I heart running.

Before I got pregnant, running was my choice of exercise. I enjoyed the discipline and solitude in running. I also really liked participating in races with a group of people I got to know through running. In fact, I ran the 8 mile Turkey Trot with some of them when I was (unknowingly) 8 weeks pregnant, and my mother still won't let me live it down.

Not wanting to give my favorite hobby up, I asked my doctor if I could still run during pregnancy. She said it was fine, until things got 'too jiggly'. Well things have definitely gotten to that stage, and I had to stop running about 6 weeks ago.

My dear friend Jinju used to run with me every Saturday, and she has graciously offered to continue to walk with me every week. This past weekend, we both participated in the Butterfly Boogie Race - the competitive 5k walk :) Here we are before the race! The rest of our running group ran the 10k. Due to a freak cold front (it's really not supposed to be in the 30s in March in Texas), it was FREEZING out there! I don't think we won the race, but I still appreciated being a part of a race and getting out there and exercising. I really hope that I'll be able to start running again after Baby comes. We'll see...

Bump: Week 25

We have been doing more and more to prepare for baby's arrival lately. We've (mostly) cleaned out our 3rd bedroom, ordered a crib, and purchased some bedding material, wall decor and a dresser. We've even finished registering, which was one of the most daunting tasks, given we really have no idea what this little one will need/want when he comes into the world. All this preparation makes things a little more 'real' as I finish the last few weeks of my 2nd trimester. That, and the fact that baby has been kicking up a storm every day - usually after lunch and in the evenings. I'm glad he is healthy and is moving around a lot, but ouch! sometimes it hurts a little! :)

We had dinner with some good friends the other night. I realized that in a few months, all of us at dinner would be in a completely different location and stage of life. By the end of summer, some of us will be starting medical residency in a different part of the country, others will be living overseas doing missions work, and Tim and I will be introduced to a world of feedings, diaper changes and strollers. Funny how there are so many transitions in life...I hope we're ready for this one!

Week 23: People are starting to touch my belly...

...it makes me a little uneasy. But at least they're friends and not strangers - so far. People who haven't seen me lately or don't know me that well have also started asking me if I'm pregnant. I guess I've made it past the 'is she just gaining weight or...?' stage.

I've also started feeling baby move in the past few weeks. It's fun! Kinda like popcorn or a ping pong bouncing around in there. One time after lunch, he kicked me hard - it startled me! At least the little guy is growing nice and strong :) This week he is supposed to be one pound in weight and 8 inches in length.

Babymoon!

We just got back from a long weekend in Cancun, Mexico! It was our 'babymoon' (last vacation before baby) and we had so much fun. We met up with BFF Julie and Wai, who are also expecting just two weeks after us! We are sure that our babies will also be BFFs, especially since they vacationed together while still in the womb! We had so much fun just relaxing, eating, beaching, eating some more, laying out by the pool, and eating some more. All-inclusive is the way to go! Here are some highlights

View from the infinity pool at our beautiful resort.

Baby bumps! Janice at 20 weeks, Julie at 18 weeks.

Tim and Wai were jealous and wish they had baby bumps too :)

The water was absolutely gorgeous! Like a giant swimming pool!

The four of us doing what we did best - eat! At one point we even made reservations for TWO dinners in one night. Yes, gluttonous, but hey we're pregnant!