Five Things

Happy Friday, yet again! I'm absolutely loving Fridays lately {not that I don't always}, more so because my pregnancy weeks turn over every Thursday, so I feel like I'm getting into a new week every Friday and it's helping this pregnancy {mentally} move along. Because we all know how fast weekends go... #amiright? By the time Monday rolls back around, I'm halfway through another gestational week and closer to seeing this precious baby girl {and a good bit of wine}.




Well without further adieu, here are my Five Things this week:

{one}
I feel like I've been a rockstar at the gym this week {all things - ahem, pregnancy - considering anyway}...I took the day off yesterday due to sore hips {that mountain climbing cardio machine is serious business}. I hate taking days off, but with pregnancy, I have to be sure to listen to my body and take it easy when I feel it's telling me to. My eating this week has been clean and with all of this, I definitely feel a big change in my energy levels, as well as my self-confidence, just from last month. I'm hoping it keeps the rest of the weight gain for this pregnancy in check. Hubby has taken on the T25 program I bought us and I really hate that I can't join in, but I am going to be so eager to get going with it come June!

{two}
Speaking of the Hubby...it's his 36th birthday today! I can't believe when I met him he was 26! Man, time does fly when you're having fun...or having babies...ha! We plan to go out tonight, hopefully try out the new tequila bar in town, Sol {though I'll try it sans tequila}. Happy Birthday, Baby - you are an amazing husband and I love you!

{three}
I think my tummy has really hit the beach ball stage. I'm 24 weeks and 1 day today...here is a pic I took after I got ready for work at the gym this morning. I definitely feel like I'm carrying higher this time than in my other pregnancies.

I love this dress...it was a great purchase from Target early on in the pregnancy...not even maternity, but I knew the material would work for it. It's nice to know I can wear it afterward...love to pair it with black leggings and my grayish brown boots from Aldo {you can't see pictured here, obviously}. Nice and warm for this cold weather we're having lately!

{four}
My husband and I have decided we are going to put our house on the market very soon! We are ready to move into the school district we desire most for our sons, as well as be a lot closer to friends. We're not that far right now, but it still feels a little B.F.E. status sometimes. Right now we are making a plan to purchase a storage unit mid-month next month and move out some of the extra things to make the house more show-worthy...and at the same time we'll do some much-needed purging and organizing of things. We're hoping it doesn't take too long to sell...but then again, if it sells real soon, we'd be looking at moving right when I'm due or right after...so that thought is a little scary to me in itself. But I know people have done this pregnant, so I'll just put faith in God's timing on it all.

{five}
And lastly, on this list today...just want to say I love you all! {I know that's a cheap shot for #5, but I'm seriously blanking!}

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Monday Musings

This weekend was so busy...but we accomplished a lot. We got the nursery painted, the new strollers put together and the crib set up. I can't wait to reveal the nursery on here soon...I've put together the guest bedding {the bed I will sleep on in the nursery the first couple months} and crib bedding, but there are some paintings, DIY stuff and organizing to do in there before the final reveal.

I also did as promised and made it to the gym Saturday to rejoin. Check out my post on The Gym Bunny today to see my weekly workout plan. I plan to stick to it for the rest of the pregnancy {God willing}. It is also great for non-pregos! The plan is to go in the AM before work as I was in the first couple months of pregnancy. I'll have to get up a tad earlier, but I'm OK with that. I think it will make me feel better overall. Some things that help me stay on track are having my workout outfit set out and my gym bag packed and ready to go with my work clothes - all done the night before. The less I have to scramble around in the morning, the better.

Additionally, not that it's been terrible, but it has been slack, I plan to clean up the ol' diet. I'm not trying to lose weight {obviously}, but I do need to start saying "no" to some of the bad-for-me cravings I've been getting. Lord knows this baby loves a cheeseburger. BUT, I've definitely had my fill, and now that the holidays are over, it's time to get back to healthy meal plan. I'll be making berry protein smoothies for breakfast, packing my go-to healthy snacks for work, spinach salads for lunch, and keeping to a menu plan for dinners. The key for me is to stick to foods that are beneficial to baby and give calories from the right sources. I made a trip to the grocery store yesterday to make sure I had everything I needed this week and here is a look at the menu plan:

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

So any of you out there with New Year's resolutions - how are you planning to stay on track? Any tips?

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Friday Five

It's been a while since I've done one of these posts. I blame traveling and the holidays. Forgive me? Mmmmmkayy...

{one}
Ordered some fitness DVDs - one being Focus T25 by none other than Insanity's Shaun T. I want to be ready to blast these post-prego lbs ASAP and I plan on starting this the month after I have the baby. We already have Insanity, so I will be doing that after T25. My husband will actually be going at it first, so I may see if there is anything my prego self can jump in and join him on.

Additionally, I bought a Living Social deal for some barre DVDs. Since leaving my gym membership recently, I've really missed the classes and the workout is great for pregnancy, so this is the program I ordered. I can't wait for it to arrive so I can get started. The holidays had me a bit lazy in the exercise category. I can't kick off the new year by losing weight {that will have to wait until May}, but I can certainly head in the right direction for post-pregnancy.

Barre3

{two}
We are clearing out and painting the nursery this weekend. And by "we", I mean my husband. I, of course, need to keep away from the paint fumes and someone needs to watch the boys. But it's just one room, so Hubby can manage. I will move what I can...there's not too much to do in that area. I am going with a light gray, hopefully the same, or very close to what we painted the living room and kitchen. I've lost that paint card, so I don't know exactly. I hope to find it because we still need to do the stairwell to match {eeks!} After this room is painted, I will finally be able to get in there and do what I do best - decorate and organize!

{three}
I hit 21 weeks yesterday and I am starting to feel this baby girl "tickle" me here and there. It's an amazing feeling - I forgot how wonderful it was. I also drive myself crazy getting nervous on days I don't feel her as much. But apparently I've got an anterior placenta this time around, so that's why I can't feel her a ton yet. It will get better over the next few weeks. Here's a nice picture of me currently...getting riper and riper by the day. You may see why I feel the need to start more barre workouts and a little T25...hehehe.

{four}
I got some good baby stuff this past week...ordered a double jogger, a new travel system and our crib also arrived {waiting for the painted nursery before setting that up!} It's getting girly 'round here...

Gisele by Baby Trend

{five}
I'm rejoining my gym tomorrow. I left it in November and planned on rejoining shortly after the baby arrived, but I have been unable to keep up with working out without it unfortunately, and well, the holidays really screwed up my waistline more than the pregnancy was already going to...so it's time to get back on a regular schedule or I fear I will have to lose 50+ lbs after this pregnancy and for me, that's just unfathomable. I will also be in a better place mentally to get back on schedule with my fitness blog, The Gym Bunny. I have sort of left that in the dust this pregnancy and I want to get back to a regular posting schedule.

So this 5 on Friday was a whole lotta pregnancy and exercise stuff, wasn't it? I guess I'm just feeling the need to really be good in this last half of my pregnancy. Motivation is key!

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Monday Musings

A few things this lovely Monday...

First of all - I've officially applied to college! {I know I'm quick, huh? I think I just mentioned the idea in Friday's post?} I've applied to Trident Technical College here in Charleston because I've heard their Dental Hygienist program is pretty stellar. The only issue is that they are full until Spring 2016 at the moment, BUT depending on my 10-years-old art college transcripts {I currently hold an Associates of Science in Graphic Design}, I may or may not have to get some prerequisites out of the way anyway, so I am going to start there for now. I have to wait to talk to the admissions counselor about all of that. I'm excited though...if I have to take some of the pre-reqs, I can start them online as soon as January hopefully, so possibly starting earlier than I had thought! And I can still consider other Dental Hygienist programs later if they can get me in earlier, but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

Second...I don't know if you heard the sad news, but hottie Charlie Hunnam has dropped out of the role to play Christian Grey in 50 Shades. I'm sad because he's super hot, but truth be told, I still had a hard time picturing him as that character, so maybe it's for the best.

Third, not a lot went on this weekend. I had one of those just get things done weekends. I had to return library books, plan a menu for the next two weeks until I get paid again, go grocery shopping, clean house and do laundry...you know the "mom" stuff. And of course being pregnant...it's like, what's the point of going out anymore when I can't even enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail?

I am looking forward to trying out some new recipes I found...one for breakfast is this Acai bowl that Andee Layne at The Honeybee makes {and if you look at her, you KNOW why I would follow her diet!}

 

1 packet frozen Acai

1/2 cup frozen organic blueberries

1/2 cup frozen organic strawberries

1/2 cup organic apple juice (or whatever juice you have on hand)

1/2 cup plain greek yogurt

topped with 1/4 cup granola

It actually is pretty similar to the protein smoothies I make {sans the whey protein}, but served in a bowl with a little crunch on top. I bought some Chia seeds at Trader Joes to throw into the mix as well.

To be completely honest {and accountable}, this last week or two, my diet has not been wonderful...as easy as it is to say you're going to have a fit pregnancy, it is sooooo hard when you are feeling nauseous and nothing but carbs makes you feel better. But, I've started to come out of that little nauseous phase in my pregnancy, and hopefully I can stick to my healthy menu from now on. I've still been at the gym and all...but you can't do much good when your diet is all amiss.

Here's a little snapshot of some of the meals I've got planned over the next couple of weeks:

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

Have a great week! xoxo

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Five on Friday

Ahhhh...this week has been super busy. As you can tell, other than today, I've only posted here once! I hope to get back in the swing of it next week. But you know what, today is FRIDAY and I'm going to just revel in that fact. It's time for...

 

{one}
Tanner started baseball this week! If you don't already know, my sons are polar opposites, and Tanner is my more introverted, less into sports one. It started off great, the first night, one of his classmates came up to him and was so excited that Tanner was playing baseball with him this year. I was so glad he immediately found someone he knew. We are hoping to get him to branch out and like more "active" activities rather than just Legos, drawing and video games. He is who he is, but I feel it's my duty as a mom to expose him to as many healthy activities as I can and provide opportunities for him to be social. Here's a picture of my little man looking handsome in his uniform:

The socks are blue because they didn't provide uniform socks, so we are using baseball socks from another year! LOL. We will be doing baseball every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 6:15 to 8:00 for the next five weeks. It's a big rush to get them picked up from daycare all the way at the other end of town and make it back in time for practice, plus they need to be fed, so we've found that grabbing fast food and heading to the baseball field to have a pre-practice picnic is the way to go.

{two}
Thanks to baseball, and I know I've mentioned this before, I now get a good excuse to walk the Cooper River Bridge two nights a week. With the practice field being right next to it, and trying to entertain his three year old brother for almost two hours being nearly impossible, it's nice to be able to pop Breckin in the stroller and take a long stroll on the bridge. It's great exercise too of course! Hubby came with us the first night, but couldn't make it last night. Hopefully he will be there for the rest of the baseball practices though.

Gorgeous view, isn't it? And we get to enjoy the sunset each time too. Breckin loves watching for boats in the water.

{three}
I hit my six-weeks-along pregnancy mark yesterday. I still haven't had morning {all day} sickness...I'm surprised with the very few symptoms I'm having this time around. I wasn't ever very sick with my boys, but I definitely had nausea...I think it hit about week 6 or 7 with them...so maybe it's coming. I'm doing well with my weight...with Breckin I think I gained like 7 or 8 lbs in the first trimester, which is considered a lot! I was eating to avoid feeling sick. This one, I'm making sure to keep up the exercise with morning cardio, and now the bridge walks are definitely a plus. I've heard exercise helps fight sickness during pregnancy. Right now, I'm about 1 lb gained...and good Lord, it's probably in "my girls". Not wearing maternity clothes yet, but my pants do get a little tight by the evening time and I jump into PJs right when I get home. Sorry if you're squeamish, but these pictures always amaze me about the woman's body and what we are made to do:

{Week 6 Pregnancy}

{four}
Speaking of exercise during pregnancy, I just came across this article about a woman who does CrossFit during her pregnancies and the backlash she received even though her doctor assured her since she was already that active prior, that it was OK. She even gained a healthy pregnancy weight. I don't lift like this right now, but I've not done CrossFit, so of course pregnancy isn't the time for me to start...but I do keep up my regular strength training and cardio, and like her, believe it's a much better alternative than being sedentary and not getting that blood flowing for baby. What are your thoughts?

{five}
Flared jeans...do you think they'll be the new craze and edge out skinny jeans for popularity? A few of my friends have been pinning images like this lately:

{via}

{via}

I've always been a fan of the flares or bootcuts....they flatter my shape better. I don't have the ultra-thin legs that look bomb in skinnies, though I do love to wear them. But flares make my thighs appear thinner...and that's a magic trick I can't resist.

Have a great weekend!

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Fit Pregnancy

So I've been feeling a little funny lately...

For some reason, I have been getting asked fairly often lately whether or not Jake and I are going to have another baby. It's so random that everyone seems to be asking this at the same time...family, friends, coworkers...I mean why all of them at once and why now? I mean, didn't I JUST have one...{ok, so it was over two years ago...haha.}

Well, here's my official answer:

1. Yes, I want a baby girl.
2. No, I do not want to go through another pregnancy, or at least the postpartum weightloss part again.

So that got me to thinking...obviously, another baby would mean another pregnancy. Am I ready to handle getting "fat" again? Will I be able to discipline myself enough to make the best food choices and keep up exercising throughout the pregnancy in order to keep the postpartum damages to a minimum?

With Tanner, I was young {22}. I was good about walking a lot...usually on the beach while Jake played beach volleyball. I didn't have a gym membership since we had moved from California mid-pregnancy and I didn't want to start one up again until I had him. I gained 30 lbs. I was back into shape without much effort on my part by 6-8 weeks postpartum. After that, toning up was a lot of gym work and strolls with Tanner. But I love working out, so it was no problem.

With Breckin...it was not quite as easy. I gained roughly 45 lbs with that boy {though I did weigh a good bit less pre-pregnancy than I did with Tanner, so it probably about evened out}. I remember "showing" almost immediately after the positive pregnancy test. I tried my best to pack healthy meals and snacks for work, but sometimes cravings got the best of me. I tried to walk on lunch breaks every day, or even hit the gym for a good 30-45 min at that time. I started getting a lot of hip and joint pain in the 2nd trimester and it scared me. I would walk for 20 min and feel like I might go into labor or something. So I got a lot lazier about exercising than I ever imagined I would. And I remember being angry and depressed that I had to push myself to workout like crazy after I had him (even did Insanity at 2 mos pp)...much of the weight just didn't want to come off on its own. (At least not fast enough for me.)

So a 3rd pregnancy? What would that mean? Would it be even worse? I hope my determination and lessons learned can keep that from happening.

via

I have a few goals BEFORE getting pregnant again...

1. Get completely back on a good schedule of hitting the gym 5-6 days a week. (Just about there, finally worked out a good time in the day to get it done...staying focused.)
2. Complete a round of Insanity.
3. Train (currently doing so) and run a half marathon (scheduled January 2013).

I feel if I have those things accomplished, it will be that much easier to keep up the routine. And I hope that my hips and other joints would let me continue a moderate workout routine throughout...next time I won't scare myself with the funny pains (unless doc orders of course). I've been blessed enough to have two healthy pregnancies and full-term babies.

What about you? Are you pregnant now? Do you plan to be? What are your workout goals for pregnancy?