I've been spoiled a bit lately.
It started on Wednesday when my staff surprised me with a "book shower". I know that we had a "fun lunch" with ice cream and trivia planned since we're finally at that slow time of the summer, but I didn't know that my amazing colleague who I admire and adore had suggested that everyone help us celebrate the upcoming arrival of our second baby with new books for both Ella and the baby. Let's just say that we were so spoiled with new toddler and baby books that we had to move a giant stack of board books from our main bookshelf in our living room to the nursery.
On the 4th of July, we were spoiled with front-row seats to the best fireworks show in town when we were invited to celebrate at our friends' home, which is right at the bottom of "A Mountain", from where they are let off. This was the first time that Ella was up late enough for fireworks, and she loved them (and repeatedly told us that the gold was her favorite color to see).
On Friday, my husband stayed home and got our carpets cleaned. We think (and hope and pray!) that Ella is done with potty training accidents, and we wanted them to be nice and clean for the new baby (not that she'll be crawling anytime soon, but it's still nice to have them done). My dad then came back into town after his Grand Canyon adventure, and watched Ella that evening while my husband and I stayed at one of the local resorts in town. We had an amazing dinner with grown-up conversation, and breakfast-in-bed room service the next morning. I then indulged in my first pregnancy massage, and left feeling more relaxed than I have in a very, very long time.
We spent just the one night away, but were spoiled by my dad entertaining Ella (and I'm sure that she entertained him as well). I think that we usually do a pretty good job of keeping Ella engaged around the house on a regular basis, even when we have chores and projects to do, but she sure loved all the undivided attention from her Boppy. He also brought down two giant bags of baby clothes from my sister-in-law. Most of the clothes were items that Ella had worn and outgrown, and we had sent on to my niece (who is four months younger than Ella). But she also threw in a lot of my niece's old clothes as well, so we are fully stocked for the next year! Yes, they are mostly previously-worn hand-me-downs, but they grow so quickly at this stage that they don't really have time to "wear out" anything, and most items still look brand new!
Now I'm back at work, and I guess I'm still a little bit spoiled to have this slow part of the summer coincide with the end of my pregnancy when I'm trying to get everything ready for my maternity leave. I still feel a little bit bad that I'll be out during our peak time of the year, but I'm hoping to do the bulk of the prep-work before I leave. My plan is to work all the way up until the baby comes (my office is just down the street from the University hospital, where the baby will be born, so I joke that I'll just waddle my way over there once labor starts).
Today's blessing was Ella's sensitivity and compassion after we said "goodbye" to my dad. We stopped by to get donuts on our way to daycare and his way out of town, and then went our separate ways. After hugging him and saying "goodbye", Ella and I hit the road and talked about how we were going to miss him. I started tearing up a bit, just thinking about how much I appreciate and love him, and Ella--from her carseat--suggested that I squeeze myself real tight to make me feel better, and demonstrated for me. And she was right. I'm so blessed to not only have my dad, but to also have my sweet girl.
Monday, July 8, 2013
Monday, July 1, 2013
I'd Be Okay...
I'd be okay with having a baby this month.
Ultimately, I want her to come when she's good and ready, in God's perfect timing.
Our estimated due date at our first appointment (when I found out I was nearly 9 weeks pregnant instead of barely 6 weeks, as I was expecting) was August 8th. I measured with an August 6th due date at our 12 week scan. I've been told that second (and third, and fourth, etc.) babies tend to come a little bit earlier, but we'll see.
Really, I'm being selfish in hoping that she comes a tiny bit early (and by "tiny bit early", I mean "a week"--I earnestly pray that she make it to the "full term" mark of at least 37 weeks). In regards to work, my timing with Ella was "perfect"--I was here for the first week of classes and made it all the way through our selection process (I "shadowed" another staff member that semester, and then took on the responsibility of coordinating this huge project the next semester). But I'm about two months earlier with this baby, so I'm missing both of those work commitments. I totally trust my team, and I especially trust my amazing colleague who will coordinate the selection process this semester while I'm out, but I still kind of need to get back by mid-October. If the baby comes on her due date, that really only gives me 9 full weeks at home with her (I would probably try to do some sort of "flexible schedule" for another week or two, if that's the case...and if my supervisors agree).
My other reason for wanting her to come just a tiny bit early is even sillier. In the same way that we chose to be induced on September 30th with Ella (I was 40+ weeks) so that she could have a sapphire birthstone instead of an opal, I'm secretly hoping that this baby will luck out with a July ruby instead of August peridot. (Really, who wants peridot?!) I know--it's a totally crazy way of thinking. But I'm already envisioning some piece of jewelry with sapphires, rubies, and perhaps my own amethyst...
That all being said, I want to repeat that I recognize that these are really silly reasons to want my baby to come a tiny bit early. I've witnessed friends agonize over premature babies, and I have prayed over them myself. Like I said, ultimately, want her to come when she's good and ready, and in God's perfect timing.
I was blessed yesterday to have a late lunch with my brother. I mentioned that my dad has been in Arizona, and he and my brother will hike the Grand Canyon later this week. My brother flew in to Phoenix, so my husband and I made the 1-1/2 hour trip up with my dad (in separate cars) to pick him up from the airport and grab a quick lunch. It was a lot of driving for such a short visit, but it was worth it since he was that close. It's also a blessing to have such a good air conditioner in our car, because it was definitely warm!
Ultimately, I want her to come when she's good and ready, in God's perfect timing.
Our estimated due date at our first appointment (when I found out I was nearly 9 weeks pregnant instead of barely 6 weeks, as I was expecting) was August 8th. I measured with an August 6th due date at our 12 week scan. I've been told that second (and third, and fourth, etc.) babies tend to come a little bit earlier, but we'll see.
Really, I'm being selfish in hoping that she comes a tiny bit early (and by "tiny bit early", I mean "a week"--I earnestly pray that she make it to the "full term" mark of at least 37 weeks). In regards to work, my timing with Ella was "perfect"--I was here for the first week of classes and made it all the way through our selection process (I "shadowed" another staff member that semester, and then took on the responsibility of coordinating this huge project the next semester). But I'm about two months earlier with this baby, so I'm missing both of those work commitments. I totally trust my team, and I especially trust my amazing colleague who will coordinate the selection process this semester while I'm out, but I still kind of need to get back by mid-October. If the baby comes on her due date, that really only gives me 9 full weeks at home with her (I would probably try to do some sort of "flexible schedule" for another week or two, if that's the case...and if my supervisors agree).
My other reason for wanting her to come just a tiny bit early is even sillier. In the same way that we chose to be induced on September 30th with Ella (I was 40+ weeks) so that she could have a sapphire birthstone instead of an opal, I'm secretly hoping that this baby will luck out with a July ruby instead of August peridot. (Really, who wants peridot?!) I know--it's a totally crazy way of thinking. But I'm already envisioning some piece of jewelry with sapphires, rubies, and perhaps my own amethyst...
That all being said, I want to repeat that I recognize that these are really silly reasons to want my baby to come a tiny bit early. I've witnessed friends agonize over premature babies, and I have prayed over them myself. Like I said, ultimately, want her to come when she's good and ready, and in God's perfect timing.
I was blessed yesterday to have a late lunch with my brother. I mentioned that my dad has been in Arizona, and he and my brother will hike the Grand Canyon later this week. My brother flew in to Phoenix, so my husband and I made the 1-1/2 hour trip up with my dad (in separate cars) to pick him up from the airport and grab a quick lunch. It was a lot of driving for such a short visit, but it was worth it since he was that close. It's also a blessing to have such a good air conditioner in our car, because it was definitely warm!
Saturday, June 29, 2013
"Are You About to Pop Soon?"
One of our male student workers apparently hasn't had a lot of mentoring in how to speak to pregnant women, because he asked me "Are you about to pop soon?" this week. It was said in such an innocent and silly way that I just had to laugh. He spent the rest of the week apologizing, and I gave him some friendly suggestions of how to better inquire of those of us who are with child (and permission to ask again in those exact words if he sees me again in August when I truly should be "about to pop").
But I must look really pregnant these days (sorry, I don't have any pictures), because I caught my supervisor half-smiling/half-laughing (kindly, of course) as she observed me talking to another colleague outside her office. When I asked, she said that I look really pregnant. I think that perhaps my belly was peaking out from below my shirt. Since I'm all torso, this Baby Girl has plenty of room to move around (and she's quite a wiggler!), and leaves me feeling rather comfortable (no heartburn ever with Ella, and not so far with this pregnancy either). But I do struggle to find clothes that will leave me totally covered.
I've also had plenty of people tell me--for a couple of weeks now--that it looks like she's dropped. While my doctor confirmed that she is indeed head-down, I know that she hasn't truly "dropped" into my pelvic area. Again, the long torso just gives that illusion, but the truth is, I just seem to carry low. This also, apparently, goes against the old wives tale that it will be a boy if you are carrying low.
I don't "feel" like I'm that big, but I do know that I now weigh more--with six weeks to go--than I did when I gave birth to Ella. I admit--I was about five pounds heavier at the time of conception, and I have indulged in ice cream and chocolate-covered-you-name-it throughout this pregnancy (though I've held myself to to the rule that I can only eat ice cream on days when I run...hence another reason why I keep running). So perhaps I do truly look like I'm about to pop, in comparison to my previous pregnancy.
Yesterday's blessing was the chance to go out to dinner with my dad. He is in town for part of his sabbatical, and has been able to meet up with us from time to time. We got to enjoy Ella's last day of swim lessons (she has come so far!), and finished the evening with frozen yogurt (yes, I ran yesterday morning...before it hit triple digits). My family lives in California, and while I'm perfectly fine with living far away from them, it is still always such a blessing to be able to spend time with them. We'll see him again tomorrow for church, and then he'll hike the Grand Canyon, and then return to stay with us for a few days next weekend.
But I must look really pregnant these days (sorry, I don't have any pictures), because I caught my supervisor half-smiling/half-laughing (kindly, of course) as she observed me talking to another colleague outside her office. When I asked, she said that I look really pregnant. I think that perhaps my belly was peaking out from below my shirt. Since I'm all torso, this Baby Girl has plenty of room to move around (and she's quite a wiggler!), and leaves me feeling rather comfortable (no heartburn ever with Ella, and not so far with this pregnancy either). But I do struggle to find clothes that will leave me totally covered.
I've also had plenty of people tell me--for a couple of weeks now--that it looks like she's dropped. While my doctor confirmed that she is indeed head-down, I know that she hasn't truly "dropped" into my pelvic area. Again, the long torso just gives that illusion, but the truth is, I just seem to carry low. This also, apparently, goes against the old wives tale that it will be a boy if you are carrying low.
I don't "feel" like I'm that big, but I do know that I now weigh more--with six weeks to go--than I did when I gave birth to Ella. I admit--I was about five pounds heavier at the time of conception, and I have indulged in ice cream and chocolate-covered-you-name-it throughout this pregnancy (though I've held myself to to the rule that I can only eat ice cream on days when I run...hence another reason why I keep running). So perhaps I do truly look like I'm about to pop, in comparison to my previous pregnancy.
Yesterday's blessing was the chance to go out to dinner with my dad. He is in town for part of his sabbatical, and has been able to meet up with us from time to time. We got to enjoy Ella's last day of swim lessons (she has come so far!), and finished the evening with frozen yogurt (yes, I ran yesterday morning...before it hit triple digits). My family lives in California, and while I'm perfectly fine with living far away from them, it is still always such a blessing to be able to spend time with them. We'll see him again tomorrow for church, and then he'll hike the Grand Canyon, and then return to stay with us for a few days next weekend.
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Ella-isms (Vol. 8)
As we get ready to welcome our second baby in just a couple of weeks, I want to take a minute to stop and remember what Ella is like these days. I also recognize that our lives are about to drastically change!
On your mark, Get set, Go!!!
My child clearly has my competitive genes. She always wants to race--and I'm not just talking about running races in the backyard. If I ever need to get her to hurry up and hustle, I just need to tell her that I'm going to win, and she's racing down the hallway to the bathroom or the bedroom or wherever it is that I need her to go. I'm sure that a child development expert would discourage this behavior, but for now, it works!
Imaginary Baby
So by now, everyone knows the story of how Ella told me that I had a growing in my tummy. Super sweet story, right? Well, now she tells me that she has a baby growing in her tummy. Again, perhaps a child psychologist would encourage me to correct her, but if this is her way of being involved in my pregnancy with me, I'm going to accept it. She has even named her baby "Kickie", and invites me to feel her kicks and talk to her tummy, the same way we encourage her to do with our new baby. And biologically-speaking, she's not "wrong", since she does indeed have eggs already. So as crazy as it sounds, I just envision myself speaking to my future grandchild--God willing--years and years and years from now.
Party Planner
My supervisor often asks what we played or pretended to be as a child, as this often correlates with the career choices that we ultimately pick. I played a lot of school, and sure enough, ended up working in Education. If the same holds true for Ella, she is going to be a party planner. She is constantly telling us that it is her birthday, or daddy's birthday, or my birthday, or her baby's birthday. She make-believe makes a cake, serves it, lights make-believe candles, and insists that we sing "Happy Birthday" to the guest of honor. It's rather endearing, and I do look forward to her excitement about her own birthday in September.
Humpty-Dumpty
We are participating in swim lessons again this year. Ella had an awesome first day--she even acted as the model for the teacher for some of the activities. But when it came to jumping in--complete with the Humpty-Dumpty rhyme--she absolutely refused, claiming "I'm not ready!" whenever she got close. I'm proud of myself for finding what seemed to be the right balance between "encouraging" her without "pushing" her. She then spent the whole weekend practicing jumping into the water by jumping off our couch onto a blanket, wearing her swimsuit and reciting the rhyme each time. But it worked! Because she returned the next week with a brand new confidence and jumped right on in!
Would a Cookie Help?
My husband threw out his back a couple nights ago, and has been pretty uncomfortable ever since. The morning after it happened, I responded to Ella's request to snuggle with her in her bed. Remembering that Daddy had hurt his back the night before, she asked me how he was feeling. I told her that it still hurt him, and told her that we could ask him if he needed anything to help it. She jumped out of bed, tiptoed to our room, climbed up and asked him, in a whisper, what he needed. He responded that he would take some medicine when he got up, but that wasn't an acceptable answer for her. She then suggested, "Would a cookie help? I think Daddy, Mommy, and Ella should all eat a cookie to help Daddy feel better". Well okay, my sweet-toothed child, it's hard to say "no" to that sort of compassion--I guess we'll have cookies before breakfast!
That's just the tip of the iceberg. We were on vacation with my husband's family this week, and I swear that even her sentence structure improved during the time we were there! She's putting together complex thoughts and stories, and getting to be so brave and independent. It's truly remarkable to see. Even my mother-in-law assures me thar we are doing something right!
Today's blessing is being back in Arizona after a nice, but very tiring, week with my husband's family in Wisconsin. We really did have a nice time, and Ella loved playing with her cousins, but things are always a little tough with fourteen people in one house. Our flight got in late last night, so we spent the night and will take a nice, slos morning before our two-hour drive home. I'm also blessed that my dad is in town as part of his sabbatical, so we'll get to visit with him along the way.
On your mark, Get set, Go!!!
My child clearly has my competitive genes. She always wants to race--and I'm not just talking about running races in the backyard. If I ever need to get her to hurry up and hustle, I just need to tell her that I'm going to win, and she's racing down the hallway to the bathroom or the bedroom or wherever it is that I need her to go. I'm sure that a child development expert would discourage this behavior, but for now, it works!
Imaginary Baby
So by now, everyone knows the story of how Ella told me that I had a growing in my tummy. Super sweet story, right? Well, now she tells me that she has a baby growing in her tummy. Again, perhaps a child psychologist would encourage me to correct her, but if this is her way of being involved in my pregnancy with me, I'm going to accept it. She has even named her baby "Kickie", and invites me to feel her kicks and talk to her tummy, the same way we encourage her to do with our new baby. And biologically-speaking, she's not "wrong", since she does indeed have eggs already. So as crazy as it sounds, I just envision myself speaking to my future grandchild--God willing--years and years and years from now.
Party Planner
My supervisor often asks what we played or pretended to be as a child, as this often correlates with the career choices that we ultimately pick. I played a lot of school, and sure enough, ended up working in Education. If the same holds true for Ella, she is going to be a party planner. She is constantly telling us that it is her birthday, or daddy's birthday, or my birthday, or her baby's birthday. She make-believe makes a cake, serves it, lights make-believe candles, and insists that we sing "Happy Birthday" to the guest of honor. It's rather endearing, and I do look forward to her excitement about her own birthday in September.
Humpty-Dumpty
We are participating in swim lessons again this year. Ella had an awesome first day--she even acted as the model for the teacher for some of the activities. But when it came to jumping in--complete with the Humpty-Dumpty rhyme--she absolutely refused, claiming "I'm not ready!" whenever she got close. I'm proud of myself for finding what seemed to be the right balance between "encouraging" her without "pushing" her. She then spent the whole weekend practicing jumping into the water by jumping off our couch onto a blanket, wearing her swimsuit and reciting the rhyme each time. But it worked! Because she returned the next week with a brand new confidence and jumped right on in!
Would a Cookie Help?
My husband threw out his back a couple nights ago, and has been pretty uncomfortable ever since. The morning after it happened, I responded to Ella's request to snuggle with her in her bed. Remembering that Daddy had hurt his back the night before, she asked me how he was feeling. I told her that it still hurt him, and told her that we could ask him if he needed anything to help it. She jumped out of bed, tiptoed to our room, climbed up and asked him, in a whisper, what he needed. He responded that he would take some medicine when he got up, but that wasn't an acceptable answer for her. She then suggested, "Would a cookie help? I think Daddy, Mommy, and Ella should all eat a cookie to help Daddy feel better". Well okay, my sweet-toothed child, it's hard to say "no" to that sort of compassion--I guess we'll have cookies before breakfast!
That's just the tip of the iceberg. We were on vacation with my husband's family this week, and I swear that even her sentence structure improved during the time we were there! She's putting together complex thoughts and stories, and getting to be so brave and independent. It's truly remarkable to see. Even my mother-in-law assures me thar we are doing something right!
Today's blessing is being back in Arizona after a nice, but very tiring, week with my husband's family in Wisconsin. We really did have a nice time, and Ella loved playing with her cousins, but things are always a little tough with fourteen people in one house. Our flight got in late last night, so we spent the night and will take a nice, slos morning before our two-hour drive home. I'm also blessed that my dad is in town as part of his sabbatical, so we'll get to visit with him along the way.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Going Public
I "came out" on facebook today about my pregnancy. My colleague and friend kindly pointed out that I "came out" in person a while ago, but our world operates as though nothing is official until it's "facebook official".
So I shared this picture:
And shared the following:
Today's blessing is the chance to participate in swim lessons with Ella. I'm a little self conscious that I'm too big to fit into any of my one-piece swim suits, and I'm too cheap to buy a maternity suit, so I'm the big pregnant lady in the bikini in the Parent/Toddler swim lessons. But once you're splashing around in the water, you can't see much...right? Ella does awesome with most of the activities...but is still terrified to jump in. It's been amazing to talk to her about her experiences, and to see her grow in her confidence around the water.
So I shared this picture:
And shared the following:
Some probably think that it's silly that I waited this long. I was going to post something last week after my appointment, but a friend just had a baby that day, and I didn't want to "steal her thunder". I felt a bit more confident this time than last time, so perhaps I could have/should have said something weeks ago--but it was trying to come up with the right words that convey our joy, and yet also recognize our past and the challenging journeys of others who may see my picture and read my words. I pray that what I shared doesn't bring any additional pain to anyone out there--whether through this blog, facebook, casual conversation, or simply just passing on the street.
Today's blessing is the chance to participate in swim lessons with Ella. I'm a little self conscious that I'm too big to fit into any of my one-piece swim suits, and I'm too cheap to buy a maternity suit, so I'm the big pregnant lady in the bikini in the Parent/Toddler swim lessons. But once you're splashing around in the water, you can't see much...right? Ella does awesome with most of the activities...but is still terrified to jump in. It's been amazing to talk to her about her experiences, and to see her grow in her confidence around the water.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Hand-Me-Downs
I spent the day yesterday, once again, setting up the nursery. Ella has been sleeping in her big-girl bed in her big-girl room since the day we found out that we were expecting a baby sister for her, but she wasn't fully moved in until her new dresser arrived last weekend (it had been on back-order). Now that all her clothes and personal belongings are moved into her new room, it's about that time to start getting the nursery put back together.
What was once a toddler daybed has been reverted back to a crib, complete with a raised mattress and bumpers.
What was once a toddler dresser has been reverted back to a changing table, complete with pad and wipes warmer and diaper stacker.
What was once a closet holding 3T and 4T dresses and outfits has been reverted back to that of a newborn, complete with onesies and side-snap shirts with fold-over cuffs.
It was surreal to pull out those tiny little outfits that I cherished so dearly over two years ago. So many memories of this tiny new life that took over our home, our lives, and our hearts. Sure, some of these hand-me-downs have stains, but I'm sure that she'll be making adding some new stains of her own in no time. But don't worry--she's gotten a few new outfits of her own. But I might as well put Ella's hand-me-downs to good use since we have them. I took weekly pictures of Ella during her first year; I wonder if I'll end up having pictures of this new Baby Girl in the same outfit during the same week. I wonder if they'll even look alike.
As for me, I'm approaching the single-digit week countdown and things continue to go well. To everyone's surprise, I'm still running first thing in the morning. It's weird--I don't even feel pregnant when I'm running. I guess I can feel that I'm carrying an extra 30(+) pounds along with me which means I end up working harder, but my body feels good. Granted, I feel like I'm waddling by the end of the day, and I admit that it's getting harder and harder to get my running shoes on, but other than that, I feel good--and I'm so grateful.
June should fly by for us. Not only are we in to our Orientation time at work, but we've also go Ella signed up for parent-toddler swim lessons again for the month. It's just a half-hour after work, but it will make for some later evenings. We head to Wisconsin in a couple of weeks to spend time with my husband's family. I admit that I'm looking forward to the time off; but I'm really not looking forward to the flights and the swollen ankles that come with them! When we return, my dad will be spending some time in town on his sabbatical, and will then truly vacation with us for a couple of days. He's graciously agreed to watch Ella for a night or two so that my husband and I can get away for a bit. And then comes July...when we can truly try to get ready for this baby.
I know that I haven't written a lot lately, but please know that I still follow various journeys and am always excited to hear updates. I still value this community more that I can express, and it seems like many of us have found what we were looking for. I know that there are others out there who continue to search, and I don't feel like I'm ready to close this chapter quite yet. So even though I may write less, please know that I still care just as much.
My most recent blessing came earlier this week when Ella looked me straight in the eye and said "you're a good mom". Oh! It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it again! I've gotten some kind compliments in my life, but that one tops the list. I know I'm not perfect; I know that I could be more patient and probably should drop what I'm doing to pay more attention to her sometimes; but I sure try to be a good mom to this precious gift that God gave me. I know there will be times in the future when I embarrass her or she hates my decisions, but I hope that she'll always be able to see that I'm trying to be a good mom to her.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Accomplished
Not only did I accomplish my goal of running 100 miles before this new Baby Girl arrived; but I ran my 100 miles by the end of my second trimester!
About a week before the milestone, my very-dear friend asked if I was going to stop when I got to my 100 miles. At the time, I had just returned from New York, and my feet were so swollen that it felt like I was running with elephant legs. But the swelling has gone down now, so I think that I will indeed keep running as long as I can. When I asked my doctor early in my pregnancy--when my husband was freaking out--she said that my body will tell me when it's time to stop.
But so far, I really feel best when I'm running. Throughout the rest of the day, I feel huge. I noticed my back-side in the bathroom mirror the other day and was a bit surprised at my width. My back hurts a bit on my drive home at the end of the day, it's getting harder and harder to get up off the ground, and the combination of both Ella and me growing is making it challenging to carry her. But when I run, I don't notice a thing. My male colleague asked if I have to wear a special "girdle" to keep my belly in place when I run, which made me laugh. But it also made me aware of just how engaged my muscles are when I run--especially in my abdominal area. Let's hope that this also pays off when it's time to deliver!
I'm also finding that I'm sleeping better--at least so far. I don't remember when I started to really struggle with trying to sleep while pregnant with Ella--perhaps it was a little later in my pregnancy. But for now, I think that my little morning runs are helping me to have just enough energy to make it through the day, and are making me just physically tired enough to sleep well at night (bathroom breaks aside). Of course, I could also be sleeping better because I no longer have the luxury of taking naps every evening as I did while pregnant with Ella. Looking back, I'm sure those naps contributed to my lack of sleep at night.
But as I get farther in my pregnancy, I will give myself permission to just run our smaller block (0.7 miles) instead of the bigger block (1.2 miles). I was proud that I didn't "wimp out" and cut it short during those first 100 miles, but I know that I need to be careful these days. The other benefit of running the smaller block is that Ella can manage to run that distance by herself as well--with two little stops along the way to look at the anthills. I do, however, worry about tripping over her little feet--she tends to zigzag all over the place, despite my best efforts to encourage her to run in a straight line with a little distance between us. But it's still great to encourage her and teach her words like "perseverance" and "endurance".
Today's blessing was the chance to go on a "nature walk" with Ella and pick up trash along our road. Her class has been focusing on nature this month, and they've done a couple little trash pick-ups on their campus, so it's nice to be able to share the experience with her. I admit that she spent most of the time in the stroller, but she was great at pointing out pieces of trash for me and reminding me to be quiet so that I didn't scare the lizards.
About a week before the milestone, my very-dear friend asked if I was going to stop when I got to my 100 miles. At the time, I had just returned from New York, and my feet were so swollen that it felt like I was running with elephant legs. But the swelling has gone down now, so I think that I will indeed keep running as long as I can. When I asked my doctor early in my pregnancy--when my husband was freaking out--she said that my body will tell me when it's time to stop.
But so far, I really feel best when I'm running. Throughout the rest of the day, I feel huge. I noticed my back-side in the bathroom mirror the other day and was a bit surprised at my width. My back hurts a bit on my drive home at the end of the day, it's getting harder and harder to get up off the ground, and the combination of both Ella and me growing is making it challenging to carry her. But when I run, I don't notice a thing. My male colleague asked if I have to wear a special "girdle" to keep my belly in place when I run, which made me laugh. But it also made me aware of just how engaged my muscles are when I run--especially in my abdominal area. Let's hope that this also pays off when it's time to deliver!
I'm also finding that I'm sleeping better--at least so far. I don't remember when I started to really struggle with trying to sleep while pregnant with Ella--perhaps it was a little later in my pregnancy. But for now, I think that my little morning runs are helping me to have just enough energy to make it through the day, and are making me just physically tired enough to sleep well at night (bathroom breaks aside). Of course, I could also be sleeping better because I no longer have the luxury of taking naps every evening as I did while pregnant with Ella. Looking back, I'm sure those naps contributed to my lack of sleep at night.
But as I get farther in my pregnancy, I will give myself permission to just run our smaller block (0.7 miles) instead of the bigger block (1.2 miles). I was proud that I didn't "wimp out" and cut it short during those first 100 miles, but I know that I need to be careful these days. The other benefit of running the smaller block is that Ella can manage to run that distance by herself as well--with two little stops along the way to look at the anthills. I do, however, worry about tripping over her little feet--she tends to zigzag all over the place, despite my best efforts to encourage her to run in a straight line with a little distance between us. But it's still great to encourage her and teach her words like "perseverance" and "endurance".
Today's blessing was the chance to go on a "nature walk" with Ella and pick up trash along our road. Her class has been focusing on nature this month, and they've done a couple little trash pick-ups on their campus, so it's nice to be able to share the experience with her. I admit that she spent most of the time in the stroller, but she was great at pointing out pieces of trash for me and reminding me to be quiet so that I didn't scare the lizards.
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