That’s right people…I have a mere 6 weeks until my due date. I think JD and I have made major strides in the preparedness department, but of course, there still seems to be a million things left to check off the to-do list. It’s a little overwhelming, but there’s no law that says everything HAS to be done before the baby comes. Case in point: I keep having little panic-stricken conversations with the husband about finishing the nursery, and he kindly reminds me that she won’t even be sleeping in there for the first few months of her life. God bless him…I think he’d like his sane wife back soon. Ha ha!

I do think we will have the room done before baby girl arrives. (Especially since I think “nesting” has kicked in for me a bit early.) There are just a few little odds and ends now that need to be placed or hung. I ordered this wall mural from Etsy yesterday, and I am beyond excited to see this latest addition to the “birdie” paradise.

They even used the bedding we have for the pic -- it was meant to be.

Have you bought anything from Etsy before? I couldn’t believe the amazing stuff they had. Some people are so creative. I made a “C” in home ec, so you can probably guess how crafty I am (not). We had to make a pair of pajama pants, and I think mine fell apart the first time I washed them. Ok, I’m lying…they fell apart BEFORE I washed them.

So what about my eating and exercise plan? Well, it’s been up and down. My appetite is all over the place right now. Some days, I have to force myself to eat, and others, I’m shoveling food in my mouth faster than Joey Chestnut. I have been eating more dark greens, red meat and beans to up my iron count. I made a really good tomato, corn and black bean salsa last week that I will share in another post.

And with extra weight on and a baby cutting off my air supply by snuggling down on my diaphragm, it has been difficult for me to do more than a few slow elliptical workouts or walks a week. But that’s still an effort, and with aching legs, no sleep at night, swelling like a blueberry and insane hot flashes, I’m pretty proud of myself for that.

I thought for sure when I found out I was pregnant that I would continue to count calories, and work out six days a week and become preggo of the year by the end of it. But as I’ve said before, I quickly learned that carrying a child is a roller coaster ride, both physically and emotionally. I know there are women out there that are running 5 miles a day while pregnant, but I’m not going to compare myself to them. I feel like I’ve done the best I can. I’ve resisted many, many bad cravings. I’ve given in to a few. I’ve worked out, and I haven’t. It’s all part of being human. And I’ve never claimed to be Wonder Woman. (Although I wouldn’t mind having her hot boots and supernatural capabilities. Ha ha!)

STATE OF THE BLOG

So, to switch topics here, I’ve been thinking about this little blog a lot lately. I know that I don’t update as often as I used to, and I do wonder how I’m going to write at all with a full-time job, a newborn and other duties of life going on. I’ve considered giving it up completely a few times, but then I go back to my first blog entry almost a year ago (July 29 is my blogiversary!), and I remember how excited I was to have an outlet to express how I was feeling through trying to lose weight. How encouraged I was when I received my first comment, and how humbled I was when people I never met before were supporting me (and still do!) like my own friends and family.

I may not have a million readers. I don’t have companies banging down my door to promo products on my site. I haven’t had a giveaway (yet). But I have made some wonderful friends and gained so much joy through my blogging experience. So for that, I thank you, and I will do my best to keep Two Pounds a Week afloat. I want more than ever to get to my goal weight, and be a healthy role model for my daughter, so I definitely need all the support I can get!