In case you haven’t heard, and you probably haven’t because I never officially announced it- we’re expecting baby number 4 in November! I'm believing for another beautiful, supernatural childbirth, like my others and the first few weeks have been conditioning my faith LOL!

      I had one week in this first trimester that truly kicked my butt. All of a sudden, coffee became repulsive so fatigue, nausea, and crazy cravings kicked in. I’m talking about an unquenchable urge to eat General Tso’s chicken, which takes some prep work to prepare gluten-free, yet by the time the food is finished, I feel personally offended that I ever could have wanted this meal and I just want to hide in my car because I can’t take the smell.

Good times.

     But don’t worry too much about me; I’ve managed to gain more weight than I ever have in the first trimester. Somehow my doctor didn’t think this was a grand accomplishment! Nevertheless, I’ve learned that the body does what it needs to during pregnancy, and it will all even out some point along the way.

     Finding proper ways to nourish yourself takes a much deeper role than simply eating well. Our bodies are only one-third of our being. And let’s face it, when our souls are craving something, we can stuff the “answer” into our bellies instead. I’ve been notorious for trying to treat stress with chocolate, and then I’m still stressed and crash from a sugar high.

     Over the weekend, I had the awesome opportunity to meet with representatives from some of the leading vitamin companies and sample their products. I’ve been particularly impressed with Child Life’s DHA. I use Child Life for my kid’s multivitamins, calcium, and echinacea and vitamin C, but didn’t know they offered anything for an adult.  I had avoided taking DHA supplements during this pregnancy because I thought I might not stomach it well. But I decided to try it about an hour and a half before bed, just in case I ended up in the bathroom. Unlike many other brands, they had the great idea to add a lemon flavor to their formula so that when you burp, you’re not propelled to vomit because of the awful fish taste!
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     Getting back my nutrition back on track with Child Life’s DHA and my prenatal vitamins have helped me feel slightly more “normal.” Now, just a few more weeks and I’ll be cruisin’ through the rest of the pregnancy!
 
What kind of vitamins did you take during your pregnancy? What are your recommendations?
    

​It's been such a dreary sprinter in New England. I've had some serious regrets about our decision to leave Virginia, where flowers bloom in March and a warm breeze makes outdoor-life lovely, and return to the land where spring is lost. Southwest’s catchphrase has echoed in my mind the last few days- I want to get away! Just not on one of their planes ;)
 
Many snow-hardened veterans have the good sense to fly south for spring break to get a substantial dose of vitamin D, and I'm seeing beautiful, tropical, warm, photos on my news feed with envy. In a few more years, I’ll be more inclined to vacation with my kids, but at this moment, I don’t think we’d make it through the plane trip! Our growing family is at a very rambunctious stage, and my smallest can scale the back of chairs like it’s her job.
 
When we finally do get away, I want to do something unique. I’ve been thinking about family mission’s trips that would help our kids grasp an understanding of how other people live. I feel like that’s the beauty of traveling, seeing other people and cultures, but that can be easily missed in popular tourist destinations with the endless rows of t-shirt shops. Growing up, I traveled A LOT- from Saint Petersburg to Hiva Oa, and what I cherished the most were interactions with local people. Some were positive, and some were shocking, but they helped shape my perspective and develop compassion for humanity’s differences.
 
While I was perusing lovely destination, I heard about Kalu Yala, a village Panama. It’s a modern, sustainable village where people go to study abroad, launch sustainable businesses, and explore something completely different. With a negative carbon footprint and home-grown jungle food, visitors truly experience something unique. And if you love it, you can buy a sustainable home in their growing village- fascinating!
 
Visitors sleep in tents with air mattresses, or get cozy in hammocks, and receive three meals a day for $70 per night. From Kalu Yala, you can explore the surrounding jungles or participate in some of the unique educational programs they offer. So what could go be wrong? Check out Kalu Yala Criticisms to see for yourself!
 
Next week, I’m debating about sharing my top ten exquisite vacation destinations [that are off the beaten path] OR about the time we spent three days at JFK and then crash landed on their emergency runway… what’s your pick?