To Grandma's Marathon I Go!

Disclaimer: I received free entry to Grandma's Marathon as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

Back in the elementary school days, my best friend talked about her parents running "Grandma's Marathon". Being a youngin' with little knowledge of running, I pictured them traveling to visit their super ripped runner Grandma and then running a marathon with her. Like she must have her own marathon. Whatever distance that was, I wasn't sure.

Years later, I learned that Grandma's Marathon is indeed a running race and they may even have a Grandma there to take pictures with. Not my Grandma, but someone's Grandma! Started back in 1977 along the scenic North Shore of Minnesota, the Grandma's Marathon is now listed as one of the Top 50 Marathons to Do Across America and around 9,000 runners participate.

Like I said, it's a pretty big deal, and I am ecstatic to be running this race as a BibRave Pro in 2018. Only 182 days to go!


That being said, I should probably start running one of these days!

After spending this year pregnant and our third precious baby boy being born in early November, I am now easing back into run/walk intervals at 5 weeks postpartum. While allowing plenty of time for recovery and stretching, I plan to build up my base mileage through the end of December and January.


By mid-February, the 16-week training cycle for Grandma's will begin! I plan to use the Hanson Method’s Beginner Plan because it is low mileage and as intense as I want it to be, making it a great plan for postpartum training.


This is my second time running a marathon at 7 months postpartum and I'm focusing on keeping realistic expectations, prioritizing rest and recovery over high mileage, and making those running workouts count when I can fit them in. As for time goals, I'm not setting anything crazy because this is my first race back after baby but realistically I would like to run a sub-4:00.

If you're interested in running Grandma's, check out grandmasmarathon.com to take in all of the distances and highlights of the marathon weekend! Prices do increase at the end of this month plus there is a bonus if you register now...


By registering before 12/31/17, you will receive a bonus full-zip fleece lined jacket! I could use that cozy jacket on cold wintery days like today. Brrr. That's life in #Minnesnowta.


After taking a year off marathoning, I feel so blessed with the opportunity to celebrate my 10th full marathon with this epic race. Follow along with me and fellow BibRave Pros Angie and Amy S as we train for #Gmas18!

What races are on your 2018 calendar or your race bucket list?



Linking up with Holly and Tricia's Weekly Wrap Up.

5-Minute Healthy Meals | Luvo Review

Disclaimer: I received Luvo Healthy Meals to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador) and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

Our littlest one is one month old this week and the past two weeks have been crazy. Not the typical newborn crazy but the 101.5°F fever-not sleeping-mastitis-give-me-antibiotics-now sort of crazy. Uff... He is a sweet, easy going baby but that infection has made this my toughest postpartum recovery to date!

Now here we are, cuddled up and I'm on the mend. I haven't ran a stride since 39 weeks pregnant (except emergency running after 2-year-old once) and that's just fine. The goal now is to fully recover and take care of my family. Running will come back one of these weeks!

How does a household keep rolling when mom is sick?



Thankfully my husband is amazing and he has been doing the dishes and putting the bigger boys to bed... while I went to bed at like 8 pm. We have eaten a lot of breakfast food and I have even popped in a few freezer meals for myself.

As a BibRave Pro, I received a shipment of Luvo Healthy Meals right on my doorstep! I was able to try 11 Luvo meals including the steam-in-pouch and bowl options.

These meals take about 5 minutes to cook in the microwave and the "bowl" meals come conveniently in a microwaveable bowl! Less dishes, very helpful.

Chicken & Corn Chowder Bowl

After making my way through the Luvo meals, the Chicken & Corn Chowder Bowl was one of my favorite. The chicken and herb-base is very tasty and it contains 15 g of protein and a 1/2 cup of vegetables. When I think frozen meals, I usually think high sodium, but this meal is on the lower end containing only 320 mg of sodium while other brands' meals contain around 600 mg of sodium!

Luvo's 3-2-None Philosophy is about simplifying nutrition and making it easy to eat well. Luvo meals focus on fruits & veggies, whole grain, and quality proteins while limiting sodium and sugar by delivering flavor through herbs and spices instead. Then they leave out artificial colors, flavors and sweeteners.

This 3-2-None Philosophy is what sets Luvo Healthy Meals apart from other meals found in the frozen food aisle.


As for my personal taste opinions, our household favorites were the Chicken & Corn Chowder, Chicken Chile Verde (my husband's favorite!), Quinoa & Veggie Enchilada Verde and Orange Mango Chicken. The price of each meal varies, with the ones I selected being $5.99 to $6.99 each.

A quick meal before feeding baby!

The Roasted Cauliflower Mac & Cheese, Kale Ricotta Ravioli, Thai-Style Green Curry Chicken and Turkey Meatloaf & Mashed Potatoes meals just weren't my thing.

Orange Mango Chicken

To find a store that carries Luvo products near you, check out their Where To Buy page! If you're like me living in the boonies where Luvo isn't available, you can order online on the recently updated Luvo website. They ship your meals right to your doorstep in a foam cooler. That was so handy!

Be sure to use the discount code BIBCHAT (case sensitive) for 10% off your Luvo order and stop by #BibChat with Luvo at 8 pm CT on December 19th!


When is the last time you were sick? What were your survival tactics?!



Linking up with Holly and Tricia's Weekly Wrap Up.

Lighten Up! | Knuckle Lights COLORS Review

Disclaimer: I received Knuckle Lights COLORS and coloring book to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador) and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

To quickly update you, our third baby was born 2 weeks and 4 days ago! We had another boy and couldn't be happier :) Baby is doing well and, besides being sleep deprived, the postpartum recovery is going really well for me. Big brothers (and daddy) are very proud, too! You can read Baby C's homebirth story here.

...................

My physical activity in postpartum recovery week #2 has been lugging the three kids around on our first adventures out of the house, going up and down stairs and getting back into the swing of "normal" life (whatever that is). Walking and Kegel exercises are the name of the game for now.

Sadly, I won't be able to take baby out for walks until the weather warms up... maybe in April?! Sneaking outside before breakfast or when my husband is home after supper will be my chance for fresh air — both in the dark. Thankfully, I've got myself a new set of Knuckle Lights to light up my walks!


As a BibRave Pro, I received a pair of Knuckle Lights COLORS back in July and I'm trying out a second pair now because they have been so awesome. I had the blue ones, so naturally I had to have a pink set to switch it up.

Each light operates with a single AA battery which is handy because we always have those in the house. The silicone straps easily adjust to fit any hand size or over gloves and each unit connects magnetically as well. Carry one in each hand or stick them together to carry one-handed!


On the running front, I will be easing into strengthening exercises and eventually a run-walk routine over the next 4 to 6 weeks. From there, I will gradually increase the mileage and begin training for my next marathon.

That's right, I will be training to run my 10th full marathon in June 2018: the Grandma's Marathon! I am so excited to run this race as a BibRave Pro and, with a smart recovery and training plan, I think this is going to be a blast.

Only 201 days 'til race day! ;)


Training for a spring marathon means running through many dark, cold winter mornings. But it's really not so bad when you have the right gear! Knuckle Lights COLORS are much easier to run with than my previous headlamp-wrapped-around-hand set up. They are lightweight (less than 3 ounces each!), pack a total of 120 lumens of light and don't around while I run.

Plus, they are fully waterproof and can operate in temps as low as -4°F! It may be above freezing today but those cold days are a'comin.


Winter feels really long here in northern MN but I look forward to easing back into running and keeping it BRIGHT with Knuckle Lights COLORS as I train for the 2018 Grandma's Marathon. Make sure you can see and be seen as you run this winter!

Want to chat it up with Knuckle Lights and possibly win a pair for yourself? Join us at 8 pm CT on December 5th for #BibChat!


How do you stay motivated through the dark winter months?



Linking up with Holly and Tricia's Weekly Wrap Up.

Baby C's Homebirth Story

Our third baby was born on Wednesday, November 8th — his due date — and, yes, we had our third BOY! We named him Curtis, or "C" as I will call him on the blog.

The week started off like this. Very much still pregnant, and besides a week+ of on and off pre-labor contractions, there really wasn't much action. With our older children being born early (E at 35w, W at 38w), it was a huge blessing to make it to the full 40 with our third.


The bouts of pre-labor contractions had been happening daily since 38 weeks, so I'm really not sure where to start this birth story! Strong Braxton Hicks contractions (but not painful) would pick up in the afternoon/evening, only to fizzle out overnight.

The on and off contractions were a bit discouraging but in hindsight I'm convinced they were making progress of some sort. In the couple days prior to baby's birth, the pre-labor contractions  stopped and it seemed like any signs of baby's arrival had stalled out (hence my concern that I would be eternally pregnant).

Turns out my body may have been giving me a slight break before the real show began.

Wednesday, November 8 - DUE DATE

We made it! Baby's official due date had come, which was exciting, yet it was also officially just another day with zero signs of labor, besides a sore pelvis.

Pretty normal pregnant stuff going on.

Last picture as just the three of us!

The day started at 5:30 am with W coming upstairs with his pillows. Daylight savings time means very little to him at 2 years old. I wasn't ready to be up yet so I escorted him back down to bed and we cuddled until 7:00.

PB oatmeal was on the breakfast menu and soon after the boys were off to play Legos. I took advantage of the "quiet" time to write down a few key Bible verses for the upcoming birth (Psalm 28:7, 27:14, 29:11) and read my Bible. Then it was laundry putting away time and more indoor play with the kids. It's been chilly lately and I wasn't quite ready to head outside yet!

Around 9:00 am, I prepped a slow cooker supper while E painted with watercolors and W played in the sink (his all-time favorite indoor activity). I was feeling nauseous, slightly light-headed and ended up with a nosebleed but didn't think much of it as they are all possible normal symptoms of late pregnancy (...and an early onset winter like ours for the nosebleed).

By 11:00 am, pizzas went in the oven for lunch and outside we went. E started shoveling and had a great time. W had a major meltdown, I had to carry him outside where he then laid on the front steps for the rest of our outdoor time.

Being two isn't easy...


Contractions started around 11:30 am but I was skeptical that this was a return of pre-labor. They were more uncomfortable than the earlier pre-labor and started to form a consistent pattern of 20-30 seconds long every 6-8 minutes. That was my hint that this may be more than another practice drill!

The noon alarm went off and we headed inside (in W's case, he was carried inside :s). Pizzas were ready, my husband and my bro-in-law came home for lunch and by that time I just sat in the chair timing contractions while everyone ate. I had some pizza later but my appetite just wasn't great.

The contraction pattern continued and I warned Leo that he may be needing to get off work early today if these keep up!

The kids headed downstairs for a nap at 1:30 pm. We read books, they cuddled up and W needed to be returned to his bed once. I told the boys mom really needs to rest right now. Baby might be coming! E seemed concerned and W had no idea what was going on.

I texted our midwife with an update and asked her to be here around 5 pm, as she was out of town that day. These contractions could last all day, for all I knew! (or a baby could be born before supper)

After heading upstairs, I touched base with a friend who had her third homebirth (same midwife) in August and she explained a method to see how far dilation has progressed — laying back on the bed and measuring from sternum to the top of the uterus mid-contraction. I tried but the contractions were so strong by that point, there was no way I was going to lay down on my back!

Labor was progressing very quickly and of course the snow was flying by now in our winter wonderland winter weather advisory. I asked Leo to come home by 4... which soon changed to 3... and then PLEASE COME HOME NOW!

Our midwife was on her way but had a snowy, long drive ahead of her.

Leo got home, rather quickly, and he rubbed my back during contractions. The kids' nap was brief and they both came upstairs. Leo turned on a movie for them and gave them snacks until they could go to the neighbors' house.

I asked him to set up the pool and he tried to do that while still rubbing my back through contractions (what a champ!). Thankfully, we had another neighbor stop over and she was able to take over the back rubbing job. I was so thankful for the impromptu doula - we certainly hadn't planned that!

As the pool was being filled, we ran out of hot water because someone (... me) had just taken a long, hot shower. I wasn't thinking on that one and certainly didn't expect things to progress so quickly. The key to a water birth is that the water needs to be in a very exact temperature range to make sure baby doesn't take his/her first breath until they are out of the water. It had to be 98-101°F on the dot.

And so he boiled water. And boiled water. And boiled more water to raise the temp as our hot water-heater recovered. And I asked him to even try microwaving water repeatedly, which in hindsight was ridiculous, but I could tell that pushing time was near. I was a little desperate, you could say.

So by this point, I officially nominated Leo for the "Husband of the Year" award.

The battle to hit the correct water temperature continued and I did my best to breathe through contractions to keep this baby in a little while longer. Birthing out of the water would have been fine but apparently I was very set on waiting to have a water birth. I didn't even consider setting things up for birthing elsewhere! Call that #laborbrain.

Throughout that waiting time in active labor or transition or whatever you call it, Psalm 29:11 came to mind: The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace. Even in those trying moments, I could lean on the Lord for strength and peace.

He wouldn't take away the pain necessarily, as that's just part of labor, but He would give me the strength to get through it. Knowing that helped me to remain calm throughout the labor process (therefore helping labor to progress faster!).

Our midwife was still on the icy roads and was counseling Leo over the phone on the next steps. When she was 20 minutes away, the birthing pool was ready to go.

At this point, I knew it wouldn't be much longer! She gave us the green light to move into the birthing pool and, immediately after getting into the water, everything slooooowed down.

Praise. the. Lord.

Just like with W's water birth, everything slowed down the second I got in the water. I was able to get extra rest between contractions and the pressure was much more bearable.  I actually felt like I wasn't in labor anymore! Leo and I were able to laugh and talk a little before we were officially to meet our third child.

It was time to push and I knew I needed to do this patiently to prevent tearing. Natural childbirth is absolutely amazing to me because a woman's body knows when to push and what intervals to push in. It is something that doesn't need to be taught and that is an absolute miracle.

Time to get this baby out!

After three pushes, resting for maybe 1 or 2 minutes between, baby's head was out. The amniotic sac was still on baby's head and our midwife advised Leo on how to handle that over the phone. No need to worry, we were about to meet our baby! Two more and there came the shoulders.

At 4:47 pm, Leo caught our baby, removed the remaining amniotic sac from baby's head and laid him/her on my chest. Our little one started crying right away and we were so filled with joy and relief! Leo grabbed a towel and covered baby as I held him/her.

We allowed time for the cord to pulse and took a peek to see what we had... it's a BOY! Both of us laughed and I was blown away. Once again I was so sure we were having a girl (I've been wrong every time!).

Three boys. Life is about to get crazier.


Five minutes after baby came out, our midwife burst through the door and, boy, were we glad to see her! As well as C's birth went, an unassisted homebirth was not our goal but we couldn't have asked for things to go any better than they did.

Thankfully, God answered our prayers for a safe birth and healthy baby, my husband is a rock star and our midwife had coached us well at prior appointments and over the phone.


While I went to shower, Leo cut baby's cord and had some father/son time with little Curtis. We had some quiet bonding time, just the three of us, and then our neighbors came over with the two big brothers. They were both excited to learn they had a brand new baby brother. That was a relief because E was set on having a girl this time!

Our midwife did her usual newborn check and the big brothers watched intently. They have really enjoyed being a part of baby's prenatal appointments throughout the pregnancy. I love that she involves the entire family in the prenatal and postnatal process!


Baby C weighed in at 7 lbs 7 oz and measured 21 inches. He was also our midwife's 700th baby!

Three Days Old

C is now 11 days old and we love him so much! He is an absolutely cuddly, sweet bundle of joy. C has been our easiest nurser so far and his laid back personality has made the transition from 2 to 3 kiddos go smoother than the transition from 1 to 2. In my opinion at least.

As we learned with our first home birth, the concept of birthing at home is not very common and therefore seems scary to many... and draws many negative opinions. After doing our research and working with our midwife through the past two pregnancies, I wouldn't want to give birth in a hospital again with a low-risk, uncomplicated pregnancy. It's a personal preference and, thankfully, being adults we can have differing ones and still get along.

Through all this, it's been a joy to welcome our little one into the family and I am totally blown away by my husband's ability to work through pressure like that. I knew he was awesome before, but after going through this experience together, he's hit a new level of awesome in my eyes ;)

We are also so thankful that my parents were able to help take the older boys for the first few days after C's birth. Leo was able to get very little time off work and I was thankful to have my parents' help to get through that first week of healing.

God is good, life is a gift and this is a story that C will likely hear over and over again throughout his lifetime! Yes, little man, Daddy caught you :)



A Runner of Many Hats | BOCO Gear

Disclaimer: I received the BOCO Gear Visor & Hat to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador) and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

Runners spend a lot of time out in the elements. That's a given!

To spare my skin from sun damage and the weather elements (and sometimes to cover up my messy hair), I wear hats - a lot. Which is great because I tend to be forgetful when it comes to sunscreen, especially when the weather cools off.


As a BibRave Pro, I received the custom designed BOCO 360° Visor® and Endurance Hat from BOCO Gear. These hats are LIGHT, the colors are BRIGHT and the designs POP!


BOCO Gear, the new leader in performance gear for endurance athletes, offers fully customizable technical headwear and accessories for brands, teams or events. Their gear is designed for and tested by top athletes.


I have browsed through many of their designs on the BOCO Gear website and Facebook page and they are all creative and full of color. Plus their product offering is huge, from technical trucker hats and visors to beanies and headbands and a whole lot more.

Let me tell you about my experience with BOCO Gear:

The BOCO 360° Visor®


It's been a looooong time since I've ran in a visor (like 7 years?) and I wasn't sure of what to expect. Will it have a custom fit? Why not just wear a regular hat?

The BOCO Gear Running Visor was a pleasant surprise! This is my new favorite "hat" to run in! I love the flashy BibRave design, the comfortable internal sweatband and curved bill style. Visors are awesome because you can wear them while sporting a high-ponytail or bun. That was reason enough to opt for the visor.

For cooler runs, it's easy to throw a beanie on top to stay warm and have the bonus sun protection of the visor. The visor stayed in place while on the run and during regular every day wear.

  • Lightweight wicking woven or dry tech polyester outside 
  • Wicking internal sweatband to move sweat from your forehead 
  • One piece on-the-fly Velcro back adjustability 
  • Relaxed fit front panel for a better performance and comfort 
  • Black underside of the bill to reduce glare 
  • Curved bill 
  • Machine Washable

Out for a "wog" (walk/jog) at 34 weeks pregnant in my BOCO Gear Run Visor

Gotta love this gear! Now onto the hat.

The Endurance Hat


Once again, you've got to love the bold BibRave design on this BOCO Gear Endurance Hat! The material is breathable and lightweight, making it ideal for those hot summer long runs.

The pliable, flat bill was a new look for me, not really sure I can pull it off, but I appreciate the practicality of being able to fold up and store your hat while on the run. Wearing this endurance hat makes me want to try the BOCO Gear technical trucker hats! Their hats are very comfortable and definitely made for people of the active type - my only request would be to have the curved bill on the hat, like the visor.

I don't know about you, but I sweat while I run. Sometimes a lot! Thankfully, the endurance hat and visor are both machine washable so they don't need to stay stinky after a long or hard-effort run.

  • Lightweight wicking woven polyester material provides a layer of protection on the front and throughout the hat 
  • Larger Dry Tech polyester mesh side gussets on the side keep your head cool for the length of your workout. 
  • Soft polyester mesh wicking sweatband on the inside to help move sweat away from your head keeping you focused on the trail or road. 
  • Adjustable back snap buckle with tuck in pocket for any excess keeping the back of your hat tidy. 
  • Pliable stuffable soft bill 
  • Custom BibRave underside of the bill
  • Machine Washable

Want to see more BOCO Gear? Check out the BOCO Gear website and Facebook page to see more of their amazing custom designs.


What "head gear" do you wear while running? Visors, regular hats, or maybe no hat all?



Linking up with Holly and Tricia's Weekly Wrap Up.

Snacking Smart | Health Warrior Review

Disclaimer: I received Health Warrior Chia Bars and coloring book to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador) and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

HUNGER.

It's one of the many similarities between growing a baby and training for a marathon. Pregnancy is basically a marathon with a 9 to 10 month training plan and I like to view the months and weeks as exactly that: a training period for the growth, labor, delivery and postpartum care of a new life.

My "Late Pregnancy Workout": 2 miles of .25 mile walk/.25 mile run intervals

Fueling is an important aspect of training and one that can easily get neglected! The pregnancy myth is "now you can eat whatever you want" and marathoners can fall into the same trap due to the high amount of calories burnt through all those training miles.

While I could certainly use a caramel roll or some plain Lays potato chips right now, it's all about moderation. Sure you CAN eat donuts and ice cream every day but it isn't going to do you any favors in the long run!

Making smart choices for me means eating when I'm hungry (and drinking a lot of water!), choosing meals and snacks with nutritional value, and allowing for those treats in moderation. Choosing nutritious snacks through the final weeks of this pregnancy has been much easier thanks to new-to-me and quite delicious chia bars from Health Warrior.

As a BibRave Pro, I received Health Warrior Chia Bars and their hilariously honest "Marathon Training: The Coloring Book". The kids love coloring so mom should get to color, too!


Health Warrior is a superfood company that believes better health will build a stronger society. I received a box of their Chocolate Peanut Butter and Vanilla Almond bars to try which are both made with quality ingredients like chia, rolled oats and nuts that help keep you full and contain only 4-5g of sugar.


The ingredients of these bars are straight forward and easy to pronounce!

Chia is the #1 ingredient which ounce for ounce has more protein than an egg, more omega 3s than salmon, more fiber than flax, more calcium than milk, and more magnesium than broccoli.


I have been eating these bars as an any-time snack. The taste is great, not bland but not too sweet, and they are easy enough on my stomach to eat before or after a workout. I keep a few bars in the diaper for a snack on the go that is good for both me and our growing baby.

Just make sure to pick the chia seeds out of your teeth after eating one ;)


The kids put Health Warrior Chia Bars to the test, too. Four-year-old E isn't a fan of the chia seed texture but two-year-old W can't get enough of these chia bars! I have limited him to one a day otherwise he would have blown through both boxes already.

Coloring and snacking on chia bars with W

Along with enjoying these chia bars, the kids and I have colored our way through most of Health Warrior's Marathon Training Coloring Book as part of the Inaugural BibRave Coloring Contest! It's been a blast - I'll let you know if either of my "masterpieces" win ;)

A 15 pack of Health Warrior Chia Bars is $15.99 or try the 16 ct. Sampler Box for $19.99 to try each flavor: Acai Berry, Apple Cinnamon, Banana Nut, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Vanilla Almond, Dark Chocolate Cherry and Dark Chocolate Mango. Plus, shipping is free for orders over $25!

Check out all of the great chia bar flavors (Vanilla Almond is my favorite so far!) on the Health Warrior website and get your FREE Marathon Training: The Coloring Book with the purchase of any bars here: http://healthwarrior.link/colorbookbr


Join us at 8 pm CT on November 7th for #BibChat with Health Warrior and a chance to win these bars for yourself!

B3's Pregnancy: 39 Week Wrap-Up

Baby is a PUMPKIN this week, just in time for harvest to end and the kids' fun night of trick-or-treating. I'm thankful Baby is hanging in there... and a little concerned this baby will never want to come out. I'm praying through these final days (or weeks. ugh.) to find peace in the Lord's timing for this baby. With my history of preterm and early term babies, it's a miracle to make it this long!
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. PSALM 27:14
Besides being tired, I am feeling really good physically (emotionally, meh). This baby is proving to be a marathon labor-er. Contractions have been increasing from afternoon to evening time since last Friday and fizzle out overnight. That's been disheartening. Our midwife reassured us that this is making progress and we are close to meeting our baby. Hopefully this drawn out early labor will make the "real deal" go smoothly!

Decked out as Captain America for Trick-or-Treating! My husband's shirt, of course. 

MONDAY: 

2 miles of walk/run intervals on treadmill followed by mowing a few last strips of our lawn before more snow comes! The boys climbed trees and stacked wood while I mowed.


TUESDAY: 

Ekhart Yoga's Runners Yoga video (25:28) and of course some Trick-or-Treating that night. The candy now abounds in this house. Moderation, right?!

WEDNESDAY: 

2 miles of run/walk intervals on the treadmill while watching "The Business of Being Born" on YouTube. I've watched it a handful of times but it's a great documentary to watch as a prep for baby's upcoming labor and delivery. I thought birth would be less intimating by my third... but I'm still feeling antsy and anxious.

THURSDAY

We must have covered a mile or so in the snow that day! If figured if pulling the boys on their sled/snowboard doesn't put me into labor, I don't know what will.

FRIDAY:

We went to the library and ran errands in the morning to get out of the house and take a slight break from the snow. I did the Ekhart Yoga's Runners Yoga video (25:28) again and that makes me feel so much better. My hormones must be on a rollercoaster in these last days of pregnancy because I have felt like a mess! Maybe the early snow is partly to blame, too.

SATURDAY:

Rest

SUNDAY:

Rest

Have you tried chia seeds before? If so, what's your favorite chia snack?



Linking up with Holly and Tricia's Weekly Wrap Up.

Home Stretch | B3 Week 37

Here we are. Baby has made it to the homestretch!

As of 37 weeks, we're cleared to have a homebirth but baby may be cooking for a while longer. It's funny how each one has such a unique way about them - from conception and on! The older boys were born at 35 weeks and 38 weeks but I really feel clueless as to what this one has planned.

I'm trying not to worry about the logistics of it all.

What to do with the kids when labor really gets rolling (maybe they could sleep right through like the last birth?), what week will baby be born, will labor be a sprint or a marathon.

Worrying doesn't help anything and really just steals the time we have here and now so I'm praying for God's peace whenever worry strikes me. One day at a time. That's how these weeks will go down. Seek God in everything and He will make it all fall into place.
"I want to live life one day at a time, to live each day to the fullest measure of the grace I am given." Sally Clarkson

My "Grace" Cup - and the amazing cookie-in-a-mug dessert!

Nesting has taken on a new flare for our third child. It has felt more like decluttering and organizing for our older kids rather than baby prep. Getting rid of junk, storing things that I need to keep but won't use in this small children season of life, backing up phone pictures and deleting old ones.... You know, the necessities! ;)

The kids' "grown out of" clothes are packed away. Baby bedding and blankets are washed. We have finally recovered from a nasty sinus cold bout in our house. Now if I could only stay caught up on laundry and the typical household things... every mom's battle.

What's New For Baby 3?

I did buy a few new things for this baby, which wasn't the plan originally. How much could you need for a third baby? We already had the necessities but I have been learning through the past two babies what works and what doesn't; what was a lifesaver and what has totally driven me bonkers.

New Nursing Gear

Kindred Bravely makes really amazing nursing/pregnancy products and I'm trying their organic bamboo nursing pads this time, along with a new set of "nursing bras" (tank-style bras from Fruit of the Loom; they have worked so well in the past and are much cheaper than official nursing bras). I'm hoping these nursing pads will leak less than reusable ones I have used in the past!

Fruit of the Loom Women's Pullover Sports Bra

Baby Swing

We made the plunge and bought our own baby swing! For both of the boys, I borrowed a baby swing from my parents and we're trying something new this time. The Graco Glider Lite LX Gliding Baby Swing is shorter and easier to transport up and down stairs. Plus it will take up less space in our house!

Notice the swing is currently hidden in the crib. Any of baby's things that I don't want attacked (by the big brothers) are imprisoned in the crib... I suppose that will have to change after baby is here.


MadeinMinneSEWta Baby Nest

I'm really excited about this one! After doing quite a bit of research on products like Dock-A-Tot and similar baby nests, I found MadeinMinneSEWta on Etsy and really liked her baby nests.

Hopefully this will help our new baby to feel more secure and sleep better than our older two did. We'll see. Then again, maybe sleeping well just isn't in our genes. I wish I would have had this 4.5+ years ago for E's newborn months!

W testing out the Baby Nest for little brother or sister.

Newborn Diapers Galore

I cloth diapered W as a newborn and both of the boys through toddlerhood. For this baby, I just have a bigger stash that I now own instead of borrowing! Woop! It's funny to think diapers could be so exciting - but they really are.

Cloth diapering (these days) isn't as much work as most people think. Especially with the frequency of newborn dirty diapers (what, like 10-14 a day?!), cloth diapering is a huge help and breastmilk washes out easily too.

My stash of Blueberry and Chelory diapers <3
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B3 Pregnancy: Week 37 Wrap-Up

Baby is the size of ROMAINE LETTUCE this week and I'm just thankful to be healthy again. I felt so terrible for that sinus cold week that it was hard to take care of the kiddos... and it was peak harvest season too. But, hey, we survived! I did a couple yoga sessions last week just to loosen up tight muscles from that sinus cold and eased back into things this week.

And just as the sinus cold symptoms started easing off, the Braxton Hicks contraction started ramping up. I suppose it's about that time! Our W (baby 2) was born three days from now... so we'll see what this little one has planned. I'm sure he or she will throw us for a loop regardless. Kids seem to enjoy keeping us guessing!


MONDAY: 

Ekhart Yoga's Morning Bliss Yoga video (21:42)

TUESDAY: 

2 mile walk/run on the treadmill. I started out with 1/4 mile intervals of jogging and walking but reverted to just walking at an incline after a couple intervals. Here marks the end of my running during this pregnancy - I'm totally content to walk until the postpartum recovery road begins.

WEDNESDAY: 

Ekhart Yoga's Runners Yoga video (25:28)

THURSDAY

Went out for a walk with the boys, as usual!

FRIDAY:

I was feeling pretty good in the morning so we went on a grocery walk/bike ride and then mowed part of the lawn after. Followed by the Morning Bliss Yoga video (21:42) that evening.

SATURDAY:

We made a family trip to Chik-fil-A followed by yard work. The littlest guy, the dog, and I went for a stroller walk that afternoon

SUNDAY:

Out for a walk in the afternoon.

What's new with you this week?



Linking up with Holly and Tricia's Weekly Wrap Up.