Slow steps back to normal

I'm making this start back to blogging as easy as possible, which means there will be a few lists of interesting things for a while. So, let's dive right in. (The word dive makes me think of scuba diving, which you can't do while pregnant. Just FYI.)

Baby News:  I've got a new nephew, Nick, who was born last week on Thursday, Nov 6. Exciting! As for myself, I'm 15 weeks, or 3.5 months, pregnant. Our next doctor's appointment is next week. I believe it is possible to find out the sex of the baby at that time, but we've been told we should wait until 20 weeks to be sure. Also, in the next few weeks, I should be able to feel the baby move. More excitement!

Writing News: At the end of our Italy trip, I was notified that one of my stories was accepted for publication in New Texas, a literary magazine out of Sul Ross State University. The story is a non fiction piece about my study abroad trip to Costa Rica.  I actually submitted it as a fiction piece a few times with no success when someone suggested that I switch to non fiction. It only took a few minor changes to make the switch. Another factor that I believe contributed to the story being published is that New Texas requires non fiction submissions to "engage key issues in relation to Texas culture." So I guess you could say, in business terms, I marketed my story to a targeted audience. (Also, I got published! I got published!)

Health News: For the past few years, while I've been involved in triathlon training and working out regularly, I assumed that when I was pregnant (which was always a far off type of thing) I would be that pregnant lady in the triathlon suit at the sprint race or that really fit pregnant lady at the gym. There was no way I would "let myself go" when I was pregnant. Ha!

THAT is not what happened. Not this girl. I know that everyone is different, but it's HARD. I was way too sick during the first trimester to do anything and now that I can actually, you know, move without vomiting, I can't breathe. I have no balance. I have to sit down after two flights of stairs! I have to hold on to the treadmill because I start to lean to one side like a falling pine tree. When I do lunges, my arms flail about like the wings of a crashing airplane. I've fallen over at least twice. And really, it's mostly funny to me when something like that happens. I just laugh at myself and think, "yeah, that's right. That's what you get for thinking all those other pregnant people were slackers. In yo' face, Katie, In yo' face."

I actually buckled to one of my stubborn fitness vows (To never hire a personal trainer because I can just read a book and learn the same thing) and hired a personal trainer. I'm glad I did. Right now, I need that really fit person standing next to me, counting for me and being partially responsible for what I'm doing. It's nice to only have to worry about breathing, and to be able to laugh at myself when I start falling over or have to sit down after ten lunges.

Travel (Un)News: When my mom and I went to Italy, I was 4 weeks pregnant. I felt great at the beginning of the trip, not so great at the end of our trip. It's possible that I vowed never to fly on an airplane again. I think my unreasonable pregnancy "thing" during the first trimester was that everything related to Italy made me sick. Everything. Italian food, cheese, the pictures from our trip, the clothes and shoes I wore on the trip, the Amanda Knox trial, the smell of leather. I rid my closet of leather, bought a Vera Bradley purse and only wore plastic beach flip flops for three months. I have just now looked at the pictures from our trip. So you won't see any posts about Italy for a while. Maybe later. Sorry!!