What I packed: Hospital Bag for Baby #3!

Hospital Bag Packing 101!

AHHHH! It’s almost time. I feel like the last 9 months have flown by and I can’t believe I’m going to have another baby! I wanted to share what you REALLY need in your hospital bag because after doing this two times…I know the drill ladies! If there’s anything you think I’ve missed let me know and add in comments.

Keep in mind there are a few items that I have on here that are strictly for C-sections ((but they are lifesavers)) so if you know you are having a section, get them!!

Here we go:

For Baby:

Honestly, the hospital provides SO much. Diapers, wipes (basically use a cloth with water), vaseline, little tops for them to wear while in the hospital, receiving/swaddle blankets, etc. So you honestly don’t need a lot.

Just a going home outfit including a hat-I usually pack 2 or 3. One in Newborn, and one in 0-3 months because you don’t know how big they are going to be! My last two boys were almost 9 lb but did fit into NB for the first week. I also pack 2 of the NB outfits because tbh they poop so much that sometimes they might get poop on their outfit before you actually leave ha! It happened to me with Max so I am glad I packed two outfits!

I pack these swaddles because I am not great at swaddling. They have velcro and are super easy to use, especially when you get home and you don’t have the nurses help 24-7! I also pack paci’s for the way home, and I packed this baby shusher-it was great with Seb when he was a baby. Nothing worse than baby crying in the car!

Also, I love Little Giraffe blankets—they are so warm and cuddly (pricy but I got as a gift and LOVE). I also splurged and bought these little Ugg boots for him because its so cold :) . When you leave, be sure to bring diapers, vaseline, receiving blankets home with you (they are great for wiping spit up, spraying and leaking boobs…for everything lol) Basically what I’m saying is take stuff from the hospital home with you!!!

For Mama

OK, so as I said earlier I might pack a tad bit more because I am in the hospital longer/have a few extra products but I think its always better to be prepared!

1. Most important item: nipple cream. Yall don’t even KNOW how sore the girls are gonna get. I plan on doing a post on breastfeeding (fingers crossed this guy latches smoothly) to give my tips. Its SO HARD the first 2 weeks. You are so tired, boobs hurt, and everytime they latch it feels like a thousand needles! USE THE NIPPLE CREAM. every time after you nurse!!!

2. Comfy Jammies-I ordered these. They are so soft and comfy and run pretty big. Great for nursing.

3. Warm socks-hospitals can be cold!

4. Slippers-these are the uggs I have.

5. Nursing Bras- I have the Cake lingerie bra and its great for nighttime and right when your milk is coming in. My all time favorite are the Ollie Gray’s Bras! Great support, cute, easy to use, comfy!

6. Nursing Tanks- easy access and can be layered!

7. Boppy Pillow- my tried and true boppy makes nursing soooo much easier. I bring this with me to the hospital. I coulden’t have lived without this nursing my two boys each for over a year.

8. Diaper Bag- I love my skip hop bag. I even get compliments when I’m not with the kids. They have other colors, but I’m obsessed with this mauve color. Tons of compartments to keep things organized and has a back area for laptop/ipads/magazines!

9. Makeup wipes & My travel size Tula products

10. Flip flops for using the shower!

11. Super long iphone charger for hospital room (and when you go home and you’re stuck under a sleeping baby! lol)

12. Going home outfit: I love this flowy three dots top (I’ve shared before), and the Nordstrom wrap top is great too (I will be wearing to hospital). My anthro joggers are still in stock and prob what I’ll be wearing home. My Steve Madden sneaks are super fun and easy to get on and off!

13. I love these basic nursing tops from asos- I packed one of these for the hospital.

14. Fuji instax camera- for instant photos of the babe!

15. Leopard print comfy joggers from H & M! So fun and I live in them right now…will be wearing to hospital!

16. C Section items: The C-Panty are great for postpartum incision healing. They are WORTH THE PRICE. They have a silicone spot to go over your incision so there isn’t any rubbing or irritation, and they have compression in them as well. I have 3-4 pairs and wore them every day for the first 2 weeks. Keep in mind you might not need them at the hospital just because you’ll be wearing the hospital granny underwear (and want to wear the granny underwear because…yeah…lots going on down there yikes).

    I also ALWAYS wear a Belly Bandit Postpartum. THIS definitely helped my stomach go down and gave me support through the midsection (you are like the pilsbury dough boy after giving birth! Stomach is mush!!! LOL)

    .I swear you can see a difference in wearing it for just like 6 hours. I’ve also purchased for the first time the Belly Bandit C Section Panty version-I’m hoping this is more comfy for my C-section while giving me the compression and support that the Belly Bandit gave me for the first week or so when my incision is so fresh and healing.

17. I pack my own hospital gowns for post surgery. If you are delivering natural, you can wear these from the get go! I love that they are cute, but the back is CLOSED. Also, they have snap buttons on the sides to make it really easy to nurse. Usually that first day I don’t even get dressed so I just throw this on and feel totally covered and at least somewhat cute. I do have to wear the hospital provided gown for my surgery for obvious reasons. (scroll down and I linked the one I have comes in tons of designs)

18. I always have my Medela pump readily available incase baby doesn’t latch, along with my fave nursing pads for leaking. I also pack a latch assister from Lanisoh- my left boob happens to be a bit harder for my babies to latch on to so it just pulls it out. Sorry TMI but I thought I would share because you never know if someone else is having the same problem! I also pack a nipple shield (sometimes I need this for my left boob as well. See below for all of these products! I linked all these below on amazon.

A few other things to pack:

-Makeup/toiletries
-Towel (the towels are always small at the hospital so i always bring one of my own!)
-Any snacks you need/want
-Computer/Ipad, charger
-Magazines
-Water Bottle- Water is crucial for recovery as well as for breastfeeding!!
-Hair ties- these are my tried and trues!!
-I linked my suitcase here. It is great for organization, 4 way roller, and I get compliments every time I travel with it!!
I totally recommend bringing home everything from the hospital like PADS (they are huge and amazing lol), granny underwear that they provide, bath sitzer if you give birth vaginally…) Trust me!!!

I also plan on running to Target today to get little bags from the Dollar section and filling it with snacks/goodies for the nurses! Those nurses are your besties! Look after them!!

I hope this post helped you guys pack for your trip to the hospital!

xo

Alex

Tips for Surviving pregnancy with littles

Perspective: a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view.

It’s amazing how as you walk along the journey of life, perspective changes as you are faced with different circumstances, grow older ((and wiser LOL)).

My pregnancy is finally coming to a close, and its amazing how my viewpoint of pregnancy has changed with each child. Some of thats due to experience, some of it maturity and age. And some of it is just down to rolling with the punches and taking things in stride even if you have no idea how you’re going to cope.

First pregnancies

I definitely didn’t think pregnancy was hard with my first from a physical standpoint-I felt good, slept pretty well, etc. , but looking back there are so many things I would have changed about my mindset.

There’s something so special (and EASY LOL) about your first and I was so devastated about missing a year in my professional soccer career that it consumed me. I can’t blame myself, but its always a thought on my mind how I never soaked up the pregnancy. I find with the second and consecutive pregnancies you have no TIME to enjoy it because you’re so frickin busy!

Pregnancies with multiple kids

Anyway, fast forward to my second and having a toddler to run around after while being pregnant made pregnancy sooo much harder. From getting more sleep/rest, having time to get things done, to fitting workouts in it was for sure a challenge. But I thjnk with everything we are faced with, you somehow get it done.

When we found out we were having a third, I knew it was going to be extremely challenging with a toddler and preschooler. But, as I close in on 38 weeks, somehow I made it through in one piece!!

I wanted to share my thoughts and some tips for those of you embarking on the pregnancy journey with 2 ((really really)) young kids and some things that helped me get through the pregnancy. Now the postpartum period? haha. We’ll see how I survive that…wish me luck. haha :P

Tips for survival!

1. Take advantage of bursts of energy/days you feel good! This one is huge! When I’ feeling physically good, I tackle bigger projects/chores etc. so on the days I’m more tired or feeling super heavy I can do some lower key things.

2. At night wait to sit down: This one was huge for me. I always felt like a hot mess in the morning if after the kids went to bed that I just sat on the couch. Taking 15-20 mins, no matter how tired I was, at organizing things made mornings SO much smoother. Especially since I wasn’t really being productive on the couch anyway! Straightening up, and setting things up for the next morning really made my life SO so much easier in the long run. It also allowed me the option of sleeping a little later in the morning knowing things were set up downstairs. Once I sit down at night I feel like I can’t get up and then the morning is chaotic. because I’m playing catch up!

3. Have your older sibling help as much as possible: my oldest is 4 1/2, so I try to get him to help me as much as possible. I think this is probably even easier with a girl, but my little man has done a decent job. Helping his brother take shoes, coat, etc off, hanging things up, grabbing something for me upstairs, filling up sippy cups for him and his brother full of water, fixing a toy for his little brother has been really important because it limits putting me in awkward positions with the bump. Also, when baby comes my youngest will be used to his brother helping so it won’t be a big deal if I’m busy with baby.

4. Making them independent: Piggy backing off the above- I have tried super hard to make them as independent as possible over the last few months. Not only for me physically right now, but trying to set the stage for arrival of baby 3. Max is a really early riser (like 6 am) SO…we’ve trained him when he wakes up, he dresses himself and comes downstairs on his own and plays (even though 90% of the time I am already up right now…I might not be in a couple weeks haha). He can obviously dress himself with coats, hats, shoes, jackets, and Getting his own school bag ready, buckling his own car seat are all examples, I’ve tried to work hard with getting Seb to get undressed on his own with shoes, coat, etc. but that process is a little slower because he has just turned 2.

5. Enlist help: This one is obviously a given. I have someone come to the house for when I’m at work but its pretty much for when I’m at the office. If you have friends or family offering to take your kids or even ONE (because one is one and two is twenty amirite??!!) just take them up on it. I definitely need to be better asking for help at times but this pregnancy I asked some family and friends every now and again to help, especially when the kids were sick.

   I am lucky because both boys nap at the same time, so if I wanted to nap when I’m home and not at work I can ( probably have taken 3 naps this whole pregnancy LOL, I’m not really a napper) but if your oldest doesn’t nap anymore, and you need a rest, get yo self some HELP!!! YOU DONT GET A MEDAL FOR DOING IT ALL ON YOUR OWN. end of story.

6. Get amazon prime: LOL. This is kind of a joke, but not really. Especially because I work, I do a lot of shopping online. It allows me more time with either my kids, resting, or doing things I want to be doing and not stressing with traffic, lines in the store, and maybe moving around when I’m not feeling great. Also see: LUGGING TWO KIDS to the store.

7. Pick and choose your errand time: This is piggybacking off the above- I try to avoid bringing them to any store with me especially if I’m not feeling great. Some days I have no choice (grocery day) but if I have to run to target, I might wait a few days until I know when they’re both in school or my husband will be home. I’m more focused and efficient when I’m on my own for sure. With that being said, I’ve made my fair share of trips with both boys (way too many!!!) and sometimes you just get it done!!

8. Lower your expectations: Your kids are kids. they don’t care if they have an activity every day, Ignore pinterest and anything that makes you feel like you’re not doing enough!! Kids actually love routine. Embrace that and don’t try and reinvent the wheel and kill yourself with activities and trips making your day super busy!! Both of my boys are pretty content outside or playing with their toys in all honesty so don’t kill yourself trying to cram things in. THEY DON’T CARE!! As long as they are with YOU thats all they care about. That being said, know when to get out of the house- sometimes its necessary…like when all they are doing is fighting lol.

9. Find me time: I know self-care is a HUGE hype word right now but for me, setting aside 15 mins for a bath, or putting my makeup on in the morning is what I NEED to feel good about myself and happy. Carve out a few minutes here and there for things that you want to do whether its work out, pamper yourself, read, whatever…

10. Lastly, just remember that as long as they are healthy and loved, you’re doing a great job. That means its ok if they have PBJ two days in a row, or watch too much TV one day because you’re tired. You’re growing a human. Thats hard AF.

Have a great day loves xo

Alex

36 weeks..

Happy Saturday everyone...!! 

Oh boy..36 week update. So much to do, so little time..! The last 4 weeks have really been a whirlwind trying to get the house, nursery, work, and let's be honest..MYSELF ready. Ha! 

Here's a few updates:

Safety first: 

I swear that we are cursed when it comes to vacations! We were supposed to head to Florida at the end of July/early August and literally the day or two before we were set to leave news came out of Florida that local ZIKA transmissions had been found in Miami dating back all the way to June. For us, there was no risking heading down there. How did they know that it hadn't moved up the coast? Big gamble. Unfortunately, as you can imagine, flights were crazy expensive to change the trip to go anywhere else, so we ended up driving up to Toronto for a few days and had some down time up there. It was a nice time, but it was no Florida! 

Labor/Delivery Decisions:

After my 32/33 week appointment and speaking with the Dr., doing some thinking, research, and also speaking with my doula from my first pregnancy I've decided to do a scheduled C-section. The closer I have gotten to the end of this pregnancy the more I started to get cold feet about a VBAC. I know that there are so many successful VBACs out there but a number of things concerned me: the time between births (only 2 years, higher risk), my failure to dilate after 20 hours last pregnancy, and issues I've already had with my incision with my last pregnancy. Of course all of this plays into my thought process in the risk of a uterine rupture where the baby could potentially die or have serious birth defects. I would love more than anything to give birth vaginally or naturally but sometimes life just doesn't work that way. I'm definitely not looking forward to the recovery or the surgery but I just have to remind myself its just temporary. At the end of the day I would never forgive myself if something ended up happening to my little man {{even if the chances are small}}. I'm scheduling in for the first week of October so a little bit less than 3 weeks to go!! 

Nursery:

FINALLY the closet and the room are DONE. Let me tell you how horrible the closet was before we gutted it. I guess for those of you that know old houses or have old houses can relate!! Crib, mattress, Bookshelf, changing table/dresser, and night stand are all in. I went with white from Pottery Barn while they had their "Friends and Family" promotion in July so that was bomb...saved over $700. I also ordered the rocking chair during friends and family and that will be delivered this upcoming week. I'm really excited to share the nursery with you guys in the next week or two! It's really starting to come together. I feel like everything else I have already with regard to baby gear- car seats, rock and play, bassinete, and the LIFE SAVING swing that Max used for a whole year we already have. Once the rocker comes I'll feel a lot better about where I'm at. I've organized all of Max's old clothes. Unfortunately the seasons will be a little bit off (June vs October) but I'm sure I'll be able to use some of the same onesies and just have stocked up on more pants/long sleeves for Baby 2. 

Workouts:

Still hitting the streets 2-3 times a week with running. Some days are better than others and some days I get out there and have to try again later in the day or the next day due to pelvic pressure or pressure on the bladder {{the worst}}! Definitely slowed down substantially over the last 4 weeks but the most important thing is I'm moving, sweating, and have more energy after I work out afterwards!. Swimming was so nice through the month of August {{the hottest month ever recorded ..smh}} so I definitely took advantage of it! I'm still aqua jogging 2-3 times a week on my off days and I like that because it adds a little resistance into my workouts. I've all but given up on my strength training and lifting once I hit 31 or 32 weeks (see below for workout log). I honestly just feel so much pressure in different movements that I've really just stuck with the cardio. Also...I have sooo much less time now that I have Max. I feel like first pregnancy was sooo much easier to fit in a light lift because you have all the time in the world. Now, I have to pick and choose and due to the discomfort I've stuck with the swimming and slow running :) I've also been doing quite a bit of coaching and of course walking with Max so that keeps my step count close to 15,000/day, even at almost 37 weeks pregnant. 

Hospital Bag:

..Is still not packed. Oops. I'll get on that this weekend! When I do finish it, I'll be sure to list out my essentials from my experience the first time for any of you mommas that need guidance. 

Super Fun stock up time: I have had some fun stocking up some cute baby clothes, but now that its almost "time" I've had to face the music so to say and stock up on some really fun stuff...such as : maxi pads for the never ending period, a new belly bandit (I used it with Max and totally think it helped compress my stomach), nursing pads, and some new pumping parts. Not exactly the packages you are excited to receive in the mall but hey, they're necessities! 

THIS SUMMER.... has been absolutely brutal. Who's with me on this? I mean honestly I coulden't have picked a worse summer to be pregnant. From being drenched with sweat just taking Max for a walk, to completely zapping my energy coaching, its been tough. Add in swollen legs and ankles and no central air and you have an unhappy momma! So, so happy the nights are getting cooler and its making being active a little bit easier! 

The lowdown for weeks 30-36: 

How have you been feeling? Uncomfortable, tired, massive. Haha. It's about that time where you're just getting to that "done" stage! 
Do you have morning sickness? No
Do you have any cravings? I actually feel like I'v eaten less this pregnancy than with Max. I swear I'm not as hungry (could've been the heat as well!) Add in the heartburn too...yikes.
Do you have any food aversions? Nope
Weight gain so far? At the end of  36 weeks I'm up 36 pounds. With Max I gained around 36-38 so looks like I'll be in and around the same! Sometimes it worries me when I hear about others that only gain 20-25 but I just need to remember everything is temporary and its all about the growing little bub in there! Everyone is different, and start out at different body fat levels. #YOUvsYOU, amirite? 
Any mood swings? No
Sleep: Is definitely a struggle. I'm up 3-5 times a night to go to the bathroom and nights are tough. I feel like I can't even relax on the couch after dinner because I have restless legs. Thankfully I haven't had many nights in the last week or two where I've been up for an hour or two at a time. I've added extra pillows to my huge pregnancy pillow and that has definitely helped! I went through a rough patch as this guy has been growing!!
Stretch marks: I got a few small ones around my belly button with M's pregnancy ...this time I definitely have gotten more {sad face}. The last 3 weeks he's grown so much and I'm trying to do my best with the creams, eating right and staying active but I think his growth rate is just killing my skin right now. All of them seem to be around the belly button so hoping they fade and aren't too noticeable. 
Clothing: I just don't even want to wear anything anymore! ha! Right now wardrobe is about 3-4 maternity tops that still fit and most of my leggings aren't even comfortable anymore. I have capris from Nike that are fold over at the waist and cotton- super comfy so living in those!! My birkenstocks have been a life saver...shoes/sneakers are just not happening right now. 
Rings: ON...suprisingly. I know I'm swollen but I do see pics from my first pregnancy and feel I'm a little less swollen...I can actually get my rings on and off! Hard to believe. 
Movement: Tons of movement!  
Boy or girl: Its a boy!
Things I miss: Oh god. Where to start...for starters being able to relax at night. The restless legs is horrible..and I miss my daily Advocare spark more than ever now that I'm getting more tired {{I do try and stay away from the caffeine while preggo}}. and clothing! My gosh, none of my maternity stuff even fits. Yikes. I just keep telling myself I am almost there. 
 

Week 30: 
 

Monday: 3 miles, 8:46, 8:49, 9:12
Tuesday: 40 min swim
Wednesday: Stroller run: 10:19, 10:13, 10:16--> was soooo hot! 88 degrees.
Thurs-Saturday Off-travelled to Toronto
Sunday: 3 mile run, 9:14, 9:24, 10:12. Had to slow up at the end. 

Week 31: 

Monday: 40 min swim
Tuesday: 8:50 splits- 3 miles
Wednesday: Stroller run with Max, so hot AGAIN. 10:01, 10:24. 2 miles.
Thursday: lower lift
Friday/Saturday: Off
Sunday: 3 miles in Central Park: 

Week 32:

Monday: 2 miles after no sleep- 9:40, 10:11 on gravel surface
Tuesday: 40 min swim
Wednesday: 20 minute run, lower lift
Thursday: off
Friday: 45 min swim
Sat: off
Sunday: Stroller run with Max- was very cool and felt amazing!! 9:47, 9:44, 9:57!! wow! 

Week 33:

Monday: 40 min swim
Tuesday: Trail run-- slow 2.42 miles. 10:45, 10:25, 10:28
Wednesday: off
Thursday: 2 mile run stroller--hot and slow! 10:29, 10:50
Friday/Saturday off
Sunday: Ran 2.62 miles.  9:23, 9:37, 10:15 splits

Week 34:

Monday: 40 min swim
Tuesday: off
Wednesday: 40 min swim
Thursday: off
Friday: 2 mile run- no time listed
Saturday: 2 miles: 10:09, 10:39
Sunday: off

Week 35: 

Monday: 3 miles, 10:13, 10:24, 10:23
Tuesday: off
Wednesday: 40 min swim
Thursday: 40 min swim
Friday: 3 miles, negative splits. 10:56, 11:01, 10:31. Felt horrible to start, but ended well :) 
Sat/Sun off

Until next time...xoxox

Alex

Bye Bye Second Tri...

Firstly I can't believe its been about 10+ weeks since I've done a pregnancy update! Hard to believe another 10 and this little nugget will be here to meet the world! Life has been so crazy but I will tell you I am SO Happy I am out of the second trimester, but unfortunately there is no immediate relief in sight. Case in point: its 3 am. No, I'm not coming back from a great night out. #pregnancyinsomnia. Gross. 

I guess I am so happy that the second trimester is over is due to the fact that I was sick for basically 2-3 whole weeks (I feel like the only time I get sick is when I'm pregnant?!!), and also had some serious issues with my glute which inhibited my activity level for about 2 weeks. I also had to put my sweet dog down during this time which was really tough....I miss her :( Thinking about my little man never getting to meet her makes me so sad. 

Oh, and I can't forget heat. This heat can't possibly keep up into September, am I right? Relief HAS to be in sight. Week 19 finished off great for me, but weeks 20-22 were such a struggle. I think this was a combination of all the coaching I was doing and the fact that I spent a good 20+ hours driving (myself) in a car to tournaments. I had radiating pain whenever I bent over and at times when I walked. This was so hard for me and I was really scared that my days were over of running, lifting, and even walking! Amazing how you take things for granted. I ended up getting 2-3 massages from my massage therapist who kept me on the field during my career and I actually hit up a chiropractor who told me my SI joint was out of place. Viola- 2 days later and I was back on track. I was never so grateful! Let me tell you, it was a long two weeks of aqua jogging and dealing with pain.

Once I got over the glute pain, on came the sickness from week 23-25. I managed to do what I could depending on how I felt. I only did cardio during these times as I felt that taxing my Central Nervous system with weights while sick (and pregnant) would not be the best idea. This basically meant that I went 4-5 weeks without lifting. Yikes. What had become my main source of exercise pre-pregnancy had gone to the wayside. Temporary is the word I kept repeating to myself...

26 weeks I found myself back in the gym, but week 27 was difficult with probably one of the worst weeks of my life in the workplace and no time for the gym- only cardio. Better than nothing right? Its funny because during my first pregnancy nothing got in the way of getting my workouts in- but with this second pregnancy I've had to be very disciplined with my time and at times make a decision choosing one over the other. Time is of the essence when you already have one little tyke at home waiting for you! 

Even though I know the third trimester comes with new challenges (read: sleeping!) I welcomed a fresh start and week 28 & 29 have been consistent with both cardio and weights. I'm feeling pretty good other than the lack of sleep and my running has actually been great other than a day here or there to this point. Grateful for the ability to stay active throughout pregnancy. 

Everything has been going smoothly in terms of the pregnancy -- no issues with any blood work and glucose testing came back negative which was awesome. I had a pretty horrible first labor experience {{still have PTSD thinking about it}} but here I am again. Ha. I've made the tentative decision to try and give birth naturally (VBAC) and see where it takes me. The C-section experience was pretty horrible for me and I don't want to have to rely on other people to take care of things, especially now that I have a toddler that needs me. At my next appointment they will schedule a C-Section for 41 weeks so this little guy doesn't come naturally before then, a C-section it will be as I can't be induced. I'm at peace with that I suppose, but I do want to give myself and my family the opportunity to have this little boy naturally. There are so many reasons why, but mostly due to recovery! 

This week we head to Florida (a trip that was postponed a couple of weeks due to work) and I'm looking forward to lots of down time with my boys and some Olympic watching!! 

I'm going to recap all of my workouts here but only do one "update." 

How have you been feeling? Feeling good for the most part! 
Do you have morning sickness? No
Do you have any cravings? Nope..this time has been so different as its been so HOT that I actually have had a lot less carbs than last pregnancy. 
Do you have any food aversions? Nope
Weight gain so far? At 30 weeks I'm at a total of 29 pounds. Weight gain in weeks: 
Week 19: +1 (18 total), Week 22: +2 (20), Week 25: +2 (22), Week 26: +2 (24), Week 27: +2 (26), Week 29: +2 (28). If I didn't list a week, there was no weight gain that week. Looks like I'm on track to a similar weight gain as last pregnancy. Would I love to gain less? Yeah, of course. But I know I eat healthy, am super active and at the end of the day its temporary and necessary in building this guys little life :)  I know that I generally gain a lot of fluid so I'm just trying to embrace it! 
Any mood swings? No
Sleep: Not so great-- between 2-4 am have been horrible for me most nights (I'm up and can't sleep). Sometimes falling asleep has been tough. I've felt sooo much pressure in my stomach area I'm basically falling asleep sitting up. Naps have been a god send once a week when I can fit them in. 
Stretch marks: I got a few small ones around my belly button with M's pregnancy and they are becoming more noticeable as the skin is stretching but I'm not seeing any new ones...yet. 
Clothing: The heat has been a challenge for sure. I have been living off two great pairs of size large athleta shorts and maternity capris from target. I snagged some great Gap tank tops for under $10 to finish my summer off. The search for a pair of jean shorts that actually fit right was completed at target, believe it or not after ordering about 4-5 pairs from pea in the pod...
Rings: ON
Movement: All time time and its getting stronger! 
Boy or girl: Its a boy!

Week 29: Super impressed with my stroller runs this week you guys...

Sunday: Run 3 miles: 8:33, 8:31, 8:32 splits
Monday: 40 min swim, lower lift
Tuesday: Stroller run-- 3 miles,  9:13, 9:25, 9:08 splits
Wednesday: upper Lift
Thursday: Stroller run-- 3 miles,  9:17, 9:29, 9:28 splits
Friday: Lower lift
Saturday: off
Sunday: 35 min swim

Week 28: 

Sunday: 40 min swim
Monday: 3 miles: 25:54 w/ 8:35 average splits
Tuesday: lower lift, 40 min swim
Wednesday: Stroller run: 9:32, 9:22, 9:21 splits
Thursday: Upper Lift
Friday/Saturday: Off

Week 27: this weeks was really for the birds...stress combined with being so tired made for not great runs

Monday: off
Tuesday: Run- 3 miles..25:42, 8:31 splits
Wednesday:off
Thursday: Stroller run-- 3 miles,  10:04, 9:50, 9:40 splits
Friday: off
Saturday: 2.6 miles: 9:14, 9:17, 10:07- started to feel uncomfrtable so stopped short of 3 miles. Some days are just like that...

Week 26: 

Sunday: Run 3 miles  8:44, 9:01, 9:16
Monday: Run 2.56 miles. Had to stop, felt uncomfortable
Tuesday: 40 min swim
Wednesday: Starting to feel better! 3 miles, 25:26: 8:26 average splits
Thursday: Got a lift in! Lower..
Friday: Upper lift and 3 mile run, 25:52 w/ 8:35 average splits
Saturday/Sunday: off

Week 25: This was a weird phase where for about 10 days my runs were really hit or miss. Those of you who have run through pregnancy will know what I mean..some days its just not there whether its positioning of the baby or just the day! You just gotta roll with the punches. 

Sun: 2 miles: 8:22, 8:21- felt great
Mon/tues: Off
Wed: 3 miles in central park 8:35, 9:10 and 8:52 splits
Thursday: 35 min swim
Friday: 40 min swim
Sat/Sun: Tried to run a stroller run on Saturday with M but just felt horrible. Stopped after 1 mile. Managed 3 miles on Sunday but stopped every mile to rest and stretch: 8:44, 9:01, 9:16

Week 24: 

Monday: 35 min swim
Tuesday: Stroller run-- 3 miles,  9:06, 9:25, 9:12
Wednesday:off
Thursday: Soccer workout, 30 min swim
Friday:Run 3 miles, 8:19, 8:08, 8:21
Saturday: off

Week 23: Pretty sick this week- took 3 days off

Monday: 45 min swim
Tuesday: Stroller run-- 3 miles,  8:34, 8:44, 8:56 (started feeling sick this day)
Wednesday: off-worst feeling day
Thursday: 2.5 miles to get body going. 8:35 average splits
Friday: 3 miles. Still not feeling great but got a sweat. 9:01, 9:14, 9:28
Saturday/Sunday:off

Week 22: This was the tail end of my issues with my glute :) Felt awesome at the end of this week

Monday: 45 min swim
Tuesday:off. massage/ chiropractor
Wednesday: 3 miles: 8:12, 8:19, 8:17
Thursday: 5 miles, 9 min increments. 7:50 average miles
Friday/Sat off
Sunday: 3 miles: 8:21, 8:11, 8:15

Week 21: This whole week glute issues hindered me. Did 5 days of aqua jogging (35-45 min/day)

Week 20: 

Monday: 6 400's under 1:35, lower lift
Tuesday: off
Wednesday: 4 miles in Central park. No times
Thursday: off- glute issues begin
Friday: 45 min swim
Saturday/Sunday:off

Week 19: 

Sunday: 35 min swim
Monday: 3 mile run, no times
Tuesday: Stroller run-- 3 miles, 8:43, 8:14, 8:13
Wednesday: lower lift
Thursday: soccer workout
Friday: upper lift
Saturday: lower lift (on my own), 30 min swimming
Sunday: 40 min swimming

Thats all for now....

Have a great Monday everyone!! xo

Alex