since Jr. High track. I was hoping that this would inspire me to have a love of running and a desire to do it a few times a week.
Sadly this didn't happen. I found that I do enjoy running but only when it's not too hot or cold. I enjoy the fresh air and the sense of accomplishment I feel went I make it back to the house in one piece. But I am very easily distracted and fill my time with other things. So this month, Heather asked me to do another race. I am once again putting off preparing to run until the last minute. This time it's a 5K so some training might really come in handy. I am praying for discipline and nice weather for the next 2-3 weeks! :)
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