Exercise During Pregnancy

I suppose, since I am an exercise physiologist by profession, I should write a blog post about my experience with exercise while I have been pregnant.  I'll be honest, it's been a very different experience than I expected.  I always thought I would just keep on running up until the day my baby was born.  I mean, I've run for years...why would pregnancy keep me from it?  Ha.  Was I wrong...for a number of reasons.  Let's start with the initial reason I stopped running- morning (noon and night) sickness.  I was just too nauseated to run much.  I really tried to keep running most days until about week 15, then I just gave it up.  But, when I started to feel better at week 18 I thought I'd try again.  I was successful for a few weeks but developed tremendous pelvic pain that was worsened by running.  So, I decided it was time to hang it up and start a new exercise routine that was more conducive to pregnancy.  At first I did a lot of inclined walking on the treadmill (sometimes with jogging intervals if I felt ok that day).  Or, I would do a workout on the elliptical.  My favorite days of exercise were the days I would come home from work and Chris and I would go for a long walk/jog.  I look forward to doing lots more of this after the baby is born with our wonderful new stroller!

I continue to exercise 5-6 days a week for 45 minutes to an hour.  Aside from my cardio workouts, I have tried to continue doing strength exercises, particularly lots of squats and lunge.

I am so thankful that I have been able to exercise throughout my pregnancy.  I really believe that it was helped me in so many ways- I have been able to gain a healthy amount of weight, I have not experienced any swelling, and I still feel extremely comfortable.  I really am not tired of being pregnant yet, mostly I think because I am still able to be really active.  I am hoping that my exercise will all pay off when it's time to welcome my precious son into the world with a quick and easy labor!

Maternity Pictures

First, let me say how glad I am that I had a few dear friends convince me to have maternity pictures taken (thanks Alison and Ashley!).  And thank you Lindsey for taking these pictures that Chris and I will treasure for a very long time!  

We took these pictures at Tanglewood a few weeks ago, I was 35 weeks pregnant.  I am really pleased with how they turned out!

  

 

Nursery sneak peak

We have just about finished the nursery!  I keep thinking of little things I need to do but, for the most part, all it needs now is a baby!  Here are some pictures:

This was an old dresser that we had...our friend Matt re-finished it and did a great job!!

Pages out of some of my favorite Dr Seuss books

Chris made this wagon in shop class in high school and his mom gave it to us for our little boy...very special :)

Baby boy already has a ton of clothes!

On another note, we finally purchased our stroller!  I did a lot of research and decided on the BOB Revolution SE.  It was our one "splurge".  If you know Chris and I, we are really frugal.  So, we waited and waited to buy the stroller but a few weeks ago we went ahead and bit the bullet (it helps that it was on sale!).  I am SO excited to start running again!

 

It's hard to believe that we will have a full term baby in just 6 days! 

I couldn't have said it any better

It's hard to put into words what Chris and I feel as our foster care journey is coming to an end very soon.  But, Chris put something on facebook yesterday that pretty much sums it up, I couldn't have said any better...

"It has been an absolute joy having the boys live with us for the past 19 months. The journey has had its up and downs, but they have touched our hearts and we have grown to love them more then we ever could have imagined. Now the next part of their lives will begin. Over the next month they will be transitioning from our home into their potential God willing adoptive forever home. It will be sad to see them go, but luckily they are going to the absolute perfect family for them. The way everything has fallen into place so far with this family being brought into our lives has been amazing and there is no answer for it other then "God had a perfect plan." Abbie and I will be able to continue being a part of the boys lives, and they will be raised in a wonderful Godly home where there is no doubt they will be loved and cared for. Thank you to everyone who has prayed for us and the boys over the last year and a half. Please continue to pray as there is still some work to be done, but it is awesome knowing what an awesome God we serve."

 Please continue to pray for the boys as they make this transition to their new (Lord willing forever) home.  It will not be easy for any of us but we have been clearly led to this decision.  Also pray for Chris and I as we start on a very new and exciting adventure with a newborn in 5 or so weeks.  Thank you in advance for these prayers- we really do serve a God of miracles!

34 weeks

I posted a picture in my last post but since it was taken at 32 weeks I thought I'd post a more recent picture, mostly for my own sake as I look back on this blog in the future. I have received a lot of comments about how I'm growing quickly (like, "wow, you are really ballooning up!"...I think someone needs to offer a class on what to say and not to say to pregnant women!). So, here it is!

Catching Up

   I have really been slack about blogging over the past few weeks.  Life has been a whirlwind lately.  I'd like to think it will slow down soon but, with a baby coming in just 6 or so weeks, it may not! 

Speaking of babies, we just finished up 4 weeks of child birth classes last night.  We had a wonderful instructor (thanks Amanda!!) and I found the classes to be so helpful.  I really haven't been at all nervous about the whole labor process (I can't say the same for Chris) but this class made me even more comfortable with the whole idea of giving birth.  I at least now feel like I know what to expect (even though you never really know what to expect) and know the right questions to ask/things to do when the time comes.  Chris clearly enjoyed the classes too:

Chris and I have had quite a bit of quality time together over the past few weekends as the twins are currently transitioning to a potential adoptive family.  I haven't blogged much (or at all) about our foster care journey lately because everything has been so up in the air and we don't know what's going on most of the time.  But, I would ask that you say a prayer as we go back to court next Monday.  The Lord has placed a wonderful potential adoptive family in the boy's lives and we pray that it is His will that all the details work out for the boys to be living there before the baby's born.

But anyways, in our quality time together, Chris and I have been able to get quite a bit accomplished in the nursery.  We finally got all the furniture positioned just right (until I decide it needs to be moved again!  just kidding Chris...maybe).  I'll post some pictures as soon as we have it done.  We are still deciding on where to put pictures on the wall, etc.

At 34 weeks pregnant, I still feel great!  I really don't have any complaints other than it's getting a bit harder to find a comfortable position to sleep.  My energy level has been good and I'm still exercising as much as possible.  I do get some funny looks in the gym, especially when I'm lifting weights.  My doctor's appointments have been going well.  I am measuring right on track and my weight gain is appropriate.  After my next appointment, I'll start going every week!  It's hard to believe that we could meet our precious son in 6 weeks or less!  

Here's what I'm looking like lately (although this was taken 2 weeks ago and I have grown a bit since then!):

A Dr Seuss Baby Shower!

I am very blessed.  Last weekend, four of my dearest friends- Alison, Ashley, Marie, and Stephanie- hosted a baby shower for me.  It was such a special time for me to have so many friends in one room, celebrating my baby boy.  There was clearly a lot of work put into the decorations as you can see from the pictures!  The theme was Dr Seuss and it was all so adorable!  I actually forgot my camera (can you believe it??) so all of these pictures were taken from my phone.  

 

Cat in the Hat jello cups!

All the tables had book center pieces

Great job on the cupcakes Steph!

Adorable napkins (and no, I can't figure out how to flip the picture the right way)

Dr Seuss theme drinks

Such a special table complete with a Dr Seuss guest book!

With my 4 wonderful hostesses!

Thanks for all your hard work Alison!

I am thankful that our baby boy is so loved already!  We got a lot of very nice and useful gifts!  Chris' mom even gave us a little red wagon that Chris made when he was in high school which was so special.  I will be sure to post pictures of it when I do a post on the nursery (although it's a long way from being done!).  This was a day that I will cherish for a long time.  You can also check our Alison's blog post about the shower here!