6 more weeks...

6 weeks left and counting 'til baby girl arrives- We're so excited!

Maybe I have a false sense of security, but having a baby the second time around seems a whole lot easier. Time hasn't gone by any faster but I've done less google searches and less worrying about having the "right" baby items. Last time at 34 weeks I was frantically craigslisting breast pumps like my baby's life depended on it. This time I realize that just 'cause we don't have a crib yet doesn't mean the baby won't be able to sleep.

This time I'll see it coming when the sleep deprivation hits me head on and breast feeding seems like a sick joke. I'll leave my cute summer clothes in their box a few more weeks rather than being too anxious to fit back into my pre-pregnancy wardrobe. Hopefully I'll spend less time questioning "Am I doing this right?" and more time just enjoying my newly enlarged family.


Liam gives the baby hugs and talks about her all the time like she's there in the room. In his night time prayers he prays that she can hurry up and get big so she can come out. (Amen to that!) He says he'll fetch clean diapers, teach the baby how to crawl and feed her bottles.

liam playing 'space guys' with his uncle

sled dog races

Funny Pregnancy Video

I have a ton of pregnancy stories of people who in public say ridiculous things about my belly, make predictions about my pregnancy, or ask me outlandish "I've always wanted to do this to a pregnant lady" favors. To save face, and to prevent embarrasing Brady, I wont mention them but I'll just post this clip.

I love Alaska and am glad to be back for a visit with Liam. I've missed my family, the mountains, moose, fun places to eat and the rugged spirit here. Liam is loving playing with his uncles wrestling, sword fighting, and watching sled dog races.

Exercise during pregnancy is a way to take control of your body during a time when it seems much of your overall health, appearance, and well being is out of your control. Despite months of feeling nauseous and fatigued I've enjoyed teaching spin and weight lifting classes and am happy that I'll have made it almost 30 weeks/ 7 months without playing the "pregnancy card." After 7 months pregnant I have decided that although I will still keep working out I probably don't want to be the one leading at the front of the class and so I am only teaching through next week (I'll still do personal training with existing clients.) Also this will give me a chance to do some lower- impact yoga and pilates I never seem to find time for.

I strongly believe that in order to make exercise a lifestyle and habit there has to be a point where it is about more than just weight loss /management. It requires too much work and there are a lot quicker ways out there to drop pounds. Also there will be times when you're exercising and still not losing weight (or like me expected to gain several pounds a month) and through those times it's important to just keep going. I believe there has to come a point where you either find a mode of exercise you love as a hobby or learn to enjoy the way it makes you feel (psychologically or physically.)

For Valentine's Day we celebrated with a fancy dinner of crab legs, baked Bre and copious amounts of heart-shaped sugar cookies. We told Liam he could have some crab so he woke us up at 5:45 am and insisted that we cook him a crab pincher. ( That's why we're all in our pjs.

My favorite place in town

(This picture was taken this fall, before I was 6.5 months pregnant)
This retro style bakeshop 3 blocks away from our house is more than just a great place to buy a muffin. It's the type of bakery you walk into and feel like you've just come home from school and mom has made you cookies. Its a place you can celebrate and be reminded of all the food nostalgia that make up family memories.

Everything is homemade in small batches with a lime green Kitchen Aide and Linda the owner tests every batch of cookie, pie, muffin or quiche batter personally before it goes into the oven. There are old fashion toys and a kitchen set that kids can play with in the corner. On Fridays a smiley guy that looks like a skinny Santa Clause in a plaid shirt plays bluegrass music on his harmonica and guitar during lunch time.
If you can't go to grandma's house, this is the next best thing.