Thanksgiving

This past week was Thanksgiving, and it was really nice to have the long weekend. Travis and I both had Friday off as well, and it was wonderful just to relax!

On Thursday morning, we ran in the Tree City Turkey Trot 5K in Kent. I was officially 27 weeks! Travis ran in about 25 minutes, and I ran in slightly over 44 minutes….yes that’s much slower than I’m used to (normally I run a 5K in just over 24 minutes.) I ran 1.95 miles and walked 1.15 miles (spread throughout the race.) However, my running pace wasn’t much faster than my walking pace. I was still proud of myself that I was able to do it though! This race is an “out and back” race, so you see the leaders and everyone in front of you as they are on their way back to the finish line.  I really got a different perspective being toward the end of the crowd, as opposed to being in the top half. It gave me a sense of appreciation for all of the different types of runners out there and also made me feel thankful that I’ve been able to run - not just through my pregnancy, but throughout my life.

We hosted Travis’s mom, brother and grandparents for Thanksgiving. We stuffed and cooked the turkey, and I also made sweet potato casserole. Everyone brought a side or too, and the food was delicious! It was a beautiful sunny Fall day, and it really turned out turned out to be a nice Thanksgiving.

On Friday, I met up with some figure skating friends that I hadn’t seen in several years for dinner, in Beaver County! We ate chicken salads with FRIES on them and reminisced about how much fun we had skating together. I posted a picture of us – see below!  

The rest of the weekend was pretty low key. We went to the gym a few times…elliptical and biking is becoming much easier than running. I started a little Christmas decorating, and that’s about it! I feel like time is flying right now…and it probably will through Christmas. I posted a few more pics of me, taken on Friday. This sweater is flattering from the front…not so much the side, oh well. I only have about 12 ½ weeks to go!!    

Front:

Side Profile:

Group Pic!

Names

Today I have completed 26 weeks of pregnancy!  I only have 14 left.  According to some books and articles I’ve read, I start my 3^rd trimester in the middle of this week, although according to some others, it doesn’t start it until December 1^st.  Either way, I finally feel like I’m getting into the final stretch. 

So, many people have been asking me if we’ve chosen a name.  In a way, this is the moment I’ve been waiting for my whole life! Especially as a girl who’s having a girl, I feel like I’ve been trying to come up with names for my daughter forever. However, now that I actually have to pick a name in just a few months, it’s become a little more difficult than I anticipated.  I like a lot of names, but for some reason I don’t have that “strong feeling” that this is the one for any of the names.  I feel like it may come down to the end, and Travis and I will be going to the hospital with our list of names, and choosing one after she’s born.  Not only am I having a difficult time picking a first name, I am also having a hard time coming up with middle names that I like to go with the first name and my last name. Originally, I was thinking that since our last name DeSavigny is somewhat long, it would make sense to keep at least the middle name short (one syllable.) I guess I want the name to “flow.” However, I tend to gravitate toward longer names in general.  I don’t want to give my daughter a long name that will be a “burden” on her, but at the same time, sometimes the longer names just sound prettier to me! I have found a few short middle names that sound pretty though. So, I put together a list of names that I’ve come up with so far. It’s really a lot of combinations of the same middle names with different first names. Let me know your favorites, or if there’s a good combo that I’m not seeing! Also, I’m open to other short middle names that sound pretty!

Katelyn Rose (possible nickname Kate or Katie), Katelyn Elizabeth, Victoria Grace (nickname Tori), Victoria Lynne, Victoria Elizabeth, Victoria Ann, Victoria Jean, Victoria Elle, Cara Grace, Cara Elizabeth, Ella Grace, Lila Grace, Lila Ann, Lila Elle, Lily Grace, Lily Elizabeth, Liliana/Lilyana Grace (nickname Lily), Liliana Elizabeth, Adrianna Rose, Adrianna Grace, Avery Rose, Avery Grace, Avery Elizabeth.

25 Weeks

This weekend Travis and I started cleaning out the room for the nursery! We had used it as a guest room/office area, and also a storage area. There is a walk-in closet in this room that was full of things that we needed to go through. Since we were reorganizing, we also cleaned out the closet in our other guest bedroom.  I didn’t realize how many things can accumulate in a closet in just a few years! After that, we were even more motivated to clean out our closet and storage area in the basement. We threw out tons of things…our garbage day is today and I kind of feel bad for the garbage men, but it did feel great to get rid of all the junk we had! I feel like we have so much more room and storage space now. We still have to rearrange and move the current furniture that’s in the baby’s room to the basement, to make way for the new furniture, which should be here in the next couple weeks.  I think Travis’s family will come over and help with that though, since I’m not supposed to be lifting furniture right now. Honestly, I was amazed at how tired I was getting just cleaning out things and going up and down the stairs. I’m really glad we did it now and didn’t wait too long, because I really feel the extra weight in front (I had to take several breaks, haha.)

On Saturday, I went to a baby shower for Travis’s cousin Jake and Kayla, who are due on Christmas Day with a little boy. (They’re hoping the baby comes before Christmas though.) It was fun to get some cute ideas for my own shower, and also to see all of the little baby presents she received. It really is interesting all of the things, big and small, that you need for a baby!

Yesterday, we went to The Home Depot, and I pulled a bunch of different paint samples to determine what color we’re going to paint the nursery (and when I say a bunch, I mean like 50 or so – you’d be surprised how many shades of “green” there really are.) We’re pretty sure that we will be painting the room some shade of “light green,” since the bedding that we will be using is lavender and green.  Once we (and by “we” I mean “Travis”) paint the room, I’ll be sure to post some pictures!

Anyway, I took some pictures of myself on Friday (@25 weeks and 1 day.) Enjoy!

Full Body From Side:

Full Body From Front: (fortunately you still can't really tell I'm pregnant until you look from the side!)

6th Dr. Appt

I had my 6^th doctor appointment today, at 24 weeks and 4 days.  They first checked my weight – I’ve gained a total of 14 lbs since the start of my pregnancy.  My doctor said I’m doing well, and I’m right on track to gain 25 lbs – however she mentioned that the third trimester is “unpredictable,” and not to panic if I gain a little more. She mentioned that in the last few weeks there could be a little extra swelling and/or water weight…but so far I don’t have any of that. My blood pressure was normal, and she measured my stomach for the first time today – I think it was 22 cm (vertically) and she said that once again I’m right where I should be for 24 weeks.  We scheduled my next appointment for 4 weeks out (Dec. 5), and after that I’ll be going every two weeks!! How exciting! It made me feel like the baby will be here before we know it!

Today was also the day I did the glucose screening for gestational diabetes. Lots of people told me about this test – you drink a very sugary drink that tastes like very sweet orange pop, and then you wait an hour and they test the sugar in your blood to see how efficiently it is processed.  I looked up what’s in this drink, and it has about 50 grams of sugar or something.  It seems like what everyone failed to mention (or what I chose to ignore…) is that the drink itself isn’t that bad if you drink it quickly like I did. It’s the hour when you’re waiting to do the blood sample when you feel really sick that’s bad. Travis was with me, and initially I wasn’t going to have him stay for this test, but he said he could, and I’m glad he did. I felt a sugar rush, light-headed, dizzy, and slightly nauseous all at the same time.  While I was waiting, I read that this test makes lots of people sick, and I just didn’t want to actually “throw up” because then I’d have to do it again. Travis and I went outside and got a little fresh air while we were waiting, and that did help.  I also found out that if the sugar in my blood comes back at a certain level, then you have to go in for a longer  test where you drink more sugary beverages, after fasting for 8-14 hours, and then they take your blood sample once an hour for 3 hours.  I’m sure this test would be even worse…so hopefully I don’t have to do it!! This is one of those test where “no news is good news,” so I’m hoping I don’t hear from my doctor until my next appointment!

Anyway, I’ve been feeling pretty good for the most part. Travis and I signed up for the Kent Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving, like we do every year. I’m guessing I’ll be doing a combination of walking and running in it...I’m just hoping I don’t come in last (although even if I did, I guess I’d have a good excuse.) I ran both Saturday and yesterday – I ran a total of 30 minutes with 16 minutes of walking on Saturday, and yesterday I only ran 15 minutes with 18 minutes of walking (I think my legs were still sore from Saturday.) Even though I know I’m pregnant, it really is unbelievable to me how quickly my running is deteriorating.  I mean, in May, before I was pregnant, I ran a half marathon. Then in June, I ran a 5K in almost 24 minutes (right before I found out I was pregnant.) Then in September, I ran a 5K and a 10K…not in record breaking time, but around a 10 minute pace. Now, I can barely run for 5 minutes without taking a walking break…it’s so crazy. If I can make it through the turkey trot, I’ll be happy. With the weather getting cold and days getting short, I’ll hopefully go to the gym and do elliptical, biking, or walking throughout December, January, and February.  Our little girl will be here in just a few more months!