The Overdue Post

When we first found out we were pregnant [September 10th, 2012] I had the idea to blog my experience as I try & do this pregnancy thing while maintaining a healthy & active lifestyle.

Then I got nervous. What if I offend someone? What if I'm critiqued & I can't handle it? What if no one reads anything I have to say?

Now I'm putting all those anxieties aside & am doing this for myself [& anyone who needs a boost of encouragement during their pregnancy]. Health & fitness have been an important part of my life, so why should that change while Otter Baby is growing in my belly? My hope is that this blog will keep me accountable to what I truly desire to accomplish in the next 5 months.

Here are my baby mama goals:
            1. eat fresh. eat natural. avoid excess sugar.
            2. continue a regular work out routine to keep my body physically strong & to avoid excess
              weight gain
            3. resist giving in to every unhealthy craving
            4. keep a peaceful, joyful, and confident mindset

& this is why:
             1. A better diet = A healthier baby, a healthier mama, & a healthier daddy. All three of us are eating the same meals together, & it's important to me that my pizza & wings cravings aren't putting extra pounds on all three of us. Those are wasted calories for the baby as they don't provide much help in the baby building process [& wasted for Matt & I as the lbs will just sit on our hips]
             2. Labor is tough. & I've read, a regular workout routine can help that process be a little easier. Maybe it's true, maybe not. But what have I got to lose if not? It certainly won't make it worse! [i hope!] & in general, I just feel better when I'm more active.
             3. Things I've heard about cravings & food....
     -"you're pregnant! you're eating for two!" [false... more like 1.15 people. the other person i'm eating for weighs less than a pound [and at most 8 or 9 pounds] & only requires an extra 300 calories a day... not 2,000] 
   -"you're pregnant! enjoy it! now is the time you can eat whatever you want, whenever you want! [sure.. if I want to feel terrible, gain 50 pounds, increase the potential for gestational diabetes, have a larger baby that won't fit through its exit route, etc. I could go on & on]
            4. I didn't realize how much these 9 months will change me. It's so easy to have a fearful mindset because, my goodness, so much is going on! Every week as I read the updates on what is changing & developing in our little Otter Baby I'm amazed at how much could go wrong. Also - my body is changing. I haven't gained any weight yet - but i'm still bigger than ever and clearly pregnant. There are a lot of fears that come along with that [will I get terrible stretch marks? will my husband still be attracted to me? how can I wear cute outfits with a bowling bowl sized belly? etc...] So I've decided this is a time [like every other time in my life] where I truly need to rely on God; His love, His power, His peace, & the joy that comes from Him. Or else I'll be stressed, & even THAT is not good for our precious babes.


So as my pregnancy progresses, I hope to blog about workouts I've done, food we've made, things we struggle with, exciting moments, & anything else baby/family related :]


Current Baby Stats:
-ALMOST 16 weeks [on Friday]
-avocado/apple sized baby
-cannot wear pre-pregnancy pants without keeping the top button open :]
-felt the first baby kick Saturday morning, laying in bed, on my side.
-heard a VERY wiggly baby's heartbeat on November 5th. a very beautiful sound.
-craving dill pickles