Kristy Maute

Maute Moo Update – Week 33

Up until this week, I have lived my pregnant life pretty similar to how I live my normal life. I’ve need an extra nap here or there. I’ve struggled to keep my balance when putting on my pants. I go for runs but they are a lot slower. Other than those few hiccups, life has felt normal. I think this week my body had enough. I got more than a few “Hello. You are carrying a 4 lb baby in your belly and an extra 30 lbs” reminders this week.

I finally feel pregnant – not the oh so cute pregnant glow kind of pregnant, but more like UGH! I’m pregnant! kind of pregnant.

My belly feels HUGE. My boobs are GIGANTIC. My back and shoulders are finally aching from carrying around all this extra weight Yes! you read it correctly in the paragraph above! I’ve gained 30 lbs so far. I think I’ll probably gain closer to 40 lbs for my entire pregnancy. I gained close to 40 lbs with Cole too. I truly don’t care about my weight gain since I feel healthy and know I’ve been taking care of my body. Even though the numbers don’t mean much to me, it was a bit of a shocker to see a number on the scale last Friday that I have never seen before in my life. I weighed a whopping 105 lbs when I got pregnant with Cole (No! I will never weight that amount again!) so even though I gained weight, the number never got high. As long as I don’t weigh more than my husband, I’ll be happy! He needs to start eating sweets again 🙂

Even with all those complaints, I really have enjoyed this pregnancy (a big surprise to me since I did not enjoy my pregnancy with Cole). With each week that passes, my body is definitely getting ready for Chet’s arrival. I have a feeling my discomfort will only increase from this point forward.

Running – Oops! What running? I haven’t run since Wicked 10k. I haven’t given up on it all together. My body has just been incredibly sleepy this week. I’m sure I’ll put on my running shoes one or two days this week whether it is for a run or a walk.

Yoga – Still loving it! I’m so glad it has worked out for me to go every Thursday. I’ve been joined by my friend Rachael and Morgan each week too so it has provide not only a good mental and physical outlet, but it has also turned into a nice social hour too.

Belly Growth – See above! One word: BIG. I’m not sure how much more room I have in there, but Chet is doing his best to claim it. I can feel his movement in up to 3 spots at one time – under my ribs, in my hips, and around my side. It is amazingly weird and wonderful at the same time. It’s also become painful to bend over. If I try to bend over and pick stuff off the floor, I feel like the top of my stomach my tear open. Christian and Cole have become my extra set of hands.

Cravings – My eating has balanced itself back out again. I’m still pretty hungry up until dinner time, so I snack a lot. Foods of choice this week have included apples (as always), string cheese, yogurt, and granola bars. I should have kept track of how many apples I’ve consumed this pregnancy. I probably eat two a day.

Sleep – I’m happy to report that I’m still sleeping pretty good (knock on wood). Christian on the other hand is suffering from sympathy pregnancy symptoms. He is having all the crazy pregnant dreams for me. He is waking up at weird hours. He is also waking up to pee every night. Poor Christian.

Recent Doctor’s appointment – I went to the doctor last Friday. I’m still measuring perfectly for my due date. Chet’s heart rate is still 130. Our nurse practitioner (who I love and wish she could deliver my baby) also reminded me to continue to pretend to be the Queen of England – Wave and Smile! She gave me this advice when people frowned on my running. She said to keep it going as everyone has an opinion about things including our birth plan.

Chet is also making his way south. His head is hanging out near my left hip and his booty is up in my right ribs. Those little feet love to kick my ribcage.

Fun Pregnancy Observation – This week everyone seems to be commenting on my belly. I’ve heard from at least a dozen people that I have a basketball under my shirt. I’m definitely all belly.

I also accidentally indulged in a caffeinated beverage last week – Chai Tea from Starbucks. I really thought it was decaffeinated when I ordered it, but when Chet wouldn’t settle down all day I googled the nutritional information online. 95 mg of caffeine. Oops! After not having caffeine for 33 weeks, Chet was on overdrive. He didn’t stop moving for hours after I had the drink. No more caffeine for me. It was amazing to feel the effects it had on my baby.

Baby to-do List – The only things we have left to buy are cloth diapers and a breast pump. Since we plan on using disposable diapers while Chet is in the newborn size, I feel like we are ready for him to come home. His room still needs some fine tuning, and we have to get his closet cleared out BUT we really don’t need that to happen for him to come home. The closet should be done this weekend though.

The only thing I’m not sure about with Chet coming home is where we want him to sleep. We’ve thrown around the idea of having him in our room or keeping him in his room. Cole slept in his swing for the first few weeks of his little life. I have a feeling Chet will also sleep wherever we think he is comfortable. I originally thought we’d put him in his room, but it seems so far away now (even though we share a wall with his nursery). The only place that is off limits is our bed.

49 days until my due date!

Sexy Yoga

Cole is having his first sleepover at our house this coming up Thursday. He is beyond excited to have his classmate and best buddy Conner spend the night with us and hang out on Friday since the boys are out of school. As soon as I picked him up today, he couldn’t stop talking about it……and then the conversation changed directions.

Cole – Conner said he will probably come over after dinner on Thursday.

Me – Awesome. It will be fun to have him here.

Cole – Yeah but Christian is going to have to deal with it since you have yoga on Thursdays.

Me – He sure will, but I’ll be home right after he comes over.

Pause

Cole – You used to go to Sexy Yoga

Me – HUH?

Cole – You did. You used to go to sexy yoga all the time.

Me – What? No I’ve never been to sexy yoga.

Cole – Yes you did. You went to sexy yoga a lot.

Me – Hot Yoga?

Cole – Yes! Sexy Yoga. It’s the same thing.

Me – HaHaHaHaHa. Hot yoga isn’t sexy yoga. Hot yoga is yoga in a room that is hot so you sweat a lot.

Cole – OHHHH…..I thought it meant Hot like the pretty type.

Pause

Cole – I thought you meant the (whistle) kind of yoga!

Some days and some conversations makes me LOVE being a mom. Who knew? I was going to Sexy yoga all this time (prior to pregnancy, of course!).

Bringing back Soup-er Sunday

After taking last Sunday off from all domestic duties – I’m pregnant. I can definitely use it as an excuse to do nothing for a day. – I knew I wanted to make something yummy this weekend. Christian has been on an even healthier than normal kick lately, so I wanted to avoid all the creamy soups. Thanks to Nicole’s pin on pinterest, I decided to make a Hearty Chicken Stew with Butternut Squash and Quinoa.

The recipe is from the Cookin Canuck blog. I will definitely be visiting this blog for some more recipes.

Ingredients

1 1/2 lb. butternut squash, peeled, seeded & chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
3 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 tbsp olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
1/2 tsp kosher salt
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 can (14 oz) petite diced tomatoes
2/3 cup uncooked quinoa
3/4 cup pitted and quartered kalamata olives
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1/4 cup minced fresh flat-leaf parsley

Instructions

Steam the butternut squash until barely tender, about 10 minutes. Remove half of the squash pieces and set aside.
Steam the remaining squash until very tender, an additional 4 to 6 minutes. Mash this squash with the back of a fork. Set aside.
In a large saucepan set over medium-high heat, bring the chicken broth to a simmer.
Add chicken thighs, cover, and cook until chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes.
Transfer the chicken thighs to a plate and allow to cool. Pour broth into a medium-sized bowl.
Return the saucepan to the stovetop and lower heat to medium. Add olive oil.
Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is starting to turn brown, 8 to 10 minutes.
Add minced garlic and oregano. Cook, stirring, for 1 additional minute.
To the saucepan, add tomatoes, butternut squash pieces, mashed butternut squash. Stir to combine.
Stir in reserved chicken broth and quinoa. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook until the quinoa turns translucent, about 15 minutes.
Shred the chicken with your fingers or a fork.
Stir the chicken, olives and pepper into the stew and simmer, uncovered, to heat, about 5 minutes.
Stir in parsley and serve.

I made few modifications to the recipe and the instructions above to suit my taste buds and preferences.

First, I cooked chicken breast instead of chicken thighs. I cooked my chicken in chicken broth in the slow cooker on high for 4 hours. It makes the perfect shredded chicken (I’ve done this with all my soups so far). This allowed me to skip down to step #6 in the instructions.

I also used black beans instead of olives only because I’m not an olive fan.

The soup was a hit in our house! You know it is good when my 7 year old says “Mmmmmmmm” in a loud exaggerated tone after he tries it! (The sad photo from my iphone doesn’t do it justice).

Pregnant Mom confession #1: Today might be the first time I feel like I “over did it”. We are in the process of organizing our house for Chet. When we emptied out his bedroom, it resulted in our front room turning into a storage room. This room has been driving me nuts since it’s the first thing you see when you walk into the house. I’ll fill in you all in on the details of the makeover this room is undergoing this week. In order to make this room functional, I probably moved one too many pieces of furniture, bent over to pick up something one too many times, and vacuumed a little too much. I am definitely uncomfortable tonight. Christian has grounded me to the couch and said I can’t do anything else until tomorrow.

Pregnant Mom confession #2: I had a HUGE craving for pizza today, so I indulged in Pizza and Soup tonight!

Although I’m exhausted, I really do enjoy making soups……and I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am about the progress in our front room! Next Sunday I promise to do a little bit less.

Live Everything

A good yoga class is just like a good fortune cookie or a well written horoscope. They all touch on truths that are universal to everyone who takes part in the practice, who cracks open a fortune cookie, or who reads their daily horoscope. Although I’m not crazy enough to believe the fortune cookie or to follow my horoscope, I am crazy enough to think that yoga classes were designed for me. I swear my yoga instructor must crawl in my brain, stalk my blog, or understand pregnant woman really well (probably the latter of the three, but I like the idea of the first two better). Last night’s class was everything I needed. One of these days, I won’t be surprised by the fact that Katie creates yoga class just for me 🙂

Katie started class with a quote from Rilke’s work, Letters to a Young Poet.

Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer. ~Rainer Maria Rilke

Who likes to question everything about everything? Certainly not me……….Okay. Maybe I have been known to let uncertainties and questions take over my thought process. I may even be guilty of trying to force answers into scenarios before questions can even surface. My brain and my thought process can definitely get the best of me. It is nice to know that pregnancy can magnify the need to seek out answers.

My brain has been riddled with questions since I’ve become pregnant (and even before pregnancy). Some of these questions seem large in scale when it comes to the grand scheme of life. How do we live a life where family is the center of everything we do? How do I raise my son(s) to be confident and secure? How do I teach my son(s) to love the planet? What career path do I want for myself that will leave me feeling satisfied? How do I ensure I bring Chet into the world with a peaceful welcome. How do I make sure Cole feels secure with his position in our family once a baby arrives? Many of the questions in my head are small in comparison. Am I drinking enough water? Do I eat a balanced diet every day? Am I getting enough protein everyday to support my body and Chet. When am I going to fit in my daily run? Will I make it to yoga class?

I could spend entire days seeking out answers to these questions (and I probably have). I’ve wasted my energy looking for answers that can not be forced. As Katie phrased it last night, I’ve attempted to paddle up-stream without an oar on many many occasions.

I’m learning to live in the questions because I already trust that I will end up with all the right answers. Last night’s yoga practice allowed me to spend one hour with a clear mind focusing on nurturing my body and my baby. I was able to quiet the questions and uncertainties. I was living in that moment. My body and my movement matched my breath. For once I wasn’t seeking out an answers. I was inhaling, and I was exhaling………

Let life happen to you. Believe me: life is in the right, always. ~ Rainer Maria Rilke

shadow — via Our Trip to Mexico last year

Step #1 – Awareness

As I’ve become older and wiser…..31 equals old and wise, right?….I’m learning to embrace obstacles that are put in front of me. I’m learning to absorb, observe and modify insecurities that exist within me. I’m no longer threatened by my short comings. I don’t feel the need to make excuses for the way I am. I’m slowly learning that I do have qualities that I don’t like, but I can control them. It takes effort and awareness, but I can work on becoming a better me.

Last Wednesday I was hit in the face with a huge insecurity. I had no idea I had such a huge distrust of support systems. As soon as I felt uncomfortable, I shut down. I rejected every offer of support Christian offered me. I turned into a version of myself that I don’t like – a version of myself that does nothing but hinder me from experiencing life.

Looking back on life events where I found myself in similar situations, it’s obvious to me now. Christian and I have gone biking together dozens of times. At least half of those times have result in me becoming overly anxious and emotional. My anxiety and emotions lead me to getting angry at Christian. My anger at Christian lead me to retreating back to solo-Kristy who needs no one and prefers to do everything alone. For the record, I don’t like that version of myself.

I love biking. I love biking with Christian. I am not confident on a bicycle. It’s another element that I may or may not have control over. This is one of the reasons I love running. It’s just me, my feet, and the road. If I’m biking with Christian, and I don’t know where I’m going I’ve been known to have some anxiety and a few tears.

Me + Bicycle I don’t feel like I have control over + relying on Christian to support/guide me through a trail = ANXIETY

Me + practicing comfort positions for labor with a room full of strangers + relying on Christian for support = ANXIETY

It’s a simple equation that always results in the same not so desirable outcome.

Now that I’m aware of this problem, I owe it to myself (and Christian, and Cole, and Chet) to learn healthy ways to deal with these variables. Shutting down is not healthy. Unneccessary anxiety is not healthy.

In less than 2 months, Christian and I will be heading to the hospital to have our baby. I know the day is going to be filled with anxiety, emotions, discomfort, pain, and a lot of tears. I also know that I won’t have control over what is going on in my body. It is my job to be aware of my body. It is not my job to control it.

Me + Labor/Pain/Emotions I can’t control + relying on Christian for support = AMAZING BIRTH EXPERIENCE

It is up to me to change to the outcome of the equation. Knowing my natural tendency is to retreat, Christian and I are coming up with strategies to make sure I feel safe, confident, and secure.

#1 – We hired our doulas (who I absolutely love without even really knowing them!) to be with us during labor. They both have an amazing energy they carry with them. They have an endless amount of knowledge about the female body and the labor process. I also feel incredibly comfortable with them and connected to them.

#2 – I’m currently working on a vision board to remind myself of all the reasons why I want a natural birth and why I cherish the support I receive from Christian. (once again our amazing honeymoon in Utah is the foundation for the board….”I’m here if you need me” is not only the gift we received during our honeymoon, it is also a huge part of our relationship, and it will be a huge part of Chet’s birth process)

#3 – We are quickly learning some dos and don’ts for Christian in the delivery room. A lot of them are the exact same dos and don’ts Christian has learned by supporting me while I’m training for races. A lot of them are the exact same dynamics we have learned that worked for us on our honeymoon in Utah, while hiking up mountains, and while biking together. Maybe I can get him to write a guest post about his does and don’ts!

#4 – I’m working on being open and accepting of the support that Christian offers me. I have to learn to trust the support he is offering.

Our lives improve only when we take chances and the first and most difficult risk we can take is to be honest with ourselves. ~ Walter Anderson

It’s a work in progress, but I truly believe that awareness is the hardest step. Now that I’m aware of my insecurity, I can consciously make choices to eliminate my distrust of support.

Can you tell we loved our honeymoon! I can’t wait to go back with both boys! Those 8 days in Utah truly shaped our relationship, fine tuned who Christian and I are as people, and connected us on level we didn’t know was possible. It’s no surprise that we love Utah!