I feel like I should be saying “Happy Hump Day” (sorry Kelly), but instead it’s already Thursday! Woo! I don’t even work, but can feel the effects of a shorter work week after the long weekend. What makes it even more nice is that Peter got to work from home today since we had my first ultrasound and baby visit today. I’ll get to that in a few.

First, let’s back up to the beginning of the day. I woke up actually feeling refreshed, so I downed a wheat bagel with cream cheese and all-fruit strawberry spread to get myself fueled for a chance to workout. When I feel up to working out, I take advantage immediately. I only have been able to fit in 3 light workouts a week lately, which is just enough during the first trimester. Today I simply went for a 40 minute walk on the treadmill at a 7.5 incline and 3.5-3.7 speed while reading my book. Which reminds me, for those of you asking – Emily Giffin’s new book (The Heart of the Matter) is really good.

Anyways, it felt really good to get some movement in. After the workout, I showered and got ready to head to the doctor. There it became officially official. Yes, I had positive pregnancy tests at home and even had a couple blood tests for confirmation, but something about seeing this…

…really makes it real. It may be only the size of a grain of rice and look just like a little blob, but it already amazes me. And I already love that little blobby grain of rice baby immensely. There was only one let-down from the appointment. I am just turning 7 weeks tomorrow based on the ultrasound. The same thing happened with Makenzie and she consistently measured small from there on out, so I’m not worried. I’m more bummed that I’m not as far along as I hoped. I just have to remember one week isn’t a big deal…even when it likely means one more week of feeling sick. The best part of the appointment was getting an official due date – January 21, 2011!!! I guess I should have written it in blue since I still have a gut feeling it’s going to be a boy.

We spent a majority of the afternoon at the doctor talking to the midwife, getting 6 vials of blood drawn, going over all sort of medical history and my pregnancy with Makenzie, and other details. I don’t know how it wore me out, but when I got back I crashed for a two hour nap. I had to get some energy up to write this post and then go to dinner with Peter for our anniversary. Three years today. Love my man!

I have one more thing to mention about the doctor’s office.   I am going to do something that isn’t exactly common during pregnancy. I am NOT going to know my weight at ALL.

I am simply going to have the doctor’s record it and tell me if my gain is healthy or should be adjusted in any way. I have not known my weight for almost 6 months and really think weight is an unnecessary number. I understand the need to gain a healthy amount and monitor it, but I don’t think I need to worry about having numbers floating around my head. It is not because it would bother me, but I like to practice what I preach in all situations. It also bothered me with how often people would ask me what I gained during my first pregnancy. Why do you need to know? And even more frustrating was people would compare their own weight gain and I constantly had to assure them that I wished I gained MORE because a lot of my smaller weight gain was due to Makenzie being concernedly smaller.

I don’t want to deal with the importance people place on a number. A number does not show me my worth when not pregnant, so why should it say I’m “good” or “bad” at pregnancy because of how much I gain? Sadly, those are comments I heard often during my last pregnancy when weight was brought up a LOT in the pregnancy section of a forum I used to frequent. I thoroughly believe your body will gain just what YOUR BODY needs to if you do the following:

• Eat a balanced diet still getting in nutritious whole grains, fruits, veggies, etc and still enjoy some extra treats as well because, hey, you ARE pregnant. That means you don’t have to be scared to only eat healthy stuff so you don’t gain overboard, but also that you shouldn’t eat for two adults and a diet consisting of junk the entire time. It’s understandable though if the balance is hard during the first trimester, when food aversions and nausea are at their peak. Eat your best in a way you enjoy….like we all should, regardless of pregnancy.
• Stay moderately active. Don’t expect to keep up with the same intensity workouts. Doing something active regularly will be enough. Do workouts that leave you energized and help you maintain some strength and cardiovascular fitness. I have a post in the works for the benefits of maintaining exercise during pregnancy, but for right now we’ll leave it at do what you can.

I honestly think you don’t have to put more effort into it than that. I plan to do those things and just let my body do it’s thing. I don’t need a number to assure me I am taking care of myself.

• What do you think of not knowing your weight during a process where weight is so involved?
• What is something you easily get attached to? As soon as I see that little baby on screen I get so attached. It amazes me how I can fall even more in love with it at the first heartbeat (didn’t get to hear it today), at the first kick I feel, at first sight when he/she is born, and then every day afterwards.

I started last month off with a post on some random things learned over the course of April. It was a fun post to write, so I have decided to continue my “Lessons of a Mommy Blogger” monthly post. May included lots of lessons – both big and small. It was a great month!

1. Running Shorts are Awesome!

I know I’m not a runner, but that doesn’t change the fact that running shorts are extremely comfortable for working out in. I bought a few pairs at the beginning of the month because it started getting warmer and my old workout shorts were kind of really old. From not having underwear riding up on you thanks to the built in undergarment to how flattering they are, I fell in love immediately. Maybe one day I will actually use them for a run.

2. Friendships change.

I’ve learned that as we age and pursue different things in life, friendships will naturally alter as we do. That’s not to say they are any less worthy, simply that they are different. I also learned that friendships with those whom we have more in common are very fulfilling and that new friendships can grow fast. Em and I are already becoming great friends ever since learning we lived less than 30 minutes from each other. I had tons of fun today Em!!

3. Writing more seriously is TOUGH! I haven’t disclosed this yet, but I got contacted a few weeks ago about writing a freelance article for the June/July issue of the online magazine Faith & Fitness. I was given a lot of support and learned quite a few things. I look forward to continuing to grow in my writing and hope to continue writing in places other than the blog. We’ll see where it goes. And I will be sure to link to the article I wrote once it is available. 😀

4. No A/C isn’t as bad as it sounds…until bedtime.

We have been without A/C since last September. It was cool enough then for it to not be a problem, but the past month things have started to warm up a lot (hello 90 degrees outside). I was worried it would be a sauna in our house. Thanks to an attic fan, fans in every room of the house, and little carpet it hasn’t been uncomfortable at all. Well, except for a few random nights where it’s pretty muggy. I like to sleep with it cool and it has been hard sleeping in warmer temps. We’re trying to decide what to do about the A/C….there are lots of things to consider with our current unit.

5. Pregnancy symptoms hit FAST!

One day I was fine, the next I was not. I should have been more aware of this since I’ve been there before, but it still hits as a shock. Another good lesson that comes from this…you really learn to go with the flow. I have learned to fit in workouts where and how I can and that it’s okay if I can’t stomach vegetables all the time. Things will be balanced out soon.

6. Going along with #5…when pregnant, I can choose not so healthy meals over and over and over. And not get sick of it like I would before…or care because it’s the only thing that sounds good.

I showed you before how meals like the above were a common part of my weekend, but I was still able to go out to lunch today and order some heavier stuff again. Em & I met up at a really neat restaurant called The Flying Biscuit. I ordered the black bean & corn cakes with feta, sour cream, & tomatillo sauce and had some of their famous grits on the side.

Odd combo, I know. It was good though. The cakes were a teensy bit dry, but had good flavor. I did scrape all the feta off too. I don’t like it and it’s a no-no during pregnancy. The grits and biscuit were amazing. I’m glad I listened to her and got them. It was a wonderful lunch and we had lots to talk about as usual. I already can’t wait to see her again.

7. Peter rocks! The man knows me well. He got me the new camera AND surprised me with a 90 minute massage in May. I am still loving the camera and can’t wait to continue learning how to use it better. I also really can’t wait to cash in the massage sometime soon.

8. Many of us have body image issues from time to time.

Thanks to all the comments on my post about body dysmorphia it became very apparent that we can relate to each other on not feeling our best physically on occasion. I love the support we can give each other through the blogging world. I have come a long way, but it helps to know that when I do face it there are other gorgeous ladies who can understand and help. I can only hope that those types of issues are reduced in the future.

9. I don’t get as upset about judgmental comments as I expected I would. I had my first judgmental comment this past month (it related to Makenzie and my parenting). I thought I would get more offended by such a comment, but I didn’t. I believe it is because I trust I am a good mother and do not allow others’ opinions of me to determine my own self worth. I feel confident in who I am as a person.

10. Trust God.

‘Nough said. 😉

• What is something you learned during the month of May?
• Do negative comments affect you at all? How do you respond to them? I actually intended to respond to the one I mentioned, but then time got away. I don’t think I need to defend myself on my blog, but I do kind of regret not responding (in a calm, appropriate manner) to the comment.
• What do you love to workout in?