Easy Like Sunday Morning

This morning I was supposed to be up by 7am, have Maxwell fed, and be out the door by 8am for a newborn session while the boys all stayed home and had a relaxing Sunday morning.  To say that I was a little jealous is an understatement.  At 4am, while nursing Maxwell for the second time, I received an email asking to reschedule due to illness.  It was a blessing in disguise because while I was excited about my newborn and had everything prepped and planned, my heart needed a lazy morning with my boys!  I put Maxwell back to bed and snuggled up myself knowing a lazy Sunday morning was in my future and it it was sweeter than I even imagined!  I woke up to cooing and happy giggles coming through the monitor, puppy snuggles, the smell of coffee, and fried eggs!  This face is the best!!  He brings us so much joy!  

I never get to document our morning snuggles and kisses, so I gave Ryan the camera and told him to start clicking!  30 seconds later and we had these beauties!  Thanks babe!  I love them and definitely plan to take more day to day pictures of all of us in the future because I am in love with our family and these pictures!!  

After breakfast we were all hanging out in our bedroom while daddy was playing with his new clubs, so I had to take a few more pictures! I think this morning was needed by all, even Lira!

Jared is so amazing with Maxwell!  It seriously makes my heart burst when I see them together!  Every time we leave Jared carries Max to the car with the diaper backpack on and he sits in the backseat and keeps Max company.  We are very lucky to have such sweet boys and Maxwell is definitely going to look up to Jared!! Yes, I have tears in my eyes. 

And now he sees his daddy!

Happy Sunday Ya'll!

Operation Pregnancy Fat Be Gone {2nd Edition}

Well, it's been 2 weeks or so and not a ton of progress has been made in the weight department, but the inches are definitely falling off a bit and I am feeling better!  Over the past few weeks, I have changed my diet because I had an extremely gassy baby boy that wasn't liking something that I was eating.  I have narrowed it down to dairy, tomatoes (in all varieties), and citrus.  These three categories have been reduced/eliminated in my diet.  Other changes I have made are that I added healthy fats through coconut oil (2-3 tsp per day), avocado (avg 2-3 per week), and almonds (daily snack).  These healthy fats are to help my skin, milk production, and digestive system.  These changes have significantly reduced painful gas in my little guy, my skin feels so much better, and I we are both regular. 

This weightless journey is definitely a marathon, not a sprint for me.  First because I don't have a ton of extra time to workout daily between feedings, keeping the house in order, visiting family and friends, walking the dog, changing diapers, photo sessions, a photography course I am taking, etc. Second because my body isn't ready for a sprint.  I've always listened to and trusted my body and it's telling me to go slow and steady.  Mentally, emotionally, and spiritually I feel wonderful which is absolutely huge!  My body is doing great producing enough milk to support a growing baby boy which is a huge ego boost, but it also takes a lot out of you, well me (any nursing mothers out there can relate with me on this one).  I have to eat every couple hours and I have to drink a ton of water.  Without doing those two things, I suffer and in turn my baby boy suffers.  

Here are my current stats:

6 Wks PP Weight: 156 lbs 

9 Wks PP Weight: 152 lbs

Goal Weight: 125 lbs

Accomplishments:

I can wear normal pants!! Not my side 2 skinny jeans, but my size 5's fit me and so do some of my stretchy colorful pants!

All maternity clothing has been packed up and stored for pregnancy #2 down the road!

I organized my closet and got rid of clothing I won't wear!

Maxwell gained almost 2 lbs in one month!!! 

My goals this week:

100 squats per day

50 25lb kettle bell swings per day

15 minute postpartum video 4 times per week

Twice daily walks

Note to all future breastfeeding mamas...invest in a really good sports bra to save the ladies!

Operation Pregnancy Fat Be Gone {Week One}

Weight gain wasn't an issue for me until the last 4 weeks and then when I was admitted to the hospital.  I gained the standard 30 lbs until week 36 hit and then no matter what I did, the pounds kept creeping on up.  Some of it was definitely water weight because the scale would swing 5 lbs day to day, but not all of it was water weight. That was only the beginning though.  Once I was admitted to the hospital and they started pumping me with fluids, I gained significantly more weight.  I never weighed myself to know how much I gained right before giving birth because it wasn't exactly the first thing on my mind.  Frankly, I had no idea that I was gaining so much water weight from the fluids due to induction.  I now know I gained a lot because I weighed 2 lbs more a week after giving birth than I did the day before going into the hospital.  Talk about a total blow to my already extremely emotional and fragile ego.  It was horrible.  I sobbed and sobbed and sobbed and Ryan hugged me and told me I was gorgeous and that I was doing a wonderful job which was what I needed, but I still felt like a soft, flabby, swollen, lard.  Luckily on day 9/10ish I woke up feeling much less swollen and the scale had started moving down!  Over the next couple of days, I lost 15lbs of fluid.  It was such a relief to not feel like a sausage and to be able to wear my wedding rings again! I wear my wedding rings all the time, so not having them on was bothering me. I actually wore a costume ring that I had from a long time ago just so my finger wouldn't feel so naked.  

So, why I am writing this blog post today?  Well, I had my postpartum check-up and I am cleared to workout!!  Hallelujah! My appointment wasn't supposed to be for another week, but I had a stitch that was hanging out for the past week, so I moved my appointment up and got the two thumbs up to resume "normal activity"!!  I am so excited to do some of my workout videos and to take advantage of any nice days in the coming weeks.  Working out with boobs full of milk will be an interesting experience though.   I must invest in a good quality sports bra to hold these puppies in place. Any pointers from fellow moms in this area are appreciated! 

Since I haven't been able to workout since I was 28 weeks pregnant...that was in October...I have been instructed to be extremely gradual and to listen to my body.  I will definitely make sure I don't push it too much, but I want to see changes, so it will be a fine line that I will be riding.  I want to feel strong again, so sore muscles are in my future.  Once Maxwell has his 2 month shots, I will look into joining a mommy workout group of some form.  I think that will be good for me in the immediate future and nice to when Maxwell can start playing with other kiddos.  

My plan for the next 4 weeks is to do a workout video 4 times per week and walk/jog on any nice days, along with drinking plenty of water and eating healthy. I will also be reading Women'sHealth's "Your Body's Best Year Ever" for a wide variety of workouts and meal ideas! Here's to the pounds falling off!

{6 Weeks Postpartum}

Stats as of 02/09/16 

Current Weight: 156 lbs 

Goal Weight: 125 lbs

I Chose You.

"I Chose You" is a very simple phrase that was said to me by my husband last night and will stay with my for a lifetime.  The timing was perfect without even knowing it. Feeling "chosen" is am amazing feeling and while I know wholeheartedly that we chose each other to share our lives with, there are moments that are made much easier when you are gently and innocently reminded of that. An entire weekend of no sessions, no golf, sleeping in until 10am, working together on the nursery, and lots of family time was what this heart of mine needed more than anything! And hearing "I Chose You" Sunday evening while walking our pup in the crazy wind was the cherry on top.  

Since I will be very pregnant, this Christmas will be the first holiday (aside from Thanksgiving when I was studying abroad in Ireland and one Christmas that we stayed in California and spent with Ryan's family) since I was born, that I am not headed home and celebrating with immediate and extended family. It was a logical, safe, and doctor recommended decision, but it was also a very hard one.  What does a child of 6 do on Christmas Eve without her gramma, parents, siblings, cousins, nieces, and nephews around her do?!?!  I like...ok, I love traditions and breaking this one has been weighing on my mind.  Luckily my parents are the most understanding and loving parents I could ask for and while I am sure they are upset to not have the three of us there on Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning with their other children, they understand 100% and cannot wait to meet their grandson! Thanksgiving will be extra special for me this year, so family, you all better be there! I understand if you can't be there, but please try your hardest!   

This Christmas we are staying in our home and making memories of our own with our little family. I have grand plans of matching PJs, Hot Cocoa & Beer (for Ryan), Christmas treats, a Christmas Movie and hopefully a little Grinch performance by my main squeeze!  He's really really good at it and I cry happy tears thinking of kids gathered on his lap giggling in years to come while he imitates the Grinch voice!  Other traditions will be started this year, but we will decide them as a family over the next month or so!  Hearing "I Chose You" made staying home for Christmas and making our own memories a good thing, a happy thing, an exciting thing.  It's a change for sure and no doubt we will be calling and facetiming/skyping with family and I am sure there will be some tears shed by yours truly, but we will be making memories, surrounded by love, and we will have our first Christmas in Virginia Beach as a family of three...maybe four.  Who knows when our little New Years Bundle will decide to debut?!    

Ryan has no idea how much that meant and means to me (well until he reads this blog post), but baby, it means the world!!  I love you and am so glad we chose each other to make memories, share hardships and joys, create a family, and brave this crazy world!  You are my best friend and my lover, my shoulder to cry on and the one I run to with an insane amount of excitement.  You are my rock. Let's make some memorable and super awesome traditions to share with our kidlets for years to come!

Oh and Baby, I still Choose you!!!

"I Choose You" by Sarah Bareilles

Much love. 

TMI Warning: Week 23 Pregnancy Symptoms

OH EMM GEE.  THE GAS PAINS ARE TERRIBLE.  So, we are on our daily evening walk and all of the sudden I started getting pains on my lower right side.  I've gotten round ligament before and I thought it was the same thing so I stretched.  Bad Move.  Things got way worse to the point that I couldn't take steps larger than a couple inches.  I started to panic because that's what first time pregnant women do when they feel a pain they've never felt before and they were pummeled in the ocean earlier that day.  Let the googling of possible causes commence.  Placenta Abrasion, Miscarriage, Appendicitis, not once was Gas Bubbles or the like mentioned...only worst case scenarios.  Let the water works start.  I sobbed and sobbed and sobbed and then I started farting and burning and I felt much better.  I had never been so happy to fart in my life...well, until a couple nights later when the exact same thing happened except even more painful.  I actually sent my amazing husband running home for the truck because I literally was going to go to the bathroom right then and there. Thank God we were in our neighborhood or I would have been popping a squat in the woods. Oh the things people don't tell you about being pregnant!  So my savior came flying back in the truck, I hopped in the backseat because that was the side closest to me, I hobbled inside and I heard the neighbors ask if everything was ok.  Ryan chatted with them, so I'm pretty sure they know I have gas pains now too :)  Just keeping it real! Welcome to the neighborhood!  haha! Needless to say, after some quality time on the porcelain throne, I felt worlds better.  I think it was the pasta...I don't know though. 

Here's a little pregnancy buzzfeed video that made me laugh so hard! 

"Crazy Things Pregnant Couples Do"

For the record, I have no cravings and still hate fast food!

Second thing that's been happening to me...waking up at 3am starving and then not falling back asleep until after Jared is on the bus.  Thank God I am not working a traditional 8-5 job at the moment. God Bless all you hard working corporate mamas out there.  I admire you tremendously, especially when I am crawling back in bed and you are putting on your stilettos. 

Baby, I am so sorry pregnancy isn't all big boobs and amazing sex drive.  At least you don't have to actually deal with the pains of gas and the insomnia. And I'm sorry for the times I wake you when I get up to go to the bathroom for the 10th time a night.  I am really trying to be as quiet as can be and I never turn the light on.  I've pretty much mastered peeing in the dark!  Love you!

Much love. 

This Bud's For You!

"This Bud's For You!" was the motto for Delia's gorgeous bridal shower!  She's marrying Bud for those of you who don't know her personally, hence the slogan!  The details were amazing, the food was on point, Delia looked ravishing and her many faces during present time were priceless!  

Details & Food...what can is say, they were perfect for Delia!  Everything from a Mexican wedding banner to incorporate her time spent volunteering in Mexico to a magnetic board of pictures with friends and family to personalized banners saying "This Bud's For Her" and "Delia Rocks My Socks" to scrumptious deserts and tasty sangria I hear were perfect!

So many friends and family showed up to shower Delia with their love and support!  I think it's unanimous that we all LOVE Delia and Bud together and have been waiting for this day they announced they were engaged!!!  They are pretty much the sweetest, funniest, most genuine couple I know and I love them dearly!! 

Delia was adorable during present time!  Being the center of attention is not her thing, so I made sure to document all of precious facial expressions!  You are so very welcome Diz! xoxo!

We like to prank Delia as much as possible!  She has the best face! :)

Mother of the Bride gifts are always my favorite because their is a sentimental value attached to them!  Leslie is giving her baby girl to Bud and the traditional white nighty is a symbol of that!  I remember and treasure the one I received from my mother almost 6 years ago.

And of course we had to make her a hat from all the present bows so that she can carry it down the aisle for her rehearsal!  These are my favorite pictures!!  

We LOVE you Delia!!!!!  Thanks to these amazing ladies, Delia had a wonderful shower!  With being out of state I wasn't the most helpful, but I am certainly happy to have been able to help document her day!  

To top the shower off, Bud made an appearance with some gorgeous flowers and a sweet card for his bride to be!!!  He's a keeper! All the ladies were impressed!

Can't wait for your big day in November!!!! 

Much love.