I'm A Mummy

No, not a mommy yet, just a mummy. This is how I prepare for a "walk-jog", which is what I'm down to these days. No more than three miles and I usually start out walking. Before I begin I wrap my belly in two ace bandages. This helps support the growing bump. Kinda looks like the making of a mummy. Appropriate for Halloween, I would say. :)

Where did I get this idea, you may ask? One of my doctors said his wife does it so I thought I would try it. Works great! Although I think I need to add another bandage to the mix...

24 Weeks and Growing

We are GROWING! This last Monday our baby boy and I went to the doctor for our 24 week check-up. All looks good and here are some stats:

- His heartbeat - 138 bpm

- He's about a 1 lb and 1/3

- He's about 12 inches in length

- Mom's blood pressure is 116/63

- Mom's weight is on target - 15 lbs so far!

See, I told you we were growing. The belly is stretching like crazy. Getting up off the ground has become more challenging. I'm still running a little but I'm super slow and I don't go very far (Mom can attest to this!) I'm happy to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather we're having though.

Sleep has become a little more interesting these days. Aside from getting up a few times during the night (due to the call from nature and late night parties going on in my belly) I find I need an extra pillow to keep me stable and level. Without it I wake up with some serious back pain! And rolling over makes me giggle...I'm soooo sloooow.

Our little man is still very active, moving all the time. Austin's even been able to feel a few kicks and punches. We are really enjoying the journey!

Week 20 - Half Way There

We had our fourth official OB appointment today and learned a little more about our baby. So far we know:

- The heartbeat is approximately 142 beats per minute.

- All organs seem to be in working order.

- All measurements are right on track for healthy growth.

- Due date is still January 25th.

- He weighs about 13 oz.

- And that's right, I said HE! Today was the big day. We learned we having a son!

Some other comments made by the nurse during our sono - he's looking healthy, growing at a good pace, is very cute and very very VERY active! Over the last week I've been feeling the little one shift around quite a bit and I thought it was just because he was getting bigger...apparently he was on the move today, hardly sitting still long enough to take pictures of him. But we managed to get few. Here they are:

The profile pic...can you see the smile?

Little feet...

In this one he's sort of waving. He's still really small and developing so it's kind of a weird picture.

And...confirmation that's it's a boy. The nurse said there was no question.

We can't wait to meet this little one. To see his face, hold him tight, snuggle him lots and watch him grow. Everyone keeps telling us that the next four months will fly by but for some reason I feel like they can't come fast enough.

In the meantime we'll continue to pray for good health and that God may watch over our growing family. To keep ourselves busy I suppose we'll decorate the nursery and read a few books. Oh yeah - and pick out a name!

Marathoning to Mommyhood

It wasn't until my cousin Chris asked me: "Is it weird not training for a marathon this summer?" that reality sunk in. Life has changed. Not that it will but that it has.

Austin and I were thrilled to find out in May that we would be expecting our first little one in January of 2011. I was even more thrilled to find out that, God-willing, we are scheduled to received this precious gift exactly a week after I turn 30 - how great is that?! Our focus immediately turned to excitement, doctor's appointments, and telling our family and friends. But when Chris asked me that very simple yet very critical question, my heart skipped a beat.

For the last four years I've trained for a marathon. The last four summer and fall seasons I've pushed my limits, sweat my tail off and tried my hand at 26.2 miles, crossing the finish line three out of the four years. Now I was almost half way through July (what would be a quarter of the way through my training program) and I hadn't thought about how much I missed training once. - Yes, I said "missed" the grueling training. I realize I'm a sick, sick person.

It's not that I haven't run since we found out or that I won't run a marathon again, it's that my focus has completely shifted without me even realizing it. Life has changed. This baby reminds me daily that I currently have limits. Sharing my body with someone else, I don't make a move a without knowing that it will have consequences.

So to answer the question: not training for a marathon this year is a little weird but I'm training for something else at the moment and I like it. I actually love it and can't wait to cross this finish line so I actually start the real race.