Less than 13 weeks left until Astrid gets here (give or take a week or two).  I cannot believe it, time is just flying by!  Christmas is almost here and after that I'll really have to get going on the nursery because there won't be most time left.  We have all the big stuff we need, but I'd still like to get the nursery painted in a different color.  We already have the crib and bedding and all that, but the bedding doesn't go with the walls.  We're going to go with a tan color for the baby's nursery and add pink detailing somehow.

I've been walking a lot.  I'm carrying around an extra 15-16 lbs and because it's been gained relatively rapidly (pregnancy weight gain is like that), my body isn't used to it.  So my walks are slower, but I'm still walking 4 miles a day, 4-5 times per week.  I'm also consistently strength training twice a week---2 full body workouts and each workout lasts about an hour.  Lifting much lighter and with less volume than before pregnancy, but it still feels good staying in shape.

My eating habits are pretty good.  However, I might have gestational diabetes so that may change how I'm eating somewhat.  I'm already a healthy eater to begin with, but it will be hard not being able to indulge in holiday treats.  Especially since I AM pregnant and do have typical pregnancy cravings.  My weight gain is well within normal limits---actually it's even on the low side considering my weight status before becoming pregnant.  Anyway, I should find out next week whether or not I have GD.  I failed the glucose screening miserably.  My blood sugars needed to be below 130 and they were 165.  I had to take the 3-hour GTT on Friday and I passed the fasting portion with flying colors.  It needed to be below 90 to pass and it was 71.  But I won't find out the other parts of that test until next week.

I hope I don't have gestational diabetes, but because my other daughter weighed 9.5 lbs at birth, I'm convinced that I'll fail the glucose tolerance test.  If I have it, I know there is nothing I did to cause it, it's just one of those things.  My sister is pregnant too, is 3 weeks ahead of me.  She weighs 58 lbs more than I do (we're the same height), she eats a lot of junk, and doesn't exercise.  Yet she passed the glucose screening and I didn't.  It's just one of those things and luckily once the baby is delivered the diabetes goes away.  It's caused by the hormones produced by the placenta.  Apparently it blocks insulin production (or something like that).

Anyway, here are some pictures throughout the second trimester:

23 weeks, 3 days:

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25 weeks, 2 days:

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27 weeks, 3 days (pictures from today):

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I just had my big ultrasound yesterday...we are having another little girl!  How exciting!

I'm over 18 weeks pregnant (almost 19 weeks according to 1st and 2nd ultrasound dating) and I'm feeling great!  No more nausea and I have my energy back.  I've started walking a lot again, about an hour a day, most days of the week.  I'll keep that up as long as I can.  And I've started back with some light strength training.  That is about all my body can take, I get sore now even lifting light weights.  But I plan on getting back to the hard, heavy training once the baby is born.

Recent pictures of me and my baby bump:

17 weeks-

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A few days ago-

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baby Astrid:

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/wp-content/blogs/205862/uploads/1mvwwVrL4KMqlBIq1Tj2Ef6SSiDEaZ922.jpeg yep, she's a girl ****ght!  If you can't read ultrasounds, the girl parts are encircled by the loop of the letter g.

We are super excited, almost halfway through the pregnancy before we get to meet our little girl .

And moving right along.  Had an ultrasound a week ago (NT scan) so I was able to see the baby for a good 30 minutes.  Made all this seem even more real.  Getting so excited.  Starting to have some good days now, days free from nausea, but it isn't gone yet.  Got sick again yesterday, despite having felt good the day before.  But I have a good feeling that the end of morning sickness is right around the corner.  I managed to get a walk in yesterday morning before I started feeling really sick.  Just a short one, 30 minutes, but that is all my body can handle right now until I get an energy burst with the second trimester.  Cannot wait for that!

Ultrasound scan, taken at 12 weeks, 2 days (but measuring 12 weeks, 6 days):

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That's my baby!

Pictures of my big girl:

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I'm now 11 weeks, 2 days into my second pregnancy.  Although I've been through this before, my first pregnancy was 7 years ago so this all seems so new again.  I had my first prenatal appt. at 10 weeks and I was able to see the baby with a portable ultrasound machine.  The doc just did a quick scan to make sure everything was okay.  Very cool because I got to see the baby, movements and all (active already).  I purchased an inexpensive doppler for home use, just to use on occasion and I was able to find the baby's heartbeat so that was very cool.  It's all become so real.

I'm still sick, hopefully I'll get my energy levels back before long.  Most women start feeling better with regards to energy and morning sickness in the beginning of the second trimester and that is right around the corner.  I'm looking forward to being able to exercise again, even though I just plan on training moderately as opposed to intensely.  No hard cardio like HIIT and no really heavy weights.  My appetite is still really weird with strange cravings and aversions which is why I have yet to gain any weight.  Still at 96.6 lbs as of this morning.

A couple recent pictures:

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Here are a couple recent pictures of how my pregnancy is progressing:

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Taken at 7 weeks

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Taken at 9 weeks

So far weight has remained unchanged.  My diet is completely different since becoming pregnant, I'm having a hard time getting in protein.  And I haven't been able to work out.  My morning (all day!) sickness is at it's peak right now, looking forward to getting past the first trimester so that I can start feeling better.  As soon as I'm better I plan on working out again, albeit not nearly the intensity as before.

Still super early on in my pregnancy, but we went ahead and told my mom and sister, as well as a couple others.  We told our daughter too, she is so excited that she's going to be a big sister.  Some people wait a while before they make the announcement, but I wanted to go ahead and tell a few close family members.  That way if something does go wrong, I'll have their support.

No morning sickness yet, but I stepped on the scale this morning and I'm down to 96.8.  Have no clue what that is about.  I haven't been training, I'm taking a break for the next couple weeks (unless I do get morning sickness, that may change things), but I still feel I'm eating well.  I've been super anxious and I'm dealing with major insomnia so I guess that could be a culprit.  I actually lost weight in the first trimester with my daughter, but it was because of morning sickness.  I need to halt the weight loss now by eating even if I'm not feeling super hungry.  I don't expect to gain anything for a while, but weight loss isn't good.

Oh, and I've quit drinking coffee cold turkey.  From an average of 6 cups a day to zero.  Some caffeine is safe during pregnancy, but I don't want to risk it.  Plus chocolate has some caffeine and I'm definitely not giving that up so coffee had to go.

So I am expecting, just found out a couple days ago.  It seems surreal right now.  I'm thrilled and scared at the same time.  I've been wanting another baby for years now and my daughter has been asking for a little brother or sister.  She'll make a great big sister, she's super nurturing.  She doesn't know yet.  My husband and I aren't telling anyone yet (other than online) until I'm safely past the first trimester---or at least until a heartbeat is detected.  I'm calling this morning to schedule an appt with an OB, but I won't actually get to see her for another couple of weeks.

I haven't started with the morning sickness yet, but I have been getting slightly queasy.  Super tired too.  I've also had some cramping which can be normal, but I'm still taking it easy now until I can get in to see my doctor.  My husband doesn't think I should be training right now, but I know a lot of women here train through their pregnancy, albeit with lighter weight and a less intense program.  But I'm going to ask the doctor how much I can safely do.  If this pregnancy is anything like the one I had with my daughter, morning sickness will start in a week or so.  It was severe for me (all day sickness and couldn't keep much food down), training will be the last thing on my mind until I get past the first trimester, when the morning sickness usually subsides.  And when the morning sickness hits, I'll have to eat whatever I'm able to keep down.  Last pregnancy the only things were spicy hot v8 and cheetos.  Literally, those were the only things that I could keep down which is why I actually started my second trimester weighing several pounds less than pre-pregnancy.

So right now things are looking good.  I'll update as I get more news.  Praying that everything goes well and I have an uneventful 9 months.

I did find out a bit of good news about our insurance policy---although our deductible is very high, prenatal care is covered 100%.  So we won't have to pay for anything out-of-pocket until I'm in the delivery room.

current body weight- 98.2 (I'm short at only 5'1"

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I'm not like huge or anything.  Actually I still usually buy the smallest sizes in pants.  But I'm packing a nice amount of muscle for someone with my stats.  If I ever decided I wanted to compete I'd focus on adding more size first, but for now I'm pretty content.

Food that is.

My favorite food is probably Greek yogurt.  There are so many things that you can do with nonfat plain Greek yogurt that it is hard not to like it.  My favorite ways to eat it:

1.  Mixed with 1/2 individual serving size of Crystal Light.  Especially the lemonade flavor

2.  Mixed with heated berries and sweetener (I like Splenda)

3.  With just a couple packets of Splenda

4.  Mixed with protein powder

5.  Mixed with 1/4 packet sugar free/fat free pudding mix, 1 tbsp peanut butter, and 1 tbsp dark chocolate cocoa powder (such a thick treat)

Another favorite of mine is oatmeal.  Again, so many variations to add flavor.

1. (my favorite) 1 tbsp dark chocolate cocoa powder, 1 tbsp peanut butter, a little milk, and 2 packets of Splenda

2. Mixed with protein powder and peanut butter.  Or just protein powder.  Plus a little milk.

3. Berries or bananas and Splenda.

Dark chocolate cocoa powder (unsweetened) is a great discovery.  I make my own hot chocolate using a cup of milk, a serving of dark chocolate cocoa powder, and a packet or two of Splenda

Speaking of milk, I've been drinking a ton of milk lately.  Such a myth that milk prevents fat loss.  It can bloat if you're lactose intolerant, but nothing wrong with milk.  A couple times a day I'll have a protein shake made with milk and a scoop of ON 100 % whey in Chocolate Mint.  For a long time I made my shakes with water, but they're 10000 times better with milk.  I didn't realize how much so until I tried it.  Makes sense though.  I mean, I would never make chocolate milk out of hershey's syrup and water.  Ew, the thought of it is gross.  So I drink a lot of milk, plus the other dairy I consume.  Although I'm not a vegetarian, I don't love meat so generally I cannot consume more than one serving a day.  So dairy helps me fill in what would otherwise be lacking.

I eat 2-3 servings of fruit every day, esp. now that it's summer and most of my favorite fruits are in season.  Veggies I have a harder time with.  I aim for 1 serving per day, hopefully more, but I'm happy if I can get in one.  Starchy carbs.  I'm not scared of those, not in the least.  I eat white potatoes (gasp) and processed breakfast cereals (double gasp) among other things.  Not a problem, I'm not in contest prep and I'm certainly not going to be super rigid.  I allow plenty of room for treats and splurges.  Stuff like pizza and ice cream and milkshakes.  I just don't OVERindulge and fit those things into my meal plan.

That's all I can think of for now, but I'll make additions as things come to mind.

The summer hasn't even officially begun and already it has been stiflingly hot here.  Though today there has been some reprieve and that is expected tomorrow as well.  My daughter has been out of school for a couple weeks now and we've spent quite a bit of time at the local pool.  She's getting ready to complete a 2-week long program for learning to swim and she's learned heaps in that amount of time.

Now that my daughter is home for the summer, I've had to change things up as far as workouts.  I'm still training as intensely as ever, I'm just switching things around more and being more flexible.  Like some days I'll do full body workouts, then a day off, then a lower/upper split on the following 2 days.  It really just depends on what it going on.  But I'm getting it done.  As far as cardio, it's being done indoors these days, at least until it gets out of the 90's.  So mainly treadmill stuff for now.

I went to deposit a check at the bank today.  Went to the counter and an older lady was behind it.

Bank teller lady: "You workout don't you?  Your arms are very defined.  Good for you!"

Me: "Yes, I do"

Bank teller lady: "You remind me of Kelly Ripa, I know she works out a lot and your arms are like hers"

So people notice.  I DO workout and workout hard and it does feel good when people comment (though at the same time I'm super shy and I'm sure my face was bright pink).  Needless to say, that comment made my day.

LOL, my daughter announced tonight that I have more muscles than my husband (her dad).  She was out on a walk with her dad this evening and asked him why mommy has 2 muscles and he only has one.  He told me about that when they got home and I asked her what she was talking about.  She told me to "go like this", indicating she wanted me to flex my bicep.  So I did and she pointed to my bicep and my delt muscle.  Kids are too funny.  They tell it like it is.

I haven't been updating my blog lately.  Not much has been going on.  I'm babysitting twice a week now and that is going very well.  Bringing in a little bit of an income and it's something I enjoy.  I've recently switched again from a split routine to full body workouts again.  I did that for last summer and will probably do that through this summer.  It means longer workouts, but fewer days per week of strength sessions.

So that is all.  Still training hard.

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I've gotten a lot of messages and comments over the past couple days and I've read every one of them.  I've responded to some of them, but not all.  There is a lot going on in my personal life right now so that is the main reason I'm having such a hard time right now.  What happened the other day over the profile picture being flagged as inappropriate was just sort of "the straw that broke the camel's back".  I need time away from here to really focus on what is going on in my life and figure things out.  I'm still working out as hard as ever, I actually need it in order to keep my mental health intact, otherwise I can see myself sliding down fast.  Just a lot of stuff I need to work through.  I appreciate the support I've gotten from each and every one of you.  Sorry to those I haven't had a chance to respond to, maybe once things are sorted out and I have more of a clear head I'll be able to do that.  I'll be back, just need some space right now.

Yesterday was my first day back to training after having taken off nearly a whole week.  I hadn't intended for the break to be that long.  I'd planned quite a few days off, but then got sick on top of that so the break extended beyond what I'd wanted it to.  No harm done, I feel more refreshed than ever and it's great to be back.  I took some progress pictures today, the break didn't effect anything.  I figured it wouldn't, but it helps to "see" that I can take some time off on occasion and it won't hurt.  In fact I think having done that will only help me because I had been feeling really burnt out and depressed and now I'm refreshed again.  Yesterday I worked legs, today I did a  whole upper body workout.

I start my new routine on Wednesday.  I start babysitting tomorrow and Tuesdays and Thursdays will be my days off.  My new routine will look like this:

Sunday- delts and absMonday- back and biceps
Tuesday- off

Wednesday- full body

Thursday- off

Friday- chest/tris/abs

Saturday- legs

The only reason I did a full upper body workout today is that I took longer than I wanted to off and I wanted to get all body parts worked before my day off tomorrow.  And I need to have tomorrow off since I'll be gone for a better part of the day and things will be super hectic.

I hadn't taken pictures in a while and I haven't updated blog in a while, but that doesn't mean I'm not working as hard as ever because I am.  My goal is to go at least a week, preferably 2, between picture sets.  And my goal is to just take monthly pictures.  I get messages asking when I'm going to update my progress pictures, but my answer is "when I feel like it".  It's just best that I don't update too much.  Plus I won't make progress in a matter of week anyway, it takes months and months to show progress, especially since I'm going at it so slowly.  I took a bunch of pictures last night and again this morning and that is my most recent set.  It's out of my system, no more pictures for a while now.
I probably won't blog as frequently as I had been...but again, that doesn't mean I'm not working as hard as ever.  There may even come a time where I spend more time away from this site, but nothing will change as far as workouts and training.  I'm hooked for life.