Bump Update: Week 38

Hi friends. Are you a little confused?

Don't you worry, I didn't become pregnant all over again! 

On Friday, when I changed over to 38 weeks, we took a photo. I figure since I was 38 weeks pregnant for two days, I'd better go ahead and document/share prior to sharing about baby girl's birth. 

How Far Along:: 38 weeks.
 
Size of Baby:: Little Miss Kemp is the size of a pumpkin. I have not gained any weight at my last two office visits, though my stomach does seem to be expanding!

Gender:: Baby Girl!

Stretch Marks:: In the clear.
 
Sleep:: I can't say that it is non-existent, but I am definitely not sleeping a sound 9 hours like I once was. Granted, even when I was getting sound sleep, I was needing multiple bathroom breaks; now I am just up multiple times each night with the inability to get myself back to sleep!  I hear this is normal and just getting me prepared for the many restless nights ahead. 

On Sunday, I arose around my typical insomnia time of 3:30am. This morning's back pains and feelings were just DIFFERENT. After trying to get comfortable in our bedroom for over an hour, I announced that we needed to move downstairs to the family room. Well, we all know that a birth story began to develop shortly thereafter.

Fit Pregnancy:: We resumed exercise on Saturday! My diet had stayed pretty consistent though I did eat half the bag of Golden Graham S'mores mix which was basically Golden Graham cereal, marshmallow pieces, white chocolate chips, and dark chocolate drizzle. I can't even claim that it was a "healthy" snack mix option. I will not be purchasing it again!

Cravings:: Still thinking about that Jurassic World Dairy Queen blizzard from last week! And it was eaten on Friday night!!! Wonder if any of these treats got labor moving?!?

Miss Anything:: Any adult beverage sounds delicious!

Symptoms:: Back pains, mild 'menstrual-like' cramping, contractions, and just overall pressure down south! 

Belly Button In or Out:: Flat.

Movement:: It's beginning to get hard to distinguish her movement/stretching and contractions since they are both pretty uncomfortable.

Looking Forward To:: Little Miss Kemp's arrival. (She's here!)

Best Moment This Week:: Mimi's arrival!

Michelyn Cynthia

Bump Update: Week 37

How Far Along:: Full term!
 
Size of Baby:: Little Miss Kemp is the size of a winter squash.

Gender:: Baby Girl!

Stretch Marks:: In the clear.
 
Sleep:: What's that? I officially have insomnia! The other night Coach had the nerve to tell me to simply "go to bed!" Really! If it were that simple; trust me, I would be getting some Zs.

Fit Pregnancy:: I have taken up my modified bed rest until Saturday when Mimi arrives!

Cravings:: Sleep! Oh, we are referring to food! Hmm, that new Jurassic World Dairy Queen blizzard sounds amazing! It is a combination of cookie dough and peanut butter cookie pieces. Trying to hold out on that one! On Saturday Coach mentioned Taco Bell, and I had secretly been yearning for a cheese quesadilla for so long I can't even remember. I blame him because I caved in!

Miss Anything:: Seeing my feet and no back pains!

Symptoms:: Side back pains; morning headaches, and insomnia. I am beginning to enter that truly uncomfortable stage in pregnancy, when you are just ready for it to be over. I too am overly sensitive/emotional. This weekend I became really emotional because soon Prince, the dog, will not be an only child. By emotional, I mean that I started crying inconsolably. Prince is such a good boy, and we know he will be a great big brother. The transition will be somewhat challenging for him as he likes to be the center of attention, and has had it this way for two years.Yea, I just confessed to having a crying fit over the dog!

Belly Button In or Out:: Flat.

Movement:: We should take video footage of my stomach because this child is an acrobat. I look forward to my next OB appointment because we think she has moved sides. For weeks, her feet have been near my upper right rib cage, buttocks to my left side, and head south. We swear she has flipped to the other side for her legs and buttocks. I guess it does not matter just as long as her head is south, which it is! Just strange that we think she has moved so drastically and so late in the pregnancy.  

Looking Forward To:: My mother's arrival on Saturday. We too will get a little shopping in before baby too. 

Best Moment This Week:: We installed the car seat and bases in both of our cars. Coach also assembled the second stroller, the BOB Revolution SE, and I finished packing my hospital bags.

Michelyn Cynthia

Bump Watch: Week 35

(Sorry for the horrible picture with little to no light.)

How Far Along:: 35
 
Size of Baby:: Little Miss Kemp is the size of a coconut. (I think she is longer than that, lol!)

Gender:: Baby Girl!

Stretch Marks:: In the clear.

Sleep:: 8-9 hours/night with multiple trips to the bathroom! I also have been waking up every day at 4:00am for about 30mins-1hr. I peruse IG and Facebook, and then am able to fall back to sleep. It is kind of weird, but happens every single day!

Fit Pregnancy:: Got to be a little honest. I am getting terribly antsy with only my resistance band exercises! It too has been challenging to find the desire to do them daily. I love the treadmill but my resistance band exercises have been slacking. I am ready to throw around some real weight!

Cravings:: Coach made pineapple sorbet, and its pretty delicious. Can't believe it is only fresh pineapple & sugar. Have you ever looked at the ingredient list on your supermarket's sorbets? Crazy!

Symptoms:: Little Miss Kemp is steadily moving south! I now can tell because my stomach "rests" on my legs when sitting. Previously I did not "feel" my stomach because it was higher. Not sure if that is a symptom, just something that I have noticed.

Belly Button In or Out:: Same - in with a small portion sticking out!

Movement::All-of-the-time!

Looking Forward To:: We have an ultra-sound tomorrow! They will "predict" her weight & length! Can't wait to "see" her on the big screen!

Michelyn Cynthia

Bump Watch: Week 34

Yikes! This post is coming 2 days late! Today, I am 35 weeks! But, lets review week #34...

How Far Along:: 34
 
Size of Baby:: Little Miss Kemp is the size of a butternut squash.

Gender:: Girl!

Stretch Marks:: Nope

Sleep:: No major changes!

Fit Pregnancy:: Sticking to modified workouts, walking and eating healthy foods (minus my nightly fruit bar/ice cream indulgence). I have been eating the fruit bars during the week and saving the more indulgent, frozen desserts for the weekend (Friday, Saturday & Sunday, lol)!

Cravings::Last weekend we bought an ice cream maker! Totally Coach's idea, not mine! I am always a fan of cold treats, and now we have easy access. This past weekend Coach made a traditional vanilla ice cream with cookie crumbles. We will transition to healthier options - coconut & almond milk ice cream - here shortly, but it's always healthier when you know the specific ingredients of your food! I too should add that Coach made the ice cream with no additional sugar and only 4 ingredients (including the crushed organic cookies)! I am glad this purchase was made later in my pregnancy verse right away though :) 

How I will manage these creamy desserts postpartum is another problem that I will tackle later!

Symptoms::Does frequent urination count as a "symptom?" By golly it should because the amount of times I frequent the bathroom is beyond absurd.I too am having sharp pains in my bladder after I relieve myself. At my appointment yesterday, the doctor determined that Little Miss Kemp is very low and pressing against all my organs. After I relieve my bladder, organs are re-adjusting themselves and this is the cause for my pain.

Belly Button In or Out::Still mostly flat with a small, top portion out.

Movement:: This girl does NOT stay still!

Best Moment of the Week:: Saturday the basketball wives hosted a baby shower for myself and Annika, the MBB Athletic Trainer. It was a great time at the OU Inn!  

Looking Forward To::We start weekly visits now! Yes, a little earlier since I turn over on Fridays and my appointments are scheduled on Thursdays. We will have our 36 week US next week when I am still technically one day shy of being 36 weeks pregnant! This too means that this baby is coming very shortly! Where's my to-do list!?!

Michelyn Cynthia

Bump Update: Week 33

How Far Along:: 33
 
Size of Baby:: Little Miss Kemp is the size of a durian! (Yes, I put a link because who in the world has ever heard of a durian fruit!)

Gender:: Girl!

Stretch Marks:: Nope

Sleep::Sleep is going wonderfully! The other morning Coach joyfully announced that I have started snoring. He's joyful because I am constantly complaining about his snoring. He now figures we both snore, so there should not be any problems. Oh, he is so wrong! I do acknowledge that I occasionally snore, in a very light & feminine fashion, when I am extremely tired or in a very deep sleep! My assessment concludes that I am getting a good night sleep at 8 months pregnant - winning!

Fit Pregnancy:: Did you check out my resistance band post from Monday, Squat it Out! That is just one of many home exercise programs that I have developed. I too hit the treadmill for my walks or take Prince out. Prince needs a major summer cut as he has been terribly hot! I have scheduled a grooming appointment for Saturday so hoping that helps. I too have been doing a better job with meal planning for lunch & dinner; now more energy needs to be focused on breakfast. There have been a few morning that I am so ravenous that the thought of scrambling eggs seems daunting, and I just go for a bowl of cereal with almond milk. No, this is not horrible, but I prefer to have eggs, fruit & Ezekiel bread because it's more balanced/nutritious.

Cravings:: I would not consider myself an avid coffee drinker, but I had been longing for a decaf iced coffee from Donkey Coffee, here in Athens! Coach brought me a 'cup of joe' for lunch yesterday and it hit the spot!

Symptoms:: Feeling great!

Belly Button In or Out:: Flat with a little of the top portion sticking out. Haven't decided if that is cute or odd!

Movement:: Every night I treat myself to a frozen fruit bar; its fair to say that Little Miss Kemp loves her sweets because she goes extra bananas after this treat!

Looking Forward To:: On Saturday, the basketball wives are throwing myself and our athletic trainer, Annika, a baby shower! We are both having girls, a few weeks apart! It should be fun to get together with all the wives.

Michelyn Cynthia

Bump Update: Week 32

How Far Along:: 32 weeks - we are 8 months pregnant!
 
Size of Baby:: Little Miss Kemp is the size of a squash!

Gender:: Girl!

Stretch Marks:: What are stretch marks, lol?

Sleep:: 9 hours is my new magic number! Sleeping deeply, with many potty breaks in between.

Fit Pregnancy::  Drinking my gallon of H20 daily, but should probably start journaling my daily eats. Maybe starting next week!

Cravings:: On Sunday I craved an orange pop so I got an individual Diet Sunkist, and it satisfied my sweet & orange craving.

Symptoms:: Remember I kept mentioning Braxton Hicks? Well, they have decreased substantially. Sure, I get them occasionally, but they are not as strong as a few weeks ago. A tidbit to share with the OB at my next appointment. Hoping that truly means that my fears of pre-term labor are a thing of the past.

Belly Button In or Out:: Neither - it is staying flat!

Movement:: She's doing well in there, moving away. Again, her movements have not been as painful as last week. Maybe there is more room!

Best Moment This Week:: Not sure if it is the "best" but Coach and I went to the hospital's prenatal class/hospital tour. Now, we had no true need to attend since we previously attended a Lamaze class and have been to the Labor & Delivery floor on two occasions. I am so glad that we previously took the Lamaze class because it was more thorough than the 4-hour hospital class, though it too was beneficial. After the class, Coach and I took Prince for a walk along the university trail and he proclaimed that he is ready for delivery, lol.

Looking Forward To:: Next OB appointment (Thursday), hair appointment on Saturday (which means we are going to Columbus), and packages arriving daily (my mother & BFF shared that a few boxes are on the way)!

Michelyn Cynthia

Bump Watch: Week 31

How Far Along:: 31 weeks, final week of the 7th month!
 
Size of Baby:: Little Miss Kemp is the size of a pineapple!

Gender:: Girl!

Stretch Marks:: My tummy is feeling rather "tight" again so I think another growth "spurt" is quickly approaching. My parents asked me the other day how much weight I had gained; then how much baby estimates! Not sure if I was pleased with my mother's response: "That's all she weighs with your weight gain!?!" Thanks mom, lol! But, I am not seeing any stretch marks!

Sleep:: Sleep is going pretty well, besides the frequent trips to the bathroom. The other day I asked Coach to guess how many times I frequent the bathroom. His response miffed me slightly, because seemed almost oblivious to the fact that I get up so dang much! Must be nice to sleep that hard throughout the night. I am honestly contemplating keeping a tally, but then that would require more brain power when I already try to expend as little energy as possible getting myself there & back!

Exercise Fit Pregnancy::  As I mentioned in my previous post, Redefining "Fit Pregnancy," I have discontinued my CrossFit workouts but have been approved for 30 mins walking/day and resistance band exercises. I plan to share some of my resistance band exercises over the next few weeks, so be on the look-out. Also, since I am unable to workout at an intensity level that I desire, I am also trying to focus on the second aspect of being "fit," that being the foods that I consume!  

Cravings:: Just ignore my last statement from above because Coach returned from his most recent recruiting trip with a box of Popeyes biscuits, and this woman did a small happy dance! We do not have a Popeyes in Athens, and I do miss the one right around the corner from our neighborhood in Toledo. Ok, my waistline is happy there is not one close by... Wait, my waistline is nonexistent anyways, lol.

Back story for the biscuits...

Two weeks ago, when admitted into the hospital, Coach was in Indianapolis recruiting... When I called him that Saturday night, he quickly packed his suitcase and jumped in the car to return to Athens. Once things had settled at the hospital, Coach announced, in a beaming way, that he HAD to go through the Popeyes drive through on his way to town! In an indulgent manner, I inquired if he had had a biscuit, which I knew he had. He laughed as I dabbed my watering mouth.... So, my loving husband figured it was only righteous to bring home Popeyes biscuits on his return from being out!
 
Miss Anything::  CrossFit I am doing good, lol.

Symptoms:: Braxton Hicks!

Belly Button In or Out:: Flat as a pancake!

Movement:: Her kicks, stretches, and movement are becoming ever more uncomfortable for this momma! I love the feeling and the ripples/movement of my stomach. Coach is always amazed when my stomach jumps and prods about.

Best Moment This Week:: Being released from my bed rest, hooray!

Looking Forward To:: Friday we will enter the 8th month. I am really excited but also a little anxious!

Michelyn Cynthia

Bump Watch: Week 30

How Far Along:: 30 weeks!
 
Size of Baby:: Little Miss Kemp is the size of a cucumber.

Gender:: Girl!

Stretch Marks:: Haven't seen any. Do you think these truly show post-birth once your skin tries to tighten back up?

Sleep:: Started sleeping more, between 9-10 hours/night. I have no reason to arise early to hit the gym, which was my main reason for being an early bird! Ha even though I despised waking up, I now miss it! 

Exercise:: Taking it slow this week. I have another appointment tomorrow, Thursday, and we shall see what the doctor says. Staying off my feet, sitting on the couch, and not being active is unbelievably challenging for me!

Cravings:: A glass of wine sounds pretty divine!

Miss Anything:: I won't mention it again, but not being active! I know, I mentioned that last week!

Symptoms:: My ankles and lower leg occasionally get minimally swollen. I did not even realize it, until the doctor mentioned it to me.

Belly Button In or Out:: Still flat!

Movement:: Little Miss Kemp may come out running or doing flips! She is one active little one.

Looking Forward To:: Doctor's appointment tomorrow. Updates are sure to be shared on Friday!

Michelyn Cynthia

Bump Watch: Week 29

How Far Along:: 29 weeks.
 
Size of Baby:: Little Miss Kemp is the size of an acorn squash.

Gender:: Girl!

Stretch Marks:: I believe we are still in the clear.

Sleep:: Sleeping like a log :)

Exercise:: On a short, modified exercise plan, which entails a little more rest than activity. On Saturday, I over-exerted myself by walking on the treadmill for an extended period of time, and then followed this up with a shopping spree in Columbus with my mother. You know the saying "Shop til you Drop!?1" Well, I may have followed that to the letter. I was admitted in the ER overnight Saturday for monitoring, and have been instructed to rest. Basically, all of the activity agitated my cervix, shortening it, but it seems to be ok now. Most importantly, Little Miss Kemp was fine throughout the duration of the situation. She, of course, put on a little show for the nurses/doctors!

Cravings:: My mother's arrival means some home-baked desserts. She has baked some scrumptious oatmeal raisin bars and fudge! We shared some with the OU Athletic department as well!

Miss Anything:: CrossFit SEO

Symptoms:: Nope, feeling good!

Belly Button In or Out:: Still flat!

Movement:: Yes! The last two nights I have eaten desserts, and she is going to town. It actually is way uncomfortable as it almost feels like she is pushing her back-side outward. My whole stomach is lop-sided when she does this, lol. Hoping we go back to simple kicks here soon!

Best Worst Moment of the Week:: Visit to the ER!

Michelyn Cynthia

Bump Watch: Week 28

How Far Along:: 28 weeks. We are in the 3rd trimester, folks!
 
Size of Baby:: Little Miss Kemp is the size of an eggplant.

Gender:: Girl!

Stretch Marks:: I believe we are still in the clear.

Sleep:: I have been super, duper tired this past week. I believe my body is still "recovering" from all the fun of the Final Four, plus I resumed CrossFit which I did not do for a whole week.

Exercise:: Back into the swing of things at CrossFit. I have been so tired and busy with work, that I have been unable to keep up with my treadmill work-outs but know they will resume here shortly.

Cravings:: I have been yearning for KrispyKreme donuts!

Miss Anything:: KrispyKreme stores, lol.

Symptoms:: Besides exhaustion, feeling really good. I have my next OB and adjustment appointments tomorrow. I need to get a list of questions together.

Belly Button In or Out:: It's flat as a pancake!

Movement:: Last night she was going to town! But, she is pretty active on most days!

Best Worst Moment of the Week:: The Badgers losing in the National Championship Game, boo!

Looking Forward To:: My mother arrives later today (huge smile)!

Michelyn Cynthia

Bump Watch: Week 26

How Far Along:: 26 weeks

Size of Baby:: Little Miss Kemp is the size of a head of lettuce!

Gender:: Girl!

Stretch Marks:: Started using mama mio body buff. It is a really light formula, not sure if it is making a difference, but "placebos" are fine with me :)

Sleep:: Up and down. I have been waking several times in the night to use the potty and also because of insomnia - kind of over it!

 Exercise::Got back in the swing of things over the weekend with my treadmill routine, and then returned to the box on Monday! I too started jogging a little more than in previous weeks. Are you surprised given my recent article, This Momma-To-Be Can't Run?!?! I will clarify that I am doing more of a jog + walk interval than anything. But, it does feel good to be moving faster than a walk.

Cravings::After consuming 90% carbs last week, it has been a little struggle not wanting Ezekiel bread, cereal and crackers. I really like carbs, but am trying to stick my weekly meal plan for the week.

Miss Anything::Now that the weather is warmer, I am quite envious of the runners I see about town.

Symptoms:: Back relief has come. I mentioned last week about getting manipulated. This occurred on Monday, and I go back in two weeks. 

Belly Button In or Out::In

Movement:: Yes! The neuromusculoskeletal doctor on Monday stated: "Wow! She moves a lot!"

Best Moment of the Week:: Seeing the doctor on Monday & getting back into my workout routine!

Looking Forward To:: Madison!

Michelyn Cynthia

Bump Watch: Week 25

How Far Along:: 25 weeks

Size of Baby:: Little Miss Kemp is the size of a cauliflower!

Gender:: Girl!

Stretch Marks:: If you been following for awhile then you are privy to my "secret formula!"

Sleep:: Sleeping like a log.

 Exercise::On Monday we went to the ER! I was diagnosed with gastroenteritis and pre-term labor/early contractions. I am feeling better today, and back to work but still very tired and lethargic. I am taking the remainder of the week off from the box!

Cravings::I am boring in this department though I still need to develop a list of must-haves while we are in Madison, WI.

Miss Anything::My back NOT hurting!

Symptoms:: Back aches/pain. I have made an appointment with a highly regarded OB-GYN D.O. for this coming Monday! D.O.'s specialize in OMM (osteopathic manipulative medicine), and I am hoping for whatever and all manipulations to get some back relief. 

Belly Button In or Out::In

Movement:: She has been a little more on the quiet side compared to last week, but then got more active on Monday night/Tuesday morning. The constant vomiting had her excited. 

Best Moment of the Week:: Coach and I attended a Lamaze Child Birth Class on Saturday and Sunday - 12 hours to be exact. Both of us would agree that it was the most well-spent 12 hours we have ever delegated to one task in a long while. If you are currently pregnant, I highly suggest that you take a Lamaze class, and I am not simply referring to the free hospital tours. Yes, we are doing that as well, but we both feel way more prepared for the birthing process as well as the first few days of baby's life!

On My Mind:: I am in disbelief that she will be arriving three months! Uhm, a person can train for a half marathon in three months! Eek - so much to do, so little time!

Looking Forward To:: My OB appointment on Thursday! While in the ER, many tests were run, even an ultra-sound. I just want to ensure all is still going ok with Little Miss Kemp. She was doing fine on Monday night, even showing off for the ultra-sound - doing flips, peek-a-boo, you name it!

Michelyn Cynthia

Bump Watch: Week 24

How Far Along:: 24 weeks

Size of Baby:: Little Miss Kemp is the size of a cantaloupe!

Gender:: Girl!

Stretch Marks:: I do not believe so.

Sleep::Going good, maybe a little too well. I was able to peal myself out the bed for an early morning workout today, but more often than not, I go after work. trying to return to my early morning workout sessions so I can get more accomplished throughout the day! 

 Exercise:: Going good. I am starting to see a little decrease in my strength which is a slight bummer. On Tuesday, we did split jerks. Back a few months, I was able to do 95lbs for a 2-rep max. I only did 85lbs on Tuesday. My back issues and the overall tightening feeling of my stomach has me a little more cautious, rightfully so. But, I still frequent the gym and hit the treadmill often. This momma is not complaining. 

Cravings::This past weekend, I yearned for some double-stuffed oreos! Coach got me a small package and I was very happy! If we have the full-size package, I eat all the cookies in a few days! I too have been drinking more chocolate almond milk as well.

Miss Anything::Nope

Symptoms:: Back aches/pain. I have a slight case of scoliosis and honestly can't say my back pains are related to that or the pregnancy. I was walking at pretty intense incline, a level 6, but have since lessened my incline as I believe that is contributing to the back pains.

Belly Button In or Out::In

Movement:: Little Miss Kemp notifies me when it is time to eat, and then becomes even more active after all of my meals! It is so very cute!

Best Moment of the Week:: I had a massage on Friday, when I turned 24 weeks. It was glorious!

On My Mind:: Tonight's dinner, lol! I enjoy trying new recipes, what about you? Check out my weekly meal plans and try a few of the recipes!

Looking Forward To:: Selection Sunday! Did you read my post about Conference Championships! I will have an updated post about conference winners thus far tomorrow!

Michelyn Cynthia

Bump Watch: Week 23

How Far Along:: 23 weeks

Size of Baby:: Little Miss Kemp is the size of a large mango!

Gender:: Girl!

Stretch Marks::Whenever my stomach feels dry, I apply lotion. Not sure if this will help, but in my mind it will! Also, drinking lots of water and eating fruits and vegetables!

Sleep::We're back on the snooze-mobile! On Saturday, I assisted my gym with the 2015 CrossFit Open; acting as a judge and cheerleader. After the last heat, I went to the grocery store and then home. I quickly made my way upstairs to our bed and was passed out for 4hours! I guess cheering and judging wore me out! I got a little more done on Sunday, but it surely felt glorious to snooze!

Do you spot me? Hint - I am wearing green!

Exercise:: A newly announced pregnant friend of mine sent me an inquiry about pregnancy fitness-related blogs and resources. Quickly, I sent her over a few of my favorite bloggers, but too am hoping to write-up a whole blog post about this topic. Not so much my recommendations, I am not a certified personal trainer or doctor, but various resources that I have found helpful.

I must also say that I have been very lucky to find Jolene since she has a wealth of knowledge in this area. I rely heavily on her for all my pregnancy-related CrossFit accommodations!

Cravings::Not really! The So Delicious Coconut Milk Frozen Desserts were on sale at Kroger this weekend, normally priced between $7-8, and on sale for about $3.50/pint. I bought three pints and am not impressed. I tried the Cookie Dough flavor, although sweet and cold, not really all that great! I do plan to finish the pint (smile) but will not be making another purchase in the future. I got Coach Vanilla and Mint Chip which he has enjoyed.

Thinking I will just stick to my melted chocolate + peanut butter concoction!Didn't I just say last week that I would stop buying chocolate ship morsels, lol.

Miss Anything::Nope

Symptoms:: Back aches

Belly Button In or Out::In

Movement:: Lots of movement after I eat a meal!

Best Moment of the Week::This a best/worst moment... On Tuesday, I went to the dentist! This is actually the best part of the week, ha! I LOVE having my teeth professionally cleaned. Honestly, with my whole love for the dental hygienist you'd think I would do a better job at flossing. Well, they reported that my gums were inflamed (aka pregnancy gingivitis). Just took a look at some of the pictures of those with pregnancy gingivitis, roughly 40% of women fall victim, and I do not think I had a terrible case of it. Yikes, the dental hygienist and dentist scared the living day lights out of me during my visit - talking about the risks, such as low birth weight, premature birth, etc. Now, I am on a whole new level of fear after looking at those pictures! I am partially to blame because I am not a consistent member of the "flossing club." The dental hygienist noted that she could tell the exterior and surface of my teeth were well taken for, but that I am not doing a good job flossing. I was reminded 6 months ago, when I was there last, to work on my flossing so I curled my tail between my legs and walked out!

To end on a good note, I was asked to return in another 3 months for a follow-up cleaning!  

Looking Forward To::Spring Break and spring-like weather!

Michelyn Cynthia

Bump Journey: Months 1-5

Reflecting back, I probably should have written this post by trimesters, but it did not come to me until more recently. Since I have passed the half-way mark, I figure I might as well document the presence or absence of some of the common pregnancy symptoms.

I know no two pregnancies are the same and I want to remember how this pregnancy progresses compared to any ones that I may have after.

I also want to apologize as I do realize that more and more of my posts are pregnancy-related. I know some readers may not be that interested in my pregnancy, and I am ok with that. I do advertise as a life and style blog, and currently my life is pretty focused on being pregnant. 

Breast Tenderness: In the first trimester this was my biggest symptom besides frequent urination which I will touch on below. I remember praying to the workout gods that our WODS would not entail double-unders or burpees because it hurt so much to jump and have to lie on my stomach/chest. This specific symptom has passed, and now I am just ever concerned to when the lady parts will stop growing. Trust me, I asked the OB about that! The response was not what I wanted to hear, lol.

Breathlessness:This too began in my first trimester but is only an issue when doing workouts. Very early on I shared the news with Jolene at CrossFit SEO so she would know why I was a little lethargic during workouts. I am not sure many people really knew but the breathlessness really arose when running with a 20lb medicine ball. Running has always been my strength at CrossFit, and I remember having to tell Jolene that I could no longer run with a medicine ball because I would become so very winded. Granted, I was also dealing with cold weather, not like it is now, but that just compounded the issue.

Presently, in the 2nd trimester, it is quite comical as I get winded during the warm-ups - high knees, butt kicks, high jumps, etc. have me gasping for air. I have laid off of running because of the cramping I was getting. Instead, I row which does not leave me as breathless.

Constipation: Good on this front, though I do try to consume 1 gallon of water/day, which I believe has helped with my regularity. I did discuss having some feelings of constipation - full stomach and abdominal pain - however, I believe this right before I really popped between weeks 19 and 20.

Cravings: To Coach Kemp's dismay, I have not had any severe food cravings. I discussed this in a previous post, Satisfying Those Pregnancy Cravings.

Dreams: My crazy dreams have decreased substantially, but we're pretty consistent between weeks 12-17. The theme of the dreams were partying with my high school and college girlfriends! Ok, those sound like normal dreams, perhaps, but they were very vivid and just odd - not the partying part- but some of the settings. Thinking the dreams were a symbol of letting go of my party days, though I haven't seen those since graduate school lol. 

Fatigue: I got over really well with fatigue. Now, I did enjoy sleeping between 8-10 hours/night during the first trimester, but I never felt truly lethargic during the day. 

Food Aversions: During the first few weeks Coach could not consume wine. I could smell it from like a mile away, and it made me repulsed. I too couldn't stomach my beloved Quest bars. Just the thought of them made me queasy. I too wasn't feeling smoothies until my recent trip to Tampa in which I made my mom drive all over Brandon in search of a smoothie shop. Unfortunately, we didn't find one but we were on the hunt! 

Forgetfulness: Momnesia hit me full force around Week 21, and has only worsened. Let's see where to start! Oh you know, I sent a girlfriend flowers to the incorrect address! Thank heavens I merely transcribed the house number, and somehow, they got to her door-step. Then there was that time that I sent my cousin, not one but about 3 letters to her former address. Her family moved over a year ago. Many of my momnesia episodes have included addresses, as you can see. There are countless other scenarios which have made me question my brain functioning.

I now have lists for my my lists, and am contemplating hiring an assistant. Actually, I just need to stop trying to juggle 5,000s things/day. I am horrible at only feeling competent with my plate completely full. I have historically been a person who performs best when balancing many plates. Little Miss Kemp will force me to narrow down my scope in many facets of my life. 

Headaches: Only had this symptom for about one week around Week 17! 
 
Increased Urination: I have historically required many trips to the ladies room throughout the day. At one time I was even checked for all kinds of serious/semi-serious heath issues and they all came back negative. At that time, I was like 18 years-old, the doctor just stated that I had a small bladder and not to worry. 

Now, the night-time bathroom trips is on a new level. I previously did not wake up frequently at night to use the bathroom, but now I get up about 4 times/night and it may only be getting worse. 

Mood swings: I'm naturally moody, lol, but I don't think Coach would say I'm any moodier than normal.  And if he did, he's a smart man and wouldn't confess to it anyways. 

Michelyn Cynthia