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Monday 28 January 2013

Almost 5 months Pregnant!!!

19 weeks Pregnant. Jennifer Stano

My oh my this pregnancy is going fast. I can't believe I'm almost 5 months pregnant and basically halfway through my pregnancy. Ive been really lucky to not have any morning sickness at all and have to say all other symptoms have been pretty manageable.

I frequently get asked about what my diet is while being pregnant . As I said in my last post, my first trimester was a wash for me. All I wanted to do was eat, and I didnt watch or care what I was eating. Well, of cousre I cared, but I ate bagels, pasta, lots of bread, just way too much, but I had to. My body was giving me no choice. I never had cravings like I did in my first trimester EVER! And I'm happy I listened to my body because I was underweight and needed a few extra pounds to ensure a safe pregnancy. So now, in my 2nd trimester the cravings have gone and Im eating so much better.

Jennifer Stano. 19 weeks pregnant

Some of the foods I like to eat:
Breakfast-
Eggs mixed with milk and a little bit of cheese, scrambled. 1 piece of multigrain toast and either a glass of OJ or a tall glass of Milk! I LOVE MILK
Oatmeal
Cereal

Snacks-
Instant Oatmeal with honey
Fresh Fruit
apples and peanut butter
celery with cream cheese
cottage cheese with pineapple
greek yogurt mixed with jelly

Lunch-
Tuna mixed with wholewheat pasta
Tuna on rice cakes
Plain wholewheat pasta with sauce
Soup and a chicken salad
rice cake with peanut butter and jelly.

Dinner-
Sushi- but only shrimp tempura and california rolls ( since you can't eat raw fish)
Spinach with sesame sauce
edamame
Some of my lunch items listed above Ill eat for dinner
Occasionally a cooked Ham and cheese sandwich
Club sandwich

I try to make a fresh veggie and fruit juice at least 3 times a week consisting of
Kale
Cucumber
spinach
green apples
carrots
celery

Drinks-
MILK!!!!!
Orange Juice
Ginger Ale
Pineapple juice
Grapefruit Juice
Apple Juice
Water ( still only )
Hot water with fresh lemon
Fresh mint tea
Occasional Soda- Coca Cola

Body- I have been using Olive Oil and Coconut oil as well as Cocobutter that does not contain Phenoxyethanol . I was using Mama Mio products but stopped after finding out some of the chemicals they use in their pregnancy products... not cool. I also found a great DIY all natural body butter posted here- http://expectinginlondon.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/breggys-belly-butter-prevent-stretch.html

Makeup - I'm using a brand called Inika. Its an all natural brand from Australia and I really like their products so far. I found them here in London at John Lewis. I don't wear foundation often at all, I actually bought some just for my pregnancy photoshoots coming up, but I will wear concealer since my skin is anything but perfect at the moment, and Eye shadow occasionally, along with basic mascara. Check out their line. The range of colors isn't amazing for foundations, so I bought 2 and mix to get my perfect shade.

Cleaners- A powder mix from Sri Lanka when I visited. They can be used as a mask or a scrub. The only ingredients are listed on the covers such as Fullers Earth and Sandalwood. I bought them at one of the largest stores in Colombo called Odel , however I checked the site and can't find them anywhere :( You can go on amazon and order the powders individually and make your own.

Moisturizer-

Body and Hair- Im using Neals's Yard products. I love their Rose line.
They also have a great mother and baby line, all natural <3

Nails- I found a few nail polish lines on amazon that are all natural without the harsh and harmful chemicals in them. So far Im using a mineral line from whole foods called Mineral Fusion. My other polishes have not arrived yet but once they do I will share them. Mineral Fusion also makes makeup which I have not tried. And I believe that their nail polish line is exclusive to Whole Foods.

Hair Dye and Tanning products- NONE. I have not dyed my hair or tanned my skin with sunless tanner or in a tanning bed since I found out I was pregnant.

Places I have been shopping for baby clothes for Niko here in London- They all ship international btw.
-NEXT
-Alex and Alexa
-John Lewis
Some of the Items I bought for baby Niko:

Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry and DC.
Jennifer Stano

Diesel Jacket

Baby Niko's closet... so far ;)
Jennifer Stano

Fendi bubble vest
Jennifer Stano

These were bought at NEXT and cost about $23.00. They have great quality items and really great prices!
Hands down my favorite store

These are also from NEXT !!!!
Jennifer Stano

Baby Nursery Inspiration.
My mom is coming in mid Feb and we have decided to sew the nursery bedding together. I did buy a backup set just incase off of Ebay which is AMAZING, but its so special to actually make something myself for my baby and to bond and share the experience with my mom. I have been sewing baby blankets these past few weeks since I was sick and the weather was so crappy, and I can't what to actually use them on Niko.

Handmade Baby Blanket by Jennifer Stano

Here is a list of my Favorite DIY blogs that inspired me to make baby blankets. Sewing is something I loved to do since I was a little girl sewing doll clothes with my grandmother. Sewing runs in my family
http://thelittlefabricshop.blogspot.co.uk/
http://www.daffodildesign.com/
http://www.aestheticnest.com/
http://www.theribbonretreat.com/blog/
http://www.sew4home.com/
http://quiltingintherain.blogspot.co.uk/

Nursery Inspiration.

Maternity Picture Ideas I want to do for myself: A combo of sexy and sweet

Controversy.
On my instagram account I recently posted a picture of myself and my bump and I got a ton of comments saying I was wearing butt pads... right! Because I would totally start to wear butt pads while being pregnant and having all kinds of weird growing pains but never have before ?!?!?! So, after seeing enough butt pad comments I decided to take a picture the next day of me in my sports bra and panties to show that my REAL baby bump matches my REAL ASS!
Of course on the "proof" photo I received a ton of hate as well calling me a whore, a bad mother, asking me " how could you take a picture like that you're suppose to be a mom". I find all of them ridiculous. As you can see from the pictures above many woman, celebrities and so on take beautiful nude photos of themselves while pregnant, and why not?! Its a beautiful thing. Granted mine was a candid shot but come on. I can't believe how unhappy people are with themselves to have to go and deliberately hate on someones picture. And hells yes I will still model for my swim line once I have the baby. Just because you have a baby doesn't mean you change the person you are.
Anyway, Im posting the pictures here so those of you who don't have instagram can see them. I model for my swim line Have Faith Swimgerie, I have modeled in the past, I work damn hard for my body and Im not harming my child or anyone around me- so it shouldn't matter.. As long as my husband says its ok, then its ok!

Jennifer Stano, 5 months pregnant

Jennifer Stano, 5 months pregnant , and damn PROUD!!!!!
I celebrate the human body, especially while pregnant. You probably won't understand unless you have experienced pregnancy, It's truly beautiful... A beautiful Gift.

So far , 34" and counting.
Jennifer Stano

Pregnancy Quotes, How I feel

Let us make pregnancy an occasion when we appreciate our female bodies.

~Merete Leonhardt-Lupa

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy and complaining about the shadow over my feet, I'd have cherished every minute of it and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was to be my only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

~Erma Bombeck,

Giving birth and being born brings us into the essence of creation, where the human spirit is courageous and bold and the body, a miracle of wisdom.

~Harriette Hartigan

Now my belly is as noble as my heart.

~Gabriela Mistral

A baby is something you carry inside you for nine months, in your arms for three years, and in your heart until the day you die.

~Attributed to Mary Mason

Sunday 20 January 2013

ranelles tips

Thursday 17 January 2013

IT'S A BOY!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm a little late at announcing it on my blog but yes, we just found out we are having a beautiful baby BOY and I am, SUPER EXCITED!!!!!!

At first it came as a shock to us because as you may remember at 12 weeks I posted a picture on my Instagram saying the Dr's "THINK" its a girl. Well, it's for sure a boy. His wee wee couldn't be more obvious, I was actually a little embarrassed LOL... joking.

We are naming the baby Nikola Alkiviades David. I actually can't decided if on his birth certificate I want it to say Nikolas or Nikola. We are naming the baby after my father, which is tradition in Italian and Greek cultures and probably many more- to be named after the baby's grandfather. Alki already has 2 sons and his first born was named after his father, so our baby together will be named after mine, and I LOVE his name thank god LOL... His middle name is obviously named after my husband- Alki ;) which neither of his boys have so its special to me and Im sure for him. His nick name will be Niko or Niky (Nicky).

The day Alki and I found out I went right to the store all on my own as Alki had to work and I was too excited to just sit at home, and I bought him a nice selection of baby clothes. Of course the girls have a way better selection of cute little dresses, and I am naturally attracted to anything PINK, but I was so surprised to see all the cute little boy outfits.... I just went nuts. Thank god theres cute clothes that are not just Red, Blue and yellow. No, I do not want my baby walking around looking like the primary color wheel... YUCK!!! I like neutrals, and soft baby colors, nothing bright and cartoon like.

This shirt is by a company called No Added Sugar. www.noaddedsugar.com
They have a ton of really cute clothes!

Ill post his wardrobe so far in my next post along with my nursery inspiration ideas. If you know of any great stores in London to buy baby clothes ,, furniture and so on please let me know. Other than Harrods, and John Lewis Im clueless.

My Beautiful baby Niko
Look at his bicep :) LOL awwww
He's trying to suck his thumb or pick his nose .. such a boy <3

xoxoxo Jennifer

Saturday 12 January 2013

Pregnancy- 2nd Trimester - Preparing for baby!!!!

The most recent picture of my baby from a Hospital in Bern, Switzerland. We went to find out the sex of the baby while on vacation in Gstaad but he/she was in a weird position and they couldn't tell. Im waiting till 20 weeks to know now lol.
Prince or Princess ?!?!?!?
How beautiful is the baby though. This is a 3D image and its sometimes very hard to get every feature clear at once. The eyes look blurry but they are there. How AMAZING are his/her lips!!!
I'm so in Love.

Im finally 17 weeks / 4 months pregnant and I am so excited to officially confirm what Im having. Some people choose to wait to find out the sex till the baby is born, but I am WAY to anal and organized to wait that long, plus, If I wait till the baby is born or if I find out now- it is still a surprise. I am just so excited to plan the nursery, the color, the wall decor, the bedding, the furniture.... Im looking forward to it all.

Jennifer Stano. 17 weeks pregnant here.
I have been using Olive Oil at night on my body to prevent stretch marks

Looking back on these past 4 months Ive been REALLY lucky. I had 0 morning sickness. I suffered from horrible migraines for a little while but realized it was completely triggered by chocolate, which btw has never bothered me before. Since giving up chocolate I have not had 1 migraine, and thank god, because one night I had 3 in a row... HORRIBLE! The first 2 months I think I had the worst cravings, but it could have been my body just telling me -YOU NEED FOOD! Normally, I eat simple and clean as Ive been into fitness and staying "fit" or lets just flat out say it... SKINNY, since entering the fitness world when I was 21years old, but when I got pregnant something happened and all I wanted to do was EAT! I craved everything I ate growing up, bagels, pasta, grilled cheese... It got bad. I definitely gained weight FAST, but since my BMI ( body mass index ) was underweight to begin with, it hasn't shown as much as it probably should have.

Everyones bodies are different, and no 2 pregnancies are alike. People wondered how I showed so fast, and said that Im "HUGE" for 4 months. I just think people don't realize how small my midsection was before I got pregnant. A 23" waist and a bust that is 29" is TINY. Theres only so much room inside to fit everything before it starts poking out. All of my friends that were tiny in their midsection showed really fast. Sure their are girls who are tiny and don't show fast, but again, everyones bodies are different, I happened to show fast, and Im really happy about that.

Then and Now. 11 weeks pregnant there

Then, itty bitty waist.

Im already in maternity pants a month now and I found this super fab site for the cutest maternity clothes. The hardest thing for me to find has been fitted shirts. Even Harrods maternity department ~~SUCKED~~ had nothing cute, except their jeans! Everything else was so frumpy and seemed like it was meant for woman much older than me. I may be pregnant but I'm still a fashionista and care about how I look. Nothing is cuter than a lady who is pregnant and still dressed trendy. I wanted to embrace and show off my bump, not hide it! I searched the internet for stores in the UK ( since Im living there for the year ) and came across what is now my favorite maternity store, Isabella Oliver. They have the cutest basic T-shirts and long sleeve T's, all fitted and in a variety of great colors. The quality is amazing and right now they are having a up to 50% off sale- ALL of my favorite items are half off!!! They also have my favorite leggings, also on sale.

Check them out www.isabellaoliver.com

Me wearing one of Isabella Oliver's wrap tops.
Yes I know, My butt is growing as fast as my belly, it's those Italian genes coming out FINALLY! lol

Let me also clear up all of the Ultrasounds. A ton of people on my instagram asked WHY I was going for so many ultrasounds and telling me its bad for the baby. First off, NO, It's not bad for the baby. Ive asked numerous doctors if it is harmful to the baby and they all said no. Secondly, if you didn't read my " Im pregnant" post, you should. I started out having trouble conceiving so we went to a fertility clinic which figured out the "issue" and I got pregnant right away. But being that we started there they monitor you much more closely. From weeks 4-8 I was there weekly for checkups, blood work etc. At week 8 they were suppose to dismiss me but when they were checking my ultrasound they saw that I had a small blood spot which meant I had a tear internally. I never had external bleeding (sorry if that is TMI ) but they told me no working out and to just relax. I went back the following week and the spot was gone. THANK GOD! I was a wreck when they told me.

Then that weekend Alki and I came to London where we will be living for the year because of business, the baby, and just change ( yes we still have our house, cars and doberman in Beverly Hills with my family who is housesitting). When I came to London my new Dr wanted to preform a quick US due to the traveling to make sure everything was ok and get up to date. So there was another ultrasound. Then a week or 2 later I had to get the Harmony blood test / scan done which tests for Down Syndrome and can detect common fetal trisomies. Then 2 weeks later you go back and they do a full scan of the baby where they measure the fluid at the back of the babies neck to determine if the baby has down syndrome or not coinciding with the blood test results, as well as a taking measurements of the babies full body and so on. I am now coming up on my second trimester scan which is typically done between weeks 18-22. During this scan I hope to confirm the sex of the baby. I can't wait to find out if Im having a little prince or a little princess.

My Pregnancy Blog Post.

I started to look for some generic items I need for the baby , or for me lol, like a diaper bag.
I asked a few friends what they used and liked the best. It came down to - Louis Vuitton Totally bag in the signature LV print and / or the Prada Black Nylon baby bag, I decided I'm going to get both. A baby bag you will be carrying around for at least 2 years so as my fabulous friend Johan said,
"You better love it".