Why I Love 10-Minute Workouts

I’m in my third trimester, and I am tired, folks.

When the beautiful hour of naptime arrives, the last thing I usually feel like doing is working out.

But anyone can exercise for 10 minutes, right? So I talk myself into it.

And by the time I’ve completed 10 minutes, I almost always think, “I can do another 10!” Before I know it, I’ve done 40 minutes worth of pilates and I feel great. And even if I only do 10, that’s still something.

There’s nothing like tricking myself into being healthy.

For the Past 17 Months…

It’s been just him and me.

And in a matter of weeks, my days of mothering an only child will be over.

I’m so excited to meet our little girl,

but I’m soaking up these last one-on-one times with my first baby.

Needed: Inspiration

My mind (and thus my writing) are very much on a pregnancy/mommy track right now.

I love writing and always have, but alas, the dreaded writer’s block is upon me.

Some weeks I feel quite prolific and the words emerge effortlessly from my keyboard. Other times, I find myself staring at a blank page and blinking cursor, then clicking away to something else.

I need to jot down post ideas when they come to me, instead of trying to think of them spur-of-the-moment.

How do you get writing and/or blogging inspiration?

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Rounding the Corner: 30 Weeks

I can’t believe I’m in the 30’s now… finally!

I feel like I’ve grown a lot in the past two weeks. I realized it when I tried to take this picture. Don’t ask me why I’m holding my phone so high up. I kept feeling like I couldn’t see what I was doing.

Our Internet has been down for the past three days and it’s not very consistent now either… so lack of commenting/email/Facebook responses may continue for a bit.

Size of baby: Almost 3 pounds, or the size of a large cabbage.

Total weight gain: 15 pounds and crossing my fingers I stay at a pound a week. Working out is getting more and more difficult.

Maternity clothes: Still going strong, still fitting well. I’m not into that stage where I’ve grown out of any of them… yet.

Movement: Still a lot of movement, but I’ve noticed it slowing down a little. I can definitely tell she’s grown.

Sleep: Getting more and more difficult and uncomfortable. I think I need to add a fifth pillow.

What I miss: Sleeping on my stomach! Or my back.

Cravings: None in particular.

Symptoms: Swelling, and a sore back and ankles if I’m on my feet for a long time.

What I am looking forward to: My ultrasound next Tuesday.

Milestone(s): 10 weeks till my due date!

Best moment this week: Finally sharing our new name: Eliza Corinne.

What Not to Say to a Pregnant Woman

To be honest, sometimes I read a list with a title like this post, and I think it’s a little ridiculous. Pregnant women will say they don’t want to be asked how they’re feeling, how their doctor’s appointment was, or when they’re due.

I think those questions are well-meant and are no different than being a college freshman and constantly being asked what your major is, or planning a wedding and being asked over and over, “When’s the big day?”

But let’s admit, some comments can be tacky or just flat-out rude. Here’s my take on a few of them from this article. I’ve gotten variations of all of these before.

“Was it planned?”

I’ve gotten this question a few times, and I have to wonder what makes it seem appropriate to ask. Yes, we’re having two kids close together, and yes, we did want it that way, which I don’t mind saying, but I don’t like being asked point-blank. It seems intrusive.

“You look like you’re ready to pop!”

I know it’s really hard not to make a comment like this when you see a pregnant woman who’s due any day. But I can’t get over the image of sticking a pin into a balloon. And I don’t think any woman really wants to be compared to a balloon.

“Have you picked a name yet?”

I can’t see why this question would be offensive. I think it’s nice to be asked. I like sharing my baby’s name. (And, while we’re discussing it, yes, we have picked a new name and will probably be sharing it soon.)

“Enjoy _____ now, because once the baby comes you can kiss it goodbye.”

Oh yes, this one gets old when you’re a first-time mom. I know I’ll never sleep, spend time with my husband, or enjoy life again, but yes, I’m looking forward to having this baby, thank you very much.

“I was sick my whole 9 months.”

Goodness, I hated hearing any variation of this statement when I was so sick during my first trimester with Christian.

“I was ripped open from end to end.”

Sorry for the graphic example – but they’re basically talking about labor horror stories here. I think being honest about the pain of labor is a good thing. But going into graphic details, especially to a first-time mom, without being asked, is probably not helpful. I have to admit though that as a second-time mom sometimes it’s hard to hold my tongue!

These are some real-life examples given by readers of the article I cited:

• “Are you still with the father?”
• “Are you going to keep it?”
• “Is the baby your husband’s?”
• “You look like you could use the exercise.”
• “Are you sure you should be having another baby?”

My family and friends are great, and any annoying or rude comments have been few and far between. I am blessed by the interest that people show in my pregnancy.

I have gotten one outlandishly rude comment. An acquaintance asked if we’d found out the gender yet, and when I told her we were having a girl, she said, “Congratulations! Are you going to get your tubes tied after this one?” I was pretty much stunned… wow, at least you said congratulations.

Other moms, what have your experiences been with people’s comments during your pregnancy? Did you have any pet peeves, or field any unusually crazy questions?

Three Ingredients for a Well-Ordered Life

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I was thinking last night about how very much of a mental battle it is to faithfully manage all the resources God has given me.

Sometimes I’m over-focused. I’m always planning my next task and feeling anxious. And then other times I’m discouraged, usually as a result of laziness, and I feel hopeless that I’ll get a handle on things again.

I’ve been finding my happy medium more lately, and I was thinking about what components I need to grow in so I can stay in a healthy place.

1. Wisdom – both practical and spiritual. Practical wisdom involves systems and organization and routines, but the heart of it is spiritual wisdom, knowing when to work and when to rest, and desiring to glorify God and not indulge my flesh.

2. Diligence. There’s no way around it; nurturing a family and home and church life and other relationships requires commitment, perseverance, and hard work.

3. Trust. The only way to escape anxious striving is to lay down control in my heart and know that the Lord arranges my circumstances and all I can do is be faithful by His grace moment by moment.

I have a lot of growing to do in each of these areas, but I am going to try to remember these words to help myself find balance.

Third Trimester: 28 Weeks

Yay, the last trimester is finally here!

I may as well let all of you know that I had a major change of heart about our baby name. The very concerns I wrote about eventually led me to decide against Tabitha as a name. So poor A.J. and I had to start the whole process over again.

We’re almost settled on the new name. It wasn’t my #1 choice, but I love it and I’m lacking the reservations I had about Tabitha. But I’m going to keep mum about it for awhile to be sure it sticks!

Size of baby: Online sources say she’s around two pounds by now.

Total weight gain: 13 pounds, but I expect to see that changing pretty quickly, since Baby’s weight increases exponentially this trimester.

Maternity clothes: I’m actually enjoying them. It’s nice to have an entirely different set of clothes to wear.

Movement: She’s definitely a mover, and has settled into a pattern of going crazy right after I go to bed. I did a kick count this afternoon when she seemed quiet – 12 kicks in 45 minutes.

Sleep: If I don’t exercise, it’s terrible. If I exercise, and have a fan blowing directly on me, it’s not bad… usually.

What I miss: Feeling cool… or even cold! What is that like again?

Cravings: Sweets, which is so strange for me.

Symptoms: Fatigue. I took a nap two days in a row – unheard of. Not much other discomfort right now though – I’m thankful.

What I am looking forward to: Having things ready. I’m getting that antsy, I-need-to-be-completely-prepared feeling.

Milestone(s): Third trimester, baby!

Best moment this week: Finding a cute 0-3-month outfit on clearance for $2.00. I love girl clothes!

Titles Gracing My Tabletop

I wanted to share the summer reads I’m breezing through right now (besides the excellent Because He Loves Me).

Life Management for Busy Women by Elizabeth George: I’ve read this several times before, but I’m enjoying going through it again to glean helpful tips.

Jane Addams: Spirit in Action by Louise W. Knight: It’s been awhile since I’ve read a biography, and although Jane Addams isn’t a hero of the faith, she is a fascinating historical figure.

Damsels in Distress by Martha Peace: Written by the author of The Excellent Wife, this book has so far allowed me to feel like I’m receiving personal biblical counseling. It hits too close to home sometimes (in a good way).

Organizing Magic by Sandra Felton: I’m not following her 40-day plan, but I love reading about ways to make my home more organized, so I’m going through these suggestions and storing away helpful ones.

What are you reading right now?