Week 17: Energy Swings & Cravings

The contrast in mood and energy day to day during pregnancy has been one thing that's been tough to get used to, but I think today I finally accepted it: There will be days during which I won't get anything done, because I just have zero energy. The past two weeks have been amazing; I've been full of vitality, working out 4 or 5 times a week, and barely scaling my workouts at all (except heavy weights, cause you know, safety first.)

Then came yesterday... I had an exercise class at 5:30 pm, but I went straight home after school and napped until 5:30 pm instead. Then today I left school early because I felt like absolute crap. I figure the baby must be having a growth spurt and is requiring all my energy, because I haven't felt this zapped in about 3 weeks. And I'm grateful for that! I don't deal well with a lack of energy. But today I decided to enjoy it. I came home and napped until my husband got home from work. Now I'm lying in bed with my laptop, doing some lesson planning. And I'm enjoying it. No workout today? Not going to force myself. As nice as it would be to be one of those "super moms" that Crossfit highlights in their Journal, I'm just not one. I'll give myself credit: I have been staying active and eating relatively healthy. I'm just not one of those pregnant women who barely adapts her life at all to being pregnant. I can't be. My body won't let me!

Cravings as of late: my biggest one has been the chipotle aioli dipping sauce from Costco. I want to use it as liberally as I have been mustard, but unfortunately it's not quite as healthy so I try to keep it at a minimum. That didn't keep me from smearing it on my suppertime meal tonight: hotdogs on gluten-free bread with cheese. Too yummy. And before you tell me that pregnant women shouldn't eat hot dogs, feel free to bite your tongue. I've done my research and I'm comfortable eating hotdogs once in a while.

At least two students a day are now telling me that I'm beginning to actually look pregnant. One seventh-grade student who didn't know I was pregnant asked a coworker "Why is Mrs. L getting so fat?" Ahh, the innocence of youth. How delightfully charming.

Back to lesson planning... my hope is that as baby grows, I feel more compelled to update this blog. At this point, I'm still just feeling fat. Once I start actually feeling baby move around, I hope to start writing more, even addressing blog entries to this little guy or girl who will bless our lives with his or her presence in a short five months.