The 80 Thoughts You Have During Pure Barre, Pregnant

Recently, I came across this post about the 100 thoughts you have during Pure Barre class and basically laughed my seat off/nodded right along. I mean it pretty much describes every class to a T. From rookie to veteran, some version of most of those thoughts runs through your head during the hour-long workout. I mean we all do KIND OF look like we're having sex during back dancing. 

However, lately, I've noticed that my thoughts have changed slightly. I'm WAY more desperate to think, "okay, I can do this." than before. So, while some of the 100 thoughts still apply, I thought I'd update the list a little.

The 80 Thoughts that Run Through Your Head at Pure Barre When You're in Your Third Trimester
(I really need a shorter title.)

I mean, the socks are basically perfect.

1. Okay, the thermostat is set at 76 today. You can totally survive that without fainting.
2. One day I’ll get my old body back, and then I'll finally buy some Lululemon. 
3. Why does every woman in here but me have on Lululemon?
4. I really wish I hadn't had that milkshake at lunch. 
5. Pay attention fool, you're kneeing yourself in the belly. 
6. Rock back on your tailbone? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA 
7. First set of curls. You got this. You've still got abs. Somewhere.
8. Remember to drink water. 
9. You're about to give birth, you can plank for ninety seconds.
10.  …okay maybe you can't plank for ninety seconds.
11.  No, you can. Hang on to it. Fifteen seconds. 
12. It's totally okay to cry during side arm plank right? 
13. Why is the "wrap and reach" giving me vertigo? 
14. Oh goodie, F’ing push-ups. 
15. Drink some more water you're redder than a tomato. 
16. More push-ups. Yay.
17. You did like 90% of the push-ups the instructor called out. 
18. You're basically indescribably awesome little momma. 
19. Shit. Tricep dips. 
20. Do I look this whale-like when I'm sitting at work? 
21. My feet are looking nice and balloon-like today. 
22. I really want a shortbread cookie. 
23. My arms are so strong! 
24. Why don't my arms look like this at home? 
25. These two lb. weights are heavy. 
26. If I can't lift four total pounds, how am I going to lift a baby? 
27. Yes! I got called out for good form. 
28. Wait, was it good form or hang in there? 
29. Either way, I’ll take it. 
30. AHHH STRETCH 
31. I totally shouldn't have had that milkshake at lunch.
32. First thigh, it’s a marathon not a sprint. 
33. Think about how small an inch is. 
34. Don't punk out of this first one. 
35. Don't punk out of this first one. 
36. It's almost final ten. 
37. AHHH STRETCH 
38. Why do people stare when I slide into a spilt? 
39. Left side, you're about to be my bitch. 
40. …maybe not. 
41. Seat work. I can do this. 
42. MY STANDING LEG IS GOING TO FALL OFF. 
43. I am so having a cookie after dinner. 
44. Pretzel. This is going to be fun.
45. Who is breathing so loud? 
46. Crap, I think that's me. 
47. Left side! Strong Side! 
48. …that’s from a movie, I think. But which one? 
49. Remember the Titans! That's the movie!
50. Abs against the wall, aka, folding your giant boobs into your giant belly.
51. It feels so good to stretch my legs.
52. I should be tucking harder but this stretch is really lovely. 
53. Shit, fast abs. Don't do diamond. Don't do diamond. 
54. Of course, freaking diamond. 
55. Mmmm, back stretch! 
56. Center of the room, almost to the door! 
57. C curve with a giant belly looks really odd. 
58. I look like a teeter totter. 
59. Strong arms up; you can do this! 
60. Time to rock some upper body curls. 
61. YES! I still have strong abs in there. 
62. Lower body curls. RIIIIGHT. 
63. I wonder if the lower body curls tickle the baby's head? 
64. It feels so awesome to arch my back.
65. I hate this arm/leg stretch preggo modification. 
66. I might topple over. 
67. Was I supposed to do 12 or 15 on each side? 
68. Everyone looks like they are having sex. 
69. I wonder if I look like this having sex? 
70. {stifled giggles; dirty thought about husband.} 
71. These songs always make me miss college and cheap kamikaze shots.
72. I don't remember this making the side of my seat burn so much. 
73. FINAL FINAL TEN! YESSSSSSSSS! 
74. I love the stretching. 
75. I really love the stretching.
76. Rock up? More like wiggle and look sort of like a fish out of water. 
77. My whole body feels awesome. 
78. I think I just meowed when the instructor stretched me. 
79. I feel amazing. 
80. Ah, yes, this feeling. This is why I come every day. 

_______________________

Linking up with Katie for Healthy Habits!

Healthy Habits During Pregnancy: Pure Barre

I've been #addicted to Pure Barre since I took my first class at the Montgomery studio on February 6^th, 2013, two days after they opened. I've taken over 200 classes in the last year and a half.

200! 100 of them in less than one year, and the other 100 while pregnant with twins, which doesn’t make me a rock star, but I thought I’d humble brag there for just a minute…Go me!

As with everything in my life, I find that I thrive on routine, and PB is no exception. When I first started taking classes I was in a different place life wise. I was working two jobs, traveling pretty consistently, had a bustling social life dating all the boys I could find and enjoying being me. I hesitate to say "being a young professional" because what does that even mean?, but I guess you could say that’s what I was? I took classes at 5:45am three days a week for over a year, and only one class after work a week. It was the perfect start to my morning, I felt better about the day and found myself not as tired or "slow to start" at work.

Now, my routine has obviously changed, as I can't ever seem to drag myself out of bed before about 7:20 at best. I take classes after work each day. While I miss getting a good start to the day and coming home from work around 5 with the evening to get some "chores" done, it was important to me to maintain PB as part of my daily life, even after getting pregnant.

I feel like I have to "make time" for Pure Barre now more than I ever did in my "previous" life. As a person that took to classes like a fish to water, never noticing that I had to make time before, this was disappointing. Though, I stuck it out and couldn't be happier about it. Classes have gotten harder as my belly has gotten bigger. In fact, watching me tuck, especially during the section of abs against the wall under the barre, is really a sight for sore eyes. But the classes have greatly improved my stiffness.

I was always flexible, and haven't lost any of it since getting pregnant, so being able to stretch daily really helps. I have a lot of round ligament pain, back pain and, sadly, all the other pains many have, and I've found this to be my relief. Sadly, the budget doesn't allow for the weekly prenatal massages that I've been told by other moms-to-be are ABSOLUTE LIFESAVERS, eyeroll on those bias.

Pure Barre is my go-to recommended form of exercise for anyone: pregnant or not, former dancer or not, super strong or not so super strong. It really works, with the added benefit of a mind escape and improved flexibility. And what lady doesn’t want improved flexibility? Classes are simultaneously fast and slow and will keep you on your toes for all 55 minutes.

I don't know what life will look like once Fitz and Alex make their way into this world. I've read plenty of things about "Momma guilt," being intentional and the whole working versus staying home thing, and how sometimes expensive exercise classes get tossed aside for "more important things."

A friend of mine, and fellow PB'er and ironically enough twin boy mom, once told me that you have to find out what works for your particular family and just go with that. Pure Barre makes me feel good; it is one measly hour a day and helps me be my best self. It's beyond a healthy habit, it's part of who I am, and I just can't see myself giving it up.

**Linking up with Katie Did What for Healthy Habits!

Spilling the Beans

When I finally let reality set in, that I was going to be having a baby, followed very, very quickly by having another baby, aka the big T word, I decided that a lot of the Pinteresty preggo things weren't in the cards.

I haven't kept a weekly journal. I didn't announce our littles at 12 weeks, probably because I wasn't actually sure I was preg at 12 weeks but I digress a smidge. I try not to be overly HEY I AM PREGNANT OVER HERE PEOPLE on social media (or in real life!). But there was one thing I was certain I wanted to do: a gender reveal.

I knew from the beginning that I wanted to find out the babies' gender, it helps so much with planning. But it also is very hard to be kept a secret with twins as I have an ultrasound at every appointment and with so many doctors and nurses to be seen it can be hard to be kept neutral.

I wasn't exactly sure how I wanted to do the reveal, or who it would be to exactly, but I knew I wanted to do one. With how schedules worked out, we ended up finding out about the boys the day before Mark's birthday, the day we were going to Atlanta before continuing on for our mountain weekend in Blue Ridge.

I decided to tell my Dad, my bestest bestie Mallory and a few other close friends and family over the phone after the appointment (they couldn't stand to wait) but I decided to do the reveal with my Momma and Stepdad. I looked at Pinterest at all the different ideas and didn’t really like any of them—seemed a little trite and not really me.

Enter: “Spilling the Beans” Dinner
My Stepdad grilled some flank steak, we had some comfort food sides, and my Momma did a "reveal" tablescape.

 I swear she was all about the tablescapes before tablescapes were a thing. I love the little animals she picked! Of course I already knew we were about to be diving head first into blue and little animals for the next long while...

I bought two mason jars at Michael's; painted the insides solid black and decided to fill them with the correct color "beans" for each baby. I labeled each jar with gender-neutral tags and ribbon.

 

After dinner each one of my parents got to open their jar and "spill the beans." I don't think I have ever seen my Momma eat that fast in her entire life: holy shit talk about impatient. 

I believe a solid caption here would be "Mark you bastard." Or "One more to go! GIMMME SOME PINK!"

The look on their respective faces pretty much says it all. My poor Momma.

 

We have videos of each one opening the jars that immediately send me into laughing fits, and I can't wait to show Fitz and Alex when they are old enough to understand! It was a great beginning to this wild ride of twin boys.

I've been keeping a secret...

It's a big one. And I've been terrible about keeping it. Because I have never been one to live my life in the slow lane, the #johnsonandersonadventures are about to change in a big way.

The Anderson fraternal twin boys, yes fraternal twin boys, will be making their way into the world smack in the heart of Alabama football season, in the middle of September.

Twin! Boys! Holy! Shit! Nothing to do but laugh at this point.

After the initial shock wore off for some, if it will ever wear off for me I do not know, the entire Johnson/Rubin/Anderson family has fully embraced this new normal.

I'm definitely excited, and I definitely had fun messing with my Momma doing a little "gender reveal."  

Her twin boys oh-shit! face

There are still so many uncertainties, so many things I have no flipping clue about. I find new things to worry about every single day. Like the babies aren't even here yet and I'm worried about buying them each a car for their 16^th birthday, might be an example.

Don’t even get me started on the whole mess of actually being pregnant. So many things about the miracle of life really, really suck. I had a really rough time for the first four months or so, but now I think I’m cruising along, relatively speaking. I still hurt pretty much all over, all the time. And I still struggle with the wearing elastic waist pants on a daily basis thing—but my god! Those things are like manna from heaven on my widening body.

I don't know what the future will hold. I don't know what it's going to be like tomorrow, next week or next year. But I do know that I am surrounded by love and that's all I can ask for.

I have a feeling these twins are going to love the people twins.

Well, that and a few more hours in the day to more adequately adjust my pure barre to cookie eating ratio. Yes, I'm still keeping up with my daily pure barre routine, because I really need the exercise AND the cookies to keep me sane. 

 ____________________________

Special thanks goes out to my sweet friend Shelby for taking these fun pictures of me and hue studio for having some floaty preggo friendly tops in their massive sale last week.