Unexpected Bump in the Road

Well, two things have become obvious to me lately.

Thing number one: Buying clothes from Athleta, looking at the catalogs, coveting their merchandise, these things helped me to stay fit. I wanted to buy the clothes because wearing them made me feel good about myself and all the hard work I'd put into my health and physique. In turn, they sell athletic clothing, hence I buy said clothes and work out in them. Aside from all the wasted money (and the now obvious time wasted on being concerned about what people felt about how I looked), really it was kind of a good thing. Buying athletic clothes that I loved made me work out all the harder so that I'd look really good in said work-out clothes. It was a positive cycle, overall.

Thing number two: Now that I'm no longer buying clothing, accessories, etc., I have found that I am excited to buy food. Not good, seeing as the positive cycle described above has now been terminated. I do the bulk of my grocery shopping at the farmer's market, getting fresh, organic fruits and veggies, whole grains like quinoa and steel-cut oats, and crazy awesome deals on every spice you could imagine. I also do a once-a-month visit to places like Trader Joes, Whole Foods and Costco to pick up staples that are much cheaper and/or much healthier than the versions of items I could find at Publix or Kroger, but not find at the farmer's market (cereal for the kids, real maple syrup, organic 100% peanut butter, etc.). I should probably add here that there's a reason why I am now excited to grocery shop....

Apparently, the universe has decided that I've done such a good job, so far, raising my two boys, that I should go ahead and have one more little Flynn Fella. I did not know about the universe's grand plan, however, until about a week after beginning my blog. So, there's a wrench in the plans, so to speak. So far, I still have not purchased anything for myself as promised (with the exception of a much needed maternity bra, something I found zero pleasure in purchasing, and the need was completely out of my hands). But what I have done is find a new and exciting pleasure in shopping at pre-packaged amusement park style grocery stores like Publix and Kroger, where the vast majority of foods are processed, unhealthy, and OH SO DELICIOUS!!! The good news is that I'm stil within budget of my grocery budget each month. The bad news is, I am not always eating as healthily as I should be. Sigh. Goodbye Athleta model body, hello pregnant mama!!

I can finally admit to you my enormous struggle. How on EARTH am I going to make it the next 9.5 months not purchasing anything for myself?!? Thanks to my two sisters, I have a lot of clothing items I didn't previously. But there are some gaps. My younger sister is normally a size 0, so much of her maternity gear won't make it past, well, now. And my older sister is maybe a tad larger normally than I am, but she gained a TON of weight when she was pregnant, plus she worked through her pregnancy, so most of her clothes are a tad too big, or way too dressy. But I'm definitely managing. I need a bathing suit. One that doesn't look like a tent. One that fits me. I suppose I could live without one, but that means I can't get into the pool or the ocean with my kids this summer. I need shorts, unless I just want to roast in jeans or wear dresses all summer. I DID get some cute dresses from my sisters. Shoes. Come July, my feet are going to swell and I am either going to have to choose a pair of flops I love to let get stretched out or buy a cheap pair to ruin. And I won't even mention the unmentionables...but something will need to be done there, as well. Last, work-out clothes. I'm still running, weight-lifting and doing yoga. But my beautiful, lovely, perfect Athleta wardrobe has begun its rebellion. I can switch to regular t-shirts of my husband's, but what about shorts and bras? I'm in bind, I tell you, a blogging bind.

Mike and I are over the moon excited for our new addition. We've told the kids and they, too, are super excited. But I can honestly say, I do not know how this promise I made and this blog are going to pan out. I am trying my best, and so far succeeding. But this "bump in the road" (get it? bump? I thought that was clever) is a challenge for sure. But what am I if not one for a good challenge?