Here's what today looked like...

TODAY'S STATS

Nutrition:

Breakfast: 1 serving old fashioned oats made with water, 1 cup diced mango, 1/2 cup granola

Lunch: Tofu Spring Rolls from Fire Bowl Cafe w/ peanut sauce (First time there - very cool Asian restaurant in ATX!)

Snack: 1 Granny Smith apple with 2 TBSP natural peanut butter

Dinner: Maple & Brown Sugar Shakeology (1 packet low sugar Maple & Brown sugar oatmeal, 1 scoop Chocolate Shakeology, blended with water & ice - perfection!)

Post-Dinner: 12 oz. Simply Orange with Mango - LOVE this stuff!

Supplements: Folic Acid, Beachbody Core Omega-3/Omega-6 supplement, Beachbody Core Cal-Mag

Workout:

I did TurboFire 45EZ workout tonight....which wasn't easy when I wasn't pregnant! But I follow the low impact options for safety...but that still doesn't mean low intensity! :)

Rest:

I slept until 6:30 this morning, and I was ready for a nap by 1pm. I fought it for a while, but finally laid down about 3pm for about 45 minutes. As I type, I'm counting the minutes until I can go to bed. I'm still amazed by how tired my body is!

Sickness:

Tailbone & body tenderness is about all I can complain about. My body is shifting and stretching...and while it makes for some uncomfortable moments, I'm still SO thankful that I'm not sick and SO grateful for the amazing life forming inside me.

Today, I'm most excited about....

Decorating Noah's nursery! My parents are coming to visit after Christmas, so James & my dad will paint the nursery while my mom and I go out to look for furniture. :) I'll post pics very soon into the new year!

Praising God When My Shirts Don't Fit

This past week, I've probably whined a little more than usual...

After all, at week 19, there are some definite changes going on in my body. Yet, I'm still at that awkward inbetween stage. I definitely don't fit into my normal clothes, but I also can't quite fill out maternity wear yet. And the most frustrating part? The pants aren't even what I'm having trouble with! The shirts are what is giving me such a hard time. (If someone would create a line of clothing for this stage in pregnancy, you'd be a millionaire. So there's the idea - totally free - Someone, please run with it! And the only payment I want is free clothes whenever I'm pregnant!) :)

Each time I have to get dressed in something other than my sweats, it takes me twice as long to get ready. I promise...things that fit me just last week are no longer remotely flattering! Not to mention, being heavier & paler at the same time isn't fun for anyone. Don't get me wrong - I've NEVER stopped being thankful for being pregnant, and I am so excited Noah is on his way, but just being honest about some of my petty...but genuine... struggles.

So in the midst of my whining, I got a phone call from my sister that put an abrupt stop to my pity party.

A dear friend of ours that we grew up with in Germantown, Tennessee, is burying one of her 19 month old twins today. When Alicia went to go wake up Evie and Ramsey last Friday morning, she found that Evie had died in her sleep. Not only is this tragic enough in itself, but this also stirs up her previous pain from already losing a child. A few years ago, she gave birth to a child that only lived a few days.

I just can't imagine...

I was reminded of Job. In Job 1, we learn how Job's life basically falls apart. He loses his family, his livestock, his home... all he is really left with is his faith. In the midst of his tragedy:

At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship ²¹ and said:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised.”

²² In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Job 1:20-22

Trusting God when it hurts...

Trusting God when you can't see how He could possible be in whatever you're going through...

I once heard a pastor say, "When you can't see God's hand, trust His heart." As true as that teaching is, it still doesn't make it easy to follow.

Needless to say, it's given me a new perspective when I can't find clothes in my closet that fit. In fact, I find myself praising God when I have to find a new outfit to wear...even if it is the 3rd or 4th one I've tried on.

I hope this blog will encourage you to put life in real perspective, especially in the Christmas season. We have so much to be thankful for, and God is so good...even in the moments that we don't understand, like why He needed Evie Grace more than her earthly family.

Please join our family in prayers for Alicia, her husband, Jonathan, and Evie's twin sister, Ramsey.

It's a BOY!

Never doubt mother's intuition - it's a boy! Yesterday, we got our first sneak peak at a detailed ultrasound. We may not have been able to get him to sit still enough to take a profile picture, but he had no problem spreading his legs on the first try. James and I are so excited, and we can't wait to welcome Noah Jackson into the world this May. (Little explanation on the name - we both love Noah's faithfulness in the Bible, and Jackson is the town in Tennessee where my dad grew up and the town James claims as home - so his name is dear to our heart!)

We had to go back to Arlington for our final appointment there, so yay for another 3 hour drive. (I had to drive back and forth between Arlington and Austin twice last week - once to sign the contract on our house and another time to actually move!) But this one was well worth it - I was bouncing with excitement the entire ride.

At first, she began measuring Noah's head, brain, arms, legs, arms, etc., just to make sure that he was developmentally on track. Her measurements came back completely normal. Noah weighs about 8 oz. and is about 7.5 inches long now. He was moving around a lot, so he wasn't making it easy on our sweet ultrasound tech.

However, she had no problem getting him to spread his legs. Very quickly, she asked, "Do you want to know?" After my quick "YES!," she said. "It's a boy. No doubt about it."

I squealed. I've said this from the beginning - I would have been happy either way - I really would have been - but I am so excited to be able to give my parents their first grandson. (It's the first grandchild on James' side, so either one would have been just as exciting for them!) I watched in amazement and she went through in detail to show us as much as she could about our little boy. James, of course, is ecstatic too.

She never could get him to sit still long enough to get a profile shot. (As my loving father quickly says..."Payback!") However, we were able to get a shot of his face, which I can't scan yet since we are still unpacking...but I will tell you - this is the scariest ultrasound! Right now, Noah looks like cross between and alien and a skeleton...so I look forward to him filling out just a little bit! :) The only other thing she got a picture of was his foot...which was no surprise to me! I've been getting kicked for about a week and a half now!

His heartbeat was 158 bpm, and everything else looked good. We had an opportunity to pay for an additional test to check for Down's Syndrome, but we opted not to. After all, it doesn't matter. Noah is our son, and while we pray faithfully for a healthy baby boy, we will love him and raise him the same, no matter what.

Thank you for sharing in our excitement! I'll post the new pictures as soon as I can.

How I Survived the 10 Hour Drive to Thanksgiving

My husband is from a small town in West Tennessee, which meant that we spent 10 hours in a car to stay at his parent's house. My parents were also coming down from Knoxville to another town about 30 minutes away from his family. We love Thanksgiving because it allows us to see both of our families without as much back and forth driving.

However, that still meant we had a 10-hour drive ahead of us. I was worried for multiple reasons: 1) My tailbone still hurts. 2) James doesn't like to stop, and as much as I've had a small bladder before pregnancy, I'm at a whole new level now. 3) Long periods of sitting or standing don't agree with me. I have to change it up frequently to stay comfortable.

But I made it! How?

1. A surprisingly patient husband.

I love my husband dearly, and he has many strengths. However, patience is not typically one of them. But anytime I spoke up to say that I needed to go to the bathroom, he didn't complain. He just looked for the next exit, let me out quickly to go, and we were back on the road. No judgement. No arguing. It was quick and overall didn't add that much time to our trip. Plus, the frequent stops allowed me to stretch my legs for a few minutes and prevented me from getting too uncomfortable.

2. Running laps when we stopped to fill up the tank.

Okay, so they weren't long laps, (In fact, because of the busyness of the travel weekend, I was confined to running laps around my car!) but it got the job done!

3. Choosing places to eat with space to walk around.

Instead of eating in the car like we have been known to do, James stopped for us to eat at outdoor shopping malls or food courts with Chick-Fil-A. (Subway & Chick-Fil-A are my only approved fast-food restaurants.)

Even with making these choices, it probably only added 45 minutes to our overall trip. Plus, we were more rested when we arrived in Tennessee. I highly recommend following this pattern if you have to make a significant road trip when pregnant.

Pretty & Pregnant

Now 16 weeks pregnant, I'm to the point where you can tell I've gained weight. After 4 months, I should have gained some! I still don't feel like I look pregnant, but my stomach is definitely not as flat as it normally is. Since the day I found out I was pregnant, I've been faithfully praying that I would handle the weight gain gracefully - not stressing out over it, but just enjoying this time, knowing that thanks to my awesome job, I know how to get the weight off when that time comes.

However, I've been amazed by the words certain people have used to describe me...to my face...especially those who know that I struggled with an eating disorder during college. I thought it might be helpful to take this time to post some suggestions when speaking to pregnant women in your life. :)

It's really very simple.

Take every opportunity you can to remind her how pretty she is. During pregnancy, a woman's body goes through so many changes, she can't even keep up! It's like those insecure adolescent years...as far as bodily changes go, pregnancy is a similar time. She needs encouragement during this time that she is beautiful -- After all, there's nothing in this world more beautiful than the gift of a child.

Feel free to be creative and use your own favorite word, but here some suggestions to get you started: beautiful, charming, cute, darling, delightful, elegant, glowing, lovely, gorgeous...

Avoid any negative comment about her changing appearance. She knows she's gained weight. Even if you don't mean it in a negative way, she doesn't need you to point that out. It's as much of an adjustment for her when she puts her clothes on in the morning or looks in the mirror. Unless you are using obvious words like "pregnant," "expecting" or "with child," it's probably a good idea to stick with the words from the first list if you'd like to make a comment.

In addition to the weight gain, many women struggle with the fact that they may have paler skin, increased fatigue, acne, or dark circles under their eyes. Again, it seems like it would be common sense not to bring these things up in conversation...but again...you'd be surprised what I've either had said to me or heard said to a pregnant friend.

Words to Avoid: big, bulging, chunky, full, large, plump, fat, pudgy, round, sickly, swollen, tired, pale, exhausted, worn out...Just remember: while some of those words may be true, it's probably not the most uplifting thing that could come out of your mouth! :)

That's it! See? Told you - it's simple!

We find out if Baby Myers is a boy or girl in 9 days! We are so excited to see our little prince/princess again. He/she's gone through quite a growth spurt since our last sonogram at 10 weeks. Stay tuned!

Pamper Yourself A Little!

I've mentioned before that I've had a little bit of trouble sleeping because I can't get comfortable sleeping on my side. So today, I decided that it was time for a little bit of muscle relief. Thanks to my generous husband, I went to get my first pregnancy massage.

As great as massage is anytime, today felt extra incredible! There are just so many changes going on in your body, you can't always be precise with the source of the pain. In addition to tension relief in the muscles, prenatal massage has a lot of perks. Check out this article to read more about the benefits of prenatal massage.

In a lot of ways, pregnancy massage is very similar to a normal relaxation massage. However, just as you have certain positions you can't lay in while sleeping, you can't lay flat on your back while getting a pregnancy massage. You also reach a point where it's uncomfortable to lay on your stomach, so most of the massage will be given while you are laying on one of your sides or propped up at an angle on your back. Second, there are certain trigger spots that educated massage therapists know to avoid since stimulating those areas could cause early contractions when you are far enough along in your pregnancy. Last, make sure that your massage therapist uses only organic essential oils, such as lavender, and avoids using strong-smelling oils like peppermint. (P.S. I didn't know this before today. I'm very comfortable with my therapist, and she is used to me asking a lot of questions. Lucky for me, she's very smart and always has an answer!)

Even if you're on a tight budget, I highly encourage you to save up and splurge on a few massages during pregnancy. After all, the more comfortable and relaxed you are, the better it is for you and the baby. That's worth it, right?

One final note: Always check with your doctor on her thoughts about when you can begin pregnancy massage. Some doctors are fine with it anytime, but my doctor wanted me to wait until my 2nd trimester. But once you get the go ahead from your doctor, go for it!

Thanks to Cynthia Garcia for an amazing massage. If you are in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, check out her website to schedule an appointment for you or to buy a gift certificate for someone else. (Husbands, it would make a GREAT Christmas gift!)

My First REAL Craving!

James has been complaining because he hasn't had a "real" pregnant wife yet. Ever since I told him the story of our friend, Austen Williams, having a

watermelon dipped in queso craving, he has been waiting on me to want something...well...unhealthy.

As you know, I'm a pretty healthy eater. Instead of cravings, I've had more aversions to foods that I normally eat. In fact, I barely touched meat throughout my first trimester. Anytime he would ask me what I wanted to eat, I would want Subway or a big salad from Chick-Fil-A.

Well, last night...I'm pretty sure I made my husband's day. I saw a commercial for pretzel M&MS. Thinking to myself, "Sweet AND salty....yes please!" So, I sent James to the store, and he was instructed not to come back without pretzel M&Ms.

I only ate a handful. They tasted just as good as I thought they would. Balance and moderation... a handful is not going to hurt. Plus, I think my husband REALLY believes I'm pregnant now. Now, if I could actually start showing...

My Favorite Thump!

Thump, thump....thump, thump...thump, thump....

The sound of Baby Myers' heartbeat has got to be one of the best sounds I've ever heard. Today was my 14 week routine check-up. It was a very quick visit - I came in, gave my regular urine sample, weighed in, heard the heartbeat, and scheduled our next apppointment! But those very few seconds when I got to hear the baby were amazing...I keep trying to replay the sound in my mind.

Because of my anorexic history, I don't really weigh myself. Normally, I just monitor my weight by how my clothes fit...which is pretty much impossible right now! So, basically, I've just asked my doctor to be honest with me as to whether I am gaining the right amount of weight. Today, she said I'm right on target - I haven't gained too much, but I've also gained enough to where she isn't concerned that I'm not taking good care of myself.

On a funnier note, my maternity jeans were in the laundry on Sunday, so I had to wear my regular jeans to church. WOW, that was uncomfortable! I won't be making that mistake again!! Thankfully, I just got an awesome shipment from my good friend, Brooke Allen - she's loaning my 5 pairs of maternity pants! AMAZING! I'm so thankful for generous friends who are willing to share. Thanks, Brooke!

The next Baby Myers appointment is December 7...which is when we will find out the sex of the baby! So far, the guesses are pretty split. The Chinese calendar says boy...do you think it's right?

Changes, Changes, Changes...

So, it's been a while since I've updated...and Baby Myers has gone through a lot of changes! By the end of week 13, Baby Myers will still be tiny (only about 3 inches long)...but be a fully formed baby! I am blown away by how quickly the 1st trimester went by.

Baby Myers isn't the only one experiencing change. I'm loving the 2nd trimester energy everyone told me about! Last week, there were several days in a row when I got up, had my Bible study, worked out, AND ate breakfast all before 7 am! I feel like I am back to normal...at least for me. I'm still going to bed really early, but I don't need naps in the afternoon anymore.

I am having a little bit of trouble getting comfortable at night. I'm a back sleeper, so this whole sleeping on my side thing is a bit of an adjustment. I did go to Bed, Bath & Beyond and bought a wedge pillow, which has helped a lot. However, I still end up on the couch with Bauer for a few hours some nights. He has been a good snuggler. Usually, he doesn't like cuddling when he's sleeping, but I think he knows I'm uncomfortable. It's very sweet.

The changes don't end there. God has given James and I a new ministry assignment. After Thanksgiving, we are moving to Austin, TX to serve at Great Hills Baptist Church. James will be the College & Singles Pastor. We are going to miss our church family and friends here, but we know God is calling us to Austin. Please pray for us during our transition. Specific to Baby Myers, please pray that I can quickly find a new doctor and a great hospital to deliver.

If anyone has ever moved during pregnancy, I appreciate any wisdom you're willing to share!

Those pesky Fisher Price Commercials...

We made it to Week 11 - almost out of the first trimester! It really has gone by so quickly.

By this week, Baby Myers is big enough for me to hold in the palm of my hand. The transparency of the skin is starting to subside as multiple layers of skin are forming. The books I'm reading tell me that Baby Myers is starting to open and close his/her fists, and teeth are forming too! Also, the fingers and toes are beginning to separate, which I'm assuming is probably a big adjustment. After all, the webbed-like fingers and toes were probably pretty useful considering all the swimming they do right now! :)

As for me? I'm starting to show a little bit...even though no one else seems to think so! But trust me - they aren't the ones trying to fit into my normal clothes! I don't exactly look pregnant yet, so I'm stuck in what I like to call "fat girl phase." I just feel like I look like I've been eating a little too much pizza! But it's okay...I'm just wearing looser clothes, and that seems to be working for now at least to keep me comfortable.

As for other adjustments, I cry about once a day, and it's usually about the dumbest things....such as a Fisher-Price commercial. Seriously. I see those little toys and the little ones playing with them, and I'm a goner. From someone who is typically not very emotional, this is a big adjustment!

The nausea is definitely gone by now, which is great. I'm still exhausted and sleeping double my normal schedule, but I'm excited about the 2nd trimester energy that I keep hearing about! Tell me it's true...

This Is What Love Looks Like :)

Can you believe the changes in just 4 weeks? Baby Myers really looks like a human now!

This morning, I went in for my second appointment. After I got a flu shot, my doctor came in, and put the "jelly stuff" on my stomach so we could hear the heartbeat. After searching for several minutes, she finally gave up and sent us to get another vaginal ultrasound.

I was pretty nervous, but she was quick to calm my fears. She said 14 weeks is usually the earliest you can hear a really strong heartbeat, but she wanted to do an ultrasound just for our peace of mind and to make sure everything was fine.

Once the ultrasound tech got a clear picture of Baby Myers, she informed me that my uterus tips backward, which not only explains why they were having trouble hearing the heartbeat, but it also explains the pain I've been experiencing in my tailbone! Having a tipped (or retroverted) uterus shouldn't mean any additional complications in pregnancy, but it may mean that when I'm in labor, I might feel my contractions more in my back than I feel them in my abdomen. I actually think I'm okay with that!

We go back at 14 weeks - then at 18 weeks, we should get another ultrasound where we will find out if Baby Myers is a boy or a girl! I'm so excited to find out!

But let's hear from you....You see the picture. What do you think? Boy or girl? :)

Airplanes & Allergy Woes

WHEW! It's been a busy few weeks!

But the good news.....Baby Myers is doing great! I've really seen a drop in my nausea, so that has been nice. I'm still really tired and sleeping way more than normal, but I'm trying to get used to it!

Now that I am 10 weeks pregnant, Baby Myers is about the size of a kiwi. If we were able to peek inside, we'd be able to see details beginning to form - fingernails and toenails, fuzz on the skin....and we wouldn't be able to see them, but Baby Myers even has taste buds. I still can't get over the developmental changes...and how much the baby has changed in the past 4 weeks.

This past weekend, I traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee to speak at a women's conference at Fairview Baptist Church and did a book signing for my latest project at Cedar Springs Christian Store. Both events were fantastic. (Additional perk: my family lives in the same town! I really enjoyed time with my parents, my sister & her husband, and of course - my precious niece, Katelyn.)

I had always heard that when you're pregnant you're not supposed to fly, but it turns out, that rule was made when they suggested that women not TRAVEL when pregnant. My doctor told me if I normally experience sickness on an airplane, it might be a problem, but I should be fine. The flight there was fine, but the flight back was pretty bad. However, I'm pretty sure it was a rough flight for everyone and it had nothing to do with being pregnant!

As soon as I got off the plane, I sneezed. Welcome home to the allergy capital of the world! So, I've got watery eyes, stuffy nose & ears, sore throat and sinus headache....and I can't turn to my normal Singulair to fix it! I'm praying for a speedy recovery...and trying to do every "non-medication" treatment I can think of. So far, I have allergy eye drops, saline nose spray, sore throat spray, and hot tea. If anyone else has bright ideas, I'd love for you to leave a comment!

My second doctor's appointment is tomorrow! Until then...

Tailbone Pain & Toe Cramps?

I haven't updated my stats in a while, so here is a record from yesterday!

YESTERDAY'S STATS

Nutrition:

Breakfast: 2 pieces of whole wheat bread, 1 Oikos Greek yogurt with honey

Lunch: Vegetable soup with wheat crackers

Dinner: Chicken fajita meat, grilled onions & peppers, Baked Tostitos

Post-Dinner: Throughout the day, I snacked on dried cranberries, almonds & a P90X Wildberry Yogurt bar.

Supplements: Beachbody ActiFIT Multivitamin, Beachbody Core Omega-3/Omega-6 supplement, Beachbody Core Cal-Mag, Folic Acid from CVS Pharmacy

Workout:

I took Bauer for a walk in the morning, and I went to 24 Hour Fitness to take a Body Pump class. Loved it! I'm so excited about the full program launching across Texas next month!

Rest:

I slept until about 7:15 after going to bed before 10pm. I'm still sleeping double what I normally do! However, my naps in the afternoon are only about 20-30 minutes now, so I'm able to get more done.

Sickness:

I am really blessed. I still have a carsick feeling that comes and goes, but it's mild and usually doesn't last very long. Maybe I am getting through the worst of it? Although. I am noticing that my muscles are tight, and it feels like my joints are expanding. I'm sore in the weirdest places - like my tailbone hurts, and I'm getting toe cramps. But it's so worth it! :) (Any ideas for alleviating that? I'd love for you to comment below!)

Today, I'm most excited about....

Baby Myers has fully developed fingers and toes! Watching the week by week process in the books I am reading has been incredible. It's such a miracle!

Work at Home Mom

In my first video, I told you I would give you some information about my awesome job that allows me to work from home. I hope that you will take some time to watch this. I would love to have you join my team as a coach or a customer!

Divine Deals at Divine Consign

If you live in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex (or anywhere close), you need to add yourself to the Divine Consign mailing list. (These are pictures from the actual sale in Grapevine!)

Last night, the also preggo Meagan Bergeron and I, along with our husbands, made a trip to the twice annual Divine Consign sale in Grapevine. Basically, families get together anything related to children (toys, clothes, car seats, furniture, strollers, swings, books, etc.) from newborn through junior sizes that they want to sell at Divine Consign. If the item sells, the consigner gets 70% commission on the sale.

The sale began on Saturday, and it ends today at noon. Yesterday, they closed from 5-6pm to set up for the 50% sale. When we arrived, not only were the items originally priced at 75% off the original price, but most items were an additional 50% off.

Since Meagan and I both have a few months to go before we learn the gender of our baby, we browsed through the newborn items, but we did our shopping along the racks of the maternity wear. I ended up with a really nice winter coat, two shirts, a sweater, and a pair of pants...and paid less than $30!

I'll keep you posted about other deals as I find them! (Thanks to Kelly Nelson for passing along this awesome sale to me.)

Pets & Pregnancy

So I'm not that blonde anymore, and Bauer's definitely not that little....but isn't he the cutest pup you've ever seen?!

Bauer is now 6.5 months old and weighing right at 60 lbs. He's not finished growing, and he is crazy. Really. In fact, as I type this, his paws are in my lap, and he's licking my face. Surely, he doesn't want my attention. (Be warned - this will be a short post.)

I read a little bit about this subject in my books and online, but I came up with conflicting arguments. I decided I needed an expert opinion - YOURS!

Over the past few weeks, I've noticed Bauer getting even more protective of me. (Sometimes, he doesn't even like it if James gets too close to me!) He seems to know when I'm not feeling well. On those days, he won't leave my side. Plus, here's the kicker: I've heard my entire life that dogs have incredible hearing abilities. Well, for about the past 2 weeks, whenever I am sitting down on the couch, he rests his head on my stomach. He's always snuggled up beside me, but never this close. Is it possible that Bauer can hear the heartbeat?

Did your pets act differently when you were pregnant? How?

Do You Smell That?

So, it's the beginning of Week 7. The baby is going through a rapid growth spurt this week. By the end of this week, the baby will have doubled in size...and be about 1/2 inch. :) The heart has divided into right and left chambers, and small arm and leg buds are forming. So amazing...

But the baby is not the only one going through changes! I've noticed some crazy things changing in my body. I may not be showing yet...but I've got the tears to prove I'm pregnant! Normally, I'm not a very emotional person, but these days, I can cry over just about anything. (Example - remember the Tim Allen movie Jungle 2 Jungle? I caught the last 10 minutes of it yesterday, and cried like someone hit me. It wasn't even sad!)

However, I think the thing that has surprised me the most is my new super sonic sense of smell. I can smell ANYTHING. Normally, I chew peppermint gum. Now, it makes me sick. The smell is way too strong. I used to not really notice when our automatic Lysol sanitizer would go off. Now, I can tell you when it sprays no matter where I am in the house. It's crazy.

So, I'm obviously getting some of my intense motherly senses. I wonder when the eyes in the back of my head will start coming in...

Did I really just say that?

Yesterday, Tony Horton (you know, the crazy P90X guy) came to Dallas to meet with Beachbody coaches in the area. Our day started with a combination cardio and strength training workout.

Normally, at these events, I'm as close to the front row as I can get. I go all out, doing whatever I can to get to my max level of intensity. (Usually, that means competing with Jimmy Nelson - the husband to the BEAUTIFUL Kelly, who is pictured here on my right. Baby Nelson is due in February!)

Yesterday was different. The workout started, and I managed to do low impact versions of the exercises Tony was leading for about 25 minutes.

Then, my body said, "I'm done."

So....I stopped.

Really, I did.

I actually remember thinking, "I don't have anything to prove here."

Seven weeks ago, those words would have NEVER come out of my mouth.

But each day is different. Today, I did a 45-minute workout from TurboFIRE after church and felt fantastic. If it had been an hour, I could have finished it.

If you've been pregnant or are currently pregnant, I'd love to hear about your workout routine. What worked/works for you?

How long will I be this tired?!

TODAY'S STATS

Nutrition:

Breakfast: Kashi Heart to Heart cereal with Blue Diamond unsweetened almond milk, 1 banana

Lunch: P.F. Chang's vegetarian lettuce wraps

Dinner: 6 oz, grilled chicken & green beans

Post-Dinner: Randomly throughout the day, I snacked on an apple and saltine crackers. I was definitely needing something to settle my stomach at several points!

Supplements: Beachbody ActiFIT Multivitamin, Beachbody Core Omega-3/Omega-6 supplement, Beachbody Core Cal-Mag

Workout:

Today, I just went for a walk with James and Bauer. I was pretty tired...I'm trying to listen to my body!

Rest:

I slept until about 7am this morning, and I got up and started going about my day. This afternoon, I slept for about an hour and a half. I'm really not used to feeling this tired!

Sickness:

James and I took an opportunity to get away for an evening, and it was awesome to have some time together...even if it was short! However, the drive and I did not get along so well on the way back home. I had a little nausea in the car...but it wasn't something a few crackers couldn't cure! All in all....still no complaints!

Today, I'm most excited about....

The thought of my little one wearing this shirt....I bought it over a year and a half ago, and now I finally have one on the way who will be able to wear it!

I'm in Love :)

Isn't that the most PRECIOUS white blob you've ever seen??!!?! :)

Words cannot describe my joy as soon as the nurse pointed out our baby. That faint heartbeat at 113 bpm was one of the most precious sounds I've ever heard. (Just a note to anyone who is reading this before their first pregnancy...make sure your husband goes with you to this appointment! He will not want to miss hearing the heartbeat and seeing the baby for the first time. It was a very special moment for James and me!)

This is a whole new type of love, a whole new outlook on life....and I'm only 6 weeks in.

Yes, that's right - 6 weeks, not 8 weeks, as we originally thought. Based on the size of the fetus, we now have a new due date of May 9, 2011.

According to the materials I've been reading (Your Pregnancy: week by week) and what I saw at the doctor's office today, Baby Myers is about 2 mm. The early brain chambers are forming, along with the eyes and limbs. Six weeks is the earliest week that you should be able to hear the heartbeat, so we were blessed to be able to hear it today. Today, they also did blood work and a routine exam to make sure everything looks normal. So far, so good!

The doctor gave me the all clear to continue to exercise in moderation. I just have to be extremely careful to make sure my heart rate doesn't get up too high and that I don't get too hot. I ordered a heart rate monitor from Beachbody, so it should be here within the next few days. I'm being OVERLY careful until it arrives.

I don't have to go back to the doctor for another 4 weeks unless there is a problem. I have a feeling every time I close my eyes in a quiet place, I'm going to hear that heartbeat...

Praise God for the amazing miracle of life!

Figuring This Out...

TODAY'S STATS

Nutrition:

Breakfast: 1/2 cup cottage cheese, 1 banana, 1/3 cup Cascadian Farms Oats & Honey granola

Lunch: Black Bean Soup & whole grain baguette from Panera Bread

Dinner: 2 TBSP Marantha Organic Natural Creamy Peanut Butter, 1 TBSP honey on 2 pieces whole wheat bread

Post-Dinner: 1 scoop Chocolate Shakeology, mixed with 1 TBSP peanut butter, 1 TBSP sugar free fat free Butterscotch JELL-O pudding mix, 1 cup Blue Diamond unsweetened vanilla almond milk and 5-6 Triscuit crackers (Something about the sweet & salty combo sounded good!)

Supplements: Beachbody ActiFIT Multivitamin, Beachbody Core Omega-3/Omega-6 supplement, Beachbody Core Cal-Mag

Workout:

I taught a cardio class tonight - a mix of TurboKick, mixed in with athletic cardio conditioning and some strength training moves. I went low impact, but I was amazed how hard it was to keep my heart rate below 150. Even though my aerobic threashold allows me to talk comfortably at about 170-180, even if I am not breathless at 150, the baby is. This is definitely going to be an adjustment from what I am used to....but it is so worth it!

Rest:

I went to bed last night around 10:30pm, and I stayed in bed until about 7:15am this morning. (If you know me, that's the equivalent of sleeping until noon for most normal people.) However, when I got out of bed, all I proceeded to do was lay on the couch and go back to sleep until about 8:30am. Then, I was ready to eat breakfast and get my day started. I didn't nap this afternoon. It's now about 9pm, and I'm ready to take a shower a curl into bed. I am not too tired, but I'm definitely ready for bed!

Sickness:

Today, my sickness really hasn't been that bad. (Although, I can tell you, when I am sick, I'm throwing up with the biggest grin on my face. It's pretty comical.) The biggest adjustment I am dealing with right now is the fact that I am not very hungry. My stomach is sensitive and queasy when I eat. I tend to feel worse at night, so instead of doing my normal shake for breakfast, I've decided to try doing Shakeology in the evening. This way, I am guaranteed my body is getting the proper nutrition it needs without requiring me to eat a heavy meal.

Today, I'm most excited about....

My ultrasound is tomorrow morning - I'm getting excited. Check back for details!

So the pregnancy journey begins...

Welcome to The Healthy Baby Bump! Over the next 7 months, I will be documenting my pregnancy: nutrition, exercise, doctor's appointments, books I am reading, etc. getting ready for Baby Myers!

It's actually a pretty amazing (and somewhat long) story of why my pregnancy is such a miracle. So instead of typing it, I'd rather tell it... :)