Second Trimester Survival: Must-Haves

     No, I'm not a seasoned, professional pregnant girl, but I do feel like I now specialize in the area of surviving the second trimester! So many women told me that the second trimester was golden, and it took me about two weeks to realize that for the most part, they were right! I was hit with some bad back pain, but it beat the heck out of it being exhausted all day, every day, feeling as if I could sleep at my desk from 8 to 4!

     As I reflected on the second trimester and how wonderful it really was, I concluded that it definitely deserves it's very own blog post about what helped me get through it and enjoy it as much as possible! For expectant moms, I hope it's as golden for you as it was for me!

 

 

Old Faithful... AKA a heating pad/icepack

When the back pain began getting really tough for me, heat/ice pack was my best friend. Some days ice felt better for inflammation, while the heat was a great muscle soother for other days. This was $15 at my chiropractor's office, but you can find them much cheaper at drugstores. I've also heard of pregnant women wearing those icy hot wraps during the day. Never tried it, but I'm sure they're amazing!

Tylenol

 

The "safe" drug for pregnant women. Two tablets every morning helped combat the minor headaches that continued into trimester two and the back pain. I'm no longer popping pills every morning (except for that lovely prenatal vitamin that I forget nearly every day), but I still keep a bottle of these in my bag at all times.

Water

 

And LOTS of it. Trimester Two is a thirsty one, so keep a cold bottled water close by. While at school, I was making trips to the water fountain to fill up my tumbler every half hour. In addition, I was making just as frequent trips to the bathroom, but after a dehydration scare (accompanied by a $500 emergency room bill just to find out I needed something to drink), I learned to keep my fluids nearby! This summer, as I'm walking around the hot streets of Holly Springs running errands for work, I've kept this cup with me. I'm always sipping on my ice water!

Cute, comfy nightgown

 

At a certain point, pajama pants just won't stay put and are too uncomfortable on a growing belly. I love my Victoria's Secret gowns that I've had forever, but my mom and I recently found ones at Walmart that read "Drink Coffee & Be Happy." Of course, we each just had to have one, and now it's my favorite!

Yoga Pants

 For that awkward phase (mine was weeks 17-20) when you're not far enough along for maternity pants but your pre-pregnancy pants are a little too snug. I started wearing yoga pants to work every day with a t-shirt or tank top and cardigan. I'm sure I looked pretty basic some days, but hey, at least I was comfortable!

Fast Food

But not that kind of fast! I'm talking about quick snacks and even meals that you can throw in your bag on the way out the door because trust me, when hunger strikes, it strikes HARD. Just a couple of weeks into the second trimester I learned the importance of keeping something edible on me at all times. My mother and I were in a junk store looking around, and I knew I was getting hungry, but I still didn't suggest we go. After a little while, I told her that we were going to need to leave pretty soon and at least get me a Coke or something with a little sugar, as I was getting hungrier by the minute. My mother kept saying "Okay, I'm almost done... Just one more trip around the store..." After twenty minutes of this, I grabbed her arm and said "If you do not get me out of this store and to a place with food, I am going to kill you." She made a beeline for the checkout and since then, she makes a point to hurry it up the minute I tell her I'm hungry! Pregnancy hunger is like no other!!

Maxi Dress/Skirt

A great maxi dress you can wear anywhere. Church, parties, work, showers and more showers, maxi dresses become your go-to style. Coming from a self-proclaimed shop-a-holic who rarely wears a really great outfit more than two-three times, I've realized that with a pregnancy wardrobe, you just gotta find a few things that fit and get as much wear out of them as you can. It doesn't last forever, so don't go spend hundreds. Also, don't just head to the maternity section; shop for things a size or two up as well. It's much cheaper!

Comfy Shoes

I may "only" be 28 weeks, but so far, all of my shoes still fit perfectly fine, including my favorite Nike tennis shoes. I'm telling you, water-only is the way to get out of all that ankle swelling! I also love my Teva flip flops. These are the second pair I've owned (RIP to the first pair, destroyed by Anabelle). I suppose they are like Chaco rip-offs. I once saved my money for a pair of Chaco's, got to Kinnucan's and tried on five different pair in my size. I thought they were heavy and clunky and made my size ten feet look even bigger. Then I saw these hanging on the wall, and I've not looked back. They're amazing. The soles are a rubber, foamy material, so they're super squishy and great for people with high arches like mine!

NOT uncomfortable lace up your rear end...

A great pair of... underwear? Yikes, I said it, but it's true. "Sexy" panties kind of went out the window for me at about five months, so I now opt for comfort instead. It's my personal belief that since these come from Victoria's Secret, they are not "granny panties." :) Go for the hip-huggers or bikini styles from VS!

A good support system...

And I found that in stretchy sports bras. I wear these religiously anyway, but they've been especially helpful during pregnancy for days when I just don't even want to deal with a regular, wired bra. For years, I have only bought the meshy, spandex bras with no binding around the bust. I get most of mine at Target, but they also have some great ones for super cheap at TJMaxx.

Did I leave anything out? What helped you make it through lovely Trimester Two??

Only 12 more weeks until Vaught and I get to meet!

First Week on the GD Diet

    

     No, that GD doesn't stand for what you might have immediately thought, but that's how I sometimes feel about it (not really). If you've been reading, you're well aware of my disgusting disgruntling twelve pound gain at my week twenty-four appointment last Monday. Due to the advice of a friend, I requested a copy of the gestational diabetic diet sheet for expectant women and began following it that afternoon, as high weight gain was a concern of mine from the beginning of my pregnancy. Both my sisters gained more than triple the amount of weight a pregnant woman should healthily gain while they were expecting their daughters. Although they only had themselves to blame (and they admit it now), I saw how miserable and uncomfortable they were during their pregnancies and for a while after. It took my oldest sister years to slim back down after having my niece. When I announced I was pregnant, both of them came to me, begging me to practice better habits while pregnant than they did. Eating for two is dead, they told me. You don't want to go through what we did. When the scale moved twelve pounds forward at my last appointment, it was enough to put this whole pregnancy into perspective. I had still been going to the gym four or five times a week, but I knew that I hadn't been eating like I should. Because I'm human, I don't mind admitting that there have been times where I have consumed nearly an entire sleeve of DoubleStuf Oreos because What's it matter? I'm pregnant! Two weekends ago, I was in an Italian wedding; I feasted on nothing but carbs for three days, and I loved every minute of it--probably because I didn't realize what I was doing to myself. My last appointment, however, was just what I needed to permanently snap out of that mentality. I can't do it to my body, and I definitely cannot do it to Vaught's.

     So, I asked for a copy of the diet sheet my doctor gives to women who are diagnosed with gestational diabetes during their pregnancies (he was thrilled that I was taking the initiative) even though I won't know if I have GD for another two weeks.This first week at it has been a little tough, but by following the 2,000-2,200 calorie per day meal plan, I've realized just how much I had been consuming before without even realizing it and have even shed some of that gain (safely and healthily!)

     After looking at the diet sheet my doctor gave me, I realized I'd have to find some replacements for a few of the items (like catfish-blah). This is the grocery list I came up with. The things marked "DT" are items I can purchase at the Dollar Tree near my house. Sorry not sorry--Dollar Tree is the stuff.

     Obviously, the GD diet doesn't call for a  lot of fruits. Although they're full of natural sugars, the good kind that our bodies need, a large component of this diet is cutting way back on sugar altogether. And consuming very little of it in the morning, I noticed! It's also generally low carb. I can't stand when people say they're on a no-carb diet. Um, hello? I'm no fitness expert, but I know that our bodies require some carbs in there! But lowering your carb intake a little can never hurt. 

My girl, LC, drinks milk :)

     I made a few changes of my own, such as with the milk. I am a milk guzzler. Growing up, we drank 2% at my house, and between me, my dad, and my brother we went through two gallons per week. In my own home, a gallon usually lasts me a little more than a week, but when I was going through my major cereal phase, I had to get a gallon and a half nearly every weekend! And please don't tell me I shouldn't drink it; I can't stand the you should only drink almond/soy/organic milk fad, and yes, I personally believe it is a fad unless you're lactose intolerant or one of those people who would just rather pay double the price for organic food. Amy Pohler says it best in Baby Mama: "That stuff's for rich people who hate themselves." People have been drinking milk for centuries, and it's not killed anyone. And if it has, I'm willing to take my chances.

Sorry. Anyway, I refuse to drink skim milk. It's okay in cereal, but when drinking it out of a glass, it just tastes like white water. Ew. So I've switched to 1%. Typically twenty less calories per serving and a tad less sugar :) I apologize for getting on my soap box about milk, but I once went grocery shopping with a friend who took my gallon of 2% out of the shopping cart (without asking me), and replaced it with a carton of Silk, smiled at me and said, "You'll never be healthy drinking that stuff."  

It put a more sour taste in my mouth than milk ever could.

 

     The diet also calls for catfish for a few of the dinners. I like fish okay in general, but catfish just isn't something kept in the Pace household; we are chicken, turkey, and beef people! However, I can eat an entire can of tuna completely raw. Disgusting, I know! I add in a boiled egg, just a little bit of mayo, a dash of salt, and some pepper. Tuna sandwiches are always yummy!

     Turkey bacon::: I finally gave it a try a little over a year ago. Since then, we've not purchased regular bacon (unless it's just at a really good price)! Although we are big-time lovers of "real bacon," my husband and I both love how much healthier and cheaper turkey bacon is, as well as how good it tastes when seasoned with a little pepper. Seriously, I cannot tell a big difference at all except for the texture. Although you can have real bacon on the GD diet, I'm sticking with turkey bacon for now. Twenty-five calories/slice versus 90 calories/slice!

    I've also almost completely ditched Coca Cola, one of my most favorite things in the world!! I did have half a can Friday afternoon though :) Other than that, I have drank nothing but water all week long. I may love Coca Cola, but I also reeeeally love water too! For years when I was younger water was all I drank, and when I got older Coke was my beverage of choice only when dining out. I feel like I've drank more in my adulthood than I have in my entire life before! It's hard at 2 o'clock in the afternoon on a busy week day when an ice cold Sonic Coke would be the most amazing thing for a tired mama. And speaking of mama, mine doesn't help much when she sends me out of the office around three in the afternoon on a Sonic Coke run! But the swelling in my ankles and wrists has been almost non-existent since I've switched to water. That's motivation to keep chugging the H20!

     Once again, around the end of April, I returned to my almost-daily trips to Starbucks for hot lattes or a frappucino that often added an extra 300-400 calories to my daily intake. I'm proud to say I've not been to Starbucks in a few days, except for Friday morning; I cannot do my Friday morning without a hot, end-of-the-week latte! But instead of the cinnamon dolce, I ordered a double tall skinny vanilla. It was surprisingly good! I know I'll never be able to cut Starbucks completely out of my life (I'm a coffee enthusiast after all), but I do plan on making the switch to non-fat and sugar free concoctions. That mocha cookie crumble frappucino is just going to have to be an every once in a while treat! 

     Isn't it kind of ironic how every time you aim to make your eating habits a little healthier someone around you shows up with cookies, brownies, or blueberry muffins?  I work at a land office in north Mississippi, and last week our representatives from our Georgia office were here visiting. One of the them baked homemade blueberry muffins the second day they were here. I had to have one; it was amazing!

       I overslept one day and desperately needed some coffee. I stopped at McDonald's for a latte, but their machine was down (surprise, surprise). So I supplemented with a strawberry sweet tea from Sonic. If you've not had one of these, you're missing out! They're amazing!!!! I like the unsweet version too, but I just had to have a little sugar! 

                    

  Cooking supper this past week has been a fun experience; by Thursday, my husband was sooo sick of baked chicken and vegetables. The picture below is from Thursday night I believe. By then, I was running out of veggies and just threw this together.

     I'm one of those rare people who love to grocery shop! Target has the BEST packages of chicken breasts ever! Each serving is 4-6 ounces, and comes pre-seasoned with garlic and herbs and all sorts of other great spices! So on Wednesday afternoon I left work and headed straight for Target. I got all of the below for under $25. Their marketplace is typically a bit pricier than grocery stores, but they always have great deals on certain items, so I got what I could for a bargain. 

     They had boxes upon boxes of granola bars for $1.20/box and large bottles of Smart Water for just $1! I also stocked the freezer on some frozen veggies (I prefer fresh produce, but frozen's good to have on hand).

     We also have a couple of "fruit guys" that stop by our office once a week, their trucks loaded down with locally grown fruits and vegetables. They're such sweet guys, and they always have great deals on their produce! I always stock up when they visit! They usually have some of the best peaches and strawberries that you could never find in a grocery store!

     As I said, Eric was so sick of chicken and veggies by Thursday, he had me make a reservation for the two of us at Texas de Brazil in Memphis for Friday night. If you've never been to TdB, pleeeeease put it on your bucket list! We try to go once every couple of months, and it always helps to be a loyal follower of their email list :)

On our way to TdB in Memphis :))

      I thought it would be especially hard sticking to it over the weekend, but it was surprisingly easy. When I'm hit with a hard craving, I just think to myself healthy mama, healthy baby. It makes making healthy choices so much easier. So, since last Tuesday (technically Monday evening, lol), I have felt ten times better! I feel lighter and less bloated. And I know I am because my scale today is still showing a loss of about six-seven pounds. I think the water-only switch has made all the difference in the world; I can't believe how little my feet swell now! I'm becoming a quite a big fan of the GD diet and am glad I began following it at twenty-five weeks. I may be saying "diet" now, but I know that this would be a great meal plan to stick with as I transition back into a permanently healthy lifestyle once Vaught arrives. After all, healthy is a lifestyle, not a diet, right? :)  

     I have been writing, adding to, and taking away from this post for a little more than a week now, so for once I'm exhausted with the blogosphere tonight! But again, I want to say thank you for reading and to those who are loyally coming back. I know I probably annoy the heck out of  my Instagram and Twitter followers with my blog posts, but it sparks curiosity which sparks interest which sparks enthusiasm and a willingness to keep coming back. I really appreciate all of you who are reading.

 

Look for my Week 26 Update this Thursday!

Sweating for Two

I will get one of these very soon!!

     Gone are the days when expectant women were instructed by our doctors and midwives to rest as much as possible during pregnancy, refrain from all strenuous activity, and eat enough food for two people (YAY CARBS)! Today, I feel that mommies-to-be are much better off, as we are being informed that it's perfectly fine to run a half-marathon, cross-train, hike a mountain if we want, paint the baby room, and we're now well aware that our baby-building bodies only require about an extra 200-300 calories per day during this nine month journey to motherhood. Coming from the girl who gained an infamous twelve pounds in four weeks, that all sounds good to me!

     One thing I love about my doctor is his support and encouragement of what I  mention above. I was a gym-a-holic prior to getting pregnant but was convinced that I should avoid it while pregnant (apparently, I'd read one too many old wive's tales). He smiled at my apprehensions and told me to keep doing what I'm doing: running, lifting weights, cycling, they're alllll good during pregnancy! Scientific research over the past two decades has even proven that women who exercised while pregnant had easier, quicker labors and healthier babies.
     When I hit trimester two, I was so glad to see my energy come back, but suddenly I was nailed with some serious lower back pain. It doesn't help that I've always had it, but the shifting, stretching, and rearranging my muscles were doing on top of a misaligned pelvis was excruciating at times. I didn't go to the gym for a few weeks; I was lucky if I got in a lap or two around my neighborhood. At my 20 week appointment, I discussed the pain with my doctor and how terrible it had me feeling. Although exercise was the last thing I wanted to do at that point, he guaranteed me that a little more activity would help my back tremendously. 

     Turns out, Doc knows what he's talking about! I got back in the gym and noticed that within just a few days, my back was feeling better. Dead lifts, which strengthen the glutes, quads, and lumbar region, were miracle workers and still are. My back hasn't ached like it had been in a few weeks now, and it's a bigger relief than I can say!
 

      Below I've listed two amazing workouts that I have begun doing a few times a week for the past few weeks. One of them is one I pinned to a fit pregnancy board on my Pinterest account (with some slight modifications), while the other is a good one I got from a friend. I must say that lately I'm really liking the second one better. It's the one I mentioned in my Week 24 update that I thought was going to kill me before I lowered the weights!

No Excuses Pregnancy Workout

     I have to change this one up a little. I usually run one mile before every workout (or at least 1/2 a mile), so I do that, then do this circuit three times altogether, resting about a minute or two in between. I cannot do dips, or at least not three sets of twelve. I'm not ashamed to say I have weak wrists; they couldn't always be depended on when I did gymnastics, and they gave me a lot of trouble as a cheerleader, despite the wrist exercises I did to try to strengthen them. Although dips are a great core exercise, they mainly work the triceps, so I substitute them for tricep kickbacks or extensions while seated or standing. Also, if I don't have access to a wall at my gym, I'll grab a dumbbell or medicine ball and hold a squat for as long as I can. At the end, I bike a few miles or do ten minutes on the elliptical. I actually went months without doing the elliptical; I was really into weights! But a few weeks  ago, I got back on it and really love it! Low impact but a great way to work up a sweat!!

**I tried to credit the above photo, but the Pinterest link was broken or defective**

Workout 2: High Rep, Low Weight

                                                              http://michellemariefit.publishpath.com/

    I call it "High Rep, Low Weight" because it took me trying to do it with way too heavy weights to figure out that it was not meant for anything over fifteen pounds (except dead lifts maybe!) I got this from my friend on Instagram; anytime someone posts a workout, I always give it a try! This is by far one of the best ones I've tried, and I have done it several times now.

     As you can see, it calls for 25 repetitions for each set. I guess I thought I was really cool trying to do twenty-five squats with a thirty or forty pound barbell on my shoulders. I took a step back and re-read the workout. "Dumbbell squats." The light bulb went off; this is a workout meant for much lower weight. I grabbed a twenty pound dumbbell for squats and tricep extensions (dips), and kept my thirty pound barbell for deadlifts. Again, I don't do the dips, per horrible wrists. I stuck with tricep extensions instead.
     The most challenging part of the second part are the fifty lunges. I take "25 stationary lunges" to mean 25 on each leg. I have a love-hate relationship with lunges, so I try to do ten on one leg, ten on the other, then fifteen on each. OUCH. Those lunges make the rest of this part seem easy! I do the rest with a ten pound dumbbell in each hand. I love the rows! When I'm at the gym, I don't do any cardio with this one until I'm done. The quickest I've been able to finish this workout is about twenty-five minutes. It typically takes a good half hour, maybe longer. But I love it! This has definitely become a new favorite of mine, and I plan on sticking with it once baby is here.

     Please enjoy these lovely gym selfies after this workout!

 

Red-faced and ready to ride the Hot Mess Express :) If you still look good after a workout you're doing it wrong!

Weight Training

     I love being that girl who can run on the tread for a little while, then hit the benches and squat racks for a heavy lifting session. I love weight training! I got into it last year with some classes at my old gym and have since developed my own workouts (my husband, the power lifter, is great help with this too). When hitting the gym strictly for weight training, I like to do three or four heavy, solid sets of squats, dead lifts, and bench presses, and two or three sets of other exercises that work the smaller muscle areas. Before pregnancy, I was really impressed with where my numbers were as far as weights. While carrying little Vaught, I've had to cut down on everything, but I still like where I'm sitting. I think constantly lifting and holding a baby in a few months will help keep the muscles in tact too :) I'm by no means the thinnest, most in-shape girl at the gym, but I love being able to tackle a hard workout, do it right, and get it done. I love being able to lift heavy and not be intimidated by all the meat-heads in the weights area. I'm definitely not afraid of some muscle, unlike many women.

Post squat-session grub with the hubs tonight :)

     Overall, I'm really proud to have been able to remain active throughout my pregnancy so far, and I have less than fifteen weeks to go! In my Week 24 update post, I revealed, unashamedly, that I had gained twelve pounds in four weeks. Since then, I have lost six! SIX! I cannot tell you the relief I felt when I realized that today. I even weighed at the same time as most of my appointments (mid-afternoon), so I know the scale read pretty accurately. For those who may be skeptical, rest assured that my doctor has okayed my diet and exercise plans (I recently began following the diabetic diet for pregnant women), and a small loss is good for me and baby after such a significant gain. In my situation, too much weight gain increases my chances of gestational diabetes, prolonged and/or difficult labor, delivery via C-section, and other complications. But if I can keep my weight in a healthy range, all is anticipated to go well! (Tomorrow, a post about the GD diet will publish, so you can read alllll about it).

     For my moms-to-be who may not be able to be very active during pregnancy (due to complications, high-risk factors, etc.), know that you're no less healthy than other pregnant women who can be more active. Whatever you've been told by your practitioner to do is exactly what you should be doing and is the healthiest option for you. It's okay if you've been clearly instructed to take it easy. My friend and I had this discussion the other day: we're both getting ridiculous amounts of unsolicited (and often unwanted) advice from all corners of our lives, even from family. I sometimes just want to smile and say, "Well, okay honey, that was your pregnancy, this is mine." Pregnancy, like other things women experience, is different for everyone. We are not all the same! My friend and I agree that although the advice is hardly ever sometimes helpful, we are relying on one person's opinion and instructions: our doctors'. And I love that my doctor is so very supportive of exercise during these nine months. My sister may have been told to stay off her feet as much as possible, but my doctor is telling me the more active I am, the better. Your doctor may tell you not to help paint the baby room or clean house due to the smell of cleaning fumes and chemicals; mine says open a window and paint/scrub like you mean it!

     In closing, pregnancy is this beautiful yet complicated thing all at once. Some of us have a hellacious nine months of torture, while others enjoy it for the most part and go about our usual routines with some added perks and kicks (pun intended). I'm no fitness professional (obviously--I'm writing about struggling with weight management), but I am very much a fan of being active and living as healthily as possible. And there's no standard size for that! I've been very fortunate to have had such an easy pregnancy, but I'm counting my blessings and realizing that could change at any minute. If you're able to exercise, pregnant or not, I want to encourage you to try one or both of the workouts above. Remember: go at your own pace and HAVE FUN! Exercise, for everyone, is so much better when you're enjoying what you're doing!

Feel free to leave a comment or send me an email with some of your favorite workout routines. I'm always up for trying new things in the gym! If you don't have a blogger account to leave a comment, follow me on Instagram, katepace12, and contact me there :)

 

Upcoming: some exciting news concerning a small company I've recently become an ambassador for. They will help sponsor and promote my blog, which is really exciting! I can't wait to write all about it but will wait until all details are finalized :) Thanks so much for reading!!

What It Is & What It Isn't

     No, I'm not trying to rap here. I'm talking about this blog. Since I've made it public to my family and friends, and social network acquaintances, I've gotten a lot of positive feedback, which I love. But I've also received a lot of questions too:

"Well, what's the purpose of it?"

 "Do you just talk about your life?"

 "Is it a blog about your pregnancy?"

 "Who is your audience?" 

     It's hard to answer it all to so many different people, so I decided to write a "brief" history of my blog, followed by an explanation of its role in my life now, to maybe clear up some of these common Q's.

     When I started the blog in 2010, it went by a different name, and I wrote entries about college and sorority life mainly. I've deleted many of those entries now because I would also talk about the nutcase of a roommate I had at the time and an unnamed friend who was suffering from an eating disorder (not negatively, just in general). I sounded so vain and immature sometimes. I would never release my full name or where I lived; it was like an online diary, I guess. I didn't really filter anything I wrote. 

     I grew bored with the blogging world and didn't really mess with it for nearly three years, but in the summer of 2013 (precisely a year ago), I came back with intentions of making this domain a health and fitness blog where I could journal new healthy recipes and smoothie mixes I was trying. I had also planned to begin blogging my workouts, which were pretty intense for a while, and list my muscle gain and fat loss along the way, but I never got around to it. Once again, I suppose I just lost interest.

     When I discovered I was pregnant, I came back to it and renamed the blog "Keeping Pace." One of the main questions I've been asked, even from my husband, is why Keeping Pace? What does the name mean? Well, if you're keeping pace, it means you're keeping up. It's a play on words; my last name is now Pace, so you're keeping up with me. Get it? Clever, I know. I decided that although I wanted to refrain from making it a blog about my pregnancy or baby, I really did want to keep the site up-to-date with interesting articles and lifestyle columns.

What it is:

      Lately, I have written a lot about my pregnancy; this is a lifestyle blog after all, and pregnancy is currently a pretty big part of my life! Plus, there's just so many interesting areas to explore with pregnancy. I really like being a member of the Baby Center community; I never post anything on the discussion boards, but I love reading the discussions and thoughts of other mothers; it gives me an inside look to how different all of our nine month journeys really are. Much of what they say inspires me for what I write about here, concerning pregnancy and children of course.
      As my life changes, so will the content of my blog. I'm really looking forward to blogging more about health and fitness once Vaught arrives and I begin working on post-baby body. I'm a seasoned runner and weight trainer, so expect some good pieces on that in the future. I follow thirty-four week pregnant, WBFF competitor Abigail Edwards on Instagram and get a lot of my pregnancy workout ideas from her, and I would love to blog about those sometime soon. Basically though, a random thought or topic will just come to mind one day. I'll open the Blogger app on my phone and begin writing from where I am, be it in line at the grocery store or waiting in my OB's office.

     Keeping Pace is a place for me to let everything out and be 100% honest--not that I'm not in real life, but I think that we understand ourselves and our situations so much better when we're able to put them down on paper, in our own words. Yes, I know this isn't exactly paper, but you get what I'm saying. Keeping Pace is not a reveal all, tell-all, but it is the one thing that can be all about me or whatever is going on in my life at the current time. It's not like Twitter or Instagram, or dare I say Faccebook, where you don't have a choice but to see what I post or Tweet. If you're reading this, then you made an effort to come here, meaning you're interested in my life and/or what I have to say, which I LOVE. Seriously, I love how many readers I've gained since going public! Even still, you're reading truly by choice; I can put whatever I please on here, and if you grow tired of me, all you do is simply stop visiting. Because of that, I can write whatever I please. There's much that I'd rather not say on Twitter or Instagram because I don't want to offend anyone or hurt any feelings. But this blog is an open range where I feel like I can write about anything I want without having to tailor much of what I say. That's what I truly love about blogging.

What it isn't:

     As stated above, it's not my online personal diary. If you're looking for deep, dark secrets you won't find them here. This blog is not where I hang my dirty laundry, trust me :)

     My precious baby boy... I love how many celebrity gossip magazines are adopting the "No Kid Policy," meaning that they are refusing to print paparazzo photos of celebrities' children; they will only print pictures of famous children if the photos were made public by the parents (i.e.: Channing Tatum posts a picture of his little girl to Instagram with millions of followers; therefore, People Magazine is safe to use it as well). I would almost like to adopt a "No Kids Policy" with Vaught. Yes, I will post plenty of pictures of him, I'm sure, but this blog is not the place to do it. Also, I do not want, and am very adamant in this, a "Facebook baby," where it seems like my child's entire life is documented on Facebook, or any social media for that matter. Before deactivating Facebook, I vividly remember a friend of mine posting question's about her newborn son's recently circumcised penis, open for all Facebook friends to see. And people were answering her questions like it was nothing. Maybe it was okay to many of them, but I just completely disagreed with it. To each his own, but personally, I would never, ever put stuff like that out there for everyone to see. First, out of respect for my son. Secondly... it's just not what I want to see on social media. And I don't want to do that to other readers. So, this is not a place where you'll read all about my son's life as he grows and develops into the handsome little stud I know he'll be. I'm extremely personal about pictures of young children and babies being everywhere, and this definitely is not the place for that.

     A ranting page. This should be quite obvious because I don't have any posts where I'm just throwing a fit. I've seen lots of blogs like that though... the writers just seem so angry! Who wants to read that?? Some of it's entertaining, sure, but this is not the thing I'll turn to when something or someone pisses me off. Positive vibes only!

     To sum it up, Keeping Pace is one of the things I am happiest about in my life. I know that probably sounds weird, but I love writing; therefore, I really love my blog. It's a place where I can be myself without worry and a place I can connect with other bloggers. We all have interesting things to share and talk about, and I love reading about others' lives and experiences. If you're reading, then I want to encourage you to continue doing so. It makes me so happy to log on every day and see the page view tab keep going up and up. It's inspiring and makes me want to go even further with my blog. Once Baby Pace arrives, expect my entries to tailor slowly back to the "lifestyle" area, with many articles about fitness, health, and of course, post-baby body updates. I'm seriously considering enrolling in a bootcamp after baby and tracking my progress, scary as that might seem right now.

 

You're not going to see breastfeeding selfies nor any opinion articles on breastfeeding here :) You're not going to be forced to listen to me whine and complain about the hardships of being a new, young mother. Keeping Pace is a positive, happy place. And I am hopeful that you'll continue keeping up with me.

6 Months Already??

  It doesn't seem like I should already be near the 6 month mark in my pregnancy. But I am today, and this baby is now coming sooner rather than later! He's about 8 and a half inches long and is probably creeping up to two pounds in weight. I'll be surprised if he doesn't already weigh at least a pound and a half at my appointment Monday! Since we've only got three months to go, give or take a little, we're cracking down on some of the most important things we'll need to have taken care of by the time little Vaught arrives. That includes childcare, which horrifies me already. Number one: I don't want some other lady taking care of my baby. I wish it could be me all day every day until he's in Kindergarten! But times have changed, and I've got to work! Not just for our family but because it's what keeps me going. I love working and being able to contribute to our household. Number two: it's crazy expensive, especially where I live. It almost seems like we might be saving more if I stayed home for a while. To the mothers who are able to do that, great, but I know myself, and I know I'll want to go back to work just as soon as I get settled into a routine with Vaught. I've already visited a few places in our area and nearly cried at the thought of leaving him there at just a couple of months old. But the people I've met at each business have been incredible; regardless of where he goes, he's definitely going to be taken care of!

How I'm feeling: pretty good lately. The back pain is sporadic, but I'm stretching and getting more exercise in. That helps tremendously! I actually went to the gym yesterday afternoon and had an amazing workout. Squats feel amazing on my back! I stand and walk around a lot at work, so my ankles are now starting to swell a little at the end of the day; not so much uncomfortable as it is humorous. My husband has begun calling me "Ol' Swoll' Feet." So clever.

How I'm looking: I include this because the belly is definitely there now, and there's no hiding it. I was able to slenderize it pretty well up until about week eighteen or nineteen. But it is now on full display. Some days I feel like I am the most fabulously glowing pregnant woman there ever was. Other days I feel like TLC could arrive at any second to film me for the next episode of My 600 Pound Life. And I had to throw this in there because I'm working at my mom's office again this summer, so I see a lot of people from my hometown and some that I went to school with. I ran into a girl from high school just last week; she kept glancing down at my belly as we were chatting, as if willing me to mention that I was pregnant (I hadn't yet), but I could tell she was dying to ask or maybe had heard that I was and wanted me to bring it up. I did eventually. LOL. But I get a kick out of people staring in curiosity.
  

What I'm craving: nothing in particular besides chocolate milk. I've begun a nightly routine of having a glass of chocolate milk, and I crave it at weird times throughout the day. I feel like Vaught will end up being a big time milk guzzler like his mom! I'm not necessarily craving this, but I've begun eating more fruit to combat my sweets cravings. My intense sugar cravings were a major part of what had me thinking Baby P was a girl for so long! So to curve the sugar craze, my mother and I have stocked the fridge at work with tons of strawberries and blueberries, and we've kept a bowl on the office kitchen table full of green apples and peaches. YUM!

And she picked up this cute little strawberry/yogurt parfait for me the other day!

 

Movement: he's all over the place! He's especially active when I sing in the car and after I eat anything spicy. Eric has tried to feel him a few times, but when he puts his hand on my belly Vaught will stop moving altogether; I kind of feel like we may have a little stubborn boy on our hands! But I can feel him and do so several times a day. It's amazing.
 

Up next: I went to Lowe's and picked up a paint sample for Vaught's room; I went about a shade too dark, so this weekend I plan on trying a lighter shade and doing some more organizing around my house. I was just telling my mother today how vital it is for me to get organized before he gets here! Right now, we have two or three different designated spots in our home where we just toss things and lose them later or never even worry with them again. My goal for the month of June is to de-clutter! My next prenatal appointment is this Monday. We will schedule my glucose (sugar) test, which makes me a little nervous. One of my sisters passed with flying colors, the other failed and was gestational. It disappeared after pregnancy, but came back several years later. She's now a Type Two diabetic. It's also a little frightening because Type One and Two run on both sides of my families, though aside from my sister, no one in my immediate family has ever been diabetic. However, I'm staying positive. I've been fortunate to have a really healthy pregnancy so far. I've monitored my weight really well and stayed active, despite some small setbacks! I feel good about the test, but I'm glad I have another four weeks until I have to worry about it.

      After the initial shock when we first found out to wear off, I started wishing the time away. Being ten weeks pregnant seems like it was decades ago; I barely remember looking at my What to Expect app, just waiting for the week when Baby Pace would begin to look more human. Now, he is very much a sweet little baby with fully functioning legs and arms and a weiner, oh my! I said I absolutely could not wait to have him here, and now that we're getting closer, I kind of wish I had some of that time back. I am SO excited to meet Vaught; I'm so anxious to say "Hi, baby," to him for the first time and hold him, but I realize that there is still sooooo much to do. We have picked out a really nice crib for him, and we plan to make that our next big purchase! Once we have that, we'll just have some minor things to get before he makes his big debut. I'm already starting the guessing game with his birthday. I'm saying September 20th (he's going to let me turn 24 on the 18th first!) :))))