Post Baby Running Plans

So now that baby Marron's arrival is getting closer, I am really itching to run. Honestly, I have been itching to run since March, but trying to listen to my body and take the best care of it possible. Sometimes that is hard. While out walking this week I was really tempted to run for a bit, then I remembered how much it would hurt and kept walking.

What I am doing is looking at fall races and trying to determine what is realistic and what is a bit crazy. Part of my problem is that don't know what birth and recovery will be like. I know that officially it is at least 6 weeks for a vaginal delivery and 8 weeks for a cesarian section. That said there are a lot of variables to both. I know women who felt fine 3 weeks after a vaginal delivery and others who were still pretty sore 12 weeks after a cesarian. The goal is to get baby out naturally and hope for a speedy recovery, but I only have so much control over that.

I have pretty much decided that the Disney Princess Half Marathon at the end of February of next year is going to be my goal race. It is expensive, but it is local and gives me about 8 months to get back into racing form. I am comfortable that I can do that.

The Celebration Half Marathon, Lady Track Shack 5k and Winter Park road race are all possible spring races, but those shouldn't be a problem either.

I am also planning on doing the U Can Finish 5 Miler at UCF on October 13 of this year. I ran this race last year and it was a lot of fun. Running around the UCF campus will never get old, especially since I never did it when I was a student. I also figure I can walk some of the race or drop down to the 2 mile race if I really have to.

Here is where things get a little crazy. I would really like to do the Space Coast Half Marathon. It is December 1. That is about 18 weeks after the baby is due and about 12 weeks after I would likely "officially" been released for exercise. If I had some sort of base, this would not concern me, but at that point it will have been about 6 months since my last run and I will have a newborn to take care of.

Is running the Space Coast Half too crazy? Any tips for getting back to running once the baby is born?

Pregnancy Update - 33 Weeks

I can't believe that Baby Marron is going to be here in 7 weeks (plus or minus a bit). I really think that time has picked up during this last trimester. (Remind me I said that in a few weeks.) Right now it really feels like the weeks are just flying by at this point.

Baby bump is getting big!

Part of it is that we have been incredibly busy. We selected a Doula and we wrapped up our birthing and baby care classes at the hospital. My parents were in town for Memorial Day weekend and hit up both Deleon Springs State Park and Gatorland while they were here. I am also trying to get things at work ready for maternity leave. For a lot of reasons, I need to get everything together and ready before July 4th.

The baby is about the size of a pineapple. At about 4 pounds and 17 inches (source). There are days when it feels like he or she is starting to run out of space. My belly is also getting lumpyer as various baby parts stick out more and more. I am still measuring big, but that is nothing new and baby seems to be a pretty normal size. I have another ultrasound to check on growth next week.

Other than just feeling big, I am feeling pretty good. I have been sleeping relatively well and that makes a huge difference. I still can't seem to get enough sleep, but that has been the case since November. My hands and feet are swelling a bit and I think I may have developed pregnancy related carpel tunnel, because my wrists have been aching and tingly. My husband also tells me I have been snoring more, but I think part of that is the cold I have been battling.

As for activity, I have been doing alright. I have been walking and doing some prenatal yoga. A little more activity wouldn't hurt, but I am normally pretty active on the days I don't have an official workout. 

I feel like I have been slacking on the baby prep lately. Entertaining guests, celebrating birthdays and taking care of other things have taken priority. I need to think about washing some clothes and where we are going to put the baby's stuff until we move. I am having a local baby shower in a couple weeks, so I may just wait until after that to figure out what to wash and put away. 

I am getting excited about meeting this baby!

Hunting Houses

When my husband and I moved back to Orlando last summer, we knew that we were back for good and really wanted to put down some roots. Unfortunately, the timing of the move coupled with my husband starting out with a non-permenant position meant renting for a while was the only thing that made sense. That said we spent a lot of time stalking Zillow looking at houses.

Fast forward about 6 months. We have both settled into great permanent positions. We are pregnant and through the first trimester. We have about 6 months left on our lease. And housing prices are starting to go up slowly. It is time to start really looking at purchasing a home.

We started our search with a real estate agent. She was really great and set up some searches based on our desired location and other things we were looking for in a house. In addition to the house, we wanted to be close or close-ish to work, family and other places we frequent. I also needed a neighborhood where I would feel safe running with a stroller in the dark. We also began examining the schools in the areas we liked, and slowly our geographic search got even smaller.

After looking at what was really on the market and not just what was showing up on Zillow, we were a bit disappointed. First there were far fewer houses on the market than it appeared. Second, many of the houses needed more work than we wanted to do before they would be move in ready. While I am not really against renovations, I would rather spend my time with our new baby than ripping out a kitchen. So we felt like we were back at square one.

In the area we were looking, most of the land had been developed, but there were a couple of builders still working on new houses in the area. We had spoken with one right after we moved down, but had kind of written off the idea of building. After looking at what was on the market, we figured we would take one more look at building and go from there. One saturday morning we headed to the model to take a look at ask some questions. It was just supposed to be a short trip...famous last words. We spent several hours there on Saturday and even longer on Sunday. By the end of the weekend we were under contract for our very own new house.

We are a couple of months out from that weekend and I am still super excited about the house. It is everything we wanted and we got to choose the things that were important to us.

I think we may be a little nuts, because baby will be about 10 weeks old when we move, but I can't wait to be in our very own home. This is also why we won't have a nursery right away. We plan on the baby sleeping in our room for a while anyway.

Any tips for moving with a little one? Have you ever built a house? What is the best thing about moving to a new home?

Pregnancy Update - 31 Weeks

Baby bump is getting big

Baby Marron and I have now made it to 31 weeks. There is a part of me that feels like this time has flown by and there is a part of me that feels like it has been forever since I got that first positive test back in November. I do feel like time has picked up these past few weeks. Life has been crazy and I have been ridiculously tired, hence my lack of recent posts.

Right now the baby is about the size of a pineapple. It is between 15.2 and 16.9 inches long and weighs between 2.5 and 3.8 pounds (source). My best guess is that this baby is on the higher end of those measurements. Even though my weight gain has been right were my doctor wanted it, I have been measuring big for weeks now. So big that we had an additional ultrasound to check on baby's size. It was in the 58th percentile, so a little big, but not too bad.

Over the past few weeks we also had a 3D ultrasound and got a sneak peak at what this little one may look like. It is amazing how much detail they can pick up on. At the time of the ultrasound, the baby was resting it's head on the placenta and had one foot right up next to it's head. It doesn't look very comfortable to me, but baby slept through the whole thing, so it must not be too uncomfortable. 

I can't wait to met this little one

We are still staying strong on waiting to find out baby's gender. After going back and forth for a while, we decided we might as well wait. It is driving some of our family members crazy, which I actually find slightly amusing. Everyone has been guessing what they think the baby will be. Our 4 year-old niece was worried that we were going to have a baby kangaroo, but I assured her that it would be a boy or girl baby and not a kangaroo baby.

I am still feeling pretty good. I am starting to get more and more uncomfortable, and some days are better than others. Too much sitting, standing or laying and I get really achy, so I try and move around a lot. Prenatal yoga has also been a lifesaver. My hormones are causing me to feel more and more wacky. This is compounded when I am tired, and it doesn't take much for me to get overtired. There were a few times in the past week or so where I would go from laughing hysterically to crying at pretty much nothing. It makes me feel a bit crazy.

We are slowly starting to get ready for the baby to come. Some of the items from the baby shower have been put together. We are also taking some classes on birth, infant care and breastfeeding from our hospital. I am trying to figure out what we really have to get done and what can wait.

I can't believe there are only about 9 weeks left until I get to meet this little one. Excitement and anxiety often go hand in hand these days.

St. Augustine Babymoon

Last weekend my husband and I headed to St. Augustine for our babymoon. I actually really don't like the term and do not think that a babymoon is necessary by any stretch of the imagination. That said, it has been a crazy year and the last time we got a chance to get away was in Las Vegas almost a year ago. It was time for a few days to disconnect and get a way from reality.

We left Orlando Saturday afternoon after I wrapped up some work. After a quick lunch in Daytona, we got to our bed and breakfast in St. Augustine beach. It was raining and I was tired so we took a quick nap. Then we headed down to the beach which looked like this.

The beach looked really mean.

After the beach we went to the historic district to walk around and grab some dinner. The historic district is filled with shops and cafes and other fun things. At points it is a little touristy, but there is also a lot of history and we enjoy visiting. Saturday night we had dinner at the Columbia restaurant. The food was delicious and the service was great. I should have taken some pictures of the food, but I forgot. After dinner we walked around for a bit and picked up a some treats to take back to the hotel. Between the lightning and receiving several weather service alerts, we decided to head back to the hotel.

Time to stop walking around in the lightening

Sunday started with a delicious breakfast at the B&B and a walk on the beach. The sun was finally starting to peak out from behind all the clouds and it wasn't raining. 

Things had calmed down a bit.

Then we went back to the historic district for mass at the cathedral. Mass at the cathedral is always beautiful and we had a good priest. We grabbed a quick lunch after church and then headed back to the hotel. The water was chilly, so I only went in a little bit, but my husband went in much further. I am such a wuss. It was a beautiful day to sit on the beach and just relax. The sand didn't scorch your feet and it was warm, but you didn't feel like you were baking. We also spent some time watching the surfers. I would really like to learn how to surf.

It was too cold to go any further

That evening we went back into town for dinner at Casa Maya. This is a cozy little restaurant in what used to be an old house. After dinner, we walked along the waterfront and the grounds of the fort. It was a beautiful night and so fun to see all the boats in the harbor.

Bridge of Lions

The fort

Cannon chair

Monday started off with a walk along the beach. The sun was shining and the waves had calmed down a ton since Saturday. 

The beach looked much more friendly

We then headed into town and grabbed lunch at Ned's Southside Kitchen. This place is great because it is diner, but the food is awesome and there is a ton of variety. After lunch we toured the campus of Flagler college. The main part of the college is the Ponce de Leon hotel built by Henry Flagler in the 1880s. The building is beautiful and it is very cool how well things have been preserved.

The Flagler College grounds.

Not your average college cafeteria.

After the tour we headed home and back to reality. At the end of the weekend we were refreshed and relaxed. It was a fun, relaxing and much needed getaway. All last week I was looking for the beach outside my front door, but no such luck there.

It had been about 3 years since we had visited St. Augustine and it was nice to go back. We had gotten engaged there in 2008, so it will always be a special place for us.

What is your favorite Florida destination? Did you take a babymoon?

Baby Update - 28 Weeks

I think we are going to
have a giant baby

Baby and I have now made it to the third trimester. Another 12 weeks or so and I should get to meet this sweet little one. Right now the baby is about the size of a Chinese cabbage or an eggplant depending on which site I look at. It only weighs a little over 2 pounds, but feels bigger.

Baby is getting more and more active. There are times when it is moving so much it is hard to concentrate. I also think it is also starting to feel a little squished. In addition to lots of kicks and punches, there are times when it feels like the baby is trying to stretch out or roll over. It is not exactly painful, but not really pleasant either. I am interested to see how it feels as baby gets even bigger.

I am starting to feel a little more prepared for the baby to get here. Thanks to our baby shower a couple of weeks ago, we have most of the necessities. I think the only critical things we need are some diapers and figuring out the breast pump thing. While we have the stuff, it does not mean there is any order to it. Right now it looks like a baby store exploded in our guest bedroom.

Physically, I am still feeling pretty good. I have some muscle aches and pains, but during the day it is not that different than when I was doing a lot of training. At night, those muscle aches are a lot more troublesome. Laying down doesn't feel good after a while, so I often wake up to go to the bathroom and then have a hard time getting comfortable again. This means that my sleep has not been spectacular.

I am also starting to feel a lot bigger. Sometimes it feels like my belly grows daily. I don't really think that is the case, but it feels like it. Rolling over is getting harder and the floor is getting further and further away. The good thing about this is I am looking more pregnant than chubby now. Over the weekend we ran into someone we hadn't seen in a while and they joked that I brought the baby with this time.

I am walking a lot and I need to start swimming again. I also started prenatal yoga a few weeks ago and that seems to help some with the aches and pains. 

Emotionally, I am all over the place. Most days I am excited and can't wait to be a mom and the baby to get here, but somedays I feel overwhelmed by all the things I need to learn and figure out. I know that normal will be different, but I wish I had a better grasp on exactly how different it will be. There is also the fear that I am not going to be good at being a mom.

I have signed up for some birthing and infant care classes through my hospital to help me gain some confidence. Breastfeeding and CPR are also on the list to take before baby gets here. I am also trying to enjoy and savor these next few months.

This weekend we are headed to St. Augustine for a short baby moon. I actually really hate that term, but do like the idea of getting away for some one on one couple time before the baby gets here. It has been a while since we had a vacation and I know it will be a while before we get the opportunity again.

Anything else I should be doing right now? Any baby-safe tips to not feel so achy?

April Showers Bring July Babies

Okay, so that may not be how it normally goes, but that is how it goes for me. Baby Marron and I took a trip to my hometown in Wisconsin this weekend, and were showered by our friends and family in the area. 

I grew up in Wisconsin and most of my family still lives there. This means that when something big happens like getting married or having a baby, I normally end up with two events. It is nice because I get to celebrate with people who I may not otherwise see. It was a little early for a shower—I am only 26 weeks—but I am trying to avoid traveling in the third trimester if at all possible. 

My Sister, Mom and Friend Christine who did an
amazing job with the shower.

The shower for baby Marron was Saturday afternoon at a new reception hall that just opened called Circa on 7th. They renovated an old building and turned it into an amazing space. I can say that it is unlike anything else in the area, and that is a very good thing. For the shower lunch we had fruit salad, a green salad with citrus and a variety of sandwiches. The food was really tasty. 

Then there was dessert. Cake, two types of cookies and chocolate covered strawberries were all on the dessert table. You know it is a function in my family when there are as many dessert options as food options. I loved the chocolate covered strawberries, but the baby pinwheel cookies with pink, blue, yellow and green swirls were the most adorable things ever. They were tasty too. 

So many yummy things!

Baby Marron also received a lot of wonderful gifts. We now have a car seat, a stroller, a pack and play and a highchair as well as a number of smaller items and clothes. He or she will also have books to read every night because guests were asked to bring a book with a message instead of a card. We got lots of great books and I am so excited to read to the baby. I am so thankful that everyone could attend and that we are blessed to have so many wonderful people in our lives. 

So many lovely gifts including some beautiful handmade blankets.

The rest of the weekend was spent catching up with friends and family. It will probably be a while before I get back there, but I can’t wait to introduce the baby to everyone. The only bad thing about the weekend was that I had an even harder time sleeping, since I wasn’t in my own bed. Oh well, it is a small price to pay so I can see some of the people who mean the most to me. 

As much as I try, words really do not convey how thankful I am to everyone who helped out and came to my shower this weekend. Now back to the sunshine and warm weather.