What it's come to now

A mama's gotta do what a mama's got to do!  My husband has been out of town for the last 8 days (comes home in 38 hours and 23 minutes....I mean 2 days or so) and I've actually done really well getting either a trainer ride or short run with the baby in the Chariot in each day while my other kids are at school or a playdate.  Until today that is.  It's getting late and I hate to give up my sleep to ride once sweet baby is asleep for the night, so I thought I'd try this.

Yeah she didn't really go for it.  We lasted about 2 minutes.  Darn.  I tried right?

So yep, getting back into things again, I mean not like usual training but more than walking the kids to school and back.  Tried to run about 2.5 weeks postpartum like I have before, and I don't mean for miles, I was hoping to do 1/4 mile walk/run intervals (don't think speed here), but it just didn't feel right.  I've always heard that you really need to let the pelvic floor heal well in those first few months for it to heal and behave well forever for you, so when it didn't feel right I respected it and only walked.
Well this week I decided to try again adding some running to my walking and it felt good actually!  I can feel some strain in my lower abs which can be expected, but things are reasonable otherwise.  I won't try to show off or look like superwoman here, but want to be realistic for other very active/athlete moms out there.  I've been walking 3 miles briskly (that means minus kiddos, they play in the bleachers while I walk around the track with the trailer or they stay home with Dad) 3-4 times/wk since about 2 weeks, and just this week at 4 weeks I did three 1/2 mile running sections with 1/4-1/2 mile walks in between.  Yep, no straight 3 miles running right now.  I bet I'll be there in a few weeks, but I'm trying to be cautious.  I don't have any real race wishes until about 2 months from now so I'm ok taking it slow.
I also jumped back on the tri bike on the trainer last week.  You'll recall I did the spin bike at the gym a lot that last trimester since I didn't want to change my tri bike fit to accommodate my big ol belly.  So I really haven't been on my tri bike in, hmmmm, 6 months or so!  It feels good!  Less annoying to the remaining pubic symphysis pain I've dealt with this time around that is still lingering just a little, and easier to push harder.  I can ride much closer to normal vs running close to normal right now.  Yeah the first few rides were a little tender, but I attribute my cooperative lady parts to a birth without meds, in the tub, good perineal support from the midwife, and gravity assisted (not laying down) and not too long pushing.

It's taking some getting used to again being super time efficient.  I mean I've always had to be, but where I have 3 trips a day to take and pick kids up from school, and a napping baby that is going to need me and only me when she wakes up there's no time to hang around on the computer or wonder what I should do, what I should wear, where I should go, etc.  Another reason I love the trainer, so convenient to have it downstairs ready to go.  I have loved getting out in the unseasonably warm sunshine this week though and don't mind pushing the Chariot when there's only a baby in it.  Anyway, seems like many friends are getting ready for a quickly approaching race season.  Hope training is going well and your early season races are great!  I'd be more ancy to join you if it wasn't for my warm cuddly baby; much easier to handle not racing right now than with an injury  :)

A good reason to do nothing

and her name is Ella.  I'm in love.  I would like to get back to activity, but this significant anemia may hold me back longer than I thought.  Of course I'm a little dissapointed, but I'm doing all I can to build my hematocrit back into normal ranges and we'll get there when we get there.  Guess there's a reason I didn't have a race schedule for 2012 set in stone.




I really am ok with it though.  I mean I don't love the headaches and quick fatigue and looking like a ghost, but I would do it again in a heartbeat of course for this sweet little girl of mine.  The other kids adore her and it's been so much more rewarding as a mother than ever to watch them love her.



 So maybe I'll start working on pulling my core back together in the next few weeks, maybe a little weight training at home, yoga, pilates,  I don't know.  Won't swim bike run for a while.  Just plan on getting healthy and enjoying the best finisher prize ever

The long awaited news!

It's a GIRL!

We had our beautiful baby girl Wednesday evening about 5:45.  She was 9lbs 14oz and 21 inches long.  She was born in the water and everything was just so great!  My husband and kids were all there watching her peaceful arrival and we're all in love!  There are lots more details about the birth and more pics on our family blog which you are welcome to visit.

I used Hypnobabies training (the home study course) with this pregnancy and even though it's my 3rd natural birth so you'd think I had the hang of it already, this one was definitely smoother.  I stayed in calm and in control well, kept my confidence, kept focused and relaxed which made things not painless, but a whole lot more manageable than they have been before.  I have been pondering the approach to positive affirmations and mental training I did daily to prepare for her birth, and will continue to ponder how they might be applied to my training and racing as well.

Anyway, time to get back to snuggling my little baby.  Sometimes it seems that's all I'll even do (and I'm fine with that right now, I love her to pieces!  Sitting on the couch nursing and cuddling and gazing is all I want right now), but I felt a twinge of desire to get back into it in the next few weeks.  We'll just start with walking this week though.  Thanks for the well wishes I've received already!!

My family of 6, wow!

And the Fit2bMom winner is!....

Brittany!

Congrats Brittany, I will email you the info you need to get your own Inspire tank.  Enjoy!

Thanks everyone for entering the random drawing!  If you want another chance at free stuff you can check out my contest below where you guess the gender, birthday, and weight of this little baby of ours who has still yet to make his/her grand entrance.  Stay tuned!

1 more day to win a free Fit2bMom top!

Win this super awesome maternity active tank! 
Enter a comment in the post below. 
Drawing is tomorrow!

Fit2BMom maternity activewear review & giveaway!!

What better time than now to do this review seeing as I'm due tomorrow (and still pregnant, better keep busy right?!).  Just means the product is fully and completely tested  :)
Honestly, other than my sleep, having my kids involved, feeling the baby kick inside (and sometimes random stranger comments) the thing I'll miss most about being pregnant is being able to wear these tops!  While all my other maternity stuff is driving me crazy because it doesn't fit any more, these tops are still going strong as big as I've gotten.  And yes, I may not seem huge to some, but A) I feel huge so don't argue with me there  :)  and B) I grow right out in front so I can put maternity clothes through the ringer well.  I'll be surprised if this baby is smaller than 9lbs, and at my 39 week appointment I measured 42cm.  Yep!
This is our 4th baby and I've never had real maternity workout clothing, just wore bigger stuff or my husbands tech shirts or whatever would fit.  Since our 3rd child though I've started teaching water fitness twice a week and well, I just want to still look cute while pregnant and nothing drives me crazier than how I look in an over-sized tech shirt with baggy sleeves down to my elbows and no sign of my new found cleavage, which if we're being honest about, I might as well enjoy while it's not leaky and being spoken for by a baby all the time right?!  And I'm not talking about everyone seeing exposed cleavage, just the shape that goes along with a big belly.  Hate the way over-sized shirts go from my shoulders to belly with nothing in between.  Vain, I know.

Lets see, how did I come upon Fit2bMom, well it was actually December of 2010.  I entered a contest and won a discount code and was super excited to use it....until we miscarried....again.  So when we finally got pregnant again last summer and stayed pregnant I couldn't wait to use it.  I currently have 5 tops and use all of them all week for teaching and for my own workouts.  I've even worn some paired with a cardigan or something over/under as regular tops.  Fit2bMom does have a very nice casual clothing line as well.  I got most of my tops around 15 weeks and worried I wouldn't be able to fill them out, but I did and it felt good to give my growing belly room, and to show off the little at the time baby bump.  And now with the not so little (and we're talking about a 42inch waist right now) baby belly, these tops not only still fit great (which really is miraculous in and of itself), but are flattering.  I love their length.  Even at 39 weeks all my tops still cover the very bottom of my belly and back without riding up at all and I don't feel like I'm stretching the fabric out.  Oh and the fabric?  Awesome! SO soft, hasn't snagged on me at all, washes easy, and breathes well, no complaints there at all.  All of the tops I have have shirred waists which I tell ya, is the way to flatter a pregnant belly.  2 of the tanks I have have super cute backs as well!  So here are some pics.  Most are a month or two old, but honestly they all still fit great.  I'm so impressed something can work so well for a not even 20 week belly to a 40 week belly, same top, same size.  And as for sizing I think they're all pretty on.  I can wear an XS sometimes in pre-preg stuff, but most of my tops are a size small and while I worried when ordering that I should go with a medium so they'd still fit at my biggest round out there belly, the small has worked just fine.

Probably my favorite back, black sports bra is mine.  All the tops I have do have a built in bra as well 

Ok, it's pretty cute from the side and front too!

Super cute back of the Cool Down Tank

Love this Balance Tank. Has a great neckline and banded hem on the bottom.
Check out my 39 week pic below in this top, it's still going strong.

I was fortunate to win 2 of the tops I have, but the other 3 I've purchased.  Even though I only got to use them in 1 pregnancy, they've been my splurge of all my pregnancies, and yes I really think they're worth the money.

Just stay active.  It keeps the aches and pains of pregnancy limited and helps you feel strong and confident and a bit like your usual self.  It doesn't have to be my active, or your friend's active, or anyone's specific definition of active, just keep moving.  Go for a walk, take a class (spinning sitting upright is surprisingly comfortable), do some basic weight training at home even (bicep curls, tricep lifts, shoulder presses, calf raises, etc), just be Fit!

If having a baby is in your now or in your future, definitely check Fit2bMom out on Facebook for updates and sales and contests.

So how about winning a Fit2bMom top of your own?! 
Yep, the wonderful ladies there have given me the ok to give away one of their fabulous Inspire Tanks! 
Same one I wore in that Massachusetts duathlon I did in October!  So here's how to win:
Leave me a comment here telling me your favorite piece of clothing from Fit2bMom's website.  You can earn 1 additional entry by sharing their website on your blog or Facebook (like them on FB if you don't already). 
Just tell me which you do.  So 2 entries total possible, and I'll draw a winner, hmmm, how about Valentines day?  Seems like a good day since you'll love their clothes and I'll hopefully be loving on a sweet squishy warm baby!

Yep, still here

and still pregnant.  I'm still doing pretty ok physically which I'm grateful for.  Nights are rough.  Rolling over with a 20lb ball in front of you is harder than one might imagine.  I'm really not even thinking about racing this year (which I will do and do look forward to, it's just not the foremost thing on my mind right now), just excited to meet this baby. 


We're due Friday, but who knows if this baby will come by then or not.  I tend to hope/think so though.  Kind of slacked off working out this week, think I only got 3 workouts in.  At times I feel like I'm just 'sitting around' waiting for this baby to come, but it's good to keep moving.  Saturday morning I had a very nice cardio/weight/swim workout at the pool and while short and sweet it was refreshing.  Here's to hopefully only a couple more!

10 days to go! Get your guesses in!

UPDATE:  Baby is here and we have our winners!    Looks like Bethany was closest on the date (which I'll give her since even though she entered later, she nailed the date, next closest early entry was 3 days off), and Crystal was closest on weight.  Congrats ladies!  Email me at lhowlett12 at gmail dot com!

If anyone is out there (it's been kind of dead on here lately, are ya'll just waiting to read the big news or something cool?  Yeah, me too) AND interested in free stuff, play guess the baby stats with me!  Guess the gender, birth day, and weight and I'll send the winners for birth day and weight a prize.  Don't have to be closest on both, just birth day or weight.  Maybe an even awesomer prize if you nail both.  I have a pair of Injinji socks, a Road ID gift certificate, and could probably score someone a sweet Altra discount code too in case of a tie.  And if you don't want to guess details I have a simple little poll on the side bar for boy or girl.  Thanks for reading!

So here are the stats from my other 3 kids.  I'm due February 10th by the way

M - 1 week late, 8lbs3oz

T - 1 week early, 9lbs15.6oz (I like to call that 10lbs!)

K - 3 days late (we argue about this, husband thinks she was 3 days early), 9lbs6oz

Help a brother out (tonight if possible)

My good friend Matt Williams, a local ultrarunner and just all around good guy is vying or a pair of shoes from the best shoe producer ever, Altra, and just needs the most likes on his pic partway down on Altra Running's Facebook page.  Read his description, such excellent writing, I promise the 2 minutes it will take you to read it will make you smile and remind us all how crazy we are for what we do for happiness.  Although it's not so crazy, being active and outdoors, pretty wise actually.  Anyway, contest ends tomorrow at 9am so if you could hop on tonight or early tomorrow that'd be awesome!

There was a comment made that maybe he shouldn't win since he already has a pair, to let someone who doesn't have a pair yet win, but I don't really agree.  I think he has just as much right to a new pair as anyone and here's why.  The man already owns 5 pair of Altra shoes.  He's paid full price for them.  Hey I won't lie, free stuff is always good, but probably coming from being on the back end of Altra, I've come to feel at least personally, that I don't feel as good asking for freebies anymore unless it's already a company I support and know.  Matt and another friend Craig (and I'm sure many others out there) have been such vocal advocates of Altra, and these guys weren't given free stuff, they aren't sponsored.  People talk like the only way they can get these shoes is by winning them.  Sorry, but they are in 150+ stores around the country and online.  These guys paid for their shoes themselves, and personally, I think that says something.
But hey anyone who's interested in their first pair and needs a little discount code love (no, not 50% off, they don't give me quite that much power), I am happy to hook you up.  Email me.

"I work out"

Ok, I've been trying hold back posting this video because some might frown on it or call it too much, but I think it's hilarious and I love the beat of the song!  I also LOL at the video because it's just funny.  It's not trying to objectify women (doesn't actually really have women dancing much at all), doesn't involve smoking, drugs, or drinking (except they're at a bar in one scene), it's just these guys putting on a hilarious show and making fun of themselves.  Anyway, blame it on my swimming background, but I grew up a speedo girl and still don't have a problem with them on a good swimmer body (actually think they look better than Jammers on swimmer bodies), but these aren't quite the swimmer speedos we're all used to, so you've been warned.  No thongs, just....um...looser fabric?  The most uncomfortable part is probably for 10 or so seconds at 1:00 and 2:12-2:30.  If you're easily offended just listen to the song and skip the video, or the song all together.
Shame me if you will  :)

LOL, I just laugh every time.  Don't know how sexy I'm feeling these days, although yes I recognize I have still retained some tone and grow out front and not all over, but man, when your kids refer to you as 'big belly' or your husband laughs in shock when you walk by in a spandex workout tank top, or I catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror at certain angles, yeah, it's a little unusual.  Although I will say my tops have never looked better up top from a cleavage point of view  ;)

And I have been working out.  Did a great weights aerobics class tonight, am enjoying spinning ok (although sometimes I just want to do my own workout, may throw my bike on the trainer just to see if I can even fit at all, I just don't want my body and muscles to forget the positioning), and love the water.  I even did the masters swim workout New Years Eve which was 112x50's, 5600 yards.  Really wanted to say I did that since I was bummed I wouldn't be doing the Beat the New Year 5k I've wanted to since the beginning of this pregnancy.  But hey if you look at it from a yards standpoint, 3.1 miles is 5456 yards, so I guess I did do that 5k, just in the water  :)  Happy New Year to you all!