Holy crap!!! I just got back from my very first postpartum run and, dear lord, I feel like I am going to DIE!!! I just ran around the block - yes, just one measly teeny tiny little block - and I feel as though I just swallowed a ball of fire and volunteered to be beaten with a stick! This is pathetic!!

I have barely exercised since Gabriel was born and therefore I now find myself looking back and realizing that I was in better shape at 41 weeks pregnant than I am now. Now that is sad. I just keep thinking, "thank goodness I exercised throughout my pregnancy or this struggle to get back in shape would surely be one million times more torturous!"

Before becoming pregnant, I ran or did yoga about 3-4 days a week. Nothing too intense though... I'm not exactly what you would call a "gym buff." My workout motto has always been "anything is better than nothing - just get the heart rate up if even for only a short time." During the morning sickness weeks I really didn't do a whole lot of exercise unless you count picking up the TV remote control (which at the time, in the throws of nausea, seemed like a HUGE effort.) 

However, right around 15 weeks of my pregnancy I started attending a prenatal yoga class at Blue Turtle Yoga in Charleston and I LOVED it! The class helped me stretch and relax while at the same time strengthen my body. I learned a lot of really useful moves that also helped ease my aches and pains. For example, I had a pinched nerve in my butt that caused a lot of achiness in my legs and made walking painful. I learned to lay on my back with my legs up the wall to increase blood flow and help ease the pain. This move also helps reduce and prevent varicose veins.

yogajournal

Cathy Lipp, my amazing prenatal yoga teacher, also taught modifications for common yoga positions. These modifications gave me the confidence to attend the regular yoga classes. By the time I delivered I was attending about 3 yoga sessions a week. They made me feel healthy, toned, and happy with my growing body. I highly recommend yoga for other Yummy Mummies!

prenatal yoga

 I have other Yummy Mummy friends who enjoy Pilates and walking throughout their pregnancy. No matter what your activity, I highly recommend continuing some sort of exercise routine throughout your pregnancy. It helps your body and soul throughout the pregnancy and can really help soften the blow to your self esteem after delivery. It's hard to get back in shape. Really REALLY hard. But not as hard as it could be if your body hasn't been conditioned to work out for almost a year. 

So get out there and start slow with a nice daily walk or look into nice easy prenatal yoga classes in your area. I promise, you will be really glad you did!

Gabe the Babe

It's been four months since my last blog posting. I didn't mean to go MIA for so long but I guess I've been a little... ok, a LOT preoccupied with my new bundle of joy. And he is such a joyful bundle, my Gabriel! He was so comfortable snuggling in my belly that my doctor had to smoke him out a week after his due date. That last week was pretty treacherous. I was so anxious to meet him and anxious not to be induced. But despite all efforts of climbing stairs, doing jumping jacks, drinking raspberry tea, using basil and rosemary essential oils, and even getting a reflexology massage (which merely left me with bruised ankles), I was admitted into the hospital on Sunday June 5th to be induced the next morning. It wasn't until 12:23am on June 7th that my 9lb angel finally arrived. I am absolutely overjoyed and in my element. Gabriel Lee Cooney is the love of my life!

by Shannon Michele Photography

by Shannon Michele Photography

Here's a quick style tip for your delivery: Treat yourself to some new cute and comfy pajamas and a robe for the hospital. Make sure they have easy boob access for nursing. Remember that there will be a lot of visitors to your hospital room so despite feeling like you have just survived the most physically traumatizing experience of your life, it will be nice to feel presentable in some new jammies. I got mine for under $25 from tjmaxx and marshalls. They are by Cynthia Rowley and are a very comfy jersey material.

Preggo Party Tricks

Impress your friends with cool party tricks when you are 9 months preggo!

The Final Countdown

So I have two more days until I hit my due date and I am beyond anxious and excited to meet the little guy!! I mean, when is he coming already!?!?!?!? I had myself convinced that he would be arriving a few weeks early, so I have been ready as anything since the beginning of May. I have cleaned my house so many times the last few weeks, my rugs are getting threadbare from all the vacuuming! And on top of that, each week I go in for a check up, my doctor gives me an estimate of his weight- last visit he was already thought to be around 8 lbs! (Keep in mind my mother's track record for vaginally delivering humungous babies - well over 10 lbs that is. My youngest brother was a man-child at 11lbs, 14oz.) I'm getting a bit nervous that if he doesn't come out soon I'll be delivering an over sized grown adult complete with mustache and hairy chest!

 

or click here

What I have to look forward to.....

My sister Becca recently sent me a link to a hilarious website called www.shitmykidsruined.com. Anyone is free to submit photos of, well, shit their kids ruined. It's so genius that TIME magazine awarded it "best blogs of 2010." It's websites like these that make me wonder what I've gotten myself into! Here are some of my favorites:

Those WERE someone's venetian blinds

 

 

after coloring all over the walls, these kids discovered shaving cream

Her lips were chapped so she decided to help herself to some Vaseline

time for a new rug. or hardwood floors.

Peanut butter artwork

at least it's just baby powder. could be worse.

yummmm! Doritos!

country crock butter never tasted so good on a lampshade

Also, people are welcome to submit their thoughts and funny comments based on their experiences with their children. For example:

Why Having a Toddler is Like Being at a Frat Party

10. There are half-full, brightly-colored plastic cups on the floor in every room. Three are in the bathtub.
9. There’s always that one girl, bawling her eyes out in a corner.
8. It’s best not to assume that the person closest to you has any control over their digestive function.
7. You sneak off to the bathroom knowing that as soon as you sit down, someone’s going to start banging on the door.
6. Probably 80% of the stains on the furniture contain DNA.
5. You’ve got someone in your face at 3 a.m. looking for a drink.
4. There’s definitely going to be a fight.
3. You’re not sure whether anything you’re doing is right, you just hope it won’t get you arrested.
2. There are crumpled-up underpants everywhere.
1. You wake up wondering exactly how and when the person in bed with you got there.
Thanks to Ayschia R. for posting this on our Facebook page!!
(Source: http://www.suburbansnapshots.com/2010/06/10-reasons-having-toddler-is-like-being.html)

Francesca's Baby Bumps

I think this is SOO cool! Francesca's Collections has a page on their website that features items that are baby bump friendly. There are two Francesca's locations that I know of in Charleston - one on King Street and one in Mt Pleasant's Town Center. However it looks like there are locations in just about every state, plus you can order their stuff online. Its a cute shop- a little cheap and cheesy but with some stylish finds with lower price tags. I love that they are marketing to Yummy Mummies who don't want to spend a lot on maternity wear but still want to look stylish!

Pregnant in Walmart

If you haven't yet checked out peopleofwalmart.com then get ready for your world to be rocked. And when I say rocked, I mean highly disturbed. Looking at this website makes one appreciate the slyness of camera phones... I mean how else do the photographers get away with snapping some of these shots? This particular photo makes a Yummy Mummy realize that no matter how hot, hormonal, and puffy you may feel, it's never a good idea to leave home without proper attire. And "but I'm just shopping at Walmart" is never a good excuse. A shirt would be nice for starters:

 

This website is a glaring reminder why dressing appropriately can be so important.