38 Weeks: How I’m Staying Active
I can finally say it: we’re in the home stretch! Currently 38 weeks over here doing my best to stay calm, comfortable and as active as I possibly can. Two days ago the word to describe this stage of pregnancy would have been “miserable” haha ah! (Hey, when you’ve reached the stuffed sausage feeling of pregnancy, I give full complaining rights, ha!). But today is a new day and after a morning walk on a nearby neighborhood trail, I am feeling energized, less achy and overall, content. I know I’m a broken record with this mindset, but getting outside and breaking a sweat (even if waddling at snail pace, like me) really can do wonders on your mental and physical state. Pregnancy is not easy, but something as simple as a daily walk can make a HUGE difference in how your feel!
TANK TOP / SHORTS / RUNNING SHOES / SPORTS BRA / HAT / WATER BOTTLE / JOGGING STROLLER (similar, ours is by BOB)
SHOP MORE RUNNING GEAR
A big thank you to Backcountry for sponsoring this post! All opinions are my own.
Nothing like time outside (…and near water, it’s HOT in Austin!) to help revive my soul during the monotony of quarantine life. The days seem to blend together when we are doing the same thing day in and day out, which is why a morning at the lake was exactly what we needed this week. Plus, it felt SO good to throw on a bikini (this one is seriously amazing) and just let my belly soak up some much needed sunshine…and probably the rest of my body, too, ha! Anyone notice that shorts tan? 😉
First off, a big slow clap to all the amazing dads out there! Father’s Day is around the corner and in our family, Blake sure is deserving of a day dedicated to celebrating HIM! To help prep for this special day, I’ve asked our favorite guy to share 10 “Blake-approved” gift ideas! These range in price from $25 to $200, but most are on the more affordable end. We hope you find something extra special for the dads in your life!
Ohh these precious moments at home! We have LIVED on our back patio since the quarantine began. If Jude could stay outside aaaall day, I’m pretty sure he would, ha. We’ve been lucky to have mild summer weather lately, which means it’s the perfect time to throw on a breezy linen dress and do a little gardening. Blake finished up the vegetable planters at the very edge of our backyard, and I’ve had fun keeping the plants on our patio hydrated and thriving. Also…I never knew just how entertaining a watering pale is to a 15 month old…Jude is in HEAVEN! That big gummy smile was killing us! Though we’ve got our ups and downs like everyone else during our stay-at-home time, we sure are soaking up this time with our little man…and making memories like these sure fills my heart!
Our current routine: wake up, hang at home, take Jude on a walk outside, come back home, eat dinner, bath time, bedtime, repeat. We’re taking this social distancing thing very seriously, with small outings here and there to pick up the necessities (our toilet paper search finally ended today, thankfully! Phew, that stuff was tough to find!). In the midst of the caution and stillness, we’re all itching for some fresh air. Whether that be in the form of sitting on our back porch and sipping morning coffee, going for a stroll around the block or hiking through the local greenbelt. Now more than ever, we are cherishing those short bouts of time outside. (And of course, making sure we’re not in close contact with others while doing so).
Sunny days are headed our way as we inch closer to spring! It feels so good to box up my winter boots to make room for fun sandals and flats. I’m all about flashin’ a little ankle – and any excuse to treat myself to a pedicure…I will certainly take it, ha! DSW has been a go-to when it comes to shopping for myself and the fam…and the best part? I love that when I press “add to bag” there is no guilt involved because the prices simply can’t be beat! The brand I’m loving and sharing today is 
This week has been a big one in our world…we celebrated Jude’s first birthday (!!), announced baby number two to the world (!!) aaand the weather was finally perfect enough to enjoy a beautiful day at Zilker Park. I have to add that to the list because I feel like we’ve been in hibernation mode since it’s been freezing and raining on and off in Austin lately. It’s hard mentally to hide indoors for so long…I go stir crazy pretty quick! Thus, once we finally had a little peek of sunshine, we packed up the diaper bag, laced up our sneakers, zipped up our jackets and made our way to the park! We made sure to bring Jude’s favorite ball with us…that is a must these days!
Was there a sport you were really into when you were younger that you haven’t spent much time on as you got older? Blake always talks about basketball in that sort of adoring, nostalgic way. It was a huge part of his childhood and teenage years – a time when he could clear his head alone practicing in his driveway or pick up a game with neighborhood kids at a local park. When I think back on the one form of exercise that used to be that stress reliever for me, it’s running. From high school through college (…really until I joined the workforce), running was my daily therapy. Not running on a treadmill, but getting outside in the sunshine and heat of summer or bundling up during the winter months. I was never a lover of a gym run – there’s just something about being outside and feeling the wind on your face or the sun on your back. And even though summers are brutally hot in Austin, I lived for that crazy sweaty high that a summer run brings.