Hey friends. Thanks for allowing me a much needed vacay from blogging. Yesterday was the first time I even logged in in over a month. Blogging was becoming a chore and I definitely don't ever want to feel like I HAVE to blog. I don't. I just enjoy it. I'll blog when I have something "blog worthy" to share and I'll let a few days pass if I need to as well.

So here I am. 19 weeks pregnant today and GROWING. 

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 19 weeks

Size of baby:  Sweet baby is the size of a mango

Total Weight Gain: I am up a whopping 13 lbs. How???

Gender: We find out on the 12th

Movement: Feeling little flutters throughout the day. 

Sleep:  All of the time! I sleep at least 10 hours a night and some days can barely keep my eyes open.

What I miss: Fitting comfortably into my clothing. Feeling 100% when exercising

Cravings: Sweets! Trying so hard to practice self control.

Symptoms: I am feeling so much better now that the first trimester has passed. I still have moments of nausea, headaches, back aches during the night, etc.

Best Moment this week: Feeling well enough to exercise :)

Exercising while pregnant is new to me. I didn't do it with my first pregnancy. I tried and fainted at the Zumba Instructor Convention at 16 weeks. That really gave me a scare and after a day of being in the ER I decided to take it easy for the rest of my pregnancy. Honestly, I felt horrible anyway. My hubs would always try to at least get me to go for a walk, but I just wasn't ever up for it.

 I gained about 38 lbs. and know HOW HARD it is to lose it. I started half marathon training (my second half) 6 weeks postpartum and day one of training couldn't even run a mile. It was a huge wake up call after 9 months of being sedentary. I don't want that this time around. 

This pregnancy I am well aware of the journey ahead postpartum and I am trying to make it as pleasant as possible. Right now I am going to Zumba 3 days week. It is a lot more challenging being pregnant. My core muscles are shot which throws off my balance. I get light headed a bit so I really have to monitor my heart rate. I get winded easily and get pelvic pain here and there, especially when we have to raise our legs up or jump, two things I try to modify during class if I need to.

Hello! This is coming from the girl who taught 5 Zumba classes a week at 110% and managed to log 10-15 miles of running on top of that. I was in pretty good cardiovascular shape, but Pregnant Becky is a different lady I am afraid and I need to be OK with that. It is a huge shot to my pride to be struggling during workouts that used to be routine, but I know I am doing this for me! It makes me feel good. Hopefully I'll gain a healthy amount of weight and be able to shed it fast. I want to be strong and have endurance as I begin a new journey of juggling 2 kids. 

Choosing to be active this time has been great. There are some days I am just not up for it, but I make myself go anyway and I never regret it. It helps me sleep like a champ too :) Eating has been challenging. I have to constantly snack to ward off nausea. My sweet tooth has gotten out of control and I am working to keep that in check. Sometimes I have to give in and others I can just pass. 

Keep checking back in on my pregnancy fitness journey!

I am almost half way there which is so crazy!

Here are few highlights from our summer vacation....

Our little family