The One About Baby A

Since we have officially announced our little news on Facebook (because you know that NOTHING is official until you post it on Facebook), I thought I would write a bit about our news!
Joseph and I are expecting a little bundle of joy! Or in layman's terms a baby. Knocked up. Pregasaurus-rex.  A bun in the oven.

Studio 13 Photography by Corrie Defelice

I will be 14 weeks tomorrow. It seems like just yesterday I took a test and instead of one measly line, there were two. Two. Two lines. Check the box. That means I'm pregnant. While there was extensive joy when I found out, there was also worry and a tinge of sadness for the baby we lost last year. There was such a cloud that followed the miscarriage that when I took the pregnancy test and saw that it was positive this time around, I got in the shower and cried with mixed emotions. But God is good and sovereign and has blessed us beyond our imagination.

Studio 13 Photography by Corrie Defelice

The first trimester came and went. Let me tell you something about the first trimester...whoever came up with "Morning Sickness"  lied. It was all day sickness and it comes with extreme fatigue. Instead of going to bed at 10:30-11:00 pm like usual, I turned into a pumpkin around 9:00-9:30 pm much to my husband's dismay. It felt as if we had no time together because I was going to bed so early. In the moment, I honestly thought this phase would never end. I forgot what it felt like to want to eat and to actually enjoy it.

It was also hard to balance the idea of complaining about the discomforts because of the miscarriage. Right after I miscarried, I would see friends complain on Facebook about their pregnancy ailments and I would get so upset because "at least they were pregnant". But now I know first hand their discomforts, but how do I complain about something that clearly means my little baby is growing and thriving?

Studio 13 Photography by Corrie Defelice

I have now graduated to official "Maternity" clothes as my regular pants and jeans do not fit. I tried every trick in the book to stay in my pre-maternity clothes including using safety pins and hair ties to keep my pants up to wearing loose, baggy tops that weren't so tight. But I find that I love maternity pants. They are super comfortable and I don't think I will ever go back.

And has anyone ever told you about prenatal vitamins? Um, hello long nails and long, glossy hair! I am a nail biter so it has been like a dream to have long, beautiful nails. I am due for a manicure soon. But what no one ever told me about is the horrible skin that comes along with pregnancy (for some women at least). I have had breakout upon breakout and nothing helps. Whatever happened to the "glowing skin" of pregnancy? It completely skipped me.

Studio 13 Photography by Corrie Defelice

Let's just go ahead and get it out in the open: smaller bladder. Yeah. The toilet and I have become best friends. At work, the stairs have also become my best friend since I see them ALL the time while running to the first floor for a bathroom break. But what happens when I have to waddle down and up the stairs? The dreaded elevator in our old building takes forever. I am talking a good 20 seconds for the door to open once you have reached your floor...so the question at hand is, what will I have more patience for? Taking 10 minutes to waddle up the stairs or 10 minutes to take the elevator? We shall see.

Studio 13 Photography by Corrie Defelice

So I am "due" January 22. Between now and then, I am sure I will have many questions and many things to figure out. I plan on posting updates and how I prepare for birth. Look forward to seeing my birthing plan, gender reveal, hospital baby bag, quest for baby names, wait...you have to get baby furniture?, birthing music mix, my reasoning for an "all natural birth" (which mainly has to do with my fear of needles) and all of the other things that happen while pregnant.

***Up next...another HUGE announcement which involves beer, swords and shiny objects.***

Never Say Run

I know, I know, I know. I’m terrible at this thing called blogging. I post a few posts and then I disappear for a day, or two, or two months. That’s okay though, because I am here now.

Back in May, I ran my first 5k. If you remember, I posted my excitement over the prospect of being a “runner” here and I also talked about my doubts. I vividly remember the first meeting, we all stood, stated our name and why we joined the group. As recounted in the above mentioned blogpost, I said, "Hi, my name is Jessica Ackerman. I used to run for punishment when I used to play softball and would miss a pop-fly. I am hoping to get a renewed sense of running."

I never imagined how hard running would be. How rewarding running would be. How addicting running would be.

Weeks went by and I stuck with it. Every Tuesday (or Thursday) and Saturday, I would meet with the group to run. Whether it was freezing cold, raining or hot as the dickens, I went. I gave a 7 week update and was very intimidated by the 8 week routine...a whole 20 minutes without stopping.


The Run for God group



Well, let me tell you, that 20 minute run was the BEST run of my life. It was so effortless. When the final whistle blew I couldn't believe that I had just ran that long. Over the next several weeks, we continued training and then the "big day" came.

The "Get in the Pink" 5k. That morning, I woke up early and had breakfast, donned my neon green running shoes and was ready to go. Upon arriving, I saw all the red "Run for God" shirts and was immediately comforted. The nerves were replaced by excitement.

After a little Zumba warm-up, we walked down the the start line. Then I had to pee. I ran to a nearby gas station and made it back to the startline just in time.


Zumba!

 I ran with a dear friend that I met through the program, Diane. As we ran through beautiful downtown Columbia, we thanked the police officers who were blocking off intersections for us, the volunteers and waved at those who were looking on from their houses. Diane and I talked of God and she was a huge source of encouragement. Towards the end, I was getting pretty worn out. With the finish line in-sight, I told Diane to go ahead and I slowed my pace a bit. I finished in 35 minutes.

Diane and I before the race

I wanted to cry. I am pretty sure I have never been so proud of myself. My husband might have even gotten a little teary-eyed (don't tell him I told you). It was so wonderful to hug Diane at the finish line and then welcome all of the other Run for God runners as they crossed the line.
Two weeks after the "Get in the Pink" 5k, I ran the "Jailbreak" 5k in Lexington. This run was a lot harder. It was super hot and I had just found out some amazing news that hindered my running performance. I walked/ran this 5k, keeping a close watch on my heartrate. I remember at one point, children had gone in their back yard (which faced the route) and had a sprinkler hanging over the back fence to give the runners relief from the hot sun.

My mom came up to watch me run (she even made me an amazing shirt in honor of Officer Joe McGarry). At the end of the race, I caught up with another Run for God runner, Kathy, and we finished together.
Of course my mom was crying when I crossed the finish line and the nurse in her kicked in making sure I rehydrated with water and fruit.

I need to thank Brooke for getting me to do the Run for God program and for keeping me accountable!

Brooke and I before "Get in the Pink"

For now, my running career is on hold while I re-adjust to all of the change going on. I look forward to starting again in the near future!