Make It Important!

The other week in church the teacher used this quote to emphasize her lessons. This quote has stuck with me that whole time. It has applied to many different situations in my life lately. This is true. It something in your life is important to you, you will do everything in your power to do it. If it isn't or not top in your life than you will make an excuse. Every time.

Case in point: I wanted to run the Princess half and it was important to me. I ran a ton, even though it was hard, it sucked and it hurt often. Now that the 1/2 is done I have not run or even walked as much as I should have. Because it is hard, it sucks and it hurts. I am still exercising  but not as much as I had planned on at this point. I am a work in progress. I can still change that and every week I have a goal and if I meet it, great if not then that is ok too.

No matter what it is in life, exercise, personal hobbies, or just anything. If it is important to you, you will find a way. If not, you'll find an excuse.

March Week 2 Workout Recap

This week sure went by quickly! Before I knew it, it was Saturday. EEK! But staying busy with other things though.

Pregnancy changes: I AM STARVING ALL THE TIME! I feel so hungry. I am starting to graze for food, which I got out of that habit because I overate. So no I am just trying to have healthier foods around the house to graze on. Yummy yogurt. Need to be better though. Things are starting to get more difficult for me. Bending down, picking things up off the floor and getting up from laying down are hard. My belly is just starting to get big and in the way now. Tying my gym shoes is interesting too. Can't wait for warmer weather and flip flops!

Prepping for Baby: Set up the pack and play in our bedroom, found out missing a part of it now trying to search the house for it. Also painted the nursery with the help of friends. YEA! Daddy also cleaned out the van and set the base in the van. Things are happening. My hospital bag is partially packed. Moved baby toys from the nursery to the basement.

Prepping Mason for baby: Getting things set up around the house for baby and explaining that the crib, pack n play and toys are for Collin is helping to get Mace used to the idea of another little one in the house. He says baby and points to objects that will be for the baby. Oh and he started saying that he has a baby in his tummy too. Cute guy!

Workout Recap: 
Monday: Rest. I had a mommy helper come over and help clean my house. A girl from my church is trying to raise money for summer camp and offered her services during her spring break. Jumped on that band wagon, yes I did! She was all day, and she watched Mace for me when I had to go to a doc appointment so I didn't make it to the gym.

Tuesday: Rest. My doula came and I started noticing that Mace wasn't doing too well. He didn't want to eat breakfast and his voice was raspy, plus he slept in until 9:40ish, even with the time change that is late for him.

Wednesday: Rest. Mason was up the night prior throwing up so no gym for us.

Thursday: 1 mile walk; 1 hour 15 min prenatal yoga class

Friday: 3.5 mile walk/run

Saturday: Rest. Painted the nursery

Mileage 4.5 miles
31 weeks pregnant

Prepping For Labor- Mommy's Packing List

It's getting to be that time where I need to have a bag packed and in a place easy to grab just in case we have to leave in a hurry. I am going to do this in 3 parts. One for Mommy, Daddy and one if you already have children even if they aren't leaving the house. So stay tuned for the next 2 over the next couple of weeks!

Remember Father of the Bride 2, where Annie goes into labor and George, (Steve Martin) is running around with his head cut off. Has to look for the keys to the car, then runs back in to grab the bags which are right next to the door, then has to run back in because he forgot his son, Matty. Keep in mind most cases of labor will not be like this. You might feel like this, the stress of, Oh my goodness baby is going to fall out if right now if I am not in the hospital at this very second! But often labor takes hours, or even days, or weeks. Yes weeks! As Annie shows in the next scene it was a false labor and they return to the house exhausted. (I still have no idea how long mine will take since Mace was induced. So this is the part even I am a little nervous about. How will I know when it is real?)

Father of the Bride 2 had things going for them. They had the bags packed. I wanted to share my list of things that you want to think about packing in your bag and keep you bag in a place where your hubs and family members who are with you know about so when you do go, it is easy to remember. Or have it tucked away in your room and as your due date approaches move it closer to the garage or front door.

What to pack for Mommy: Starting from bottom of bag up.
~Going home outfit for you and for new baby and going home blanket for baby (I have a special one, don't forget baby socks too!)
- bring your comfy sweat pants. No jeans here cause you won't want to pull them on. And bring a pregnancy top too as you will have a bump still. (see Kate Middleton pix of Prince George meeting the world)

~Washed blankets from home for baby to get used to smell of home while in the hospital.

~clothing to wear for your hospital stay. 2 tops 2 bottoms (sweat pants again or capris or loose fitting non tight stuff). PJ's would be great, I just choose black bottoms or dark bottoms because of the after birth bleeding that happens, unless you want to wear the hospital gown.

~Nursing bras (2, just in case) and pads, along with nipple cream or coconut oil in a small container

~Cheap flip flops for the showers

~toiletries- toothbrush, hair brush, hair tie, face wash, shampoo and conditioner, glasses case, contacts and solution and makeup if you so choose.

~Birthing gown (I choose not to use the open butt gowns the hospital has and I bring a night dress that goes down to my knees and has thin straps. (Nursing gown from Old Navy.com nearly 3 years old.) More comfy. Check with doc and hospital to see if allowed.)
UPDATE* Don't forget to bring a robe with you so you can walk around the hospital if you have to during labor.

~Birthing sports bra or nursing bra- I have a black one that I will use again to give birth in. Keep in mind this one will get messy from when you meet your baby as they will place the baby on your chest or belly when they are born. That is why black. My cousin did hot pink though.

~Chapstick and hair tie easily accessible for use while laboring. You will need it.

~Charger for phone, tablet and all electric things you are bringing. (make sure your camera if bringing one that is not your phone, has a fully charged battery prior to being packed.)

~Ipod or MP3 player and headphones (or have these close to where your bag is so that you don't forget.)

~Insurance card, birth plan, pre-registered hospital card, picture ID and list of what you packed to make sure you bring it all home in a file folder so that you can check into the hospital and also add the hospital paperwork to before you leave the hospital too.

I am hoping to do most of my laboring at home prior to the hospital. And when I get to the hospital I want to be all work no play basically. But if getting induced, bring a good book or crossword puzzle or a game with you and make sure you rest because inductions can take some time and it can get boring just sitting there watching the clock, which you will do even if you bring a book, game or rest. I also bring essential oils with me to help calm me or help me through the labor. My doula and hubs will administer them to me during labor.

Other women bring their Boppy pillow with them or a pillow from home. I don't, because that is just more stuff to take home when your hands are going to be full of stuff, including your new baby!

But these are my essentials. If I think of anything else to add between now and DD I will update this post!

QOTD: What do you think is the most essential thing to pack to the hospital?

Want to know what to pack for your hubs? CLICK HERE! 
Want to know what to pack for your kids and pets? CLICK HERE! 

What's Your Mantra?

I am just wondering what mantras are used out there to help you through a tough run, bad day or just a way to get your butt to the gym.

Why are mantras important? Repetition is the key! Most people learn by repetition. And if we tell ourselves something so many times we might start to believe it.

There are different types of mantras. Positive ones get us motivated. But be weary of the negative ones as they will beat you down and might not help your situation, (unless you are a person that pushes back against negative comments.)

My mantra for the 1/2 marathon up until mile 10.5, look at everyone I am passing! I am strong! K liked to point out to me that a 29 week pregnant chick was passing and staying in front of a ton of people. So that became the phrase of the day for me. After mile 10.5 I had a different tune in my head, I just wanna be done. That is what I kept saying and I told K I won't stop. Just keep going! 

You can turn these motivational mantras into daily positive affirmations too to help lift your spirits and guide you on to having a better day. I am amazing. I am strong. Repeated every morning will block out the negative thoughts we can often get during the day.

Let me know what gets you through your workout or a bad day!

Proper Running Shoes

Hey fellow readers! I know I have been kind of MIA but I have actually been doing research on a couple of upcoming blog posts. And well, just haven't written them yet, but they are coming!

~My current shoes, Brooks Adrenaline- GTS 13~

I learned a lot on my 1/2 marathon. Not just about me but about other runners too. When I run, I tend to watch the person in front of me and try to pace them or just think about their shirt, often I will call someone by their shirt, (a lady in my training program last summer was wearing a Cinderella the Musical shirt and I called her Cinderella for 3 miles as I was pacing her) or just anything that will keep my mind off of what I am actually doing. Running is hard and we need to focus on other things to keep going.

Well, I watched a ton of women's feet for their pacing and tried to match my pace to theirs on the 1/2. I often look down since I am pregnant just to make sure I don't trip or anything. One thing that I noticed were the improper running shoes some ladies were wearing. I broke my heart seeing them in some shoes that we not made for running knowing that they had a grueling 13.1 miles in front of them.

These are the 3 that really stuck in my mind:
Mile 2 I was behind a lady when she stepped she was actually stepping on the side of the shoe and not the actual base of the shoe. And she had to pull her shoe back into place about every 10 steps because it was sliding off her feet. AT MILE 2!

Other ladies, many ladies, were wearing their BRAND NEW New Balance Cinderella shoes, with the ribbons. Yes they were brand new because they were spotless on the sole of the shoe.

Another lady around mile 11 or so I passed had bloodied bandaids on both heels of her feet and the back of her shoes were just covered in blood. I felt so bad for her.

Please, please, please! GET PROPER RUNNING SHOES when doing 3 miles, or 6 miles especially 13.1 miles. These are shoes that you can find at a local running store or shoe store where they check your running stride, and foot fall and ones that you have been TRAINING IN! Break in your shoes by using them on training runs. Every time you run so that you know where rubbing happens or where you need to tape up your feet to avoid sores or bloodied heels. (I felt so bad for that lady) You will know how you feet feel after pounding the pavement at 3 miles, 6 miles and 10 miles. You will know if you need more support and have time to get it before the race.

Using brand new shoes is a no, no too because again you don't know how your feet are going to feel after such a long distance. And the shoes are so stiff and not broken in. Yes New Balance did make a brand of running shoes with the Disney theme in mind. They are cute and they have fun ribbon laces that will be totally trashed or damaged by the end of the race but again, knowing how the shoe and your foot work together is so important. Here is a Runner's World article on common shoe questions.

Running is a sport. Injuries happen. Toe nails are lost, and bleeding will incur. Runners may not have the best looking feet but we know that our feet can carry us many, many miles! But I felt so bad and my heel just ached after seeing the lady's heel. I know someday it might happen to me, but I have finally learned taping up certain parts of my foot is ok to add extra protection. If you start to get a blister on a test run, or a shorter distance run you know what your tendencies are for longer runs now. (E, I'm talking to you!) I taped around the ball of both feet to protect the bunion area and the callus on the bottom of my feet during my runs. They helped but, I taped too high (like 2 cm) on my left foot and got 3 tiny little blisters from the irritation caused by my shoes. I will chalk it up to being super excited and nervous oh and sleep deprived for my misplacement of my tape.

So there we have it! Running shoes, properly fitted, and worn by you, running shoes really are a necessity. I hope these 3 ladies and all the others that participated in the race had a happy and safe race and they were able to accomplish what they set out to do. Take care of your feet because they will take you place if you show them a little love!