maternity monday: 27 weeks

On my way to teach bootcamp.

27 weeks!!!! Eek!!

DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS: I had one appointment this month. Things went smoothly! The doctor said I had only gained 2 pounds since my last appointment 4 weeks ago. My blood pressure was great. I talked to her about some of my varicose veins that are bugging me. Those darned things are seriously the worst. She gave me my glucose drink so I will have it to drink it before my next appointment. Out of the three different OB/GYN offices I have been to since I started having kids, this is the first one to send home the glucose drink. I actually thought to myself that this could be a bad idea because I actually LOVE those drinks! I have had the lemon/lime, the orange, and the fruit punch flavors. And I pound them down in like 2 minutes flat. To me they just taste like flat soda pop. : ) I must have a sweet tooth, eh?

My doc brought up braxton-hicks contractions, and I have been having them quite a bit lately, so it was good to talk to her about them. I always just assume that I am dehydrated when I have them, so I try to drink more water. She said that is very likely, so to drink up lots of water, but she also said since this is my fourth, that my body is just doing what it finds natural in this state. Since it has done it a few times before, things are loosening up and prepping earlier because it knows the routine!

CRAVINGS: No particular cravings, well, I guess I could possibly say that I have had a hankering for Diet Coke lately. : ) I try to only treat myself to one a week.

SICKNESS: Just the usual- headaches off and on, and varicose vein irritations.

WEIGHT GAIN: Ok, so my new scale I bought just a year ago is broken. It will give a different weight every time! I finally went to Wal-mart today to get a new one, but it is a piece of crap too, dang it! I have to take it back because my husband and I both tried to zero it out, but it just won't stay. I would say I am somewhere between 15 and 20 pounds total at this point. I am curious to know. I know that weight gain during pregnancy is natural, but I do like to keep track of my weight gain. It makes it easier to keep the gain under control and keep me and baby healthy and safe.

EXERCISE: Bootcamp, elliptical, walking/running (but not as much*), the firm dvd, stationary bike, weight machines, free weights. I am still teaching bootcamp twice a week at church, but I am not always able to do the exercises, so I modify for myself. I feel healthy and strong though, and I know it is because I am staying active and eating mindfully. I try to exercise at least 4 times a week. I feel like-and I know- that exercise helps with my varicose veins, as well as my emotions. 

*I finally bought a maternity belt tonight!!! I am excited to get it to see if it helps with my running. I really want to run more but I honestly cannot. I feel like there is a bowling ball on my bladder and it just does not allow me to run for more than a half a mile at a time.

EMOTIONS: Emotions? Welp, they are just pregnant and they know it. : ) 

BABY: She is moving like crazy!! My tummy is always moving around. It is so funny to see. : ) The boys love, love, LOVE to feel her move. Their eyes light up so much to realize that there really is a baby in there! : ) I have mentioned how her heart rate is usually at 160, but at this last appointment, it was at what they called, "a healthy 138." She kicks a LOT on my upper right side and lower left. So, I kind of feel like she is diagonal at this point. 

RANDOM: Sleep is so hit and miss lately. I have tried sleeping with more pillows to see if that helps me get more comfortable. I am a tummy sleeper, so it is always hard to adjust to having to sleep on my side. But it honestly is like I am just wide awake. Naps aren't very good lately either. I usually will wake up shortly after I fall asleep. My mind is super awake but my body is still tired. Sooo, it kinda stinks.

I bought two new pairs of maternity bottoms the other day... capris and bermuda shorts. And can I say I have not felt more human in a while? It was a miracle.

Actually, I haven't felt "skinny" haha, I just have had days I feel normal, and then the days like a busted can of biscuits. It was definately time to whip out some maternity pants. I usually lounge around/stay at home in my regular workout capris or shorts. For when I go out though, I was trying to stay in my non-maternity "bigger-sized" jean capris (using the rubber-band trick) as long as possible. It is like a game I play with myself. I very uncomfortable and stupid game. Maternity clothes were created for a reason. Now I can breathe AND I don't have to worry about my butt hanging out!!! : ) I love maternity pants! Even when the crotch area is so baggy and awkward!

This is my first pregnancy I have experienced chloasma on my face. Within the last few weeks I have developed a darker pigmentation on the left side of my upper lip. I look fantastic with half a mustache! But actually, it isn't super bad yet. I am just trying to make sure to keep lathering up with sunblock and I do use a concealer on it to try to cover it up a little bit.

Last Thursday was my golden-pregnancy birthday! I turned 26 when I was 26 weeks! The kids and I went to the city pool in the morning, and then we just hung out at home. Ryan was out of town for a few days before, so the best present was getting him home on my birthday. We went out on a date to dinner to Olive Garden and to a movie. Very creative. ; )

NAME GAME: In the past, we haven't decided for sure on a name until we meet our little bundle, but we usually have around 3-5 that are marinating when we arrive at the hospital. With this lil gal, I am having the hardest time picking out ANY that I like. Ryan is set on Audrey being her first name. I do think it is pretty, I just don't know if it is the name. Maybe! But for now, the search must continue!

cousins, boats, and 26 weeks

Mackenzie loves to climb up to Tucker's top bunk bed. These two were getting some morning snuggles in.  :-)

I babysat two of my nieces and two of my nephews the other day. After playing outside in the heat, they all chilled a little while on the couch for a little PBS on the boob tube. :-) 

Mackenzie and Cole were decorating their newly discovered boat with markers. Except when I looked in, I found out Mackenzie was actually decorating herself.

We participate in the local library summer reading program for kids. With their fun card, they were able to get free corn dogs at sonic. Woop woop!

Ryan made some of his famous cookies and we delivered some to a few friends and family. Mackenzie went in a diaper, shirt, and her favorite boots. She looked awesome in her car seat because her shirt rolled up over her belly and she looked like a country Gus Gus from Cinderella. :-)  I can't get the picture to copy on my tablet, so if you need an image of Gus Gus, look here. :-) 

Tucker made this Lego boat/creation for Ryan when he was out of town. Tucker was really missing his daddy. Tuck and Cole are superrrrr into logos right now, and I honestly love it!

I am 26 weeks now! I'll do a maternity Monday post this Monday, hopefully from my laptop! My awesome friend's hubby is going to look at it tomorrow to see if he can fix it. Please pray for me that I don't lose the pictures and videos I had not saved yet to my  external hard drive! It will just break my lil heart if I lose them. Thank goodness I post pictures fairly often on Facebook. But still, the videos of my sweet babies!!! Ah! I will cry if they are gone forever. Lesson be learned.

Bootcamp 2- the wobbly walker workout :-)

So the majority of us couldn't walk for days after this workout. That is always a good sign. :-)

Station 1- A. Kettle bell lateral lunge and pass through

                  B. Cross body mountain climbers

Station 2- A. Stacked feet push-up

                  B. Stability lunge

Station 3- A. Shoulder press combination

                  B. Plie jump squat

Station 4- A. Bicep curl combination

                  B. Reverse lunge with front kick

Station 5- A. Dead lift to high pull (front row)

                  B. Bent lateral arm raise

Station 6- A. Squat with lateral leg raises

                  B. Bent rotating triceps kickback

Perform each exercise 50 seconds long trying to get in as many repetitions-with good form- as possible(AMRAP), followed by 10 seconds of rest. At each station, alternate between the A and B exercise, until you have done three sets of each. So it will look like this,

Example:

Station 1- A B A B A B, then 10 seconds to move to next station.
Station 2- A B A B A B
Station 3- A B A B A B
Ect.

After we went through three stations, we took a minute break for water/bathroom breaks. After we completed all six stations, we went through each station once more, only performing each exercise one 50 second round.

Example:

Station 1- A B
Station 2- A B
Station 3- A B
Ect.

Look up online for examples of exercises you don't know how to do, or feel free to ask me via leaving a comment or emailing me.

Enjoy! Try this workout and tell me how you like it! :-) 

motherly instincts and ice cream trucks

I found Mackenzie quietly feeding her baby doll her peaches the other day. I thought it was the sweetest thing ever, especially because she was so proud of herself!

I wish feeding babies was that easy! Here, I am just going to pile up some food on you. It should absorb in a few minutes! Take luck!

The ice cream truck finally drove through our neighborhood two weeks ago. I was starting to wonder about that blessed vehicle. The kids all loved it!!! I have such fun memories when I was little of getting treats from the ice cream truck. I am excited for them to have the same. :-) 

maternity tuesday: 24 weeks

Holy crap! We are more than half way to meeting baby girl! We just got back from our vacation to Maine, so now I need to get my laptop fixed! This post will be short and sweet since I hate typing on my tablet. :-) 

20 weeks

 21 weeks

22 weeks was skipped. :-)  ain't nobody got time for that!

23 weeks

 24 weeks

DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS: One appointment this last month. Baby girl's heart rate is still a steady 160! Every time it has been 160. Baby is measuring right on! My blood pressure was 100/60. Everything was great! I will touch on weight gain below.

CRAVINGS: just food in general. :-). I like it.

SICKNESS: TIRED as all get out!!! My varicose veins in my lower legs are officially in full bloom again. They always get bad the second half of my pregnancies. It makes running unbearable at times, and even walking can be very uncomfortable.

WEIGHT GAIN: so my doctor kind of got on my case at my last appointment because from their records, I gained 7 pounds in the last month. She said she just didn't want me to get ahead of myself with the weight gain. I was actually stunned because I weigh myself almost daily, and I know that from my records, I had not gained 7 pounds that month. She said at 22 weeks I was up a total of 15 pounds, when according to my almost daily morning nude weigh-ins I do at home, I was up only 11 or 12. Anyway, it made me grumpy for the next day and a half even thought I knew I shouldn't let it bother me. I have NEVER had my doctor talk to me about weight before. But I know how active I am, and what I eat, and she doesn't. I know I am healthy and that I am providing the best environment for my baby girl to grow and develop. As of today, at 24 weeks, I am up 14-15 pounds total.

EXERCISE: the usual- walking/running intervals, boot camp, the firm DVD, stationary bike, elliptical, row machine, strength training with free weights and weight machines. I really want to start swimming laps at the pool, but I don't want to kill my hair. Any chlorine hair tips? Just channel my inner Phelps and wear a cap?

EMOTIONS: a little bit more like normal. I cry very easily though,  which isn't usually like me.

BABY: feeling her move around is the best!! Ryan has a name he is pretty set on, but I am not sure about it yet. There aren't any names I like yet!

RANDOM: my memory is down the toilet for sure! I am kind of waddling now, which I feel like is happening really early this time. I have been having braxton hicks contractions a lot, which also makes running and rowing uncomfortable as well. I need to drink more! I had swollen feet and lower legs while we traveled during vacation. That has never really happened before. I felt like my calves were going to burst!

*I can't believe I am 24 weeks already!!! She will be here before I know it and I am so excited!!