When I became pregnant with Ben I was asked a lot, "Are you going to keep running?" I would answer yes and I thought I would run a lot more than I actually did. The hills of Morgantown, a full time teaching job and uncertainty over exactly how much I could do kept my runs under four miles a couple of times a week. I completely stopped running at around 30 weeks but I can't remember ever having a week where I ran more than 12 miles total for the week during the entire pregnancy. I walked a lot but didn't really do much running. My walk at the end was very much a waddle as I made poor Andrew shiver in the cold all bundled up while I was sweating in a t-shirt. I ended up gaining more weight than I originally wanted (about 44ish pounds) and didn't really enjoy having all of that weight to get rid of.
My first run post Ben occurred when he was 2 weeks and 6 days old. I wasn't comfortable but it was manageable and nothing hurt worse than before so I kept at it running a couple of miles a couple of days a week. Once I received the official "Okay" to start exercising I did a little crossfit and started running more. I hated feeling like I had to train my body to exercise all over again and it felt like I'd never run a step in my entire life.
When we found out I was pregnant with #2, I was already about 7 weeks along and while I felt a little off (because I was pregnant and didn't know it) during some of my runs, I was still doing about 30-35 miles a week and teaching body pump 4 times a week. Once the first trimester nausea set it I watched my weekly mileage plummet but any day that I felt a little bit like running I did. There were mornings where I tied my running shoes and immediately felt sick so I would walk instead. As my pregnancy continued and I started feeling better I ramped my mileage back up and until two weeks ago ran between 20-30 miles a week--with a big week of 37 miles thrown into the mix. I did a half marathon at 25 weeks and maintained a weekly long run of 9 miles until 33 weeks. Total I have run a little over 800 pregnant miles. Now, at 36ish weeks pregnant my running is slowing down. I am still making an effort to get out there but my mileage goals are gone, my speed goals are gone and I figure that every step I run right now will make it a little easier on the other side of pregnancy. A huge positive from all of the running/teaching body pump is that my weight gain has been significantly less this time.
What I've learned about pregnant running...
1. The bigger I get, the more weird looks I get from people.
2. A pregnancy support band is a MUST. It helps hold up my rapidly growing stomach, helps with lower back pain and just makes me feel more secure.
3. If I make a decision to cut back on mileage/running back to back days it takes me about two weeks to actually follow through. A couple of weeks ago I said I wasn't going to run two days in a row but I still tried to do it. This week however, I am only running every other day in an effort to conserve some energy.
4. It is okay NOT to run. There are days I just haven't felt great and taking a day off is okay
5. Never wear a watch! (Pace, time, distance--none of them really matter when you are growing another human.)
6. I can eat whatever I want before I go for a run and it doesn't bother my stomach. (when I am not pregnant I can't eat much at all before running)
7. I have to stay REALLY hydrated. If I am even a little dehydrated while running I get side stitches really quickly and have to walk. It took me a couple of times of this happening to figure out what was going on.
8. Running with a dog becomes nearly impossible at around 35 weeks
9. I actually have to listen to my body--when not pregnant I tend to ignore minor aches and pains
10. It isn't as hard to do as people think. People are a little bit in disbelief that I have run as much as I have. Running pregnant for me isn't that hard as the weight gain is very gradual and my body has adjusted each week to what I am asking it to do. Right now as I near the end it is getting a lot harder but so is everything else!
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Monday, December 3, 2012
22 Months--or the month where Ben became a "big boy"
Stats:
Height and Weight...taller and heavier--he doesn't go to the doctor again until his two year old check up so you'll just have to trust me that he is growing.
Teeth: Still 12--by next month I really think that he will have another one or two.
Clothing: All 24 months
Shoes: size 5 in most shoes are still a little big but 4 is a little snug
Skills: He can identify a lot of his letters, shapes, and is starting to count. Colors are still a mystery and everything is "blue." I wonder a bit if he is partially color blind like his dad because he is learning other things at such a rapid pace. I would love to say he is potty trained but he isn't. I think he could be if I were more committed but at the moment, squatting down to his level in the bathroom is getting harder and harder as my stomach gets bigger and bigger. He goes when we ask him but isn't holding it through nap or sleeping at night so we will hold off a little longer.
Communication: Every single day he learns new words. Over the last month his vocabulary has really expanded and words that he already said are getting clearer. He is starting to string words together and saying simple sentences. He impressively says things like "microwave" and "chocolate milk." He is adding ending sounds to words. He loves to sing and some of his favorites are, "ABC," "Row, Row, Row Your Boat," "Wheels on the Bus," and "Old MacDonald." He loves to sing with his daddy playing the guitar.
Highlights from the Month: Aunt Joanna came to visit when she was off for Veteran's Day. Ben soaked up snuggles and loved seeing her. It is so much fun to watch him recognize family members and to talk about them when they aren't around. He celebrated his second Thanksgiving and loved the candles on the table. He identifies turkey by saying "gobble, gobble" and was a great helping making a pumpkin pie. He met his cousin Lauren for the first time which was adorable and I am sure once she is bigger they will be great buddies.
All in all it was a wonderful and busy month. Andrew and I are continuing to prepare for the new baby and Ben gives my stomach a lot of kisses and snuggles. We can't wait to see what a good big brother he is going to be. I know I am going to miss him like crazy when I am in the hospital. He is such a joy!
Monday, November 5, 2012
Day 2: 21 Months of Parenthood
This thankfulness post is a double for his 21 month update...
Stats:
Taller and heavier than last month...
Clothes: all 24 month and some 2T (what is the difference really?)
Shoes: Barely size 5
Hair: His wispy strawberry blond (I think) hair is starting to grow in slowly. It curls up in the back when it is humid outside
Teeth: Still 12 and every month I think I will have another one to add but they are taking their time coming in. I am pretty sure they are waiting until Caleb gets here just to make sure we are all on our toes.
Communication:
This month was a word explosion. He mimics and is picking up so many new words. The words that he does have are becoming clearer. He is more specific when he asks for things which is wonderful. There is a lot less guessing involved on my part on what he wants for breakfast, lunch or to drink because he will tell me. He also lets me know when he is hungry by using words rather than just getting grumpy. Over the month Andrew and I went from being "mama" and "dada" to "mommy" and "daddy"--a most adorable transition. I don't think if there is anything sweeter than hearing him say "mommy" from his room. We often hear him saying "uh-oh" and "no" when he does something he shouldn't. He has started adding ending sounds to words which makes him way easier to understand.
Loves:
Ben continues to dazzle us with his "boyness." Cars, trucks, planes, helicopters, trains, dirt, rocks, construction vehicles--you name it, he loves it. He has an array of sounds for each vehicle and each is very distinct. He loves to color and play with play dough. New this month was the discovery of stickers--star stickers are a particular favorite and they are all over his stuffed animals and books. Tessa and Chopper even went through a star stage as he put them over everything. He continues his love of books and is in love with letters. He can identify several letters and enjoys mumbling different ones in random order. He enjoys puzzles and balls but I think one of his favorite things of all is wrestling and snuggling with is parents. He loves to run around our house chasing our poor dogs, trying to get Andrew to do push-ups with him on his back and getting tickled. He loves to run errands and visit his family at work (especially since the office ladies spoil him with chocolate.)
Skills:
He is learning some colors and letters. I think he would pick up more if I were a little more focused on it but for now he is content to read books and learn through everyday life. He is still working on his jumping and I think once he figures out how to trust his little feet he will get it. He can climb in and out of his high chair and the stroller.
Highlights from the Month:
*His grandma and grandpa came up from Georgia for a visit and he charmed them with his infectious grin.
*He watched our friend Kevin dig holes in our backyard with a tractor for a fence
*Long walks around Fredonia and runs to Tim Horton's to help his baby brother grow
*Doctor's appointments with me where he gets to hear his little brother's heartbeat
*Numerous playdates with his friends Isaac and Mason
*Shopping for his new room (more on that in Month 22!)
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Day 1: Health
Last year I copied other friends and reflected on something I was thankful for each day in November. I loved having a little outlet in which to think about things in my life that are such a huge blessing and this year isn't any different. (I might have a few repeats in topics but the content will be different as it is a new year).
Thinking back to the past year, one thing that Andrew and I are incredibly thankful for is the gift of good health. We've battled a few colds between the three of us, but nothing that has crippled our lives. Ben is an exceptionally healthy little boy and is approaching his second birthday without ever being on any medication.
As we approach the birth of baby #2 in about 8 weeks, we are enjoying another easy and healthy pregnancy. My blood pressure has stayed low, my blood sugar is even lower and I have kept up with both running and teaching bodypump through the duration of my pregnancy thus far. Little Caleb is kicking away inside of me and is developing right on track with a strong heartbeat that Ben enjoys hearing when we go to the doctor. Even my thyroid, that bounced around a bit when I was pregnant with Ben, has remained steady.
Even the canine members of our family have enjoyed a year of blissful healthy happiness. They get the occasional stomach bug from eating things that upset their stomachs but beyond getting routine shots, we haven't had to take them to the vet.
On this first day of November our health is not something we take for granted but something we do work hard to maintain through a lot of exercise, a mostly healthy diet and as much sleep as we can get which means I should probably go to bed--my 5:45 run is quickly approaching.
Thinking back to the past year, one thing that Andrew and I are incredibly thankful for is the gift of good health. We've battled a few colds between the three of us, but nothing that has crippled our lives. Ben is an exceptionally healthy little boy and is approaching his second birthday without ever being on any medication.
As we approach the birth of baby #2 in about 8 weeks, we are enjoying another easy and healthy pregnancy. My blood pressure has stayed low, my blood sugar is even lower and I have kept up with both running and teaching bodypump through the duration of my pregnancy thus far. Little Caleb is kicking away inside of me and is developing right on track with a strong heartbeat that Ben enjoys hearing when we go to the doctor. Even my thyroid, that bounced around a bit when I was pregnant with Ben, has remained steady.
Even the canine members of our family have enjoyed a year of blissful healthy happiness. They get the occasional stomach bug from eating things that upset their stomachs but beyond getting routine shots, we haven't had to take them to the vet.
On this first day of November our health is not something we take for granted but something we do work hard to maintain through a lot of exercise, a mostly healthy diet and as much sleep as we can get which means I should probably go to bed--my 5:45 run is quickly approaching.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
One of those days...
The last week and half or so have been really busy. Out of town family visited, we went to see friends in Houghton, two weeks in a row of small group at our house where I make dinner for 12-14 people, dinner with different friends and various house projects to get finished before baby 2 makes his appearance have left us all a little weary. Today though was a Ben day and a day I don't really want to forget.
I began my day at 5:25 when Tessa heard my alarm and let me know it was time to run. I slowly made my 30.5 week pregnant belly get out of bed, drank a big glass of juice, tied my sneakers and waited for a friend to meet me. We ran a little over four miles together and I added on a bit after she left as I am trying to take advantage of everyday I feel good while running. We returned, Ben woke up, we helped Andrew get ready for work and began our day together.
After playing for a little while, I decided it was time to visit the office to let Ben show off his Halloween costume (and to give him a chance to practice wearing it). An adorable chocolate chip cookie, he made the office ladies smile, saw his grandmom and daddy and we returned home.
With baby #2 on the way, Ben is going to go through several transitions. The first one to come is moving him into another room with his big boy bed. Two weeks ago Andrew and I painted the room and this weekend we are getting the bed set up and his room ready. This morning I thought it would be fun if Ben and I went mattress shopping. We set out into the sunny warm weather and drove to the four stores in Fredonia that sell mattresses. Ben loved every second. I let him try out the mattresses and he chattered away about his "bi bo be" (big boy bed). He was a trooper as I hauled him in and out of the car. We made a couple of other stops to look for shoes for Andrew (very exciting) and we picked out sheets for his new room. It took about two hours to do all of our errands and he grinned and talked away the entire time. I felt so proud and so full of love for my little guy.
After lunch with Andrew and Granddad, Ben settled in for a very short nap and I enjoyed a few minutes to prop my feet up and relax Once awake, we headed out again only this time to go to pick up Ben's best bud and mom to go to Harvest Hollow, a local pumpkin farm. Ben and I went last week with my parents and today I wanted him to try out the hayride. He was excited when we arrived to see the animals, ride in the toy cars and play in a huge thing of corn with trucks. He was so excited about the corn and trucks that he threw a bit of a fit when I put him on the hayride. Once the tractor started pulling us however, he calmed down and enjoyed the ride.
We dropped off our friends, headed home, ordered a pizza and ate dinner. Ben happily munched on his pizza and some "bb's" (blueberries) before we went for a family walk with both fur kids. He chattered away on our walk as he pointed out the moon, asked for a pumpkin and talked about the leaves.
After second dinner, a bubble bath and a lot of snuggles both in our bed and his room he is now settling down for sleep and while I am a little tired from the day, it is a day I don't want to forget. From his excitement over bed shopping to his joy over petting farm animals to the way he gives his baby brother kisses on my belly I am so blessed that he is mine. I love that he called me in tonight when I put him to bed to ask for more snuggles and to say goodnight to his dogs. I love how his entire face lights us when he sees the people around him that love him so. He is truly a gift from God and each moment we have together is a moment that I want to make sure that I cherish.
So today was one of those days...not a day where I want to pull my hair out and feel frustrated that I didn't get the list in my head finished, but a day where I felt honored to spend every moment with my blond haired blue eyed angel that fills my heart with more love than I ever knew was possible.
Monday, October 15, 2012
20 Months
I think I've been a little hesitant to write this post (and apparently hesitant to post because I realized this morning that I never actually did.) 20 months just seems so old! Ben will be two before I know it and even before that his little brother Caleb will be here. Ben is growing into a little boy so quickly!
Stats:
Weight: 24ish pounds
Height: Taller than last month...he is a little hard to measure.
Teeth: Still 12, I thought that a couple more were going to pop through but we haven't seen them yet
Hair: His light hair has a reddish tint and is still really wispy. We might have to give him a haircut within the next six months.
Clothing: He is transitioning into 24 month clothes although they are still a little big. 18 month pants are too short. He solidly wears a size 4 shoe. We still use fuzzibunz.
Communication: New words everyday! He is quite the little mimic and chatters all the time. Recent highlights are "uck" for yuck (we are working on the 'y') "more," and "baby." We love listening to him talk away. He has learned "no" but at the moment uses it very appropriately when asked a question.
Eating: Mealtime is a little hit or miss. He loves breakfast and has enjoyed his pregnant mom's recent obsession with pancakes, french toast, etc. He enjoys eggs and fruit. He loves pasta in any form and is starting to eat more meat. Ice cream is his absolute favorite. He will try almost everything. He loves pizza and one night when I walked in with a pizza box he clapped his hands and said "yeah." He figured out where his mommy milk used to come from and scopes out the women in his life (and sometimes men) to see if it is a possibility.
Skills: He is learning his colors and yellow is a sure pick. He can identify some letters, especially the letters in his name and the letter 'r' because it is on the sleeve of our R1 pull overs that Andrew and I wear a lot. He is still trying to jump up and down and he can get one foot off the ground. He loves to run around and dance.
Loves: Books, Chopper, trucks, his stuffed penguin, walks, hikes, going in the car, music, dancing, listening to Andrew play guitar, visiting his dad at work, and the occasional you tube helicopter video.
Sleeping: He still sleeps like a champ from around 8:30 to 8:00 with a two hour nap in the afternoon. It is wonderful!
Stats:
Weight: 24ish pounds
Height: Taller than last month...he is a little hard to measure.
Teeth: Still 12, I thought that a couple more were going to pop through but we haven't seen them yet
Hair: His light hair has a reddish tint and is still really wispy. We might have to give him a haircut within the next six months.
Clothing: He is transitioning into 24 month clothes although they are still a little big. 18 month pants are too short. He solidly wears a size 4 shoe. We still use fuzzibunz.
Communication: New words everyday! He is quite the little mimic and chatters all the time. Recent highlights are "uck" for yuck (we are working on the 'y') "more," and "baby." We love listening to him talk away. He has learned "no" but at the moment uses it very appropriately when asked a question.
Eating: Mealtime is a little hit or miss. He loves breakfast and has enjoyed his pregnant mom's recent obsession with pancakes, french toast, etc. He enjoys eggs and fruit. He loves pasta in any form and is starting to eat more meat. Ice cream is his absolute favorite. He will try almost everything. He loves pizza and one night when I walked in with a pizza box he clapped his hands and said "yeah." He figured out where his mommy milk used to come from and scopes out the women in his life (and sometimes men) to see if it is a possibility.
Skills: He is learning his colors and yellow is a sure pick. He can identify some letters, especially the letters in his name and the letter 'r' because it is on the sleeve of our R1 pull overs that Andrew and I wear a lot. He is still trying to jump up and down and he can get one foot off the ground. He loves to run around and dance.
Loves: Books, Chopper, trucks, his stuffed penguin, walks, hikes, going in the car, music, dancing, listening to Andrew play guitar, visiting his dad at work, and the occasional you tube helicopter video.
Sleeping: He still sleeps like a champ from around 8:30 to 8:00 with a two hour nap in the afternoon. It is wonderful!
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Running a Half Marathon at 25 Weeks Pregnant
When a friend of mine asked about six weeks ago if I wanted her entry to a half marathon she originally planned on doing my initial answer was "no." I didn't know how I would feel at 25 weeks, how big my stomach would be and was a little nervous about how my body would react. Another friend of ours was planning on running and I was doing a lot of her long runs with her but decided to take it week by week. Ever since I came out of the first trimester where I had one outstanding week that I ran a total of 2 miles, I have run 25-30 miles per week with at least one run above 8 miles if not 10. I basically run every day that I feel like it and overall I have been a much happier pregnant person. When I was pregnant with Ben with all of the hills in Morgantown I felt like I had a good run if I made it three or four miles.
This pregnancy however, things are different. I am not working, I can take a nap if I want every afternoon and I am teaching a bodypump class which is really helping my core stay strong. When a week before the half marathon arrived and I had a really good 10 mile run I thought, "why not run the half?" I ran my decision by Andrew and a couple of other runners and decided to do it. They all cautioned me to listen to my body and to run smart. I put in way more training for this half than I did the one I ran a few months after Ben was born.
The morning of the run (not so much a race for me) arrived and I was tired. My head felt cloudy, my throat was a little sore and I felt like I was getting a cold. Initially I thought there was no way I would run more than a couple of miles with my friend who was running her first but I hoped once I drank some tea, woke up and walked around I would feel better. I did. By the time we lined up I wasn't feeling as great as I wanted but good enough to give it a shot. I appropriately wore my favorite race t-shirt from the 50 miler I attempted a few years back--it is huge and only fits me when I am pregnant.
The first four miles went by pretty quickly. My friend Erin and I chatted along, were passed by people who didn't want to get beaten by a pregnant woman and enjoyed the beauty of the day. It was a gorgeous cool morning at Presque Isle State Park on Lake Erie. Around mile 4 there was a bathroom stop which I needed to take advantage of so I sent Erin ahead and took my first of five bathroom breaks. I drank at least a cup of water at each water station in an effort to stay hydrated (so as to not cause any contractions) and relaxed into my own pace. Around mile five or six I saw Andrew's cousins who were there to cheer on his aunt and uncle who were running that day. I stopped and talked for a few minutes (evidence again it was not a race) before continuing on my pregnant way.
At mile 7 I ate my squeezy fruit that I brought along and continued to plug. I didn't wear a watch or bring my Ipod because I really wanted to focus on how I was feeling. I wish that more people would have left their Ipods behind because it really cuts down on conversation when everyone is in their own little world. I felt like I was stalking people without headphones in an effort to make some conversation and help the miles to tick by faster. I made it to mile 10 without any walk breaks but by then my scratchy throat was coming back, a bit of a headache was coming on and oh yeah, I am pregnant. The water stops were a little before each mile marker so I decided to walk between the water and mile marker. It was a good way to give myself little breaks, especially since I didn't have a watch to tell me how long I was walking.
By mile 12 I really wanted to be finished, but at that point I was nearly there. My lower back was starting to get sore and I was just plain tired. I took a few more walk breaks and was encouraged by those around me to "push through," "keep running," and "you're almost there." All of these comments people made as they ran up behind me but once the saw the load up front they quickly changed their tune to "you're pregnant? walk all you want!" As I neared the finish line my natural instinct was to pick it up, pass as many people a I could and sprint it in. I squelched my normal end kick and continued to take it easy. I posed at the end for the camera with my belly sticking out, grabbed as much food as I could carry and found my friend who finished ahead of me.
My pregnant half was a good experience but not one I am sure I will do again. The baby and I came through just fine but I don't know if I would actually pay to do it. It was fun to run a race without any goals or pressure (besides the pressure on my bladder). I was simply able to enjoy the day. I hoped I helped a few people PR as they took one look at my stomach and picked up their own pace. Next year I hope to do the same race again with Baby B2 and Ben hanging out at the finish waiting for me.
This pregnancy however, things are different. I am not working, I can take a nap if I want every afternoon and I am teaching a bodypump class which is really helping my core stay strong. When a week before the half marathon arrived and I had a really good 10 mile run I thought, "why not run the half?" I ran my decision by Andrew and a couple of other runners and decided to do it. They all cautioned me to listen to my body and to run smart. I put in way more training for this half than I did the one I ran a few months after Ben was born.
The morning of the run (not so much a race for me) arrived and I was tired. My head felt cloudy, my throat was a little sore and I felt like I was getting a cold. Initially I thought there was no way I would run more than a couple of miles with my friend who was running her first but I hoped once I drank some tea, woke up and walked around I would feel better. I did. By the time we lined up I wasn't feeling as great as I wanted but good enough to give it a shot. I appropriately wore my favorite race t-shirt from the 50 miler I attempted a few years back--it is huge and only fits me when I am pregnant.
The first four miles went by pretty quickly. My friend Erin and I chatted along, were passed by people who didn't want to get beaten by a pregnant woman and enjoyed the beauty of the day. It was a gorgeous cool morning at Presque Isle State Park on Lake Erie. Around mile 4 there was a bathroom stop which I needed to take advantage of so I sent Erin ahead and took my first of five bathroom breaks. I drank at least a cup of water at each water station in an effort to stay hydrated (so as to not cause any contractions) and relaxed into my own pace. Around mile five or six I saw Andrew's cousins who were there to cheer on his aunt and uncle who were running that day. I stopped and talked for a few minutes (evidence again it was not a race) before continuing on my pregnant way.
At mile 7 I ate my squeezy fruit that I brought along and continued to plug. I didn't wear a watch or bring my Ipod because I really wanted to focus on how I was feeling. I wish that more people would have left their Ipods behind because it really cuts down on conversation when everyone is in their own little world. I felt like I was stalking people without headphones in an effort to make some conversation and help the miles to tick by faster. I made it to mile 10 without any walk breaks but by then my scratchy throat was coming back, a bit of a headache was coming on and oh yeah, I am pregnant. The water stops were a little before each mile marker so I decided to walk between the water and mile marker. It was a good way to give myself little breaks, especially since I didn't have a watch to tell me how long I was walking.
By mile 12 I really wanted to be finished, but at that point I was nearly there. My lower back was starting to get sore and I was just plain tired. I took a few more walk breaks and was encouraged by those around me to "push through," "keep running," and "you're almost there." All of these comments people made as they ran up behind me but once the saw the load up front they quickly changed their tune to "you're pregnant? walk all you want!" As I neared the finish line my natural instinct was to pick it up, pass as many people a I could and sprint it in. I squelched my normal end kick and continued to take it easy. I posed at the end for the camera with my belly sticking out, grabbed as much food as I could carry and found my friend who finished ahead of me.
My pregnant half was a good experience but not one I am sure I will do again. The baby and I came through just fine but I don't know if I would actually pay to do it. It was fun to run a race without any goals or pressure (besides the pressure on my bladder). I was simply able to enjoy the day. I hoped I helped a few people PR as they took one look at my stomach and picked up their own pace. Next year I hope to do the same race again with Baby B2 and Ben hanging out at the finish waiting for me.
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