School Year begins again! And an ultrasound...

Molly's first day of preschool. (Noah started 1st grade a few weeks ago)

Profile view of baby. 12.5 weeks! Crazy technology.


Whole baby view. The legs are bent in so you can see them and the arms are above the head. It was moving like crazy!

Molly ready to rock and roll at preschool!


Molly had her first day of preschool yesterday. I have been looking forward to this day for a long time! I know some parents cry but I was SO excited. I knew she was excited to do something on her own. I was almost giddy as I left the school. You can definitely tell the parents whose first kid is at school. Both husband and wife come, with camera, and lots of pictures. Then you can also tell the parents of kids who might have 3 or 4 older ones. They still have their jammies on and don't flinch. I think I fall somewhere in the middle. No kids with 2.5 hours to myself! YEAH, what to do. Well I had my first trimester screening. I didn't do this with Noah and Molly but I have been exposed to so much more. I think I was definitely a little more green when I had Noah. I just assumed you got pregnant and the baby was born healthy. I think age and time have showed me that nothing comes easy. This time around I want to be armed with all the info I can. This ultrasound is done at the hospital (they have a fancier machine than the doc office). Then there is a blood test. I had NO idea the ultrasound would be so clear and amazing. I even got to see the sex! I am keeping that minor secret for a while. But everything looked good! I feel like I can get a little more excited now that I am almost in the second trimester.

And then there were 5...

I feel like I can sort of spill the beans now. We inadvertently expanded our family this past summer. No the bundle of joy isn't here, it is due to arrive March 18. But it was the HARDEST first trimester I have had. If there was a symptom in pregnancy book that I didn't have I would be shocked. I thought it would get easier with each one. Nope not even close. First one was the easiest by far. Could be that I was 26 when Noah arrived and now I will be 33 when #3 decides to come. As far as my OB is concerned I am ancient. Therefore everything is harder according to him. LOVE IT and him.

I did my first triathlon of this season in Decatur. It is a race I LOVE big time. Small but very organized and competitive. I decided not to renew my professional license this year. I needed a break from thinking as a professional athlete. To be honest it worked. By early June I had barely trained all winter and started to coach myself. It came back quick. Not all the way back but good enough for me. I only wanted to put in 10 hours a week so I was realistic with my expectations too. Decatur was going to be competitive I knew it. But I was excited to bring it for the first time in 2011. There was a chick there from New Zealand! Who does a local IL race from another country? Of course I would pick a race like that. The swim went not so bad considering my lack of pool time. On the bike I really pushed but couldn't quit catch my breath it was weird. I chalked it up to little winter training. Going into the run I was only a few seconds back from the New Zealand chick and I could tell from her cadence that I could get her. OHHHH how I was wrong. I had NOTHING. I couldn't breath at all. I again chalked it up to no winter training. By Tuesday that week I went out for a little speed run and was so off that it didn't make sense. We're talking 2 min slower per mile for my 10k pace! Half way through my run a little light bulb went off. I'M PREGNANT! Duh. Really yes it takes just one time and bam you are figuring out how to handle 3 kids.

I have had some time to think about it now and I honestly have to say I am VERY excited. I know it will bring new challenges to our family and to my training. But it will all work out!