Tapering.

When you're waiting for something big to happen like, for example, the birth of your second child, you tend to become boring. It's a result of fixating on the big thing and all the whens, hows, and what ifs of that thing. All that fixating sorta takes over.

In my case, that means I can barely find room in my brain to think up a less-than-average dinner, I have repeatedly tried to put the milk away in the pantry and I've fallen behind on answering emails, blogging (obviously) and keeping up on the ol' Facebook.

But I am all kinds of on top of the grocery shopping (although my choices have grown increasingly odd and heavy on the cereal), laundry and other things domestic. In other words, I'm a (slowly) walking cliche. You know, the wack-a-doodle preggo lady getting the house all ready for the arrival of baby. Yeah, that would be me.

Only I feel like I'm just hanging out and waiting. The iron pills have boosted my flagging energy a bit and I'm still going for walks and enjoying my 30 minutes routines with the gals on Exercise TV. Other than that? I'm waiting. And waiting. And questioning every little twinge. Googling every symptom, real or imagined.

In other words, fixating.

To put it in runner terms, I feel like I'm in some sort of other-wordly taper. The pregnancy taper. Gathering energy for the big marathon of birth. And feeling antsy while doing it.

Like marathoners who ache to keep putting in the miles on rest days, I long to get going. I would love to head out for a long run or tackle some hills or nail a half-dozen 400s. But the body won't allow it and I know that's for the best and I honestly don't mind. I'm gearing up, people. Gearing up.

About a week to go . . .

~ Felice 

Is it bedtime yet?

You know what happens after months and months of chirping about how great pregnancy is?

You get your comeuppance. In my case, that means getting hit smack in the face with a big ol' plate of fatigue pie.

We're talking sheer exhaustion. Tired beyond belief. Tired that doesn't go away. Sure, I have some good reasons for why I'm exhausted -- I'm at the tail end of this here pregnancy, my son has decided that it's great fun to wake up in the middle of the night to pee and he needs me to take him to the bathroom every time, and I'm anemic. Fortunately, I can do something about that last one and ever since I found out about the anemia (OK, yesterday) I've been taking iron supplements.

But, come on! Do I really need to be this tired? Really?

I'm not complaining complaining I'm just, you know, complaining. I don't like being tired. I'm not one of those people who's normally tired all the time. Yes, I get tired. But, not like this. Not so I have to lie down and nap or else I will suddenly just stop functioning and end up standing in the middle of the room as if I were some sort of zombie woman who hasn't yet figured out how to move her limbs.

(I guess in addition to my fatigue, I've also gained a heightened flair for exaggeration in my 38th week.)

Grumble, grumble, grumble . . . 

On the more cheery-ho! side of things, my doctor -- admittedly based on very little -- has predicted that I will deliver prior to my next scheduled ob appointment, which is next Wednesday. So I've got that going for me. And I won a free housecleaning! Well, not exactly the whole house -- just the bathrooms and the kitchen, but still! I'm psyched! After all, I keep the house fairly clean (which could be why I'm tired . . . ) but I always feel as if I'm behind on the bathrooms. They just get yucky and, I admit, I don't give them the thorough cleaning that they deserve. Because they're bathrooms and who enjoys cleaning bathrooms? Especially when sporting a sizable baby belly?

So, that's my story these days. I may not be running and I may be all kinds of tired but you had better believe I will have a clean house.

Happy almost Friday, everyone!

~Felice

Walking is the new running

OK, for real this time. I'm no longer running. I haven't run in 10 days and that's cool. Walking, at 38 weeks preggo, is totally the new running. I'm so into it.

Well, not really. But I'm telling myself I am. When Conal hits the bed for his afternoon nap and I am dying -- dying -- to do the same? Oh, yeah. I tell myself I'm really into this whole walking-as-the-new-running thing. Sometimes it actually works.

But . . . hmmm . . . walking just isn't the same as running is it? Nope. Not at all. It's a fine substitute for the time being but I kinda can't wait for that postpartum day when I can lace up my running shoes, pull on two sports bras, squeeze into the largest running top that I have and hit the roads. It'll be awesome.

You know what else is awesome? Well, I'll tell you! I've got a giveaway for Brooks gear going on over here. Check it out!

Enjoy the rest of the day, everyone! Thanks for stopping by.

~ Felice

You're a jogger?

The other night I went to get my hair cut and colored. If you get highlights, or any kind of haircoloring, you know that you spend a lot of time in the chair while the color is being applied. So, my hairdresser, Angela, and I had lots of time to chat.

And we have a lot to chat about. We both have boys and are both pregnant with our second child. As the conversation wore on, we started to discuss weight -- gain during pregnancy, loss after pregnancy, blah, blah, blah. At one point, Angela told me she was going to take up jogging after her baby is born. She'd definitely lose the weight that way, she figured. She went on and on and I was agreeing with her in the form of some very enthusiastic cheers of, "You can do it!" and "Absolutely!" and "Running is the perfect exercise for a mom!" when she said, "But, you know, it will be hard to get out and do it with two kids."

I stopped her right there. I told her that I run and that I ran through (most of) this pregnancy and that I even trained a group of non-running moms -- all of whom have at least two kids -- for a 5K this spring. I started to go on about prioritizing and making time for yourself and all the things I tend to go on and on about when she interrupted me.

"Wait a minute," she said. "You're a jogger?"

"Um, yeah," I said.

"You've been jogging while you're pregnant?"

I bit my tongue.

Oh, how I wanted to say, "Run! I run! I'm a runner! Not a jogger." But I didn't. This is a mom who wants to get into running -- whether she refers to it as running or jogging. Why snob it up?

And, frankly, I'm not doing much running these days at all so who am I to correct the jogging label? Honestly, she could have asked me if I waddle and I would have had to say yes. So, yes. I told her I've been jogging while pregnant and we went on to have a great conversation about it.

She was really interested in my whole pregnant running story. And she seemed quite gung-ho about starting her own running program this spring. I hope she does! I can't wait to give her some support -- while she gives me some nice "sun-kissed" hair!

Happy Monday, everyone. Hope you all had a great weekend -- running, jogging or even just a little waddling!

~ Felice

Still here.

37 weeks! Just 3 to go, unless the little guy decides to come early. Which, of course, I wouldn't mind at all.

And what of my running? Well, let's say it has mostly been walking. I've done a teeny-weeny bit of running over the past few days but nothing remarkable. Part of that is the pregnancy thing (go figure . . . ) and part is the go-go-go of the past week. I have a book project due this week and another due at the end of the month and I really can't be late with those because, you know, I'll soon have this whole new baby to take care of.

I've still been exercising and I'm trying to be diligent with my little squats/plies/lunges routine since I do believe that leg strength is important for a smooth delivery. Apparently, Conal doesn't go for this. The past two times that I have started up my routine he's said, "Be careful, Mommy."

"OK, I will," I respond and continue with my reps.

Yesterday, though, after he told me to be careful, he turned it up: "No, Mommy. You're going to get hurt."

"No, I won't"

"Yes," he said, shaking his head. "Yes, you are. You're going to get hurt deep in your legs and in the head and in the baby."

I stopped and told him I wasn't going to get hurt and that I did the same thing when I was pregnant with him so it was OK.

"Oh, yeah. I remember. I liked it and it didn't hurt."

And then he went back to his trains and I went back to my routine. He's easily convinced, that one.

So, that's that. I'm still here. Still moving. Still trying to get it all done between now and d-day.

Thanks for stopping by -- hope you all are doing well!

~ Felice

Off he goes!

It finally arrived. The day that had been looming in my mind for months: My little guy started preschool.

For the past several days I had been lecturing myself about the importance of not crying in front of him. Showing up at preschool with a smiling, happy kid and ruining the moment with sobs would not be cool. "No way, Jose," as Conal says.

So, I managed to keep it together, no thanks to the raging pregnancy hormones. Or his big boy looks:

How was this kid just a baby the last time I looked?

Yeah, so yay me, no tears. I had a whopping 1.5 hours before pickup so I treated myself to a real pedicure (first one in about 3 years!) and ran a few errands. Then I headed back to school to get my little guy.

He did great. He loved it. He asked me why it was time to leave. No worries about the transition for him.

So, overall, a success!

I had a lack of success with last night's run, however. About a mile in, I had to stop to walk because my lower legs felt oddly swollen and sore. When I felt around, they weren't really swollen, they just felt that way. Like they were full and there was a lot of outward pressure. Strange.

Anyway, I walked for about 3/4 of a mile and then ran again and the weird sore swollen feeling never came back so I'm not sure what it was all about. I'm going to be on the look-out, though, because I didn't like it one bit. Nope, not a bit.

Have any of you ever had that kind of weird lower leg thing (pregnant or not)? I'm curious.

Thanks for stopping by!

~ Felice

Case of the crazies.

Apparently, being pregnant makes one slightly crazy.

In my case, I should have known. I've been preggo before but I suppose that the first time I was too busy with all those first time things that I didn't pay attention to the crazies. This time? This time I see what's going on. Oh, yeah. I do. But, that doesn't mean I stop it. Oh, no. Instead, I let my craziness run free by filling my freezer with many weeks worth of casseroles for after the baby is born. Because I guess Conal, Owen and I are going to have huge post-baby appetites . . .

Stocking up on the expensive baby wipes. Hey, they're chlorine-free and I got a good deal . . .

Crying at commercials. Eh, that's normal . . .

And Josh Ritter songs. Eh, probably normal too . . .

And Pearl Jam songs. OK, that's a little weird . . .

Repeatedly going through my closets, cleaning them out and donating my no longer wanted/needed clothes to Goodwill. And doing the same with my kitchen cabinets. And my pantry. And my bathroom cabinets. And the basement. And pretty much any place I can get my hands on. That's not nesting. That's weeding . . .

Then going out and stocking up on granola bars and Craisins. Because, again, I guess we're all going to have huge appetites and when we do, we're going to want to eat dried berries and grains . . .

Obsessing about Miki Gorman's stellar 1975 when she gave birth in January and then placed second in the NYC marathon in November. And she was 40! Like me! But probably in better shape . . .

And then obsessing a little more over the fact that Gorman went on to win NYC at age 41 and 42. And, oh yeah. She won Boston when she was 42 also. So what's my excuse?*

There are no doubt other examples but I'm sure you get the gist. It's craziness. And it will continue to be all crazy, all the time for a good month or two. So, that's where I am. Crazyville.

But! I'm also in week 36, which means I am getting close for real. For real! For really real!

Yikes.

Until then, I'm keeping up with the crazies. I ran again on Sunday -- same little 3.1 mile loop that I do. It's comforting, that loop. And I love that I'm still able to run it, without too much walking. Of course, I can't run two days in a row but if I get enough rest I'm A-OK with running every other day. Which means that I'm up for a run today. Lucky me!

Enjoy the week, everyone!

~ Felice


* Fear not, dear Reader. I have no delusions of winning a marathon. But I do think I could get a wee bit faster.

The one with the belly shot.

It's been a while since I've put my big ol' belly on display so I figured it was about time. You know, since I only have about a month left and I'm getting huge these days. So, lucky you! You get a pic!

But first, let's talk about yesterday's run. After a week of killer temps in the 90s, yesterday was a relatively mild day temps in the high 80s. Still hot. Still humid. But more or less run-able for me. And that's what I did. I went out for 3.1 miles in my neighborhood. It was hotter than I expected. And it more humid. Overall, a bit tongue-wagging:


Seriously, while I was pretty hot and sweaty after the run, I loved every minute of it. I had one of those days yesterday and really, really needed the run. My little guy was all about misbehaving yesterday and by the time Owen got home from work all I needed was to shake out my frustration with a good run.

Yup, I loved getting out there.

Here I am sweaty, red-cheeked and happy after my run:


Note the dead, pesky black fly on my forehead. There were tons of them out there last night. What gives? I don't know. I seem to have fly issues this year and they just gross me out. I was swatting them away all run. Yuck!

Anyway, with my run done, I enjoyed some pizza and a quiet Friday evening.

And now . . . I bring you my belly pic! Here I am at 35.5 weeks pregnant (one calendar month until my due date!):


I know, I look a little unsure about sharing my heft with the Internets but, what the heck, right? And, if I'm going to do it, I might as well share a photo with a weird angle. Yikes. Sorry, folks, it's all I've got.

So that's me these days. Lots of belly. But still moving!

Hope you all have a great weekend! I'm wishing my running pals lots of luck in Monday's 5K. Woo hoo -- those new runners just keep on running! Go, mamas!

~ Felice

Down, doobie doo down down . . .

At my last ob appointment, my doctor confirmed that I have indeed "dropped" so the baby is no longer freely floating above my pelvis. Instead, he's locked, loaded and ready to go: Head down, engaged in my pelvis. Of course "ready to go" could mean that he'll make his way out right around my due date (less than 5 weeks!), in 3 weeks, in 7 weeks or who knows when! But I'll take it because what it mostly means is that he's cooperating and doing what he should be doing at this point.

It also means that way back when I thought I had to pee all the time, I knew nothing. Nothing at all. Because now? Now? Now I really mean it. Now since the baby is down low, this peeing thing has become something totally different. Who knew?

Well, I probably should have, considering this is my second pregnancy and all. But, people, let me tell you: You forget things. Holy cow. You think you remember it all but, yeah, you don't. You just don't. I'm sure labor will bring all sorts of lovely surprises . . .

Anyway, I blame the low lie on why my last few attempts to run have been walks. The bouncing from running along with a low-lying baby . . . well, let's just say they're not the best combination. No biggie. I have all those lunges, squats and plies to fall back on. When I feel like it.

Would you like to know what else has been going down? I'll tell you. It's my mileage! Yes indeed. I ran a whopping 26.4 miles in August. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! That's funny. That's an average of . . . what? 4.5 miles a week. Ha! Of course I did have the 10 days in there when I thought I was done with running before I Brett Favred it right back in to action. So, I really only ran 3 weeks last month, and my mileage was more like 9 miles for each one.

And that is fine. We're closing in on the end as it is. I have more important things to do than run -- like figure out a name for this little guy (c'mon!) and finish up my writing projects so I'm not stressing about them in the labor & delivery room.

So with that, I'm off to work! Have a great day, everyone. Thanks for stopping by!

~ Felice



PS: I have a giveaway going on here. I originally posted it with the wrong ending date so I've corrected it and re-posted the whole thing.