39 Weeks Later--What's the Damage?

Whoa.

I am less than a week away from my due date.  I'm going to be a full-fledged mom in such a short amount of time.  It's getting real up in here.

As I approach my final week(ish) of pregnancy, I have marveled at the dramatic changes my body has undergone.  My once mostly flat belly is now as round as a beach ball (which my two year old niece truly thought I was hiding under my shirt!).  My boobs are huge.  There is no way around this fact--they seriously grew several sizes and I'm terrified because I hear that they are about to grow two more.  Help me.  And my bones have literally shifted to make way for baby's arrival.  Being pregnant is kind of insane.

After looking at how different my body looks now versus before, I can't help but think about the upcoming journey that is headed my way--getting back to pre-baby weight and shape.  While it has been nice to be more relaxed about calorie counting and exercise the last few months, I am ready to get back into a place where I am actively trying to improve myself and become stronger.  And to do that, I need to look at the current damage and assess goals.  So how did my pregnancy go for me?

Unfortunately, I don't have measurements from back in May when I got pregnant.  As you might remember, I had gained some weight back after injury and weighed in at 162.2 on the day I found out I was pregnant.  That means I have gained 23.2 lbs during this pregnancy which is right where my doctor wanted me to be.  They have been very happy with my weight gain and healthy during this pregnancy, and have commented on it every time I've come in.  I must admit, it has been nice to hear.

However, you can see that I have put on weight in areas other than just my belly.  That is partially due to the awesome swelling I'm experiencing right now (no wedding ring for me!), but I know that some of it is related to the extra fat you put on during pregnancy for baby.  And as always, it went straight to my thighs.  Booo.  Oh, and to my boobs.  Again, they are gigantic--growing 4 inches??  How is that even possible??

So what do I plan to do about the weight gain?  Well, I plan on being smart about it.  I'm told that the average woman loses an average of 12 lbs on the day she gives birth.  Over the next week or so she loses about another 5 in water weight.  The rest, however, only comes off with hard work and dedication.  Keeping in mind that I shouldn't start a workout program for 6-weeks after baby, I plan on starting out slow and building momentum until I can be working out at full effort.  I can't wait to go for walks in the sunshine with my baby.  (Dear Utah--I said sunshine, not snow!)  Once I'm cleared for exercise, I will be starting Crossfit at Hubster's gym.  I'm looking forward to the challenge and for adding some needed muscle.  Car seats aren't light, much to my dismay.  I need some muscles to be able to haul my baby around!

I would also like to get back to running, but in a more manageable way.  As much as I loved my marathon and the half marathons I did, I have lost ALL of my endurance training and need to start over from scratch.  I would love to run a 5k this year and hopefully a 10k.  It really depends on how much time I have to dedicate to both Crossfit and running.  And I want to stay injury free.  All the injuries I've had from running have really tainted the wonderful experiences I've had with my races.  Injuries are discouraging and really demoralizing.  So 2013 will hopefully be an injury free year!

With the renewed dedication to health and physical activity, you can expect me to be more vocal on this neglected blog of mine!  I have really missed the blogging community and the inspiration I get from each of you.  While I've been pretty much radio silent on both this blog and with commenting, please know that I have kept reading all of your journeys and have been so impressed with all of you (even if you are going through tough struggles and aren't impressed with yourself currently).  I can't wait to be a part of this active community again!

In the meantime, I will enjoy my final days spent with this view:

Feet? What feet?

39 Weeks (and 1 day)

Almost done baking this baby!

Two More Weeks...

Ummm...that's not a very long time!  I'm getting nervous and so excited!!  Ready or not, here we come...

There was this one time when Google deleted my blog...

...and it took a long time to get it reinstated.  But good news, folks--I am not a spam blog!  Hooray!

Anyway, I'm back.  And I know it has been SEVEN weeks since I've posted so I've got to apologize for that.  I hadn't realized it had been so long, and once I did realize it my blog had been shut down so I couldn't post anyway!

So what have I been up to?  Baking a baby.  Can I just say that time has REALLY flown by with the holidays?  I'm over 35 weeks along now which means I have barely over a month until I will have a wee babe in my arms.  CRAZY!!!

I'm feeling good for the most part.  I've had some pretty incredible back pain (read: inability to walk when it hits) that comes and goes, but other than that I've had a pretty easy pregnancy.  I did get sick with the flu for two weeks and then a sinus infection right on top of it for another two weeks, so that has been less than ideal.  I normally don't take drugs when I'm sick, but I seriously would've taken anything available had I been able to!  I was miserable and desperate!  Getting sick while pregnant is no joke!

So with only 5 weeks to go (give or take), I am officially freaking out.  You guys, I am going to be a MOM. It's so hard for my brain to comprehend that.  I know I've had 8 months to prepare, but geez...it feels like it snuck up on me!  I am assuming this is normal, but I hope it goes away soon!  I'm so excited for our little guy to show up, but nervous as heck because I feel completely clueless.

Anyone have any good advice for a first time mom?  PLEASE share it!

Oh, and regarding my weight gain--I'm currently sitting at 179.8.  It's surreal to see that number on the scale again, but I haven't freaked out because there is a major difference between baby weight and fat weight.  I did a comparison.  Check it out:

I weighed nearly 12 lbs less than I currently do when I started this blog.  However, you can tell that the weight distribution while pregnant is significantly different than the weight distribution from being overweight.  I am smaller everywhere but my boobs and waist!  Most of my measurements are actually the same as they were before I got pregnant (minus the boobs and waist of course).  I feel really good about that.  I am hoping that I won't have too much extra pregnancy weight to deal with once I have the baby.  Since I started my pregnancy overweight (162.2 lbs) I am trying very hard to stay within the recommended guideline of gaining only 15-25 lbs.  As it currently stands, I've gained 17.6 lbs.  With only 5 weeks to go, I'm hoping that I stay within the healthy range!  I think it is doable.  I'll keep you updated!

28 Weeks

I seriously can't believe I've been pregnant 28 weeks.  Time is flying by ridiculously fast, and I find myself completely unprepared.  I have so many things I need to get for this little one!  Good thing I can take advantage of some after Christmas sales here in a few weeks.

I figured it was time I updated this blog with another belly shot.  I have not taken hardly any pictures this pregnancy!  It's not because I don't want to document it (I actually really really do!), it's just that it's a pain to take self photos and Hubster is pretty busy and isn't around when I remember to actually take a photo.  Fail!  In any case, here's the latest pic from this week:

28 weeks

I am still feeling like a champ.  I'm not super uncomfortable yet (though I do have my moments), and my hormones are still really level.  I haven't had any crazy tears or emotional freak-outs, which I guess is pretty rare.  I'm sure that my hubby is grateful for that little miracle!

My weight continues to go up (duh) and I'm currently sitting around 172 lbs.  Luckily, it appears to all be baby related weight as I can still fit into my pre-pregnancy pants (though I would NEVER wear them because that's just plain uncomfortable on the belly).  It's been a good way to make sure that I'm not gaining any "extra" weight that isn't good for baby.  It's hard to look at the scale and see it climb (way harder than expected), but it's good to know it's all for the baby boy and that the doctors are very pleased with my current weight.  According to my midwife on Tuesday, I am "having a very healthy pregnancy."  YAY!

The most eye opening part of this journey for me so far is how large I feel currently, and how I've actually been bigger than this before and didn't realize it.  My belly feels HUGE to me (and I actually keep running it into things because I misjudge the size--fail).  However, I once again measured my belly and it currently is the same width around as it was when I weighed 168 lbs and started this blog.  I just can't believe I had that much sitting on my waist and I didn't realize it.  It's kind of horrifying how disconnected I was (and still can be) with how I actually looked.  The shirt I'm wearing in the pic above isn't a maternity shirt; it is just one of the shirts I bought during my heavier days.  I have a LOT of shirts that fit me now that I wore during my heavy days.  It's been really, really eye opening to me.  It serves as a good warning that weight can sneak up on us and that our eyes can be liars and we may not look as good as we think we do.  I certainly didn't think I was packing around the equivalent of a 6-month pregnant belly on me at that time.  What's crazier is that 168 wasn't my highest weight and I had more fat on me prior to that.  I just wish I had measurements to compare with!

Have any of you ever experienced the "lying eye" that tells you you look better than you actually do?  Or worse, the opposite that tells you you look terrible when in reality you actually look great?  Please tell me I'm not alone in having this problem.

Also, can we discuss how it is currently December?  How the heck did that happen?  I seriously feel like we just started 2012.  I must admit that I am looking forward to the holiday season and snow falling at Christmastime.  It's been raining in Utah for nearly a week, and the temps have been in the 50s to 60s.  That is NOT Utah winter weather.  I don't love snow, but I do like it during the holiday season so I say, "Let it snow!  Let it snow!  Let it snow!" and then melt off after January...ha!

I Miss Running

*sigh*

I miss running.  A lot.  I dream about it.  I think about it.  I yearn for it.

I can't believe it's been over a year since I last ran a race.  2011 was the year of races (5ks, 10ks, half marathons, a full marathon, and 3 Ragnars).  It seemed like every day of 2011 was spent training and focusing on an upcoming race.

2012 has been the year of waiting.  Waiting for my feet to get better.  Waiting for my tendonitis to disappear so I could get back to running.  Waiting for my little wee one to show up!  Admittedly, waiting for my little boy to show up is MUCH more fun than waiting for injuries to resolve themselves!

I regret not being able to run right before I got pregnant.  I think that running during this pregnancy would've been awesome for me, and I have truly missed my ability to do so.  I won't make the same mistake next time.

I'm already planning 2013 out.  Obviously, my days of nonstop epic races are going to be behind me, but that doesn't mean I can't still go out and train for a 10k or even a half marathon.  I love both of those distances, and I'm really looking forward to training for them in 2013.  It will be interesting to see how different it is to train while nursing a newborn and being sleep and time deprived!  I think it will be worth it.

Unfortunately, I will be essentially starting from scratch after my baby is born.  I haven't consistently ran in a year and I know that I have lost pretty much all cardio stamina.  Additionally, I'm pretty sure my body is going to be all sorts of torn up after pregnancy and that my core strength (and alignment) is going to be all out of whack.  I want to start slow and build my base correctly.  I am really hopeful that it won't be a super painful process!!

Does anybody have any experience or advice on coming back to running after a pregnancy?  I'm interested in the best way to go about it.  I'm definitely out of my element here!  All I know is that I am really looking forward to a lot more moments like this in my life:

You know you  miss this, too.  :)

Nothing quite like the feeling of getting suited up in your running gear to go conquer the world.  Only a few more months and I can be back at it!!

On My Mind

First off, I can't hear the phrase "on my mind" without thinking of this beautiful song by Kalai:


Enjoy.  His Acousticism album is beautiful.  Go check it out (particularly Divide Me and Shotgun Blues).

Anyway, there's been a lot on my mind lately but I haven't really taken the time to post.  I know I promised that this wouldn't become a pregnancy blog, and I will admit that most have my thoughts lately have been related to being pregnant so I have felt like I couldn't post!  However, I remembered that I started writing this blog for me as a way to document my feelings and my journey and that shouldn't really stop just because I'm pregnant.  If anything, I should utilize it more!  So here I am.  :)

First off, being pregnant is insane.  It is both awesome and terrifying all at the same time.  The human body is incredible.  Every time I feel my little boy move inside my belly, I am struck by how incredible and insane that actually is.  It seriously feels like I have a little alien inside me!  But I love it.

I've been blessed to be able to feel my little guy move really well due to how my placenta formed (why is the word placenta so gross to me?  I have no idea...).  I felt him first move in Australia when I was 17 weeks pregnant.  I was watching Mythbusters trying to stay awake just a half hour longer (hellllllo, jet lag!) when I felt a "tap tap" movement in my belly.  Sure enough, it was baby boy.  Hubster was lucky enough to feel him move at 19 weeks.  And now, at 23 weeks, I can actually see him move in my ever-growing belly.  THAT is weird.  Awesome, but so very weird!

Additionally, I've been thinking a lot about the actual birth process.  Oh my.  That's a terrifying concept.  However, at the recommendation of my doctor, I signed me and Hubster up for the Bradley Method birthing classes.  I am SO glad that I did.  I've never been a huge fan of medical interventions (which is why I take FOREVER to actually go to the doctor when injured!!), so I have been looking for a more natural approach to birth than what is typical in hospitals these days.  I'm so glad I live in a time where I have options that I can choose for myself.  My current plan is to go as natural as possible--no medical interventions (no inducing, epidural, etc.).  I'm sure it will be very hard, but I think the benefits outweigh the pain.  Wish me luck!!  This is a big deal!

Also, I'm training for birth (related to the above).  My birthing class instructor has me doing special exercises (squats, pelvic rocks, butterflies, kegels, etc.) specifically designed to strengthen the muscles involved in labor.  It's weird to be training for something other than a running race, but I suppose it makes sense to train for birth when it really is the most strenuous exercise a woman's body will likely ever go through!  It also helps me feel more prepared for the big day.  All good things!

So what's going on that is non-baby related?  Lots!  We just finished getting all our carpet replaced and painting pretty much entire house.  Holy cow.  That was much harder work than expected!  My aching back was not quite prepared for it!  But now our house looks lovely.  SO worth the effort!  I'll post before/afters once our house is fully put back together.  Right now it is in a transition state.

I also went up to Idaho for the annual Spud Harvest event.  It felt good to be back on the farm, even though I couldn't help out with the process.  I did get some fun pictures while up there.  I love time on the farm!

New digger.  Awesome.

TWO bumps!  My sister is pregnant too!

I tried to upload more, but my internet is being glitchy today.  These two will have to suffice!

I'm headed to the doctor for my 24-week appointment.  I'll try to get some new pictures of my bump to share soon.  It is growing SO much lately!

Any of you tried the Bradley Method?  I'm interested in feedback!

A Comparison--Measurements in 2010 vs Today

Now I know what you are thinking--it seems a bit crazy to compare measurements from when I wasn't pregnant to when I am.  BUT, I kind of wanted to see how differently my body was distributing my new weight and see where the changes were (and weren't) happening.  Plus, I figured it was a good gut check to make sure I really am being healthy in this pregnancy.  So today I hopped on the scale and busted out my measuring tape.  I was really really surprised by the results!

Crazily enough, I actually have a measurement back from 2010 where I weigh *exactly* what I weighed in at this morning.  I figured that I couldn't get a better comparison than that!  I plugged in today's numbers fully expecting that my belly would be significantly larger than back in 2010 (cuz, duh, I'm preggers) but surprisingly, I was still smaller on almost every single measurement (except boobs...not really a surprise there).  I couldn't believe it!

 I was really really happy to see that even though I am gaining weight, I am doing it in a significantly different way than I previously did.  Then I decided to compare my current stats with my most recent ones (taken in January).  That was surprising to me, too:

My arms do look smaller to me (in a good way), and of course I fully expected my bust and waist to be significantly bigger, but I was surprised that there wasn't a bigger difference!  My belly feels so big to me!  It was reassuring to me that most other measurements stayed flat.  So far, so good!   It will be interesting to see just how much that "waist" number grows over the next few months.  It certainly feels like it has grown more than 2.5 inches since January!!

Taken at 20 Weeks

Do you ever take measurements?  Are you a stat junkie like me who loves to look back and compare?  Please tell me I'm not alone in this!!