The Gather. Crystal 2015

"The Rodeo" - Ty Bulloch and Warpaint

God's Country

26 Weeks

Feeling prego- and YES I AM PREGNANT AND STILL CROSSFIT!

It's official, I feel bigger... I know I've been bigger for a while... but it's so strange every small change your body goes through.  my clothes fit more snug… and by that, I mean they don't really fit. 

 I am still doing CrossFit. Yes! This was one of my biggest questions to my doctor when I first found out I was pregnant. "Can I continue doing CrossFit?" His answer: "Yes! Continue doing what you have always been doing, but listen to your body."

 I listen to my body, and if it tells me no… then I stop. CrossFit is what keeps me sane. It truly makes me a happier person.  I work out with as well as coach a few women who still attend CrossFit classes while they are pregnant, and I think nothing is more strong and inspiring that a woman who continues to stay fit while she is growing a human. Our bodies are simply amazing! I look at CrossFit as training for delivery. My body will be used to working hard and It will only help for an easier delivery and a must speedier recovery. 

There is just one thing I wish people would stop saying to me.. and that is, "Your body is never going to be the same after having a baby." … I call BS! I don't mean to be rude by any means, but I think that is an excuse to be lazy. An excuse to "settle". Your body is what you make of it. Yeah, it might be hard to get your body back to the way it was pre-pregnancy… but it CAN be the same if you want it to be. Hell, it can even be better!!  End of Rant! 

Much love, 

TAY

……………...

………………

24 Weeks! ... Week 20-24

How far along?  24 Weeks

Total weight gain/measurements: 

Maternity clothes:  Not necessary quite yet! I am still in jeans... although I have to unbutton them when I sit down, they still need to be buttoned when I stand up.

Stretch marks: Not any yet. Using oil like crazy!

Sleep: Sleep is still good. Tired a lot. Dreams are very vivid and sometimes I feel like I have been fighting a battle all night so am still tired when I wake up.. But so far so good. 

Best moment this week:  "You are now to that point where people don't know if you're gaining weight, or if you're pregnant." .... Thanks? haha

Miss anything? Nope. Now that I can run again I am just fine. Still sometimes wish I could have a glass of wine but I'm kind of over that. 

Movement: YEP YEP YEPPAROO! I have felt little miss Hayden! She is an active little thing. Every time I feel her move, I tell Casey to come feel. I think that he got to feel her the other day! He thinks it is creepy. haha. A couple days ago, Casey was talking to me and laid his head on my stomach as we were sitting on the couch, and Hayden let out a big ol kick! ... I think she likes hearing Daddy's voice.

Food cravings: A lot of my cravings have gone away. There isn't one specific thing that I feel like I need to have. Although I am really digging the Sobe Life Water from Maverick. With Pebble Ice of course. 

Anything making you queasy or sick? If I don't eat for a couple hours I still get sick. I also get a lot of gas bubbles :) 

Gender: BABY GIRL! HAYDEN DAWN CHRISTENSEN

Labour signs: NOPE

Symptoms: Just a little Gassy is all.   

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or moody most of the time: Still Happy! :) 

Looking forward to: Baby Shower in Lyman is just around the corner. My mom and Becky have done a great job planning it! ... and I say that because I don't have to have any input. I LOVE THAT! he he. All I know is that it is going to be an Elephant theme. Thanks to my mom knowing me so well. I have always loved Elephants. Maybe little miss Hayden will like them too :) 

----There are several lessons we can learn from the elephant and these too are used as its symbol: strength, wisdom, solitude, strong sense of loyalty to the family and intelligence.---

..............................…

Some funny/nice things people have said to me:

At CrossFit:

Kerny Wood: Tayler, my wife says that you haven't even been sick at all?

Me: Nope! I hear that I am one of the lucky ones.

Kerny: You know people that work hard are the lucky ones? 

Me: haha what do you mean? 

Kerny: Tayler, you work hard and that is what makes you "lucky". You are constantly pushing yourself. Your body is used to working hard. That is what makes you so bad ass and that is why you are having an "easy pregnancy".. Because you work hard! 

.... THANK YOU KERNY! I never thought of it that way! ....

At CrossFit:

Ashley Whiting: Oh my heck! You don't even look pregnant! You just look like you just got finished eating a big meal. 

...Again, Thanks? I think haha...

At Work:

"You are now to that point where people don't know if you are gaining weight or if you're pregnant." 

At CrossFit:

Reggi: "You just look like a buff pregnant lady. 

At CrossFit:

Justin: While doing shoulder press... "Your baby is going to come out and want to sleep on the ground instead of in your arms cause your arms are going to be harder than the ground."

and…. Just because I have a goofball of a husband.. He tries to tell me that he still has a bigger belly than me <3

--- Flashback to Hayden at 18 Weeks ---

xo,

Tay

18 Weeks and Gender Reveal

So I didn't want to have a gender reveal party.... mostly because I can't ever wait when there is such exciting news to be known. But somehow, some way, Reggi and Sam talked me into having a reveal party. So I put together this cute little invitation for the party... and I am SO glad my cute little friends talked me into having one. It was a BLASY BLAST! 

I think that we can probably chalk this day up to one of the most special birthdays that a guy could have. Casey got to find out if he was having a son or daughter on his birthday! Donna, Keith, my mom, and Hugh came to the ultrasound with me... but they shut off the big screen when they were getting ready to determine the gender.... BUT that didn't stop some people from trying to see what it was *cough cough Donna* HAHA! Donna said "You shouldn't have invited me! I have to know!" 

There was a student who was doing our ultrasound so there was a supervisor there with him. The whole time they kept talking to each other saying things that made us sure we knew what it was. For example, "Oh! There it is!"... Okay, would't you think if they said that, there was something there to see. So here I was thinking it was a boy for sure. Well then right after that the supervisor tech said "well you have to make sure it is the umbilical cord and not boy parts"... this was the first thing that made me think, "holy hell! There is a chance it's a girl!" 

"We're here for the Sex"

DRUM ROLL PLEASE! 

Momma Sherrie was a bit excited!

But we got a good laugh at Donna's reaction! All we heard was screaming, crying, and then a big "THIS IS THE BEST DAY EVER!!" ... HAHA!

PINK! PINK! PINK!

The Grams sharing their excitement! 

We are so glad that my mom and Hughski were here at just the right time to share our exciting day with us. Thank goodness for summer vaca for the Canadians!

Grandma and Grandpa Christensen

We are so happy that we were able to share this exciting day with our close friends and family. There were some that we wish could have made it but we are SO thankful to have the love and support of our great friends and family. Baby C is going to be so blessed! ... and probably a bit spoiled! :)

Love, 

Tay xo

On July 21

17 Weeks

16 Weeks

How far along?  16 Weeks

Total weight gain/measurements: 4 lbs. 164.. Creepin on up!

Maternity clothes:  One shirt but only because it was cute. I might have had a melt down one morning because I was feeling just… well, fat. Casey sometimes wants to slap me when I call myself fat. 

Stretch marks: Not yet. Crossing my fingers

Sleep: Sleep is good. I feel tired a lot. Tay Tay needs her sleep.  

Best moment this week:  "You are not 4 months pregnant! You are still TINY!" … Thank you. I will take that comment any day! 

Miss anything? Sometimes I crave a nice glass of wine or a cold beer during the hot days… It's not something I'm dying to have but I'm just keeping it real! haha

Movement: I am pretty sure that I have felt some movement. I first thought I might be getting sick or have gas (TMI?), but it happened the next day and I am pretty sure it was movement. Then, when I was at the dentist, the dentist's chair was on a decline and I am pretty sure I felt the little thing moving around again. 

Food cravings: Still craving Mexican food and fruit. Peaches are my Favy right now. 

Anything making you queasy or sick? As long as I keep food in my tummy, I am golden. There was one time I didn't eat for about 4 hours, other than a peach, and I got sick. Shaky and light headed. A nice Taco Bell Cheesy Gordida Crunch cured me! 

Gender: My vet, CASEY, says its a boy;) … See End for story! 

Labour signs: NOPE

Symptoms: I am less emotional now days. Feeling good.  

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy happy happy

Looking forward to: My big ultrasound and gender reveal. We are having it on Casey's Birthday. He said that is what he wants for his birthday.. to find out the gender of his first kid. Now did I pick a winner or what?? 

…………………………………………………………………..

You know you're a redneck when you go to the farm to find out the gender of your baby! 

Casey had the brilliant idea of going to the farm and using the cow ultrasound to try and find out if we are going to have a boy or a girl. I thought he was crazy but I was willing to give it a go… it turned out to be the most amazing experience! This was the first time I could really see anything on the ultrasound. 

The first time we did it, you could see EVERYTHING. The spine, the heart and heartbeat (Reggi said that she could see all 4 chambers of the heart which is such a relief), its little nose and eyes, and my favorite.. the hands! … oh, and we can't forget… I think we saw it's little "tallywhacker" (as Keith calls it). So if my vet is accurate, we are having… A BOY!

I guess we will just have to wait and find out July 21!

12 Weeks!!

How far along?  12 Weeks

Total weight gain/measurements: 1-2 lbs. My weight fluctuates between 158-162 normally so it is hard for me to tell what is actually baby gain or food gain. I was 158 this visit!

Maternity clothes: No, but I have a feeling I will be breaking out the rubber band trick on my jeans a lot sooner than later. Dang belly is expanding

Stretch marks: None. Using oil like it's going out of style

Sleep: Pretty much normal besides the crazy dreams that are so far beyond random! 

Best moment this week: 

Miss anything? I was instructed not to run/jump for the first trimester. Really missed running. I was told it is ok for me to continue what I have been doing an incorporate running! YAY!!

Movement: Nope, I have read in my book that some people (in most cases women who have already been pregnant) can feel a little butterfly feeling. I have been paying attention pretty hard the last week and haven't felt anything. 

Food cravings: Mexican food and LOVING FRUIT!

Anything making you queasy or sick? When I don't eat at least every 3 hours.. but that is normal for me even when I'm not preggers. 

Gender: Your guess is a good as mine. Daddy is praying for a boy. :) 

Labour signs: NOPE

Symptoms: Emotional… Cry over silly things. 

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy!

Looking forward to: enjoying the warm weather :)

xoxo,

Tay