Update and photos galore...

It's hard to believe that I'm already 26 weeks along and that my third trimester is creeping closer and closer.  I can feel it too - I'm getting bigger, I'm more tired, I'm winded, I'm cranky.  It could be a long 13.5 weeks for poor Tom (although he's amazing... not that anyone needed a reminder of that though). Just a few updates for you -

•  Yes, I'm getting bigger.  I'm okay with it... really I am.  I'm actually way better with it than I thought that I would be.  You know, it's hard when you are an athlete that already struggles with self image issues to watch yourself grow by the day, but feeling Abigail kicking and knowing that in less than 100 days I'll get to hold my sweet girl, eh, getting big is a small price to pay.  I am looking forward to warmer weather where I can get away with flip flops, cottons skirts and tanks though!  I'm kind of over the maternity jeans and barely fitting coats.  This is my view most days - I can still see my feet! YAY...

• My child has an obscene amount of clothes already.  Of course I love it and there are many days that I head to her room, look at her closet and just smile.  Although I'm slightly petrified to have a teen age girl in 13 years, right now I'm loving all of the summer/fall dresses, onesies and outfits that are going to make her the cutest little bean. :) This is just the start of her closet!!!

• The nesting has begun (isn't that supposed to happen in the last few weeks?)  Tom and I have been finishing projects left and right (that might have something to do with him having an Ironman in 2.5 months and knowing his weekend are O.V.E.R) but it makes me happy knowing that our house will be in tiptop shape when I have family and friends here this April. :)  We've been watching a ton of DIY and HGTV channel stuff (check out Renovation Realities if you haven't already. H.Y.S.T.E.R.I.C.A.L - a bunch of people trying to renovate things and inevitably screwing up.  Makes me happy that my hubby is handy). One of our biggest projects - redoing our bedroom.  It just needed to be freshened up a little. New paint on the walls and furniture, new curtains, new pictures, new flowers/candles and new pieces! Love how it turned out! (the bottom piece is a new one that Tom made in the last week - just a little more storage for our room)

• Tom also redid the garage - organized it, built a new workbench, hung pegboard, painted, etc.  It looks really great.  Papa Smurf is still hanging patiently from the ceiling.  I'm a little sad that he hasn't been ridden in a while (now now, no dirty jokes) and I don't foresee a lot of riding in the future. :(  I'm strictly prohibited from riding outside now because of my balance being off (among other reasons that I wouldn't do that anyway) and I know that once Abby comes, the chance of me getting out on my own is going to be nonexistent - I hate riding alone.  So eventually I'll hop back on Papa Smurf.  For now, he's a good decoration in the pristine garage!

• I've had some sad days lately - lots of emotions with the baby on the way.  Some frustration with workouts.  Some uneasiness with the new changes (why hello Braxton Hicks Contractions). Blah blah blah.  There have been tears.  It's not been pretty.  But... on days when I just can't seem to force a smile, I remember how blessed I am with the people in my life.  For instance, dinner with these ladies this week.  What a group of badass chicks to start with (all crazy fast Ironman triathletes, Kristin's doing a 50 miler next week, Kacie's training for 2 (wo)man RAAM in June, Jill's an amazing mother two adorably awesome boys who still finds time to be an endurance athlete, and Karen is considering a 25k swim - oh wait... we decided against that when we heard that you don't even get a tee shirt, right Karen?)  We laughed so hard at the restaurant, talking about leg pressing 100 babies, biking or doing Tae Bo in bib shorts (sans a sports bra), practicing biathlon in my backyard, etc.  I could have sat there all night with these ladies.  And to top it off, Karen brought me a gem of a dessert, which I ate guilt free because we all know that cupcakes as gifts don't have any calories.  Thanks ladies!

So there's my photo dump update. :)  Here's a little baby update (and stay tuned for some exciting announcements - like new ambassador opportunities that I've been given through Zensah and Sweat Pink as well as some of my favorite pregnancy workout must haves!)

Weight gained:  As of Tuesday I was up 16 pounds. 
Workouts:  I'm struggling with this a little bit - not that I'm not doing them... I am, but it's getting harder!  I'm still on the bike trainer 2-4 times a week for at least 45 minutes and up to 1:45!  I am not going crazy fast, but I'm working up a sweat.  Running is getting harder.  I find that the track at the local high school is my friend for continuous 3-4 mile runs - nice and flat.  Outside running around here is hilly and I find that I get braxton hicks contractions when I run on the hilly surfaces.  Still, I've managed multiple 4 mile runs in the last month outside on a loop around a pond by our house (which usually happens in the form of 7 minutes of running, 2.5 minutes of walking up the hill).  I've yet to get to the pool (blame Tom) but this month starts that.  And I've been walking a ton.  The hills again trigger some BH contractions and I usually am totally out of breath at some point or another so it's fairly slow going, but I love it at the same time.  But I'm moving nearly every day.  My goal is to keep going through the end of May!!!
Symptoms: I mentioned Braxton Hicks contractions.  When I went to the doctor at the 24th week, they asked if I had any.  I said no because I didn't know what they would even feel like.  Last week I started feeling my stomach getting really tight and chalked it up to the baby just moving.  But then I googled it (what did people do before google?).  Anyway, I'm fairly certain they are BH's and that's fine.  They don't hurt.  Just weird.  Otherwise, I feel fine.
Movement:  Some days more than others and then of course I cry (I told you I'm emotional), worried that something is wrong.  The other day Tom could see her kick - my whole belly moved.  It's so surreal to me still that the baby is LIVING inside of me. :)
Food Aversions: If it's food, I like it.  Nothing has really been hard to stomach.  I am finding that no matter how hard I try, I can't eat as much because maybe there just isn't enough room for it all. Hahaha
Food Cravings:  I could still eat Mexican daily, but I'm not. :) I've been loving apples with peanut butter as my go to snack still.
Sleep: I'm a sleeper.  I fear the sleep deprivation when Abigail is born.  It terrifies me actually.  For now, I'm sleeping about 8 hours a night which usually consist of two bathroom breaks, weird dreams and rolling over a lot.
Maternity clothes?: Um... yep!  I still get away with my old yoga pants (which I live in) and a few tees, but when I need to look presentable, I wear maternity clothes.  I can't wait for spring though.  Bring on the comfy skirts and tanks!
Stretch marks? Nope
Miss Anything? Not really - maybe being able to hop on my Kestrel or go for a 10 mile head clearing run, but that's about it.

That's all I've got for now! :)