My oh my what a whirlwind the last few weeks has been. We opened our own gym! I still can’t believe I did it.

Early mornings, manual labour and a ridiculously active Lexie makes one tired Ro.
Lexie and I are coming into Week 25 of this crazy journey together. We have spent a lot of time picking up weight plates, moving equipment around the gym, cleaning the floors, attending all sessions from 6:30am until 8:30pm and have managed to stay somewhat sane together. The physical demand on my body has been intense and most days I would have a mini breakdown of tears of exhaustion. But we got through it. Bravo little babe!

I have been so preoccupied with various tasks that I actually lost track of how pregnant I was! With a few other people I know who are pregnant, I honestly feel like I am the biggest rookie at this gig. I have literally read next to nothing about being pregnant or what to expect when she arrives. Counting backwards from our expectant due date, I found that we only have 15 weeks to go.

Do you want to know what my first thought was?! Holy shit, thats shorter than some of my powerlifting preps. Time for me is gauged by training cycles. A 12 week cycle goes by in a flash, a 20 week prep feels like forever. This my language and the way my brain works lol. The hardest prep of my life is here, set to make some mad uterus gains over the next 15 weeks team!

As I sit at the computer reflecting on the past few weeks, my husband Lemy (he is going to hate that I revealed his nickname) is putting together Lexie’s bassinet. Yesterday we needed to organise some things from my office and it turned into an all out spring clean to change my office into Lexie’s room. I was so tired but wouldn’t stop until all the tags were removed from clothes and the room cleaned out. Does this mean Im starting to get a hint of maternal instincts coming through?! If so, hoorah! She isn’t a complete weirdo.

We have received sooooo many gifts. Im not just talking about a few clothes. Bassinet, bouncer, bath things, car seat and thats just the start! My kid is going to be the best dressed from the minute she is born until she turns 1. Our friends and family are absolutely amazing. With majority of our family and close friends back home in New Zealand, the support and love we have from our Australian family is incredible.

This past week I opened a gym. Barbell Babes Brigade HQ. Our dream turned into a reality. With my husband away in New Zealand while we were fitting out the gym, I had no choice but to stand up and get it done. I remember when my husband came home I just lost it. The strength I had been holding onto to get the hardest tasks completed quickly crumbled away. I was tired, I was physically exhausted and I needed a rest. Little did I know that I wouldn’t get that rest for another week with many unexpected thing arising. A major mess up with the power company meant we had and still have no power which as you can imagine made an already mammoth task seem impossible
But you know what kept me going- being a role model to my ladies and to my Lexie.

As I think about it now, its pretty cool to think that she was there the whole time just doing her thing. This space that showcases the true capabilities of the wonder of women is where she will grow. She is going to love it as much as me and my ladies do.
6 months done and dusted, heres to many life gains in the next 15 weeks!

Ro and Lexie x