Week 24

Week 24 has been a better week.  Overall it was nice to visit family in San Antonio last week but being home with my husband and pups just makes everything right in the world.
Another exciting aspect of this past week has been receiving my invitations and sending them off for my first baby shower.  I was so touched when my best friend Sara offered to throw me a shower and even more excited to be surrounded by my friends & family.
However there has been one little dark cloud following me around lately that I just can't seem to shake off, and that is getting used to all the new weight I have gained.  In all honesty the only time I step on a scale is at the doctor's office and that is because they make me!  It has been a good two months since I have stepped on the scale at home and even at the last doctor's visit I refused to look at the number myself.  I know I'm supposed to be gaining weight but it still feels somewhat unnatural.  I know I'm eating for two and our little bp is growing by leaps and bounds, but with the way society treats overweight people, I can still hear a little voice in my head saying, "Oh no what am I doing?  All this new weight is not good".  I know, I know I am pregnant and that puts me on a whole other planet if you will, but I just never thought I would get this big at 24 weeks.  I also will admit that I don't always make the best food choices. I had a whataburger for lunch today, but I am still very aware of what is going in my body.
Another thing that has really been troubling me this past week is I miss running so much!  I didn't realize how much it had become a part of me until I started walking with a friend down at town lake last week.  Seeing all the fit and healthy runners out there made me ache to join them!  It was like I was being called home but could not go.  It hit me hard the first day out there, part of me wanted to turn right back around go back and sit in my car and have a good cry.  If it not had been for my new walking buddy, I would have.  I miss running, I miss feeling my body work hard and feel good at the same time.  I miss my running friends, my running coach, and my running community.  I miss getting up at 4:30 am to do a workout I will feel miserable and sluggish doing but when I am done feel like I conquered the day by 7am!
It also made me humble and to cherish those moments.  I will never take them for granted again.  I am trying to wipe off the pity party girl in me and relish that when I do get back in the game I will go back stronger and I will take advantage of every day I run.
After that first day walking on town lake I have been back a few times with my walking buddy.  I appreciate my friend more than she can imagine for helping me stay active and accountable.  Even though I am disappointed that I cannot run at this time I am grateful to walk those 4 miles with her.  Those 4 miles remind that I was that girl who would run by and I will be a different woman when I get back out there.  I will be a mother and I will have my own little girl to inspire.  I hope that I can be an example to her and maybe one day I will be cheering her on in something she is as passionate about as I am about running.

How Far Along? - 24 weeks  

Size of our BP - no longer in the fruit category, now size of a half-gallon of milk!!  

Maternity clothes - did some online shopping and hopefully get them this week!

Gender - baby girl 

Sleep - cherishing every moment I get!

Food cravings - strawberry yogurt!!     

What I miss - my old jeans and running

Symptoms - felt my first heartburn (yaaay maybe she will have lots of hair) 

Belly Button - still an innie!  

Best Moment This Week - Feeling blessed beyond my imagination with such a great support system from family and friends.  I had just met a friend a couple of months ago thru a mutual friend, and she is due right around the same time as me.  We have bonded over being pregnant and it helps just having someone going through it with you.  It also has been great having her be my new walking buddy as most of my friends are currently in training for half-marathons/marathons ( which I am so proud of and can't wait to go cheer them on!).