vitamixing and baby update

I have been vitamixing it up for the past week, making smoothies, pureeing veggies, making nut butters... lots of fun stuff and I love the thing! I've found the food processor to actually do a better job at frozen bananas and berries but I feel like the vitamix should probably do the job - any tips? the nut butters and everything else - the whole process goes so quickly and the blender doesn't just get stuck (like my other blender was doing when I was cursing at it).  Yay for the vitamix!  I'll have to put up some pictures or a video soon.

Swimming - I'm getting slow - some sets I am so bored and by the time I finish whatever we are doing, I miss the interval and I have to turn around and go again so it ends up being a straight swim of the set.
I'm still managing around 3000 yds in just around an hour.  Lifting is going sooo well and I'm super motivated to go to the gym and lift! I feel like it took the spot of running as far as energizing me and giving me happy endorphins.  Also, I'm totally into yoga and motivated to go. I was going to go to a class this morning but decided to stay in the pool instead.

BABY ------


Today I had an appointment and was measuring a bit small, the baby is 30% percentile, coming in at 5 lb 9 oz.  Everything was fine - this is probably good news for me pushing him/her out :) Nick was 45% percentile around the same time and 5 lb 12 oz.. so I'm not concerned.  I was a fingertip dilated (a fingertip!) and not effaced. I feel like from things I read that things could change within a day - what do you think? With Nick I was 50% effaced and 1 cm dilated and had him 3 days later. I don't know how long I was dilated or effaced, since that was the first time they checked me, but the doctor had told me that I had another week or 2 to go with Nick and then bam - 3 days later, here comes Nick.  For the second baby, do things stay the same longer and then happen quicker? The doctor even said I could go to the shore this weekend??  2 weeks ago he said I couldn't travel past 36 weeks, and I'm not sure if I want to risk heading to the shore and getting stuck there. 

I'd love to hear stories of going into labor/effaced/dilated with #1 versus #2, how quickly it happened, etc! Please share mamas!

36 weeks;yoga;

Thank you for all of the anniversary wishes! We went for a family dinner just for pizza on Friday and nice dinner just Bill and I last night. On Friday I put on our wedding video and our baby picture montage made me cry - and watching everyone walk up the aisle. Haha!

36 weeks - going much stronger than the last few weeks! This week my sleeping returned! I have been sleeping so nicely and it has been great. It makes such a difference! I also added in weight training and yoga, and the elliptical machine. The weight training has been awesome. I have this book:

and this log:


I've had them for 4 years and used them on and off but I'm using them now in addition to some saved magazine lifting moves that I've had for years in a book. It helps motivate and keeps things fresh!

Yesterday I did a vinyasa yoga class. I don't know the difference between all the yogas - I was into power yoga when I was doing it regularly. I am very very tight, so I want to get yoga back into the routine 2x a week. I was doing a video of it but it's so not the same! The elliptical machine - ehh. I dread that thing. It is so boring! I'll do some biking here and there on the stationary bike, but other than that, for cardio, swimming is my best bet right now and feels great!

Here's my 36 week belly shot below- only a few weeks to go. My concerns at this point are getting back into a nice routine with 2 babies and finding time for myself. I go to the doctor on Wednesday and see if anything is going on! I'm good to wait 4 weeks now that I am sleeping and not sick!

I think compared to with Nick that I'm carrying higher! (see Nick in belly below)
I still have no idea boy or girl!

5 years ago...

This is where we are supposed to be today:

But because of these 2 small reasons - we're here:

I can't believe it has been 5 years - time flies!

vitamix & Bars

Guess what came in the mail today??  Vitamix! On Friday is our 5th wedding anniversary :

and I suppose 5 years of outstanding service earns a vitamix! Woo hoo! Just kidding about the years of service - what a great gift from Bill!  I am not a jewelry/girly girl - I am a foodie and athlete. Anything food related or athletic, I'll take it!! I actually opened it by accident. Whoops. So now, I don't know what my first trial recipe should be. Do I go for banana softserve? A smoothie? some almond butter? fudgie babies? This is going to be tough! What should I make w/ the vitamix?!!

This week has been going 10x better than the last couple of weeks. I've been able to have some great swims and feel good from lifting. Now the elliptical machine sucks, I have to tell you, but I feel in a good place even though I am not running. I thought I would lose my mind, but instead, it is a good and needed break and I think I'll come back ready to run.  Swimming has seemed to help my headcold, which lingers but is improving. I can't believe it is Wednesday and I have 4.5 weeks to go. Yesterday we worked on #2's room which is an office being turned into a nursery.  It's getting close!

Also, all I want lately is bars  - luna bars and z bars. I just ordered some from amazon so I'd have them on hand. I've been making tempo bars for snacks but I like the protein content in the luna bars and like z bars for dessert. I know they aren't your clean eat food but that's what I want right now!

WINNER! CSN

The winner of the $60 CSN giftcard is Denise #30

Denise said...

already a follower and i want a vitamix so badly! i'm in awe when i see them doing the demo w/ them at costco!

6/16/10 12:02 PM

Congrats!
I want a vitamix too!! 
Shoot me an email and we'll get in touch (tosha25italia at yahoo).

Do you lift?

 Since I have been unable to workout, I've been thinking alot about what I will do to get back in shape after the baby is born. I'll be excited to run, but I'm thinking I'll tone down running a bit and aim for shorter races until I'm feeling the itch of doing a marathon.  I plan to continue cross training and coming up with a good training plan for a spring triathlon and see if I like them.  Today I was able to swim- yippee! It felt so good to have the energy to move my body. I also lifted briefly and thought how it would be nice to have a trainer taking me through different exercises and working me hard. I've never found one that I would pay tons of money for, but I'd like to have a partner or a reasonable trainer.

Do you lift? How do you motivate? What kind of exercises do you do? How often?

Last day for the CSN giveaway...

7 months-35 weeks

35 weeks/7 months - Nick (left), Baby #2 (right) - I thought I was carrying way higher this time but maybe not?

Did you check out the CSN stores giveaway???

So - this week has been brutal! I am still fighting a head cold or sinus infection and have basically been on "bed rest" -  no swimming, no running, no walking - nothing! When Nick is sleeping, I have been laying down.  It's depressing!  I've been using the neti pot but I'm so stuffed up, nothing is coming out.  I can't wait to hop back in the pool! I am hoping for 2 more weeks, but preparing myself for 5 more weeks (ugh!)   I have not been on the computer much and hope to catch up on reading some blogs soon.

Nick had his first sleepover at my parents house this weekend and it went well. I have been feeling so awful, I didn't have time to worry about it and it was a pretty nice morning getting things done and being able to rest!  This weekend one of my best friends got married so it was busy - rehearsal dinner and wedding - I am beat.  The food was great and I have little appetite and ate alot of bread!  Nicole, the bride looked beautiful!  I was a reader in the wedding and was looking around at everyone's cute dresses and waist lines with envy!  My camera was sucking this weekend - here's a dark picture of Nicole, Julie and I. Check out their glamorous dresses : )

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! Especially Bill - he's a great father!

It's back!

Almond butter, that is! Either I was having too much of it - I call this *marinated mushroom syndrome* (I used to eat marinated mushrooms out of the jar in college and got 2 huge containers of them as costco and now I can't look at them) - or pregnancy turned me off from almond butter! Well, after seeing Mae's crunchy almond butter w/ sunflowers and flaxseeds, I knew I was ready for some! Delicious! What has exited your life due to marinated mushroom syndrome??

On a poopy note, another thing that is back is my lack of sleep and sinus infection. What the H!!!
I am so miserable w/o sleeping.   I start to feel useless and have no energy to workout, so it is just terrible. I'm trying to take it day to day.   Yesterday I was dying to go swimming - it felt GREAT but the rest of my day was shot. Today I really tried to hop on the treadmill and lasted less than a mile walking and just over 10 minutes. It was sad!

I think I quit running. We'll see when I feel better, but for now it's not in the cards.  I think it will help motivate when I start up again since I'm not running till the end this time.

 I enjoyed the comments from my last post - I think I'm going epidural all the way. It was great last time except feeling something like fluid in my spine, but I could totally feel my legs the whole time and was able to get up shortly after - is that normal? 

Also - if you are on the market for a treadmill, and don't mind sifting through ads, here is a site with treadmill reviews you can check out.   It's nice they are all in one place, but the ads can be annoying to bypass.

CSN Giveaway

Here is a great giveaway for a $60 gift card to CSN stores. CSN is an online retail company that offers everything from lights to kid's stuff to everyday appliances and tons more.  They have just about everything and free shipping on most items.


 How to enter:
1) Leave a comment: What is on the top of your list of coveted items right now?
2) Link back from your blog and post the link in a comment
3) Follow my blog, and leave a comment that you are a follower.
This will end on Monday, June 21st.

Here are some of the things that I am coveting right now - CSN stores has all of these.

 From small to big!

WAFFLE MAKER!


VITA MIX!

CRIB FOR #2


PLAYSET FOR BACKYARD that I don't have

34 weeks - 3 weeks until INDUCE ME NOW

34 weeks and ready to have my body back!  No heartburn, trouble breathing or sleeping in 6 weeks or so!

This pregnancy has taken a toll on me - I think the last week has been rough. A few weeks ago, I wasn't sleeping, and then I got sick probably from lack of sleep and my immune system being down. I'm trying to save myself from that happening again. I had a great week of sleep and then back into the troubles falling asleep and breathing problems at night. I woke up yesterday with a sore throat.  I've been downing vitamin C & bananas today hoping I won't go back into another sinus infection: that was terrible!

Early this past week, my back started hurting. With Nick, my back hurt after my last run on a Wednesday, and I delivered him on Friday morning. I also asked the doctor and it sounds like I am having contractions here and there, but nothing to be concerned about.  The back pain +  weird pains, I thought I was for sure going into labor in the middle of the night one night last week.  I guess it is normal for your back to hurt, especially now that I am picking up my little 23 pounder - didn't do that the first go-around!

I don't feel huge, but I feel uncomfortable for sure.  My patience level is about zero and my desire to stand up for a long time is also zero. I think it helped with Nick that I had to keep on teaching, had to walk up three flights to my classroom. This time, I just feel so lazy and want to be done.  I am definitely much less comfortable than I was with Nick.


What is funny is that at 34 weeks with Nick, I ran 8 miles of the disney marathon with my sister.  This time around, I don't even think I could make it 2 miles.  Running has become very uncomfortable. When I am running, I feel like I have a belt on that is tightening around my waist.   Still, what do I do to take the place of running. What did the other running moms out there do when you stopped running? I wouldn't mind giving it up or continuing to scale back.  This week we headed to the shore midweek and I've run about 10 miles on the week, maybe I'll do about 15 by week's end.  Swimming continues to be awesome! The people that I swim with think it is funny that I can still keep up and/or still beat them.

w/ nick:

#2:

Cocoa: how much caffeine is in that???
I have had so much trouble falling asleep many nights.  One thing I decided to do was stop eating anything chocolate before bed to see if it helps. That led me to wonder how much caffeine is in cocoa powder since I have been making fudgie babies w/ cocoa and eating chocolate too.  I couldn't find too much on it but there's definitely a significant amount of caffeine in it  - maybe that was causing me to be up, exhausted, but unable to fall asleep.

Thoughts at 34 weeks:
* When do you go to the hospital this time around? Last time it was wait as long as possible - this time goes quicker right - so what are the guidelines? (haven't looked it up yet)

*Epidural - get it right away? or try to go natural round 2 and end up getting epidural anyway?
Can you feel a whole lot of pain when you are pushing and having contractions if you go natural?

Blueberry Fruity Muffins

I came across this muffin recipe that Heather posted and wanted to try it Tues morning for a playdate.

I renamed them blueberry fruity muffins:

• 1 C milk (I used coconut)
• 1 t Apple Cider Vinegar
• 2 C Whole Wheat Flour
• 2 t Baking Soda
• 1/3 C + 1-2  t sugar
• 3/4 C chopped blueberries and raspberries
• 1/3 C Unsweetened Apple Sauce

No butter or oil, and no egg in the muffin! You couldn't tell - they were yummy! I added a crumb topping (2 T butter, 1/4 c brown sugar, 1/4 to 1/2 c ww flour) on the top just incase they weren't tasty - but they were, so I don't think they would need it. It was an added bonus.

I also made some of Mae's 'get regular' brownies and some pecan/chocolate fudgie babies - yum yum.

I think the half is a good idea, with a tri still as a goal for the spring! Thanks for all of the thoughts! 

Marathons, Races

Thanks everyone for your thoughts on the anxiety of the arrival on #2 - I found it helpful to read the comments :)

The idea of doing a marathon in the later fall this year has crossed my mind a few times. Should I do Philly? or another local one? Or stick with the half. Or not even sign up for anything and take it easy this fall/early winter season?  I know the races fill up soon, so if I am thinking about doing one, I should sign up now. I'm thinking the motivation won't be there for a full - that I need to switch it up and get into the triathlons, but how about a half? I'm already signed up for the Philly Distance Run/Rock and Roll Philly half in September which will be 2 months post due date, and the Philly 1/2 is in November - I'm considering it.   Ask me on a different day and I'm also considering the full marathon.  There's something about doing a handful of them that makes them seem almost easy to do, but then you have to think about the training, your goals, motivation, and the desire to avoid burnout!

I haven't found a triathlon yet to sign up for but did see tips to visit different sites for ideas and training plans. I think that will be my next goal and to decide on the Philly 1/2 in November by the end of June.

I have been getting up to go to master's swimming again ! I have been getting there about 15-20 minutes late and hop in for the workout, then go back and do the warmup at the end.   It has been wonderful! and swimming feels fantastic right now.  Running is pretty uncomfortable. Last week I ended with just over 22 miles, but I don't recall much of it feeling good. I'm just keeping up with it to try to keep my running fitness level in check and not pushing it.

Last, I'm on an amazing Grass powder + banana softserve and frozen berries kick. It's perfect for summer and I've been having it everyday. Nick is still enjoying it with me. Amazon has it for decent prices w/ free shipping and if you subscribe (you can cancel anytime) you save an additional 15%. I ordered one of each flavor (berry, kidz, and chocolate) to get me through the summer :) Has anyone tried the wheat grass? I kind of forget what I did with it when I tried it last summer - added it to some milk? and what to do with the powder besides adding it to banana softserve. Any ideas?

Parenting/33 weeks

Yesterday was my doctor's appointment, the baby's heart rate was 140, my weight gain was 19 lbs and everything was looking good. I think with Nick I gained 19 around 33.5 weeks and now I'm almost at 33 so it seems to have tapered off and everything seems pretty similar. The baby is doing somersaults lately in my belly - all over the place!  The doctor said history tends to repeat itself - as far as timing of the babies. He said since Nick was 38 weeks, usually the 2nd one would be around the same, but maybe a little bigger.  I think it could go any way - #2 could be late, early or on time.  I go back and forth between wanting the baby to come early (37/38 weeks) and not caring - more 1 on 1 chill time with Nick!  I think many of you have commented on this before but how did it work out for your babies? Early/Late/On time? Did they follow suit?

The last 2 days I've taken Nick to the pool to swim -  it has been so great and refreshing with this heat wave in early June, yikes!

I'm super super anxious about going into labor and leaving Nick for a couple of days. We've left him for the night once with Bill's parents at our house, but he hasn't stayed anywhere else except in our house when we've been gone.  I would like it the most if someone could stay here with him - I don't want his world flipped upside down and then we come home with a baby.  I'm trying to work that out to make it happen. My parents live close by and would probably take him to their house, but I might convince my mom to stay at our house with Nick. My other concern: his meals.  What I have to think about is that it is 2 days (hopefully tops) and not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Nick eats mostly organic, no/low sugar, fruits/veggies, grains, nuts, beans.  I can't imagine what they would give him - but I guess I shouldn't worry about it. I could maybe have meals prepared and frozen?? Is that nuts?  I'm kind of a nutty parent so far.  I like to have control and I like structure.  I get anxious/stressed when he doesn't sleep enough and am very scheduled.   I want to make sure he's eating right, I don't trust other people watching him for the most part and I don't want to miss a moment with him, especially now with 7 weeks left of 1 on 1 time.  I'm hoping having the 2nd baby will loosen me up a bit - I've been an uptight kind of person for a while.  I don't want to be a crazy parent. What kind of parent are you? What have you found makes for a happy medium?




Here's my little peanut butter lover:


Also -sports fans - check out this sports blog - sporting goods and equipment.

33 weeks -
Running back to being pretty uncomfortable - lower ab pressure
Have to go to the bathroom all the time
swimming feels awesome!
Not sleeping well - again. Can't get comfortable or stay asleep - tired often!
Going to bed early!
Able to get up and get in workouts in the early am again, woohoo!
Have to eat mini meals, can't eat too much in one sitting
Belly button still not out, hanging in there but real close to flattening out
Carrying pretty high up - breathing problems
Think I have a girl name but not a boy name - just a list

National Running Day!

Get out and run today !

For Philadelphia runners, check out some events that are going on locally - the 5 mile city tour sounds awesome to me! I am going to try to run a few miles on the treadmill - it is really hot here, with an expected high of 87.  What are you doing to celebrate running today?

A few nights ago I had a triathlon dream - I finished the swim and was on to the bike. My bike was a shopping cart! I was pushing it and running with it  - what sparks a dream like that?  It cracked me up.  I have been thinking of tris and trying to determine when I should set up a training plan for post-baby and still to pick out a good one to do. Unfortunately, I think about 6 months later would be good, but it will be the dead of winter. I think next spring would be a good time for the first tri, if I can get out there and bike - that will be my uncertainty. Are there good websites for training plans for tris?

I'm drawing a blank on cooking lately and haven't done much of it - I need some good recipes for vegetables or all out veggie meals.

Check out Chari's healthy living event over at Take time to smell the roses!






Happy Running Day!

32 weeks : Pressure

Here we are at 32 weeks. I would describe this week as pressure - lots of lower pressure! Running this week was basically not comfortable and stop and go. Since I am running on a treadmill, sometimes it seems futile - I am stopping then going back to it after a 30 second break, etc. I might add more swimming to the routine, maybe some biking, but on the stationary bike, or I'll break out my mountain bike? I wonder if that would be comfortable, or not so much.  The lower pressure - sometimes I have twinges - is that Braxton Hicks? I go to the doctor at the end of the upcoming week.

 This is a comparison photo  - 32 weeks w/ Nick:  ha, was I lucky with Nick or what?!

This past week, sleeping was so much better! I have been getting up sometimes one time in the night to go to the bathroom but that is not every night - totally weird, I remember getting up a lot of times w/ Nick and definitely every night.  Heartburn and breathing problems are definitely daily and with the heat (Nick was born in the winter) I am tired out easily and cranky!

Foods I've been eating alot of - hummus +nutritional yeast, bread & butter, ice cream, milk

Friday

Happy Friday!  It's been a nice week, some hot temperatures and we tried out a little pool in our front lawn area yesterday.  Running this week hasn't been easy - I'm feeling alot of pressure and maybe some braxton hicks?  I don't know if I had any contractions w/ Nick because I didn't even know what it felt like but sometimes now I think I am having them. It's weird!  I've just been going with whatever I feel like this week with running nonetheless. Today I felt like swimming so I got up in time to catch the second half of the master's practice and then finished it out on my own. It was nice seeing the people that don't go on Saturdays - I haven't seen them in probably 2 months!

Here's my new outfit w/ shoes from the winnings the other day - fun fun!  I like the socks and shoes - shoes give me a whole new level of support and the socks are comfy! The shorts - love the material and they are great so far! The shirt - Love how it looks, but putting it on and figuring out how it goes is WORK! It has an inner liner of mesh and then the top is a soft material - frustrating to figure out!

All week I've been eating tons of hummus + nutritional yeast and water on bread, veggies, and I sauteed some tempeh because I don't know what else to do with it!!  Any tempeh ideas??

Naps - we're 2 naps some days and 1 nap other days, depending on what time Nick wakes up and if he'll go down or not for his morning nap. Yesterday he slept an hour and a half in the morning and 2.5 hours in the afternoon, the day before he slept 3 hours in one nap. The key so far for one nap - thanks for all the tips btw - is a 5 hour window. I was waiting too long to put him down. He can only be up about 5 hours.

Greens plus / Amazing Grass - I bought the kids powder of Amazing grass and have been making Nick banana softserve + frozen blueberries and some kale as a little sorbet. He likes it, and it's just about the only way I am getting fruits and veggies in right now.  Let's talk about the bars for a minute though. I picked up a few bars of each brand.  I don't know how I ever liked the Amazing Grass bars. They taste like pure cardboard to me right now. The Greens Plus are much more do-able! I love the Amazing Grass powder however!  The Greens Plus powder tastes the same to me also.  Does anyone really like the Amazing Grass bars?  Maybe pregnancy changed my palate.


Other than that, I bought this at whole foods - it was on sale and less than $4 and have been eating it out of the jar. Oops!

Anyone want a free coupon for Horizon DHA Chocolate Milk? I can't find it anywhere, so if you want it, just leave a comment and I'll pick if necessary randomly this afternoon.

Mileage;Groceries

When I was pregnant with Nick, I was also training for Boston, so I kept my mileage up around 30 miles a week, no matter how dreadful or how long it took to complete that. Up until 30 weeks, I have been able to hit 30 miles almost every week until last week when I got sick and that was cut in half. Usually my week starts on Tuesday and I have been doing 5 miles in the morning before Nick gets up and 5 in the later morning or afternoon. This morning it didn't feel the best, and I kind of wasn't digging doing another 5, so I did another 1 while Nick was napping. I started thinking what my mileage should be - whatever I feel like doing each week?  Maybe the 30 miles is forcing me to run, but it is also giving me a goal. I need some kind of goal for each week to strive for - I don't know what my goal should be.  What should I aim for?

Groceries. I was being so good about the food shopping and keeping the costs down as much as possible until I started reading the organic produce articles and started buying more and more organic foods. For the first time this month, our grocery bill went over $450, it had been around $350-400 for a few months. I'm bummed!

Nick has become kind of a pain eater!  One thing I just started giving him is the Greens + powder as a smoothie with frozen bananas and frozen berries - he seems to dig it.  I think it is ok for him to eat.   I also have a box of Amazing Grass pb protein bars around because once I got pregnant I decided they tasted like cardboard. Does anyone else feel that way? I used to think they were delicious! Now it's a struggle to get them down - but Nick likes them!  I have to go get the ones that aren't coated in chocolate as well as some kids powder for the Amazing Grass.  At least he's getting in some nutrients.
He'll eat peanut butter on crackers, he ate oatmeal this morning, bananas most of the time... but he's getting so picky!

Remember I mentioned I won a prize for answering a blog comment - 6 words - what did Broad Street mean to you?  It was a random drawing but my 6 words were: bonding experience with 30,000 other runners.  I went to get my prize today from Philadelphia Runner and it was awesome! I got to pick out a new pair of sneakers and the guy working looked at how I walked and my shoes and told me that I overpronate. The last time I went they told me to get neutral shoes but I think my stride is totally different from being pregnant. This time I picked out stability shoes - Mizuno Wave Nirvana 6. I liked the color over a different pair that was bright green, though I liked them too!

I was trying to find a matching outfit, but that wasn't working out so much for me so I got a PUMA shirt - tank top w/ built in bra - I don't have any of these and it's sparkly at the bottom - big fan! It matches the shoes :)  It was funny trying this stuff on with a big belly - hopefully soon I can look normal wearing it.

and  a pair of socks (Feetures) and Asics "Favorite Short."   Have you heard of Feetures socks? I hadn't so I figured I'd try them. I'll let you know what I think!

I was looking for something to match the shirt but no luck. Regardless, I loved being able to go in and just pick out whatever I wanted, how fun is that? Might be the coolest prize (besides straight up money) that I've ever received!! Thank you Philadelphia Runner and Phillymag.com!

7 months/31 weeks

Here are some pictures from whenever I started taking them.

This past week has been rough.  Besides the sore throat and clogged ears, runny nose, I can't sleep! I've been taking sleep drugs every night this week and I still lay in bed awake for at least 2 hours.  I think that I am both nervous and anxious about having another baby and my mind just keeps going and going! Nick is still a baby :(  and I don't want him to lose his time. I don't want to miss any one on one time with him - and now it is so limited with 2 months left.  I know it will be fine when the baby is actually here but the anxiety leading up to it is hard for me.  I've been trying to nap when Nick naps but I can't fall asleep. It's awful and I can't keep my eyes open.  I haven't been able to do much at all. I've been using a Neti Pot to clear out my sinuses 2x a day - those things are crazy!




Last week or the week before the baby dropped and this week I've had no heartburn at all! :) The baby is kicking like crazy - lots of movement. I've had a feeling in the past few weeks that it is a girl, but I have no basis.    I can't tell if I'm carrying differently than with Nick, but everything else feels the same. We'll see!

The funniest thing is still my obsession with Dove soap.  I have it in every bathroom. I don't want to eat it or anything, ha. I don't really having any food cravings, some here and there but nothing that stands out. The latest one is that I want a couple of chocolate munchkins from dunkin donuts but I'm unmotivated to go and ask for 2 munchkins. A lady at work brought me a bag of 6 one time but I've never gone in and just asked for chocolate munchkins. Other than that, lots of milk!

5 months 3.17


6 months 4.17

7 months 5.19

If you like baby guessing games you can make a vote at http://www.expectnet.com/game.php
the name of the game is Bigbronick.   Nick was 2 weeks early, 6 lbs 12 oz and 20 inches long.

Graham Crackers;Sucanat; Sick

I enjoyed reading the experiences with organic foods. I think we are just going to go all organic from here on out. We do have a fruit and veggie spray but I wonder what is even in it and if it is healthy/safe to use.  It's crazy how much we take for granted thinking things are good or ok for us!

I think I've mentioned I've been having troubles sleeping and it caught up to me a few days ago. I woke up and just felt awful yesterday. Sore throat, totally run down.  I managed to get in my normal running but I think it made it worse.  I was tutoring in the afternoon and if you've ever seen that hotel commercial where the guy has a battery over his head, I felt like my battery was flashing red - critical level. I was picturing it as I tutored, draining, draining, draining.   Last night I attempted to go to bed drug free (the night before I had tylenol PM and felt like I was having contractions and felt really messed up from it and I HATE taking medication) just after 9:30 and I tossed and turned until midnight, when I went to get some benadryl to help me sleep. I slept till about 530, which I think is what time I wake up naturally every morning now that it is light out, but I went back to sleep until 7:30.

I woke up and still felt awful! I tried to sleep during Nick's naps today with no luck. Things have just been running through my mind and I can't just fall asleep. It's awful because I am totally run down. I know that I am not feeling well when I can't motivate to get in a workout  - that always makes me feel better, but I had no energy today.  This morning I downed a couple of berry smoothies with orange juice and greens + to get some nutrients and soothing for my throat and had some soup later in the day.

I managed to make some graham crackers this afternoon from this recipe that Chari shared with me.  They turned out well!  It was the first time I used sucanat and I know nothing about it: I went in blind on this one.   Is it better than brown sugar or sugar?  What are its benefits?

Homemade Graham Crackers

I want to try this peanut butter graham cracker recipe next!

Did you hear about the later registration date of the Boston marathon? I'd love for you to comment on my article!  :)

Organics, Lucky & thanks!

I won a contest today! It was a random drawing thing and I win a running outfit from Philadelphia Runner. How fun is that!?  CRAZY!!!

Thanks to all of the moms who gave me advice on the naps! Today Nick got up super early and we did 2 naps. I had such a better day and he didn't wake up crying and all was calm and good in our household!

Check out this top 10 foods to buy organic list. Where do you buy organic food?  What do you always buy organic? What stinks is that farmer's markets are not always organic, so whole foods seems to be all there is around here for organic produce. Pricey pricey!

Calling for mom help!

NAPS!

Whew! Struggling with the naps here.  For the past 3 days we've attempted one nap with Nick after lunch, around 1pm. The first day he slept 2 hours. The second day he slept an hour and a half and today he slept about an hour and 45. He was taking 2 naps which averaged an hour and a half in the morning and same in the afternoon.  Sometimes his morning nap would be shorter or his afternoon one would be shorter, and usually he didn't fight either nap. Maybe I did not need to try one nap, but I thought maybe he'd sleep in more and get more rest which hasn't seemed to be the case. He's 15 months, and though I've been told at daycare they switch right around 1 year, my pediatrician said the average is 16 months, so he could go either way. I can't decide if I should stick it out and see if it gets better or just switch back to 2 naps. I need my time - it just got cut in HALF! Usually I would work out during the morning nap -especially on my running days! -and tutor during the afternoon nap.  Could you share your transition and why you made the switch?

FOOD

Nick seems to be a real pain lately w/ food. Whatever I make him he will eat a few scoops and not want anymore. It doesn't seem like enough food and then if we are eating later he'll be hounding us for food.  I don't want to be a short order cook, but I also want to make sure he's getting enough of the good stuff.  I mean, I'll give him mac and cheese with some kind of veggie sauce from purees and he doesn't even dig that! I'm not sure what to do with that. Any tips in that arena?



I'm not eating enough fruits and veggies anymore.  If someone cooks them for me, I'll eat them, but I am getting real lazy about wanting to make them.  Maybe I should just get some amazing grass or greens plus and down smoothies to get them in? How many servings of fruits and veggies are in one serving of that stuff anyway?

7 months!


Tomorrow I will be 7 months pregnant! Crazy. 30 weeks just passed and I had Nick at 38 weeks. Does the trend of whether you had your first child late or early or on time follow suit for the rest of the children too? That would mean even less than 2 months to go. The differences with the seasons and being this pregnant: I prefer being able to wear sweatshirts and go incognito, not be sweating and wearing t-shirts and tank tops that reveal the actual size of my belly.  I've had to buy some t-shirts and tank tops and a pair of maternity khaki shorts, as well as a dress for an upcoming wedding. I hate being big and tend to like things that look tiny when they are hanging on the rack, and then when I try them on, and realize that I am huge, I don't like them!  Running still is going well - I was able to run 2 miles w/ the double jogger this morning and it felt good. Just a few weeks ago I was walking more than I was running when I took Nick out w/ the jogger. I used the double because it is so much easier to turn.

Pea Toast and Five + bullet points

I saw this toast recipe in Parents magazine and made it. It was tasty!  I'd prefer to eat cheese, bread and butter all day long so this was a good trade off.

1 cup cooked peas + 3 T. olive oil + salt and pepper + lemon juice (I used lime) - food process and serve on little toasts (italian bread cut up and toasted)


Bullets:

*Running has been almost spectacular this week - I haven't had many issues and have felt good. I'm just running on the treadmill at this point. I'm thankful for it feeling good!

* I bought Nick the little car - ok - where is the legit handle?? It's an opening but I was expecting a real handle. In any case, he enjoyed it. The floorboard is in for now. It was $40 at amazon.

* The baby is in such an uncomfortable position right now. I swear it is a girl that is tormenting me like I torment my mom.  Right above my belly button there is just this sore spot and pushing out. I don't know what it is(hand/foot??), but it is not a comfortable thing. Monday marks 7 months, I cannot believe it.

*I've been making fudgie babies and having them little by little as crumbles instead of forming them into balls. It's totally a dessert type thing but I eat it first thing in the morning since I can't have too much caffeine and especially not later in the day.

*reading food blogs, especially dessert recipes makes me hungry and makes me want to make things. I like the ones where it is mostly healthy stuff and that is what I am going to focus on posting here too!


* I'm totally unmotivated to make dinner most nights. I keep recycling the same recipes and I need something new!

* I'm game for a triathlon next spring. I want to do an Olympic distance one. Where to even start looking?

*I've already started thinking about how I am going to manage working out when I have 2 kids.  I guess nap time is going to be huge.

* I think I am starting to transition Nick to 1 nap. He's 15 months + 1 week. When did you make the switch? I'm torn whether I should do it or not but he's not consistent with the length of his 2 naps anymore and gets up around 630 - I feel like maybe he'd sleep longer in the mornings once he goes to the one nap. Torn?!

winners - book giveaway

Thanks for your help on the toys! I ordered the little car! :)










This one was tricky - some people left 2 comments, one for each question so I had to go back and combine into one and give everyone a #. I did a random.org sequence to find the winners! They were:

Marlene (already won a copy)--- new winner: Run4May

Shelley

Trish


Congrats!  Send me your address at tosha25italia at yahoo and I'll forward to Amy at runners' lounge!

Sketchers Shape Ups; toys

I'm interested in finding out more about Sketchers Shape Ups - they look pretty sweet and I saw them in a store about a month ago and ever since I have been coveting them.  Regardless if they work to shape up your calves, I like how they give you a lift so they would make my legs look longer and thinner, I think!

Does anyone have them? I'm not sure that I believe the toning aspect, but I like the idea of improved posture and less tension on the knees. What do you think? I keep looking for them on sale. I can't justify spending $100 on them, but maybe $70 and I'd take the plunge.

TOYS

Nick has a wagon and I'm thinking about getting him a little car to push around. I can't decide if it is too repetitive. HE loves pushing buttons and I think the car would be a hit since he's totally into trucks, cars, and buses right now. Does anyone have any suggestions on the ride on / push toys out there for toddlers? These are the two I've been looking at:

I feel like running is becoming easier - I'm able to run faster than I was in the past many weeks!
I hope this continues! :)

I'm featured this week on Food Buzz for Family Bites - 9 recipes. Check it out :)