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I have previously spoken a few times about my experiences and issues with food (here and here). I talked about how I dealt with these thoughts and ideas during the beginning and end of my pregnancy. Now that our little nugget is here and I have one of those "post-baby bodies", I thought I would give an update about how I'm feeling and coping with some of these new thoughts, feelings, and body images.

When putting together our baby registry, I spent lots of time researching just about every single item on the list. Picking the jogging stroller I wished for was no different. I chose the BOB Ironman in yellow. Consumer reports named it one of the top running strollers. Since YORO (You Only Register Once), I added it to the list. Since this is something I plan to get a lot of use out of in the years to come, I wanted something I loved. And I loved that stroller. It remained on the registry after the baby showers. It was something that we would have to figure out a creative way to pay for one because I knew I was getting it, one way or another. I had lots of ideas of using coupons and gift cards at various places, depending on where I could get the best deal. With the chaos leading up to Patsy's birth, there was no immediate need for the jogging stroller.

As many of you know, Baby Wilson's due date is right around the corner! (September 21st to be exact.) I have done a little bit of nesting when I have the energy to. I thought I would go through some of the things I've done to prepare. 9 months is a really long time to be pregnant. However, there really is SO MUCH to learn about pregnancy and that new little baby so it is kind of nice we had/have some time to do as much research as we can.

In case you didn't already know, local police and fire departments have staff equipped to install infant and convertible carseats. I recently went and the very nice officer installed the seat for me. He gave a lot of safety tips about the chair itself, and even looked up proper placement of the seat in the car in the car's owners' manual. I highly recommend going to your local public service office if you want to give your husband one less task to do. :)

My hospital bag has been packed for a few weeks now. I read somewhere that you should have it packed 6 weeks before your delivery date, just in case. I looked up a couple checklists online to find what I felt would work best for me and the hubs. I was able to fit everything into a single bag. I mean, let's be honest, who wants to worry about bringing multiple bags to the hospital! The most important thing I packed was snacks. Hopefully the hubs has no plans to eat those SPKs in front of me while I'm in labor. (My doctor will allow me to have sorbet and popsicles to go along with the traditional ice chips. I think the extra sugar will only help me out.) I also packed a sparkly ActiveBand to help keep the hair out of my face, and a PickyBar or two for the morning/day after. :)


As mentioned in my update from week 35, Chris and I completed the birthing and baby basics class. He learned how to give me some good back massages to relieve the pressure during contractions. I learned some sweet breathing techniques to get through the pain. We also learned how to change diapers and hold our future little baby. We practiced on these scary looking dolls provided in the class.


I've been stock piling some new toys for Ms. Pepper so that she knows that we still love and appreciate her once this little baby arrives. She has been extra affectionate lately so I've been giving her lots of love, kisses and attention. I mean, how can you not love that face! I actually want to make an appointment for her to get a bath, a trim and her nails clipped before the baby comes. So she is sparkling and can be on her best behavior! Thankfully my friend Steph has agreed to come to our house and watch Pepper when I go into labor. We have tried to desensitize her to lots of the baby's things so she isn't so overwhelmed. Nothing seems to scare her, which is good. She doesn't understand why all these non-squeaking toys are in the house, but she can't play with any of them. Lol.


This baby will be the first grandchild on both my side of the family and my husband's. It is the first great grandchild on his side and the second great grandchild on my side. To say our families are excited about this baby would be a little bit of an understatement. It makes us feel really loved and supported for when our little baby gets here! I've gotten the chance to wash most of the clothes, sleepsacks, sheets, and blankets in anticipation. You may spy some turtle toys and already-packed diaper bags. (I plan on doing a full separate post on diaper bag essentials once I actually figure out what works for me and the baby.)


I'd like to think that we are about as prepared as we can be at this point. So much of what babies bring is the unexpected so I've been trying not to anticipate too much. I'm just going to go into this whole thing with an open mind and see where I end up. Hopefully on the other side with a happy and healthy little nugget baby! :)

I'm in Michigan, celebrating this weekend with some relaxation, boating, ice cream, and lemonade. I hope you're having fun celebrating and relaxing this weekend too!

How far along? 26 weeks
Baby’s size/development this week: weighs about 1 2/3 pounds and measures about 14 inches long; about the size of an eggplant
Maternity clothes: wearing them? Yes. I am looking forward to making some purchases this weekend at Mall of America!
Miss anything? Running
Food cravings? I've been eating a lot of cheerios for breakfast and I can’t seem to get enough lemonade.
Anything making you queasy or sick? I have actually been feeling not so great the last few mornings after inhaling my breakfast. I don’t think I realized how fast I was eating until it was too late. Now I have horrible heartburn (and a queasy stomach) to go with all the other fun symptoms.
Sleep: I have been sleeping like a log this past week. The hubs said he’s had to move my body pillow to the other side of me as I hog more than half the bed. Oops!
Best moment of the week: I got really excited when I found out that my insurance plan will cover the cost of an electric breast pump. (Sorry if that is TMI.)
Nursery: I picked out the paint color. Now the ball is in the hubs’ corner to purchase and commence painting. Just over 3 months left to go! Yikes!
Wedding rings on or off? on
Movement? The movement has been pretty regular with some days more than others. Feeling the kicks always brings a smile to my face. :)
Weird pregnancy thing of the week: I've been having bad back pain for the past few days. Not really sure of the reason but it is uncomfortable to sit which kind of makes doing my job difficult. I took a bath the one night and that made my back feel better. I see more baths in my future… Also, my belly button is slowly becoming an outie. I knew this day would come, I just wasn't quite sure when.
Daddy is feeling: the need to get some things done including painting the room and the dresser and bookshelf we have ready to go.
Mommy is feeling: uncomfortable in my own skin at times. But I know I need to suck it up because there is still a ways to go!
Workouts this week: I have not really felt like working out all that much so I've been sticking to walking. I’m completely content getting in my daily walks and relaxing in the evenings. I won’t really have that luxury when Baby comes so I’m going to enjoy it now.
Looking forward to: My annual trip to Mall of America (we leave tomorrow morning)! I will probably do a fashion show post afterwards to tell you all about my great deals! :)

I had originally planned on volunteering for the Palos Half. I sent in my information and never heard anything from anyone. I was never given a time to appear, a prep email, nothing. I sent some requests via the Facebook page that weren't responded to. So, the day before the race (when I still hadn't heard anything), I decided to spectate instead. With the out-and-back course, I met up with the FNRC and we stayed in 1 spot but were able to see the runners twice. I ran this race last year and had a fun time with all my local pals, so I didn't want to miss this race even though I wouldn't be running it this year.

As a surprise to my fellow running club members, I brought along the pup. I mean, I know she's totally adorable, but the entire club seems to embrace her. And, not to mention, Pepper absolutely LOVES all the attention she gets whenever she is out with the group. I met up with our crowd of FNRC folks and we took a group pic before the runners started coming by.

The FNRC Crew at miles 4 & 9 Thanks for the photo Diane!

Then, I got out my phone and tried to take pics of all my friends going by. Thankfully my pals were easy to spot in our bright FNRC shirts!


While we were waiting for our pals to turn around, Diane snapped this gem of me and my buddy. Pepper was really well behaved all day. She kissed the hands of the little kids that came up and wanted to pet her. She sat and listened when I needed her to. She didn't jump up and scare any runners. I know she's great with kids, but it was really great to see little ones all around her. It made me feel some warm fuzzies for Baby Wilson and Pepper's future relationship. I just know they're going to become best friends.

Pepper wore a special shirt to support her pals.

All of my friends did really well and had a fun time on race day. Spectating, this made me want to run this race again next year! It really is a fun one and the support by the local running clubs is unmached by any other race! If you haven't done it before, I highly, highly recommend it. Have you done this race before? If so, is it one of your favorites too? If not, why the heck not? Just kidding (kind of).

Yesterday was a beautiful day in Chicagoland. Spring seems to finally be here and the weather had been wonderful. My cold is subsiding a bit and I've been aching to get outside and get some exercise. Last night I had planned on going for a run, but I made some bad pre-run fuel options (Baby really wanted onion rings). Instead, I decided to get up early and go for a run before work. I haven't done this in about a year (yikes), so it had been a long time coming. I laid out my outfit the night before and was ready to go when my alarm went off. My faithful morning buddy was just as excited as I was to get out there and enjoy the weather.

When running with the pup, I never leave home without a baggie, just in case. :)

My plan was to go for 2 miles, depending on how I felt. I did some loops around my neighborhood in case I needed to stop back at home. It didn't come to that because I felt great out there! The birds were chirping, Pepper was chasing all the rabbits, and the sun was coming up towards the end of the run. It was a gorgeous run and I felt great! No cramping, no pain, just some nice slooowwww miles. :) I didn't make it the whole two miles, but I had fun anyways.
Of course I had to wear my "Sweating for Two" shirt that Amanda got me from For Two Fitness. Now that the bump is getting a little bigger, I'm actually filling out the stretchy part a little bit. Haha.

This week the Runner Photo Challenge theme is "America" so I had to get in a photo of our neighbor's flag, flying proudly in the breeze.

This really was a great start to a great day! Do you often run before work? If so, how often? If not, have you ever done it before?

Last year I signed up for the Quarryman Challenge 10 Miler, ready to run. Mother Nature had other plans and the race was cancelled. This year, they made a few changes: moved the race to April, modified the course, and offered an extreme discount to all participants from the previous year. I was debating whether or not to sign up when the discount was first announced last year. All things considered, I'm glad I waited. I decided to sign up for the 5k and bring along my favorite running buddy. The race didn't have anything on their website about not bringing dogs so I decided to just bring her and hope for the best.

I got to the race about an hour early and was able to pick up my packet and shirt. I always love local races and the possibility of race-day packet pickup! The swag bag contained tons of leaflets on other 5ks in the area, a unisex long-sleeved tech tee, our bibs and timing chip. I left Pepper in the car while I went to pick up the packet. After dropping things back off at the car, I picked up the pup and headed to the start. We met up with the FNRC and got a nice pre-race photo.

I got a special one of me and the pup in our race day outfits too.

My strategy going into this race was to take it easy (obviously). I was going to walk up all the hills and see how I felt on the flats. I liked that the 5k and 10 mile races had 2 different start times. It helped avoid confusion when deciding paths. We also didn't run into the 10 milers on the course which I thought was helpful and kept things nice and organized. My Garmin didn't feel like working so I don't have an elevation map of the course. There were a lot of hills, but I felt like it was a comfortable amount. If I was running the course for time, I probably would have been pretty frustrated. Since I was running it for fun, I had a good time. The volunteers along the course were helpful, encouraging, and all really nice. Then again, it might have been since I had an adorable furry four-legged pal keeping me company. There was a water stop about halfway through and then another one near the end. As Pepper had to take care of some "business" close to the end of the race, I'm glad that water stop was there so I could use their garbage can.

Pepper and I mid-race Source

Fitting traditional pregnant lady stereotypes, I had to pee about a mile into the race and there weren't any port-a-potties along the course. That certainly made the 2nd half of the course interesting. Lol. Some members of the FNRC were there at the finish to cheer us all in as we finished. The post race party had some nice perks including water bottles, orange slices, juice, pizza, and beer. I was a little disappointed I couldn't partake in the beer (it was Summer Shandy, my favorite), but I did enjoy a piece of pizza. As I know most of the runners hadn't yet come in from the 10 miler, I only grabbed 1 slice (and gave Pepper my pizza crust. She totally earned them). Maggie's husband Robert and I hung around with some other FNRC members while we waited for the 10 milers to finish.

I ran into Erica who did an amazing job on the course (despite accidentally driving to the wrong location before the race). I was also able to see Maggie chick a few dudes and finish strong! I would have hung around for the raffle, but it was just too cold and I really needed a warm beverage. Before we had even left the parking garage, Pepper was sound asleep in the back seat.

Maggie & I after the race

All in all, I'm glad I did this race. It is a nice, well organized event that I would recommend for anyone looking for a challenge or to switch things up. The 10 miler is definitely the flagship event and many of the local fasties soak up the age group awards. I would still like to maybe do the 10 miler at some point in the future. This race was very dog-friendly. Pepper was one of 3 dogs I saw participating in the event. There were also quite a few dogs on the sidelines. All the dogs were well behaved and I was really glad I brought her. I would highly recommend this race if you live in the area or not. I think the challenge of this fun event is worth the drive.

Since Pepper had her very first 5k over the weekend, she wanted to share her own thoughts of the race.

Saturday morning started just like any other day of the week, except Mom put an awful t-shirt on me. I hate wearing t-shirts. After going outside and eating breakfast, I got to go for a ride in the car. Mom seemed really excited so I knew it was going to be a fun day. When I got out of the car and started walking, there were tons of people everywhere! It was so great! I got so much attention an so many pets! It was the best morning ever!

After a little while, we lined up in a big crowd. I still didn't know what were doing until we started moving. We were going for a run! This is my favorite activity! I always like to go up ahead but Mom always stops me. There were lots of hills so I didn't mind the walking. I didn't understand why we were running in the street. I kept trying to go on the normal sidewalks but was led into the street. As a good dog though, I did what I was told.

All of the people helping during the race were so nice. They smiled and gave me encouraging words. It really helped keep me going!

Source

As we were running most of the time on the street, when I saw grass, I just knew I had to take care of some business. Luckily Mom was there to clean it up because it was pretty stinky. More volunteers gave me a pat on the head as I ran by and I knew we were getting close to the end. I tried to sprint ahead and finish strong but Mom held me back as usual. That's okay though, I still had fun. After the race was over, I was happy to sit and relax for a little bit. But then more and more people came by and I was just so excited to see everyone! I loved that they had pizza at the finish line since pizza is my favorite. I tried to sneak a slice when no one was looking, but someone was always looking, unfortunately. Luckily Mom and one of her friends gave me their crusts. They were delicious!

I had such a fun time at my first 5k and I hope to run many more! It was perfect weather too! I never got too hot. Well, all this typing has got me tired. Time for a nap.

It is recommended to do at least 30 minutes of cardio a day when you are pregnant. I know a few of my fellow friends keep track of their weekly workouts and I think it is a great thing for me to start doing too! I think it will help me when that pregnancy brain kicks in and I can't remember what I did earlier today, let along last week.

Everyday: Walk to and from the train. 8 miles total.
0.8 miles each way. 2x per day, 5 days a week. I love my brisk walk from the train station to work every day. I used to hate it, but now I'm really starting to enjoy it.


Sunday: Rowing machine for 15 minutes
I haven't used the machine in awhile and it totally showed. I really enjoy the rowing machine because it works your arms and legs with very low impact. I watched the preview for the new season of Game of Thrones and I couldn't be more exited! New episodes start March 31!

She was so happy to be on that walk! Until I got ice cream and she couldn't have any.

Sunday: 3 mile walk with Pepper
As I mentioned before, our pup needs to loose a few pounds so I've been taking her on a nice long walk every weekend. So far we're 2/2 and I hope to make it out this weekend too!


Wednesday: Running 1.5 miles on the treadmill
I am not going to post the pace of my workouts because to me, that is not important. I don't want to compare myself to other pregnant people or have other pregnant ladies compare themselves to me. I was just happy to run a few miles to get those endorphins going! Is my outfit obnoxious enough? I didn't think so either ;)

The hubs and I took the pup to the vet over the weekend and they gave us some unexpected news. Our little Pepper is overweight and needs to go on a diet. It was some shocking news to hear, but we made some modifications to get her on the right track. I think part of the reason is that I haven't been running with her as much. With the crappy conditions and freezing temperatures, a run outside just doesn't sound like fun. And not to mention, the snow is so easily caught in her fur, it is ridiculous. On the plus side, this just means we get to go for some nice long leisurely walks together. We went with some friends over the weekend and stopped at the dog bakery and the ice cream shop, you know, to even things out a bit. :)

 Can you tell her mood before and after the walk? That dog really loves the great outdoors!!

Have you ever had to put your pet on a diet? I know lots of folks do, we just never thought it would be us. Poor Pepper. Hopefully she'll be back to her old self soon!

Last night when I went to bed, I knew today was Valentine's Day. However, when I woke up this morning, I completely forgot. Only when I got a text from my mom did I remember. I've been so busy with work lately that I had even forgotten to pick up a card for the hubs! Luckily I was able to stop at Walgreen's on my way to work and hit up the card aisle before it was too picked over. Nothing like waiting until the last minute! Thankfully, though, I had some time to put this photo together for all of you.

As some of you may know, my dog Pepper is my favorite running buddy.

We love to run together as often as we can. She also absolutely loves all types of people (adults and children) and would never hurt a fly. (Well, maybe a fly. I've seen her try.) She is really great when she comes to our group runs, behaving well within the group (even if people are running ahead). She is also really great with other dogs and is non-confrontational while we're running. She is so focused on going forward, she doesn't stray (unless there is a rabbit or squirrel, taunting her)

Can you spot the happiest dog in the world? The center of attention?

Because I think she is such a great dog (although, my opinion may be biased) and she has so much fun when we're out there running together, I've been dying to sign us up for a 5k. I've seen dogs at races before, and I just know it is something that Pepper would absolutely love. She would love the excitement on race day, the attention from other runners, and the running too (duh).

However, time and time again, I keep coming up to road blocks when finding a 5k for us to participate in. Looking at different websites for small, local 5ks, there isn't usually a policy on dogs. I've emailed 4 different (small, local) races to find out about their policy on dogs. Some have said "We'd rather not" or "No"... While others never responded. If there is going to be a policy, I wish that more races would publish this policy on their website so it becomes common knowledge.  I understand not all people are dog people and there are certain liabilities with having dogs at races.

I've even emailed race directors, received a "no" response, and then shown up on race day only to see dogs (plural, more than 1) participating in the event. Being a strict "rule follower" by nature, I was upset by these "rule breakers." The defensive part of me thinks... Why have a rule if it is not going to be enforced? Another part of me thinks... Should I be a rule breaker like these other folks? Quit asking questions and just start showing up to races with my dog? Have you ever seen dogs when running races? Did it make you think one way or another about the race, or dogs in general?

Maybe this is an untapped market for a new type of race? A dog-friendly 5k! I've seen it done in other states (California mostly) but I haven't heard of anything around here. Would you participate in a dog friendly race? Perhaps the FNRC needs to put together a "grass roots" kind of thing where all dogs are welcome. Have you ever participated in a race with your dog? What race was it? Did people treat you differently, during or after the race?

Pepper got really tired after a few too many vlog attempts. She wanted to take a nap. Thanks again for following along in 2012. I'm looking forward to what 2013 will bring for all of us! :)

Last night we had our typical Thursday night run. Since I won't be doing my usual long weekend run due to our Blogger Brunch (#CRBHolidaze), I wanted to go a little longer. I didn't want to push it, but Maggie and I ran 6 miles. I wasn't even paying attention to our pace as we were deep in conversation. It really is great to have a running buddy, especially in the winter, for accountability and to help make things less boring.

Christmas is around the corner and I still have so much to do. This seems to happen every year, despite how much planning I try to do beforehand. Although, this year, I didn't get the chance to do much pre-planning. The tree is up, about half the presents are bought, and I still have a long ways to go. Oopsies. Part of the reason is that I don't know what to get folks. I often go the giftcard route if I can't decide, but I try to think of an actual gift first... And now it is also getting to be crunch time for the "free shipping" at various online retailers. And now I am anxiously awaiting several packages, hoping they arrive on time. Why do I always leave things to the last minute? My goal this year is to not have to shop on Christmas Eve. This usually ends up happening, but I'm going to try and avoid it this year, honestly. Are you a last minute shopper like me or do you get things done weeks (or days) in advance?

And I've finally decided to try Crossfit. (Although, I've heard that "You don't 'try' Crossfit. You either do it or you don't.") There is one by my house that is only $10 a try and I plan on going the week after Christmas. I could hate it (I think I might hate it) but I want to give it a try anyways (just to curb my curiosity, if anything else). If you have any tips for newbies, please let me know.

This winter I would like to have my little pup, Pepper, complete her first 5k. There have been a couple races where I've thought about it, but there ended up being not-so-great weather, dogs weren't allowed, or I wanted to PR and knew she couldn't keep up. Pepper was totally jealous of Waffles and Rex completing 5ks this past year, so we are in the search of a small, local, dog friendly 5k. If you know of one, please let me know! (If you're not sure if it is dog friendly, but it is a small and local race, I have no problems emailing the race director to ask.) :)

Goldendoodles think they are lapdogs. I guess I help perpetuate this thought.

Since every post needs a photo, here is one of me with Pepper on my lap. Yes, she tries her darndest to sit on my lap and loves the extra pets and cuddles that ensue. I think she believes she is still the same size she was when she was a puppy. Obviously, that is not the case.

Now that the exam is over and my work life is back to a more regular schedule, I'm looking forward to my first real week "back." I seemed to have missed the unseasonably warm temperatures and I know I need to get used to running in the dark, frigid cold. The last 3 or 4 times I've brought my gym bag to the office, things have come up and I have not been able to go and workout. Today, I am vowing to get my run on, even if it is on the dreadmill.

Today The Clymb is having a deal on Oiselle clothes. If you have been wanting to try their stuff, this is a great chance to get something at a discount. Added plus, they arrive in time for Christmas (hint hint, to spouses).

I have a serious case of FWP today. I signed up for the Daily Mile Secret Santa and I can't decide what to get the person I've been assigned. I'm probably over-thinking it, but I just cannot decide what to get! I have to decide soon since the gifts need to be mailed out by Wednesday next week. Are you participating in the Daily Mile Secret Santa? Are you having the same issues as me?

And now, I'm going to be focused on training for the F^3 Half Marathon on January 26. I probably couldn't go out and run a half marathon this weekend, but I know I have plenty of time to get my fitness level where it needs to be. I am going to try to PR so we will see how that goes. Plenty of time, right? :)

Since every post needs a photo, here is a picture of Pepper, getting into the Christmas spirit. (If you follow me on Instagram, this is old news.)

As I've mentioned before, I am knee-deep in my studies right now. This next month I'm not going to be making as many updates so I've asked for the help of some fellow bloggers both in Chicago and from Team Oiselle to help out with some guest posts that will be coming up in the next few weeks. Special thanks to all of you that are helping me out during this crazy time!

In the spirit of today, Pepper wanted to share her excitement of all the Beggin Strips she hopes to get today!

I haven't been as good about my cross training lately. I feel guilty about it as I just haven't made the time to do it. There really isn't a better excuse than that... I have a rowing machine in my basement and a workout facility at the office. I have the tools, I just need to get back to utilizing them!!!

I've also had lots of talks recently with some of my friends that do crossfit, and I've been thinking of possibly dabbling. I know things would be tough, but I think I could learn a lot about efficiency and form. Have you done crossfit before? I know there are quite a few running bloggers out there who have started to get into it.

In other news, I took a funny video of my dog that I thought I would share. It really is no secret that she likes toys and playing tug of war.

When playing, she does this really funny thing where she shakes her head violently from side to side, trying to get the rope. I consider it cheating but she isn't known for playing games in a clean way!

What a brat dog! (But I still love her anyways, duh.) Also, when we play fetch, she drops the tennis ball at my feet and then goes out to where she wants me to throw it. What a little cheat! Does your pet have a favorite game? Does your pet cheat at their favorite games too?

It seems as if fall has finally arrived. Temperatures are cooler, it is getting darker earlier, and the pumpkin flavored things are everywhere! I don't know if I would put away the running tank tops just yet, but it sure feels nice to run in capris! Fall running clothes are my absolute favorite. Arm warmers, light jackets, long sleeves, capri pants... Another reason why I am oh-so-thankful to be a runner for Oiselle: their fall kit. I received it a few weeks ago but temperatures have been too warm to wear any of the gear. The past two weeks I've been able to break in and wear a few of the pieces and they are amazing, as expected!

I pretty much LIVE in the Onyx jacket and wear it to work almost every day instead of a normal jacket. Can we say runnerd? Probably. (But that is nothing new...)

The Run Tee is also my new favorite "Casual Friday" office outfit.

If you'd like to purchase any of the Oiselle gear shown here, check out their website! If you're a first-time purchaser, use code "RUNTODAY" at the checkout for 10% off your order. Some of their stuff is also available at Running Warehouse and Amazon.

It has even been cool enough for Pepper to once again join me for a run! Our first run of the season was on Sunday with the FNRC. We went 4 miles and she did really well. She was a little hard on the leash as there were a lot of rabbits and squirrels on the trail, but I know she'll get better once we are back to our old routine.
I'm really excited to be running with Pepper more! She may even start to occasionally join us on our Thursday runs!

What is your favorite running season? Are you also as excited about fall running clothes as I am??