Tom's new hobby..

So over the past few months, Tom has started to really enjoy running. So much, in fact, that him and a group of guys run 4-5 miles through the city on their lunch break a few days a week.

Tom decided he wants to run in the Peachtree Road Race this year on July 4, but he needed to first run in a qualifying race to be able to start in a decent position. There are 55,000 people that run the Peachtree so if you have to start in the back, you walk for the first mile and half or so. This past weekend he ran the Chattahochee Road Runners 10K, which was one of those qualifying races.

Tom and I bright and early before the race started:



About to cross the finish line:



I am so proud of him...He ran almost 6 and 1/2 miles in 47 minutes! It was such a beautiful day out so I was really happy to spend the morning outside!

3rd Trimester

So today I am 25 weeks, 4 days along. My 3rd trimester has definitely snuck up on me!! Overall, I have no major complaints. Some of the less than glamorous things I have noticed happening with me are:

-->I have noticed that I am starting to get tired more easily again like in the first trimester, and being able to sleep soundly is pretty much nonexistent. I constantly wake up to shift positions, use the bathroom, or because of the kicking alarm clock inside me. No other time do you love being kicked as much as this except when you're pregnant.

-->Heartburn has made its way into my life. My mother in law said that means Brayden is going to have a head full of hair!

-->I've also noticed I am becoming forgetful (my list-making skills are really coming in handy right now) and also just a little clumsy.

-->I notice so many more aches and pains in my body than ever before. After walking 45 minutes on the treadmill, my hips and legs begin to ache.

All of this is more than worth it for a healthy baby boy though, so bring it on!

I went in last week for a routine ob visit and the doctor said I'm measuring right on track and that Brayden's heartbeat sounds good. Tom was able to hear Brayden's heartbeat this week by putting his ear on my belly. So cool...I'm kinda jealous! I go back to the doctor in 3 weeks for the gestational diabetes test so I plan on bringing a good book with me since I have to sit for an hour and wait for the results.

Growing bigger every day:

What's in a Name?

Most of you probably already know by now that we are planning on naming our little boy Brayden Thomas, but I thought he still needed a proper introduction for those of you who didn't know. Picking a boy's name was really easy for us, and he was pretty much Brayden since the day we found out he was a boy. We actually didn't even crack a baby name book. (Thanks Tiff for letting us borrow it anyways!) So, Brayden it is...no turning back, especially after the first monogrammed gift arrived last week. :) Just kidding. I know this little boy is going to be blessed with so many wonderful people around him that love him. I went to the mail this week to find some adorable personalized towels from his Aunt Tiff. She is always so thoughtful and I can't put into words how good she is to me and she is always there to help make my life easier. From pretty much furnishing our whole first apartment, to always being there when I need her,to helping us shop and plan for Brayden, the list could keep going...So Tiff, if you read this, thank you for being you and having you as my big sister is such a blessing!

His hooded towel and washcloth set:


Every cool little baby boy needs a shark beach towel! I love this!


Since you've seen his beach towel, I thought you should also see his cute bathingsuit that I found at baby gap for when we go to the beach with Tom's family in September:


The name Brayden means "brave". When I looked up the meaning of his name, I thought it was really ironic that the name we chose for our little man meant brave. I have always struggled with a spirit of fear and I have talked to Tom about how I didn't want to pass that on to my children. Reading that translation of his name, I felt like God was telling me that this is not something I have to pass on to my son. My prayer for Brayden is that he is brave. Brave to try new things, brave to stand up for his beliefs and to witness to others, and to not allow a spirit of fear to keep him from responding to the life God has planned for him. I am reminded of the verse in 2 Timothy that says "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline."

I pray that God will bless him and that He will give Brayden a heart for Him and to serve His Kingdom. I can only imagine that there is no greater joy than when you know your child loves the Lord.

No hiding that belly now...

Today I am 24 weeks, which marks the last week of my 2nd trimester! Baby must have grown alot over the last few weeks, cause I sure have! Take a look:



I've officially lost my belly button:







Tom is loving my growing belly and getting to feel baby kicks and punches day in and day out. The sweetest thing ever is when he puts his lips to my belly and sings to the baby because the baby usually responds to Tom's voice and starts kicking when he hears his daddy singing to him. The question is, is he kicking telling Tom to be quiet or does he love it? If I were a betting woman, I'd say he loves it. His daddy does have a good voice after all!

Spring, is that you?

Today was such a beautiful day in Atlanta! It was in the mid 60's so after church we decided to get outside and walk some trails that follow along the Chattahoochee River. We stopped on a bridge for a quick photo op:



Tom was checking out all of the people fishing in the river. He went out fishing yesterday morning but wasn't able to catch anything so I'm sure he was a little jealous of all the people catching trout here.



After we left the trails, we went on an afternoon drive with our windows down, which was so refreshing! I just wish this warm weather was here to stay. I saw this evening it's supposed to get cold again this week. :(

On baby related news, this week was the first time that he has been waking me up throughout the night kicking and bouncing around in my belly. I've been exhausted from not getting good sleep, but I can't really complain because there is no better feeling than when he is moving around because I know he is doing great! I have heard that as you get further along in your pregnancy it gets harder and harder to sleep anyway so maybe I am starting to get to that stage. Something neat I read in one of my books is that not being able to sleep very good during pregnancy is your body's natural way of preparing you for getting little sleep once baby arrives. How cool is that? God thinks of everything, doesn't He?

20 weeks, Halfway

This week I hit a big milestone, I am halfway through the pregnancy! I was 20 weeks on Monday and to celebrate, my lovely husband treated me to an amazing prenatal massage at Massage Envy. It was so relaxing and definitely has helped some of the minor back pains I've been having. I just cannot believe how fast the first half of this pregnancy has flown by! I am definitely ready to meet my little boy, but I am also enjoying being pregnant and wouldn't mind it slowing down a little bit.

20 weeks, 5 days belly:





Does it look like there's a cantaloupe in there?

In other exciting news this week, I have been feeling the baby moving around pretty consistently in there. I usually feel him at least once a day, sometimes more. Tom has even got to feel him wiggling around once! I can't even describe how amazing it feels. I am trying to enjoy these sweet, light little kicks because I know before long he's going to be doing a number on my ribs and anywhere else he can get a good jab in and it probably won't seem quite so cute and tender.

But then again, maybe it will. Who knows..I'll tell you when I get there.

Thankfully....

Thankfully there is not a real bottle of Hershey's Syrup this size, or I might look like I am pregnant with triplets.



We went to St. Louis a few weekends ago with our friends Jessica,Aaron and their adorable little girl Ava for a church conference and we found this in the Cracker Barrel store on the way home. Tom and I just cracked up because he likes to tease me about my chocolate milk cravings. It has been one of the only consistent things I have craved so far. Now I know this is not one of the healthiest cravings, especially since we do drink 2% milk which can have a whole lot of calories in it, but I did buy some low-fat chocolate syrup and I limit myself to no more than one glass a day. And hey, I am getting my calcium (which baby and I both need!), so that counts for something, right??

By the way, the Hershey's bottle turned out to be a piggy bank. Maybe I should have bought it to save up for all the little bottles of Hershey syrup I might be purchasing over the next few months...?

No gym, no problem! Wii have a solution...

There is a way to beat those New Years Resolutions of getting into/staying in shape without having to go to the gym. Here's how:



And more specifically:


We got a Wii a few weeks back, and let me tell you, it is much more of a workout than I ever imagined. We have the Wii Fit which is really fun because it takes your weight and height and keeps track of how many minutes you work out each day and your number of calories burned. It holds you accountable, too! If you haven't worked out in a few days, the little Mii person will say "I haven't seen you in awhile, where have you been?" and then you realize that a computer is making you feel bad for having a few lazy days.

I have been doing some of the Aerobics workouts to help give my heart a good workout on the days I don't make it down to the treadmill and elliptical. I did the basic step workout last week and my calves were sore for a solid two days! The workouts require alot of moving and shaking around and I feel like I am probably shaking the baby like crazy in there. I will try to update with pictures of us actually playing the Wii...

So if you don't have a Wii, you should definitely get one. After all, you're having fun while getting exercise. I can't honestly say I have fun while waiting for my 30-45 minutes on the elliptical to pass by ever so (seemingly) slowly.