31 Weeks

Today I have hit the 31 week mark, 63 days until my due date, just about 2 months to go! Pregnancy is getting physically harder on my body as the weeks go on, although I am also enjoying it more because I am feeling the baby so much more and I'm also able to see the baby move every once in a while as well. Just the other day I saw a limb move across my stomach and it was the coolest thing ever. The baby is stubborn just like his/her mommy and won't move for Sean. Sean feels the baby move, but hasn't seen the movement. It will happen soon enough though.

This week I decided to be better about my exercising so I made a conscientious effort to go to the gym as much as possible.

Monday: 1,000 yard pool swim

Tuesday: 1,000 yard pool swim

Wednesday: 2 mile walk/run (alternating every 2 minutes from a 4.8 mph pace for my jog and a 3.2 mph pace for my walk. I averaged 15 min/mile overall.

Thursday: Was planning on swimming but the pool was closed because of thunder

Saturday: Vineyard 5K (my 11th race since being pregnant!)

Distance: 3.14 (according to my Garmin)
Avg Speed: 14:07 min/mile
Avg HR: 152 BPM
Max HR: 183 BPM (I started walking when I saw it got this high)

Before the race, everyone is ready for a good race!

I was nervous about how this race was going to go since I hadn't done a ton of running in awhile but I was excited to get out and try to run as much as I could. The beginning of the race went really well, in fact I was able to run almost the entire first half before the turn-around. I stopped at the water stop and drank two cups of water and than I noticed my heart rate getting up, this was around 1.5 miles, so I stopped running and started walking to get my heart rate down.

After passing the turn-around I started having awful back pain every time I attempted to run. I decided I better just walk the rest. I did attempt to run a few times, but the pain in my back wasn't going away so I kept walking. Jami finished the race (3rd female overall) and came back to finish the race with me. It was nice to have the company. We saw the 3 mile mark ahead and I decided to jog the rest, my back was bothering me but it wasn't as bad as before so I finished the race jogging through the chute with all my friends cheering me on. It was a great experience.

I like to run with my eyes closed apparently.

Running so fast I'm blurry!

My goal before the race started was to not be last and also to be under 50 minutes. My "secret" goal was to be under 45 minutes, and I accomplished all three goals. I was far from last and my time (according to my watch, still waiting for official results) was 44:21, just about double my 5K PR time which is 22:14.

Unfortunately as soon as I stopped running and stood around my muscles in my back tightened up and every time I moved it was followed by severe pain. I got home that night relaxed on the couch and I could barely get off the couch when it was time for bed. Everything had tightened up.

Luckily for my body I get up almost hourly to pee, and this, I think, helped loosen up my muscles so by morning I was in much better shape. I'm far from pain-free but I can move around easier than last night. This was my wake-up call that I need to put running on a hold until after the baby comes. I'll continue to walk and swim, but won't attempt to do any more running.

And so there goes another week closer to meeting Baby Murphy. No new symptoms. I am still getting up at least hourly to pee during the night and my lower back continues to bother me. One of my friends suggested sitting on a yoga ball, and I tried this the last few days and it does feel pretty good.

The baby is growing about 1/2 a pound a week according to all of the average baby growing websites. I don't go into see the doctor for one more week, and when I do I'll be sure to update on what is going on in the belly. After this visit I'll be going every 2 weeks for a few times, and than for the last month it'll be weekly visits!

I think my boobs are on another growth spurt. I may have to go bra shopping again soon.


I don't think it's noticeable in this photo but the baby is hanging out on my right side and in person my belly is definitely off center because s/he has shifted him/herself to that one side.


Another week a bigger belly a bigger baby. Let's hope the next few weeks continue to go as fast as the previous 31. I can't wait until I'm able to hold my little baby!