Running in Circles

It seems totally wrong that Henry is already seven months old and we've been a family of four for this entire year- and guess what tomorrow is September! 

I was very aware of my eating habits and exercise habits during my pregnancy with Henry. Running felt great most days, but I remember quitting Insanity pretty early on. I ate a pretty balanced diet, eating a lot of "smaller meals" like apples with crackers and cheese, veggies and hummus, popcorn, and loving turkey and avocado sandwiches. I never had a lot of cravings but I ate my share of cookies from Potbellys and craved soda all the time. Pregnancy is so weird that way- something like soda is never ever bought in our house but I would dream and drool about that burning carbonation....anyways, I was looking forward to losing the weight but wasn't too worried about it and that made me have a really enjoyable pregnancy. 

So here's what postpartum looked like the second time around. 

I lost the 25 pounds I had gained by about 4 months postpartum and have lost another 10. The last time I weighed 115 pounds was like 6th grade! Workouts have been so good and I'm seeing a lot of overall improvement. I started running around 4 weeks postpartum and added insanity in when I was ready. I LOVE this combination of cardio and high intensity circuits. I've always loved working out in a gym but haven't been to one since we moved to Dallas. Something else I have going in my favor is walking everywhere pushing that double stroller. On top of actual workouts I'd guess I walk an extra 5-10 miles a week just on walks.

I eat a smoothie or more recently half of a NAKED JUICE drink for breakfast and a salad or sandwich for lunch. Most of the time I eat for dinner what I've made for Brice and Hazel, but sometimes I just have a salad with chicken. No food or food group is off-limits I just try to eat foods that make me feel good. Sometimes my energy is lagging so I eat a little bit more and I'm usually good. No counting calories, no good foods or bad foods, but I definitely make very conscience decisions of what I'm eating. Lots of water and popcorn is probably my favorite evening treat! 

The Homestyle by Pop-Secret is where its at!

I feel so lucky that breastfeeding comes easily to me because I really do love it and I'm still nursing Henry about 5 times a day. He's eating food at lunch and dinner times and is obsessed! 

Lastly, the transition from one-to-two kids definitely takes some time, but overall Hazel has been a great helper and  once Henry was sleeping through the night it felt so easy. After Henry was born, it definitely took me longer to feel bonded to him than it did when Hazel was born. I'm not sure if it was the realness of a natural delivery or lingering post baby blues but i definitely didn't feel like myself until 3 months postpartum. 

I'm writing this all out for me to mostly remember a few things. 

FIRST:  growing a baby is amazing and your body has to follow a process. Resting more, eating more, eating the cookie you're craving- whatever- it will be just fine. 

SECOND: don't ever waste time getting caught up in fad exercise or weight loss plans. Calories in have to be less than calories burned and then the weight comes off. It really is that simple. 

THIRD: be patient! It is hard to set a goal, work towards it, and still have to wait, but sometimes that's just the way it goes. Be patient! Exercise should be fun, so find something you like and makes you feel alive and do that. Enjoy the little victories but stay focused; one ice cream cone isn't going to ruin your health, just like one serving of kale will not make you healthy. 

I am so grateful for our two beautiful babies, for easy pregnancies, and even more grateful to be healthy right now and happy and feeling confident about myself again!

- This little guy is moving all over- rolling, sitting, CRAWLING, basically he just follows me room to room

- Has tried pureed bananas, sweet potatoes, and peaches. He LOVED the bananas!!

- I've given him thick slices of cucumber and tomatoes and the broccoli stem to suck on while I cook.

- He loves sitting in the high chair and eating dinner with the rest of us.

- Picks up and eats cheerios all day everyday! I was pretty surprised to see that he could grasp them already but he does it!

- Sleeps from 8:00- 6:30 am with two naps during the day

- Henry has started actually playing with toys

- He loves when he is carried and snuggled by mama- he's definitely my little buddy

- NO TEETH 

- Sits much happier in the car seat

- loves being swaddled still- I'm gonna start breaking that routine up a bit

- Took a bottle this week several times so great. I got the flu and had to give him some frozen milk but he didn't seem to mind at all. He even held the bottle with his own hands.

- mostly sleeps through Hazels night time accident cleanup ordeal ;)

- still wearing 3-6 month clothes and 0-3 shoes

- Henry is just such a happy easy going baby. He is enjoying crawling and exploring new things, but definitely likes to stay close to his mama. We just love him and are so grateful that he's in our family.

This week I got the flu or a stomach bug from Monday night until Thursday. I have never felt so weak and starved of energy- it was rough!  I'm still having a hard time finding food to be appealing at all, but my milk supply tanked over those sick days so 'm trying to eat enough to get it back up. I'm so grateful I held onto all that pumped milk in the freezer because Henry took bottles this week like it was his job. 

I guess its more interesting to eat from a bottle when you get to hold it yourself?!

Hopefully the sick is behind us- and next week can be a better one!

It was a long week but we did it! 

Hazel is 100% wearing big girl panties and doing great! 

We followed the 3-day method and Monday and Tuesday were exhausting, repetitive, and full of accidents. She begged to wear diapers until she was in tears and Brice and I spent a lot of time sitting with her telling stories and singing songs. Poor Henry had to sit in an empty bathtub with toys a lot too! (He just wanted to be close to me.)  On the third day she had no accidents and told me that she needed to go every time. That was a first! She's had a few accidents at night and the first time we went out of the house, but now she's really doing great! We've gone cold-turkey on diapers and I'm not looking back! I am so proud of Hazel for adjusting quickly and so grateful for words of advice and encouragement!

Things that helped:

- Calling people on the phone for extra praise.

- Really making the distinction that diapers are for babies.

- Not making her feel bad for accidents.

- An app called potty time

- Keeping a water bottle in the bathroom

Happy Anniversary Brice! 

FIVE!

In five years we've accomplished a lot, dealt with a lot of ups and downs, and been surprised a few times. I love you so much. There is no one else I 'd rather be going through life with by my side. You're a wonderful friend and partner, can talk me off an emotional cliff, supports my interests, and lets go of a lot of my mistakes and not so great dinners. Thank you for being trustworthy and honest and for working for our marriage. It is definitely work to be in love and make a relationship work and I think it is the most important work we could be doing. I love you and the family we are creating.

And on that note- take me out on a date :)

-B

I feel overwhelmed with my feelings lately. I don't know if this is a 6-month postpartum occurrence or just dealing with everything going on, but the tears are flowing so easily lately.

I feel  more like a babysitter than a mom most days. Being at home all day without a car is really doing me in. Yes I get to play on the floor and be there for both of my kids all day, but I find myself constantly looking at the clock waiting for it to be 6:00 so I can be "off- duty" and go SOMEWHERE!

I really really don't like feeling like this.

I feel like potty training is my personal enemy. It is just not my thing. We've only been at it for reals for two days so I know I better just suck it up but I hate it. 

I feel like 5 years of marriage has gone by so quickly.

I feel ready for a change, and no not another baby. I feel like I need a change of pace, or a new apartment, or a hobby that makes money.

I feel like I could get a great PR in our half in October. My best half-marathon was 1:35 and I'm pretty positive I can be closer to 1:30.

I feel like we should have more money than we do.

I feel proud of Hazel and Henry and everything they're learning. Henry is crawling room-to-room and loving vegetables and Hazel is learning the Articles of Faith and growing her little testimony.

I feel like you're either being obedient or your not. I wish members of the church would stop trying to justify some things or fight for unrighteous causes. I know it can be hard to see the big picture or put our trust in things we don't fully understand but right is right and wrong is wrong.

- prayers towards potty training are fully encouraged- :)