Preggo running - 29 weeks

I have been totally MIA with blogging due to a remodeling project we have going on at the house that I want to get done before baby.  I've been keeping track of blogs I want to post via the manual method and I'll hopefully make it happen soon.  Right now we're on a vacation of sorts (more on that with a different post) and I'm in a hotel room while little M is napping so what better time?!?

I've still been running 3-4 days per week.  My longest run was 6 miles 2 weeks ago,but most runs are in the 2-4 mile range.  I've had some really off runs, mostly due to bladder pressure and one due to a weirdo heat wave.  If I can run in temps below 50 sans stroller I do pretty well.  B & and I had a pretty nice run after work a few days ago (with him pushing the stroller).  We walked a couple downhills - I know right???  walking downhills???  but that's when the bladder pressure is worse.  Regardless, we got in a nice evening run, had dinner, and then for an evening walk.  It's hard not to be outside when the weather is just perfect!

My last "run" was Saturday and I was having that lovely lower back/upper tailbone pain along with the normal bladder issues and decided it just wasn't worth it.  Preggo running is by no means (in general) a comfortable experience, but you also shouldn't be in pain.  Anyway, I ended up doing a 2 mile-ish walk pushing the stroller and then some yoga.  I'm not sure if this trip will lend itself to any runs this week, but there has already been a lot of walking, yoga, and a hike and it's not quite noon on Tuesday.  :-)

Although I have no plans to give up on running for these last few weeks my game plan has changed - at least once we're home and I have options.  My plan is to run more frequently with no expectations of time or distance.  If something doesn't feel right I just walk or go home and try again another day.  I'm also back to doing lots more yoga just like I did my last pregnancy.  Netflix quit carrying the prenatal yoga that I liked on instant play so I started using a free online yoga site that has morning, afternoon, and evening yoga sessions.  They are good, but pretty chill - great for stressful days.  For the most part I like doing "Jennifer Wolfe's Prenatal Vinyasa Yoga & Short Forms" - I usually try to do the 30 or 45 minute practice, but it's nice to have a 15 minute option if I'm short on time.

Anyway, who knows if I'll be able to run up until the day I deliver like last time, but I'm happy to still be in the game and feeling healthy up to this point.  :-)

Preggo Running - 21 weeks

Just a quick update on pregnant running.  It's still going.  Usually 4 days per week, 4-6 miles each run.  I haven't slowed down a ton on good days.  This baby is riding a little lower than the last so I'm already having a lot of bladder pressure.  Some days it's irritating enough to force a walk break or two.  On good days running is still a lot of fun - even if it's in the rain (as it has the last couple weekends).  Pushing the stroller does cause a slow up, especially up hills.  I've been getting up to do early runs before B goes to work to combat that issue and taking M for more walks during the day.  All in all running is still going good.  Fingers crossed for another 19ish weeks of running!  :-)

Beach Baby

Going to the beach with a one year old gives you a new love of the splendors of the ocean!

B and I took Mira to Matagorda Bay over Labor Day weekend.  It's a pretty non-commercialized area on the Gulf.  There are 20+ miles of beach and only a couple miles of that are inhabited.  Even on a  holiday weekend it was easy to get away from everyone if you had a 4 wheel drive (which luckily we did).  The first night we just walked on the beach.

The next day we headed out to walk on the pier and play in the sand:
           

Later we actually got in the water and Mira loved it all!  She even put up with Mom making her dress up for a few minutes!

I think after quite a few trips I finally have the packing with a baby thing down.  We really didn't take too much, but still had everything we needed.  It did help knowing we had a washer and dryer at the VRBO, but we only used it on the last day to dry our towels and swim suits after our last ocean frolic.

Mira's packing went like this: 

- 2 reusable diapers, 6 inserts, 7 disposable diapers, and 8 swim diapers

- 3 everyday outfits, 2 dresses, 2 swimsuits, 1 swim cover-up that I threw on her when we took her swimsuit off so she would be dry when we put her back in the car seat.

- bath soap, sunscreen, tylenol, clippers, organic bug spray (mosquitoes were bad away from the ocean), small bath toy

- we splurged and took 4 stuffed animals and 2 books, she loved on and played with them all so I thought it was justified

- car seat and base - I hate lugging them, but it ended up being much cheaper than renting them

- stroller - we took the Bob which is cumbersome, but the knobby tires on the beach was nice and it allowed us to go for family runs

- bjorn, we could have done without it this trip, but it was still nice to have and it doesn't take up much space

- blanket to sleep on - the rental had a pack and play with sheets, but she's got a special blanket she likes to sleep on so we splurged and took it too since we had room

All of our clothes fit into a roll behind small suitcase (one that we could have carried on).  That included 3 beach towels.  Our shoes, rain jackets, necessities, beach blanket, and Mira's blanket fit into a large backpack that we also checked.  (On Southwest we got 2 free checked bags per person so we took advantage).  I had my purse/diaper bag to carry on and a small Trader Joe bag with Mira's toys and snack food for the family.  Brady had his Timbuk 2 messenger bag with a grown up book for each of us and all our electronics (phones, chargers, Mira's monitor, our old iPhone we use for white noise for Mira, 2 headlamps (which came in super handy when walking back across the dunes after night strolls on the beach), cameras, and chargers.  

Just can't wait to go again!

    

Monday Wrap-up - Camping

So, first, last week...I managed to get up for Monday and Wednesday runs and Tuesday and Thursday spin classes thanks mostly to my sleeping through the night child.  It feels good to be back on a somewhat consistent exercise routine.

Kindermusik started last week too.  M loved it.  She was so fascinated by all the other babies.  I need to take some pics of her in this class for her book.  

We left for our first camping trip with the little one on Friday night.  Overall I would consider it a success, but we did have some set-backs and learned some things about camping with a baby/toddler:

1)  Camping is pretty weird when there is a burn ban and you can't have a camp fire or cook food (unless you have a propane grill).

2)  Don't get to the campsite at dark when camping with a child in a tent.  They need time to adjust to their surroundings before dark. 

3)  Don't let your child get sick on the first night of the camp trip.  (yeah, I wish it were that easy)

4)  The pack and play won't fit in 4 person tent and really isn't useful for a mobile 15 month old otherwise.

5)  Barriers for the tent to keep little one from wedging themselves in the crevice of the tent are a bonus.

So, as I said, we got there too late to do anything but set up camp before dark.  This made for a scary place for M come bed time and I think it kept her from going to sleep.  Her usual bed time is 9pm, but she didn't really go to sleep until around midnight.  She didn't cry, just didn't want to sleep.  Then, each time she moved she woke herself up and thought she needed to be up.  It wasn't until about 2am that we realized she was getting stuffy and hot and it was 3am before we broke down and gave her some Tylenol.  Shortly after 3am, she went to sleep in between us on the air mattress and slept pretty comfortably until 6:30am.  She woke up happy, but with a cough and nasty stuff coming out of her nose.  Her week of being around other kids had taken its toll.  

On a mission

I hate to throw out food.  First, it's a waste and second we're on a budget due to my new occupation.  So, my dilemma today is what today with leftover blackened tilapia?  There is always fish tacos, but they just don't sound great so I'm going to try for fish cakes.

Here's what ended up happening:

I mixed the fish (2-1/2 large fillets), with a chopped jalapeno and a banana pepper from the garden, chopped parsley, a little chopped onion, about a cup of crushed bread crumbs, the mashed filling out of two baked potatoes, salt, pepper, and 2 eggs. This mix made 4 large patties that I pan fried in a bit of safflower oil over medium heat.
I served them with hot mango chutney, sauteed greens, jalapeno corn muffins, and roasted red pepper and asparagus soup.  The husband liked the meal and the one year old loved the fish cakes (minus the chutney).  So, win-win.  We still have one fish cake left for lunch today then on to the next cooking extravaganza.  Maybe next time I'll remember to take pics!

   

Tuesday Tune up

Getting up at 4:45am to go to spin class is hard on good days.  It is more of a struggle when you have a baby not sleeping all night.  Luckily (knock on wood) my baby has finally started sleeping all night.  It only took about a year to make that happen.  Now, 5 months until we have another little bugger that won't sleep.  The plan is to make it to as many classes as I can until then.  Today was a success!

Now to try to get the little one down for a nap so we can head to the farmer's market for fresh peaches!

Monday Wrap-up - Hiking

The weather has been awesome the last few days - at least comparatively - highs in the 80's (vs. 100's).

Saturday started out with an 8.5 mile run with the father-in-law and the CRC (Carthage Running Club).  It's the longest run I've had in a few weeks and it felt good.  At 17 weeks in my last pregnancy I was still doing 10-12 mile run and 3 hour bike rides.  I have been more tired this go around, possibly due to taking care of a one year old, so I'm going to be happy with 8+ for now.  My current goal is to get in two to three 4-6 mile runs a week, one 6-10 mile run, two 60 minute spin classes, and yoga a couple times a week.

After the run the husband and I left the daughter with the in-laws and went floating with another couple on Spring River.  It ended up being a 14 mile paddle.  We knew the river was low, but it was a bit worse than anticipated.  It was still pretty and fun, just a lot of work.  By lunch it was the longest I had been away from my baby so I was a little anxious, but I know it was good, probably for both of us.  Of course she was just fine when we picked her up, actually asleep.  She had grandparents and great-grandparents at her disposal so I wasn't ever worried, just missed the little monkey.  After a quick freshen up we all went to Instant Karma to eat gourmet dogs and visit then home for some much needed sleep.

Sunday we got up and it was beautiful out again so we decided to head out for a hike.  We ended up at Lincoln Lake near Lincoln, AR.  It was almost a 2 hour drive, but worth it.  We did a 4 mile hike called Piney loop.  We took the wrong way in so it was a little steep and rocky, but we got to see a bunch of climbers.  Once we hit the actual trail we realized it was very well groomed and not too technical (good when you have a kiddo in a backpack and a pregnant momma).  We will definitely be heading back again.

Lincoln Lake in the background

Part of the Piney loop

Mira sharing an apple with Dad post-hike

Today was a good start to the week.  Five mile run at 5:30 with temps in the upper 50's, low 60's.  If the rest of the week goes this well I will be happy!