I miss.

I miss mountain biking.

I miss road biking.

I miss cute clothes.

I miss weekend camping trips full of river rafting and biking.

I miss eating like a normal person.

I miss a good night's rest.

I miss my old life.

Despite my "feeling sorry for myself" state, I know it will all be worth it when we welcome this little nugget.

5 months

22 weeks and counting

Feeling baby girl kick, getting more intense with each day

Hungry every hour

Still taking one 1/2 phenergan at bed time

Tapering off the mountain biking

Anxious for her to get here

Find myself crying every time I see a baby born on t.v. (TLC's "A baby story")

Feeling this weird and unrecognizable instinct (I think they call it "maternal instinct")

So grateful every day for a healthy baby growing inside with a hard working husband at home

Four more months to go before I'm a real mamma

It's a girl!

And I couldn't be more ecstatic. :)

Tap Water? Never Again.

If you haven't heard already I would definitely take a look at the article below from Good Morning America. A recent environmental group conducted a study to find a carcinogen Chromium 6 in our drinking water. Shockingly, they found the chemical in 31 of 35 cities involved in the study. Salt Lake being one of them. What's more alarming is that Brita water filters don't work, which means you have to buy one of those expensive $300+ water filtrations systems that is installed into your sink. But, I have found an inexpensive water filter that filters all chemicals including Chromium 6 out of tap water. It's called ZeroWater. You can buy it at Target or Bed Bath and Beyond.



I'm not usually a huge campaigner for random products, but I feel pretty passionate about this, because most people I talk to have no idea that this chemical is chillin in their drinking water. After long term exposure the carcinogen is known to cause cancer. Anyway, just thought I'd pass along this tid bit of information. I will never drink our tap water again!!

Click here to read article

October will be a special month

I couldn't keep it in any longer. I have been dying to complain about the morning sickness, puking, food aversion, and constipation. These sound too similar to pregnancy symptoms? Well, it's because they are.

Dennis and I finally decided to pull the trigger and start a family. I am 12 weeks pregnant today, and figured it's time to the let the cat out of the bag. Pregnancy has brought a variety of emotions, moods and feelings, including anxiety, fear, elation, joy and a little depression. When we first learned we were pregnant, the day before our 2nd year anniversary, I was in shock. We had been trying for a few months so I anticipated a negative pregnancy test. But when that second line showed up, I couldn't believe it and took three more tests that day. All positive. It was crazy.

Now three months into my gestation, I have not only accepted that I'm pregnant but have embraced it with all the nausea and puking. When friends and family have complained about pregnancy before, I always thought to myself "What a bunch of babies. Really, it's that bad?" Now being completely immersed in the symptoms, I can confidently say, yes. It is that bad.

Don't get me wrong, I am very grateful to be pregnant and to be able to get pregnant with relative ease. But I'm not going to sugar coat it. Being pregnant is hard. I know for some it really isn't that bad. I guess I'm not one of those lucky ones. It has been hard waking at at 5:15 am to teach my pilates class, all the while trying not to puke. It's been hard to muster the motivation and strength some days to get off the couch and go grocery shopping. I now look at people with more than one kid, and wonder, how in the world did you put yourself through another pregnancy?? An answer to that question came from my sister-in-law. The body somehow releases a hormone that enables your mind to forget the pregnancy symptoms. I think that sounds like a myth. I think women are just masochists.

Another interesting symptom is food aversion. Yes complete aversion to all and any food. I also remember a friend of mine relating her experience of her distaste for food during her first trimester. What? That doesn't make sense. Oh but it does now. It's interesting and kind of a cruel joke, to be hungry every two hours but dislike anything that goes into your mouth. It's like food has suddenly become tasteless. There are so many times when I have eaten a Cafe Rio salad only to think, "I remember when this salad was amazing." I hope to get there again one day.

I'm approaching my second trimester and I'm banking on feeling the second trimester "high". Apparently it's the trimester when you feel your best, have more energy and actually start showing instead of looking like you've eaten too many donuts. I'm excited for this phase and can only hope that the nausea will subside. The day it does, I'm going to celebrate by doing something awesome. A cartwheel perhaps.

Pregnancy is not all bad. This past week, especially, I have been really, really excited to be a mom. I keep thinking about the day we deliver and how amazing it will be to see our baby come into the world. We bought our first baby item. A baby hiking backpack from the REI garage sale. We got a killer deal. Can't wait to take junior Ash or Denny on his/her first hike up to Dog Lake with his/her big sister Stella. It will be marvelous.

Oh and in case you were wondering, I am putting a pregnancy countdown button on my page. Yeah so cheesy, and judge me all you want.:)


Little baby around 12 weeks...

Welcome March with Pilates

March is right around the corner and there's no better time to get in shape so you can show off that beach body come this summer!

Those of you that haven't had the opportunity to try pilates, probably wonder what the benefits are and what makes it different than yoga or just a regular workout. I found these benefits and they really ring true.

With regular committed Pilates workouts you can expect to:

Improve strength, flexibility and balance
Tone and build long, lean muscles without bulk
Challenge deep abdominal muscles to support the core
Engage the mind and enhance body awareness
Condition efficient patterns of movement making the body less prone to injury
Reduce stress, relieve tension, boost energy through deep stretching
Restore postural alignment
Create a stronger, more flexible spine
Promote recovery from strain or injury
Increase joint range of motion
Improve circulation
Heighten neuromuscular coordination
Offer relief from back pain and joint stress
Correct over-training of muscle groups which can lead to stress and injury
Enhance mobility, agility and stamina
Compliment sports training and develop functional fitness for daily life activity
Improve the way your body looks and feels

PIlates is truly an amazing workout that leaves your body and mind feeing rejuvenated and at ease.

I have picked up quite a few more classes so hopefully one or two of them will work with your schedule. I'm still offering the first class free. You will love pilates, just give it a try!

Below is my class schedule and prices. Remember to text, call or email to reserve your spot as there are only 6 spots per class. If you are interested in private or duet sessions let me know. If none of these times work for you, call or text me and we can figure out a time that would work for you!

SCHEDULE:

Monday:
7 am: Group reformer
4:30 pm: Group Reformer

Tues:
3:30 pm: Group reformer

Wed:
5:45 am: Group reformer
4:30 pm: Group reformer

Thursday:
5:45 am: Group reformer

Friday:
5:45 am Group Reformer
7 am: Group Reformer

Sat:
8 am Group Reformer

**24 Hour Cancellation Policy

PRICES:
First class FREE!!
$20/class
5 pack for $90 ($18/class)
10 pack for $150 ($15/class)

King Studio:
1400 Foothill Dr. suite #228
Salt Lake CIty
(on the second floor in the south west corner of Foothill Village--above Steinmart)


Thanks everyone!! I hope to see you soon!

Ashley
801.502.9956

The Lone Star State

Dennis and I will be venturing off to Dallas tomorrow, for a last minute anniversary trip, and of course to see this Engar family, this Engar family and this dearest friend.

We're excited to get out of the cold and our normal routine for a while. I envision lots of cowboys, flat land and maybe George Bush?



**A side note: I finished my cleanse successfully for one week. I just couldn't hack more. Maybe next time?