24 weeks: wogging right along...



25 weeks with my beautiful cousin, Joan
(missed a 24 week photo opp...but it's an early 25 weeks so I'll take it)



so what's up this week, Alpha Mom?

Your Baby:

• Is just about a foot long now. I believe it is a tradition to consume a foot-long sub sandwich or hot dog in your baby’s honor at this point. I also believe I just made that up.
• Is still very skinny looking, with translucent skin, but this will all start changing soon.
• Is officially at the edge of viability, and most hospitals would automatically attempt every possible life-saving option if your baby were to be born now.

You:

• Will undergo the glucose screening test at some point between now and 30 weeks to check for gestational diabetes. It’s done at a routine prenatal visit and involves chugging down an incredibly sickly-sweet beverage. Then you wait an hour and give a blood sample. And then you get someone else to drive your ass home, because you will be 1) passed out cold from a sugar crash or 2) howling in pain from a headache or 3) both. I brought a book to pass the time but fell asleep 20 minutes after the shot of sugar and woke up drooling on my husband, and I felt like crap for hours afterwards. But I passed! (A positive screen does not necessarily mean you have GD; it just means you have to get a whole OTHER, more-monitored test.)
• Are probably noticing more aches and pains as we come to the final couple weeks of the second trimester, particularly in your lower back, hips and other joints.
• Sciatica! Eeeeeeeeeee! Stopit!

Yup...sounds about right. Although I feel like I'm getting bigger by the MOMENT, I can't believe she's a FOOT long! We can definitely feel her kicks from the outside now and you can see them too which is funny.

Running & certain kicks in kickboxing are starting to get pretty uncomfortable for obvious reasons:

My hips get pretty sore when I run, which I would assume is normal. But I'm sad to report my running days may be numbered until February because each time I go out for a run, the more uncomfortable it gets. Plus my running has turned more into wogging (waddle/jogging as my friend Lynsi calls it) to compensate for said sore hips and a growing little girl. I'll keep it up as long as I can but I'm grateful for spin class and the elliptical because those seem to give me no trouble at all.

On Friday, I took the dreaded glucose test. For whatever reason, I was stressing this one BIG time! And of course, being a Friday, I had to wait until Tuesday afternoon for the results! Ugh. Silver lining? the test was done just in time for me to be able to have a big ol' slice of wedding cake on Saturday ;)





The drink wasn't nearly as bad as people describe it....there was no puking or fainting that some people warn you about...not even close. The first few sips I thought were actually pretty tasty! But that much sugar on an empty stomach was blech about 15 minutes into the test. Not a big deal though...

Saturday we enjoyed a wonderful wedding reception to celebrate Joan & Travis's wedding. It was great to see some family and catch up & the food was SO GOOD (priorities...).

what a ham.



don't see these guys NEARLY enough


So another great week flies on by...week 25 was a big one. I'm sure you're chomping at the bit to see how my glucose screening test went. Plus....we've picked a name!! stay tuned :)

Love,
K & baby

19 weeks: great expectations



19 weeks

here's what baby bean is up to this week (according to Baby Center):

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.
Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

...good to know.

so, let's see....this week baby and jack completed their first 5K! Saturday morning, the three of us had a ball at the SNIPSA Race for the Rescues. it was a nice cool morning (the ONLY nice cool morning in about 10 years...) and big brother jack was so well-behaved, i was so proud of him!

have i mentioned i LOVE feeling the baby kick? seriously. so cool. soccer player? cody felt his first kick on sunday. it's still pretty faint from the outside but i'm sure that won't last long since each kick is stronger than the last.

apparently, i'm taking cues from the little one because i was really kickin' MYSELF earlier in the week. i try to stay positive and grateful as much as possible but i'll be honest, it doesn't always work out that way. i can be hard on myself sometimes and this was just one of those times...i tend to get frustrated because i just want to be good at everything. hey, i said i'm being honest! so, when it comes to being pregnant, instead of focusing on ALL the amazing things my body is doing right now and all the miracles we are blessed with daily - i also struggle with the worry that i'm not doing the BEST that i could...i should be glowing, nesting & sporting a cute little basketball bump when in reality most days i am just fading, sleeping & widening in all directions. i worry that i'm not eating well enough, not drinking enough water, not taking care of housework, not preparing for baby, just not...rocking pregnancy the way i'd hoped.

note to self: Good God woman, get over it! you are blessed beyond measure right now. stop complaining.soak it up. be grateful!

sure enough, i stumbled across two things last week that really helped me switch up my attitude. first, i got an email from Fit Pregnancy which had an article titled "The Perfect Enough Pregnancy" . then Kelle Hampton posted this on her blog about fitting it all in and doing the best we can. good stuff right there. take a second to read the post. girlfriend can WRITE. i'm gonna bookmark that blog post because Lord knows that these feelings of inadequacy have only just begun now as i take on the role of new mama!

ok, so enough of that...there is something much more important going on NEXT week that i am focusing on! the doctor's appointment we have been waiting for! we find out if bean is a he or a she & get to see him or her with a comprehensive sonogram. I am seriously counting down the days until Friday the 30th!

people keep asking me what i want it to be or what i think it is. i have no clue & i really don't want a boy or a girl more than the other. we've been blessed with a life, with a child that will be PERFECT in God's design. now don't get me wrong, i cannot WAIT to start picking out names and nursery colors once we know what we are having but as cliche as it sounds...healthy. that's all we want.

i can imagine both...i imagine a little mini-cody running around...i imagine tee ball and scraped knees and cute little polo shirts for my little man. but i also imagine bows and ballet recitals and a sweet little princess too.

so, next week's blog post will be the big reveal! will it be "sugar and spice and everything nice" or "frogs and snails and puppy-dog tails"? either way...we'll be over the moon :)

xoxo,
K & baby

big runs.

running has been a constant source of joy for me for ten-plus years now. through undergrad & grad school, through jobs i've hated & jobs i've loved, through transitioning from girlfriend to fiance to wife, through happiness & pain....through it all, i've run. i've run FROM myself & TO myself & back again.

some runs are full of thoughts and decisions...my time to meditate, get away from distraction and just think. other runs, i've learned to turn my mind off completely and just go. the pup and i will head out the door with gusto - speeding up, slowing down, tripping over rocks & laughing the entire way until we find ourselves back at the doorstep not gaining ideas, but simply leaving stress behind.

i've run through tears, rain, sunshine & fear. i've run fast, strong & hard - & i learned to be proud of myself & my hard work. i've run slow, strained & sloppy - & i learned to be humble & try harder next time. it's all been good.

lord only knows the miles i've covered in the past decade or so. there have been a LOT. most miles i won't remember. they blur & fade into one big memory. but there are some runs i've had, let me tell you - that i will never forget. through the craziness & uncertainty of life i've always known i can lace up my shoes, grab my ipod & GO. i can get out there with just my legs, lungs & maybe a good song or two & (here's the cool part) i'm guaranteed to return better than when i left. running has been my constant friend. yes, running has been oh so good to me...especially the runs that i keep near & dear to my heart. not my longest runs or fastest runs, but the runs that have meant the most. i think of these as my "big runs".

the day i graduated from college...i ran. it was an easy 3 miler around West Campus. a mid-day run that was slow and steady and meditative. i left my ipod at home that day as i ran through the streets i called "home" for the past 4 years. i thought of all the memories i'd be leaving behind & all the memories i still had to make ahead. i thanked God for the good times, the laughter, the friends, & yes...even some of the learning...that i was blessed by during my time at UT. i'm so glad i marked that big day with a big run.

the morning i got married...i ran. a strong, fast 7 miles around our new neighborhood to ease my nervous excitement & escape the stress for just one second to be ME. the sun was just rising & the morning was quiet. the clouds were playing with the sun in the perfect way that they do so that the rays shine down in a vivid beautiful display that can only be God's love shining down on us. this was one of my most favorite runs.

the morning my grandmother passed away...i ran. i was exhausted from being up all night but could not find sleep. i craved something comforting & familiar so i laced up my shoes, pulled on my ipod & headed out to the 4 mile loop i knew so well. i didn't have to think. i could be numb & angry & sad all at once and it was okay. it was early. no one was on the roads yet & it was raining. perfect for a good hard cry as i sped up the hills in frustration & finally slowed to a soft jog in defeat. it was not my favorite run given the circumstances but it was still good.

the morning i waited for biopsy results...i ran. i was paralyzed by fear & it took every ounce of my strength to get out of bed & run that morning. but i did. i needed to remind myself that i was okay & that i'd be okay no matter what the rest of that morning brought. again, i found myself seeking the comfort and familiarity of my trusty 4 mile loop. it was a steady run. filled with confidence & resolve & prayer. lots and LOTS of prayer.

and a few months ago i was able to add another "big run" to the list.

the morning i found out i was pregnant...i ran. jack & i went out for an early 5 mile run around the neighborhood as we watched the world wake up. in the silence of the morning, it was just us. i was alone with my thoughts and the sound of my footfall mixed with his steady four-legged trot. i felt happy & blessed...for my health & the tiny baby seed i had growing in my belly. we ran strong & happy that morning with a secret that no one else knew yet. cody was still sleeping & we'd tell him the big news as soon as we got home. for that moment, it was my time to be completely alone with our baby. it was a sweet and special 45 minutes to be the only person in the entire world that knew that our little baby bean existed. i will cherish this big run most of all.

bigger than me.

i'm training to run the 2011 Austin Marathon for the LIVESTRONG foundation which "fights to improve the lives of people affected by cancer". so for the next four months i am embarking on a running-awareness-fundraising bonanza! 26.2 miles is daunting enough...but now i have people counting on me & i am determined to make this venture worthwhile. i'd be lying if i said i wasn't scared - what if i get injured? (that's right IT Band...i'm shaking my fist at YOU!), what if i don't raise enough money? what if people think i'm stupid for doing this? all of these doubts though are completely worth the risk because this is a cause i am willing to fight for. i will be keeping a blog of training, motivation, fundraising updates, etc. @ www.heycanceryoureajerk.blogspot.com - please follow along in my adventure! i plan to keep writing in this blog as well to keep up with the other random ramblings of my life :)

i am currently compiling a list of people i am running in honor and memory of (more info can be found on my blog) but the individuals who originally motivated me to pursue this are:
- my Grandpa Al (currently trying to get a pic)
-my Grandma N

-Matt (who fought - and beat the CRAP out of lymphoma in 2009)


i am excited for personal reasons too - this will be my fifth and final full marathon (at least for a very long while). i've always said i wanted to do 5 so this is it! also, i will be running the race one week before my 30th birthday and i will be returning to the very first marathon i ever ran and to the city where i fell in love with the sport.

Motivated Monday - Chicago Marathon

yesterday was the chicago marathon!

with unseasonably warm weather it was a tougher challenge than expected, i'm sure (because you know, 26.2 miles in comfortable weather is a complete walk in the park...)


regardless, i hope everyone had an amazing time and walked (ok, hobbled) away with a sense of pride in their accomplishment.

shout out to my friend, christy who ran this year!!! you ROCK!

i sumbled across this article with some pretty inspiring runners' essays. these people are so awesome. i'm sure you'll agree - the fact that they have achieved such great things through hardship and trials is incredibly motivating.

own it.

as i was running on the trail behind our house last weekend i ran past this girl with the most awesome body ever. lean & muscular. and she looked strong & fast too. i thought to myself, "dang, i work so hard...why can't i have HER body?" and this is what i immediately realized: "DUH. because it's HER body. and YOUR body, kerith, is YOUR body"

yes, i work hard. on the outside i don't feel like my arms or legs or my abs look as strong as they really are. but here's the point: they ARE strong. and that makes them awesome, regardless. i might not have the perfect body but here's what i DO have:

i have strong arms that can push through "boy" pushups in boot camp class (stupid term...i'll show you "boy" pushups...). i have arms that embrace my family and friends & carry around my nephew when he comes to visit.

i have legs that have powered me through 4 full marathons, beach to bay with good friends every summer, and just last winter allowed me to run 13.1 miles alongside my cousin as she completed her very first half marathon. i have legs that hurt so good during spin class as we tackle hills. and i have legs that love to dance at parties and weddings.

i have abs that allow me to finish that last round of crunches in kickboxing long after everyone else has collapsed. i have a stomach that can hold plank, plow or boat pose for as long as my yoga teacher urges me to. and i have a stomach that someday i will marvel at as i watch it grow as (God-willing) it supports the life of my child.

one thing i'm slowly learning to value in my old age :) is confidence...not cockiness, but being comfortable in my own skin, workin' with what God gave me and being GRATEFUL for the gift of health. in a society where so much emphasis is placed on outside appearances & superficial achievements, i'm learning to value myself based on much more important things than pounds, good hair days or designer labels. i urge you to make a conscious effort to do the same.



yoga challenge update: going beautifully!

day 4: 60 min. yoga class @ the gym. this class is tough but i love it! we do this standing series that never fails to turn my legs to JELLO by the end.
day 5: 25 min. yoga "sculpt" @ home
day 6: 60 min. body flow @ the gym. body flow is a combination of tai chi, yoga and pilates...great workout for mind & body.
day 7: 20 min. "zen" workout @ home

it can be a challenge to squeeze in time for yoga every single day but i'm finding it's completely worth it!

motivated mondays

remember motivated mondays? oh yeah probably not because i wrote mayyyybe TWO? i'm really trying to get back into this blogging thing more often!

so anyway, i came across this album on fb by lululemon. can i just say how much i adore everything about lululemon. yoga/running/fashion/community service/positivity. what's not to love about this brand? oh yeah. the price tags! nonetheless...love love love them & i love how healthy, fit & happy their ambassadors are in this album. now if this isn't motivation, i don't know what is! happy monday - have a beautiful week.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=197030&id=33693527731

today, i'm thankful for...

weekend gratitude :)

saturday~
1. a horrible run...why am i thankful for a "bad" run? because it's those runs that make you stronger, build endurance, and remind you why your running in the first place. if every run was "easy" it would be boring and pointless. besides, God blessed me with some important reminders on that run. the cute little asian couple on top of the hill practicing tai chi as the sun rose reminded me to appreciate the beauty in the nature around me and to appreciate the strength of a healthy body. also, there was a walk/run to benefit parkinson's research on the trail. this made me think of & pray to grandma anna, made me thankful for my own health & made me grateful for all the people out early on a saturday morning to raise money for a cause that is close to my heart.
2. stephanie's shower - so good to see sweet stephanie & go to her final dress fitting! her dress is goooooooooooooooooooorgeous!
3. bbq with the in-laws. great food & great company. plus, jack got his second play date of the weekend runnin' around with uncle tucker and the neighbor's 1 year old yellow, beau.

sunday~

1. reverend nathan amooti came back to visit our church! cody & i love hearing him preach. this man is truly truly filled with the JOY of the lord. rev. amooti is a christian pastor in rwanda who brings hope and love to a nation that has been devastated by violence and hate. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Genocide
particularly, rev. amooti leads the "mango tree church" - aptly named because the congregation meets under a single mango tree on sundays - rain or shine.

he also envisioned & established the star school (http://www.starschoolsrwanda.org/) which provides education & hope for the youth of rwanda.


it is an incredible blessing to hear this man speak and share his faith and hope in our Lord. i'm hoping they'll post his sermon online soon so i can share.
2. getting to walk with grandpa in the evening when i went by to visit. it was great to see him smile :)
3. also got to visit with mom & dad for a short time too! thanks for the UT garden gnome, mom!

Motivated Mondays

if you were to ask me, "what's the best day to start a new diet/workout plan/make healthy choices?", my answer would always be, "TODAY". that being said, i've found that mondays are the most common days to get motivated...whether you're starting a new diet or exercise plan or just recommitting to getting "back on track". mondays mark the beginning of a new week and a new chance to make healthy changes in your life. so each monday, i'm going to try to post something that i find motivating...an article, a quote, a new recipe, you name it - just to start the week off on a healthy note.

below is an article from runner's world that i really liked. we are a society of instant gratification...want to check your email? it takes the press of one button on your iphone (or in my case, palm pre), want to watch your favorite tv show? don't worry it's DVR'd, fast food, express lanes at the grocery store, cliffs notes, 7 day detox...and while i enjoy some of these conveniences to their fullest (especially the email and DVR) i have to admit, it creates this expectation to get results fast with very little effort. this mentality is a key factor to losing motivation when it translates to our diets and exercise plans. i completely agree with mr. bingham that it's consistency that counts for our health in the long run. but then again, i've always been a fan of marathons over sprints...enjoy!



THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT
Small things we do add up to make us who we are as runners
By John Bingham
Image by Kim Rosen


PUBLISHED 12/21/2009

Editor's Note: After nearly 14 years at Runner's World, John Bingham—perhaps better known as "the Penguin"—has decided to move on. We're grateful for all he's done for RW, and we salute him for inspiring countless runners. John personifies the idea that people can change their lives through running. We wish him the very best in his new endeavors. Below is the final "No Need For Speed" column John wrote for Runner's World.

I am not a physicist. I am a writer, runner, and recovering bass trombonist. But that doesn't stop me from thinking that I understand physics. I've read about a concept called "The Butterfly Effect." The definition goes something like this: Small variations of the initial condition of a dynamic system may produce large variations in the long-term behavior of the system. It suggests that a butterfly flapping its wings in Hong Kong can eventually affect the weather in Kansas. Cool, huh?

It got me thinking about how small variations or changes in our lives can have unexpected long-term effects. I used to be an overweight smoker who didn't exercise, but small decisions over the years—like going for that very first run—have produced large variations in my long-term behavior, helping me become the 45-time marathoner I am today.

That transformation didn't happen overnight. It didn't happen after one run, though many of us expect just that. We think that every run needs to produce some immediate benefit. Whether it's supposed to make us faster or build our endurance, the effects of today's run are supposed to take effect, well, today.

I think that's why many of us like to sprint the last quarter mile of our daily run. We like the feeling that comes from a hard effort. It feels like we're accomplishing something. (By the way, that final sprint at the end of a run is a good way to pull a hamstring. Trust me on this.)

What I didn't know then was that there is a Butterfly Effect in running. It isn't the grand gestures and epic achievements that make us runners. Sure, running for 30 minutes nonstop is great. Qualifying for Boston is great. But that's not ultimately what makes you a runner.

It's the little things we do every day adding up over time that matter. It's not just running one morning; it's getting up morning after morning and running. It's not just eating better at one meal; it's making better decisions at every meal. It's the small decisions we make almost without thinking that make us runners.

The lesson from today's run may not be important right away. Learning you're more comfortable wearing a long-sleeve shirt even when it's not that cold out may lead to the best race of your life years later. Learning that you shouldn't have eaten the Firebrand Salsa on your nachos the night before a long run may mean a marathon PR somewhere down the road.

It may be a function of aging, or it may be a function of maturing as a runner, but knowing I don't have to squeeze significance out of today's run has made running much more satisfying. Today's run might just be a run. I take it in as a point of data on an elaborate matrix. I don't try to assign a meaning to it. I have faith that somewhere, sometime, it will matter.

I run now with enormous confidence that I am doing something good for myself. I run understanding that I may never know where the winds of some running epiphany started. And I run understanding that not understanding is all right.

This will be my final new column for Runner's World. I'm not retiring, just moving on. I'd like to thank Amby Burfoot for giving me the first opportunity to write and David Willey for continuing that vision. I'd like to thank a series of wonderful editors for giving life to my words. Finally, I'd like to thank each of you for the privilege of entering your lives each month. You have given me a gift that I can never repay.

Waddle on, friends. Forever.

i get to...

i "ran" across this article this morning in runners world...love it!

Running Motivation
FEELING LUCKY?
If you view your run as an opportunity, your attitude will get an adjustment.
By Kristin Armstrong
Image by Huan Tran


From the May 2010 issue of Runner's World


I don't know about you, but my to-do list often rivals the length of my Target receipt. I have activities mapped out from the time my alarm sounds: Down coffee, run, pack lunches, herd kids to school, walk the dog, write and be creative on command, drink more coffee, squeeze in yoga?, prep dinner, drive kids to activities, return to nest, cook, help with homework, eat, wash dishes, oversee hygiene, read stories, give tickles, say prayers, collapse (them, me). Repeat.

When I have a race on the calendar, I sprinkle in long runs and speedwork. By then my to-do list starts to look like a complicated recipe, my day broken down into cups, cups, tablespoons, and teaspoons. Sometimes I can feel the weight of my responsibilities pressing down on me, the way the X-ray apron rests heavy on my chest at the dentist.

I felt this way during a recent hard workout. I was chugging up a hill saying to myself, I have to get up this hill. I have to finish this workout. And then all of a sudden, a few people came to mind, some sick, others struggling, and I thought about how much they would love to have the opportunity to tackle this hill. I bet they wouldn't think they had to. In the clarity of thinking that comes with adversity, they would likely say they got to run up this hill. I wondered what might happen if I started to think that way.

I decided to try it. Instead of thinking or saying, I have to finish this project or I have to pick up my kids, I stopped myself and tweaked my language: I get to work on this assignment. I get to pick up my children from school. I get to help them with homework. I get to buy groceries and make dinner for my family. I get to do speedwork. I get to take Luke to football practice. I get to go on a long run. I get to bring cupcakes up to Grace's class. I get to fold clean clothes for my children. I get to listen to Bella sing in choir. I get to run this 5-K, 10-K, half-marathon, marathon...

At first it felt forced and silly, but after a few days, it became natural. I felt freer, more thoughtful, and more aware of why I do what I do. Perhaps I had become so encumbered with my to-dos that I forgot to be thankful for the opportunity to do them. I realized that it's possible to have a reawakening about the beauty in our lives, to understand that we are so damn lucky to be healthy, to have people to love and the ability to care for them.

Since then, I've shared the idea and gotten inspiring feedback. A friend told me she felt more joy while taking care of her kids. Another told me her running group spoke in I get to language for an entire run. A woman and her friends wore "I Get To Run" T-shirts on race day. A woman running the Turkey Trot in Santa Barbara on Thanksgiving morning came up to me and said, "What a beautiful day. Aren't we lucky we get to run?"

Gratitude is contagious. It's the smallest thing, but it has the power of something big. It's a shift in perspective that can open your head and your heart. And if you want, you get to try it.



kristin armstrong rocks my socks. she's incredibly inspiring...so strong and positive. the fact that she's a runner and an austinite? well that's just icing on the cake! i could read her blog for hours.

http://milemarkers.runnersworld.com/





i distinctly remember that feeling of "i'm lucky i get to run" when i ran the capital 10k a couple years ago. after a few years of running fulls, this race was a nice change of pace (literally). cody and i had driven up to austin early that morning. it had rained all night and the streets were wet...it even rained a little on the race but it was a cool refreshing april shower. i remember running up congress with a goofy grin on my face because i was just so genuinely happy to be there. a beautiful morning in my favorite town doing my favorite thing. i was overwhelmed with gratitude and joy. this article reminded me to hold on to that feeling. here's a picture from that race :)













run happy,
kerith