35 week update

I've made it to 35 weeks as of today and that means only 2 more weeks until Baby X is considered full term. It's exciting and scary to think that we could be meeting this baby so soon! While I know there is not much you really need to have ready when you bring a new baby home, I feel like we've kind of been procrastinating (denial, perhaps?!) in getting Andrew's old baby stuff out and making a list of items that we will definitely need (diapers, etc...). Maybe this is normal with a second baby. We've done this once before so there is not as big a sense of urgency in terms of preparing. Or maybe we're just being lazy!

It's also been almost 2 weeks since my last fitness class and I have to say I am feeling the effects of not doing any real workouts. Sure, I'm staying active by going for walks and chasing Andrew around, but I feel so much more achy and tired since stopping. I know it was time to stop Turbo Kicking for the time being, but I have decided I need to step up my efforts a little in hopes of staying more comfortable and hopefully sleeping better for these last few weeks. So my intention is to do more walking and some yoga each day. I actually don't feel like I have the energy to do much, but I am pretty sure my efforts will pay off with less back pain, fewer headaches, and better sleep (much needed sleep!). Of course, I won't be skipping my beloved afternoon naps either :)

Another thing I've experienced this time around is more digestive discomfort in these last few weeks, including heartburn. I had to ask Carl if what I felt was heartburn because I had never experienced it before! Between that and feeling full after eating a small amount I feel like my nutrition has suffered a little. I realized this week that this is probably contributing to my low energy so I'm getting back to my daily Shakeology and and being more thoughtful in my food choices. I figure good nutrition is one of the best things I can do to ensure my health and the health of my baby.

I have an ultrasound at the end of the week to see how big baby is getting and can't wait to see what's going on in there! It will be fun to see if this baby has hair waving around in the fluid the same way Andrew did and if it looks like it will be similar in size. Hopefully we get some good pictures to share!

Turbo time is over...for now

I'm winding down my fitness classes this week until some time after the baby is born. It's going to be so weird next Monday when I don't have to get up when it's still dark out to head to class. I'm so happy to have been able to continue this long (last Turbo class will be Friday at 33.5 weeks) but I have to admit that my body has been telling me for awhile to start slowing down and I have been trying to ignore those messages. There is no doubt that exercising 6 days per week has helped me in many ways throughout this pregnancy. I have managed to gain less weight this time around and also have minimal swelling (can still wear my wedding ring most days!). While I've been experiencing more aches and pains the last few weeks, I would bet that they would have started sooner and been worse if I had been sedentary. And we all know the effect that crazy hormones can have on women...the stress relief of exercising has helped me avoid alienating everyone with major mood swings (right family and friends?!)

I will miss seeing all of my hard working participants every day and look forward to when I can get back even though I don't know exactly when that will be. I'm also excited for the girls taking over my classes. I know they're going to love teaching and will ddo a great job! Hopefully my participants still want me back when it's time :) Meanwhile, I'll be enjoying taking it easy these last weeks before we get to meet Baby X!

27 Weeks along and still kickin'

Turbo & PiYo day

People are sometimes surprised when I tell them that I am still teaching Turbo Kick this far along in pregnancy.  In fact, current recommendations state that pregnant women should exercise most, or all, days of the week at an intensity that allows them to carry on a conversation.  (no more keeping your heart rate under 140 beats per minute!).  Maintaining your current fitness level throughout pregnancy provides an array of benefits ranging from being better able to cope through labor, to returning to pre-pregnancy weight faster, and there are even studies that show that children whose mothers exercised while pregnant score higher on IQ tests!  Those are good enough reasons for me to keep up my workout routine as long as possible!  So I thought I would video myself (and my class) doing Turbo this morning to show those who are curious what Turbo at 27 weeks pregnant looks like.  Yes, I have toned it down quite a bit, choosing squats over burpees and skipping tuck jumps.  But I'm still sweaty and working hard.

100 days left!

Down to 100 days left in this pregnancy!  It has gone by fast, but November still seems like a long ways away.  Even so, I am getting anxious to meet this new little one and have been imagining what life will be like with 2 monsters running around.  Carl and I have both been going back and forth on whether we think Andrew is getting a brother or sister, but I did have a dream that it was a little girl.  It was the first time I've had a dream like that.  If I'm right, I'll have to claim mother's intuition...although 50/50 odds also work in my favor :)

I've also been thinking about all the things we used when Andrew was little that were especially helpful and that we will definitely use again.  The first item is the Miracle Blanket.  Swaddling worked wonderfully to keep Andrew calm and help him sleep when he was little.  This blanket made swaddling so easy, and he was unable to break out.  The little arm wraps to keep baby's arms at his/her sides (we call it the baby straight jacket) are key!

See the resemblance??

Another item we used often was our Moby Wrap.  If you've ever looked into babywearing, you've probably seen the Moby Wrap and other similar carriers.  Both Carl and I could use the same wrap and both really enjoyed having our baby close.  Since Andrew didn't like to be still while sleeping, the Moby Wrap was a lifesaver.  I could wrap him up and walk around the house (or anywhere) and he would quickly and peacefully fall and stay asleep without killing my arms or back.  I've even loaned it out to a couple of mom friends because I knew they'd love it too.  Of course, I'll be getting it back by the time "Baby X" arrives!

Checking out the Illini Union

As Andrew got bigger and too heavy for the Moby Wrap, I tried both a woven wrap and ring-sling carrier.  I enjoyed using both of those as well.  I'm interested in finding other types of carriers to try with this baby.  I've heard good things about the Ergo Baby Carrier and the Boba Baby Carrier.  Both are soft structured carriers that adjust to the user and can be used to carry baby in a few different ways.  They seem simple to use and easy to get on and off.  I'll be looking for people to borrow from to try them out before buying.

I'll be wracking my brain these next few months to make sure we have the items that we're must-haves for us when Andrew was a baby.  While every baby is different, I think this will be a good start toward being prepared.  Hopefully this new baby doesn't throw us too many curve balls!

Friday thoughts

It's Friday.  Andrew is still napping.  It's been 2 days since I started this thing.  So I guess it's time to write a real post.  But, inspiration has yet to strike.  While I'm waiting for that to happen, a somewhat random collection of thoughts and what's going on.

I am so sore from my PiYo class yesterday morning.  My legs, my butt, even my abs (didn't know pregnant abs could get sore!).  We've been doing the same lesson for 3 weeks know.  This has me wondering if I'm really working that hard or if extra soreness is just a function of the pregnant body.  Or maybe it's due to the extra pounds I've packed on so far.  Regardless, I'm just thankful to be having a smooth pregnancy and am able to continue teaching my classes for as long as I want.

Then there's this heat.  Oppressive, energy-sucking heat.  And the heat warning keeps getting extended.  I shouldn't complain because, yes, we have air conditioning and I don't have to spend long periods out in the sun.  But the summer is supposed to be for playing outside!  I am so looking forward to getting Andrew back outside next week to play in his pool and go to the playground with his little friends.  The dogs are getting stir crazy too!

Despite the weather, I'm excited for some fun activities this weekend.  It starts off with a Lia Sophia jewelry party hosted by a couple of friends.  Our friend, Holly, is our awesome Lia Sophia advisor...check out her website: Holly's Lia Sophia site.  She showed me the new catalog and I'm pumped to see this stuff in person.  The family and friend fun continues tomorrow with the Speed Source (Carl's business) Open House.  Always fun to hang out with friends and grill some yummy food!  Then we'll be off to celebrate the marriage of my friend Lisa at her reception in the evening.  We sadly missed the wedding in Mexico, but are happy to be a part of tomorrow's party!  After all of that, I'll probably need Sunday to recover.  And plan for a trip to the county fair sometime during the week.  I'm already thinking about the delicious, fried fair food I'm going eat!