Are you pregnant? Noooo you are joking right?

I could not make this article without the help of the lovely page: Mommy & Mommy To Be

All the baby bumps you will see on this blog came from the great community Mommy and Mommy to be. I want to thank everybody who want to work with this article, I could not make it with all those lovely and beautifull mommy and mommy to be's! So if you are interested in babies or toddlers? Are you working on getting pregnant, you are pregnant, or you are a mommy? Then this is THE place to come together! 

"Are you pregnant? No you are joking right?" This is a question I get a lot.
At the very beginning I was ok with that. I thought wel my babybump will show when I'm at week 20 or something. But still people are looking weird at me if I say that I'm pregnant. Some people just don't see it or some people think that I'm only 10 weeks or something.
When I was laying in the hospital I was 25 weeks and even over there people where suprised that my bump was so tiny.
They have an explanation for it so I was ok with it.
But seeing other people showing there bump with pride sometimes feels uncomfortable. You just wondering if: everyting is ok with the baby, does it grow ok, does that explain all my pains, am I the only one with this tiny bump.

All those questions where running into my mind. And searching pictures of woman who are at the same week as I am does not work, the most of them have a beautifull babybump.
My midwife told me that I must be happy with such a tiny bump because after gaving birth my stomach will be sooner the way it was before pregnancy.
Ofcourse I'm happy with that.
But everytime people look weird or asking how far I am and they don't believe me that I'm over the 20weeks I must defent myself (well that's how it feels).
 I've got a dog and his trunk is the same size as the baby that grows in me. And well that's sometimes weird, I wonder how can this fit in my little tiny bump?
But after some research I saw that I was not alone (thank God for that).Ofcourse I know that I'm not alone, but all those questions from other people or comments of people: "Your bump is so tiny", "I could not believe you are 27weeks." "Are you sure you are pregnant?" "You just can't see a thing that you are pregnant!" makes me feels sometimes insecure.
And well there is nothing to be insecure about. Every bump is different and every woman is different.
There are several factors related to the growth of your bump. And well let me explain to you what the factors are.

Due to the growth of your child, the extent of your abdomen during pregnancy increases greatly. But not only your baby creates a bigger belly, also include the amniotic fluid and more fat storage ensure that you soon will not fit your normal clothing.
When your belly increases considerably in size varies per person. For one the belly size will increase harder during pregnancy then to another. And if you are skinny by yourself you will see it faster than another.

For yourself you will notice it around 11 weeks.
Chances are that you already do not fit your normal trousers. If you wear loose clothing you can maybe hide your pregnancy for the outside world. But from week 18 it will be difficult.
You can gain a kilo per week.
You may gain 12 kilos during your pregnancy.
And that is because:
*3300 gram baby
*Uterus 900 grams
*Placenta 650 grams
*Amniotic fluid 800 grams
*Fat across the body 3500 grams.
More blood to exchange of substances with the placenta to store moisture and an enlargement of the breasts and mammary glands provide for a further increase in weight of about 4.5 kg.

If the mother has a naturally fat around the waist, it will be less visible than a woman with a naturally slender physique with a slim waist.
Also, is it depends on how active or nervous they are in life. Stress namely also consumes calories and lots of activity burns calories also.

Very athletic women often have less big baby bump,the abdominal muscles do not really stretch. Among women who had only big belly, you often see a little that they are pregnant. Tall women are generally have less big bumps than very small, simply because there is more space "in height.

Also the location of the baby may be a factor. So on one day you bump looks different than the other day because your baby lay into another position.







So there are many factors why we all have different belly's!

Everybody is different and have a different body.

So it can all lie on:
- Construction
- Strength of the abdominal muscles
- Size of the child
- Amount of amniotic fluid
- Possible increase in body fat during pregnancy.
- Weight and Build of the mother

So don't judge a mommy to be by her bump!

Here will follow more baby bumps from beautifull woman!

for once and for all let me make this clear!

Wow what a responds I've got when I liked Jwoww her status on facebook while she said: "How can people enjoy this shit?" "Pregnancy and I don't mix" A lot of reactions I've got from friends and family: what was wrong with me and that I must be happy having a baby because some people just can't. Well let me make things clear: Ofcourse I'm happy having a baby. No I'm not regret it that I am pregnant. Ofcourse there are people who can't get pregnant and will. And ofcourse I really want that they can be pregnant also. But can I enjoy this? Well sometimes, but sometimes don't. And I think all pregnant woman think about this. And I also think that every woman is different and experience things differently. So what one can enjoy does not mean that I can enjoy it. Normally I'm a very busy girl. I love to go to work, hang out with my friends and my hubby, make long walks with the dogs, I love to work out, I love food! If you say to me: you need some rest and can go to work and must stay at home. Well then there will something explode in my head and makes me go crazy. My life was a really rollercoaster with a lots of ups and downs. More downs then ups. So I was really hoping that for once this can be good and I can enjoy it and that everything goes normal. Well it does not. Maybe one person can handle this, but I can't. So simple is that. My life was a pretty mess and for once everything goes fine and I really want to enjoy this. But being sick, getting rest does not work well for me. Ofcours I'm happy that the baby is ok, but my mind is going insane. Maybe it's the hormones, maybe it's just me being negative again. But I will be glad that or: I can work again (maybe for a couple of hours) or that it will be Juli soon and I can get my baby in to my arms. So there is nothing that I mean that I don't wanted this baby, or that I'm not ready for it... It is an accumulation of many things, mostly my past. I want to look in to the future but sometimes you just can't. And really: It's not that I always feel down with it, I have my moments. And this week it's one of them. And I won't feel good if people say: "But it's for a good cause." I know what I'm doing it for and people don't have to say that every time when I feel crap. I know it could be more worse then this. But like I said there are more things in my mind then only how I feel right now. I hope now you can a little bit understand me and why I'm feeling it this way. I've read an article also yesterday on Pregnancy Corner. And I really liked also what it said. A good text to close this blog for today! "As I was laying in my bed last night, not being able to sleep thanks to stomach aches, extreme back pain and the baby having a party in my tummy I remember something I said to my sister while she was pregnant. I said to her "you are not sick, you are just pregnant!" At that time I was ignorant and couldn't understand what she was going through. Growing a baby is not an easy process. You experience numerous physical and emotional changes. Not only do you have to deal with nausea, constipation, headaches, tiredness, back pains, nose bleeds, weight gain, your body changes, not being able to eat or drink certain things, but also hormonal changes. We also experience feelings of fear, insecurities, depression and the constant worry of thinking if everything will be okay. So if one of your relatives, spouse, friend is pregnant make sure to express to her that you care. Ask her how she's feeling, give her a compliment, tell her she looks beautiful, invite her to eat, ask her if you can help with anything, show her that you love her. She will really appreciate it, now more than ever!"

Maternity Fashion Spring/Summer

Spring is here and summer is almost there to. During your pregnancy, you can walk there in the latest fashion. I give you the spring trends and inspiration in 

Maternity Fashion.

STRIPES

The trend that will almost return every year are Stripes. Stripes are classic and make your outfit look chique. Especially in maternity clothing stripes are very hip this season. Both narrow and broad, gray and black or detail: everything is possible and incorporated into each garment. Navy blue and white are the colors most used for stripes. The striped garments are easy to combine with solid colors.

JUMPSUIT

The jumpsuit is not only comfortable, but you can wear it also anywhere and anytime. While it feels like you're walking around in pajamas, you look good in it. During pregnancy, a jumpsuit can be ideal.It stays in place, you have all the space and you can move in it easely. Both for casual and business or party look is the jumpsuit perfect.

PASTELS

This spring, but also in summer, pastel colors can be taken out of the closet. The most used pastel colors are a light shade of blue, vanilla yellow, mint green, beige and soft pink. You will see this colors also in maternity fashion!

banana package

It was time for me to buy some fruit. And now that I have some fruit I just did not know what to do with it. Shall eat eat the regular way or shall I make a smoothie with this fruit? I just did not know what to do.It's very cloudy outside and it rains now and then, so it's not the weather to sit outside and enjoy the sunshine. I had to look up some information about different subscriptions. So now it's the right time to do that. But I also wanted to make something yummie. And then I had a great idea, let's make something cozy. A banana package!



All you need is:
2 bananas 
maple syrup (1 tbsp per package) 
4 pieces of puff pastry 
1 beaten egg 
 cocoa powder

Preheat the oven on 200degrees.
Slice the bananas in half, place one half on a puff pastry. Put 1 tablespoon of maple syrup over the banana, Fold the package. Put the beaten egg over the pastry. Put it in the oven for about 15minutes.
Sprinkle some cocoa powder over it.
So now you've got 4 banana packages. It's a delicious dessert or a snack.
Very easy to make this.
Let me know what you think of this recipe.

Kingsday Smoothie

Happy Kingsday everybody!

It's the first Kingsday here in Holland so time to make a Kingsday smoothie.

To be honest it's not really my favourite smoothie but it's orange and healthy!

All you need to do is put some carrots and pure orange juice into a mixer en mix it till you've got a smooth texture.

I've added 1tbsp maplesyrup for the sweet taste.

And here is your Kingsday smoothie.

Have a nice day ;)

Cauliflower Leek Soup

A couple of days ago I've made a yummie soup. I love cauliflower and my hubby also, so I've tried to make a delicious soup of it.

It will take some time but it's not that hard to make.

You'll need:

2 tbsp olive oil 

40 grams of butter 

3 leeks into pieces 

1 large cauliflower 

3 cloves of garlic 

2 liters vegetable broth 

salt and pepper to taste 

250 ml cream (optional)

Put a large pan on medium heat,  heat the olive oil and butter in it.

Add the leeks and cauliflower and garlic with it and let it sautéing for 10 about minutes.

Stir the vegetable broth through it and make sure it would boil.

Reduce it to low heat and let it simmer for 45 minutes.

Remove the soup from the heat, mash everything with a hand mixer.

And if you want you can add the cream to it and stir till it's smooth.

Chocolate fudge

I've found a new recipe and now I'm really addicted. Sometimes I've got a huge chocolate craving. And last time I've made a delicious quinoa brownie. Now it was time to make a chocolate fudge. We all know fudge with caramel flavour but this one is with 100% cacoa. It's also a healthy snack. But if you are a chocolate addict like me than you will eat to many of those and that's also not that great haha.

Here is how you make it.

100 grams of coconut butter 

3 tbsp maple syrup 

2 tbsp cocoa powder 

2 tbsp of peanut butter 

1 tsp vanilla extract

Put everything in a saucepan and mix together on a low heat.

If you have a smooth mixture you put it in a mold.

That may be an ice mold or a cupcake form.

Store it in the freezer.

And your chocolate fudge snacks is ready.

It goes well with a cup of tea or a cup of coffee.

There is only 1 warning: It's addictive yummy!

Ow and this one is boyfriend proof. My hubby does not like that much of healthy home made stuff but this one he likes ;).

“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.” 

sweet mashed potatoes with salmon and asparagus

I love sweet potatoes.They are rich of vitamins C and E.
They taste very sweet and you can do so much with it.
Now it was time to make a mashed potatoe of it with salmon and asparagus. It's pretty easy to make this dish (no worries).

What you need:
Asparagus
salmon
sweet patatoes
parsley
pepper
bread-crumbs
beaten egg

Cook the asparagus for 10 minutes.
Cook the sweet patatoes for about 20minutes till it's done.
Put the salmon with some pepper on it for 15/20 minutes in the oven (180 degrees).
Roll the asparagus in the beaten egg and then through the breadcrumbs. Bake until they are golden brown.
Chop the parsley and add them to the sweet potatoes. Mash the potatoes with parsley through it.

I've told you this dish would be pretty easy.

Don't give me no rotten tomato, 'cause all I ever wanted was your sweet potato.

 

strawberries, rhubarb cobbler

In an earlier blog I've told you that a friend of mine came by for a little lunch so I've made a strawberries, rhubarb cobbler.

A cobbler is a pastry which consists of a layer of fruit, wich has a layer of dough on it.

Rhubarb May not be the most popular vegetable on the produce stand, but it still makes a pretty tasty jam.

Rhubarb is an excellent source of Vitamin C, Which is important to help support a healthy immune system. It is high in dietary fiber All which helps to maintain regularity within the digestive system.

Rhubarb is low in sodium and saturated fat All which makes it a very good food to help preventable heart related diseases. It is usefull high in Vitamin K, Which is thought to help preventable diabetes.

Rhubarb is an unusual vegetable and Often thought of as a fruit. It is an excellent and healthy food to add to your diet as it can be prepared and served in many different fashions. Although rhubarb can be tart, it has a sweetness that comes alive when cooked.

Here is the recipe:

2 tbsp cornstarch 

500 grams rhubarb 

300 grams of strawberries (halved) 

1 tbsp water 

15 grams of butter 

1 tsp ground cinnamon 

1 beaten egg 

stevia to taste 

puff pastry

Preheat the oven on 200 degrees. 

In a saucepan: Add the rhubarb, strawberries and water, let it boil for one minute. Add the cornstarch and optionally some stevia. Scoop it into a greased baking dish. Spread the lumps of butter and cinnamon over it.

Normally you make the dough on your own. But I did not have time for that so I've used puff pastry.

Spread the pastry over it. Add the beaten egg over the pastry.

Put it in the oven for 20 minutes  until the top is golden brown and crispy.

When I'm sad I go shopping

Yesterday I went to the gynecologist and she was not nice at all.

She told me that my tummy hurts and my bleedings are a way to get attantion and that it's only my imagination that I have that. I was so mad I could cry. How can she say such of things? Like if I enjoy it to lay in the hospital or laying at home because my  midwife said so? Hell NO!!! 

I want to work, I want to enjoy my pregnancy without bleedings or pain like anyone else. And she tells me that it's all imagination to get attention. 

Next week I must go back to my midwife I hope she can tell me why she said such of things! 

Maybe I need a towel full of blood to push in to her face the next time. That's the devil in me talking. 

So before I'll go home by buss I go in to the shop for some new summer clothes. It was or that or wait on the bus for an hour. Well that's an easy choice to make. And shopping makes me feel happy!

I went to one store because my tummy hurts again and I bought 2 sets of clothing! Happy me!!!

I've made pictures of it but they are not that professional like the most fashion or beauty bloggers. But I'm not an official beauty/fashion blogger also.

Both outfits came from the New Yorker and they are not that expensive! Me like...

In the evening I had an appointment for my nails. So they are beautifull again also! 

So now I'm a little bit happy again. And the sun is shining today. My friend is comming to have a lunch so I've made a strawberrie, rhubarb cobbler 

But that recipe I will post maybe later the day.