Running in Circles

Uncle Brice and Owen

The app on my phone says 72 days until my due date!

 That is making me all sorts of anxious.

 We're getting really excited to meet our baby girl, but on the other hand I'm starting to become overwhelmed. Sometimes it just doesn't seem real. 

I feel really lucky because I can't complain about too much. Sure I'm a hot and sweaty mess most of the time, but I'll blame it mostly on the summer heat wave and humidity of the Midwest. I've started getting some sciatica down my left side which is painful and good ol heartburn when I crawl into bed. Other than that though, I'm running everyday still, usually 6-10 miles and it feels so good. My belly is growing but isn't too uncomfortable and I am completely capable of putting on my own shoes and shaving my legs. 

Brice and I are enjoying our time in Iowa, and grateful to be spending so much time with his family. I think we're both anxious for this internship to be over though and make our way back to Provo. Brice has mixed feelings about his job here but we're both grateful for the opportunity. I'm enjoying a break from school and work but am feeling useless without a schedule to maintain. Oh yeah- and then there's the sleeping 10 hours a night at least thing... blame it on being 30 weeks pregnant I guess.

There really is no place like home. So two more weeks and we'll be back and excitedly putting together our baby's crib! 

Before There was a Bun in the Oven:

Before I got pregnant I was running 55-65 miles a week, for a few months straight. It felt so good and liberating and was definitely the easiest way for me to relax from school responsibilities. Then I got pregnant and ran a half marathon. I beat my personal record and placed for my division. I walked away with a whopping $15 cash prize. It-running that is was  about the numbers: how fast, how many miles, and how often. 

Almost 6 months Pregnant:

I run 5-6 days a week still and am still running 40-45 miles a week, but a whole minute or 1:30 slower. But it turns out- I still LOVE running. I love the endorphin rush, I love feeling accomplished, and I love feeling strong and healthy instead of achy and tired. I also love that I eat whatever I want after a run, and just convince myself that the sweet babe wanted it. Like licorice. RedVines lately are just amazing. The point is, and this is more for me to admit out loud than anything else, is running can be just as wonderful and just as healthy without being consumed with the numbers. I run to be healthy and to feel confident. Not to be competitive, with myself or anyone else.

It turns out I love running, but it's not who I am. I run. I love running.

 Note to self: Remember running is a wonderful part of my life, but it is not my life- it is not the reason I live!

Baby News:

At my last doctors appointment I got to see so many parts of our little girl. All four chambers of the heart. Major blood vessels. Her stomach. Bladder. Kidneys. He cute nose. All ten fingers and all ten toes.

She weighs an entire pound.

Life lately seems a bit off. 

Brice has happily settled into his internship and being at home in Iowa again. As for me, I've been staying really busy with 7 credits of classes, teaching Pilates every other day, several group projects, and missing Brice. I'm so grateful to be running everyday still and teaching Pilates comfortably. It's weird to glance in the mirror though and see a belly sticking out! This week is my halfway point through pregnancy! The last few weeks have been more energetic, more restful, and less sick. Every once and awhile something makes me sick but I'm enjoying eating. I haven't really had many cravings, but anything salty is still on the list. 

That's not true- Cracked Black Pepper and Sea Salt Kettle Chips are hitting the spot, probably too often. 

I'm really looking forward to the next few weeks when the babe's 

little room will get put together and I can start sewing some bedding.

 I miss my husband a lot. It's hard to be apart but we're already at the half-way point. 31 more days babe! 

Here's my bump at 20 weeks!

It is so nice to share our exciting news with all of our friends and family! Baby Johnson is due October 1st. I've tried hard to write down little things so far during pregnancy but i figured the blog is probably the best. At 12 weeks we got to see our little babe for the first time. During the ultrasound our babe was moving around like crazy! Arms flaring, legs kicking, and it had the hiccups too! Brice couldn't believe that I couldn't feel all of that yet. The ultrasound tech so kindly reminded us that our baby measures only about 5 cm from crown to rump!

Pregnancy up to 14 weeks:

- Nauseous or throwing up, or if I'm lucky..BOTH!!

- In bed by 9 every night

-Brice has been pretty bored at night these days

- Pizza: my food of choice!

- Still running every day, just 7 miles instead of 10 miles a day

-Pilates is still going well

- Pants are tight already

- No baby bump yet but up 4 lbs
- We both feel like it's a boy...but we can't find out for a few more weeks!

Lastly, although taking anatomy and physiology at BYU have not been the easiest classes for me, it is so nice to be more informed and knowledgeable about everything that is going on with my body and the baby. We just hope he or she is developing healthy and we can't wait to see him/her again!

Last night I threw a bridal shower for my sister Melanie. She gets married in 12 days and couldn't be more excited or more in love with her fiancee Kris. It was so fun for me to plan a little party and get creative and crafty for a night.

 The theme was "Pucker Up for your sweetie" so we had lots of lemon foods. Lemonade, Pink lemonade, lemon bread, cupcakes with raspberry frosting, chicken salad sandwiches, bowtie salad, fruit and veggies. I think everyone had a good time and she left with a lot of gifts. Thank you to my mom for helping to buy food, couldn't have done it alone! We also played a couple of games that kept people laughing! Congrats you guys! We couldn't be happier for you!