Have you ever heard of freecycle?

Freecycle is a network of people who give (and get) things for free in their towns.  It kind of goes along with the old adage “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”.  The idea is that if you have something you don’t want anymore, rather than throwing it away, you post it on freecycle because somebody else might be able to use it.  Pretty cool, right?

I have been on Freecycle for 6 years, since I first moved to California.  During that time I have gotten some pretty nice stuff for free, and saved a good bit of money.  Things like lamps, bookshelves – even non-perishable food items.

Well, now I’m on the hunt for baby items!  Last week, someone posted a bag of baby boy clothes, age 0-2 years.

We got a ton of clothes!  Some we will end up freecycling again, but others were wonderful.  And… they were free!  This makes me very happy, especially considering how fast babies grow and how quickly Baby P will be growing out of clothing. 

Although we will still be buying more clothes of our own, of course, this will help.  My favorite score in the bag was this little pair of Timberland boots.  They look like they have never even been worn!

If you haven’t already, you should check and see if Freecycle has a group in your town.  It can be a great resource!

I have been keeping my eyes out for maternity clothes too – but so far haven’t had any luck.  I am loving the few that I bought a couple of weeks ago, they have been wonderful.  I have heard stories of women who don’t buy any maternity clothes and manage to go through all nine months wearing their regular ones.  I don’t know how that is even possible.  And to me, it was worth it to spend a little bit to get some clothes that fit well and make me feel good about myself.  Especially since I need some work-appropriate clothes for the next few months.

Here is an example of a cute shirt and pair of maternity jeans that I bought.

Super comfy, and work appropriate.

And now for a funny story.

When I went to Pittsburgh a couple of weeks ago, my dad and his wife finally gave me my Christmas present.  They had bought it in December but somehow never got around to shipping it.  It was a huge, 5 lb Hershey’s bar!

However, during that trip I had only brought a carry-on bag with me and didn’t have the ability to fit it in there and take it home.  So I asked them to please ship it.

Last week, the monster bar arrived.  When it arrived, it was in a big, flat-rate USPS shipping box and I thought nothing of it.  But there were two stamps on it – one for $14.61, and one for $.84, which I thought was a little weird.  No matter.

Anyhow, I opened up the flat rate box and then found it wrapped again inside… in some protective bubble paper, and then inside there was a brown package on which I recognized my stepmother’s handwriting with my name and address.  And it had the $14.61 postage on there.  Then, on the corner of the brown packaging I found a note written.  It said:

Tell your family I put this in a better box and paid the $.84 extra!! 

Signed, a Chocolate Lover

So looks like the post office fairy godmother was very concerned that the chocolate bar might break in transit and sacrificed $.84 cents to better protect it!  Isn’t that funny?  I’m happy to report that it arrived safe and sound and in one piece, not a single crack or break!

Thank you, post office fairy!

Now S and I are off to start ripping out the carpet upstairs.  After finally finishing the laminate flooring downstairs we have decided (I am still admittedly hesitant) to continue with the second floor.  With less than 19 weeks until baby, it’s now or never…

I haven’t blogged for a few days because… I have been heads down devouring birthday cake oreos.  I’m kidding… sort of.

On Sunday, I ran 3 miles with the SFMTP.  Running is getting harder and harder.  I recently ordered a maternity belt on Amazon that I hope will help relieve some of the pressure on my back when I am running because right now, my back is really sore for a couple of days after my runs.  I have a feeling that my running days are numbered for the remainder of the pregnancy – it is only going to get more difficult from here, and I don’t want to overdo it.

Anyhow, during the run I told my friend Monica how I was on the hunt for the birthday cake oreos.  She said she would keep an eye out for them, and would pick me up some if she found them.  Well – later on that day she called me.  She had found them and bought me some.  And not just some… she bought me 5 BOXES!!!

They are a little tricky though – the boxes are smaller than normal oreo boxes.  Which I guess is a good thing, since I am systematically eating my way through all 5.s

I was pretty proud of myself for completing my 3 mile run on Sunday, it was no easy feat.  Yesterday, however, I did something even better – I ran 4 miles!  I ran with a coworker during lunch.  I was still sore from Sunday, so it was TOUGH.  But I was so, so proud of myself afterward.  Today is definitely a rest day because my body is feeling it!

On Wednesday, I was 21 weeks pregnant.

According to Babycenter, Baby P now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot.

(source)

This week, Baby P’s eyebrows and lids are present.

So far, I haven’t felt any kicks or movement from the outside – i.e., by putting my hand (or S’s hand) on my belly.  However, I am feeling a lot of movement internally!

My 21-week check-in:

• Total weight gain: Not sure this week.
• Stretch marks? None.
• Sleep: I have been taking Tylenol cold to help with my cold symptoms, and have slept well all this week with the exception of one night.
• Workouts:
• Friday– 20 min on the elliptical, 15 min walking
• Saturday – rest day
• Sunday– ran 3 miles
• Monday – 45 min walk
• Tuesday– ran 4 miles
• Wednesday – rest day
• Thursday – 20 min elliptical
• Food cravings: Raisins.  No joke, I have been eating them bowlfuls at a time.
• Aversions: None.
• Symptoms: Finally getting rid of my cold symptoms, but still have a wicked cough and gunk in my throat
• Best moment this week: Getting our first baby clothes, and beginning our registry!  Oh, and… trying yoga was ok too.
• Belly Button in or out? Flat still
• Wedding rings on or off? On.

I am going to be taking it easy this weekend.  My back is really hurting a lot, I think from the 2 runs just one day apart.  Hopefully time, along with a little rest, will help it to feel better.  I will be wearing the belt at home as well.  Sunday is supposed to be a 7 mile run with the SFMTP, which of course I WON’T be doing.  I will go for support and to cheer on the trainees, but I think walking is on the schedule for me!

Before I start this post, I interrupt with a public service announcement:

I need some birthday cake Oreos.  In the past two days, I have tried to find them at Safeway, Target and Walmart with no luck.  I am on the prowl.

End of announcement.

Yesterday I wore one of my favorite maternity shirts.  Too bad football is over! 

Can’t wait to see Baby P in some Steelers onesies!

Speaking of onesies, S and I did our first baby shopping today.  We bought Baby P’s first clothes!

Which, of course, S proceeded to try on the cats when we got home.

Sigh.

Today I wanted to take it easy, since I still have my icky cold and also want to try to run 3 miles with the San Francisco Marathon Training program tomorrow.  I haven’t done running for two weeks since I last ran with them – all of my time has been spent run/walking or just walking.  I’m only halfway through the pregnancy… I can still run 3 miles (or so I hope!)

So today, I tried a prenatal yoga DVD that I picked up at my local library.

I put out my mat and went to go to the bathroom, and when I got back, Mendy was all ready to get started.

Um, excuse me…

I was a little nervous, because I have never done yoga before.  I actually got this dvd from the library over 2 weeks ago, but haven’t tried it out yet.  Since I am a beginner and truly know nothing about yoga, I had to pay close attention and watch as they were showing the moves.

It was very low key and low impact, and it felt good to stretch and relax and calm my mind.

When I was done, I was proud of myself and really felt like I had done something good for myself and for Baby P.

I wouldn’t exactly call myself a yogi… but perhaps I’m on my way there?  I can see prenatal yoga being a regular activity throughout the remainder of my pregnancy. 

Now I’ve got the munchies and am off to dig into some of my loot that I picked up at Cost Plus World Market.

Two new popchip flavors, and crispy pumpkin chips!  Yummy!

S and I are having a movie night so I can head to bed early and hopefully get some sleep for my 3 mile “long” run tomorrow.  I hope my cold lets me get some sleep and lets me be able to breathe and run tomorrow!

G’night, ya’ll.

Halfway there.

According to Babycenter:

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He’s also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby’s legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he’s measured from head to toe.)

I was wondering why all the measurements up until this point said “from head to bottom” rather than from head to feet.  But now it makes sense, since his legs are curled up!

My cold has gotten worse – not better.  Hopefully it is going to be on the upswing soon.

My 20-week check in:

• Total weight gain: 12 pounds or so.
• Stretch marks? None.
• Sleep: My sleep has NOT been good, although I attribute that pretty much entirely to my awful cold and inability to breathe – plus sore throat and coughing – not the pregnancy.
• Workouts: 
• Friday– 30 min on the elliptical, 15 min walking on the treadmill
• Saturday – 30 min walking on the treadmill
• Sunday– rest day (traveling all day)
• Monday – 20 min elliptical, 20 min stepper
• Tuesday– rest day
• Wednesday – 40 min walking on treadmill
• Thursday – 30 min run/walking on treadmill (run 2 min, walk 2 min)
• Food cravings: None really, although I’m still having my daily caramel popcorn fix.  I do seem to have an Uggs craving, though.
• Aversions: None.  Unless an aversion to moving counts.
• Symptoms: Only cold symptoms this week.
• Belly Button in or out? It’s pretty much flat now….
• Wedding rings on or off? On.

Last week when I was in Pittsburgh my sister took some pictures of me.    She has been really busy with her school work, and just sent me some to take a look at.

I am so thankful to have some maternity photos to be able to look back on.  One thing my mother is sad about is the fact that she has very few photos of the times she was pregnant with my sisters and I.

My sister is great photographer.  Check out her website and photos she has taken here.  I can’t wait to have her come and take a photo shoot of Baby P when he is born!!

Me and my Mommy.  Isn’t she beautiful?

Thank you, Sar, for helping me to document this special time!

Hard to believe I am halfway through my pregnancy.  I am completely in maternity clothes, and the belly definitely has popped.  I feel so big – I can’t imagine how it is going to be in 20 more weeks!

Hope everybody had a happy, loving Valentines Day yesterday.  S and I don’t have any real traditions for Valentines Day.  This year, it didn’t even feel like a special holiday to me.  I’m still tired from my trip to Pittsburgh last week, and I must have picked up a bug on the airplane because I now have a pretty bad cold.  It sucks being sick when you are pregnant, because you are really limited in the medication that you can take.

I’m lying low and drinking a lot of tea.  My throat is hurting, so I am pretty much alternating between tea and ice cream/popsicles.  The first one is too hot, the second too cold.  But both help my throat feel better!

(source)

So about my Valentines Day.  This was S and my third Valentines Day together.

Our first was very romantic and “sweep her off her feet” – I guess all firsts are like that?  I have to admit though, I asked him NOT to go that route the second year.  The weekend in Napa that he gave to me, while absolutely amazing and one of the best trips I have ever taken, was sooo expensive and extravagant.  I definitely didn’t want that to become a yearly expectation!

Our second was pretty uneventful.  The highlights included cupcakes I got at work, and purchasing our new washer and dryer.  After dropping an obscene amount of money on those, plus considering we were in the midst of planning our wedding and honeymoon – I wasn’t really wanting an extravagant and expensive Valentines Day.  So we played it simple at home, with dinosaur chicken nuggets, McDonalds oatmeal, and ice cream.  Not much else to say here, folks.

Fast forward to this year.  Newlyweds, expecting baby number 1.  Wifey (me) just got home from a business/personal trip, has a cold, and is exhausted.  Husband just got finished completing a laminate flooring install on our first floor and is exhausted from being patient with grumpy, pregnant wife.  Love is in the air, people.

So first, of course, we worked all day.  Then, S drove with me to Sunnyvale to pick up a pair of Ugg boots I was buying.  Let’s just call these my Valentines gift to myself.

So, on a side note, I have totally been obsessed with getting these Uggs.  Ever since I got my first pair a little over a week ago, I have been smitten.  Here’s the weird thing – I never liked, or ever had any desire for, a pair of Uggs.  In fact, I kinda thought they looked stupid.  Whenever I thought of them, I thought about high-schoolers or freshman college students trudging to class in their PJs and uggs in the cold and rain.  And… I still kind of think that.  But, for some crazy reason, I decided two weeks ago that I HAD to have a pair.  And after getting my first ones, I decided that I HAD to have a second pair of the classic, chestnut shorties.  Perhaps my pregnancy is causing boot cravings, rather than food cravings?? 

Then we headed to pick up our romantic dinner.  Earlier in the day, I had opened up my Valentine from my mother.  She promised me that it contained something “better than candy”.  When I opened it I saw that she was indeed telling the truth:

A Subway gift card!  My favorite restaurant EVER.  Thanks, Mom!

As soon as S and I saw that, we ditched our previous plan for a romantic dinner of Chinese takeout, and decided on… a romantic dinner of Subway takeout.

My usual:  a footlong turkey on whole wheat.

Uggs and Subway?  The perfect V-day combo.  Can’t wait to see what next year has in store… something tells me our celebration of love will focus around our new family member! 

Yesterday I returned from my whirlwind trip to the ‘Burgh.  I was sad to leave my family, but couldn’t WAIT to get back to my California weather!  When I left Pittsburgh Sunday morning, it was still snowing and was in the 20’s.  Apparently, today it has gotten even colder there – my dad texted me and told me I got out just before the cold weather started.  Whaaaat?? 

On Saturday, I got to see my mom’s boyfriend, Rick.  We met him at one of his favorite restaurants (and mine) – Chipotle!

A salad bowl with chicken, black beans, brown rice, two kinds of salsa, and cheese on the side.  Yummy!

Rick brought me a Valentine.  SPONGE BOB!!

With some Godiva chocolate.  I told my mom he was a keeper.

The rest of the day was spent shopping.  I only bought a pack of gum (gasp!) but my mom bought workout clothes and the afternoon was declared a success.

Saturday evening I went to bed early because we had to be up really early to head to the airport.

Before we headed to the airport Sunday morning, I took advantage of an almost empty peanut butter jar in my mom’s house to make OIAJ.  I might have helped the peanut butter jar become empty a little more quickly this week so that I could have OIAJ sometime before I left

Oats made with almond milk.  I also mixed in blueberries and some cereal after I took the picture.

The rest of my eats for the day included some boring airport food.  The highlights were a Dunkin Donuts donut and some Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory fudge, both purchased during my layover in Dallas. 

Starving Rachel + Awesome sweets + Boring layover = No pictures.  Sorry.

When I landed in California it was overcast, but was still in the high 50’s/low 60’s.  It felt like heaven!  The first thing I asked S to do was take a walk with me because I just wanted to be outside.  We did a quick loop around the block which made me happy!  I am so glad to be home.  It would be a little better if it wasn’t a work day, and a Monday, but I’ll survive

By the way, today is Oatmeal Monday, which is apparently always the second Monday in February.  And I found out today that I get next Monday off of work for President’s day, which I didn’t know.  Two things to make this Monday just a little bit brighter!

This week, I got an opportunity to take a quick trip to Pittsburgh.  My company was looking for volunteers to do university recruiting at my alma mater college.  I volunteered to go, and extended my trip through the weekend so I could see my family! 

The flights here were actually really good.  My layover was in Dallas, which meant that my first flight was about 3 1/2 hours and my second flight was a little over 2 hours.  I much preferred these two middle-length flights to the combination that I usually have of one long and one short.

Airport lunch was a chicken salad from Au Bon Pain, an apple and a bag of popchips.

I also bought an awesome bag of trail mix, which made it into my stomach before the rest of my lunch and therefore before the pictures.

The airline magazine had a magazine about one of my favorite personalities on TV:

Al Roker! I love him. He is one of the major reasons that I watch the Today show.  The article was really interesting, talking about all of the things outside of the Today Show that Al does – including his production company and various tv shows, and his family (his wife and two kids). Al is just such a likeable guy. 

Al, come find me. I think we should be friends.

Once we landed safe and sound in Pittsburgh, I picked up my rental car.  A compact for sure! 

The next 48 hours were pretty much a whirlwind.  I checked into my hotel (the Springhill Suites in Bakery Square) which was really nice.  My room was a suite:

(source – Not my room, but it looked exactly like that!)  One awesome thing about this hotel is that patrons get free access to the gym next door, Urban Active.  It’s a fairly new gym (a little over a year old?) and has nice equipment and facilities.  I headed there Wednesday morning for a little elliptical and treadmill time.  Definitely better than a hotel gym!

After the gym, as I prepped for the employment recruiting fair at the university, I realized that I was 19 weeks pregnant!

Ta-dah!

I have gotten lots of comments about my belly this week, from coworkers and also from family (since I am in Pittsburgh, yay!)  It is officially clear to the world that I am pregnant – and didn’t just eat too much for lunch.

This week, babycenter says that baby (boy!!!) is 8 1/2 ounces and about 6 inches long, the size of a large heirloom tomato.

(source)

This week there was a lot of sensory development for Baby P:  His brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch.

Also, he can hear our voices now.  Let the serenading and storytelling begin!

My 19-week check in:

• Total weight gain: Not sure about weight gain from last week.  I always gain weight when I am with my family in Pittsburgh anyways… 
• Maternity clothes? Yup, I’m pretty much all in.  S and I went shopping last weekend and got 2 pairs of maternity jeans, a pair of leggings, and some shirts.  It feels so much better to have clothing that FITS!
• Stretch marks? None yet.
• Sleep: The past two nights I have slept HORRIBLY in the hotel (even though the bed feels comfortable to me).  It makes me realize that maybe the Tempurpedic is better than I realized.  The next three nights will be in my mom’s house, where I always sleep well, so let’s see!
• Workouts: 
• Sunday – ran 4 miles with the SFMTP group, woo hoo!
• Monday – walked 2 miles
• Tuesday – rest day (traveling all day)
• Wednesday – 10 min elliptical, 30 min walking on the treadmill
• Today – rest day, I am TIRED from the combination of not sleeping, yesterday’s workout, and standing form 12-6 at the employee fair yesterday.  My back is killing me!
• Best moment this week: Getting to see my Mommy and show her the baby bump!
• Food cravings: Holy chocolate-covered caramel popcorn.  My 2 mile walk on Monday was during my lunch hour work, walking to the store to buy MORE.  Can’t.Get.Enough.
• Aversions: None.  Unless an aversion to moving counts.
• Symptoms: Nada
• Belly Button in or out? In.
• Wedding rings on or off? On.

Ok, now I’m off to relax a little bit with Mummy and try to find a position where my back DOESN’T hurt.  Bye from the ‘burgh!

I’ve heard from several of my friends about the “18 week belly pop” that they had during their pregnancies.  Now, at 18 weeks, I am a believer.

It’s also crazy how much bigger I look at the end of each day (vs. in the beginning).  These pictures I take each week are in the morning, immediately upon waking up.  However, once I have eaten and drunk (drunk?!?!  drinken???) a day’s worth of food and drinks, I’ve got a bump like WHOA.  I will be taking a picture of that shortly… I keep forgetting.

I am now in the 5th month, and baby is still growing rapidly.

According to Babycenter, Baby P is now 5 1/2 inches long and the length of a bell pepper!  The baby has fingerprints on his fingers and so he/she is now an individual. 

(source)

Yesterday we had the 2nd trimester detailed ultrasound.  Everything looked good, and it was truly amazing to see baby’s parts one at a time.  My favorites were the hands and feet, and the spine (which was amazing to be able to see.)  But the big news of the week was finding out the baby’s gender….

It’s a BOY!!!

S and I are both excited – but S is especially thrilled.  I would have taken either gender, I just wanted a healthy baby.  But S can’t wait to have a “mini-me” to throw the football with and teach how to use tools and fix things.  Boys!! 

Now things seem so much more real.  I have been putting off really thinking about things – what to buy, names, etc. – until we found out the gender.  Now that we know… I have no more excuses! 

My 18-week check in:

• Total weight gain: 9-10 pounds.
• Maternity clothes? About half-half, same as last week.  However, one day this week to work I wore some non-maternity clothes that I have worn quite frequently the past few weeks.  It happened to be a free-flowing, baggy empire shirt dress, and a coworker commented, “Ah, in the maternity clothes now, huh?”  Oh well.
• Stretch marks? None yet.
• Sleep: This week was pretty good, although we are still not sold on the Tempurpedic.
• Workouts: 
• Monday – elliptical (30 min)
• Tuesday – elliptical (30 min)
• Wednesday – run/walk (3 miles)
• Thursday – run 4 miles (this was HARD and I am still sore…)
• Friday – walked 2 miles
• Today (rest day)
• Tomorrow I am supposed to run 4 miles with the SFMTP group.  Based on how I felt after Thursday’s 4 mile run, I think this might be a run/walk, and I might cut it short… I will go based on how I feel in the morning
• Best moment this week: The detailed ultrasound and finding out we will have a baby boy!
• Food cravings: Somebody brought in chocolate-covered caramel popcorn at work and I had two huge bowlfuls… and have been craving it ever since!
• Aversions: None
• Symptoms: Major soreness (in NEW places) after my 4 mile run.
• Belly Button in or out? In.
• Wedding rings on or off? On.

My new gift to myself this week?  A pair of Uggs.

I never really had the urge to own (or pay for) a pair of Uggs.  But during my trip to Pittsburgh in December, my sister raved about her new pair of Uggs and said they were so incredibly comfortable she never took them off.  Now that my back and feet have started hurting fairly regularly, and I have decided it’s flat shoes from here on out through the end of the pregnancy, I decided to treat myself to a pair.

These can be worn high, slouchy,

Or folded.

Please excuse the crazy cat hair on my leggings.  Just one of the hazards of having two cats – especially when one of them is white.

My sister was right, they are crazy comfortable and have worn them for 3 days straight.  Totally worth the $$.

Ok, I’m off to watch “Wag the Dog” with S and get to bed early for my 4 mile run tomorrow.  Crazy how I am now having anxiety for my 4 mile runs (when previously this anxiety was saved for 18-20 milers!!!)

G’night, ya’ll!