Update

24 weeks!!

This last week has been really busy with lots of sanding, puttying and getting ready to paint on the weekend. I have been walking to and from work most days and went to the gym 3 days last week. I am really enjoying the walking and it seems to be helping me sleep. I have been having these bizzre nights where I wake up at 2:30am and am wired! I feel wide awake and ready for a day of work, then I feel exhausted and ready for sleep about 20mins before the alarm goes off. But with the extra walking I seem to be sleeping a bit better. Mother Nature is getting me ready for things to come.

I am feeling really great and I think that the belly is getting bigger....which I am loving! I find myself rubbibg my belly or just walking along with my hand on my belly. Bub is really active and I love to feel the kicking. Ray finally felt a few really strong kicks a few nights ago and his face was priceless! It was pure shock and amazement... "wow did you feel that??"

So on Saturday my wondferful sister came down and helped Ray to paint the baby room. I was shattered from doing sanding and painting the undercoat during the week so I was very thankful for her help. We painted a lovely pale green and I am glad it is one big job out of the way. With Ray training for Fitroy falls the next 6 weeks he will be pretty pooped and then it is the marathon, then a few weekends of birth classes and then it is almost show time. So I spent a great day with my mum and little Alex and they did all the hard work :-)

Sunday morning it was pouring with rain and while Ray went off to meet the girls for a long run I opeted to stay in bed. It occurred to me that I have 16 more potential sunday sleep ins, so I should make use of a few!! We then had a really realxing day and went to see Die Hard 4.....pure action and I suprisingly enjoyed it- a mature Bruce was not to bad to look at for a few hours either! Bub was going crazy in the movie....mut have been responding to all the noise.

So we are now 24 weeks....16 to go!

Thankfully Ray no longer looks like an alien with his infected eye!! He could have been an extra in a boxing movie. Thursday I walked to work and then to the gym in the evening. Friday is usually my favourite day of the week, but not today! I almost did not drive to work becuase it was such a beautiful morning and felt like spring. I fluffed around, so I took the car and parked outside my office. About 20mins after getting to work I looked out the window to see a huge big dent in my drivers side door! Some thoughful person had reversed into the car and left a massive dent!! No note!!! Now I might be naive to expect this kind of decency but I thought that if you hit someones car and obviously smashed half the front side in then you would leave a note....thats what insurance is for people!!!! Thankfully Ray and I are not possession people and took the view of it is only a car and will be fixed and thankully no one was in the car...but am dissapointed that someone was so thoughtless and dishonest. What comes around goes around!

I went to the gym in the evening and did a boxing class (no body imapct!!!) and got out all my frustrations! Then when we were at Rays mums for dinner they offered us to have a lovely wooded tallbay for the baby room....see already improving!

Saturday morning was filled with sanding and puttying walls and then I met some loely friends at the bay and we walked two laps (14km). I felt great and we were keeping a pretty good pace....haha each time we hit a slight incline (they are there, despite appearing flat) they would just glide a head as I felt like I was walking backwards! Amazing the difference having a person on baord makes.

The growth spurt continues and I am excited and loving the growing bump. One week off 6 months so I am glad it is finally getting bigger. This last week I have been waking at about 2am and just lying there not able to get back to sleep. I mean I feel totaly wored and ready to get up....then at about 5:30 I am really tired and ready for sleep. Hmmmm is this mother nature preparing me for things to come???

Today my lovely sister picked me up and did some fancy driving to get us a park about a 10min walk from the finish at city to surf. We had a really yummy breakfast at North Bondi and then lay like lizzards in the sun. It was much more relaxing than lining up for hours at the start line thatsd for sure. It was fun watching the winners and cheering all the crazies home. There were a few Borats this year....one of which really should have had an x-rating! Now sorry for the visuals but that will be particularly nasty chafing!! Ray ran likw a champ and crossed the line in 65 mins. Talk about spot on!!! We had worked out a guestimate from his lane cove 10km time and I had said about 64-65mins....so he was pretty spot on. He looked really relaxed as he ran dow the finish chute! I then went home for a 2hr nap....hard work this cheering :-0

Nothing too exciting to report today. Walked to work yesterday which was chilly but very nice. I have my system down pat and the porridge seems to keep me from eating my arm off by 10am.

I headed to the gym tonight and did 40mins on the elliptical trainer and some weights. I felt really good and bub was bouncing along. I had trouble sleeping on Sunday and Monday night....my tummy muscles felt sore when I rolled over- They felt like they were stretching. Well when I got to the gym on tuesday night and pulled on my t-shirt I was a little suprised to feel it fitting very snuggly. Now this t-shirt was baggy a few days ago! Yep the belly has started to pop out.....even Ray noticed as soon as he got home. I love it! So I am sure the next few weeks I will continue to get rounder :-) Bub has been really active and kept me awake this morning from just before 5am....not that I mind, I really like the feeling of bub wriggling around. The movements are starting to get much stronger...so the fun begins.

Well we were obviously one hit wonders going from 1st place to almost last at trivia- it is always harder when you do not know the answers!!!

Long time...no blog.

Well work finally has decided that blogs are a security risk and are now on the list of off limit web sites. That means I need to update at home, which is not actually a problem except by the time I get home I can not be bothered!! So lets see what have I been up too??

Thursday I walked to work again and I think I the perfect route marked out. I even found myself day dreaming about potential spots I can run post baby... " this hill would be good..." Sad huh! I am still getting to the gym in the evenings and working out the non pregnant bits and my core. People are starting to give me those looks...they think I am pregnant but are not sure- they will work it out soon enough!!

Saturday we went to Lane Cove for the striders 10km and while Ray ran I had time keeper duties. I am not sure what happened but after about 10 mins of hitting the button I felt really nauseated and thought I might need to dash to the loo. I felt very green and had to sit on my haunches to try and get it finished! Thankfully I held it together...weird! We then drove up to Newcastle to see the family! My favourite cousin is off to Europe so we wanted to see her befor she goes. I was POOPED by the time we got home!

Sunday morning we met the usual suspects at Grays point for their long run. They were doing about 33km and Ray was only doing 20km becuase of city to surf. So we picked up Helen and headed to the shop at Audley wier. I headed off for a walk along Lady Maquarie drive and Ray and Helen waited for the others to pass through. My aim was for them to not catch me too quickly! I managed to get 7km into LMD and turn around to head back before they caught me. It was such a beautiful morning.....sunny and cold. There were heaps of runners out and I was chuffed when a mum ran by with bub in the pram :-) there were heaps of birds along the track and it was a very relaxing way to start the day. Bernie then opted to keep me company and walked back....I was very thankful for the company and as usual we had no problems polluting the air with out chatter!!! I walked 14km in 2hrs18mins. We had a yummy breakfast and a brush with fame, as Bernie pointed out our waitress was in fact the Australian Princess! I know I felt special ;-) I then went home and had a 2hrs nap before spending a relaxing afternoon doing NOTHING!!

Sunday marks 22 weeks....five and half months! The bub is moving heaps now and Ray can feel some movement too. I have been getting reflux each time I eat the past few days....so Renie are my new friends! I am loving being pregnant at the moment!

Tonight I had my violin lesson and it was my final chance to record my level one graduation peice. Now I have been practicing my butt off for this and I play it perfectly at home.....but put me in the room with microphone and my teacher recording me and I freak out and the nerves get the better of me every time! I am so excited that tonight I managed to get it finally recored!!! So if I never have to hear that Gavotte one more time it will be too soon :-) I joke to Ray that the baby will have heard it so often it will be the peice of music that it will settle too.....D'oh!!!!
I am so excited to finish it and that means I can start on level 2 :-)

The last few days Ray has had the car to get to training....which means I do not have to get up to go :-) I walked to work and it was about 5kms and took me about 50mins. I can walk the back streets and keep off the main roads. I actualy found it quite fun to plod along and sticky beak at all the houses....Amazing what you don't see running. It was a great start to the day although I did get VERY hungry by 9:30am. I walked again this morning and decided to take my porridge to work and have it after the walk....so we will see how hungry I get this morning! So I think Monday and Friday I will drive and walk Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Haha I may have to leave earlier and earlier as I get bigger :-) If I need to set out te night before I will catch the bus ;-)

We had a great night last night....went to local trivia with our favourite people. Despite Ray putting a jinx on us early we came out on top and scored first place!! I always knew Rays endless knowledge of useless facts would come in handy one day!!

I can not believe another weekend is over!! They fly by so fast. We had such a great weekend! Firstly Ray got his P's!!!!!! Woo Hoo!!!! I am so excited....he can now get to training without me and more importantly I can stop sweet talking the local taxi drivers and he can drive me to the hospital in December :-)

Saturday we went to the bay... Ray did a 12km run and I walked a lap of the bay. It was clear and cold and watching the sun set was lovely! I really enjoyed walking and clearing my mind.

Yesterday we met the girls at 6am. Ray and the girls did a long run and I wnet for a walk. I headed off from Queens Park and made my way down to Bronte Beach and then along the foreshore walk to Bondi. I then headed back along Campbel Pd and back up Bondi Rd. I headed back along Carrington road and finished with a lap of Queens park. It was about 12kms and took me just over 2hrs. It was a brilliant morning and a great walk.....although Bondi rd felt like a mountain! We finished with a yummy breakfast. Sunday evening I felt pretty pooped! My 2hr walk felt like a 3hrs run....I slept like a log :-)

I spent the afternoon with my sister and mum and little Alex....always fun!!!
Little Alex was born in November 2005 and I can not believe how big she is now! She is a really little character with a great sense of humor and is such fun to be around. Here is a baby and now picture! So cute!!

2o weeks.....half way mark.

Well as promised here is the belly at 20 weeks! I still think it looks fat and not pregnant, but Ray reassures me I am looking pregnant. Its quite funny, I would not have thought you could have belly envy...but at the scan I saw some woman at the smae stage as me with really nice big round bellies and thought why don't I look like that. Mine seems to be quite spread out and not yet that round. Any way it is a work in progress, still plenty of time to get big and round :-) Then I will probably complain....haha we are never happy!

The past 3 days I have been feeling bub really regularly! It is so exciting. It is a little strange sitting in meetings or at home visits with clients and trying to concentrate when all I want to do is stop and talk to bub because I can feel it bouncing around. I am also feeling fantastic at the moment! My energy levels are great and I am feeling really full of beans. It is so nice not to feel that exhaustion you feel early on. On another note...baby brain has well and truely kicked in! I had to feedback some information at a meeting yesterday and all I could not remember for the life of me anyones names! I was saying " you now who I mean, the girl with the frizzy hair..." Very professional! Thankfully they thought it was funny!

Monday, Tuseday and last night I went for about a 40min walk and then to the gym. I am working hard to keep my core and abs nice and strong...it is meant to help with labour and beyond- I will try anything to help :-) As bub has moved up much higher now, I feel quite short of breath when I am walking- makes you appreciate and miss that really nice fit feeling.

So we are over the half way hump....bring it on :-)

First Pictures.....

What an amazing experience!!! I can not really put into words the feeling of seeing this little life for the first time. We have had a few little scans, but they are really unclear and mainly so the doctor can see a heart beat. The scan on Saturday was so clear and detailed that you could almost say who it looks like....well not quite ;-) I felt completely overwhelmed and full of joy. I know that sounds a little corny but it is true. To think this little life is growing inside is so awesome!! So I felt a sense of awe, joy and pure relief and yes there were tears! I have no idea why I was criying....I just felt so happy and excited. Ray thinks it looks like him......poor bub!! We also got a DVD of the scan so I could share it with my mum and sister. They are so excited and supportive of Ray and I it was nice to be able to share it with them. We kept the sex a secret and I am pretty proud I managed to resist the temptation. I did enquire half way through if they could see anything, but they were not really looking because we said we did not want to know...Phew!! Ray loved seeing the baby...makes it feel real for him. Despite my growing size, boobs and erratic hormones I am sure it must be hard for the dad to feel how real it all is.

I am also feeling movements since Saturday night quite regularly....so I am a very happy girl this week! Needless to say I could not care less at the moment about running and muy lack of!! Sorry for the ramble.... I feel a little excited at the moment! I will update belly pictures on Wednesday at the 20 week mark...half way!!

Plodding along....

Well the weeks are marching along! I can not believe it is almost half way. It still seems a long way off, but then when I think how quickly the first 20 weeks have gone....it will be here in a blink! I have not really felt any movement except a few flutters and to be honest that may have been wind :-) All the books and other mums are asking me am I feeling the baby yet and I am a feeling a bit disapointed that I am not. I am really looking forward to feeling the moevements...it will feel so rerassuring to feel bub moving around inside. The doctor did tell me that seeing I am a fist time mum and have really strong Abs I may not feel anything until 21 or 22 weeks. I hope he is wrong! We have our scan on Saturday and I can not wait! All the other scans have been in Dr Oppermans office on a tinly little scanner and it is hard to see a lot....so to see bub on a clear machine is very exciting.

I have been feeling really full when I eat....I can not imagine how crowded it must feel towards the end! I have not put on a lot of weight which is good. It is a bit scary when you are used to being so active and then to cut it down so dramatically, I was a little worried I might turn into a house! At the moment I have put on 5kgs and expect a bit of a growth burst over the next few weeks. But I am happy with 5kgs at almost half way.

This week I have been going to the gym and walking and doing some light weights. I have been taking it pretty easy as this cold is still hangin around....I think I sound worse than I feel. I am enjoying the walking....feels more comfortable than running. I think that I must be running differently given my changing shape and it feels a bit weird and unstable. I am not missing the running as such, but I am missing seeing my little group of friends terribly! You take it for granted when you are seeing people 4-5 times a week! I have my graduation peice from level one in violin coming up and so I am doing a lot more practice! That is keeping me out of mischief :-)

I will update the belly pictures next week at the 5 month mark and I might put the fist pics of bub on as well!

I have had a very quiet week...spent mainly in bed! I managed to get Rays flu and felt awful! So lots of sleeping and resting was all that happened this past week. We headed down to King of the mountain run yesterday with Bernie and Wayne. I dropped them at the start and then met Naomie for a very slow 8km run. I was surprised I managed anything at all given how yuck I had been all week. Ray and Bernie ran really well and it was exciting to see Ray complete his longest run so far!

I am feeling human again and almost back to my usual self and am quite keen to get back into my routine. I will head to the gym tonight for a walk and some light weights. I am still not sure about the running...I am playing it by ear.

Hi from under the doona

Still have a yucky cold....so have spent yesterday and today under the doona! I am feeling more human today, so hopefully will rejoin the workld tommorow.

18 weeks today :-)

1 week and a few days until we have the exciting 19 week scan....so far we are both in agreement to keep babies sex a suprise. I hope my curiosity doesn't get me! you know the saying curiosity killed the (Kit) Cat! Things are going really welland I can not blieve in 2 weeks we will be half way....GULP! I am looking forward to doing the babies room in the next month or so....that will make it fel even more real!

update....

Friday: Went straight to the gym after work before heading to coles to stock up for striders 10km...Deanne and I did the catering and there was so much food to buy! It was quite embarrassing having a trolley full of lamingtons and lollies!

Saturday: I know I said no more running but I went for a walk this afternoon that somehow turned into a 5km run....oops! I felt fine and no pain or discomfort. the striders run in the morning went well and the runners seemed happy with the food. there was so much there bu it almost all got eaten...just a few scones and jam rolls left over.

Sunday: Ray did the Woodford to Glebrook race today. I felt like I had run a marathon myself by the time I dropped him at one end and then got to the other and dragged allt he bags etc up to the finish! I stupidly had agreed to carry a runners bag from the start back to my car and take it to the other end. It must have weigher 20kgs and walking back to the car almost killed me! You forget that the body is already using limited resources and then add another 2okg onto my back!! I also unfortunately seem to have gotten Rays cold....thats Karma for the limited sympathy provided! So we both collapsed when we got home and had a sleep, then dinner and straight back into bed! Poor Ray was exhausted from running with a really bad cold....so we were a good pair!

Movement.....

I almost wused out of a swim yesterday afternoon...so hard to convince yourself to get your clothes off and jump in the water in winter. It was really enjoyable in the water and I warmed up pretty quickly. I did 20 laps and then saw an older guy peeing in the pool so jumped out....I know that happens, but if you see it happening it is hard to then continue swimming through it! I then did some weights and core stuff at the gym.

I think I felt some movement last night!! I felt a funny feeling like blowing bubbles. It was not something I have felt before so I was pretty sure it was baby and not me. Then I lay there waiting for it to happen again....haha needless to say I did not sleep too well! I am sure the excitment will wear off....especially when your getting kicks in the kidney or ribs ;-) but I hope it happens again soon :-)

Wave the white flag....

Monday:

Went to the gym...jumped on the elliptical trainer and then did some weights.

Tuesday:

Went for a 30min run tonight and then headed to the gym. I have had some Sciatica problems over this last week, it was fine while running but later in the evening it started to ache again. I think it will be time to jump in the pool. I have always had issues with my pelvis and sciatica/lower back pain. It has not been a problem at all over the last 18months but I am not surprised given that the pregnancy hormones cause the joints and ligaments to loosen up. So I am sure the pelvis is not as stable....even with all the core exercises to keep it in place. So I think I will wave the white flag....I would rather jump in the pool than be in pain.

Wednesday:

I will head to the pool this afternoon....I have packed my bag to go there straight from work. Somehow I think it will be hard to convince my self to go swimming once I get home :-) The glute/lower back still feels achy this morning, so I think it is definately the right choice. Time to listen to my body.

We are 17 weeks today and the tummy is getting bigger! I had a wardrobe drama yesterday...not a lot left that feels comfy. I will try to hold out a while longer and then buy some maternity clothes. A friend has loaned me another gismo to extend the life of my clothes.

update

Friday:

Went to the gym this afternoon and did the fatburner class. Lots of leg exercises....just what I need, work the non-pregnant bits :-)

Saturday:

We arrived at the CR challenge a little later than planned. I was hoping to run before every one else and just plod to the finish, but ended up starting witht the 30min group. I was aiming at about 33mins so I decided to let them kust take off and I would plod at my own pace. I felt really good this morning and was surprised when I caught and passes a few people. I finished in 28 mins a bit quicker than planned. I then did plod back to the start which seemed to take forever....and a much needed loo stop! We spent the afternoon clearing out a heap of clutter and a trip to the dump...I love that feeling of getting rid of excess crap!

Sunday:

We again arrived a few minutes too late for the 6am start of the star!! We need to get up earlier! So Ray headed out with the 6:10 group for 26km and I made my way from Dee Why SLSC to Manly fairy beach (past the manly SLSC) and back. I ran the first 7km and walked back, arouind 13kmin total. I was so slow this morning!!! I know technically it is running if both feet are in the air, even if it is only mm off the ground. It really felt like a shuffle this morning and I have become aquainted with each toilet at all the SLSC between Dee Why and Manly...stupid pregnant bladder! It was a spectacular morning though....no clouds and the sunrise was pretty amazing over the water. It is also very nice to have some time to yourself to think. It was really cold so we had a drink and zipped home and got back under the doona.....after a hot shower and porridge of course :-)

Full of bounce!

Wednesday:

Headed to the gym tonight....did my legs, upperbody and core/abs workout.

Thursday:

This morning we had our 4month visit and scan. I love getting to see the baby on the ultrasound...it is so reassuring and very exciting. It is so reassuring to see this little person bouncing aroud and seeing a healthy hearbeat. Dr Opperman said that bub had heaps of energy and was super active....I wonder where it gets that from :-) The bub was wriggling heaps and kicking its legs and had grown heaps! Dr Opperman said that in a few week I will be able to feel all the movements, I can't wait for that! He also announced that my uterus had grown heaps....yes I had noticed that courtesy of the expanding belly!

I had a day off today ad spent it relaxing...snoozing on the bed and reading. I headed out this afternoon for a 5km run and felt great. I then finished with some stretching and core excercises. I am hoping to be able to keep running for another month, but am just listening to the body.

16 weeks

As promised more belly shots, me at 16 weeks.

A grumpy start...

Monday....nothing today!

Tuesday

I dragged myself out of bed this morning and headed to the park. Ray was doing a time trial around the lake and I plodded around the park for 5km. The rain held off and it was actually a lovely run. I was happy I made the effort despite the grumpy start! I hovered around the 6:30/km pace and felt really comfortable. The park was pretty empty this morning with only the Kookaburras for company :-) I am enjoying running on my own....I feel a little guilty running with others because I am so slow. At least on my own I feel relaxed and if I want to stop and walk I can.

Update...

Friday:
Headed to the gym after work and did the fat burner class. Well they all did the fat burner class and I did a pretty good impression I thought :-) Seriously there was a lot of legs tonight so it felt great! Then I did the groceries *goran* but arrived home to the most amazing smell....my ledgend of a husband had cooked dinner!

Saturday:

After a lazy day with lots of napping I convinced Ray to come for a walk with me. We headed out at my cracking pace and there was a lot of teasing about my "power walking" style. We walked 7km and then came home for some well deserved food!

Sunday:

Ray met some other runners for a long 25km run starting from the bay, so I took advantage and did a run walk. I ran for 11km ancd walked 3km...twice around the bay. Because of the rain and the cold it was dead around the bay which was lovely...except of course for a few other crazy runners (JD). It was so relaxing cruising around and watching the sun come up behind the clouds. Ray and I finished off at Bowen Island with a hot chocolate and fruit toast! Mmmmmm! I felt great today again but crashed on the lounge by 7:30pm.

I spent the rest of my sunday with my family, watching my little neice play. She is so cute and is learning to say our names. I won't put down what she calls Uncle Ray ;-)

Shortest day....

Last night I arrived home and sat on the bed and thought I would just close my eyes for a miniute....20 mins later I woke up a little confused at why the clock was saying 5:20pm. I felt better and decided to head out for a plod in case the rain reappears on the weekend. I layered up, it is getting so cold in the evening and went for a slow 5km run around Kingsgrove. I finished up at the gym and did some stretching and core stuff. I felt a little uncomfortable today and for some reason had to keep pulling my skins up. I have found that the skins are the most comfy thing to run in...feels like it is all held in place.

Woo Hoo its friday!!!!