Six... Weeks...

Last fall as I was ticking off the weeks of my pregnancy, waiting anxiously to feel Baby Browne kick, a terrible thing happened: Holiday Season 2010.  This was not just any run of the mill holiday season, however. No Siree.  Sure, we were full throttle on the usual Halloween/Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Years scene, but don't forget that my studly Arizona Wildcat football team had what started out to be a  pretty exciting year on the gridiron! Greg and I travelled to Tucson with little fetus Sweet Pea mid-October for what turned out to be the beginning of the end.

Okay, that's not totally fair.

To be honest, I gained approximately twelve pounds in the first trimester. I was really sick (which is what most people say when they tell you these ridiculous stories about losing weight while producing another human being inside of them). "Thankfully," this was not the case for me.  I was so ill that walking into the grocery store was more than I could handle. The solution? Eat lots of junk food, namely crackers, processed potato products of all kinds, and drive-thru hamburgers (I couldn't cook without vomiting either).  Needless to say, my twice daily vomiting was not enough to off-set my new diet and my completely lethargic state that equated to rare instances of exercise.

Then came Homecoming weekend in Tucson (read: The Mount Lemmon pizza/cookie cabin, eegee's, Mi Nidito in South Tucson, Barrio Brewing Company to watch the Rangers in the World Series, and lots of tailgate/ballgame food to round out the weekend of culinary delight).  I was on the verge of emerging from nearly four months of morning "all day" sickness, relieved only by stuffing my face with bad food.  At this point I was just starting to show, and I remember getting ready for bed the night after the 'Cats destoyed the Washington Huskies: Greg just looked at me and laughed at this new body I was toting around. My shape was really changing as our little baby was growing!



Sweet swimming girls Anna Turner, Lacey John, Kathryn Thompson, Ana Agy, and me (with Piercy Joye in tow!)

 Following this mini "baby-moon," we of course had our first Halloween in our new home, and we totally overestimated the number of kids that would be coming by the house.  We had far too much candy, and frankly, a lot of it ended up passing the placental barrier. Apparently PJ loves Halloween.

Then Thanksgiving. Don't even get me started.

And Christmas.

And let's sneak in a little trip to San Antone to watch the 'Cats get demolished by Oklahoma State in the Fiesta Bowl... Lots more delicious tailgating food, thanks to Jack Murray...

Oh, and while we're at it, Greg: Throw a brisket on the smoker and I'll cook up some greens to go with the black eyed peas for a big New Year's Day brunch.

So, really it wasn't my fault, right?

By the time April rolled around and I was admitted to the hospital, I was up exactly 68 pounds from my pre-pregancy weight. Ba. Zow. Zers.  After the holidays, I remember lamenting to my mother (who gained about 60 with each of my two brothers and myself) about how excited I was to get my body back.  Just the thought of not having my little beloved parasite inside of me, being able to run again, being able to swim in a suit that wasn't sixteen sizes bigger than I was used to wearing, was thrilling.

"How long did it take you, Mom?"

"Meg, it takes a while, you just have to be patient.  But it will happen."

"So what are we talking about here... Give me an idea..."

"A while, Meg. You just can't get too frustrated."

"Mom, just give me a number."

"Well, about Six..." she paused, bracing me for what was surely an eternity, "Weeks."

Holy Toledo, Mother. You've got to be kidding me.

So Piercy is about a month older than six weeks and I'm about 25 pounds overweight still. BUT, the scale is moving in the right direction, and I am feeling like I'm getting my endorphins again, which is thrillingly awesome.  Sweet, sweet endorphins, I have missed you so!

A dear friend of mine, and one of my most very favorite running partners, the beautiful Jill Berman, encouraged me to sign up for the BOA Chicago Marathon which we will run on her birthday in her hometown this October 9th! I am so excited to have a goal that I can't just fake my way through. 

Me and Jilly Sue Eating Queso and Drinking Beers while Watching Texas Football! YeeHaw!

I know it will be a long road to the finish line of the Chicago Marathon.  I have slowly started running again, and have teamed up with some great new first time moms to get motivated to get out the door early enough to beat the 100+ degree Texas heat. I am so excited to have fellow moms with similar goals, who enjoy fitness, and whose company I love!  Besides, Piercy will have some great buddies to pal around with in a few short months.

Lady Bird and June Bug are proving to be valuable running partners too.  You should see the Browne convoy navigating the Trail at Lady Bird Lake: Over-excited mom pushing Piercy in the BOB with a dog running on either side attached to me by waist leashes. You have never been more annoyed in your life than when trying to pass that. My apologies in advance, but I've really got to lose some weight and these dogs are crazy if they don't get exercise.

My Two Furry Running Pardners and Handsome GB

Lastly, and probably most importantly, I have to share my greatest find in the running bra department. You'd think that Piercy and I are working full time to supply the entire state of Texas with enough donor breast milk to feed every NICU baby for 10 days minimum.  We've donated over three GALLONS (yes, gallons) of milk to the Mothers' Milk Bank.  Just to give you an idea: this is the rest of what's in the freezer right now next to the deer meat from Greg's prosperous hunting season last winter:



FYI, Each Bag Holds 6 oz of Leche



In order to keep up my part-time job as wet nurse, I've been on the hunt for a great running bra, and have had to settle on simply wearing two of my old tiny bras. Last week when Greg, PJ and I were walking on West 5th Street downtown, we happened upon the Texas Running Company and took our first peek inside.  The store is nice, but I'm a Rogue Running girl myself (Joe Thorne is the master of shoe fittings!). I did find a super prize in the back of the Texas Running Company store... This little (okay, not so little) Gem (!!!!!):



OMGeeze. Please buy this bra.


The Juno Sports Bra by Moving Comfort: The straps velco closed so you can whip a boobay out when baby requires, and the comfort/stability level is incredible.  Seriously, I don't think I'll wear another running bra ever again.  I've been hand washing mine every night so that I have it to run with all the time.

At $52, she aint cheap, but neither were those tatas!

Oh these? No, I'm just breastfeeding for an army, thankyouverymuch!