Stay tuned.....
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Help me get to 100 followers!! Giveaway to follow!!
Hello, followers!! I am only 3 away from 100 followers! Help me get to 100 and I will be teaming up with Jaclyn at Jaclyn1423 Jewelry for a giveaway!!!
Stay tuned.....
Stay tuned.....
Thursday, January 6, 2011
New You 2011
It's a new year....a time for that same old resolution - get healthy and lose weight. Only this year it's a little different with 7 week old William now in the equation. My intent is still the same - get healthy and lose weight. And my first journey to lose baby weight shall begin.
My 2010 resolution was the same and I was on track to meet that by training for my very first triathlon sprint [My Triathlon Training Journey]. I was training about six days a week and although my weight loss wasn't completely significant, I was in excellent shape. Then, I peed on a stick, saw two pink lines and once morning sickness started, I became more of a couch potato instead. Cue to about nine months later and 65 pounds later...yes...I'm ashamed to say it was indeed 65 pounds later. I know William was only 9 lbs, but I keep telling myself that when my water broke, that was the other 56 pounds. However, if that were true...then why don't my pre-prego pants fit anymore? Someone must have snuck in my closet and shrunk them all while I was pregnant, I'm sure of it. HA!
So, needless to say, I have some work to do. A LOT of work to do and I know it will be exponentially more difficult to get to the gym with William in the mix. But a change needs to happen for my own health. I still am motivated and would love to be able to participate in a triathlon sprint this summer. Even in the dead of winter, it seems so close!! Adam's on board with me and he wants to do the same. Hello 2011...a new year and a fresh start!
And, hark, there are more wanna-lose-weight mommy's in the bloggy world for support! Sippy Cups and Cloth Bums and The Not-So-Secret Confessions of a First Time Mom are hosting a link-up for other mom's trying to lose weight and get into shape for the new year. You can link-up your weight loss blog posts (or you don't even need to link-up if you don't have a blog) and follow others through their journey and hopefully get some support while you share your journey!
My 2010 resolution was the same and I was on track to meet that by training for my very first triathlon sprint [My Triathlon Training Journey]. I was training about six days a week and although my weight loss wasn't completely significant, I was in excellent shape. Then, I peed on a stick, saw two pink lines and once morning sickness started, I became more of a couch potato instead. Cue to about nine months later and 65 pounds later...yes...I'm ashamed to say it was indeed 65 pounds later. I know William was only 9 lbs, but I keep telling myself that when my water broke, that was the other 56 pounds. However, if that were true...then why don't my pre-prego pants fit anymore? Someone must have snuck in my closet and shrunk them all while I was pregnant, I'm sure of it. HA!
So, needless to say, I have some work to do. A LOT of work to do and I know it will be exponentially more difficult to get to the gym with William in the mix. But a change needs to happen for my own health. I still am motivated and would love to be able to participate in a triathlon sprint this summer. Even in the dead of winter, it seems so close!! Adam's on board with me and he wants to do the same. Hello 2011...a new year and a fresh start!
And, hark, there are more wanna-lose-weight mommy's in the bloggy world for support! Sippy Cups and Cloth Bums and The Not-So-Secret Confessions of a First Time Mom are hosting a link-up for other mom's trying to lose weight and get into shape for the new year. You can link-up your weight loss blog posts (or you don't even need to link-up if you don't have a blog) and follow others through their journey and hopefully get some support while you share your journey!
Good Morning!!!
My husband gave me the best present in the world last night...the gift of SLEEP! It was glorious and probably one of the best presents I've ever gotten from him.
Since starting back to work this week, I've been struggling. The combination of very little sleep and getting back in the routine of having to be productive (that pesky work thing, ya know) for an extended period of time throughout the day....and did you know that naps are frowned on in the work place? Psh! It was only Wednesday and I was dragging and seriously contemplating feeding William and heading to be around 6pm last night - I was just so dang tired. I hung out with the hubby and baby for a few more hours and then after feeding little man around 9 pm, I headed to bed soon after, around 9:30. I figured I'd be up in a few hours again to feed William so it's a race to fall asleep to get at least one or two hours of decent sleep before getting up again. My hubby stays up with William and then puts him to bed - that's been sort of our routine. [as best of routine as possible with a 7 week old, HA!]
Skip to William getting fussy in the bassinet next to me....at 4:30am!!!! Going over 7 hours between a feeding? How can this be? Did I hit the mommy jackpot? Adam then told me that he had fed William with an extra bottle I had left for him during the day.
Don't get me wrong, I love nursing William - it's about my favorite part of the day. We get to cuddle and bond and I can just watch his eyes looking up at me. It melts my heart. But that 7 hours of uninterrupted, continuous sleep?? That melts mommy's heart too. :)
Since starting back to work this week, I've been struggling. The combination of very little sleep and getting back in the routine of having to be productive (that pesky work thing, ya know) for an extended period of time throughout the day....and did you know that naps are frowned on in the work place? Psh! It was only Wednesday and I was dragging and seriously contemplating feeding William and heading to be around 6pm last night - I was just so dang tired. I hung out with the hubby and baby for a few more hours and then after feeding little man around 9 pm, I headed to bed soon after, around 9:30. I figured I'd be up in a few hours again to feed William so it's a race to fall asleep to get at least one or two hours of decent sleep before getting up again. My hubby stays up with William and then puts him to bed - that's been sort of our routine. [as best of routine as possible with a 7 week old, HA!]
Skip to William getting fussy in the bassinet next to me....at 4:30am!!!! Going over 7 hours between a feeding? How can this be? Did I hit the mommy jackpot? Adam then told me that he had fed William with an extra bottle I had left for him during the day.
Don't get me wrong, I love nursing William - it's about my favorite part of the day. We get to cuddle and bond and I can just watch his eyes looking up at me. It melts my heart. But that 7 hours of uninterrupted, continuous sleep?? That melts mommy's heart too. :)
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
The love?....It's bigger!
My mother sent me a message today letting me know that she had been reading thru old blog posts of mine. She recalled a specific post I wrote on Mother's Day of this past year (read it here: Mother's Day 2010 Post) and suggested I revisit it.
In this post I had included a quote that kind of confirmed why I wanted to be a mother - keep in mind this is while I was still pregnant and hadn't actually been a mother yet.
"I had always wanted children. Partly, I wanted someone else to be more important than me; myself was a burdensome thing to keep carrying around. But I'd been missing that Self since my daughter's birth. I hadn't know it would be so eclipsed by the constant worry - had she burped, slept, peed? ("Sleep when she sleeps," the doctor said. I couldn't. I was too stunned. There were moments in those early days that when she cried, I cried too.) But that day I saw her from the window of the bus, I almost yelped aloud - not just with worry, with love. Minutes later I sat on the front stoop, and when the babysitter pushed the carriage around the corner, I felt a huge billowing of love that sat like a gigantic, soft helium balloon on my shoulders. I didn't know a person could feel that love, it was so large. But then, a few weeks later, I watch my little daughter wake from her nap, kick her little feet. And-whoosh!-that feeling of love grew exponentially. This kept happening as the weeks went by, and each time I was amazed. How could love be this big? That enormous, soft helium balloon got bigger and higher, until my love filled the skies. Boundless, as they say."
- Elizabeth Strout, author
The love that this author is describing seems unimaginable, but I assumed I had a pretty good idea of what motherhood would be like and how much I would love my child. I absolutely adore children, so of course, I would absolutely love my own kid.
Not....even....close.
My little one is almost eight weeks old. He hasn't taken his first steps or said his first words or climbed onto a school bus or learned to read or gone to college yet. However, the pride and love I feel towards him already is so much bigger than I imagined before I became a mother. I look forward to all those milestones but at the same time I want time to stand still when I get to see him smiling in the morning or when I see him start to notice faces and things around him or when I just simply feel his weight on me when he sleeps on my chest. I am finally feeling what is being described in Elizabeth Stout's words. I thought I knew the 'boundless' love that I would feel when I became a mother. That love that I had imagined?....it's bigger!
In this post I had included a quote that kind of confirmed why I wanted to be a mother - keep in mind this is while I was still pregnant and hadn't actually been a mother yet.
"I had always wanted children. Partly, I wanted someone else to be more important than me; myself was a burdensome thing to keep carrying around. But I'd been missing that Self since my daughter's birth. I hadn't know it would be so eclipsed by the constant worry - had she burped, slept, peed? ("Sleep when she sleeps," the doctor said. I couldn't. I was too stunned. There were moments in those early days that when she cried, I cried too.) But that day I saw her from the window of the bus, I almost yelped aloud - not just with worry, with love. Minutes later I sat on the front stoop, and when the babysitter pushed the carriage around the corner, I felt a huge billowing of love that sat like a gigantic, soft helium balloon on my shoulders. I didn't know a person could feel that love, it was so large. But then, a few weeks later, I watch my little daughter wake from her nap, kick her little feet. And-whoosh!-that feeling of love grew exponentially. This kept happening as the weeks went by, and each time I was amazed. How could love be this big? That enormous, soft helium balloon got bigger and higher, until my love filled the skies. Boundless, as they say."
- Elizabeth Strout, author
The love that this author is describing seems unimaginable, but I assumed I had a pretty good idea of what motherhood would be like and how much I would love my child. I absolutely adore children, so of course, I would absolutely love my own kid.
Not....even....close.
My little one is almost eight weeks old. He hasn't taken his first steps or said his first words or climbed onto a school bus or learned to read or gone to college yet. However, the pride and love I feel towards him already is so much bigger than I imagined before I became a mother. I look forward to all those milestones but at the same time I want time to stand still when I get to see him smiling in the morning or when I see him start to notice faces and things around him or when I just simply feel his weight on me when he sleeps on my chest. I am finally feeling what is being described in Elizabeth Stout's words. I thought I knew the 'boundless' love that I would feel when I became a mother. That love that I had imagined?....it's bigger!
Monday, January 3, 2011
What helps me smile through the day
When missing my boy during the day, if the dozen picture hanging around my desk don't do the trick, there is always video.......
How can this NOT make you smile!!! M!y heart just explodes when I watch this!!
How can this NOT make you smile!!! M!y heart just explodes when I watch this!!
Why did I bother wearing make-up?
First day back to work after nearly two months off for vacation and maternity leave and holiday...
It was a soggy day...
It started off just fine. Fed the lil' man, made myself some breakfast, packed my lunch, showered, dressed and got everything else ready to go. Then it was time to physically get in my car and drive myself to work for the entire day. I went to say goodbye to my lil' "stinky" in his bassinet in our bedroom. He was peacefully sleeping, but I had to pick him to give him a big mommy kiss and hug. Cue the waterworks.
I was a mess all the way to work when I finally decided, while pulling in the parking lot, that I needed to pull myself together and perhaps freshen up my make-up to not look like a weeping, sloppy mess as I walked into work after my time off. Why did I bother to wear make-up at all?
As the hours passed and I found myself keeping busy while playing catch-up, it became easier and easier. Adam sent me some picture texts of my baby boy at home and I had plenty ready to hang all around my desk!
I'm sure tomorrow will be even easier and it will continue to get easier.
And I get the most wonderful thing in the entire world to come home to each day!!!
It was a soggy day...
It started off just fine. Fed the lil' man, made myself some breakfast, packed my lunch, showered, dressed and got everything else ready to go. Then it was time to physically get in my car and drive myself to work for the entire day. I went to say goodbye to my lil' "stinky" in his bassinet in our bedroom. He was peacefully sleeping, but I had to pick him to give him a big mommy kiss and hug. Cue the waterworks.
I was a mess all the way to work when I finally decided, while pulling in the parking lot, that I needed to pull myself together and perhaps freshen up my make-up to not look like a weeping, sloppy mess as I walked into work after my time off. Why did I bother to wear make-up at all?
As the hours passed and I found myself keeping busy while playing catch-up, it became easier and easier. Adam sent me some picture texts of my baby boy at home and I had plenty ready to hang all around my desk!
I'm sure tomorrow will be even easier and it will continue to get easier.
And I get the most wonderful thing in the entire world to come home to each day!!!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Dreading Monday
In less than 24 hours, it will be a very sad day. After over seven weeks off with vacation, maternity leave and the Christmas holiday, I will be heading back to work.
Although I am looking forward to working again and catching up on my work from my time off, the very thought of leaving William for nearly ten hours a day is enough to split my heart in half. Since Adam is in school and only has classes in afternoons, he will be able to take care of William during the day and Adam's mom and dad will be able to watch him in the afternoons. I'm thankful that we don't have to send William to daycare, but at the same time, it breaks my heart that I'm not able to stay home with him.
In only seven weeks, he has changed so much and I hate to let him go to miss even a second of it. I'm very thankful that I have the ability to take even seven weeks (all paid) off to spend with Adam and Liam. I'm just broken-hearted to see it finally over.
Starting back to work will absolutely be an adjustment - I will definitely be going in each day on a lot less sleep. Getting ready in the morning and having to change and nurse William will be much more hectic for my morning routine. Pumping several times during the day (I'm determined to continue breastfeeding even when I start back!) will take some getting used to - I will have to be much more efficient with my work to make this happen. Coordinating William's care and when I get off and picking him up in the afternoons will add another step in my daily routine. None of this is the end of the world - just an adjustment.
Even the very thought of waking up tomorrow morning, to hand William off to my hubby for the day, brings tears to my eyes. I know he'll be just fine....but I might have a missing piece of me during the day....
Although I am looking forward to working again and catching up on my work from my time off, the very thought of leaving William for nearly ten hours a day is enough to split my heart in half. Since Adam is in school and only has classes in afternoons, he will be able to take care of William during the day and Adam's mom and dad will be able to watch him in the afternoons. I'm thankful that we don't have to send William to daycare, but at the same time, it breaks my heart that I'm not able to stay home with him.
In only seven weeks, he has changed so much and I hate to let him go to miss even a second of it. I'm very thankful that I have the ability to take even seven weeks (all paid) off to spend with Adam and Liam. I'm just broken-hearted to see it finally over.
Starting back to work will absolutely be an adjustment - I will definitely be going in each day on a lot less sleep. Getting ready in the morning and having to change and nurse William will be much more hectic for my morning routine. Pumping several times during the day (I'm determined to continue breastfeeding even when I start back!) will take some getting used to - I will have to be much more efficient with my work to make this happen. Coordinating William's care and when I get off and picking him up in the afternoons will add another step in my daily routine. None of this is the end of the world - just an adjustment.
Even the very thought of waking up tomorrow morning, to hand William off to my hubby for the day, brings tears to my eyes. I know he'll be just fine....but I might have a missing piece of me during the day....
Saturday, January 1, 2011
CDing...FINALLY!!!
Thanks to everyone that offered suggestions for our diapering struggles! William had been suffering from what seemed to be a never-ending diaper rash and until it was cleared up, we had been using 'sposies.
His heiny is finally cleared up and we have been able to start the CDs!! I love them. We have been using the Rumparooz and Flips and I find both equally as easy to use and wash (I'm kinda preferring the snaps vs. hook and loop). My hubby prefers the pocket Rumparooz.
Even when I was still pregnant and explaining our intentions to use cloth diapers to family or friends, I would get eyebrow raises and comments that basically summed up that they thought we were absolutely crazy. "You mean, you put them in your washer with the pee and poop?" "You mean, you aren't going to do a diaper service?" "That seems like a whole lot of work!" Well, William is here and even after showing individuals the diapers....I'm still getting the same looks and comments. HA! Maybe I'm just not a good sales person and able to sell how easy and inexpensive and eco-friendly they are!! hehe
Yes, we are just starting off and I'm sure they'll get even easier. And yes, we only have a 7 week old (breastfed only) with easy, peasy diapers at the moment. But still.....it seems there is absolutely no convincing some people.
Either way, I'm a happy lady - William's rear is finally healed and cleared up and we are finally using the cloth diapers!! Wohoo.
What about you cloth diapering mamas out there - do you get those same looks and comments from people telling you your crazy for using CDs?
His heiny is finally cleared up and we have been able to start the CDs!! I love them. We have been using the Rumparooz and Flips and I find both equally as easy to use and wash (I'm kinda preferring the snaps vs. hook and loop). My hubby prefers the pocket Rumparooz.
Even when I was still pregnant and explaining our intentions to use cloth diapers to family or friends, I would get eyebrow raises and comments that basically summed up that they thought we were absolutely crazy. "You mean, you put them in your washer with the pee and poop?" "You mean, you aren't going to do a diaper service?" "That seems like a whole lot of work!" Well, William is here and even after showing individuals the diapers....I'm still getting the same looks and comments. HA! Maybe I'm just not a good sales person and able to sell how easy and inexpensive and eco-friendly they are!! hehe
Yes, we are just starting off and I'm sure they'll get even easier. And yes, we only have a 7 week old (breastfed only) with easy, peasy diapers at the moment. But still.....it seems there is absolutely no convincing some people.
Either way, I'm a happy lady - William's rear is finally healed and cleared up and we are finally using the cloth diapers!! Wohoo.
What about you cloth diapering mamas out there - do you get those same looks and comments from people telling you your crazy for using CDs?
A new year...
It's January 1st - most people would take the time to reflect on the past year and look forward to the year ahead.
Looking back at 2010, I can't help but feel so lucky.
We were able to celebrate the marriage of so many friends and family this year - this took us on trips to Chicago, IL, Cincinnati, OH, Toledo, OH, San Antonio, TX and Dominican Republic and some right here at home. We have seen friends blessed with babies! Adam and I celebrated our one year anniversary. Adam was accepted to the college he applied for to finish his degree! Most significantly, we welcomed our first bundle of joy, William!
If you had asked me on January 1st, 2010 to imagine the upcoming year, I don't think I could have wished for anything better. We have been so lucky and blessed with so much.
Looking ahead at the next 365 days, I look forward to many more weddings, more babies (to friends and family, not us again...just yet hehe), William's baptism, our two year anniversary, Adam moving closer to graduating, William's first birthday (yikes!! I know the time will fly!) and so much more. I pray we will be blessed with another healthy and happy year to come!!
Looking back at 2010, I can't help but feel so lucky.
We were able to celebrate the marriage of so many friends and family this year - this took us on trips to Chicago, IL, Cincinnati, OH, Toledo, OH, San Antonio, TX and Dominican Republic and some right here at home. We have seen friends blessed with babies! Adam and I celebrated our one year anniversary. Adam was accepted to the college he applied for to finish his degree! Most significantly, we welcomed our first bundle of joy, William!
If you had asked me on January 1st, 2010 to imagine the upcoming year, I don't think I could have wished for anything better. We have been so lucky and blessed with so much.
Looking ahead at the next 365 days, I look forward to many more weddings, more babies (to friends and family, not us again...just yet hehe), William's baptism, our two year anniversary, Adam moving closer to graduating, William's first birthday (yikes!! I know the time will fly!) and so much more. I pray we will be blessed with another healthy and happy year to come!!
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