I miss running

I miss it so painfully I could cry.  Waking up before the sun, grabbing my dog and iPod, and sweating profusely.  It cleansed me, primed me for the day, kept me slim and focused.  I know those days will be back very soon, but right now I wish I could check my belly for an hour each morning, get out there, and give my mind and body a good road run.  For now, lunch break trips to the elliptical will have to suffice.

I miss after a run: the way breakfast tastes and the soreness in my hamstrings and hips.

I wonder if Mae will be a runner too.

Mother's Day gifts for expectant moms

How is your Mother's Day?  This is by far the most relaxing Mother's Day I will enjoy for a while.  My baby may be active, but she's still in my belly and welcome to party away.  I, in the meantime, enjoyed sleeping in and a big breakfast and TV time.  Having said that, I cannot wait to meet our daughter.  The nursery is not ready and there are a lot of things still to do, but when I think about the smells and snuggles of a newborn baby, I get so excited!  Thinking about my little Pumpkin Muffin is the sunshine of every day.

To all the moms out there, enjoy your special day!  I hope your partner and kids are spoiling you rotten.

This week, Time magazine decided to feature an article about Attachment Parenting with a very pornographic photo of a sexy model nursing her 3-year old child.  The headline is a smack in the face to mothers around the world: "Are You Mom Enough?"  So here are my two cents: I admit it, I used to judge.  I used to have all the mothering solutions in the world.  Then I got pregnant and realized there's only one thing about mothering I do know: if you love your child with all your heart and do your very best to secure their health and happiness, you are absolutely mom enough.  And those of you who judge: please find something else to do with your time.

Now to the fun part of this post.  I've been meaning to post my pregnancy essentials list for a while now, and am finally getting to it.  These aren't in order of priority.  I would say that fitness, vitamins, and hydration are equally important.

• Rich lotion or oil.  Around week 13, I started slathering up my belly, hips, and lower back after every shower.  There's no evidence to support that moisturizer prevents stretch marks, but as of yet I don't have any.  Lotion will keep your skin nice and supple to help prevent itching as it starts to stretch.  I've been using two different types: Burt's Bees Belly Butter and Palmer's Cocoa Butter.  The Palmer's is much cheaper, but it's also greasy.  I use it at night.  The Burt's Bees is not oily at all, so it's perfect if you don't want your clothes to get greasy.  Bonus: slather your decollete and watch any fine lines and wrinkles disappear!  I plan to keep using my belly butter after Mae comes.
• A good, 32oz BPA-free water bottle.  Drink at least four of these a day and enjoy not swelling too much.  I recommend Nalgene bottles, as they are cheap (you can pick up one at Target for about $7), and practically indestructible.  Your bottle doesn't have to be stainless steel or glass (unless the snotty looks from that mom with the fancy Sigg bottle at the doctor's office bothers you).  Or if someone who loves you gets you a fancy schmancy water bottle.  I am definitely a fan of glass, but I've also gotten kind of preggie-brained and clumsy.  If you don't tend to drop things like I do, a large Mason jar (used and cleaned pasta sauce jar) is the perfect free glass water bottle.  
• Sleep.  Get as much as you need, it's important!  I have moments where I feel like I should start getting used to being sleep deprived.  Then I realize that's ridiculous.  Right now, my growing baby benefits from the sleep I get.  I stay sane with the sleep I get.  And, I can sleep.  So, get it while you can.  Too bad pregnancy doesn't come with a license to Sleep Whenever Necessary.
• Clairsonic Mia face brush.  It's an investment, but less of an investment than two professional facial treatments.  Supposedly they last forever, you just replace the brush when it starts to get icky (about three times a year).  Using mine daily has resulted in virtually zit-free, radiant skin.  The preggie glow helps, but over the past few weeks I've noticed clogged pores and dull skin disappear.  Over time, this will save money and packaging formerly used on facial scrubs.
• If you work at a desk: a back rest and foot rests.  I have two foot rests, the standard foot rest you can order from any office supply catalog, and a box that's the same height as my seat.  Sitting gets uncomfortable, and elevating feet can take a lot of strain off of your lower back and feet.  It's also good for circulation.
• Fitness.  Whether it's a gym membership, yoga classes, or your neighborhood sidewalk, keep yourself active.  Find an accommodation for bad weather.  I'm lucky enough to work in an office park with a little fitness center, complete with very clean locker room.  A quick "jog" on the elliptical machine during a lunch break is wonderful for stress.  The weeks I'm more active (and well-hydrated) I feel about 80% better than lazier weeks.  To go along with your activity, get good shoes that will support the extra weight. 
• Good prenatal vitamins.  I know we're all on a budget, but this is not the time to skimp on your vitamins.  The money you would normally spend on wine and cocktails will no longer take up room in your budget.  For the price of a fancy sushi and saki dinner with friends, I purchased a trimester's supply of the "Cadillac" of prenatal vitamins.  After doing research on vitamin brands, I decided to go with New Chapter.  Their supplements are organic and GMO free, and completely food-based.  Their Perfect Prenatal has all the vitamins and minerals the baby and I need for a healthy pregnancy, except DHA fatty acids.  They are vegetarian and friendly on my stomach.  To get my healthy fatty acids, I eat omega-enriched organic eggs, chia seeds, and the Spectrum Organics vegetarian prenatal DHA supplement.
• Underwire-free nursing bras.  When you get to the point where your gals won't squeeze into the one-cupsize-up bras you bought, it's time to make the switch without regret.  They aren't the sexiest in the world, but they are so comfortable, especially on the coattails of too-snug bras.  Target sells some good brands for a decent price, and watching sites like amazon.com and destinationmaternity.com can result in a few bargains.  Remember, though, you'll be wearing these bras through the duration of your pregnancy and the time that you're nursing, so it's a worthwhile investment.
• Hanky Panky panties.  They are one size fits all.  I had five pairs that I've collected over a few years.  They are super low rise, so they still fit comfortably with no muffin top.  Knowing I have cute undies on really helps offset the awkwardness of maternity clothes and the extra weight.  They are sexy, lacy, girly, and when washed in a mesh lingerie bag and hung to dry they last a long time.  The crotch is a nice, sturdy 100% cotton to keep you cool and dry.  These are a bit of a splurge, so start dropping hints with your partner and close girlfriends who are wondering what to get you.  Or, put back a dollar a day for two weeks and go to Nordstrom's and treat yourself.