[hellomaciana-blog]

[hellomaciana-blog]

not preggo anymore, babes is 5 months!

holy moly life!  It’s been a very eventful year, to say the least ;)  I’ve thought about this blog quite frequently and not even sure who would come across this, but I am certainly going to devote more time to this.  I hope my baby girl could find this someday, so this is for you, Celeste!

I’ve been inspired by other mommy bloggers to get back on this, so here I go again!  #mommybrain is REAL, so I’m gonna borrow some questions from others and start there with my update.  My updates will be backwards for now ;)

But before doing so… let me RECAP real quick.  In a nutshell, Celeste Victoria aka “Cevi” (pronounced C-V) was born at 38 weeks and 6 days, just a day shy of being one full week early.  I had NO idea I was having contractions, thought I was just experiencing Braxton Hicks, so I don’t even know how long I was in labor for.  Our little angel arrived into this world on a chilly Friday, February 27, 2015 at 3:17pm.  Stay tuned for my full labor & delivery story :)

Cevi is quite the sassy, but sweetest little girl ever.  My Baby Sunshine <3  She cures all of my frowns and makes life so rewarding.  She is 5 months and 10 days old today.  I can’t wait to share life as a Mommy thus far!

So at 5 months old…

Does she sleep through the night? (#1 question I get all the time!)

When she was about 2.5 months old, she surprisingly slept for an entire 7-8 hours straight!  Let me just say, I woke up in a panic and the first thing I did was check if she was still breathing.  I freaked out but couldn’t believe I slept for that long too!  Cevi was an itty bitty angel when she was born and weighed in at 5 pounds and 8 ounces.  Our pediatrician instructed us that we had to wake her every 2-3 hours to eat because she needed to plump up more.  But at every appointment, she was gaining the right amount by each doctor’s visit, so if she had enough to eat during the day, we can let her sleep through the night.  She continued to sleep through the night until about 3.5 months… then she had a week or two of waking up at least 3 times in a night.  I like to believe it’s because she was hitting a growth spurt, which reminds me when I was pregnant with her.  Things happened out of the ordinary (less movement or more kicking at night) when I believed she was hitting a growth spurt in my belly too.  We’re constantly complimented on how lucky we are that we have such an easy baby.

Did you sleep train her?

It’s been so neat to see her develop her own routine.  My number one complaint when she was a newborn was wondering when she would sleep through the night.  I’d say the first 2 months are the most tough.  Around 3 months, I started noticing she would get fussy and hungry around the same time every evening.  I then tried to create a routine for her, but more to calm her down.  I started to find ways to relax her, like by playing soft classical music in her nursery while I played with her and talked to her about our day.  After that, I would take her into her bathroom and give her a little rinse with warm water from head to toe so she could feel freshened up.  Then she would get a fresh new diaper and I always would apply diaper rash cream before bedtime since we try not to do diaper changes in the middle of the night… that tends to wake her up.  After a new diaper, I would put jammies on her then let her roll and play around on the floor in her room to allow her to exert those last bursts of energy.  That would then allow her to build up an appetite and feel super exhausted!  She would fuss for her milkies and would fall asleep mid-feeding.  And that has been our nighttime routine ever since, which has been super effective, and she is now sleeping 10-11 hours STRAIGHT every night.  When we first started this routine, she would be in her crib by 8pm and would wake up around 5am.  Now she has pushed up her bedtime routine a little early… she is usually asleep in her crib by 7:15-7:30pm and wakes up around 6am.  She usually likes to play on her own in the morning and doesn’t call for me until around 7am.

Nap schedule?

My mom pointed out that I shouldn’t be so strict with her daily schedule because we don’t want her to be placed on such a rigid schedule.  There may be times that we won’t be on schedule and we should prevent any extra crankiness to go along with that ;)  So, she doesn’t really have a nap schedule - just two various naps a day.  Once in the morning for usually an hour and her second nap in the day is usually longer for 2-2.5 hours.  And these naps usually never interfere when she is ready to go down for nite nite.  Now, once 6:30pm hits - she knows it’s time to get ready for bed.

What has been the hardest part of parenting so far?

Not going to lie, finding that same connection with hubby.  Being a parent is so rewarding, but your kids need your undivided attention 24/7.  And being parents is teamwork, we need to often be on the same page.  It’s not like we miss our lives before Cevi, but we often think back and say… “Remember when we would go to Azteca (our favorite Mexican joint) 2-3x a week?!” or “We used to watch every new movie during it’s opening weekend!”.  Life has certainly changed.  Before giving birth to Cevi, a lot of mommy friends reminded me that I have to make time for my husband.  It’s certainly hard sometimes because I am so in love with my daughter that she depletes my energy some days!  Just being real here :)  My hubby is a blessing though.  I wouldn’t have been able to survive those first months without him.

How has your body adjusted postpartum?

Let me just say, God made us women SO resilient!  Remember when I was so devastated being diagnosed with gestational diabetes?  It certainly was a blessing in disguise… being on a sucky and strict high-protein diet during my third trimester, not forgetting to mention having to prick myself 4x a day to test my glucose levels!  But amazingly, I weigh less now than even my PRE-pregnancy weight.  I should still be watching what I eat or eating healthier, but baby needs to be fed before I get to feed myself!  Some days I could go eating granola bars all day and 1 real meal.  I totally use my baby to work out though ;)  She loves it when I hold her and do ab-twists with her!

Are you still exclusively breastfeeding?

My breastfeeding journey was short, unfortunately.  It’s hard to think about it sometimes but I don’t mind sharing if anyone asks.  All I know is that I’m giving my daughter more than enough love and nourishment that people need to stop judging parents who weren’t capable or no longer breastfeeding.  We lasted shortly a month.  I honestly had no expectations of breastfeeding when I was pregnant… I just made sure to set a goal of at least trying it and not feeling down if I wasn’t able to continue.  Being formula-fed when I was a baby gave me confidence that my daughter would too, turn out just fine ;)  It’s been interesting bumping into other new moms and we would share the same breastfeeding story with each other.  Cevi and I had that instant connection when she was born.  I nursed her about an hour after she was born and she latched on so naturally.  It was such a beautiful feeling.  I was so excited that we had that together!  But with her being so little, she was a sleepy lil thang too and always found comfort falling asleep while nursing.  As parents, we made the decision that she needed to be fed more consistently and being aware of how much she was eating.  So, I pumped around the clock 24/7!  I felt confident that she was at least getting mommy’s milk.  Until my milk supply literally dropped to nothing in a day.  I tried supplements, Mother’s milk tea, skin-to-skin 24/7, you name it!  The pediatrician was so proud of me for trying everything I could but told me to wipe my tears away.  Formula is not poison and it’s just about as good as breastmilk!  It has come a long way.  I look at Cevi everyday and see how much more beautiful she is each day.  She is hitting all of her milestones either on point or way advanced than other babies her age!  I’d say she is developing just right and is as healthy as can be!

Baby #2?

Uhh… if you ask hubby, he’ll tell you he’d want to start on that stat!  But for me, I am too in love and obsessed with my baby girl.  I can’t imagine dividing my attention from her with anyone else.  Just like Cevi came at the perfect time, I know her sibling(s) will come at the right time too :)

Okie dokie, baby girl is waking up from her nap!  Guess it’s time to end it here ;) Until next time… hopefully soon!

[hellomaciana-blog]

#sneakpeek Baby Abordo's nursery is complete! Just a few itty bitty touches here and there, still have several more loads of laundry, and last but not least, it is awaiting for someone's arrival <3

[hellomaciana-blog]

update on G.D.

Things are definitely looking up!  Having gestational diabetes has been unfortunate and kinda a nuisance, but it’s the best preventative measure to lower the chances of developing later in life or even passing it onto your child.  Since I have been diagnosed, I am at a greater chance at developing it, even more so with it running in the family.  It’s all about monitoring and regulating. 

The worst thing about it is pricking a finger and testing blood 4x a day.  I was most scared because of my low tolerance of pain and I thought I’d have to go through hell each time.  It’s either I’ve grown callous on my fingers or a sense of new courage :)  You’ll do anything for your baby too.  I’m still able to eat everything that I have been eating.  Some people have the wrong idea of it and think you can’t have any carbs at all!  Being pregnant, you still need carbs to have energy and to nourish your growing baby.

I attended a Diabetes Class with a Maternal Fetal Dietician - she was awesome.  She gave each person a “carbohydrate budget” and I was surprised because they actually wanted me to eat MORE carbs during meals than I already did.  Prior to getting diagnosed, I just didn’t eat a balanced diet.  I loved my sweets and had to have a cookie or cupcake or ice cream after every meal.  I’ve learned to treat myself in the evening if my glucose levels were in the normal range.

My carb budget:

Breakfast: 20-25 grams

Snack: 15-20 grams

Lunch: 40-45 grams

Snack: 15-20 grams

Dinner: 40-45 grams

I love that I can eat 6x a day :)  They instructed us to have absolutely no sweets or juice in the morning and to make sure to have protein with EVERY meal (including snacks).  This is all about a high protein diet.  I can still have all of the peanut butter I want and I constantly snack on almonds (considered a fat) when meals or snacks don’t fill me up.

I spiked about 4x when I first started monitoring my glucose levels.  The highest result I got was 156.  My dietician was happy with most of my results and asked me to keep testing and send her more results in two weeks.  I’m happy to say I have not spiked once since!  My glucose levels must be < 95 after waking up and < 135 1 hour after meals.  My fasting levels have always been in the high 60s, 70s & low 80s range.  My levels after meals range from the 90s to low 130s.  It also seems my body is starting to learn how to control the things I eat too.

We had our consult and ultrasound with a Maternal Fetal doctor yesterday.  He was surprised that someone my size was diagnosed with G.D. and was impressed with all of my glucose levels.  They want to keep monitoring baby because they want to make sure baby isn’t growing too fast.  Baby is currently 4.1 lbs at 33.5 weeks and growing within the 25th percentile rate :)  This is good news because baby is exactly where he/she should be!  A little on the smaller end, but the doc said it’s mainly genetics and couldn’t see a huge baby growing in me lol.

I’m so glad everything has turned out okay.  I’ll do anything for my baby and glad he/she is doing its job too… growing & playing in my belly!

We had so much fun during our ultrasound yesterday :) Baby was VERY alert and active at 9 in the morning! Baby was having fun with the ultrasound tech and constantly nudged and kicked her. We saw baby playing with his/her toes and even saw baby suck his/her feet <3 Baby sure was thirsty too, we saw baby gulping down amniotic fluid hehe. Baby is DEFINITELY in the head down position - hoping it stays there but doesn’t come early lol. What a gift from heaven. I want to hold onto these memories forever!

[hellomaciana-blog]

Baby Abordo was on the way before we even knew it!

Macy took a pregnancy test just out of curiosity on Saturday, July 12, 2014.  Thank goodness for Girl’s Nights Out because that’s what pushed her to take a test, just in case, as she was headed to another night out with friends that evening.  

We were doing our weekly grocery-run at Publix and decided to add one of their generic pregnancy tests to our cart.  As soon as we returned home, Macy decided to give it a shot and peed on a stick.  Expecting a negative result in about 3-4 minutes - lo and behold, a BOLD plus sign indication appeared within seconds.  Before Macy told Robert, she read the directions several more times.  If she wasn’t pregnant, only one vertical line would appear in the far-right window AND one horizontal line would appear in the bigger window.  A vertical line completing a plus sign in the left window would then indicate… PREGNANT!?  Can you tell how she over-analyzes things? ;)  She called for Robert right away and reported her findings.  They both looked at each other and said, “Naahhh… This test was part of a bad batch of pregnancy tests!”  We did not believe it at first.

We went about our afternoon trying to not think of the “positive” pregnancy test, but Macy still had that gut feeling.  We had to take another test, just to confirm things of course!  We drove to our local CVS Pharmacy and decided to purchase a more sophisticated pregnancy test.  A more clear-result pregnancy test.  Something that would say “Pregnant” or “Not Pregnant”!  We decided to go with the Clear Blue Digital pregnancy test that would measure the amount of weeks pregnant that you could possibly be.  As soon as we got home, Robert documented Macy taking this test via his handy iPhone.  From us confusing each other by reading the directions, to Macy flushing the toilet after peeing on the stick, and finally to our excited reaction from the results!

What felt like hours, we received this result: Pregnant, 3 plus weeks! *insert jaw-falling-to-floor emoticon here* :-D  OMG, we couldn’t believe it!  But we did this time.  Macy immediately downloaded pregnancy apps to her iPhone and estimated what Baby’s potential due date would be.  We were about 6 weeks pregnant on July 12th and Baby’s ETA is March 7, 2015!

The following week, we met with Macy’s doctor’s midwife who confirmed our pregnancy.  We then scheduled our first ultrasound.  Baby measured to be 7 weeks and 3 days baking in the oven!  It was amazing.  It was like Baby knew we were there to see him/her.  His/her heart fluttered like a butterfly at a healthy 160bpm heartbeat.  That day was hands down the best day of our lives.  Our future hopes, dreams & goals changed on that day.  We are so excited to meet our future baby with hopes to be the best parents in the world to this little one.  

[hellomaciana-blog]

[hellomaciana-blog]

a case of gestational diabetes.

Pregnancy for me has been a beautiful experience thus far.  With every kick & punch Baby graces me with, it makes every second rewarding and allows me to understand each day why God has placed me on this earth.  I can't complain - I didn't encounter any awful pregnancy symptoms, I have been able to maintain a healthy weight, and I've left every prenatal appointment knowing Baby is measuring where he/she should every month, healthy & active!

...until I fell into the "High Risk OB" category.  I've heard so much of the infamous glucose screening test.  I'll have to admit, I dreaded fasting and undergoing the 1 hour screening test, but had high hopes it would be another routine pregnancy task.  I even enjoyed that orange glucose cocktail!  It was cool feeling Baby getting the affects of the drink too, he/she went bonkers within minutes after downing it.  So when I came in for my prenatal appointment after the screening test and hearing, "We did not pass the glucose test... we really did NOT pass" from my nurse - shocked me, but made me realize "Ok, pregnancy isn't a free pass to eat every single cupcake or indulge in Reese's peanut butter cups everyday".

I never thought I craved anything during my pregnancy, but in retrospect, I've definitely developed a larger sweets intake and took advantage of the pregnancy card.  My doctor also reassured me that I don't need to drink orange juice every morning - something I thought Baby needed.  But to prepare for the 3 hour glucose tolerance test, I easily gave my sweets cravings up.  I allowed my body to rest for about a week and a half and went into the lab mentally prepared to get my blood drawn 4x.  I had to pass!  Why wouldn't I pass?

The week of New Year's, I was out enjoying family time until I received a call from my doctor.  Hmm, they never call me!  Within seconds, my gut feeling told me it wouldn't be good news.  My doctor's office left me a voicemail and told me to call them as soon as I could.  My heart sunk.  I didn't have the courage to call back until the next morning, and that's when my doctor's triage nurse gave me the unfortunate news that the latter 3 blood test results were all high.  I did not pass the glucose tolerance test, therefore diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes.  I felt so defeated.  I tried to hold back tears during the entire phone call, but made sure to ask all of the appropriate questions.  The nurse was certainly comforting as she assured me that it just happens during pregnancy and she understands how I feel because she had it with both of her sons.  The main factor was that diabetes runs in my family.  Both my grandmother and father have Type 2 Diabetes, so I have always been at risk - pregnant or not.

I attended a Diabetes Class the next day and was educated on the short and long term effects on myself and Baby.  It was certainly time to give up sweets completely and to follow the meal guideline they provided.  I was given a "carbohydrate budget" for each meal and snacks.  I've been instructed to eat 6x a day, absolutely no sweets in the morning (including fruit and especially juice), incorporate protein with snacks, and to test my blood sugar four times a day *sigh*.  I grew up watching my Dad prick his finger every morning with a lancet needle and inserting it into his glucose meter.  Never in a million years thought that would be me one day and now I'll have to do it as soon as I wake up and an hour after every meal.  That will definitely be the struggle and that I'll have to do this everyday until the day I deliver Baby.

I just received a month's supply of lancet needles and glucose strips.  It might be another week until I receive the actual glucose meter.  Until then, I am following my new meal plan.  It isn't that bad at all - my carb intake is similar to how I usually eat anyway.  Hoping to manage my blood sugar successfully from here on out.  I'll have to take all of this as more good in my life, it'll keep my diet balanced during pregnancy and afterwards.  

Anything for this precious baby growing inside of me.  I will go above and beyond.

[hellomaciana-blog]

pregnancy products

Ahhhh pregnancy hormones!  During my 1st and the beginning of my 2nd trimesters, Baby surely took my “beauty” away.  Fortunately, my skin didn’t go through teen-years torture again, but it’s certainly been years since I have seen my skin at its worst.  Here are my fave, necessity products that I have been using even pre-pregnancy which have worked amazingly for me.

1. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter for Stretch Marks - my momma girlfriends warned me about stretch marks if I didn’t lather up!  We all have our preference (Bio-oil, Burts Bees Mama Belly Butter, even those $$$ oils from Ulta), but honestly, I wanted to be practical and didn’t want to splurge on lotion that I knew I’d have to continuously purchase throughout pregnancy. Although prevention is key, it’s all about genetics too.  My own mama certainly got stretch marks and I already have a few in random areas way before pregnancy.  So far, no baby bump stretch marks which I’d like to believe constant hydration and the daily application of this has helped.  I use this before bedtime.

2. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Skin Therapy Oil - I use this after showering.  I believe body oils penetrate the skin better after a shower/bath… perhaps since our pores have expanded?

3. Yes To Tomatoes Clear Skin Daily Clarifying Cleanser - I’ve been using Yes To products for years!  I’ve learned to go the organic/natural route when it comes to face cleansers.  Rule of thumb is to use gel cleansers for oily/combo skin and cream cleansers for dry/aging skin.  This stuff has never let me down and balances the texture of my skin on a daily basis.  The days I’m at the office, I wash my face as soon as I get home.  Otherwise, I’ll wash my face before bedtime.

4. Nourish Organic Moisturizing Cream Face Cleanser - OMG.  I love this stuff!  I received the trial size in one of Michelle Phan’s monthly ipsy bags and brought it with me one weekend we were out of town.  I usually can’t use cream cleansers (I have oily/combo skin), but the fine print does say this works for all skin types and it surely worked for me.  I usually cleanse my face with this in the shower.

5. Clarisonic Mia - Once you go clarisonic, you’ll never EVER go back.  My beauty gurus have raved about this awesome tool for years.  I was skeptical since it is pretty pricey, but this is hands down one of the best investments I have ever made.  I opted for the Mia since it is about $100 cheaper - I haven’t tried the Clarisonic Plus, but this has to do the same thing the more expensive clarisonic does.  The brand claims it cleanses your skin 8x better than your fingertips and I have to agree.  I have to use this everyday.  I’ll usually lather up Yes To Tomatoes cleanser on my face first, then massage my face with this amazing device.  Don’t wet your brush first like I did the first couple times… water or facial cleanser might splatter in your eye ;)

6. Thayer’s Lavender Witch Hazel - This is a pregnancy-safe toner to use.  I first learned about this product when itsjudytime was pregnant with her first daughter.  Witch hazel doesn’t contain salicylic acid and it certainly doesn’t dry out your skin.  I apply this all over my face and neck with a cotton ball after a shower and after cleansing my face before bedtime.

7. Yes To Tomatoes Clear Skin Daily Balancing Moisturizer - Don’t forget to moisturize your face, even if you have oily skin!  Moisturizer balances your skin and prevents wrinkles.  You should always get moisturizer that contains SPF (to prevent sun spots!).  I use this after toning my face with witch hazel.

8. Yes To Cucumbers Soothing Calming Night Cream - My must-have moisturizer before bedtime.

9. Yes To Tomatoes Clear Skin Acne Control Gel Cleanser - When Baby rages my hormones, I use this with my clarisonic.  I definitely knew I was experiencing pregnancy hormones when I started breaking out on my jawline which has never happened before.  This stuff gets me back on the right track.

10. Yes To Tomatoes Skin Clearing Facial Mask - I haven’t used this since the latter part of my 2nd trimester, but I would use this at least once a week (every other week) if my face started breaking out.

11. Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask - Same as #10.  I especially loved using this whenever I wanted to give my hubby a good scare ;)

Totally flattered when friends/strangers tell me I have that “pregnancy glow”.  I always tell them it’s bronzer or luminizer lol… seriously, it is!  These are my top 3 make-up products I use when I go into the office or on the weekends.  I always finish up with mascara, eyeliner on my waterline, and bright or deep lipstick.

1. Loreal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream - This stuff goes on so smooth on your face!  I think it’s cool how it comes out white-based but as soon as you rub the product on your fingertips, it matches your skin tone.  I use the Light shade.

2. Benefit Erase Paste - Amazeballs.  Conceals and brightens.  Perfection!  I use the lightest shade.

3. Nyx Born To Glow Liquid Luminizer - I have to thank this product for my “pregnancy glow” ;)

[hellomaciana-blog]

#28weeks

How far along? We are 28 weeks, 1 day today!

Total weight gain/loss? Oh, definite gain!  But anything for a healthy (plump?) baby.  I’ve gained 20 lbs and counting…

Maternity clothes? Yep!  Ever since 14 weeks I believe?  I’ll never forget the day I first tried on maternity leggings.  It felt like heaven.  I was SO excited when I first discovered using yoga pants as maternity pants as well.  Best feeling ever lol.  I absolutely love Asos.com maternity line!  I can wear almost all of my maternity clothes post-pregnancy.

Stretch marks? Nothing I have seen so far!  I apply Palmer’s Cocoa oil and butter lotion religiously, twice daily.  The oil right after a shower and the cocoa butter before bedtime.  I have very sensitive skin… as soon as we found out we were pregnant, I bought those items immediately but then noticed lil rash bumps started to develop.  I always apply both the oil and butter with a dollop of Aveeno.

Symptoms? I’ve been extremely blessed to not have had any of the major symptoms.  So relieved I have not thrown up once *knock on wood*.  The only drastic “symptom” recently was getting a full blown headache late last week.  I’m trying to avoid all medication (if necessary), so for ME (if ya know me), avoiding 2 Tylenols when I even felt the headache coming was huge!  I tried to sleep the headache off, but making an ice pack and putting it on the top of my head was the only relief.  Oh and another symptom… constipation of course.  Story.of.my.life. #tmi #sorrynotsorry

Anything making you queasy/sick? Nope.

Sleep? A couple weeks ago, I realized it was too painful to sleep on my back.  My doc is pretty liberal about all of those “pregnancy do’s and don’ts” and told me to start getting in the habit of sleeping on my sides, but not to worry until the last month or so of pregnancy.  My full body pillow has been put to great use.  I now sleep on a mountain of pillows and fall in the cracks of it.  I’ve always been a good, deep sleeper!

Food cravings? Comfort food aka Mom’s home cooking!

Baby bump? I’ll have to go through my weekly journal stories of when people started to notice my bump.  My encounters with strangers have been interesting.  But yes, the bump is finally prominent!  Many people still don’t believe how far along I am, but doc says I’m measuring exactly where I should be :)

Movement? YES and loving every moment.  I’ll share the first movement experiences in another post.  Baby is extremely active and has been ever since the beginning of my 2nd trimester.  I can definitely tell Baby has hit a growth spurt because I finally see those “baby bump waves” everyone talks about and sometimes I seriously think Baby kicks off pillows that are laying on my belly lol.  We like to imagine Baby doing lots of morning exercises and karate chops.

Gender prediction? We’re that couple who are choosing to wait until the birth!  I thought I would have to be that person to find out immediately, being Type A and OCD about many things… but it’s been so special to us, one surprise after another… we decided that we can definitely wait until Baby is born.  I get lots of “you’re having a girl” from friends and strangers, based on how I am carrying.

Names picked out? Surely for the girl, but not until last night I didn’t know we STILL haven’t agreed on the boy’s full name?  Seeing Baby Boy might have to be the final determination lol

Labor signs? No, thank God!  Baby still has lots of cooking to do in there.  I think I felt Braxton Hicks maybe twice?  More during the beginning of the 2nd trimester.

Belly button in or out? Still in, but the belly button hole is getting more narrow lol - it’s stretching!

Wedding rings on or off? Still on, no swelling whatsoever.

Happy or Moody? Mostly happy, being pregnant exudes all of those happy vibes.  Carrying a child is such a beautiful experience.  Hubby can get on my nerves at times though ;)

Weekly wisdom? To enjoy every single second because it flies by too fast.

Looking forward to? Ending each week successfully!  Getting excited for our baby shower in January too :)

[hellomaciana-blog]

the homestretch!

I first started this blog in July 2014, 1 month into my pregnancy.  Yesterday, I just entered the 3rd Trimester of pregnancy with my first child and my oh my has the time flown by.  It certainly does feel like time is as slow as watching a pot of water to boil due to all of my excitement and anticipation, but this pace is everything that I wanted it to be.

The first trimester was so much fun for myself and my husband.  We managed to keep our pregnancy a *secret* up until we reached about 12 weeks - the typical timeframe that is “safe” to announce to friends and/or coworkers.  We did tell our families as soon as we found out because we knew this was news they have been waiting to hear from us.  This year, we’ve been married for 2 years (together for 6.5 years), so you can only imagine they have been waiting for us to finally tell them they would be grandparents and uncles/aunt!  My hubby and I definitely bonded a lot during the first trimester… we were in shock for about a month, but once we got over that, we loved dreaming of our baby and what our lives will soon become.  I didn’t get the typical pregnancy “symptoms” as we found out about 6 weeks in… no nausea, morning sickness, weird cravings, not even a missed period (little did I know it wasn’t much of a period, though)… the only indicators were chest soreness, exhaustion & dizziness, but I thought it was another monthly hormonal effect.  We took a pregnancy test as a precaution because I had a *slight* notion to do so, but knew it had to come out negative!  Those pee sticks returned results within milliseconds with bold positive plus signs!  It was so surreal.  The second batch of tests even gave us “Pregnant 3+ Weeks” - an indicator of how many weeks we could possibly be pregnant.  Those tests don’t lie.  I had no idea there were no such thing as “false positives” anymore!  The 1st trimester was smooth except for learning to cut out certain food items… luncheon meat, soft cheeses, food that’s been sitting out (man, I love day-old room temperature pizza), certain desserts, and wine!  But anything for this lil baby growing inside of me :)

We FINALLY announced our pregnancy to the world on October 11, 2014 - our 2nd wedding anniversary.  We made it to 19 weeks of pregnancy.  We wanted to wait until I grew somewhat of a baby bump and we wanted to wait for our 2nd sonogram to show the world Baby’s first pictures.  It was so exciting and we enjoyed having all of our friends and family (who didn’t already know) share the love with us.  The 2nd trimester felt like a breeze.  I regained my energy and started getting used to and loving being pregnant. I started feeling Baby’s “quickening” movements or “flutters” around 14 weeks.  I’m pretty in tune with my body so I could definitely tell the difference between pregnancy growing pains and lil baby kicks ;)  I felt so euphoric anytime I felt movement from the Baby too.  Around week 17, I was up for my early morning pee break but couldn’t get back to sleep when I climbed back into bed.  I tried getting into a comfortable position and had my right arm over my belly.  I started to internally feel as if I was digesting last night’s dinner until I realized I felt taps coming from my belly.  That was the morning I felt Baby’s first kicks!  They were so tangible and exciting… I couldn’t believe it.  I tried to wake-up my hubby and placed his hand on my belly where Baby was kicking.  He didn’t feel them until that next night though.  Baby has definitely grown to be VERY active, especially in the early morning hours.  We’re hoping Baby isn’t nocturnal but I love how he/she plays while we’re asleep.  It’s as if Baby is so independent, has a mind of his/her own already, and how he/she is already so comfortable with us.  I don’t know if I managed to explain exactly how I feel about that, but it’s just an incredible feeling.  We feel so blessed and honored that God chose us to be this little one’s parents.

And now onto the final trimester!  My hopes are that this final stretch will continue to be smooth and will result with a successful labor & delivery.  We can’t wait to have Baby in our arms!  We’re most excited to find out the gender.  We decided to wait until the birth which is making this whole experience 100x more exciting :)

[hellomaciana-blog]

long overdue.

It's been months since I last posted!  Not sure if anyone reads this thing but if you did, I'm baaaaack ;)

I started this blog because I've been so inspired by my fellow beauty gurus and thought this would be a nice pastime to have.  Hoping to get back on the grind soon, but other things have taken precedence.  When I first started this blog, little did my hubby and myself know that we were about 4 weeks pregnant!  I'd like to thank my lil one in my belly for allowing me to get out there and show some of the things I've been passionate about.  But, I have to admit that pregnancy has taken some energy out of me and I definitely have had the case of pregnancy brain.  

I love keeping a journal of milestones and important events.  I thought I'd take these last few months of pregnancy to share my experience thus far, some maternity & pregnancy items I love, baby shower & nursery crafts, and hopes/dreams for the next chapter in our lives!

Stay tuned...

[hellomaciana-blog]

#DIYHomemadePizza

#hellotuesday!

Do it yourself!  Ever want to beat the crowds and make delicious meals at home?  During your next night in, try making your very own homemade pizza!  Grab the essential ingredients from your local market:

* ready-made pizza dough

* pizza sauce

* shredded cheese (Italian blend is best!)

* and your favorite toppings

- - 

1. Chop all of your ingredients, if you are using fresh toppings

2. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees or read the directions on the pizza dough that indicates what the oven heat should be

3. Grab your ready-made pizza dough from the fridge, then sprinkle a little bit of flour on the surface you will be rolling it out

4. Grab your rolling pin and flatten out your dough

5. Once the dough is flattened to your satisfaction, place on your pizza pan.  We like to extend the dough beyond the edges of the pan - with the dough hanging loose, we like to fold it in back into the pan, then knead to the edges of the pizza pan with our knuckles

6. Drizzle a little bit of olive oil all over the dough then pre-bake the dough for no more than 5 minutes

7. Take the dough out of the oven and place the pan on a cooling rack

8. Grab your pizza sauce or homemade sauce and make an assembly line of all your toppings

9. Spread the pizza sauce all over the dough, then sprinkle over shredded cheese

10. Layer pizza with all of your desired toppings

11. Finish off with another layer of shredded cheese

12. Pop back into the oven and bake the pizza for 20 minutes or until crust is golden brown

13. Let cool for about 5 minutes then slice with a pizza cutter

14. Serve, share & enjoy your pizza!  Savor all of the leftovers too :)

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Note: As a twist, we like to make our own pizza sauce with ground beef, which we also save 1/2 of the sauce for later to top on our spaghetti!  It's our own special recipe, but if you do care to know it, let me know and it could be a potential DIY video!  Let me know how your pizza turns out!

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P.S. Hubby makes his debut in this video ;)

[hellomaciana-blog]

#DIYSingleBunRule

Is it cheat day, but still feel guilty eating your fave foods? Or are you trying to maintain that summer bod, but still crave carbs? Here's a few #hellomaciana tips:

🔹If you're craving a juicy burger, follow my #singlebunrule. Remove one bun off of your burger, set aside or throw away! This goes the same by removing one slice of bread off a sandwich

🔹If you're still feeling guilty on cheat day, immediately separate half of your meal and put in a to-go box for later

🔹Practice eating smaller portions every 2-3 hours and don't stuff yourself in one sitting

🔹You'll feel satisfied knowing you have a portion of your delicious meal saved for later! 

[hellomaciana-blog]

#DIYSummerishPopofColor

Add a pop of color to your beauty routine!

1⃣After applying concealer/tinted moisturizer or BB cream/light foundation, "prime" your waterline with an off-white or ivory eyeliner pencil. This helps vivid colors stand out and will help set it, without smudging by the end of the day

2⃣Grab that crazy, colorful eyeshadow palette and choose a vibrant color that fits your mood

3⃣Using a flat eyeliner brush, dab your brush in the color of your choice and apply to the mid & outer thirds of your waterline. Repeat on the other eye

4⃣Finish the inner third of your waterline with a gold or shimmery eyeshadow, which will help blend off any harsh ends from the vivid color. Make sure to clean off any fallout pigments that hit your face with your powder sponge too

5⃣For a daytime look, I'd wear this without black eyeliner on my lids. I was on my way to a 4th of July event, so I wanted to look extra glam'd!

6⃣Finish the rest of your face by applying bronzer or shimmery peach blush

7⃣A pinky nude lipstick would be perfect for this look too. You don't want to wear such a vibrant color on your lips, it'll steal your eyes' thunder ;) 

[hellomaciana-blog]

#DIYBeautifulSkinJuicing

#hellotuesday! Do you want beautiful, glowing skin for the summer and all year long? Try #hellomaciana's beautiful-skin juice concoction! Here's what you'll need:

Any juicer (not the blender type)

5 organic carrots (organic yields more juice)

1 plump orange

* Carrots are one of those amazing concoctions that help treat & prevent diseases.  It improves our vision, skin, hair, and nails!  For those beauty benefits, it reduces dryness & scarring, prevents acne, has sources of vitamins necessary for our skin, controls sun damage, fights aging, increases hair growth, and strengthens nails.  *

-Cut off the top ends of carrots

-Peel orange

-Rinse produce

-Juice the carrots at high speed 

-Juice the orange at low speed

-Pour juice into a mason jar 

-It’s best to drink the juice immediately, so it’s not exposed to oxidation 

* They say not to consume too many carrots at once, you may turn orange ;)

[hellomaciana-blog]

#DIYHotRollers

Grab your fave hot roller set and follow my #DIYVelcroRollers tutorial for bouncy hair!

[hellomaciana-blog]

#DIYVelcroRollers

Are you like me and don't have the patience for a true blowout with your hairdryer? Here's an easier alternative:

1. Starting with wet hair, flip your hair upside down and blow-dry in high heat until dry

2. Grab your velcro rollers (various sizes if you have it) & clips

3. Starting with the biggest roller, grab the crown section of hair (or your bangs) and roll downward toward your scalp

4. Repeat down the center of head, then roll up the sides, & finally the back

5. Let the rollers set no less than 20 minutes - here's what you should look like ;)

                    6. Unravel each roller, starting with the bottom section

7. Style with setting spray & admire your voluminous locks!