Lightening my load - starting here

This will be short because I'm busy. I appreciate all the folks who've stopped by here and read my ramblings. Blogging for the past two years has been very rewarding. Great things are happening in our lives and as we enter this new adventure, I've decided to lighten my work load and slim down on my extra-curricular activities.

That means I won't be blogging anymore.

Feel free to email me anytime.

I'm off to edit proposals, put cute stuff away in the nursery, do some yoga and take the dog for a walk :)

Outie

Yes, my belly button is officially an 'outie'.

I'm here to report that two weeks ago, I had the most productive week thus far with regard to my natural childbirth training. I worked out really well for two days that week and accomplished ALL 5 DAYS of my required regular workouts.

On the other hand, this past week sucked. Everything else in my life went splendidly as I was busy with client projects and we had a different contractor at the house EVERY day doing some type of work on the interior or exterior. We finished the nursery and we prepared for my sister and brother-in-law who visited this weekend and will return home sometime today. While missing a week of exercise doesn't get me closer to preparing my body for natural childbirth, I am simply going to forgive myself and move on.

I did manage to buy some cute outfits for my baby showers and schedule the next round of contractors for this coming week. Those folks will be focused on my office which will go from a dark, wood-paneled 'shade room' to a freshly insulated, dry-walled, painted, heated and air-conditioned mecca for creativity with a brand new sliding glass door that will eventually lead out to a deck :) !!! Yeah for progress!

This will be short and sweet

I've not been very productive with training the last few days. Last night was our first Bradley Method Childbirth class and it was just the kick in the butt I needed. Kevin is definitely on board with helping me complete all the 'homework' our instructor gave us. However, I still need to find time in the day to complete some regular fitness and strength workouts.

That is my goal for the 5 days left in this week. Adjust, adjust and adjust ... my life. I am tailor sitting as I type this so at least I know I've got that exercise crossed off the list. I'm hoping I can be a bit more protective of my lunch hour during each day so I can fit in some fitness and eating. Running a business doesn't always guarantee that I get a lunch break, but I'm more committed to making that happen now.

Beginning this week!

I feel like this week is the start of a bunch of things. First off, our Bradley Method childbirth classes start tomorrow and last to the very end of our pregnancy. I’m excited about starting the class and luckily, Kevin and I both like road trips because the class isn’t exactly located nearby.

Today officially puts us at 28 weeks which starts our third trimester. I’m feeling great and I’m totally stoked about what we’ve accomplished in the last trimester. There are only two small things to do and the nursery will be ready for baby. In the next coming weeks, we’ll have new windows installed throughout the house and all the necessary repair done to the exterior brick work before we see another cold winter.

Last week was my last pre-training week before I have to kick my Natural Childbirth Training in to serious gear. I’d give myself a C grade for the weeks leading up to this. I didn’t ever get on a set schedule because we had so much going on. I lacked mostly in getting my strength training work done, but I’m hoping to leave all that behind and start fresh this week.

We’ve arrived at the middle of August, which is also my self-imposed starting date for frozen-meal-making. I’ve started putting together a list of meals that I can make-ahead and stick in the freezer for when the little boy wonder arrives. I’m hoping to start this Sunday and maybe get 2 lasagna’s made.

I’m so excited about these next few weeks and I’m hoping to stay focused and on track so I’m even more pumped about the habits I’ve been able to form. But for now, I leave you with a few nursery pictures.

One of the last small things to do is install the new baseboards.

This bookcase was left by the previous owners of the house. I painted it and I’m currently filling it with stuff.

  

Our nursery seating consists of my rocking chair and two storage ottomans for daddy and friends to sit on.

It Counts

Consider this my week 2 and 3 update for my Natural Childbirth Training. These two weeks I've given myself an A- grade for training, but I'm really proud of what I've accomplished.

While some of the days I completed training in a not-so-strictly-defined way, I sure did get a workout!

I've been able to keep up with tailor sitting and squatting pretty well each day. I put my laundry away by laying it on the floor and squatting to pick it up before hanging it. I tailor sit for at least an hour if not more during my work day.

Kegels and Pelvic rocks could use some work. I'm thinking of starting to incorporate those in my morning routine, before leaving to head downstairs for breakfast. That may be the only way I get them done.

The last 4 days have been full of heavy duty working! I'm not sure if it's nesting because of the pregnancy or simply delayed Spring cleaning, but I've got a bug! Saturday I spent the day cleaning out and organizing the basement. Sunday I finished the basement and helped Kevin begin prepping and painting the nursery. I painted an ENORMOUS wooden bookcase which took every last bit of weekend energy I had.

On Monday I created a mock nursery in my office so that I could let the new rug breathe and get cleaned, set up furniture and assemble other decorative pieces. I did some more nursery painting and then slept ..... like a baby!!

Yesterday my mother-in-law joined me in cleaning out and organizing the garage and then I spent the evening painting and getting the guest bedroom ready for family visitors. So far, today is full of press releases, copy writing and a load of laundry here and there.

I'm hoping to find some time for water fitness tonight but we'll see how the nursery projects progress!

Week 1 – Natural Childbirth Training

I’ve got one week under my ever expanding belt and it feels good. I’ve almost finished this book and we’ve got 3 weeks until our Bradley Method classes start.

I started this first week of ‘training’ with 2 things in mind; discipline and forgiveness. I wanted to focus on disciplining myself to workout and find time for the exercises. However, I also wanted to keep in mind that early on in any training, it’s good to forgive yourself for not being perfect. That’s worked out well :)

I also got started with a simply checklist that really helps me see my progress and stay on track.

At the top of the sheet I have blank lines for the 2 days of miscellaneous fitness I want to complete each week. I also have two more lines for the two days of strength training I want to complete each week. The bottom has a chart that lists the basic exercises I need to be doing five days a week and I simply check those off as I go.

I’ve tried to maintain a record of my workouts on the right side of this blog and that helps me as well, knowing I have to post to the world wide web :)

My notes for the week:

1. I give my self a B – as a grade for this week. This is based on the fact that I didn’t complete one of my miscellaneous fitness days, and I missed one day of my 5 days/week workout.

2. I feel more confident about this training and the end result as I’ve been reading and researching. That always helps.

3. It feels great to be training again!

In other news, our nursery furniture and decor is 90% purchased and is being stored in my office until the room is ready for it. Woo Hoo!!!!!

Day 1 - Natural Childbirth Training

Let's address a few things:

1. When I refer to Natural Childbirth, I'm referring to giving birth to my little boy without taking medication for pain.

2. I am taking classes in about a month and I've chosen to learn the Bradley Method, a popular childbirth method.

3. Yes, I am crazy.

4. While my intention is to succeed, I have no prideful issues about getting pain medicine and I've decided to leave my mind open to whatever happens.

5. I am completely proud of and supportive of all the mothers who've come before me and their path to delivering their child. Yeah for every mom out there :)

Now to the rambling ...

I've officially started my natural childbirth training. On vacation a few weeks back I started by reading this book and then today at the library, I got this book.

I'm naturally a researcher and a planner so reading and gaining as much information about this topic as I can is good for me.

You can see my weekly goals on the right with regard to the exercises that are recommended. I have the same checklist in my office so I can maintain some sort of progress report as I go along. Yesterday I focused on kegel exercises, tailor sitting and squatting. My main goal is to develop a solid routine and good habits BEFORE the start of our childbirth classes in mid August.

My resource for exercise is this website.

So far, so good folks!