No more running

I'm to the point in the pregnancy where my body does not want to run. I probably could run if someone made me, but it is beyond the point of comfort. Heck, I get to about 30 minutes of walking and I have to pee so bad it is painful. Beyond the bladder compression issues, the muscles in my lower abdomen start to ache at the end of a walk and I have had two episodes of Braxton Hicks contractions during walks recently. No worries. I don't mind shorter, easier episodes of exercise. I'm thankful that my back does not hurt (knocking on wood) nor do I have any other sciatica or nerve issues in my pelvis or legs (knocking on wood again). Those issues are extremely common during pregnancy.

Yesterday afternoon I went to the gym and walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes while I read my book club book. I tried to then get on a stationary bike (this time a recumbent), but my abdomen really hates the bike and only let me do about 7 minutes on it. I can't do the regular upright bike or the recumbent without significant discomfort. So, I got back on the treadmill and walked another 15 minutes. Not bad.

As much as I love running, I must say that walking at the gym while reading is pretty nice as well. I think getting to use the other side of my brain while exercising is really relaxing. Usually I spend my time running either completely zoning out or using the time to think through and work through any stressors of the day. Reading a book on an air-conditioned treadmill made me actively focus on something else, while at the same time feeling doubly productive - I got my workout in plus 40 pages of my book club book. Awesome!

Oh, and a random detail that I was thinking about just now...when you are pregnant, you need to know if you are Rh+ or Rh-. The + or - at the end of your blood type, right? Well, I'm O+, a pretty common blood type. You know what Chad is? The complete opposite of me, AB-. For some reason I find that fitting. I'm curious to find out what our baby's blood type is.

Random Thoughts

As an attempt at non-baby thinking today, I thought I'd share...

• I really like our neighborhood, especially the fact that Bambi and all of his many friends live here and roam the streets.
• Lost killed me last night. I cried. It was fitting. It made sense. I just didn't want it to happen. Chad said 'It is LOST, so you never know', when discussing what might eventually happen with those two characters by the last episode. (trying not to spoil anything for anyone who hasn't seen it)
• Chad's favorite character on Glee is Brittany. She is so funny. Whoever does the writing for her lines is a genius. I like Kurt because he is quite a bit more complex, but Brittany is a close second.
• I really want to learn how to knit. Holly, I said I would email you about it, but clearly I have procrastinated. I will email you soon. In the meantime, I may need to visit a craft/fabric store.
• We're doing better now with the passing of Beans. Both Miko and Felicia seem to have moved on and are enjoying their new routines. They have been very sweet to us and each other.
• We tried the new restaurant in the Arboretum (Saks/Starbucks side) called Newk's last night. They sent us a postcard for a free Big Crispy treat, so we went and had dinner. Chad liked his pizza (it smelled divine), and I thought my salad was pretty good. They are still learning the ropes over there, so if you go, know that. We got our free rice crispie treat, which was yummy, and were also given a free piece of strawberry cake to try. I tasted the icing and it was delish! Chad seemed to enjoy it. Newk's is an order at the register and take your number to your seat kind of place. They have sandwiches, salads, soups, and thin-crust pizzas. We like places where you don't necessarily have to tip and can eat a full, non-fast food tasting meal for under $20 for the two of us.
• I wonder if I'll be able to run Boston next year. I'm qualified. I would like to complete the distance and get the experience of doing it again, not to worry about my finish time at all. Chad is qualified, too, and it will be the first time we are able to run it at the same time.

That's all I have to say for now. Carry on.

obsessions

Most of you reading can relate to being obsessed with running. You think about your race, your goal time, your workouts, what you wear, what you eat, what pace you are running, how your body feels. These are all common things that we runners like to think about, talk about, and obsess over (some of us more than others). We obsess over our times and force ourselves to run without a watch. We obsess over distance and force ourselves to just run for a certain amount of time. We've all been there.

Some of us obsess about food. We think about how much or little we're eating. We think about if we're eating healthy or junk food. We count calories. We eat with reckless abandon, not worrying about the calories. We seek out restaurants that fit our own particular 'foodie' needs.

I'm obsessed. I'm starting to 'nest'. This whole nesting thing they pin on pregnant women has little to do with actually preparing the physical part of the baby's living space. No, nesting is rather an obsession of the pregnant mind. Ask me what I think about when I'm not consciously trying to focus on work - and believe me when I tell you that work focus takes lots of effort these days. What am I thinking about? Pretty much everything baby-related.

Being pregnant in general - how big I am, what I'm feeling in my belly, is my belly bigger than last week, is this position that I'm sitting in or standing in good for the baby, what am I going to eat next that is good for the baby, when am I going to fit in my exercise today, do these clothes still fit, do I need more maternity clothes, did I take my vitamin, did I do my birthing class homework....
Preparing for baby's arrival - do we have our lists/registries ready, what are we going to have to buy for ourselves, what do we really need, what do we really want, do I know what insurance will cover, we really need to order our glider if we're going to get one, diapering, baby care stuff, breastfeeding stuff, reading books, thinking about our classes, the actual labor and delivery...wow, we're really going to have a baby.
Preparing the house - we need to get rid of stuff, we need to re-do the closet, why is it so darn cold in here, wow we have so much stuff yet to bring in the house, we really need to get rid of stuff...

The thoughts go on and on. The oddest thought that I had recently (don't judge, just laugh) - "We're going to have a baby. It is going to come out of my body and be there and we can't put it back. You can't 'undo' a baby."

I'm obsessed. 95% of what I think about is baby related. It is also completely uncontrollable. My mind just goes there, and from what I'm told is completely normal. It is nesting.

For those of you who talk to me sometime in the next many months - I really will try to think of something other than the baby to talk about with you. I love hearing about what everyone else is doing. If you want to talk to me about something other than baby-related things, I'm all ears and will eagerly break out of my nesting mind-set to try to be a 'normal' person to talk to.