My boring workouts

Sorry folks, my workouts are not so exciting these days.  I'm not training for any long distances and given that I can't run/walk very far without having to pee, there isn't much opportunity for my many musings I have during a longer workout.  But in an effort for this to not turn into a pregnancy blog, here's the latest in the workouts.

Saturday was another group workout at a local running store.  I was planning to go and The Pilot agreed to tag along.  I was exhausted when I got up and really didn't want to go but The Pilot lured me out of bed with promises that I could sleep in on Sunday.  So I got up and we headed out the door.  

The only real goal was to run/walk/shuffle for as long as possible without peeing my pants.  For real.  Oh well, at least it was a goal.   We started running very slowly behind some of my crazy fast walker friends but my heart rate quickly went through the roof so we dropped to a walk.  We did a couple more bursts of running but right around 1.5 miles out, I knew I would need to go to the bathroom so we walked (Baby Boy must not like running and decides to put the smack down on my bladder...TMI??).  Not much further, I realized I probably shouldn't go all the way out (did I just type that?!?) to the 2 mile marker since there weren't any bathrooms along the route.  So we turned around.  I debated going into the hospital we walked past to use their restroom so I could walk a little further but by that point, my back was also starting to hurt.

And because there isn't much entertaining about a 3+ mile shuffle, we took this gem.

Is a pregnant lady out for a slow workout with a baby sitting on her bladder considered an emergency?  Probably not.

Sigh.  I keep telling myself that all that matters is that I'm still active.  Not as active as I had hoped to be but I'm still moving and I'll keep trying until the body and just say no more. 

Besides, any time I get to hang out with this guy is always a good thing.  It sure beats trying to catch up with each other while he's standing in a jetway and I'm yelling at my cell phone so he can hear me.

So there was that...and then there was a short prenatal yoga workout last night.  But I'm going to leave out all the details because I was probably doing all the moves wrong...especially since I had a cat who was trying to help.  And by help I mean shoving her tail in my face while I was attempting cat's pose.  Ironic much?

Week 23

Week 23

How far along? 23 weeks when the photo was taken...though technically today I am 24 weeks.  My photo editor was on a 4-day trip.  :)
Maternity clothes?  Oh yeah....and I'm already getting bored with my limited selections.  I only have a couple casual shirts and a couple work shirts.  I need choices!  My rational side is saying to make do but the bored part of me is saying to go shopping again.  Stay tuned for which side wins.
Have you started to show yet?  It's pretty darn obvious now that I didn't just gain weight.  Especially since the only place I appear larger is the belly and chest.  At least, this is what I'm telling myself.  I still have a waist (on the sides at least) and I haven't noticed anything else getting...ummm....larger.  If you know me and have noticed anything else getting larger, keep it to yourself.  ;)
Symptoms: Is losing the ability to tie my own shoes a symptom?  'Cause that's slowly becoming a reality.  While I can kinda sorta still bend over at the waist, it's not comfortable and I can't breathe while doing so.  It reminds me of being a kid and making my mom time how long I could hold my breath under water.  Hey mom, want to come over and time me to see if I can hold my breath while trying to tie my shoes?  (She's also a nurse so if I pass out I'll be in good hands.  No worries.)  It's a good thing the prenatal yoga I've been doing sporadically has some good squatting exercises because that might be the only way I'll be able to wear shoes with laces.
Activity:  I was chilling with the swan over the weekend and there was more prenatal yoga.  I would love to be getting in more workouts each week but I'm in my busy time at work so it's a challenge.  I hope that by early May I can at least get in 3 days a week of some kind of activity (or I'm going to start counting laundry because of the multiple trips up and down the stairs).
Best moment this week:  I *think* I felt the little man move...from the outside.  He was moving around so I grabbed my belly and sure enough, I felt something.  I'm pretty certain I didn't twitch and I wasn't feeling my own pulse.  I think. 

Also, The Pilot and I scored big time over the weekend with nursery decor.  Once it's all done I'll definitely post pictures.  All I'll say now is that I really hope this kid is born with a sense of humor because with parents like us, he's going to need it!
Miss anything?  I'm still missing my bike.  The weather keeps getting nicer and the cyclists are hitting the roads.  Other than that though, I'm good. 
Movement:  I have to say, this is becoming my favorite part of pregnancy (after seeing the ultrasounds).  It's still the most bizarre thing I've ever experienced but something about that movement that is a reminder of what's going on.  He is most active right after I've eaten and for some reason, during my commute home from work.  I'm not sure if its the vibration of the car that wakes him up or maybe he doesn't like that I serenade him with not-baby-appropriate music and he keeps punching me in the bladder to get me to stop.

Food cravings:  Not as many strawberries this week...I haven't been to the grocery.  Boo.  I did have some at my parents' house the other night and they were glorious!

But then this just happened at lunch today....at least I added a few other fruits for variety.

Gender:  Still trying it out by calling the baby "him" or "he" instead of "it" or "alien."  :)
Looking forward to:  We hope to put some of the final decorations up in the nursery this weekend.  I also just got the invite to a baby shower....honoring me!  :)

What I'm not looking forward to:  The doctor said I should be drinking 150 ounces of water every day.  Say what?!  I'm no where near that and I'm still peeing all the darn time.  I'm working on it but there are times when I feel like I'm floating and just give up.  I've always been a water drinker but some days I get bored.  Having juice or a Vitamin Water is nearly as good as dessert some days! 
Milestones:  Megatron is the size of a grapefruit this week...at least I am familiar with that fruit!  Also, I read to the little guy for the first time.  A dear friend sent me a copy of this book.  All the pregnancy books say its a good idea to start reading/talking to the baby and that babies will recognize their parents' voices right at birth but honestly, I just felt a little silly.  Basically I was just reading Dr. Seuss to myself.  It also brought up a repressed emotion for me.  I forgot how much I dislike reading out loud.  Even though I love to read, I have always hated having to read out loud in school.  For some reason my brain reads faster than my mouth can keep up.  Hopefully this kid doesn't mind!  Or maybe I should just keep practicing...or try something other than Dr. Seuss and his crazy made-up words.

Gym Class Dropout: Becoming A Mom

I did a post on The Pilot becoming a dad (AKA the story of how I told him I was pregnant).  I figured I'd write one about me becoming a mom as it is no doubt been a journey already.  With the excitement of the pregnancy itself, I sometimes forget that at the end of this 10 month journey, I'm going to be a mom.  With so much to do to prepare for pregnancy, delivery and baby, it's hard to even think about the mom aspect of it.  I wasn't one of those women who dreamed about being a mom someday.  Up until I met The Pilot, I was pretty sure I didn't want kids.  Fast forward a couple years and here we are.  Approaching our 2nd wedding anniversary and just 4 months away from becoming parents.

I hadn't thought much about the whole "mom" aspect of things until recently.  I was at a meeting preparing for a local American Cancer Society's Relay For Life event that I've been involved with.  A mom and daughter got up in front of everyone to share their story.  The mom shared a little but left the rest to this video:



Now, I've seen a lot of videos like this over the last 8+ years of volunteering with both the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the American Cancer Society.  It's not that I've become immune to them but for some reason I can usually watch them without crying.  Especially if I'm with a group of people.  I'm not sure how I can lock that away but I can.  Until I saw this one.

And I think it's because within the 7 minute video, it hit me like a ton of bricks that I'm about to become a mom.  There was something about seeing that mom trying to comfort her child through the most unimaginable crisis.  All that mom wanted to do was take away her daughter's pain and make her better.  And all that little girl wanted was her mom.  I barely kept it together while I watched but for the day following that meeting, I realized just what is about to happen to my life. The Pilot and I are about to become someone's everything.   This little person will depend on us for everything, including comfort.  Hell, I'm 32 and I still go to my own mom for comfort.  That's heavy stuff!

I recently shared with The Pilot that I'm not scared of labor and delivery.  I'm scared of the lifetime after.  I'm still scared that I'll suck as a mom, though I know in my heart that's probably not going to be a reality.  I know it's completely normal to be afraid and I still have 4 months to adjust to the concept.  And I know enough about babies/kids to know that that our lives will never be the same.  I will probably miss our pre-baby lives but that's ok.  There will be a million new experiences to look forward to and treasure. So while I might be terrified, I'm also so so excited to welcome a little guy into this world.  I'm super excited to see The Pilot as a dad.  I'm excited to see how I evolve as a mom.  And besides, how can I completely suck at being a mom when I had one of THE best role models growing up (and when I say growing up, I mean the last 32 years)??  My mom is the best! If I have only a fraction of the relationship I have with my mom with my own child, both baby and I will be just fine!

And on another note about that video. it made me so badly want to go out and donate blood.  Unfortunately my doctor said no donating while pregnant.  I guess me and little man need it all right now.  As soon as I get the ok from the doctor though, I'll be back at it.  Who wants to go donate in my place?!

No Leaves...just swans

After getting rained out on Monday, I finally was able to get some fresh air.  My 4 miler on Saturday morning was just what I needed.  It was cold but the sun was out and I spent much of the 4 miles on my own...or at least just me and Megatron/Baby but he doesn't say much. 

I met up with a "new" group this time though there were some familiar faces in the crowd.  Including these lovely ladies who just happened to roll up wearing the same shirts.  :)  Nerds.

I did a run/walk combo almost all the way until mile 3 when I swear that baby must have had a foot pushing on my bladder.  Still a mile from my starting point, wearing a bright yellow shirt in a suburban area, in the spring with hardly much tree cover.  Peeing in the bushes was not an option...though one I probably would have taken had there been more leaves on the trees to hide me.  I just know Lisa is smiling about that because she still can't believe as long as I've been marathoning, that I've never had to pee outside.  :P

Anyways...I was forced to walk the rest of the way back but it was still a great workout.  It was nice to have some quiet time to myself.  And because all I could think about was how badly I needed to pee, my brain didn't even wander.  Sometimes its nice to empty the brain!  It's like a reset button.

I did have a brief startle when I passed a pond and a swan was trying to fly away.  From the noise, I thought it was coming at me.  It wasn't.  Though I did snap it's picture when I circled back around.  Because that's what you do when you are slow.  You stop and take pictures of swans during workouts.

Week 22

Week 22

How far along? 21 weeks
Maternity Clothes?  I mentioned I went swimming on Sunday.  While my normal lap swim suit doesn't fit, I did still have a tankini that I managed to squeeze into.  I have a long torso to begin with so one-piece suits are hard for me to find.  Even tankinis are too short sometimes so when I found a really long one right before our honeymoon last year,  I was super excited.  While not ideal to swim laps in, I was covered.  I think in another month though it will be too tight so I may try to buy just a maternity swim top since the bottoms still seem to fit. 
Have You started to show yet?  Someone recently exclaimed "woah, you've really popped" while reaching toward my belly.  I kept walking to avert the belly rub.  WHY on earth would anyone touch someone else's stomach without permission??  A friend did ask to touch the belly, and I was ok with that, but not asking??  NOT ok! 

We were at the doctor recently and on the bright side, I'm only up 8 pounds.  So while I have days when I feel very large, I really haven't put on all that much weight.  Luckily baby was kind and "borrowed" some resources from the few extra pounds I was carrying pre-baby.  Let's hope it stays that way.  The doctor pointed out that the less I gain, the less I have to lose post-baby.  I'm not stressing over numbers and doing my best to "feed the beast" with as many healthy options as possible (but caving to the baby's NEED for cookies).  As long as the doctor is happy, baby and I are happy.
Symptoms:  Only new thing new I've noticed is that sometimes the sides of my belly will get hard.  I was thinking it was possibly Braxton-Hicks contractions but the doctor said it was probably my round ligaments (part of the abs I guess) stretching.  Good to know.  It's still weird though!
Activity:  Getting my swim on and then a short treadmill/yoga workout the other night.
Best moments this week:  Hands down, the ultrasound.  And also hearing from the doctor that I can take more heart burn medication as needed.  Don't knock the little things!
Miss anything?  Nothing that I noticed this week.  Maybe I'm slowly adapting to this parasite that has taken over my body. ;)  I think another member of our household misses something though.  One of our cats LOVES to knead.  She's long past the kitten stage but still loves to knead you...your belly, chest, leg...anything she can get to while you are sitting still.  And yes, sometimes we feel violated.  (Don't worry, she won't do it to a stranger so you don't have to be worried about getting molested by a cat at our house.) Anyways, she keeps trying to knead my growing belly.  I keep picturing the baby getting poked in the head by a cat paw and it kinda freaks me out.  Plus, the bigger the baby gets, the more tight my belly becomes (less squishy) and it's not comfortable to have a 10 pound cat poking me so I don't let her anymore.  She always looks so rejected when I push her away or try to redirect her to my leg.  It's still plenty squishy but she doesn't look quite as satisfied.
Movement:  I've noticed he gets really active for about an hour after I eat and then he must take a little food nap.
Food cravings:  Still downing the strawberries like its my job.  The Pilot got some strawberry plants from his dad and planted them in the backyard a couple weekends ago.  They cannot grow fast enough because at this rate, a obscenely high amount of our grocery budget is going towards cartons of strawberries.
Anything making you queasy or sick? Nope.
Gender:  So we were at 85%...now I'm saying 99% that it's a boy.   :) 
Looking forward to: Still anxious for The Pilot to get to feel the crazy kicking, nudging, poking.  Also, putting the finishing touches on the nursery.  Furniture is in (though not all assembled), walls are painted and the curtains are made (more on that craziness for another time) and are up on the windows.  We just have some DIY art projects to get started on.
What I'm not looking forward to: I'm nervous that it's going to be a hot summer.  I've already noticed that I'm feeling a lot warmer than usual.  There have been several occasions when every one else in a room seems comfortable and I feel like it's stifling.  The Pilot and my dad installed ceiling fans in the master bedroom and the nursery over the last couple weeks and I'm so excited to have some airflow in both rooms!  Fingers crossed that it isn't as hot as it was last summer or I foresee being locked up in the house with an extra high electric bill as I sit on the air conditioning vents.
Milestones: He's a boy...and he's the size of a papaya.  Again with the odd fruits.  I'm just thankful that I'm not yet to the pumpkins and watermelons.

99%?

The Pilot and I went to my OB appointment on Monday for the official ultrasound.  I have to say, the best part of pregnancy so far is getting to see the little creature.  Seeing it move independent of me is the most bizarre, yet amazing thing I have ever experienced.

And we got something even better at this visit.  We got a much better view of the "goods."  While no percentages were thrown around, my doctor was pretty darn confident that....

It's A Boy!

And I'm feeling much more confident than I was with the 85% we got a couple weeks ago.  Mostly because I saw something.  We are either having a boy...or a girl with an extra extremity.  So now I can let myself get excited.  I can let myself plan a little more.  I felt like I've been in a holding pattern since that other ultrasound.  I didn't really have a preference on the gender but I did feel better when The Pilot put into words what I couldn't...  The part of us that wanted a girl is disappointed.  But the part of us that wanted a boy is so thrilled!

Now the pressure is on though.  We had a girl name pretty much picked out before we got married but for some reason, a boy name eludes us.  We have a couple at the top of the list that we keep coming back to but neither is jumping out more than the other.  Either way, we won't be sharing the name with anyone until his birthday.  And sorry folks but most likely, we will not be sharing the name on the blog.  For similar reasons why I don't use The Pilot's real name, we will be coming up with an internet alias.  The Pilot is still thinking Megatron is a good name.  We'll see about that.

For now though, we are super excited to think about a boy joining our family.  I've already tried to break it to our female cat that we are about to be outnumbered.  The males will have numbers but the females will always run the show. ;)

A Required Workout

I wasn't feeling it tonight.  I was tired, cranky and just wanted to be a vegetable.  But something just didn't feel right about that.  Not after the events in Boston yesterday.  As much as I wanted to deny it, I needed to get some kind of workout in. 

What I wanted most was to get outside and pound the pavement to let out some anger and frustration but it was storming.  Boo.  To the basement I went though.  I put on some Pearl Jam (the go-to when my head is all mixed up) and got on the treadmill.  I didn't have the energy to go very long but I stayed on just long enough to get my heart rate up and to break a sweat.  And just long enough to get some endorphins going which always seems to help clear my head (along with a side of PJ of course).

Baby bumpin' along

I'm having a really hard time processing the news of what happened at the Boston Marathon yesterday.  I'm feeling very much like I did on September 11 despite the loss of life and injuries being significantly higher with that event obviously.  Unlike September 11 though, I could put myself there in Boston.  I knew multiple people who were racing yesterday (all accounted for and safe).  I knew people who were in town to watch the race.  How many races have I done?  I've lost count.   How many races have I done with a larger race field than Boston?  I've lost count but it is in the double digits.  How many times have I been hanging around the finish line waiting for my athletes and friends?  Again, I've lost count.   I'm planning to stand at the finish line of a dear friend's 100th marathon next month. 

See what I mean when I say I can put myself there?  I'm having trouble processing that.  Just like with September 11 though, we can't stop living life just because something scary happened.  I didn't stop flying after September 11.  Obviously I kept living.  I married a pilot who spends 3-4 days a week flying.  I can't very well stop lingering around finish lines.  I'm not going to stop racing.  That doesn't mean its not hard to process and scary to think about.

My challenge tonight was that my head was swimming and I needed a workout but my body and baby were telling me something else.  I was just so tired.  I stuck it out for 15 minutes on the treadmill and then did 15 minutes of prenatal yoga.  It helped clear my head a bit.  Not as much as a good hour long run would have but for now, I'm thankful that I'm still able to workout.  My body is still cooperating for the most part.

I've even more thankful that I wasn't at that finish line yesterday.  Thankful that my friends are safe.  Thankful that while we live in a crazy world with crazy people, there is much more good in than evil.