STATS:

How far along: 19 weeks.

Size of baby: mango (6” head to rump, 8.5oz)

Weight gain: 1/2 lb gain this week ( 3 lbs gained thus far)

What I love: that I’m still running!

Worries: Sticking with my new favorite quote, “don’t let tomorrow’s worries steal from you the joys of today”

Sleep: Having crazy dreams right now. Sometimes they’re really cool, but last night I had a terrible nightmare and I couldn’t bring myself to go back to sleep. 

The belly: I didn’t have the energy for a picture this morning but at my vinyasa class somebody asked me, “should you be doing that” [handstands]. I almost asked, “what do you mean?” to mess with her, but I was so happy she noticed I was pregnant in a non-maternity top I couldn’t bring myself to tease her.

Best moment of the week: This has been a rough week so nothing sticks out here. I recognize there are hundreds of thousands of women who would love to be in my position so I have no real complaints. Frustrations, but no complaints.

Food cravings: My grocery store has this chicken and wild rice soup that freaking me out it’s so good. There is some secret ingredient that I can’t quite put my finger on. I think it’s cinnamon. Doesn’t that sound absurd? It’s really good though.

Food aversions: none really

Baby’s Movement: I went to a movie and ate a bunch of candy. About an hour later I felt all sorts of flutters and jabs. Now I know the secret if I REALLY want to feel my little bug move.

My Movement: Still running about 12 miles/week. I went down to my parents house for the Superbowl (they live about 40 miles south) and had the best run since I’ve become pregnant. I found a flat route with a good bathroom (very important! I had to stop three times) and was able to run an hour straight without walking because I wasn’t faced with some crazy hill that took my ass out. I try to go easy on myself because I know running here has special challenges, but I was genuinely amazed at the difference. If I lived anywhere else I would probably still be running closer to, if not more, than 20 miles a week. It was good for the ego if nothing else. I’m motivated to get out of my town one day a week to keep getting in a nice long run like that.

I’m also doing yoga 2x a week. Overall, my goal is to get 5 days of solid movement each week and I’ve succeeded in that. I only work part time and have no other children that demand my attention. There is no reason for me to squander this opportunity with such a flexible schedule and not get in solid workouts. I would love to include more about this in the blog but there is nothing really too exciting about the workouts themselves. It would be a short post that said something like: Today I did yoga and I can no longer do child’s pose with my knees together. Or I ran the 4 mile loop around my house today. I walked a lot.

Not real fascinating stuff.

Symptoms: Heart burn has struck. I’m surprised it’s started this early. Is that normal? I wonder if this is a sign of what’s to come when my belly really gets big and things start running out of room. I ate three pieces of a california roll and got heart burn the other day. Other days, it doesn’t even rear it’s ugly head.

Gender: I still think it’s a girl. I have a couple of solid names picked out, but I’m considering keeping it a secret (the name, not the gender) because people have too many opinions.

What I’m looking forward to: What am I NOT looking forward to?! Gender reveal, ultrasound, husband coming home, kitchen remodel, shopping for nursery, registering for baby, finalizing names. This is all taking place during a one month period during end of February/beginning of March

What I miss: A good strong palate cleansing run, and/or a relaxing glass of wine after an emotional day.

Next appt: Unfortunately last night I learned my husband’s ship schedule has changed and he will be coming home later than expected. As a result, I had to postpone the ultrasound to Feb 20th

Due Date: July 4th

In my new Lulu pants and tank top from Old navy that I bought the other day. LOVE them both. If you are pregnant or going to be pregnant soon – you would be remiss if you did not purchase the Astro pant. I see no reason why these can’t carry me through the next several months including the few beyond pregnancy. And to have a tank top where my seemingly chubby boobs and stomach is not working the fabric to it’s capacity is beyond relief!

STATS:

How far along: 18 weeks.

Size of baby: sweet potato (5.6” head to rump) this is the same stats I put down for 17 weeks so I must have been mistaken last week.

Weight gain: 1/2 lb gain this week ( 2.5 lbs gained thus far)

What I love: starting to feel movement

Worries: A very close and wise friend told me, “don’t let tomorrow’s worries steal from you the joys of today”

Sleep: I’m officially no longer able to sleep on my stomach and my back has been so achy that I’m not really comfortable flat on my back either. I toss and turn a lot from one side to the other.

The belly: I think I officially look pregnant now. At least I hope.

Best moment of the week: Going to my first prenatal yoga class.

Food cravings: Still stuck on fruit. Oranges and pineapples specifically.

Food aversions: none really

Baby’s Movement: So I think I’ve finally felt some movement. Several times this week I felt what people have described to me as the “flutters.” It basically feels like muscle spasms in my stomach. Usually I notice it when I’m am laying down in bed reading. It’s unexpected and very cool.

My Movement: My first prenatal yoga class was last night. I believe this is what non-yoga-going people think all yoga is based on the assumption they usually make which is, ‘yoga is boring,’ ‘yoga is too easy,’ ‘you sweat in yoga?’ There was only about ten of us in class, all in varying stages of pregnancy. We started with brief introductions: name, how far along, where we were mentally….The class was very easy going with a lot of focus on breathing (all yoga has a strong breath connection, but this was more of a connecting your breath with your baby), light kegels, and strengthening rather than lengthening. Usually I like to work in yoga, and this was still work – but in a different way.

When I introduced myself I shared my coming to terms with the physical limitations of not running as far/fast as I was pre pregnancy. After class a woman who was also 18 weeks said she could totally relate to me because she was having a hard time walking her dogs because of the pounding…..I’m obviously not a real yogi because my first reaction was to draw back with horror that somebody walking their dog could ever understand or relate to the pain of running being slowly taken away. She was so freakin’ nice and I’m a terrible person for thinking what I thought about her. I feel badly for even sharing that with you. Coming to terms with my own limitations is great but apparently I should start setting my intentions on accepting other people’s limitations without judgment. What can I say. I’m a judger.

About running – I’m still running about 3 times a week but I definitely have to start limiting my workouts to an hour or less because if there is even a teaspoon of urine in my bladder (which I’m pretty certain there is always at least a tsp despite me peeing and then literally rolling my torso around to squeeze every last drop out) it’s uncomfortable. Sidenote – I don’t run for over an hour straight, I am run-walking which means even a 5 mile run gets drawn out to over an hour.

Milestones: Flutters!!

Symptoms: My aching back – According to the experts, my uterus is the size of a cantaloupe which has shifted my center of gravity because of my protruding stomach. My back follows for support. That’s why all those pictures of pregnant women (including mine above) looks like I’m intentionally sticking my bump out. I’m not. That curve in my back is just following my stomach. An achy back is very common from here on out. Moreover, I think not assuming my stomach sleeping position has me all twisted up as well.

Gender: 17 more days!

What I’m looking forward to: Shopping for nursery. My pinterest board is out of control. This morning I was obsessed with rugs. I can’t decide if I want my jumping off point to be the rug or bedding….

What I miss: My man! He’ll be home in two weeks.

Next appt: Feb 17th

Due Date: July 4th

Yesterday I ventured out for some much needed supplies and a little research. Over the last couple of weeks my jeans have been too uncomfortable to wear, especially if I want to sit down. I know a lot of women can get away with unbuttoning the top button, securing it with a hair tie, and maybe throwing on a belly band. That sounds really high maintenance to me. I prefer clothes that are easy to wear. I don’t layer well because I feel like it’s too fussy and I will not stuff my feet in shoes that have no business being on anybody’s foot. The same rule applies to my ass and stomach. I was fully prepared to embrace the maternity jeans. And I really needed a new bra. Will bras ever be comfortable again? Ugh. That’s the first thing to go when I get home. The bra. I bought these camisoles at a local lingerie store early into my first trimester because my boobs hurt so bad, every time I rolled over in bed the pain would wake me up. I needed something to at least hold them in a little. These worked well. I still enjoy wearing them now that my chest has increased to double their size (thankfully they quit hurting several weeks ago) but I can’t wear them around the house during the day anymore. I needed a little more support.

I also needed to replenish some beauty supplies and wanted to check into a couple of baby stores for nursery décor.

The list:

Jumping right in……The most expensive piece of furniture that will go in the nursery is the rocker/glider. I really want a piece of furniture that I’ll love in my living room or library after it comes out of the nursery. When I first started looking I fell in love with the Joya Rocker from Monte designs chair right away. I just wasn’t sure how comfortable it would be so I had to sit in it. It was ok. Not great. Definitely did not hit the right amount of comfort on my comfort:style ratio. Sad face. I also sat in a couple of those gliders in the background and they were awesome. Not the right style, but this is just a learning process here. I have chair in my back pocket that came highly recommended by a couple of friends, but I still want to test some out. This was at Land of Nod.

and this is just cute

Next up: Anthropology to check out some knobs to replace the ones on the ikea dresser to be purchased at a later date.

My two favorites:

Hilarious salt and pepper shakers that were not found at Anthropology, but how funny would this be for a gag gift?!

I went into a little local maternity shop and I found this great marketing strategy for some Zensah Compression socks – changing the packaging to say: Fresh Legs instead of Compression. Personally I think this brand is mediocre in terms of compression products. We sell them at the running store and I own a pair which I never wear because I have other brands that are superior in quality. These are my absolute favorite (wearing them right now), and these are my second choice. Anyways, this stop had some great maternity jeans that I would wear had I not been pregnant (Page Premium Denim and Ciitizens) but I’m not going there for maternity clothes.

I was really relying on Gap and thought for sure I would leave with some great maternity jeans, but no dice. I’m sure in a month they will be great, but for now I’m still just too small for them. I should have taken pictures in the fitting room especially because they had a ‘bump’ you could velcro under your shirt to see what the outfit would look like in the following months,  but I had a friend with me and I didn’t want to make her wait around for me too long. Next time.

However, I did score some great new camisoles at an even better price. I bought one in ever color.

And one shirt. I think this is the same one on a model, but they don’t have the color I bought on their website.

So with no luck on the jeans the last clothing stop was at Lululemon for some new yoga pants. I practically live in yoga pants (work attire) so I easily justified dropping a couple hundred dollars on new pants. I usually wear the groove pant (which I love and highly recommend) in a size 8 but a fellow preggo friend and yoga teacher recommended the astro pant because they have a more generous waistband. They are ultra comfortable. I bought two in one size up (10).

(from their website)

I was hoping to pick up a couple of long workout tops because the ones I have now are becoming too tight in the chest and my belly is starting to poke out. Not comfortable. Not cute. I saw a couple at lulu  that I though would be great, but I also think I can find similar tops at a better price if I look a little more so I held off.

I also stopped at Old Navy but their maternity section sucks balls. I got one tank that is 100% cotton with the shirred detailing on the sides to accommodate a growing belly, but let’s be honest – I’m not exactly sweating up a storm in yoga anymore so cotton will work. I realized today I have to lower my standards or spend far more than I’m comfortable with. Of course I’m sure these clothes will transition great for the months following post birth, but I’m not going to be pregnant forever and I don’t need to drop coin like I will be.

I ended up going with a belly band from Target. I really didn’t think it would be that hard to find jeans, but apparently it’s not any easier to find cute jeans than when your not pregnant. Looking back, I have no idea why I thought it would be. I think this will give me another month, maybe even two. It was only 20$ so no harm, no foul even if I don’t like it.

Cheap target bra. Pre-pregnancy I was a 34C, so really I haven’t grown that much, but still – new bra desperately needed. I imagine I’ll go up again so I didn’t want to spend to much here.

This just looks massive. I thought, “no way this will fit” when I took it back to the fitting room. It did.

This trip wasn’t all about clothes. Some other noteworthy purchases…..

From Sephora

fragrance samples

the BEST product if you are prone to razor burn in sensitive areas. I used to get bikini/legs waxed and the esthetician used this on my skin before and after. I’ve been buying it ever since. It’s a little hard to find, but Sephora always has it.

Hair products I love:

I’ve been using Aveda colors and products for about 7 years now. I love them. They’re exceptional quality and they smell delicious. A hairstylist once told me that some of the cheaper drugstore brands actually have plastics in them which is what makes your hair shiny, but the plastic will start building up in your hair and after a month or so your hair becomes lackluster. I suspect I probably just slathered more product on to try to get back to the shiny luster I had when I first started using it. Anyways, I’ve tired other products but I always come back to Aveda.

I use several different products, but these are what I was running low on.

Smooth Infusion Conditioner (I also use Clove Shampoo but they only sell the big huge bottles so I’ll probably go back to blond before I run out of that), Brilliant medium hold hairspray, Control Paste

Like I said, I have a lot of other products in the rotation depending on the day and what I’m going for but these are staples.

Makeup:

The friend I was shopping with is a big MAC girl. I’m a Laura Mercier girl (not exclusively but I use their tinted moisturizer for foundation and loose powder for setting most days). She wanted to go into the Mac store and I was all for it.  I have a couple of MAC shadows but that’s about it. So much fun (but seemingly high maintenance) make up.

I did buy three things:

 219 Pencil Brush , Crème Cup lipstick, Pigment in Circa Plum

Overall, successful shopping venture. I’ll probably go back out in a another month to get a couple of more pieces. I don’t want to buy too much at once. Plus I really miss clothes shopping, so if I can spread it out over the next few months I think I would enjoy that very much.

This morning I was on my way out the door to hit a yoga class and run a couple of errands when I discovered this little snag:

I’m totally helpless when it comes to this kind of stuff. When I was on my way home from dinner with a friend two nights ago, an indicator came up on my dashboard. I looked it up when I got home and found out it meant “low tire pressure,” but then I forgot all about it by the time I walked in the door. I’m losing brain cells to the baby I think. Yesterday I was working at home all day so I didn’t even think about my car. I would have at least been able to check the tire pressure on each tire and drive it to our shop, instead it sat in my garage for another 24 hours until I was totally flat. Well done Kristen. Well done.

Plan B – husbands truck. Unfortunately, the cute boy did not come included today

I posted this picture of me for no reason other than I really like it. It’s a good memory of a road trip we took to the Outer Banks several years ago. And btw, what happened to my earring?

Anyways, back to my random day. I was kind of frantic after I realized my tire was flat and naturally forgot to grab my yoga mat and sunglasses (preggo brain) out of my car before leaving. First world problems, I know. My yoga studio has extra mats but I think that’s incredibly gross. I cleaned it off before and after but still, ewwww.

After yoga I drove across town and miraculously found the countertop shop we’re using for our kitchen remodel (much more on kitchen remodel in another post!). I needed to finalize the material and put down a deposit.

Quick note about the kitchen: I’m doing a white kitchen. White cabinets, white countertop, white backsplash.

These two countertop samples are the same material (quartz) but different brands. And VERY different price. Two thousand dollars different. Crazy, no?

My design materials –

top: white subway tile backsplash prototype (not official if I’m using white subway tile yet), right: cabinet door, center: countertop samples, left: floor

Can you tell which one is more expensive? I’m not sure of the difference in price per square foot, but for our job – one is two thousand dollars less. No brainer.

So decision made, deposit down, back home to deal with my flat tire. Once I got home I called Roadside Assistance (which we get through our insurance). I felt like a tool asking, “will you come help me if I’m not stranded on the side of the road but just stuck inside my garage?” If I were on the other side of the phone I probably would have laughed at myself, but she didn’t. She was super nice. I now realized they must get that a lot because the service includes towing. I’m sure people have to get their vehicles towed to auto body shops from home.

After I got off the phone I waited for the guy to show up. And ate one of these:

I also finally downloaded the instigar app which is awesome. I should have listened to everybody that told me to download this a long time ago.

I was caught off guard when some loud muffler-modified red Fiero pulled into my driveway. I thought it was a mistake but his back window had a big sticker with the words: RESCUE RANGER on it. I found this whole situation hilarious. I wanted to get a picture of it, but I didn’t want to be rude to somebody who was helping me out of a pinch. I snuck this one when his trunk was open and he was working on my tire….

Funny roadside assistance I think. But effective. He got me on my way to the car shop.

What was stuck in my tire. Fortunately, it was repairable and I didn’t need to buy a new tire.

And then it was almost dinner time (I have to eat dinner early to allow it to digest before I go to bed so I don’t get heartburn) but I was kind of wiped out from my flat tire fiasco so I got take out.

Veggie Delight on honey oat with every veggie (including jalapenos) + cheddar cheese + mayo + oil & vinegar + salt & pepper

And then I had another of these

And now it’s almost 7:30 so I’ll probably head up to bed in a half hour, set the sleep timer on my tv and watch a Lifetime movie until I fall asleep. It’s Pick a Flick Friday.

My Friday night is not boring at all.

terrible picture

STATS:

How far along: 17 weeks.

Size of baby: sweet potato  (5.6” head to rump)

Total weight gain: 2 lb gain (2lbs this week, 2lbs overall)

What I love: My stomach getting a little bigger every few days

Worries: *dramatic sigh* Nothing and everything at the same time….

Sleep: Terrible. Nothing new here.

The belly: see picture

Best moment of the week: This has been a rough week. I’ve decided winter is the hardest season to not have a husband around.

Food cravings: Still stuck on fruit. Oranges and pineapples specifically.

Food aversions: None really, more like an aversion to cooking or spending any time in the kitchen.

Baby’s Movement: None yet, but I think it will happen this week!

My Movement: The weather up here has been terrible for the last week. Snow storm, followed by ice storm, followed by hundreds of thousands loosing power (some for several days, including my parents who were out of power for 5 days!), followed by monsoon rains, and followed by heavy (25-35mph) winds last night for several hours. I can deal with all the former, but if you’ve never been to the PNW, I will tell you our trees are massive. The limbs alone can impale you. Having your house assaulted by tree debris all night is a very unsettling feeling. Particularly when you are home alone and your house is surrounded by them. Even as a native it makes you nervous. I found myself seriously contemplating what my course of action would be if a tree actually did fall on my house. Plus storm clean up is a bitch. Thankfully I didn’t bother cleaning up from the ice storm.

That was my long winded way of saying, I have not been getting in many workouts.

that window to the left is my bedroom. Does this snapshot even do it justice?

my neighbors house last fall.

Milestones: Making it through the last few days without a drop of alcohol. Or killing anyone.

Symptoms: Headaches, Backaches and my left hip/thigh area aches.

Gender: 3 more weeks!

What I’m looking forward to: 20 week anatomy scan, the return of my husband, kitchen remodel, nursery set up

What I miss: my husband, a good mind clearing run and wine

Next appt: Feb 17th

Due Date: July 4th

Here are the rules:
1. Post these rules
2. You must post 11 random things about yourself
3. Answer the questions set for you in their post
4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer
5. Go to their blog and tell them you’ve tagged them
6. No stuff in the tagging section about you are tagged if you are reading this. You legitimately have to tag 11 people!

11 Random Things about Me
1. I regret buying a black Manduka because even though I exfoliate my feet several times a week with a pumice stone in the shower, there is always dead skin on my mat 15 minutes into class. Gross! and kinda embarrassing.

2. I am a true morning person. My most productive hours of the day are between 6-10am. By 4:00 I’m worthless and I often head up to bed around 8.

3. I believe a double sink in the bathroom is imperative to preservation of my marriage. As is a dvr.

4. My most annoying habit is picking at my cuticles.

5. I love traveling, but I don’t particularly enjoy the flying part. The whole process is a test of my self-control and patience.

6. For tonight, my dvr is set to record: The Bachelor, Real Housewives of BH, and Watch What Happens Live

7. I will not finish a book that doesn’t draw me in within the first 10-15 pages. This is why Born to Run is still sitting on my bookshelf unread.

8. I subscribe to Runner’s World, House Beautiful, and Bon Appetite.

9. My favorite cocktail is a double Grey Goose on the rocks.

10. I sleep on the same side of the bed even when my husband is away. I don’t even creep into the middle.

11. I hate writing.

Kristen’s Questions (the blogger who tagged me is also named Kristen)
1- When you’re in a job interview, what do you use as your "weakness"? (you know, the weakness that you can turn into a positive somehow) I like to follow ridged schedules and get easily irritated by people who can’t do things in a timely and efficient manner or are consistently late.

2- What is your favourite food? previously it was fresh seared scallops, but currently I can’t get enough pineapple

3- Why did you start blogging? To join a supportive and fun running community

4- If you could go anywhere on vacation, where would you go? Australia

5- If you’re a runner, biker, triathlete, or any other sort of racer, what race is tops on your bucket list? Probably a marathon in Australia

6- What is your dream job? Judge, but without having to abide by all those pesky laws.

7- Who is your celebrity crush? there are a few, but the longest standing one is Matthew McConaughey.

8- Did you or do you play an instrument? No. There is not one musically inclined bone in my body.

9- What is your favourite "guilty pleasure" movie? (you know, the one that you like to pretend you didn’t love) Tropic Thunder. So stupid yet so funny.

10- If you had to pick a last meal, what would you pick? seared scallops and risotto followed by warm apple pie with a side of vanilla ice cream all washed down with a very expensive Syrah

11- Ben and Jerry’s or Haagen Dazs? Haagen Dazs. More specifically Haagen Dazs ice cream bars with almonds

My questions

1. What is your biggest pet peeve?

2. If stranded on a desert island what 3 personal items (not including survival tools) would you want?

3. What’s the one food you could never give up?

4. What’s your best quality?

5. What was the last thing you really laughed over?

6. What is your go-to book recommendation?

7. What’s your ideal time of day to workout?

8. What’s the last food you ate?

9. Who is your favorite athlete (dead or alive)?

10. What’s the last movie you watched and would you recommend it?

11. Toilet paper over or under?

My tags (your supposed to do 11, but I don’t have 11 regular followers so I tagged the friends to comment on my last post)

natalie @  Running, and What Not

jen @ Running Stories

fancy nancy @ Living the Dream

amy @ Gazelles on Crack

alisa @ Ambitious Aspirations

joy @ joyRuN

molly @ I’m a Sleeper Baker

STATS:

How far along: 16 weeks.

Size of baby: Avocado again, same size to me as a orange and lemon which were week 14 and 15…..what gives?  (4.5” head to rump)

Total weight gain: 1 lb loss(back at 132 lbs). What the heck? I feel like I’m eating WAY out of proportion to my physical activity. And how can I not be gaining weight with at least the extra fluids. I had my 16 week appointment yesterday and expressed my concern for not gaining weight and she said it’s nothing to worry about until later in the pregnancy. mkay. I know the best defense against stretch marks is gaining weight at a consistent rate. Not doing a very good job here.

What I love: My stomach getting bigger. Hearing a super strong heart beat yesterday.

Worries: There is some crazy stuff happening with my husbands job right now and his schedule is now up in the air. I know he will be here for the birth, but it is very unsettling not knowing the schedule or how long he will be home after the baby is born. 

Sleep: Still hit and miss. I talked to my midwife yesterday about sleeping on my back and stomach and she said its fine if it’s comfortable for me and that I will know when I need to stop doing so. Not giving up on my stomach sleeping yet!

The belly: Getting bigger. I think I look pregnant when I have no clothes on, but once I have a shirt on I just look chubby.

Best moment of the week: Hearing baby’s heart beat.

Food cravings: Still stuck on fruit. Oranges and pineapples specifically.

Food aversions: none really

Baby’s Movement: None yet, but I also heard first time mothers often don’t know it when it happens right away.

My Movement: This week I’ve had little movement. We got hit with snow which usually only happens once a year for a week – if at all, so life gets pretty interrupted. Roads do not get cleared (there is little equipment), school is cancelled and most people stay home. If it’s not an actual snow storm then it’s just boughts of snow flurries. Then it warms up during the day so the snow melts, turns to slush, then freezes again in the evening. It’s messy. This is not like NE, Colorado, or Utah snow. Very different. I was going to hit my first pre-natal yoga class last night but we got hit with a snow storm so I decided to stay in. I kinda like it when this happens.

Sidenote: Knowing I was likely going to miss my yoga class, I went to the gym after my doctors appointment yesterday got on the treadmill and ran about 40 minutes (3.5 miles). Previous to this, I’d been thinking that I’ll want to purchase a treadmill to keep in the garage mostly for convenience to get my running in since I’m on my own for significant amounts of time. Now I’m thinking that it would be a total waste of money because just that 40 minute run reminded me how much I hate it no matter how convenient it is. BUT I also know I live in an exceptionally hilly area which is difficult enough without a jogging stroller and it would probably be beneficial to get my speedwork and temp runs in. I’m torn on this decision.

Milestones: 4 months down!

Symptoms: Runny nose – it seems everything that happens when you are pregnant is a direct relation to well, being pregnant. Even a runny nose. I’ve also started experiencing Round Ligament Pain – which reminds me of what it used to be like to do core workouts. It’s not too bothersome. Actually, I like it because it lets me know the baby is growing and needs more room!

Gender: 4 more weeks!

What I’m looking forward to: 20 week anatomy scan

What I miss: shopping for clothes

Next appt: Feb 17th

Due Date: July 4th

Other notes: I got a flu shot (first one ever) and a Tdap shot (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis)

(a friend of mine who ran the half this morning took this picture)

The women’s race unfolded exactly as I thought it would: Flanagan, Davilla, Goucher. They all looked so strong coming in. We have the right women going to London.

What’s there to say about the women’s marathon field? It seems women are dominating the sport.

Is it just my pregnancy hormones talking, or was this an emotional race like no other . I mean one chance every four years. I haven’t been this emotional since LoLo tripped on the hurdles. I was so elated for the first three finishers and then I felt for Hastings and Ritzenhein so badly. There couldn’t have been a dry eye in the house when people watched that finish.

But where were all the spectators?? I was surprised to see so many spots on the course without them.  I understand some parts may have been difficult and maybe even illegal to get to, but then I saw a running path with a few runners who didn’t really seem impressed with what was going on next to them.  It’s just another day for them I guess?

It was fun to watch a marathon knowing an American would win That doesn’t happen very often.

One of my favorite parts of watching an elite field in a marathon is when the motorcycle rides next to the runners and you can really see just how fast they’re booking. Or when they go to grab their water how difficult and strategic it really is.

Another favorite was part was watching the genuine joy and elation on the faces of the trailing women when Meb was coming in. Some were even cheering him on. Loved that.

Ryan Hall has impeccable form.

After seeing the finish line interview, I’m in love the Abdi Abdirahman. Admittedly, I’ve never heard of him before yesterday, but I was so happy for him when he was being interviewed. He simply loves the sport and crowd and makes you feel so inspired to BE HAPPY.

What was your favorite part??

STATS:

How far along: 15 weeks.

Size of baby: navel orange

Total weight gain:  1 lb gain  (currently 133 lbs). This is the first pound gained. I knew it was coming and I was not looking forward to getting on the scale this morning. Not that I am completely dreading or trying to avoid gaining weight, but any fit pregnant woman that tells you she isn’t thinking about weight is full of shit. I can expect (and do expect) to gain a pound a week from here on out. I’m sure there will be several weeks where I gain 2 (hopefully not more that that per week). I have ~25 weeks to go and 25 pounds gained in a pregnancy at my starting weight sounds ideal to me, but anything under 35 would be pleasing.

(I generally don’t want to bore you with these kinds of details, mostly I want to talk about me and how I feel and what I’m experiencing – not what everybody says I am or might be going through. You can research that kind of stuff yourselves. I will point this detail out because I know we all think about weight stuff whether you admit it or not and I want you to know where my heads at)

According to the American Pregnancy Association:

How much total weight should I gain?

The amount of weight you should gain depends on your weight and BMI (body mass index) before pregnancy. You should gain:

• 25-35 pounds if you were a healthy weight before pregnancy, with a BMI of 18.5-24.9    
• 28-40 pounds if you were underweight before pregnancy with a BMI of less than 18.5
• 15-25 pounds if you were overweight before pregnancy with a BMI of 25-29.9
• 11-20 pounds if you were obese before pregnancy with a BMI of over 30

So there you go. 25-35 pounds. Sounds good to me.

What I love: dreaming about what our lives will be like after the baby. And then rationally remembering it will likely be NOTHING like what I think it will be   I’ve also found this great podcast that I listen to on all my runs now. There are several pregnancy topics to choose from and I will pick and choose depending on what I’m up for.

Worries: It’s been three weeks since I heard my baby’s heartbeat. There is an overwhelming desire to hear it again. I thought about buying a fetal dopler, but I also thought of how much I would be affected if for some reason the baby was in a weird spot and I just couldn’t hear it one day. Could you imagine? I’m adopting a “no news is good news” approach between appointments. Once I can feel movement and kicking from the baby I know this worry will cease. This is just a little tricky time.

Also despite what I said about the weight gain above, I was getting *a little* worried that I hadn’t gained anything. I know that’s typical in the first trimester if you dealing with morning sickness, but I really didn’t loose my appetite so I wondered why I hadn’t gained anything.

Sleep: This one is hit and miss whether I’m pregnant or not. Nothing has changed here. I’m wondering if it’s bad to be sleeping on my stomach at this point? Question to bring up at my next appointment. It will be a sad day in the Barrett house when I can no longer do that.

The belly:  I don’t feel like it’s changed too much from last week but I put on a pair of jeans yesterday and was happy they fit. Until I sat down. No bueno. Looks like I will be cleaning out my closet soon.

Best moment of the week: Having my husband come home the other night and rub my belly.

Food cravings: Still stuck on fruit, and yesterday while at the grocery store, a glass jar of grapefruit caught my eye and I HAD TO have it. It will be opened today. I hope it’s as good as it looks.

Food aversions: Still no salmon so I started taking a fish oil pill. Sidenote –  if you are pregnant don’t take without food or you will burp fish oil. Fucking nasty. Also animal meat of all kinds.

Baby’s Movement: None yet.

My Movement: I’m still getting in 5 workouts a week unless I have to work. Wile work is not manual labor or stressful on my body, I’m still on my feet all day and I try to take that into consideration when I’m planning my workouts for the week. By the end of the day all I want to do is elevate my feet. Be impressed by pregnant waitresses people. I will double my tip to them from here on out.

I’m also trying to remember that not every workout must be 1+ hour long. It’s OK to run for 30 or 40 minutes.

Yoga is delicious. Leaving for a class in an hour.

Kegels. Lot’s of kegels.

Milestones: Not comfortably fitting into my jeans anymore

Symptoms: Heartburn – I have to eat dinner early so when it’s time to lay down for bed I’ve had plenty of time to digest. Otherwise it’s a bit uncomfortable. I’m expecting this to get worse but I’m glad I’ve already discovered this. Burping – often.

Gender: At our 20 week ultrasound in February which will possibly be postponed until week 21 or 22 if Chris is not home.

Sidenote – my in-laws straight up told me they hope it’s a boy since my husband is the end of the line for the Barrett name. Yikes! Whatever happened to “I don’t care as long as it’s healthy” At least they can’t hold it against me since it’s all up to their son whether we have a boy or not. (I know they will be psyched either way, it just always catches me off guard when I hear people actually say this out loud)

What I’m looking forward to: My husband coming home in a few weeks and being more involved in the pregnancy. While I’ve had what I’d consider to be an ‘easy’ pregnancy thus far (that’s so relative isn’t it – like saying a race or route is ‘hilly’) it was fun having him around for a few hours.

And of course, hearing Baby’s heartbeat next week!

What I miss: eating seared tuna and scallops

Next appt: January 17th

Due Date: July 4th

http://www.mapquest.com/embed?hk=ymHsfY

I’m pinching myself right now. So nice to get a little dolled up for my hubby. Perfume and everything.

Ummm, and ps. Thankfully I shaved. He was only going to be able to get away for dinner, but he called a few minutes ago and said he was coming home for the night. Hello Booty Call. Do I need to even mention one of the symptoms of pregnancy.