Fave Workout Spots...

One of my best memories from Tanner as an infant and into his toddlerhood was the stroller walks/jogs/runs we would take together. When he got too big for the stroller, I was a little sad...but now I get to share these experiences all over again with Breckin and I'm so excited. Nothing gets me more motivated to workout than knowing that I don't have to be away from my children to accomplish it.

Here are some of my favorite workout spots that I plan to introduce to Breckin in the next few months:

SULLIVAN'S ISLAND


I can't even count how many times I took Tanner to this beach for strolls...whether it was along the water or down Middle St and through the streets lined with beautiful beach homes. Some of our walks would last 2 hours! Or however long I could get him to cooperate. ☺ I love it because it's so peaceful, beautiful and serene.

MOUNT PLEASANT PIER/PARK


I love this new park in Mount Pleasant. It's such a great place to take kids. It will be nice to go on a walk or bike ride with Tanner & Breckin and be able to stop at the play park for them to play. Of course Breckin won't be doing much playing anytime too soon, but Tanner will definitely love it!

ECO FITNESS/BLUE TURTLE YOGA


I cancelled my membership at East Shore Athletic Club this past June since I was hugely pregnant and my sore hips made it almost impossible to get a real workout in. I was a member of Eco Fitness prior to joining East Shore. I had only left Eco because of the distance it was to the house we bought in 2008. Now that I'm doing my cleaning business and have many more hours available to me during the day, the distance isn't as big of a deal...I plan on rejoining Eco Fitness this winter. I love this gym...and Tanner loved the kid's care. So even though this will be my place to workout not WITH them, at least I know that they are in good hands and will have a great time while Mommy gets in her "me" time (everyone needs a little of that). I love the group fitness classes, the strength training & cardio equipment and my favorite Spin instructor, George! I can't wait to be a gym member again...this is the first time in 9 years that I haven't had a gym membership! That feels so crazy to me!

DANIEL ISLAND LEISURE TRAILS


Daniel Island is such a beautiful island. I am so glad we live just down the street from it! I love the leisure trails...they have workout equipment along the trails! I could spend all day walking on this island and not get bored with the scenery. I loved taking Tanner for walks and I can't wait to take Breckin.

 

Friends/Family - if you would like any of the pictures you see of us on the blog, please just right-click on the image and save it to your computer. You are welcome to print at your leisure! They are all high-pixel images. If you do not know my family or me, you probably shouldn't right-click/save or print any of our images. Just saying.

Cooper River Bridge Strolls

The past few days, Breckin and I have been taking strolls across the Cooper River Bridge and back. I've been walking with him every day since I got home from the hospital with him, but I felt I was definitely ready for more of a challenge...and the uphill arch of the Cooper River Bridge definitely takes care of that! It had been so long since I had felt a really good burn in my butt and legs - it just makes me feel like I'm truly making progress. I also love that I get to enjoy these walks with my son...what better way to combine mommyhood and fitness than to include your little one? I remember when Tanner was younger how we would take walks almost every day - beach, bridges, leisure trails, neighborhoods...I'm definitely getting my money's worth out of the jogging stroller I purchased 4 years ago since I now get to use it with son #2! Speaking of jogging, I plan on upgrading these walks to jogs very soon. And one day, to runs.

So for now the plan is to get out to the bridge as often as possible...I'd love to do it every morning or evening...now that Fall is about to arrive, the weather will be so perfect.

 

Friends/Family - if you would like any of the pictures you see of us on the blog, please just right-click on the image and save it to your computer. You are welcome to print at your leisure! They are all high-pixel images. If you do not know my family or me, you probably shouldn't right-click/save or print any of our images. Just saying.

Postpartum Measurements (Eeks!)

OK...keep in mind how brave I'm being by posting these...I need to keep track, so here goes:

9/3/10:
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 155 lbs
R Thigh: 21.5"
L Thigh: 21"
R Bicep: 10.75"
L Bicep: 11"
Waist: 33.5"
Hips: 39.5"
Chest: 32"

Will post an update in a couple weeks!

 

Friends/Family - if you would like any of the pictures you see of us on the blog, please just right-click on the image and save it to your computer. You are welcome to print at your leisure! They are all high-pixel images. If you do not know my family or me, you probably shouldn't right-click/save or print any of our images. Just saying.

Not Getting Along with the Mirror...

OK, OK...so I know I'm only 3 weeks and 4 days postpartum...but let's face it, anyone who knows me knows that I'm a little bit of a nut when it comes to being in shape. A little obsessive and probably much too hard on myself (obviously...I mean, I'm already giving myself crap for not being back in my skinny jeans less than a month after having a baby)...but that's just who I am and I've accepted it.

I definitely didn't wait at all to start getting back out there...the day we got home from the hospital I took Breckin on a 30-45 minute stroll around the neighborhood...and I've done so every single day since - sometimes even doing two walks, one with Breckin and then one with Dakotah. I was even extra ambitious one night and popped in a Jillian Michael's workout DVD. Yesterday I took Breckin for his first stroll across the Cooper River Bridge and back...and I LOVED the burn I felt while pushing his stroller uphill. But still I get up in the morning and try to find any shirt I can squeeze into (which there are not many right now and mind you the breastfeeding twins are NOT helping) and then put on my "fat" jeans - a $16.99 pair of American Eagle's I bought at Marshall's to get me through this awkward phase until I can get my pre-prego jeans to button! And all I see in the mirror is my flabby midsection and newly-acquired love handles...despite all the work I've been trying to do this past 3 1/2 weeks. Like I said, I am hard on myself. But I'm sure there are many mommies out there that understand what I'm going through and have been there themselves.

Anyway, I'm determined to come to a truce with the mirror - and SOON. This Sunday I will be 4 weeks postpartum...the plan this month is to take Breckin on the Cooper River Bridge every morning (weather permitting) working up to where I can end up running most of it and do an hour's worth of workout DVD's at least 5 days a week. This month it's Turbo Jam...haha. Next month, Insanity...the title is pretty fitting, don't you think?

 

Friends/Family - if you would like any of the pictures you see of us on the blog, please just right-click on the image and save it to your computer. You are welcome to print at your leisure! They are all high-pixel images. If you do not know my family or me, you probably shouldn't right-click/save or print any of our images. Just saying.

Breckin David Smith Has Arrived!

We are proud to announce the arrival of our 2nd son, Breckin David Smith. He was born at 5:41am on Sunday, August 8th, 2010. He weighed 8 lbs 13 oz (and was 6 days early!) and was 21 inches long. We are so happy about this wonderful addition to our family. Tanner is so excited to be a big brother!

 

Friends/Family - if you would like any of the pictures you see of us on the blog, please just right-click on the image and save it to your computer. You are welcome to print at your leisure! They are all high-pixel images. If you do not know my family or me, you probably shouldn't right-click/save or print any of our images. Just saying.

39 Weeks Today...party time?

I am 39 weeks pregnant today...and hubby wants me to go to a birthday party at a friends' house. It's not that I don't WANT to go, it's just that I don't want to go. If you think about it, it makes sense.

I feel like how a mother dog feels when she's about to give birth...she goes and finds a hiding spot to have privacy and doesn't want to be seen until afterward. I totally hibernated in my house today...I mean, I cleaned (nested) and all, but seriously, I spent the whole day in yoga pants and a tank top and NO MAKEUP. It was liberating. I want to spend every day like this until Breckin is here!

So I just got off the phone with Jake and he has already made the babysitter (in-laws) arrangements for Tanner for a little while tonight...so now it's like I HAVE to go...I guess it's just for a couple hours, but now I have to get dressed (in yucky maternity clothes), put makeup on and then go to a party where everyone is drinking, having a good time and looking great while I'll probably be sitting on the couch looking like a fat cow sipping on my water. Woop woop.

Wow, when did I become such a party-pooper? What a 360 from just a year ago. Hopefully I'll be feeling back to my old self soon.

So I guess for tonight, I'll suck it up...but believe me, tomorrow it's yoga pants and no makeup!

JB & Kari - I apologize greatly in advance if my water breaks at your house!

*Update - I did go into labor tonight, thankfully AFTER we got home from the party!

 

Friends/Family - if you would like any of the pictures you see of us on the blog, please just right-click on the image and save it to your computer. You are welcome to print at your leisure! They are all high-pixel images. If you do not know my family or me, you probably shouldn't right-click/save or print any of our images. Just saying.

38.5 Week Belly Pics!

Hubby & I took some belly pics last night - we are 9 days away from the due date!

 

Friends/Family - if you would like any of the pictures you see of us on the blog, please just right-click on the image and save it to your computer. You are welcome to print at your leisure! They are all high-pixel images. If you do not know my family or me, you probably shouldn't right-click/save or print any of our images. Just saying.

August - You're Finally Here!

I liked this image because it has MY birthday circled...LOL.

Finally - the month that seemed like it would never get here! August - my due date month! I have 13 days to go until my official due date...and boy am I more ready than ever! Breckin seems to be pretty comfortable in there, so I'm not trying to get my hopes up that he will come very early - though everyone around me seems to think he will. Can't let that get in my head or it will just make the anticipation worse!

Jake, Tanner and I are so ready to welcome this new little one into our home...the nursery has been ready for months, all the gadgets and gear bought, clothes washed and even the baseboards are finally clean! (Had Jake tackle that one yesterday - bending and crouching are not so much my thing right now!) I've been spending the greater part of my evenings after work nesting...just can't seem to stop cleaning and organizing, but it will definitely make it easier in those first few weeks after he arrives when I will be too exhausted to do those things.

I've got one last week of work (unless Breckin has other plans)...and I'm so glad...the past few months sitting at a computer desk all day have killed my back and definitely have not made this pregnancy seemingly fly by faster.

Anyway - just so excited that August is finally here - it truly feels like it could be any day now!

 

Friends/Family - if you would like any of the pictures you see of us on the blog, please just right-click on the image and save it to your computer. You are welcome to print at your leisure! They are all high-pixel images. If you do not know my family or me, you probably shouldn't right-click/save or print any of our images. Just saying.

Where Does Unconditional Love Come From?

As I sit here "patiently" waiting for this last four weeks of pregnancy to pass, it suddenly becomes clear to me what unconditional love really is...and why their simply is no greater love than that of a mother's for her children.

This past 36 weeks has had it's ups and downs, but honestly, mostly downs! Don't get me wrong, I am so thankful to be pregnant and to be bringing my second child into this world. I know he will bring so much joy to our family. I also don't take it for granted that there are many women out there who yearn for their own children but are unable to conceive, and it absolutely breaks my heart. I know how lucky I am, and I never let myself forget it.

I realize that there have been so many things that I've had to endure during this pregnancy that I just simply would never do for anyone other than my children - heartburn, painful bloating, losing the body I worked so hard for, arthritic pains in my hips, sleepless nights, extreme discomfort, back pain, leg cramps, fatigue, nausea - there are people out there that say pregnancy is the most beautiful thing in the world. Well, if I just described my symptoms to anyone without them knowing I was pregnant, they'd think I was dying of the plague (OK, that might be a little bit of an exaggeration, but still, NOT pretty. The beauty in pregnancy is not the exterior, because let's face it, varicose veins, stretch marks (thank GOD I don't get them), swollen hands and feet, and chubbier arms and legs are not a lovely sight - I don't care who you are. The beauty of pregnancy comes from within, the glow of a mother because she's about to bring a miracle into this world. And it's for that very miracle, that we graciously accept the duty of pregnancy - crappy symptoms and all.

The thing that keeps me going, even on my worst days, is knowing that at the end, I get to meet this beautiful creature that has been tapping on my belly for months. I never get bored of watching him squirm around in there though I've seen it now hundreds of times. I already love him more than life itself, just as I love my first son, Tanner. There will be nothing either of them can do to change that - because my love for them is truly unconditional. I know that the pain and discomfort I've had to endure is only temporary, and it's worth having a new love to fill my heart. And I believe that it's for these "inconveniences" and "discomforts", that I appreciate them and love them that much more.

 

Friends/Family - if you would like any of the pictures you see of us on the blog, please just right-click on the image and save it to your computer. You are welcome to print at your leisure! They are all high-pixel images. If you do not know my family or me, you probably shouldn't right-click/save or print any of our images. Just saying.

Our 2nd Little Bundle of Joy...

...will be named Breckin David Smith. We have completely fallen in love with the name and it's so nice to be able to call him something other than "baby". Tanner loves to talk about his little brother, Breckin...and I'm hoping that he is well-received by Tanner when he arrives!

It's getting closer and closer to my due date (but not close enough!)...and as usual, I'm in complete "nesting" mode and apparently nothing in my house is clean or organized enough if you ask me. I can't believe it's just 10.5 weeks away...I hope it goes by fast because the month of July will be stifling hot! The nursery is coming along and I can't wait to post pictures soon...

I'm finding it increasingly harder to get up in the mornings...sore hips and all, as well as get around some days. My new favorite spot has become the neighborhood pool! But I'm trying to make the most of it - and reminding myself that it will be so worth it in the end. As most women do, I worry about getting back into shape afterward, but I'm relying on my good ol' fitness motivation to kick back in and hopefully it will help me achieve my goals in that area.

I can't wait to hold my little Breckin in my arms and cuddle with him...I enjoy watching him play and kick around in my belly...but it will be so amazing to truly meet him for the first time.

 

Friends/Family - if you would like any of the pictures you see of us on the blog, please just right-click on the image and save it to your computer. You are welcome to print at your leisure! They are all high-pixel images. If you do not know my family or me, you probably shouldn't right-click/save or print any of our images. Just saying.