Pregnancy Secrets or Lies?

I always knew that there were secrets about pregnancy that even your worst enemy would not tell you.

I once had a girlfriend summarize birth as 'just turn around and walk into the hospital backwards, that's all you need to know about having a baby'.

However, now that I am on the precipice of having my first baby, I have figured out the first secret that my dearest friends have only begun to admit to.... the last month is awful! I realize that mother nature probably made it this way so that we want our babies out as much as they want to get out (wait, I hear they don't want to come out and are pretty pissed off when they do.)

No one warned me when I was an innocent, naive and joyous newly expecting mommy that things would look or feel like this! Where were all those truth telling friends of mine? I assume that they were just trying to shelter my happiness from the realities of pregnancy.

I have found it refreshing that there are still some decent people out there in the world that are more than happy to help out a pregnant woman. My experience reveals that the greatest concentration of them exist at Whole Foods in Mill Valley and the lowest concentration reside on any airplane (yes, that includes flight attendants who stand there and stare at you while you try to get your bags up into the storage bin.)

However, there was one ridiculous granola crunching schmuck at a Whole Foods SF who saw me struggling to pick up some candy that had fallen to the floor and instead of offering to help me with the recovery, asked if he could cut in line ahead of me instead. Now that doesn't feel like peace loving, kale eating, Birkenstock wearing behavior.

Oh yeah, and all you gals out there who tell your pregnant sisters that you 'only gained 15 lbs' during your entire pregnancy, guess what, that doesn't help or feel good to anyone (except you of course.)
Focusing, focusing.... back to my initial point, I am on to all you life giving ladies out there. You are so excited when someone new gets pregnant because then you will get one more member of the feet swelling, back aching, stretch marking touting and varicose vain sporting club. I get it, I wouldn't have told me either. But once you are pregnant, what are you going to do about it anyways?

When I complain about the side effects of being pregnant to my mother she asks me 'what did you think was going to happen?' I guess that is the crux of the problem. When I found out I was pregnant I didn't think about me. I thought about the joy of bringing a little person into this world who is full of hope, optimism and joy. Ah, but that seems so long ago (after all, haven't I been pregnant forever by now?)

So ladies, let's have our 'honest moment' now. What else do I need to know about pregnancy or giving birth? What surprises are you all keeping from people like me, birthing virgins? I'm ready to hear it all. Keep nothing back. After all, it is far too late to do anything about it now.

Our Favorite Things: After School Snacks

As a kid, one of the best parts of getting out of school each day was the 'After School Snack' awaiting at home. I have to admit that I didn't always pick the healthiest of snacks, Spaghetti O's was always one of my favorites. Of course, apples and peanut butter was always a close second (just in case my mother comes across this blog.)

However, today there are just so many more options for healthy snacking. We all know it is important for kids to have a mid afternoon nutritional snack to keep their energy and focus going until dinner time. Yet, how do you pick a 'snack' that is more than a 'treat' (think high in sugar and fat) that makes both parent and child happy?

Here are 10 great healthy snack recipes, courtesy of Everyday Health that are fun to eat and help boost kids’ nutrition:

1. Frozen bananas. Cut a banana in half and put each half on a Popsicle stick. Roll the halves in yogurt and then coat with a crispy rice cereal or granola and freeze. Your child can enjoy them frozen or slightly thawed.
2. Quick pizza. Drizzle tomato sauce and sprinkle low-fat mozzarella cheese on a whole-grain English muffin half. Sprinkle with seasonings, such as oregano and garlic. Heat in the toaster oven until the cheese melts.
3. Yogurt treats. Make yogurt parfaits by layering fruit, like strawberries and blueberries, and low-fat yogurt in a parfait glass. Top with granola.
4. Snack mix. Make a mix of ready-to-eat cereal, dried fruit, and nuts or seeds. Place in a sandwich bag and you have an on-the-go snack.
5. Snack kabob. Cut up cubes of low-fat cheese and place them with grapes on mini pretzel sticks.
6. All-time favorite. Kids may enjoy “ants on a log,” which are celery sticks spread with peanut butter or low-fat cream cheese and topped with raisins.
7. Mexican treat. Take a corn tortilla and sprinkle with low-fat, grated Monterey Jack cheese. Fold it in half and then microwave for 20 seconds. Top with mild salsa.
8. Potpourri. Arrange pita chips, baby carrots, and apple slices on a plate. Serve with hummus, low-fat ranch dressing, or low-fat yogurt as a dip.
9. Smoothies. Blend low-fat milk or yogurt with a banana or strawberries and some ice for a low-fat milkshake.
10. Popcorn. Air-pop some of your own kernels or choose a low-fat brand of popcorn to pop in the microwave. Serve with a glass of milk.

If you have a secret 'After School Snack' recipe that is popular in your house, please share!